In Winston Churchill's epic six-volume memoir of the Second World War, in the first volume entitled “The Gathering Storm,” he wrote of the British foreign policy of the 1930s as follows: “[The later disaster was caused by] the English-speaking peoples, [who] through their unwisdom, carelessness and good nature, allowed the wicked to rearm." A good nature is a necessity for personal... READ MORE →
Winston Churchill once famously said that “democracy is a terrible system of government but it is better than any other system.” The irony of that statement has been borne out by the past events of this last century and by current events. It is true that Hitler ruled as a megalomaniac dictator. However, his rise to power was by democratic means and through electoral success. Once in... READ MORE →
In my many decades as a public speaker I have encountered many reactions to my words. Though most people love me and are enthralled by what I have to say, many times people have somehow vehemently disagreed and have informed me of their negative opinions. Sometimes people have even walked out while I was still speaking to express their displeasure. Once or twice I remember being heckled by... READ MORE →
בחיזיון הגדול שראה הנביא ישעיהו בשמים בתחילת הקריירה הנבואית שלו, הוא שמע את המילים "את מי אשלח ומי וילך לנו?" הפסוק הזה בספר ישעיהו תמיד סימן בעיניי את הדרך לשפוט מנהיגים יהודים ואנשים חשובים אחרים. יש רגעים בחיים... READ MORE →
In the great vision that the prophet Isaiah witnessed in Heaven at the onset of his immortal prophetic career, he heard a voice that asked: “Who shall I send and who will go for us?" That verse in Isaiah has always been a marker for me as to how to judge Jewish leaders and other people of note. There are moments in life and in history when that question reverberates throughout the Jewish... READ MORE →
האתגר העיקרי לכל הדתות, ובוודאי ליהדות, במאתיים השנים האחרונות היתה השאלה כיצד להגיב לבעיות שצמחו מתוך החיים המודרניים. החיים המודרניים כוללים, בין היתר, קדמה טכנולוגית, כלכלה גלובלית, רעיונות של חופש אישי ולאומי... READ MORE →
The major challenge to all religions and certainly to Judaism over the past two centuries has been the religious reaction to the problems raised by modernity. Modernity encompasses but is not limited to technological progress, a global economy, ideas of personal and national freedom and a search for a more equitable distribution of wealth and well being amongst all human beings. This... READ MORE →
ידוע לכולם, גם אם כמעט לא דנים בזה בפומבי, שההקמה והקיום של מדינת ישראל יצרו בעיות תיאולוגיות קשות לחלקים מסוימים בקהילה היהודית. אך הקמת מדינת ישראל וקיומה יצרו בעיות תיאולוגיות ורגשיות גדולות אף יותר לחלק גדול... READ MORE →
It is well known, though hardly discussed in public, that the creation and existence of the State of Israel has created serious theological problems for sections of the Jewish community. But the creation and existence of the State of Israel has created even greater theological and emotional problems for much of the Christian world and many different branches of the overall Christian religion. ... READ MORE →
באופן בלתי נמנע הזמן עושה את שלו. שלמה המלך ציין בצער ש"דור בא ודור הולך, והארץ לעולם עומדת". הדור שעבר את מלחמת העולם השנייה והיהודים ששרדו את השואה עוזבים אותנו בקצר מהיר. לפני שבועיים, ביום השנה ה-70 לציון הפלישה של בנות... READ MORE →
