The Shmuz

When Adar enters we increase Joy. Yet how can we be happy when we live in such troubling times? From rockets falling daily on S'derot, to the brutal massacre of 8 of our Yeshiva Bochurim in Yeshivat Merkas HaRav -- It has been difficult to feel joy.

In the midst of it all many are troubled by the recent ban by Gadolim on a concert in America.

This Shmuz attempts to make sense of the events we are living through, and offers a perspective on our times. 

We know that the Torah is very exacting in regards to Loshon Horah: there are 17 negative and 14 positive commandments concerning disparaging speech.  In fact, the Rambam paskens like the Gemara, that the sin of Loshon Horah is worse than the sins of Idol worship; illicit relations, and bloodshed. The question is why? Of all of our activities why does the Torah see fit that this one should be dealt with so severely? What is so egregious, so horrific? After all its only words.. ..

This Shmuz deals with the Torah's view of the power of the spoken word, and its effect on human relationships.

The Palestinians have aspirations of political freedom as do every people. Their requests are merely of sovereignty and political rights-- and of course, once they have been granted these, they will live in harmony with their neighbors, recognizing Israel's right to peaceful coexistence. Or will they?

An opened minded view of the current situation brings grave doubts to the true desires of the Arabs in general and the Palestinians in particular. This Shmuz focuses on some of the underlying causes of the Arab's attitude towards the Jews, and why Western Culture has such difficulty relating to the core issue.

WARNING: If your worldview is shaped by CNN you will find this Shmuz disconcerting.

Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss.

Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't .

This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis.

Almost all of the people that we deal with are reasonable, well intentioned individuals. And so too, am I. Yet, in the course of life, there is conflict, hurtful words, vengeful acts And, in that rare moment of self honesty, I realize that everything that happens isn't the "other guys fault". I too, am to blame. There have been situations where I acted in a manner that was cold and callous. There have been times when I acted with cruelty and malice.  The question is why? It's not that I am not a nice guy, I know I am. Yet there are times when that's not the way I act. The question is why would a nice, caring individual act in a manner very inconsistent with that image? And more significantly what can I do about it?

This Shmuz focuses us on one of the keys to growing in all human relationships: learning to focus on the Inner Condition how people actually feel, and learning to ignore the Outer Condition the show that people put on to hide what is actually going on in their heart.