FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Saudi Excuses
I have this overwhelming urge to blurt out, “You lie!”
But, after all, I believe in the saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I want greater civility, so I won’t do it.
Still, I’m incensed by the Sunday New York Times Op-Ed by Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi Ambassador to the United States, not to mention former Saudi intelligence service head.
Remember The Hungry
After we pray for our names to be sealed in the Book of Life, it would be a great thing if we started off by still remembering there are those among us who aren’t going to be breaking the fast so easily.
There are those among us who “fast” involuntarily because they sometimes run out of food.
There is nothing symbolic or religious about their hunger.
Papal Backtracks
How many times can you say no while hinting at yes? It’s a question raised in the latest announcement by the Vatican that it will soon remind some renegade co-religionists that blatant anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial just might not be the image the Church wants to project in this new century.
It is certainly Benedict’s business as to whom he wants to be in good standing in the eyes of the Church. However, when it comes to ambiguity with Holocaust deniers, he cannot expect to escape a torrent of criticism from those who are simply at a loss of comprehension about understanding such policies.
A Luddite’s Lament
During Rosh Hashanah this year, I occasionally noticed clusters of teenagers hanging in the synagogue hallways. I have no problem with it — been there, done that. I’ve heard some people call it “Hormone Alley.” Fine. At least they’re in shul.
But when I see some of these young people standing around and using their cell phones to call and text their pals, I know something’s broken here. And it’s not necessarily their fault. Who’s to blame? Perhaps their parents, rabbis and teachers, who are simply not making it clear that using modern apparatus in shul on one of the holiest days of the year is just plain wrongheaded.
Waiting For Kamanetz
The subject du jour is the Baltimore County Executive race.
Two contenders appear to be stacking up for the race. They are:
Kevin Kamenetz, the longtime Democratic County Councilman from the 2nd district, on the west side, Pikesville, Owings Mills and such; and Joseph Bartenfelder, the longtime Democratic County Councilman from the 6th district, on the east side, Perry Hall and such.
My source tells me that the “power base” in the county has shifted from the east side to the middle and west sides.
I am not sure what this means. I asked Bartenfelder and he says he has heard the same thing and he, too, is mystified.