Vengeance is Mine
There are few indicators of popular outlooks and attitudes more accurate than the seasonal television lineup. This year’s programming clearly reflects a popular passion for justice. But a closer look reveals that passion to be somewhat more conflicted than it first appears.

Is there really a moral imperative to exact an eye for an eye?
The Secret of a Long Life
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Into the Void
Suspended between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, some reflections on our relationship with the Almighty and with others.

In Memoriam
My remarks from the memorial service of Donna Jones, secretary of Block Yeshiva High School for the last 18 years:
Among the most extraordinary figures in Jewish history were the sage Rabbi Meir and his wife, Bruriah.
Rabbi Meir returned home one evening and was surprised when his wife met him with the following question:
“Some time ago a man came and left a precious object in my care,” she said. Now he has come and asked for it to be returned. Should we return it or not?”
He answered her: “My dear, I don’t understand the question. Obviously, whoever receives a deposit in trust must return it when the owner asks for it back.”
Beruriah took his hand and led him to the bed in the next room, then drew pulled back the sheet to show him the lifeless bodies of their two sons, who had died suddenly from a plague.
Rabbi Meir began to weep, but Bruriah said to him: “Did you not tell me that we must return a deposit to its owner?” she said. “Our children were never our own possessions. They were entrusted to us, and now their Owner has taken them back” (Midrash Proverbs 37: 76-29).
And so it is for us here today. The Almighty gave a most precious gift into our trust. But now He has taken Donna back.
We always want to speak well of those who have passed on, but in the case of Donna we don’t have to exaggerate, we don’t have to embellish, we don’t have edit or omit or revise.
In a world of constant complaints, Donna always had a smile. In a world of constant criticism, Donna always had a compliment. In a world where it has become fashionable to be a cynic, Donna saw the best in everything and everyone. In a world plagued by faithlessness, Donna was fiercely loyal to the core.
She was a constant source of strength to every member of our faculty, reminding us of the priceless contribution we give our students daily when so many found fault, encouraging us to persevere while so many were trying to pull the rug out from under our feet. Donna was our angel, our gift from G-d for every moment that we had her.
The sages tell us that the truly righteous make the transition from this world to the next effortlessly and easily, without anguish, for their souls are so lofty they can barely be contained within their worldly bonds. Donna slipped away far too soon for us, but her spirit was truly a spirit that belonged in Heaven.
Donna, you did more than touch us, more than reassure us, more than reaffirm our mission. You became part of us, part of each and every member of our faculty, part of each and every student. We won’t merely remember you; you will live on in all of us, for as long as we are able to carry on in the work that you valued so much, and of which you were so much a part.
Spiritual Impressionism
Exile has defined most of the history of Jewish people, always as a response to our failure to value our relationship with the Almighty. When we turn our backs on Him (or on one another), He responds by allowing us to experience the consequences of separation through the loneliness of exile.

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Legal Larceny
Some people have found a new way to turn fool’s gold into the genuine article.
In an effort to popularize its new one-dollar coins, the United States Mint has offered to mail coin orders to buyers free of shipping charges. Enterprising “travel hackers” quickly figured out that they could buy the coins, rack up frequent-flier points on their credit cards, then deposit the coins to their bank accounts to pay off their credit card bills. Officials began catching on when they noticed repeat orders adding up to as much as $600,000 worth of coins; they got another clue when banks reported receiving deposits of coins still in their Mint wrappers.

“We’ve used them to go on trips around the world,” Jane Liaw told NPR, saying that she and her husband are planning trips to Greece and Turkey, “all on miles and points.”
Email of the Week
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An Israeli is on vacation and is visiting a zoo in the Englandwhen he sees a little girl leaning into the lion’s cage.Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents.
The Israeli runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the Israeli brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly. A reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter says to the Israeli: ‘Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I’ve seen a man do in my whole life.’ The Israeli replies, ‘Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger and acted as I felt right.’ The reporter says, ‘Well, I’ll make sure this won’t go unnoticed. I’m a journalist, and tomorrow’s paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?’ The Israeli replies, “I serve in the Israeli army and I vote for the Likud.” The journalist leaves. The following morning the Israeli buys the paper to see news of his actions, and reads, on the front page: RIGHT-WING ISRAELI ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH Hat tip: Steve Glassman |
Jewish Life and Learning
A new sight posing questions and investigating answers relating to all manner of Jewish thought, law, and tradition.
Magic Eye
This was my first encounter with random-dot autostereograms, what many of us are more familiar with as Magic Eye® images. And every time I came across another one I tried again, staring without focusing, looking for a picture that refused to emerge.
