Tag Archives: law

Book Review: I Am Sonia Sotomayor

Posted on January 14, 2019 by

I Am Sonia Sotomayor, by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos How do you make one of the more problematic justices of the Supreme Court into the subject of a gushing hagiography for children?  The author shows the way to … Continue reading →

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Truth Is Not An Absolute Defense Against Lashon Hara

Posted on January 9, 2019 by

About fifteen years ago or so I was threatened with a libel lawsuit for copying an e-mail received and sending it to those who had been concerned about it.  And it is true that truth is an absolute defense against … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church of God, Musings | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Our Picture Of God’s Judgment

Posted on January 6, 2019 by

[Note:  The following is the prepared text for a sermonette given at the Portland congregation of the United Church of God on Sabbath, January 5, 2019.] Imagine the following scene.  You are on the third floor of the Washington County … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church of God, Musings, Psalms, Sermonettes, Sons of Korah | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Book Review: A Code Of Jewish Ethics: Volume I: You Shall Be Holy

Posted on December 20, 2018 by

A Code Of Jewish Ethics:  Volume I:  You Shall Be Holy, by Joseph Teluskhin While I wouldn’t consider my reading of this book an example of hate-reading, I read this book knowing that my thoughts on it would be somewhat … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Ten Commandments Of Character

Posted on December 20, 2018 by

The Ten Commandments Of Character:  Essential Advice For Living An Honorable, Ethical, Honest Life, by Joseph Telushkin This author provides about 300 pages of advice column material that is devoted around ten ethical principles that are clearly meant to parallel … Continue reading →

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Book Review: An Eye For An Eye

Posted on December 8, 2018 by

An Eye For An Eye:  A Rabbi Daniel Winter Mystery, by Joseph Teluskhin I am somewhat familiar with the author’s writing about Jewish legal interpretation [1] and the problem of anti-semitism, but until I read this novel I was unaware … Continue reading →

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The Subtle Coercion Of Events

Posted on December 5, 2018 by

This morning I had an instructive performance that was somewhat complex, and as part of my working out my complex feelings about it, I will write, as is my fashion.  So, I got up this morning and dressed up for … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

It’s All Fair Game

Posted on December 4, 2018 by

In our contemporary age, once someone is a public figure every aspect of their lives and behavior is viewed as fair game in attempting to destroy or discredit them.  It should be noted, though, that this tendency is not limited … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Midrash And Mishnah

Posted on November 11, 2018 by

Midrash And Mishnah:  A Study In The Early History Of The Halakah, by Jacob Z. Lauterbach There are a great many reasons why I looked forward to reading this book and enjoyed it so much.  For one, the book was … Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Ethics Of The Halakah

Posted on November 11, 2018 by

The Ethics Of The Halakah, by Jacob Zallel Lauterbach With friends like these, the halakah doesn’t need enemies.  Even if I did not find this to be the best of the author’s work, or even that accurate of a book … Continue reading →

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