The Rabbi and I

The Westward expansion and immigration to the United States has followed the same pattern. People leave their homes for the same reasons. They are looking for something better than what they have. They take jobs that the local population doesn’t want. Immigrants rarely displace workers!

Sunday is the first day of the week, that makes Saturday the 7th and according to the 10 commandments it is the Sabbath. Relax, you can still go to church on Sunday and observe the Sabbath on Saturday. Observe the Sabbath

Nothing is as it seems. Advertisements, commercials, press releases, even your partner never starts off telling us everything. More often than not the article is not what the headline said. Politicians have made lying an art!

The sky is falling just ask the Republicans. The known universe could end in November just listen to the Democrats. And there is no end to the Christian clergy who tell us that you will not be included in the rapture which is happening next week! The end is coming soon!

Judaism is a series of rail cars linked together to form a train. One can move between the cars. Each car is a branch of Judaism. In one car these people believe they are the only real Jews.

It is frightening how many children, of all ages, choose to violate the 5th commandment. Listen to what it means to honor your parents. How you treat your parents is how your children will treat you.

Is it news, is it entertainment, is it fake? It is getting harder and harder to tell. Be care the media is a minefield. You mean it is news that is for entertainment only!

The 6th commandment forbids murder. Killing is another matter. Understand the distinction. Killing In Combat is not violate the 6th commandment!

The temptation to ignore this commandment is great, don’t give in. Focus on one committed relationship at a time. The burdens of “cheating” far outweigh the benefits.

The blame game started before the sounds of the shots faded. Politicians and their supporters have sown the seeds of fear, hate, anger, and violence. We, the citizens of America, are reaping the harvest.

Organizing our lives around making decisions just to please others is is a fruitless waste of time and energy. My goal in life is to have those who dislike me have the courage to tell me why they dislike me!

When we hear the 8th commandment we think of objects and stop there. We steal spiritual and non material “things” as well. We steal time from ourselves and employers, we steal love and affection from our families and friends, and trust and respect from our supporters.

“Whomever creates problems in his household will inherit the wind”. This proverb is so true today. Politicians are creating problems, then give us solutions, and then we support them! We are fighting each other over made up issues and the real problems are ignored.

Praying and good wishes will not make the United States a better place. Our actions however will make the USA a better place. Don’t be seduced by simple slogans, judge the candidates by how they act.

The commandment that one should not bear false witness does not apply only in a court of law. The 9th Commandment means we should not lie and make statements that are false. Particularly to get elected or for personal gain. God said it, not me don’t lie

The goal is to be able to appreciate what other people have without wanting to possess that object. The desire to have something better than what others have is self destructive. We can never enjoy what we have if something else is always better.

The media reports that older people are invisible are greatly exaggerated. I have been given the attention and concern that a 78 year old deserves. Neither I nor anyone I know personally has been treated as if they were invisible. You are not invisible

Welcome to the 10 Commandments and politicians. In coming episodes we’ll compare Trump’s and President Biden’s behavior to the 10 Commandments. How does Trump and Biden measure up to the TEN

Do you remember Fernando Lamas' famous words? “It's better to look good than to feel good, and darling, you look marvelous!” How you look is the message

Extremism and cultism are the new norm, not good. We are mistaken thinking that electing an autocratic, dictator, seeking revenge will make America great again. Nor will re-electing a far left candidate who is out of touch with the average American make us better. The values of our politicians are not American values.

How did it get to be such a mess and how will it end. Pre World War I colonialism created countries in the Middle East that were not historically countries. Arab nationalism was ignored and land was taken and given without any thought. Palestine and Israel recognizing each other is the only, best, and last hope.

It gets tiresome being bombarded with everything being negative. “Fair & Balanced” has become a meaningless phrase. Not all Democrats are right and all Republicans wrong and vice versa! Why not present your positives & negatives, instead of you are right and they are wrong. The Present President is Always a Bad Choice

Don’t let everything you see, read, or hear cause you to freeze. Inaction results from our being influenced by everything except what we want to do. It is all about you, not about what others say. Be yourself and not anyone else.

Stop saying “good enough”. The word “enough” qualifies the good and diminishes enjoying the good. Judging what we do against all the social media posts creates an unnecessary unhappiness. Things that we do can and are good, no compromise necessary. Something good is good, enough already making it less.

You are not going to Hell. You are not a sinner. A sin is acting in a harmful or destructive way. The key word is act. We are all going to experience envy, whether we sin or not depends on how we respond to our feelings. You are not going to “Hell”