Blog: Sukkot and Safari in Kenya

A hundred years after the Kenyan Jewish community built their first synagogue in Nairobi, I celebrated Sukkot there.

Blog: Close Encounters

On its website, Point Lobos is described as the greatest meeting of land and water in the world. That and more is what we found on a recent visit to this Northern California nature reserve.

Israel Must Have a Death Penalty for Terrorists

No Jew, and indeed no decent person in whom there beats a human heart, could fail to be moved to tears by the reunion of Gilad Shalit and his family in Israel. Looking pale from years of being held in a cell and deprived of sunlight, and extremely shy due to years of being denied virtually all human contact, Israel welcomed home a hero for whom they had traded one thousand murderers, terrorists, and criminals committed to its destruction to keep true to its promise, that no soldier is ever forgotten or left behind.

Jews and Politics: What Is Occupy Wall Street?

“Economic progress, in capitalist society, means turmoil.” (Joseph A. Schumpeter)

Demonstrations, mass arrests and occupied public spaces have now become the norm across the country. From New York to Boston and from Houston to Los Angeles, all have encountered groups of the Occupy Wall St. movement. Occupy Wall St. are groups of people who are frustrated with, and tired of, the 1% of the population making the majority of the wealth in this country, while the rest linger with no hope or salvation.

Jews and Politics: In G-D We Trust?

“The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles” (Mahatma Gandhi)

This past week has been a very somber and moving one, with the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. This unique moment has left many of us asking ourselves, where are we as a nation ten years later? Are we more secure, resilient and safe since?

Kloppers Knock-Out Skullcaps, Securing Playoff Position

This was it.

The entire softball season boiled down to this one Sunday morning matchup between the Daily Steals Kloppers and the AWS Skullcaps at Hamilton-Metz Field in Lefferts Park.

Jews in Sports: DRAWING THE LINE

The difference between ice-hockey athletes of today and those of yore, in a word, is helmets.

In the 1970’s, fans would be hankered to find an NHL player wearing a skullcap on the ice, especially if said player was not injured.

Jews and Politics: What’s the Point?

Over the past few weeks, I have written a number of articles discussing a variety of topics, such as voting, the debt limit and social unrest. Some have accused me of being an operative for the Democratic Party, and questioned the substance of my articles. The point of this week’s article is to lay clear what my intentions are, and what is the point of this section called Jews in Politics.

Jews and Politics: Can the Downgrade of the US Credit Spell Chaos for Our Nation?

“The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him/her to hold in higher esteem those who think alike then those who think differently.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Chaos, anarchy and bloodshed have engulfed London; it’s one of the worst outbreaks of violence that London has seen in a very long time. The riots are not happening in the slums or poor sections of the city, rather in upper and middle class neighborhoods. Who are these rioters? Young teens, college kids and young adults. Many of them are gang members and troubled teens who are looking to lash out against a society that has promised them so much, yet in the end has left them with nothing.

Jews in Sports: Humble Beginnings to Bright Future

It had to happen that Yaffa Wigs, Advantage Wholesale Supply, Landmark Funding Group and softball would all be mentioned in one breath. It was only a matter of time.

True to our Jewish heritage of small beginnings, perseverance and continuum, the Crown Heights Softball League too has flourished since its inception in 2004, originating under the “Kloppers League” banner.

Jews and Politics: Is Libya a Just War?

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Over the past few weeks a dozen or so congressional leaders have sued the President in federal court for violating the War Powers Act. The War Powers Act allows the President to commit troops overseas for 90 days; should the President want a continued military presence, he would need a declaration of war from Congress.

Jews in Sports: WORTHY WALLET

Who could have foretold of outrageous contracts given to lesser talent and players’ wallets becoming bloated due to an increase in the Salary Cap floor and ceiling in a sport not called ‘baseball?’

I’m talking hockey and its off-ice summer spectacle known as “Free Agency.”

The Rebbe on Jan Peerce (Part 2)

When looking through the personal archives of the Peerce family, I was surprised to find a letter from the Rebbe, of righteous memory, to Mr. Zalmon Jaffe, of blessed memory, a Chabad-Lubavitch activist from Manchester, UK. The letter referred to a concert in Manchester.

The Rebbe’s Letter Was Missing (Part 1)

After many years of research, I finally found the collection of letters written by the Rebbe, of righteous memory, to late Jan and Alice Peerce. Jan Peerce, known as the “American Tenor,” was considered the longest-standing performer at the Metropolitan Opera House during his career. He became close to Rabbi Chaim Drizin while visiting Chabad at Berkley University with his grandson.

The Art of Hugging A Tree – A Gimmel Tammuz Diary

Where is she? I lift my eyes, searching. The silhouettes cast on the white hanging sheet catch my eye. Back lit by the sun, their shadows create the most intriguing visual. Unlike a painting or photograph this sight it is alive.