In Defense of Liberty
Sharing love of G-d/Torah/Israel, reflections & musings on many topics, and humor. Earlier entries are sign posts - markers along the journey as I've changed.
In Defense of Liberty

Holistic Authenticity

                   I must admit, I write this article because I feel it is necessary to for me so as to be holistically authentic.  Some of you may realize based on the entries of late that I've been contemplating a lot about suffering, evil, and even if G-d exists.  I'm still shomer mitzvoth - I still observe and practice the commandments.  That's a story for another day.  I say this because I'm not full of doubts because I've given up on Torah.  Quite the opposite, it's because I see G-d's promises in Torah being unfulfilled that my ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 19 Jun 2009, 5:09 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Why no bailout for California?

                   Perhaps it's because I don't live there anymore, but I'm amazed by how little attention this has received - so I could be wrong and maybe it's receiving plenty of attention.  While many, I think, agree that CA should not get a bailout (and I'm not saying either way; that's not my point in this entry) I'm wondering why the inconsistency in logic and policy has not been discussed.  Here's what I mean: we've bailed out financial firms for instance because they were "too big to fail."  As one of the largest economies in the ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 18 Jun 2009, 7:14 AM | Add Comment

A song unto prayer

Shira L’Tefilah


Arise and listen!
I have formed you from the dust, I breathed life into you
I hear your cries so silent; I see your prayers sealed within
They fill my chambers with praise, like rushing waters they come

Arise and listen!
O my beloved flower, surrounded by weeds and thorns
Do you not know; have you not heard me?
You are so fair for you have triumphed!
Beset on all sides, you stayed your ground.
And then, you send forth such beautiful pollen
Spreading forth your seed, with tender song
You cry, you cry to me all the day
Asking me to make your voice beautiful?
O, my child, I long for your song!
You give life, spread hope amongst your kin; flowers spring forth, encouraged to life.
It is you I treasure; those possessed by invincible hope.
You needn’t be a tree; your fruit is more pleasant!

Arise and listen!
I crown you with love; I increase you in new garments.
You have spread my garden’s estate; grown you have outside my fence.
Crying to the wilderness: bloom, make a path!

Arise and seek…
Desert flower, you hear me so clear
There is no word, no speech, no sounds in the desert
All told me, naught can bloom there; you said, I will go and I will hear

Arise and listen!
The trees, some mock you; they show off their fruit
I have seen, I perceive how they have caused strife
Yet they cannot help: their fruit falls in abundance
Animals come, but still more rots; I feed you with the richest of their accoutrements
They, so mighty, can they not do more, give more, bear more?
You, so hungry and thirsty; you gasp to try to sing to me!
How tender you are to me!  How much I cry for you!
Here, alone in the Heavens, I long to tend to you
The trees, they say, “we stand on our own; we just, compassionate rule.”
By their canopies, they deceive you; they shut out the heavens from sight
I send forth rain, I blow with mighty winds; some fall, some uprooted but perceive not.
Little one, you found shelter amidst thorns, dwelling near the bush

Come and walk with me!
Be fruitful - go, go - so that a path of flowers be found in the wilderness
That they who come upon say, “where is the gardener who created thee?”
Growing in the darkness and wild desolation, “how could this be!”

Remember and observe
You left the garden, your home; on wings you arrived
Your forebears I planted; nourished from them I made you
They taught you my Torah, they testified of me
Now, farther away, more alone in the wilderness you wonder
In your distress you long for peace; you cry for justice
Have I not said, did you not hear? “Establish justice…multiply.”
Your toil is hard, you lament under the burden of the hod
With your tears, your blood, your sweat – all your sacrifices
They nourish and bring life, making the desert soil rich for your planting of life

Arise and sing!
You have allowed me to do wondrous things, you are strong: take heart!
All was designed for its purpose; some freely choose happiness
Others steal to increase, connive so you despair to toil for them, but yet you triumph!

Arise and sing!
The L-rd has mercy on all G-d’s designs; the L-rd exalted is King.
With toil you have planted, in joy you shall reap and go forth aloft
Exult in your triumphant work; like hardened steel you were cast, hammered in the forge.

Arise and sing my beloved!
Soon all the earth, all that is from the dust, shall sing and dance; shall know I am G-d the L-rd!
You will raise your spirits, with song you shall fly on the wind; breath shall not escape you
Ye who say you love me, majestic trees, steal no more and nourish my flowers; O that I be forgotten, but that my creations pursue peace and justice, living humbly and with mercy!

Arise and listen to my whisper in your ear, my bride of youth!
Fill the earth with splendor all my loves, I will establish you forever.
Augment your desire so that I may fulfill it
Great are those that show mercy to the small and stranger; fill my earth with such beauty!

Arise and listen!
The G-d of glory thunders, the L-rd flashes forth lightning
Gracious, merciful, loving Father and King; everlasting G-d of all that is for all eternity
More mighty and enduring than tumultuous waves; the holy L-rd King of hosts hears and is your uplift

I, G-d make the bowed upright: listen!

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Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 17 Jun 2009, 4:50 AM | Add Comment

Supplications for my hymn

Tehinot L'Tehillah

My lips quiver, my tongue falters
My voice goes hoarse, I barely breathe
O, L-rd, I am not a person of words
So how can dust praise You?
The utterance of my lips comes with toil, in sorrow
My words are muddled, they are fumbled as I try to sing
O, G-d, turn my words into a song, a new song make them
May my heart sing; lift me from the ash-heap, my King!
I taste peace; my insides are calm at night
Yet in the morning, my insides instruct me; I am afflicted and longing
Why for ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 16 Jun 2009, 3:04 AM | Add Comment

Mitzvah opportunities for YOU: I'm a new Israeli citizen!

                   I arrived in Israel as a new Israeli citizen (oleh chadash = new immigrant) just over 3 weeks ago.  That's been part of the reason why for about a month and a half there were no updates here.  I had a lot of things to do before this amazing journey of ascent (Aliyah) and the last couple weeks here have - you can imagine - been very busy.

                   Thankfully, I was able to finally post that 6-part series on "Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor" which I wrote back in April.  And ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 11 Jun 2009, 2:06 AM | Add Comment

Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor Series: Covenant and Partners in Creation

What’s interesting too is that G-d gave us a model of how to restructure ourselves after exile from the book of Ezra-Nehemia. The people agreed to the covenant; you could think of it as them signing the Torah (similarly how the US Constitution was signed by its representatives and then ratified by the people). They essentially agreed to be yoked to the mitzvoth (kabbalat mitzvoth) and to follow majority rule. While details on how to do this ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 10 Jun 2009, 5:22 AM | Add Comment

Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor Series: The King and Leadership Models

Judaism some will argue is essentially democratic, but this too is over simplification. In reality, there is a vast and broad section of political theory represented in the Torah. It’s not a top-down system (ruled solely by a king) nor is it bottom-up (ruled solely by majority or democracy) and it also has provisions in place to allow individual responsibility (that is, rather than “vigilantism” or anarchy there are legal prescriptions for how each individual can be free ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 10 Jun 2009, 5:01 AM | Add Comment

Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor Series: The Fence and Diversity

In Isaiah 5:5 we read of how G-d will remove the fence from around us during times of judgment because we have forsaken G-d and turned to believing in “the power and strength of my hand.” Evil is destructive by nature, it consumes and is greedy seeking ever more resources. Those bad seeds starve the good ones as it were. Evil is always lurking, always waiting to strike. All it takes is a ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 9 Jun 2009, 1:12 PM | Add Comment

Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor Series: Soil, plants, and animals

As mentioned in “Leaving seeds of Judaism” humanity is often
described in terms relating to the ground/earth/soil ("adam" in Hebrew): like seed, grass, trees
(as well as the kosher animals too). While
that entry goes into more detail, let’s discuss here the seed. A seed requires nourishment in the sources of
soil and water to grow and as it grows, it more or less decomposes/rots. The grass seed becomes grass by shedding its
seed, by ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 9 Jun 2009, 12:38 PM | Add Comment

Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor Series: Light/Candle

Most Westerners have heard the concept that humans are a “light.” Judaism has expounded on this providing many deep and complex layers over its many years of traditions, of which I recommend you research since this entry cannot provide the depth or breadth of our traditions.

Let’s analyze the aspects of the candle as a metaphor, imperfect as ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 9 Jun 2009, 12:23 PM | Add Comment

Injustice, Suffering, and Biblical Metaphor Series: Introduction

This is the first in a set of entries on the themes of injustice, suffering, pain, and in general the ideas of theodicy (the nature, role, and reason of evil in the world and if there is a Creator G-d if/since evil exists) and what our role in this world then is. Several biblical metaphors and passages are used to illuminate the discussion rather than solely be a philosophical treatise. I am attempting, like Kierkegaard perhaps, to blend ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 9 Jun 2009, 12:01 PM | Add Comment

Book Review: The Search Committee

Rabbi Marc Angel's first work of fiction, "The Search Committee" is a fantastic work that depicts the struggles of the Orthodox Jewish community today through the medium of soliloquy. A search committee has been formed by a yeshiva to find the new rosh yeshiva (head of the school; dean), after the passing of the former rosh yeshiva. The committee is essentially deciding between his son - the assumed successor - and a more "modern," charismatic, activist rabbi who ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 9 Jun 2009, 11:08 AM | Add Comment

Tentative thoughts to enhance prayer

                For much more info and a general and easily readable commentary on prayer and the siddur (prayerbook), "To Pray as a Jew" by Rabbi Hayyim David Halevy is a good place to start and includes information on the synagogue service & customs as well.  It can enhance your prayers or help you (re)connect to Judaism so that you don't feel lost or confused or out of place in synagogue.  For Iberian Sephardim, I recommend "Minhath Shelemo: A commentary on the book of prayer of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews" by Haham Dr. Solomon Gaon (it can benefit others too, but the ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 14 Apr 2009, 3:37 PM | Add Comment

Leaving seeds of Judaism

                    Moadim le-simcha!  Pesach has been feeling very special this year, with Aliyah around the corner (makes "next year in Jerusalem" more real and special), but also because I appreciate that as each year I grow more observant (an attitude that has been said in other ways as a lifelong ambition, to strive to more fully comprehend, put kavvanah into, and master the details of) it always seems to add a new dimension of spirituality each year.  So what is true this year was true last year in some senses, but some years you learn different things and they bring with ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 12 Apr 2009, 1:43 AM | Add Comment

False War Crimes Charges vs Israel

Isi Leibler, who had written a booklet about Jewish religious extremism (published by the SEC) and the threat it poses back in the 90's, has recently written an article regarding the false war crimes allegations against Israel.  After the article, some of my thoughts appear below it.


The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals sent this out to me originally; they have other articles of interest which I highly recommend there on Torah Judaism.


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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1237727540280&pagename=JPArticle/ShowFull (original version)
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/ (version quoted below from his blog)

by Isi Leibler
April 1, 2009
The Jerusalem Post and the New York Jewish Week published articles in which I ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 6 Apr 2009, 12:06 PM | Add Comment

5 Ways to Misery

Aish has a funny and inspiring video called, "5 Ways to Misery."

Great for all of us to watch, remember, and think about.  . ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 22 Mar 2009, 2:46 PM | Add Comment

Free Shalit from Hamas

http://dogood.aish.com/gilad/

http://giladshalit.blogspot.com/

Write to your representatives: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

---

Regardless of your stance on Israel (i.e., those of you who do not stand by in solidarity with Israel), consider these words then:

1) Make the $300 Million US aid dependent on Gilad Shalit's release as Shalit is a human being.  Hamas is not negotiating or offering real demands - this is clear disdain for human life.  If this were a US soldier - your friend or family member - how would you feel?  Yes, feelings are legitimate here because this is humanity we are talking about here - not cold logic.  Even still, logic demands quid-pro-quo.  Israel ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 20 Mar 2009, 11:13 AM | Add Comment

Roots of the Economic Crisis: Time to Take Personal Stock?

Rabbi Boteach on the Spiritual roots of the crisis:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1236103145306&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Perhaps then as the Prophets enjoined us: this is the time to do acts of mercy, to pursue justice & rectify injustices, for self-examination (taking "personal stock & inventory" - clearly assessing ourselves, our limitations, challenges, resources, and talents that may not have much to do with things; we may find ourselves far richer that way), and for giving charity & taking care of the downtrodden & needy, which can be as simple as acts of kindness or spreading cheer ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 5 Mar 2009, 3:35 PM | Add Comment

Finding Beauty & Relevance in Shabbat and Mitzvoth (Commandments/Torah)

                    If you've read through the nearly three years of blogging I've done you've undoubtly sensed and read how I've become more observant over the years; and by observant I mean more halakhically observant of Oral Torah.  My love and passion for Judaism, Torah, and Israel has always been strong, but I have to say that my love and reverence for G-d and humanity especially have increased exponentially (as well as my love for Torah and Israel) through this process.  At my core, my eternal self, I am Jewish - that will never pass, never change; the more I study & ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 23 Feb 2009, 4:34 PM | Add Comment

Crisis, Blame, Intentions, and Consequences

                    Thank G-d because I was sorely troubled by what I perceive and threats and crises; they may yet be present, but I have more clarity of mind.  It's not that I see them as opportunities now or that now they reveal to me the light about to emerge from the darkness; that perspective stayed with me.  No, I was reminded in what I've learned over the years and what I've been writing about here over the months: see dangers and evil, but remain skeptical about blame and intentions.  That is, I don't want to assume a group is acting evil ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 23 Feb 2009, 10:12 AM | Add Comment

Beauty of and Love for Israel: Behind the Headlines

                    There are so many lovely, positve, and beautiful things about Israel that hardly gets reported and when it does, hardly goes beyond Jewish and Zionist circles.  Yes, conflict and problems sell news, but it also detracts people from seeing a more holistic perspective about Israel.

                    Visiting Israel you will notice people are generous, hospitable, friendly (they love visitors!), and take personal interest in you.  I remember one night I was in Tel Aviv and I was trying to find my way back to my hotel (turns out I had walked out of Tel Aviv!).  One man in particular just wanted to ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 22 Feb 2009, 1:26 PM | Add Comment

From Neediness to Happiness

                    I originally began to write a couple days ago about the universality of need.  I wasn't satisfied with the tone or direction it took.  B"H in preparation for Shabbat studies I usually read the weekly messages of various rabbis; often times I find much synchronicity in their writings as well as in my studies.  This week was one more example.  I'd encourage you especially to read what Rabbi Marc Angel, Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo, Rabbi Yosef Benarroch (SEC), and the rabbis at Isralight had to say this week (not to diminish ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 20 Feb 2009, 2:38 PM | Add Comment

Fundamental Axiom, Finding Purpose, and Self-Actualization

                    In a previous entry (http://BLOG.LIBERTARIANKING.COM/2009/02/11/maybeim-not-that-into-me.aspx) I touched upon the “fundamental axiom.”  An axiom is basically a self-evident truth.  Descartes’ famous contribution to modernism is “cogito ergo sum” or “I think therefore I am.”  Rather than get into details on this since one could research this on one’s own, the basic idea (in relation to this discussion) is the idea that at the deepest self-examination, Descartes argues, the most basic and fundamental truth is that “I exist.”

                    There’s another, more fundamental axiom, however.  If I exist, but I know I am not existent forever and that I had a genesis ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 17 Feb 2009, 7:47 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

The Lady of the House

A short story:

                    Rachel and Dan have five sons who live at home.  The home is simple with a garden, a farm, an orchard, and a vineyard in the valley under a mount, not far from the coast.  Everything they need they have there at home; they live a self-sufficient lifestyle.  Their community is spread out, but they all gather from time to time.  Slowly, one by one families begin to be attacked.  Some families are killed in their homes, others have their farms razed, some have their homes invaded & stolen, a variety of injustice starts to spread.  ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 17 Feb 2009, 12:29 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment

Light Emerging Through the Cracks

                    Struggling against the potential suffocation, tied so tightly and bound up, unable to cry out, a tear first starts and muffled sounds start to emerge, more and more the binds loosen and break, more and more pain & agnst take hold, then breath!  A large gasp, still bound, but now air flow gives renewed life.  A sudden surge, and BOOM!  A mighty sound!  The binds break, the shell is rent, the bound is loosened!  And out emerges...you, me!

                    Whether we're talking about a butterfly, a chick hatching from an egg, your muscles growing (first they break, then they heal & get ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 12 Feb 2009, 8:34 PM | Add Comment

Maybe…I’m just not that into me?

     The movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” portrays a variety of people in various circumstances making different choices while ultimately each is trying to find not only love, but their own self.


     Whether talking about the book, “You Don’t Have to Be Wrong For Me to Be Right” by Brad Hirschfield, the “70 Faces of Torah,” having humility before G-d, or even just simple wisdom we find a message underlying: variety is part and parcel of this world and so maybe there are more ways of looking at things than we could care to even acknowledge.  That is to ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 11 Feb 2009, 11:42 AM | Add Comment

Israel: To Fight Hypocrisy Using Truth and Kindness

                    At the heart of every conflict is "who is right" - that is, what side is the truth on.  Thus, before anything else we should attempt to fight back injustice with truth and acts of kindness to all (charity, befriending the stranger, visiting the sick, etc.).  Let's try to fill the world with light when so many others fill it with darkness whether through injustice, falsehood, or otherwise.  Yes, sometimes the truth stings and yes, sometimes genuine kindness too stings (as we know too, those who "make nice" to manipulate or hurt others stings poignantly as well).  Whether we harden ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 8 Feb 2009, 6:14 PM | Add Comment

Beauty Glowing in the Darkness

                 The fireplace flickers and shimmers in the dark of night mixing cold darkness with the prevailing warmth and light of the fire.  We passed by the fire in the warm sunny day, but now that night has fallen and a cold mist rolls in we take solace next to the fire; to embrace it’s warmth while the cold nips at us through currents in the air is like a warm embrace on a cold night – good and desiring more.


                 Here on this blog and in many places people are discussing the darkness that looms with anticipation, hope, fear, and ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 23 Jan 2009, 11:36 AM | Add Comment

Returning to Ourselves and the Source

                 Some of us may have trepidation about the economy and thus, our safety, homes, and future.  Some of us may worry about the future of Israel and world opinion, and thus fear for Israel or Diaspora Jewry.  Some of us may be suffering inside, perhaps only aware of it rarely, but can feel and know they are not the person they feel like deep inside or want to be.  Whatever the reason, deep down the questions that gnaw at us are those of existential yearning: who am I?  What is my purpose?


                 It’s not so difficult to see that the ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 23 Jan 2009, 10:52 AM | Add Comment

Symbiotic

                I wrote this a couple months ago, but was originally to be published elsewhere.  Since it has not yet been I will post it here (and if it does go up on the other site, I will remove it from here).


----


             Today something clicked; many things have been leading up to this sort of “Aha!” moment but I’d digress.  I was thinking today about a bird.  Sometimes animals have little to eat and are so hungry they devise ways to steal it from other animals that may have caught something already.  Sometimes a hungry animal will even ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 23 Jan 2009, 10:42 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Connections: Suffering, Longing, Healing, Redemption

                    Today is the 10th of Tevet (Asara B'Tevet, "a minor fast").  It marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem (though there were some precursors starting on the 8th too).  The fast today reminds us not about grief and mourning per se, but on the rebuilding and redemption that can, and indeed must if we are to live, take place in our lives.  Chabad has an excellent series of articles on the 10th of Tevet, specifically regarding universal human longings and challenges; I recommend them highly for all people to glean from.


                    In the last entry I discussed ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 6 Jan 2009, 1:15 PM | Add Comment

Dangers of messianic fervor

                    For as many rabbis who write about the moschiach and the redemption & resurrection as they pertain to our times, there are other rabbis who caution against messianic fervor and even say that it is mostly speculation and thus should be, for the most part, avoided.  On this, one can easily get swept away in the theological and halakhic implications & arguments by both sides which may in turn strengthen the resolve and convictions of the person on this very topic (despite that Judaism teaches us that we just don't know; there are a variety of ways things can ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 31 Dec 2008, 11:36 AM | Add Comment

Change of Direction

            As many of you, who by and large know me (as compared to a small general readership), who read this no doubt based on the entries and my behaviors it will probably come as no surprise that I am announcing a change of direction in the blog.  Over the last 2 or so years I have become increasingly observant and though I still dislike “boxing oneself to a category” I must admit that my practices and lifestyle have become essentially Orthodox.  That is not to say that I don’t need to learn more and observe more, performing more and more ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 16 Nov 2008, 4:09 PM | Add Comment

You Don't Have to Be Wrong For Me to Be Right

                I wanted to make sure I reiterated that this blog (not just this entry) and website are written as if I were having a conversation with a friend or someone conceivable through my network, and am asking questions and sharing my personal thoughts & feelings. So though I can at times use jargon or scholarly language in this voice, this blog/website conveys my ideas and perspectives. Think of it as you stumbling into me and us having a conversation rather than as if this were a research paper.

***

Recommendation for:
You Don’t Have to Be Wrong For Me to Be Right ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 14 Nov 2008, 3:53 PM | Add Comment

What I've Been Learning

                Strange as it may sound, I usually have to think of a title first before I blog (when I write other things, that quirk is not present).  I think it helps me to crystalize my thoughts since I typically blog quite differently than I write: this is more or less unplanned and impromptu.

                That said, I've wanted to share that there are many great teachers out there that I have had the priveledge to learn from.  I want to narrow it down to over the last few years; those years of my ailing health.  I've been recently trying to catch up ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 21 Sep 2008, 9:34 AM | Add Comment

Cleaning out the blog?

                I'm currently taking a break from an audio tele-webinar by Rabbi Simon Jacobson on "Discovering Your Personal Mission Statement" since the pain is severe and I've got a major headache.  I'm still trying to prep for Shabbat too; only a couple hours left and I'm visiting my friends (Weissman's) tonight who are such lovely people - they have made such a huge impact on my life and can't fathom it no matter how often I say it.

                I've had this thought in my head for a while and it felt the need to come out now.  I've been looking over this ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 19 Sep 2008, 1:50 PM | Add Comment

Overcoming negativity from health struggles

                My good friend "BAM" has been asking me for a while to write up something about myself and my health that he could post around.  Being that he also asked me to be funny, which is totally easy for me in person, but uh...challenging to say the least for me as a writer, then I'm going to just see whatever comes out of my mouth here.  :)

                Some people have laughed at me recently for following Animal Planet shows; but I just love critters!  And for me, I can't help but think Torah when I watch the programs (that one day, ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 18 Sep 2008, 10:10 AM | Add Comment

Musings on Epistemology and a short story about the world to come

                This entry is a pre-cursor to the articles I am going to post on Torah Echad soon.  One of them is "An Epistemology of Judaism: An attempt to offer renewed insight into faith and reason."  It will complement this one more fully.

                This entry is a starting point and also a way for me to introduce this idea and finish working out some kinks.  That said, this entry is not complete and I may even change some things when all is said and done.  I wrote the following many months ago, right near the onset of my latest (and worst) struggle ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 9 Sep 2008, 1:10 PM | Add Comment

Letter to the King in the Field

                    O gracious, beautiful, ruddy, merciful, just, giving, awesome King!  I come to you and come near your presence to ask you to make me a suitable servant unto you.  Open my lips that they may declare your praise.  Renew in me my spirit and open my heart that my contrite spirit and cries be pleasing unto you, my Salvation.  Place your Instruction upon my heart, verily in my heart, O L-rd G-d of hosts, so that I may walk in your ways and be holy as you are holy.  Raise me up a suitable minister for you, HaShem ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 8 Sep 2008, 11:44 PM | Add Comment

Us, We, Jews

B"H


 


                 It's funny; today I am in good spirits in many ways, but my body is in a lot of pain and losing more weight – I’ve dropped to 100 lbs.  I think it's time for me to go to Israel.  I'm not sure I can risk too much delay at this point; heck I can't even see the specialist doctor at UCLA until November despite his knowing the severity.  The doctors have tried many things, but don’t know the cause yet and tell me that they don’t know everything, ...<< MORE >>

Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 8 Sep 2008, 11:03 PM | Add Comment

Sorting my thoughts and some facts on the Presidential tickets

                I know I've stated here as of late that even though I don't think they are a good choice, but a better one than Obama, my conscience has driven me to question support of McCain/Palin.  It may come as a surprise, especially to my friends with whom I spoke at length on politics yesterday.  While enjoyable and enlightening, as any exchange of ideas can be, I became more aware of what I really believe.

                For instance, one often hears that McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time.  Well, aside from the fact that the President doesn't vote, this "statistic" brings ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 8 Sep 2008, 10:14 PM | Add Comment

A psalm unto my L-rd

                I may not be the best poet and I may not have a complete understanding of the structure of tehillim; heck, I'm not that proficient at Hebrew - but I still write from my heart, the proceeding psalm.  If only the "best bird" sang its song, then the world would be a more silent, less beautiful place as they say.

A Psalm unto my L-rd

I weep, my eyes swell up with tears.
I know not why I cry, I am baffled by my heart.
Holy people sing unto you, my weeping joins them.
People suffer, animals lonely seek peace;
I can't help but call out ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 4 Sep 2008, 11:52 PM | Add Comment

Who will win/lose the election?

                No, no I'm not here to make any predictions about whether Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin will win.  Though a year ago I liked Obama and even though I've blogged here in "defense" of McCain & Palin, at the end of the day I still think neither ticket is right.

                So in my opinion I think the American public will once again lose this election (but only to win later).  Sure, I think McCain & Palin are a better, safer pick for the U.S.A. but that doesn't mean I'm some Republican sock puppet.  In fact, I will point out what changes might ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 4 Sep 2008, 3:48 PM | Add Comment

What is communism anyway?

                Most people when they hear the concept "communism" automatically look under their brain's file of: economics.  While in some cases this is true, communism is much more than just a fiscal government framework or a type of regulated financial system.

                Marx's terms of socialism and communism are used today in pop-culture (the etic meaning) as economic policies or theories rather than political movements (which include social and economic policies), as was the emic meaning.  Socialism however did exist before Marx so the two terms, though similar are not interchangable (though some socialist schools are de facto communist and vice versa, but ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 3 Sep 2008, 1:29 PM | Add Comment

Palin and the pregnancy "morality police"

                Let me preface by saying that for a couple years I coordinated a teen pregnancy prevention program in California (and lobbied to save it) so that when I say what I'm about to say, you know where I am coming from.

                It's rather upsetting that the media is doing this to Palin's daughter and more upsetting is the hate-filled reaction from across both aisles.  Thankfully, also across both aisles is a sense of reason and moral dignity - thank you, Obama, for standing up and saying that to drag Palin's daughter through the mud is wrong.

                I almost don't want to write anymore because ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 2 Sep 2008, 5:33 PM | Add Comment

Kelal Yisrael

Introduction

                I want to highly recommend to all of you to check out the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals at www.jewishideas.org.  It's the brainchild of Rabbi Marc Angel (Congregation Shearith Israel in NY) and a truly important endeavor. Rabbi Angel argues for a more inclusive Orthodoxy and presents many halahkic (legal) insights and intellectual gems that speaks volumes about the relationship between Orthodoxy, the modern world, and kelal Yisrael (people, community of Israel; the Jewish people); he also sheds light on many upsetting and discriminatory practices and I applaud ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 31 Aug 2008, 10:24 AM | Add Comment

What the VP choices truly represent

                I've been shying away from discussing the presidential race on this blog of late mainly due to my disdain for the "propaganda machine."  In today's form of two-party politics, often many thinking-oriented people are left with the nagging question: "who do I believe?"  In many ways, it mirrors other aspects of life: religion vs. secularism, personal needs vs. the collective good, privatized health care vs. socialized medicine, etc - we see both sides of the issue and no one is clearly a winner, though often we associate or feel closer to one over the other.  As I've often said, prevalent dichotomous ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 30 Aug 2008, 9:58 PM | Add Comment

Manipulation as force: A New Look at International & Personal Relations

                This entry is a prelude to a longer treatise on government and politics that is still being compiled.  Given that the treatise for the main page is far from ready, I thought I would begin a discussion on it.  Thanks go to Jeff, for having brought this out in a recent discussion and encouraging me to discuss it (even though I do not feel completely ready yet with knowledge - so any who do or who would like to provide feedback or even helpful citations/sources, please email me or comment below).

                Not many people have concerned themselves with perhaps ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 24 Aug 2008, 4:27 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

Pluralism, authenticity, and movements in Judaism

                The purpose of this entry is not to give summary points or refutations for the various movements, but rather to continue to discuss the relationship between pluralism, authenticity, and the movements in Judaism with what Torah and tradition teaches to better understand that relationship.  This isn't a "become Orthodox" apologetic or any other movement's apologetic; it's an attempt to bring to the table the discussion that many people have inside themselves or in small circles, but for fear, intimidation, lack of knowledge, or whatever else do not discuss in larger public circles.

                So first off, can an authentic Judaism be pluralistic or ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 19 Jul 2008, 9:57 PM | Add Comment

Living with intent: Purpose vs Goals

                Serendipity and synchronicity have struck on multiple levels lately and those experiences guide this discussion: let's call it "getting what you want."  No, no, I'm not going to reveal "the secret" or anything like that (in fact, its obvious that living with intention is a clear foundation stone to success).  The underlying assumption herein is not just "getting what you want", but also "getting what is difficult to attain."  Maybe you really want a promotion at work, but someone else is poised to get it.  Maybe you love someone dearly who doesn't love you in that same way.  Maybe you ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 19 Jul 2008, 9:04 PM | Add Comment
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