Abraham Wasn't Electable--But He Was Elected!--Thoughts on Parashat Lekh Lekha, by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

Abraham must have been a very unpopular man in the society and family in which he was raised. He wouldn't likely have been elected to lead the citizenry of Ur Kasdim. He rejected their worldview, smashed their idols, repudiated their (un)ethical system. Who would vote for Abraham? He was a starry-eyed mystic and philosopher, not interested in pandering to the values and interests of his fellow citizens.

test 7

Ei pri reque omittam inimicus, eleifend repudiare cu eum, sumo dicunt disputationi has at. Liber eligendi phaedrum vis ea, exerci altera pertinax an vel, eripuit maluisset ut mea. Duo ne invenire suscipiantur vituperatoribus. Eos utroque fastidii ut. Nec ridens antiopam liberavisse an, dolore menandri percipitur ut his. Mel no unum sale lorem. Cu percipit constituto cum.
 
Delectus voluptatum et duo. Purto assentior ad his. Ut eos quando volumus, no modo elit cum, maiorum vulputate eum ei. Mei ut partem commodo interpretaris, eu eum graece atomorum.

test 7

Ex eum diam vide vulputate. Eu elit euismod volutpat sea. Quem populo nominati ius ad. Nam falli aperiri ei. Alterum explicari nec ei, omnium aliquam eu sit, mea lorem moderatius accommodare eu.
 
Te has quem corpora. At modus assentior quo, alii putant copiosae cu sit. Pro odio ubique ut, te eam mazim incorrupte. Ridens omnesque persequeris eu sit. Tota verear id vis, nam ad assum omnium, ei eum amet perpetua expetendis.
 

test 6

Ex eum diam vide vulputate. Eu elit euismod volutpat sea. Quem populo nominati ius ad. Nam falli aperiri ei. Alterum explicari nec ei, omnium aliquam eu sit, mea lorem moderatius accommodare eu.
 
Te has quem corpora. At modus assentior quo, alii putant copiosae cu sit. Pro odio ubique ut, te eam mazim incorrupte. Ridens omnesque persequeris eu sit. Tota verear id vis, nam ad assum omnium, ei eum amet perpetua expetendis.
 

Electronic Lashon Hara: Thoughts on Parashat Ki Tetzei

Modern technology makes it easy to dehumanize others. People can lodge the cruelest and most outlandish charges—without ever having to face the victims of their venom, without ever having to consider the ultimate impact of their “lashon hara”.  They feel that it’s ok for them to vent, to call names, to discredit others—because they don’t see these “others” as fellow human beings.

A Spirituality Crisis: Thoughts for Parashat Balak

A Spirituality Crisis
by Rabbi Marc D. Angel
(from jewishideas.org)

There is a feeling among many Jews, including many Orthodox Jews, that worship in the synagogue lacks adequate inspiration and spirituality. Among the complaints: the synagogue ritual is chanted by rote; the prayers are recited too quickly; the prayers are recited too slowly; the service is not understood by congregants; people talk too much in synagogue; the services do not involve everyone in a meaningful way.