In Defense of Liberty
Sharing reflections & musings on many topics and humor from a Jewish perspective. Earlier entries are sign posts - markers along the journey as I've changed.
In Defense of Liberty

Book Recommendation: The Well Dressed Ape

I recently finished Hannah Holmes' "The Well Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself The Well Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself."  Hannah Holmes is the author of Suburban Safari and a science journalist.  In "The Well Dressed Ape" she approaches humans as an animal species, describing us from our biological, evolutionary, and anthropological development.  Though she often writes from the first-person, she does try to present the human animal in the way scientists use a "fact sheet" to describe the behaviors, ... << MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 2 Sep 2010, 12:59 PM | Add Comment

End of one chapter, start of another

                        Next month this blog and Torah Echad will no longer be online and operational.  The website for Libertarian King may still be around, but if so, will be redesigned.

                        This isn't a sad time; life has become busier and I'm focusing on working on a book project.  So most of my writing will be directed towards those ends.  That was partially why I've been less active with updating the websites.  Also, financially I can no longer afford to pay for these sites (as ...
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Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 4 Feb 2010, 4:01 PM | Add Comment

It's not always the system, it's always about us

                        Even though they know better, people often spend time working on ...
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Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 14 Jan 2010, 2:17 PM | Add Comment

Political Policy Research: Fundamentalism, Science, and Skepticism

                    The vitriol in current American politics is staggering.  Many partisans act as if politics is a rigorous science that can be proven like the "hard" sciences can.  Policy research for example does not take place in controlled environments, is not subjected to double-blind trials, and cannot be reproduced or replicated in the way that physics research can for instance.  When supporters of this or that policy cite "facts" they can often be met with resistance by dissenters with "opposing facts."  The nature of politics is such that one cannot rule out multiple causes (remember: correlation does not equal causation) ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 4 Oct 2009, 7:29 AM | Add Comment

The relationship between religion, skepticism, and plot holes in geeky movies

                        Wired just released the "Top 10 Unanswered Questions in Geeky Movies."  As I was reading through the comments, on page 4, I came across two comments that succinctly explain the skeptic's case regarding religion and the idea of G-d.

                        "Theoretically, there are no [plot] holes in fictional movies...anyone can derive a fictional answer to fix the hole."

And

                        "The definition of 'Geek': Someone ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 29 Sep 2009, 10:58 AM | Add Comment

Book Review: Who Am I? by Steven Reiss, PhD


                        Dr. Steven Reiss' book, "Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities" is an excellent book that offers insights not only into personal psychology, but politics, sociology, and religion.  Dr. ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 26 Sep 2009, 5:28 PM | Add Comment

Tragedy not Travesty

                        Ok, please people - especially you Hollywood - a travesty is not a synonym for tragedy.  Please stop using the word as such replacing tragedy with the "cooler" sounding travesty.  A travesty is a burlesque or gross imitation.  It is an exaggeration, especially of a literary work; in other words a parody.  It can mean a debased likeness, it ridicules something disguising or making the likeness thereof grotesque or distorted.  There is a big difference between that and tragedy, which is about calamity, suffering, drama, especially in literary or dramatic works.  People often try ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 20 Sep 2009, 4:40 PM | Add Comment

Values of Agnosticism

                        Over the years I've asked a lot of questions and written down many of my thoughts on the idea: "does G-d exist?"  All my life actually, but more so on this blog and in my other writings about philosophy and if G-d exists.  And if so, how does that relate to us?  I've written that, as a Jew, even if I found out G-d did not exist that I would still practice Judaism.  Ok, so maybe not Orthodoxy, or at least the more ritual observances, but the moral aspects; at my ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 10 Sep 2009, 2:35 PM | Add Comment

Jewish Ideas Article: Moving to Israel

                        It's been posted for a while and I was waiting partially because the formatting was off...but then I just forgot.

                        Here is an article I wrote for the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals an Aliyah Diary called Moving to Israel: A Dream, A Reality.

...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 10 Sep 2009, 2:25 PM | Add Comment

Some Historical and Sociological Analysis on Political Parties

                        While this entry may in fact turn out to be published later in another format, right now it is just to sort out, organize, and conjure my thoughts for expression on the nature of world politics at the moment.  The stark question – really the only one that matters – is what is right for the defense of liberty and human rights?  Oppression, tyranny, and injustice cannot be abided, no matter what platform a party or group espouses.


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Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 1 Sep 2009, 11:39 AM | Add Comment

What You See is What You Get?

                        In sports and martial arts one of the things you learn is where to put your sight.  For instance, if you want to break a board, see through it - don't look directly at the board, but try to see "past" it.  If you want to jump a curb on your bike, you have to look to where you want to land, not on the obstacle to jump.  If you want to turn on a snowboard, you turn to face that direction; if you want to avoid trees, avoid looking at them!  Then there's ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 30 Aug 2009, 5:16 AM | Add Comment

A healthy dose of Skepticism is in order

                        I didn't want to go a whole month without blogging, lol!  I've been busy working on my book manuscript as well as trying to make a living (or should I say, trying to live?).  :)  That's not to say I haven't done writing for the blog, in fact I have.  Only I'm not yet ready to post it.  Soon actually my main website that hosts this blog will undergo major revision.

                        Huh, I guess that's more metaphor than I intended.  Suffice to say that my life has much more ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 29 Aug 2009, 9:44 AM | Add Comment

Sweeping our floors for Tisha B'Av

                        On Tisha B'Av kinnot (elegies, dirges) are read in many communities.  They differ based on the community and the writers that produced them.  In the Iberian (Spanish & Portuguese) Sephardic tradition these kinnot come from the times of the Inquisition and Explusion from Spain (the expulsion was announced around the time of Tisha B'Av).  One of the major characteristics of these kinnot is the demand for G-d's justice.  Some communities and leaders were more quick to just accept with reticense these events as punishments.  Others however, still could not fathom such suffering and ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 30 Jul 2009, 4:18 AM | Add Comment

JPost: False Messiahs Bring Real Misery

Below is a link to my article in JPost (Jerusalem Post) on the relationship between false messiah Shabbatai Sevi and Tisha B'Av (for instance, some believe the messiah/moschiach will be born on Tisha B'Av and Shabbatai Sevi was born on Tisha B'Av in the 17th century).  The editors summation of my article "False Messiahs Bring Real Misery," from the front page of JPost: "The best way to achieve salvation is to focus on doing good in the here and now."

You can read the article here  (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277926006&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull).

For those of ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 30 Jul 2009, 2:17 AM | Add Comment

Short thoughts about the animals in Israel

                   Over the course of living in Israel I've had the opportunity to watch the animals living here.  Animals often give us a very interesting perspective on the people and land. This is almost self-evident since the animals of a house will provide insight into the goings on of that household.  Torah also makes this point, like in the book of Yonah (Jonah) and elsewhere.  You're free to accept or reject this premise as I don't want to spend much time focusing on it.  Rather, I'd like to give some short thoughts about the animals in ...<< MORE >>
Posted by Shomer Tiferet at 19 Jul 2009, 1:42 AM | Add Comment

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, ...<< MORE >>
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

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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).


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             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
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