http://www.davegordonwrites.comAuthor, Journalist and Photographer Dave Gordonen-usFri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 ESTSat, 22 Nov 2008 06:53:35 ESThttp://www.davegordonwrites.comMIT Consulting RSS Feed Generator 1.0dave@davegordonwrites.com (Dave Gordon)dave@davegordonwrites.com (Dave Gordon) http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=430 This happens to be my bar mitzvah portion, and by sheer coincidence, speaks of the life and death of Sarah, which is also my mother s Hebrew name. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=429 Zodom and Aemorah and the five surrounding cities are about to be destroyed due to their terribly evil inhabitants. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=428 I recall what it was like to run for student council president in high school. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=427 If you saw someone doing something unethical, immoral or illegal, would you take the time to point it out or try to stop it? Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=426 My decade and a half as a writer has given me practice at how to say things with precision, how to say things clearly, and how best to deliver the message through words. Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=425 It is rather peculiar that Noach means comfort. Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=422 Why You re Wrong About the Right: Behind the Myths the Surprising Truth about Conservatives By S.E. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=423 There s so much to the opening of the Torah that whole books have been written on the basic themes of Creation, the first man and woman, the first sin, and the first murder. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=424 The divide between the Left and the Right isn t just about policy anymore. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=421 The Torah explains why Moses could not enter the land, because he broke faith at the waters of Meribath-kadesh, in front of the Children of Israel. Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=420 Fresh off of Yom Kippur, this parsha is a poetic recap of how God has created the world, is angered by sin, yet giving and benevolent even to those who go astray. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=419 A recent television show called My Name Is Earl, has the main character make a list of everyone he s wronged in his life, as he visits each of them to make amends. Sat, 4 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=418 Each year for the past few years the Conservatives have sent out Jewish New Years cards to tens of thousands of Jewish homes in Canada. Fri, 3 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=417 Many observant Jews have voiced objection against the choice of the federal election date, Oct. Thu, 2 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=416 An interesting parable from the Hasidic masters on recognizing another s point of view: There was a dialogue between a rabbi and his pupil. Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=415 A few outstanding imperatives in this parsha: do not take advantage of the orphan or widow; do not strike a person stealthily; have fair weights and measures; and don t move your neighbor s fence [to give you more land.] They all point to things people do that are deceptive, selfish, and often rationalized because great personal benefit can be derived. Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=414 1. Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=413 Being meticulous, fair, and ethical in judgement is so important that this parsha, called Judges, outlines that we are to appoint judges in every city, and never to pervert justice, such as with bribing. Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=412 The parsha explains the responsibility to give to the poor, and to lend them money if necessary, even if the shmitah year the seventh-year cycle, when debts are cancelled is approaching. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=410 Parenting is a tough job, and when kids' challenges make it tougher, some parents unwittingly choose the easy, but wrong, responses. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=411 Honorary doctorates used to be considered symbolic accolades for one s scholarly contributions, innovations, and oeuvre of literary contributions. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=408 Why are we obsessed with noise pollution, air pollution and water pollution, but almost never think about soul pollution? Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=409 In his self-published autobiography, Before I Forget, Arthur Stewart Collins recalled how in elementary school he reveled in learning. Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=407 In the beginning of the parsha, Moshe prays to God to ask him to reconsider letting him through to the Promised Land. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=406 Every time that a public figure makes an apology, I get a thrill out of dissecting it for its flaws. Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=405 After reading this parsha, I am reminded of the greatest advice for offering criticism I have ever read: A man convinced against his will, will be of the same opinion still. Fri, 8 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=404 It's a stereotype come true. Wed, 6 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=402 God pre-emptively avoids challenges over property, and possible civil war, by discussing the boundaries of Israel, how the land is divided among the tribes, and the cities of refuge. Sat, 2 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=401 FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, July 28, 2008 The Jewish Defense League, which began some forty years ago, with chapters in the US, and eventually various parts of Europe, reestablished its Canadian office more than a year ago from over a decade hiatus, and endeavours to counteract anti-Israel activism, while proactively filling a void they say is left by the established Jewish community. The JDL made its most recent public event in March when it hosted a lecture featuring Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin in Toronto for about 350 attendees. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=400 This parsha discusses the laws of verbal vows and how important it is to mean what you say, and keep your word. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.davegordonwrites.com/articles.php?id=399 We are often taught as children that being unkind is wrong. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST