Thou Shalt Not Tempt Me
Sen. Joseph Lieberman spoke at the Hagee "summit" yesterday, as Think Progress notes: Lieberman again drew a parallel between Hagee and biblical figures, this time saying biblical heroes, unlike the...
View ArticleBrothers and Sisters: We are each others' keepers
I have been thinking - and writing - a lot recently about the nature of love, of caring, of concern. And on this, the final Brothers and Sisters for 2009, I would like to continue that exploration.My...
View ArticleA Secular Humanist Coming to Grips with the Bible
Just finished reading the second chapter of Karen Armstrong's new book, The Case for God. This chapter looks at the historical development of the first five books of the Bible (constituting the Jewish...
View ArticleD'Var Torah: Shoftim
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 16:18 to 21:10 Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 to 52:12Today in America 100 years of social progress is under assault. Much of the charge is being led by ideological...
View ArticleDeuteronomy and Rick Perry
This past week I read in the Washington Post that Rick Perry has attacked George W. Bush as a closet liberal:Perry, who closely allied himself with Bush earlier in his career, was a supporter of Bush’s...
View ArticleD'var Torah - Nitzavim, and Happy New Year
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 29:9 to end of chapter 30. Haftarah Reading: Isaiah 61:10 to 63:9This week's Torah and Haftarah readings are always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New...
View ArticleShow Them No Mercy (D'var Torah: Vaetchannan)
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 3:23 to 7:11. First Haftarah of Consolation: Isaiah 40:1-26.Given that I have a penchant for seeking out challenges, I’m going to focus in on an excerpt from Deuteronomy 7...
View ArticleD'var Torah Ki Tetzei: Slavery in the Bible and in America
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 21:10 to 25:19 Haftarah: Isaiah 54: 1-10 (5th of 7 Haftarahs of consolation)This week's parshah is the last of three weeks of parshahs that enumerate the laws that Moses...
View ArticleDvar Torah: Ki Tavo
This week's parsha (Torah portion to be read in synagogue) is Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8).The parsha starts with directions for dedicating the first fruits of the harvest to HaShem via the temple...
View ArticleDvar Torah: Nitzavim-Vayelech
When I volunteered for this week and asked guidance, Navy Vet Terp generously shared this recollection:One thing that strikes me, and I spoke on this at my cousin's shivah minyan a few years ago, is...
View ArticlePlato, the Prophets, and Peace (D'var Torah: Devarim)
D'var Torah: DevarimTorah reading: Deuteronomy 1:1 to 3:22. Third Haftarah of Rebuke: Isaiah 1:1-27.Today's Torah reading comes from the beginning of Deuteronomy, which I've always found a very...
View ArticleD'var Torah: Va-etchanan
Imagine this:You are a young king of a small country. Your northern neighbor, which worshiped the same god as you, has been conquered by a powerful empire, and its people dispersed. Your country is...
View ArticleD'var Torah: Re-eh (So Why All The Intolerance?)
Torah reading: Deuteronomy 11:26 to 16:17. Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11 to 55:5. (3rd Haftarah of Consolation).Today, I'm going to focus on the Deutoronomy passage. To a modern reader, this section --...
View ArticleD'var Torah: Ki tetse
Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19 Isaiah 54:1-10Like much of the Book of Deuteronomy, this section jumps around to a lot of subjects. We have laws regarding what to do with a captured war bride; the infamous...
View ArticleJoy-Ann Reid gently untwists what republicans like Huckabee hide: religious...
What most of the so-called "pro-life Christians" are calling President Obama's "in-artful" reference to the crusades when addressing religious extremism is not what really pissed off the Mike...
View ArticleThe Most Paranoid Book In The Bible
It just came to me as I was relaxing at home in the hot tub.Update: 12/2/2015:It’s a pun cartoon… I can’t be the ONLY liberal progressive democrat out here that’s read the bible right?I was researching...
View ArticleD'var Torah: Devarim
Imagine this:You are a young king of a small country. Your northern neighbor, which worshiped the same god as you, has been conquered by a powerful empire, and its people dispersed. Your country is...
View Article66-Plus Reasons Why The Christianized United States of America Should Embrace...
No, I’m not a Marxist — I’m also not a Communist, Fascist, Neo-Marxist, nor am I a Republican or a Democrat. No labels fit me because I have a tendency to lean to the side of whomever is RIGHT in every...
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