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Whose Holocaust Is It?
By
Brad Hirschfield
April is over, and we have passed through the month of Genocide memorials — the Nazi Holocaust, the genocide in Armenia and the more recent one in Rwanda to name a few. The following article describes the challenge, and the benefit, of balancing the unique aspects of each with the universal issue of genocide. For…
Lag B’Omer 2010: Celebrate Being Kind
By
Brad Hirschfield
Sunday May 2, 2010 will also be Lag B’Omer — the 33rd day in the 49 day countdown (mentioned in Leviticus 23:15-16) from Pesach to Shavuot, or Passover to Pentecost if you prefer. According to the Talmud, it was on the 33rd day of the Omer that the students of Rabbi Akiva Stopped dying of…
Does Sholom Rubashikn Deserve a Life Sentence?
By
Brad Hirschfield
Apparently, Federal prosecutors in the case against the former CEO of Agriprocessors think so. Citing Mr. Rubashkin’s “blatant lawlessness, utter lack of remorse, his egregious and repeated attempts to obstruct justice,” they have asked Judge Linda R. Reade to impose a life sentence. While all of that may be true, can anyone honestly believe that…
Disinviting Franklin Graham from National Day of Prayer at the Pentagon
By
Brad Hirschfield
Forget disinviting Franklin Graham from the Pentagon observance of the National Day of Prayer, he should never have been invited to begin with! And that initial invitation is what raises concern. Franklin Graham is who he is and believes what he believes. We should all defend his right to hold and express even those beliefs…
Is Homosexuality an Abomination? Sitting in Synagogue, Reading Leviticus 18:22
By
Brad Hirschfield
The issue of gayness is among the most polarizing issues in our society, especially among people who describe themselves as religious. Without addressing what the “right” answers are, there is no question that there are few issues over which we hurt each other more than in how we address homosexuality in general and far more…
New Hamas Video, Technically Sophisticated and Morally Repugnant
By
Brad Hirschfield
Hamas has released an artfully produced and brutally callous cartoon video depicting the death of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, which it says will surely happen if Israel does not meet unstated demands that would secure his release. The fact that those demands are unstated in this video, and always changing when they are actually…
What Does Judaism Say About Sex?
By
Brad Hirschfield
I was asked that question this week by the Newsweek.WahsingtonPost.com’s On Faith section. And while there is no way to answer that question in a few hundred words, or even with a single answer, there are certain things that we can say, and that could actually help all people to have happier and healthier sex…
Earth Day 2010: Is the Earth Angry?
By
Brad Hirschfield
Of course not! The very idea that the Earth is capable of emotion is anathema to Jewish thought. But that idea that humans could commit acts which would cause the earth to respond by vomiting is not. Think Leviticus 18:28 — If you defile the land, it will vomit you out. These lines are a…
My Tempestuous Love Affair With Israel
By
Brad Hirschfield
Well, it’s the morning after – the morning after Yom Ha’atmaut, Israel Independence Day. That seems like the appropriate time to declare that even after the celebrations (and counter-demonstrations) have abated, Israel really is deserving of the love, admiration, and respect which I, and most Americans, feel for her. Don’t get me wrong, mine is…
Celebrating Israel at 62 — Yom Ha’atzmaut 2010
By
Brad Hirschfield
Today is not only April 20, 2010, it is also the 5th of Iyar 5770, which means that according to the Hebrew calendar it is also Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel Independence Day. I will share my own reasons for celebrating with deep pride and great joy, the highly imperfect but truly magnificent State of Israel,…
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