Looking back . . .

"Don't look at me in that tone of voice!"

Well, I / we have been at this for almost 3 years, satire and all.

So, here are some highlights you might like to review:

(and if what you are looking for doesn't show up here, just search this blog using the tool on the navigation bar above!)

Could squirrels be evolving?

Yikes! Squirrels are evolving!

or try - Tales from Summer Camp

You might like to try building bridges! (a highlight from recent presidential politics, no less!)

or get a load of political satire, as true today as when I last strung it together! Follow the links, but careful you don't spew your coffee! (It's easy to get off the monitor, but makes a mess of your keyboard, especially the sugar and creamer!)

and more later, till then

happy new year for 2009!

Channukah at the White House 2008

Rabbi Ari and Channah Sytner were invited by President George Bush to attend a Channukah dinner at the White House.

Here is a short video of the event.

Chag sameach to all on this, the last evening of Channukah 2008.

Watch it, Pal!

. . . of the pedal, by the pedal, for the pedal

Jacaranda view - Jo'burg 2008

Obama's oratory, and fears of charismatic illusions.

A brief note on the fears that continue to be expressed, about Obama, and the crowds that he draws - these are sinister reminiscences of current and bygone despots, who rant/ed in front of blindly clamoring crowds. These are the archetypes of hatred, who are now presented to us in articles and emails, as chilling warnings of the "tyranny to come".

But, there are some differences to be aware of, and you really don't have to dig very deeply to deal with these feeble fear-ploys. The differences of import are readily appreciated - just as with horses and zebras - a resemblence of form cannot be equated with similarity in temperament. The key difference between the variants of equine breeding is this - zebras can't be domesticated. If you try to raise two zebra foals from birth, you may get lucky now and then and tame them, but their offspring revert to the genetic profile of wildness and aggression. The zebra has resisted domestication for thousands of years. (See Diamond's book "Guns, Germs and Steel").

Here, again, an article from the Wall Street Journal, (one hopes this is published by the mainstream media mostly out of a desire to present the "other" view). It is written by an Arab writer, and expresses concern about Obama's rousing crowds, supposedly resembling those seen at rallies addressed by Nasser and Ahmadinejad.

The pretext of such articles is vapid. When despots address the masses, they present typical despotic behaviours - with shrill speeches, words drumming up hatred and threatening mayhem and war. Can these writers really say that they have watched Obama, and listened to him, and come away with fear creaping up their spines? I can't. I don't care who the despot is, when the profile expresses itself, we all can recognize it and shudder. Obama just doesn't fit the profile.

Let's look at another piece of evidence from the national media. It is not at Democratic rallies that threats and vitriole are being vented. Just the opposite: coverage in the media of threats and hatred has related exclusively to Republican rallies - at McCain / Palin meetings, people cry out "Terrorist!" referring to Obama, and saying he is a muslim, and "not one of us".

So let's be frank and honest. If there are crazy people out there on the campaign trail, and there are, let's at least be honest about who's stoking them, who is tolerating them, or half-heartedly saying, "no, that's wrong".

and if you don't want to take my word, Colin Powell should be good enough for you. A fine man, and still a Republican, but as a moderate, a rare one. He has endorsed Obama over McCain, even as he acknowledges McCain's (in my view, declining) merits. If Powell himself ran for president, I would be happy to vote for him. Would that be good enough to put an end to all this jabbering about "oratory" and the "madness of the masses"? Sadly, with more than enough undercurrents of prejudice in our national veins, I believe even a Powell presidency would not achieve this miracle.

Now, to those of you who may have sent out the Wall Street Journal article above, please do me a favor, and send this post along the same route. Let's have some basic honesty in our political discourse, and let's make an effort to undo the injury done by such articles to the fabric of our society.

A voice of clarity and reason.

.
.
Powell's Presidential endorsement.


Watch Powell's post-"Meet the Press" interview on video

And now for Kol Nidre . . .

Meyer called his Rabbi and said, "I know tonight is Kol Nidre, but the Twins start the playoffs. Rabbi. I'm a lifelong fan. I've got to watch the Twins game on TV."

The Rabbi responds, "Meyer, that's what VCRs are for."

Meyer is surprised. "You mean I can tape Kol Nidre"?

New features on the Forum . . .

There's Music, if your sound is on.

And a slide show.

Scroll to the bottom of the Forum page.

Photography by Mickey Bagg.

L'Chaim and Shanah Tovah

dis-illusion-ment

Groveling for Broke




Look, it's really quite simple. I am ideologically opposed to groveling!

Whether it is John McCain casting everything of value aside for his last shot to be president, or trying to make a deal with BSBI, I don't go there.

Don’t get me wrong. You can look back in the posts of the Forum to see that I support the need for unity and growth in the Charleston Jewish community. I firmly believe that eventually the fragmented "orthodox" groups in Charleston will be united. But unification without a new standard of conduct is a sell-out. Dreams or no dreams, this is crystal clear! BSBI is not ready, and the time to negotiate is not now.

As always, History is calling. But, Don't Panic. Hold true to your principles, be clear about reality ( i.e. the facts as they have been tested over time), and don't back down. It has been shown, time-and-again and time-and-again and time-and-again: change does not come from within BSBI.

Do you want proof? Here is a simple example. Since the formation of the New West Ashley Minyan, BSBI has substantially improved its efforts to provide more than it used to. You can see it in your mail boxes - regular and electronic. There is more going on under the umbrella of BSBI, with the New WAM as a competitor, than there ever was with just the Minyan House as the "orthodox" annex. And I bet they fight less with each other now that they have us to unite over. Frankly, in a measured way for everyone, that's all to the good.

Now, I am no fan of Dennis Prager, but it is a custom of ours to acknowledge a source we like to quote, or parrot-phrase, and I heard this from him once, long ago, when he spoke in Charleston. It goes something like this - "the measure of a person's Un-happiness is in proportion to (their) expectations minus reality". There is pitfall and pain in Great Expectations!

The Pirkei Avot - aka the Ethics of the Fathers, touches the same matter as follows:

"Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot.
Who is wise? One who learns from everyone."

So, if I may conclude with my very own 90 percent rule:

"90 percent is 100 percent"

This is true of medical tests and treatments, and of the essence of negotiation. If you are getting 90 percent of everything that you want from a given deal, don't go for broke. Because broke is what you'll get.

And listen to me, as I speak more south'rn - if it ain't broke . . .
don' fix it . . .

Now, Ain' that the truth? . . . go figure . . .

Building the bridge-to-nowhere -

McCain's transformation

is simply a-Palin!

So here we are, long past the off-ramp of Bill Clinton's Bridge-to-the-Future, and what do we have? Well, we have a choice, actually. We can go for John McShame and his co-candidate-from-No!-where. Better yet, we can get B'rack-to-the-Future!

But beyond all the political clamoring, there is a sad side to this story, really. It is pitiful that a man, who once stood for so many things this country needs, has abandoned all his honorable principles in hopes of winning this presidential election. There are blizzards of irony here. Let's look at just one. How much must one do to deserve to be president? If John McCain, in the course of his amazing life, has not done enough to deserve to be president, who has?

So why is it that someone who rose so high, why is he groveling so before the people of this country? Because that is what he is doing.

McCain, who said he would never put anything before his country, has put winning this election before his country by selecting Ms Palin. He said he was opposed to Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, now he says he'll keep them. He not only tolerates the "agents of intolerance", now he seeks them out to endorse and support him. How are the mighty fallen?

It's really quite simple. In 2000, John McCain deserved the presidency in every respect, and the Republican Party … turned …. him …. down!

Sometimes history demands that one recognize the truth, as painful as it might be. Some describe the experience as "becoming disillusioned". In essence, it means taking stock of your illusions. And when you do that, you set yourself free. Because when you recognize an illusion, you are no longer bound by it. History made that call to John McCain in 2000.

In 2000, John McCain deserved the presidency like no other person in the land. In 2000, he was still the great man that I prefer to remember, as compared to who and what he is now. What McCain needed to see then was not that he did not deserve to be president, but that the Republican Party did not deserve him.

But in 2000, John McCain missed history's calling.

Joe Lieberman is, in just one way, the example that shows where McCain has failed to live up to his own expectations (never mind yours or mine!). In 2006, Lieberman held to his principles on the Iraq war, against a rising tide of opposition to the war in the base of his party. In consequence, he lost the Democratic primary for his senate seat. He held to his principles, like a rock, even though his future was on . . . the . . . line. With no other choice, then, Lieberman ran as an Independent, and the citizenry returned him to his place. That is gutsy, folks. That is answering the call of history!

Sadly, having answered history time and again, John McCain came up short in 2000. He should have become what he was, an Independent.

It's too late for that now. If the country elects John McCain to the presidency in 08, it will be handing him something he deserved long ago, but that is now beyond his ability to fulfill successfully. That is the call history has placed to the US electorate - to us, now!

History demands that we recognize this, as painful as it may be. So, let's take a page from Ms Palin's playbook: We need the candidate-from-nowhere like we need the bridge-to-nowhere!

Let us choose both grace and optimism, because in Obama we finally have a chance to get B'rack-to-the-Future.

Disturbing trends . . .

. . . from a bearish market - this just in!

Just like their tree-hugging supporters, bears and other critters are getting used to government-sponsored hand-outs, just like the good fella pictured here.

But what it really boils down to (other than peanuts, that is) is that bears are twice as smart as half the US electorate. It's a pity these bears can't vote!

And it's not just a matter of what's in your wallet, but which half of the electorate are you in?

Setting the energy agenda:

Goals for energy and climate . . .

. . . and getting off our addiction to foreign oil.

Gore challenges McCain and Obama

on the future of energy and climate

and look at this piece from Thomas Friedman

on the Danish, who are "Energy Independent!"

Tak skal du have !!!

Obama's support for . . . .

Federal funding of faith-based programs:

Here is an article from The Jewish Week, discussing some jitteriness over Obama's recent statements on this mattter. All one need do is read the statements carefully, and you can see what they mean. The quote below is from the article itself.

Obama laid out principles he said would avoid crossing any constitutional lines.

“If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against them — or against the people you hire — on the basis of their religion,” he said.

He added that “federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples and mosques can only be used on secular programs.”

I believe Obama gets this issue right from seemingly opposite perspectives - one, he recognizes the need for government to meet its responsibilities to help those in need by providing adequate funding for essential services that are already provided by government agencies; and two, by recognizing that religious organizations play a meaningful role rendering similar services, at times in places that government agencies may not fully reach. To qualify, religious agency programs simply have to meet the requirements quoted above.

On this July 4th, my thoughts turn to . . .

. . . . the WAM

Today's suggested reading comes from page one of section D of the Post and Courier.

It is a full rendition of the Declaration of Independence, which we should take to heart every day, though we actually celebrate it once a year on the 4th of July.

It brings to me a strange sensation, and familiarity, as I read it. Because it brings to mind the joyous spirit and the sense of conviction with which we have built the New West Ashley Minyan.

I will print below just two key sections, but you may read the whole Declaration by clicking on this link - Dan Conover 7-4-08

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

As July 4 th approaches . . . .

It's time for nation building, not in some distant sand-blown land, but on the home front. At least, so says Thomas Friedman in this week's NY Times.

As July 4th approaches, there was some "fairly unbalanced" perspective from Peter Beinart in Time, on the State of US Patriotism. This piece is a little tepid, if you ask me. Beinart has bent over backwards to accomodate the righteous right. If you consider the State of our Union, as Friedman describes it (use the link above if you have not done so already), it seems laughable not to hold to account those who got us into our present political and economic gloom. Friedman says to make your vote count this November - nothing else matters!

And my response to Beinart is to rephrase Lynnard Skynnard's lyrics. After all, if "Watergate does not bother you, should your conscience bother me"?

Happy July 4th ! Y'all !

Contemporary Jewish Issues

A perspective of Reform Judaism today.

from Jack Wertheimer in Commentary Magazine

Happy Fathers' Day

Relax, read a little, and keep it real . . . .

with Meredith Hoffa

and Nancy Gibbs.

Photo above downloaded from Time website - "Ron Chapple / Taxi / Getty"

Friedman looks to Israel's future

Article from Thomas Friedman on the future of Israel.

" The End of Reaganomics ! ! ! "

Deconstructing Justin Fox's

Presidential Problem !

Coming to this location soon!

Standing on principle

I have had a chance to speak to number of people about our options in the present election cycle. It's been an interesting process, and I believe we will all benefit from the exposure the candidates have had to endure, not to mention our saturation with the subject.



Here is a piece from Thomas Friedman, from which the following quote really sums up how we should be making our own personal choices:

Personally, as an American Jew, I don’t vote for president on the basis of who will be the strongest supporter of Israel. I vote for who will make America strongest. It’s not only because this is my country, first and always, but because the single greatest source of support and protection for Israel is an America that is financially and militarily strong, and globally respected.

Honoring Marsha Freudenberg at AHA

Join the community for a special event - "The Art of Teaching"

and join us in honoring Marsha Freudenberg for her service to AHA

and to our children.

Where: At the JCC
When: 3 - 5 pm; Today!

-------------------------------------------

Flier and donation forms included below: click on images to enlarge.

JCC to meet about opening on Saturday afternoons.

The members’ meeting at the JCC on Monday, May 12, at 6:30 PM presents the JCC membership with an opportunity to take stock of a number of issues.

The main question under review is the possibility of having the JCC open on Saturday afternoons for informal recreational activities. This is not a single issue question, but one that the JCC membership and board must address with sensitivity, and with commitment to the broader JCC mission of serving the community.

In the interests of full disclosure, the reader must know that I and my family are members of the JCC and of Brith Sholom Beth Israel Congregation. We currently attend synagogue services with the New West Ashley Minyan at the JCC, and we play a significant role in supporting that minyan. My family has benefited greatly from these affiliations, and my children all attended Addlestone Hebrew Academy, which is situated on the JCC campus. Having said all that, the opinions in this article are mine, and mine only. I do not speak as an official representative of anyone but myself. Now to return to the issues . . .

What we have and what we are continuing to develop, around the campus of the JCC, is a cluster of institutions that serve the Jewish Community. This is not something that is intended to occur in isolation. Tikun Olam, repairing the world, is a core Jewish value. We strengthen the Jewish community in order to bring its influence to bear on the larger community in the most positive ways possible. Our efforts in this regard are most effective, in each and every one of our institutions, when we make decisions that foster unity and active participation among all segments of our membership.

It is a characteristic of good leadership to recognize the diverse elements one is committed to serving, and it is the obligation of the leadership to exercise good faith and good judgment in making such decisions.

Here is how I answered the JCC questionnaire: 1) I do feel the Charleston JCC should be open for informal recreational activities on Saturday afternoons. 2) If the JCC were open on Saturday afternoons, would I and my family use the facilities at such times? Probably not.

My suggestion to the membership and board of the JCC is that if a significant number of people (even if they are a minority of the membership) wish to use the JCC facilities for informal recreation on Saturday afternoons, the center should be open.

Just as changes at AHA have been made for AHA to be an inclusive community day school, so we should ensure that the JCC serve as many of its members as possible. All we have to do is make good faith efforts to ensure that sizeable segments of the community are not excluded from participation in the JCC, or our other organizations, as a result of such actions. I believe we can do this in this instance.

The Sabbath observant segment of the Charleston community is very small, but they are no less important than any other segment. The JCC has greatly facilitated Sabbath observance in the area of the JCC by renting space for services for those who desire it. We need to keep our support for each other fair and balanced. I am not suggesting that the Sabbath observant among us must like the opening of the JCC on Saturday afternoons, but in the framework of the above principles, they should at least be willing not to stand in the way. The Jewish community of Charleston is already a leading light in the Jewish world for the way Orthodox, Conservative and Reform congregations work together. Let’s all make the effort to continue to do so, to the benefit Klal Yisrael, and all the communities we share in the wider world.

We owe a continuous vote of thanks to those who serve the JCC at all levels. We do not all need to attend the meeting, but we should at least send messages of support to the JCC leadership. I urge you to click on this link and email them to do just that.

Happy Mother’s Day, and Yom Ha’Atmaut Sameach.


Peter Rosenthal

Israel turns 60

Yom Ha'atzmaut will be celebrated on May 8th 2008.

Visit the OU's web page of the chagim for the background history and the leaders who made it.
Celebrate with the community at the JCC, Sunday May 11, 2008

See aerial views of Israel for a fresh perspective.

YOM HASHOAH MEMORIAL PROGRAM

Sunday, May 4 at 3:30 PM in the Solomon Hall at BSBI on Rutledge Avenue, the Charleston Community will hold a Holocaust Memorial Program.

Join the community as we remember the 1.5 million innocent children whose lives were extinguished.

The program will conclude with a silent march to the Holocaust Memorial at Marion Square in memory of Pincus Kolender and in commemoration of the Death March.

Next year in Jerusalem!

Purim Sameach!

BSBI program of events:*

March 20: Fast of Esther. Fast begins at 6:23 am.

March 20, 8:00 pm: BSBI Megillah reading followed by the Sisterhood Purim Party

March 21: Purim. BSBI Megillah reading during morning services.

Also, Purim party/megillah reading at private home; 16 Rebellion Road, beginning at 9:00 am, with the megillah reading at 9:30 am. Costumes or pajamas are welcome.

( * The New WAM will not be holding any Purim functions at the JCC.)

Other Purim events in Charleston

Seize the Day - on daylight savings time

Spring is IN!

The West Ashley Minyan is sponsoring this week's kiddush in memory of our beloved Philip Chase, z"l. May Leah and the entire Chase family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

In Memoriam

Charleston mourns the passing of Pincus Kolender

Obituary

Guest book - online

How not to campaign for president . . .

. . . by apologizing for the behaviour of your so-called supporters.

McCain shows some class, but it may be a losing battle.

Rumor has it his campaign manager will step down if McCain has to face Obama in November.

More later

"One swallow does not make a summer . . . "

From the

"Not-in-my-backyard!"

Corner

Look, it's not one of my favourite sayings, but see if you can find anything more appropriate. I bet you can't!

You see, those folks who think SUV's are the car of the present, and the future, who think Al Gore has less direction than a headless chicken, after one colder-than-average winter, they want to declare a new Ice Age.

So that's why I say, "One cold winter doesn't make an ice age", just like "One swallow doesn't make a summer." Maybe we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch! Or is it "Look before you leap?"

Then again, maybe they have a point. I mean, right now nothing is cooling quite as fast as the US economy! I hear the Canadians are sitting smugly by their electric fires, drinking gluvine and enjoying the lowest unemployment since Watergate! (See my letter to Time, or my letter in Time! ) It seems when things get bad here, the Canadians enjoy an upswing. Could there be something behind it? Or should I say, "Could their something be behind it?" You know, like "responsive government?" I'm only asking . . .

But let's be honest. When it comes to recession, we need to consult an expert. Let's ask Mr Greenspan who's to blame for this impending recession? I mean, he got it right the last time!

In the meantime, there is Trouble in Toyland. Monopoly has become embroiled in the piece process in the Middle East, and the touchy issue of the final status of Jerusalem. (Do not pass go, Do not collect $200?) I think its time we extended the boycott of Fisher Price to Parker Brothers. (Now that's what I call - "No Parking!")

And now Hillary is circulating pictures of Obama in a turban: now that is scary. Not Obama in the turban, but Hillary stooping to send the picture round by email. Now I've heard of Desperate Dan, could this be Hysterical Hillary? By the way, if you're looking for a good investment now that Romney's packed it in, I hear the market is bullish on Spoilers!

Actually, Hillary's not the only one worried about Obama. There seem to be lots of people buying stock in cotton balls, they're so scared Barack might win the nomination and the presidency. Some people worry that he will turn us all into Canadians - which doesn't seem so bad to me. I always said that Canada is just like the US, except it has a filter.

And for the record, Feb 20th was the Forum's 2nd anniversary. L'Chayim!

PS - on a more serious note, here is some material on Obama and Israel that is worth reviewing.

For more on politics in the Forum:

see "Political Fan mail" where I first presented my letter to Time!

and "Caring for the Health of our Politics"

New WAM plans special Shabbat!

Zevi Goldberg and his wife, Michal, will be joining the New West Ashley Minyan this Shabbat. Everyone is invited and a schedule of events is listed below.

In addition, Michal and Zevi will be available for individual study sessions.

Schedule of events:

Friday night, 8:30 pm-until you leave, at 1870 Cat Tail Row: Join us for a L'chaim and pareve sweets welcoming Michal and Zevi to Charleston.

Saturday: A special D'var Torah will be delivered by Zevi during services at the JCC.

Saturday:3:45-4:45 pm: Women's class with Michal, topic TBA, at private home, 1 Brabant Street (off Ashley Hall Road).

Saturday:5:00 pm: Special early mincha with a class given by Zevi during shalosh seudos.

Sunday:12:00 noon Picnic at Charles Towne Landing: Bring Your Own Lunch. Michal and Zevi will present brief divrei Torah before we bid them farewell. The picnic is open to the community, but in order to be included in the group rate ($4 adult, $3 child over 5) you must be there at noon sharp. Rain location JCC.

Caring for the Health of our Politics

There are many ways to pick a candidate. You can be devoted to your party or your people, you can pick your pocket or your heart. To quote Paul Simon, there must be 50 ways to . . .

Democracy is about YOUR RIGHT to do as you freely choose, but the real test that life presents us is the challenge to make good choices! Good, yes, but who defines the good?

One of the perspectives I have taken in regard to community issues in this forum is that maintaining the health of political processes is crucial. If an organization's processes are allowed or induced to decay, the consequences are bad for the "people" whom the organization is supposed to serve! This is plain common sense. The principle of maintaining healthy political processes is as fundamental and wholesome as grits.

How does this apply to our national politics?

For one, it is the responsibility of the major parties to present the nation with decent candidates for the highest office in the country. McCain is a fine candidate (he was even finer in 2000), and both Obama and Clinton have stature. This is good for the country. Cast your mind back over the last 20-or-so years, and ask whether those decades were as good as we are getting now? My contention is that from the time the Republicans gave us an actor (from the B movie list, no less), politics has been decidedly on the wrong track. We finally have a chance to put that right.

Now, given the tight primary run-off for the Dems, we are hearing about "super" delegates and how they are free to do what they want. Well, in truth, they need to do what is best, not for themselves as individuals, or their vested interests. They need to do what will have the best effect for the health of our nation's politics. Overriding the general notion that the rules matter, will have terrible consequences. The central pillars of democracy are justice and the rule of law. Turn these over, and it will be a sucker punch to our mutual goodwill.

This ain't rocket science, folks, just common sense.

Now I happen to think that the candidate with the greatest ability to unite this country, and to provide the leadership this country needs to provide the influence for good in the world is Barack Obama.

The big questions that people have about him are: experience and Israel?

In regard to experience, I prefer senators / congressmen as candidates for president to governors, mayors and businessmen. Why? We are talking about being a "President" - being presidential. We are talking about class - world class! We need someone to lead the world.

And here is where I turn down Hillary Clinton, as good as she is with all the specifics. We need a world leader without all sorts of baggage ( you know, like wonky distractions from a controversial past-president as your spouse! Rush and company do not need another go at the carnival shooting gallery, ok?)

So, what about Obama and Israel? My position is simple: choose right for America, and the world will be a better place. And if the world is better for America, it's better for Israel too.

But just in case you want to see something in writing, here is a link to a piece from Ha'Aretz.

For more, check out Rosner's blog on Obama, also on the Ha'Aretz web page.

and remember how Hillel framed our responsibilities:

"If I am not for myself, who is for me?

And if I am only for myself, what am I?

And if not now, when?"

As ever,

Shalom

Update: 2-24-08 Attended the talk given by Linda Gradstein at the College of Charleston earlier today. She fielded some questions after the meeting, including saying that there was no particular fear in Israel about Barack Obama. All they say is that he is new on the political seen, and is relatively unknown.

More perhaps later.

Political fan mail . . . and Happy Presidents' Day to Y'all too!

Like I said just a moment ago, it's great to be on a winning team! In fact, with Obama and McCain leading their respective primaries, the country is the real "winning team".

As a fan of politics, schooled by Chris Matthews and the in's and out's of BSBI, I have not been very productive during this exciting primary season. I apologize profusely, especially to myself.

Not that you are short of interesting political coverage, but I should at least throw my hat in the ring!

Actually, Stewart and Colbert are still my favorite providers of incisive political updates. I read Time, and every now and then one of their articles gets me all shook up.

Take this one, from the "Curious Capitalist" on the question of presidents and the economy: Do presidents matter? (As improbable as it may seem, this is clearly not a question limited only to BSBI!)

To which I wrote the following letter . . .
. . . and got a complimentary reply.

Letter to Time: The Curious Reader

Do Presidents Matter? asked Justin Fox, the Curious Capitalist (Feb 28).

In Canada, unemployment is at record lows, exports are in demand, there is no hint of a subprime mortgage crisis nor any signs of recession. This in a country with higher taxes than the US and universal health care to boot. In UN quality-of- life surveys Canada beats the US by miles. Canada, it seems, has struck a balance: that is, government is responsible to collect taxes and to provide necessary services and distribute them fairly. In contrast, the US has Reaganite Republican dogma, corporate welfare, tax cuts for the wealthy, and the decimation of public services and infrastructure. Further, the Republicans left corporate America without the
necessary oversights, leading to job out-sourcing and financial collapses like Enron, MCI and now the mortgage crisis. Indeed, it matters what presidents do!

P Rosenthal Charleston SC

ps do you really pay for people to write such pap?

____________________________________________

and the reply?


Dear TIME Reader,

Thank you for writing. We welcome timely, insightful reactions to material we have published, and we can assure you that your observations found an attentive audience among the editors. Should your comments be selected for the column, you will be notified in advance of publication. Again, our thanks for letting us hear from you. We hope that you will write again should you discover something of particular interest in the news or in our reporting of it.

Best wishes,

TIME Letters
_____________________________________

PPS - The Forum Editor will keep you posted!

Update 2-24-08: Time published the letter with minor changes and, naturally, they left out the barbs. See the follow up piece to this, and follow all the links, back and forth.

fun to be on a winning team . . . . AGAIN!

As an ingrained supporter of sporting underdogs, I was rooting for the Giants on Sunday, and Eli Manning pulled out a miracle! If you missed the play where Manning barely scrambled out of the Patriots' clutches, and shot a high pass up the middle, and his team mate caught it against his helmet!

Well, then you missed something . . . .

Now, from Super Sunday, to Super Tuesday. Let's see if we're on a winning team again?

Senator Lieberman to speak at BSBI

Senator Joe Lieberman will be speaking at BSBI this Wednesday morning (January 16th) at 9:30 AM in BSBI's main sanctuary, 182 Rutledge Avenue

Senator Lieberman will be addressing key issues in the upcoming election and will answer questions from the audience.

All are welcome.

Interested in recent news about Lieberman - click here.

Joining the "Oldies, but goldies."

Subject: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FROM AARP

"Who says old people aren't fun?"

(Or is that not "funny"?)


Q: Where can women over the age of 50 find younger men who are interested in them?
A: Try a bookstore, under "fiction".

Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause?
A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finish the basement. When you are done with that, you will have a place to live.

Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your 50+ year old husband?
A: Tell him you're pregnant.

Q: How can you avoid spotting wrinkles every time you walk by a mirror?
A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Why should 50+ year old people use valet parking?
A: Valets don't forget where they park your car.

Q: Is it common for 50+ year olds to have problems with short term memory storage?
A: Storing a memory is not a problem, retrieving it is.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?
A: Yes, in the Afternoon.

Q: Where should 50+ year olds look for eye glasses?
A: On their foreheads.

Q: What is the most common remark made by 50+ year olds when they enter antique stores?
A: "Gosh, I remember these."

___________________ and now for the finale, watch this animation of . . . .
the "boomers"!

Hope you are rewarded with "stitches"!

PBS series on "Jewish Americans"

SET ASIDE JANUARY 16 AND 23RD FOR THIS INTERESTING PROGRAM ON PBS. (9 to 11 PM)

Preview this series from the Jewish Television Network

Happy 2008 . . . . .

Welcome once again to the EC Forum.

Just a short note to wish you all a happy new year.

As of Jan 1 2008, your donations to the New WAM can be tax-deductible.

This has been made possible by the formation of The New ChasCOM Fund. The name is a contraction of "The New Charleston Community Orthodox Minyan", set up specifically to support the New WAM.

To make a donation, go to the Fund web page, print the donation form, fill it out, and mail it in with your check.

For ongoing convenience, a link from the Forum Home Page will be included from now on.

C U all at the J

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