Archive for the 'Politics' Category
Don’t Be A Frog
Thursday, January 12th, 2023The Jews were not enslaved all at once. It was a step-by-step process. First special taxes were levied on them. Slowly more and more of their freedom was taken away until they suddenly realized that they were enslaved. Share on Facebook
The US is Not Just Another Country
Sunday, July 3rd, 2022פרשת חוקה / ד’ בתמוז תשפ”ב The Hebrew translation of the name of the US does not translate as “the United States” but as The Lands of the Agreement”. Hebrew is the only language that translates the US in this way. It is a recognition the US is not just another country but unique in […]
For the Sake of Heaven
Monday, June 27th, 2022פרשת קרח / כ”ח בסיון תשפ”ב The Mishna in Pirkei Avot mentions the difference between a disagreement for the sake of Heaven and for personal ego is the dispute between Shammai & Hillel, for the sake of Heaven, and Korach and his congregation for ego. The difference is that if the dispute is for the […]
Facts, Not Opinions
Thursday, June 23rd, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”ד בסיון תשפ”ב The problem with the men that Moses sent out to scout the land was that they let their egos get in the way. They had a preconceived notion and bent the facts to their opinions. A true spy is unknown to all and presents the facts as they are, […]
Know When to Leave
Monday, June 20th, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”א בסיון תשפ”ב In this week’s portion we watch as Moses chooses the wrong people to scout out the Land. The problem with the men chosen was that they had a vested interest in staying in the wilderness. That they did not want to lose their position of leadership. Sometimes a leader […]
The Miracles of Jerusalem Day
Sunday, May 29th, 2022פרשת במדבר / כ”ח באייר תשפ”ב – מ”ג בעומר Today is the anniversary of the Liberation of Jerusalem in 1967. For Jews this was an open miracle. There were many miracles during the 6 Day War and Jerusalem’s liberation was the high point. The question is do we recognize it when God performs miracles for […]
Liberty & The Torah
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022פרשת בהר / ט”ז באייר תשפ”ב – ל”א בעומר In this week’s Portion the Torah ties liberty with property fights. Basically, when there is no ownership of property, there is no liberty. That is why one the quote on the Liberty Bell is found in this week’s Portion: Proclaim Liberty thro’ all the Land to […]
Mourning during the Omer
Sunday, May 1st, 2022פרשת קדושים – ט”ו בעמר / ל’ בניסן תשפ”ב We mourn Rebbe Akiva’s students death during the Omer. The official reason given is that they died from a plague. The reality is that they died fighting the Romans in the Bar-Kochba revolt. It is no accident that Israel Independence day happens during this period. Share […]
Do Not Fool Yourself
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022פרשת כי תישה / ט”ו באדר א’ תשפ”ב After witnessing the greatest miracles man had ever seen the Israelites chose to worship an idol that they had created rather than God who performed the miracles. This is perhaps the real reason that the Jews were punished, they refused to believe reality. Share on Facebook
The Andy Capp Defense
Friday, July 29th, 2016One of my favorite comic strips growing up was Andy Capp. It was about a no good layabout who justified his misbehavior in all manner of ways. In one of the classic strips the first panel shows Andy in a pub holding the hand of a young bar maid. In the next, his wife Flo […]
About the Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal is an Israeli-American, or an American-Israeli (I could never get that right) who is unabashedly pro-Israel, pro-US and a great guy.
He has an open mind to opinions that he agrees with.
Besides blogging on whatever he feels like blogging about on any given day he enjoys learning Talmud, davening, being the candyman in his synagogue, smoking his tobacco pipe, giving tours at the Grand Lodge of New York, being involved in Freemasonry, and partaking in an adult beverage every now and then