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If there is one topic on which people of various religions disagree and argue, it is that of predestination vs. free will. Those who do not realize these two concepts can be compatible even argue that God does not exist, that He does not care about people, and a whole host of other misconceptions. The fact is the two concepts not only can be, but are, compatible.
I am confused. While flipping through the channels to find something for my daughter to watch for movie night (due to my own poor planning and forgetting to visit the video store), I ran across a showing of Mrs. Doubtfire, a film that I thoroughly enjoyed around her age. It features Robin Williams before the disasters like RV, back in his prime when he was the Hollywood funny man. I sure miss those days. Read more about Mrs. Doubtfire, 700 Club? Really?
The judgment to ban citizenship possibilities for Palestinians marrying Israeli's is sustained. Precedence for this ban is found in 2003 legislation that fumes about security and the need to maintain a Jewish-majority state. Human rights groups as well as civil rights groups have long seen this law as a violation of constitutional mandate. In the ruling given by Judge Asher Grunis, "Human rights do not prescribe national suicide".
Over the past several articles I have been covering some of the aspects visible in the continuing issues of the Middle East. It is quite certain that most people are familiar with many of the historical, social, and political issues that continue to arise in the diplomatic discussions and engagements that the United States, Israel, and the Palestinians have had over time and have at present. The recent bid by the Palestinians for statehood at the United Nations is a bold marker that there is a desire to move forward, but even as that is being pushed into the media spotlight there is conflict in Gaza. (At left is a picture of a Qassam rocket displayed in a town hall, with pictures of residents killed in rocket attacks).
The political progress in the Middle East is slow, but the support that the United States has shown for Israel through President Obama's speech at the United Nations is enormous. The Quartet has issued an outline for peace that follows a year-long timeline and also expressed hopes that Israel and the Palestinians will return to the peace table. The application to the United Nations once again brings the plight of the Palestinian people, as well as the issues that seem to block peace into the international spotlight.
This past week was a week like few others in recent memory. Newt Gingrich and additional candidates said that they would likely move the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel according to the Jerusalem Post and confirmed by other media outlets. Bold statements coming as the Quartet (photo at left shows representatives from the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations) express hopes that the Palestinians and the Israelis will make it to the peace table (JP).
Destabilization continues in the Middle East. Egypt has multiple protests at this point and multiple locations for those protests. Even, as elections are coming for the people there is a deep concern that the military rule of the nation will continue. However, it is not the Egyptian concern for military rule that particular concerns this article's author. It is the continued rise of an old form of Jihad. Here is a prime example of the dangers present to Israel from these new revolutions in the form of an additional third protest in Egypt. Organized over the past several weeks this protest has avowed the following goal: "save Al-Aqsa mosque from Israel".
It is almost the Arab winter. The Arab spring turned to summer, and then to fall, and now we approach winter and unrest throughout the Middle East continues unabated. The destabilization of the region has increased an already volatile region into violent clashes between protesters and their would-be-governments. The power of the personal computer as represented through blogging, up-to-date news, and a host of social functions has allowed, what appears to be a younger generation's rise to power through protest and international focus and attention.
None of this information is particularly new "news" to most people. However, the increase of violence in these uprisings is showing the emotional/psychological state of many in this vast region. Whether or not all generations are in agreement as to what their particular goals might be they still move forward with destabilizing their governments. The sources of strength that these protestors are relying on are in all reality radical formats of the same thing they are overthrowing. Religious movements that are espousing additional platform ideas support them, and they are bent on radical implementation of Moslem laws and possibly a poll tax for any who are not Moslem (and this writer does not doubt other measures, that Jews are already familiar with from history).
Read more about The Arab Winter
Many Americans, both Jewish and non-Jewish, have grown up with an understanding of kosher wine. Specifically, most know of the sweet, low-alcohol varieties made from concord grapes, namely Manischewitz and Mogen David. But what exactly separates kosher wine from non-kosher wine? And just as importantly, are those things relevant to modern Jews?
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Recently, an orthodox rabbi named Areleh Harel has received some media attention for his unconventional solution to the question of same-sex attraction in Judaism. Rabbi Harel has been performing weddings of homosexual men to homosexual women in an attempt to give them a place in the orthodox community, including the creation of families. This service has been extended to an online matchmaking service intended to pair homosexual Jews for just such unions. This, naturally, begs the question: Is this correct according to Jewish philosophy?
Read more about Areleh Harel and Gay Marriage in Judaism