Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
L'Shanah Tovah and Shabbat Shalom!!
Send this eCard !On October 29, 1944 a voice rose in Germany that attested Am Chai Israel!
“We bring you now a special broadcast of historic significance: The first Jewish religious service broadcast from Germany since the advent of Hitler.”
Cantor Max Fuchs
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Community Organizers
There’s been a great deal in the news about community organizers. Our country has a long history of community organizers. In fact, some of the most radical ones in our history were from the late 1700s. These radicals included John Hancock, John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and many, many others.
These men were filled with radical ideas. They saw a vision of the colonies becoming united states with a common theme that all men were created equal with unalienable rights and that laws should not be unfair.
One of their biggest beefs was unjust taxes. Under President Bush the following occurred after President Bush cut taxes:
One of the biggest arguments for cutting taxes is that it will help spur the economy. We did not see that happen. Instead, we saw a decline in income for the majority of Americans.
These men were filled with radical ideas. They saw a vision of the colonies becoming united states with a common theme that all men were created equal with unalienable rights and that laws should not be unfair.
One of their biggest beefs was unjust taxes. Under President Bush the following occurred after President Bush cut taxes:
The poverty rate in 2008 rose to 13.2 percent, the highest in 11 years, while median household income fell to $50,303. Ten years earlier, adjusted for inflation, it was $51,295.
Of course this reflects the ravages of a horrid recession. But the decline started before the collapse in the housing and financial sectors — and it was calculated, in the eyes of some.
Harvard economist Lawrence Katz called it “a plutocratic boom.” If anything comes close to defining the era, that would be my nomination. President Bush cut $1.3 trillion in taxes — and the biggest beneficiaries by far were the top 1 percent of earners. At the same time, Wall Street was inflated by the helium of a regulation-free economy that eventually gave us Bernie Madoff and banks begging for bailouts.
One of the biggest arguments for cutting taxes is that it will help spur the economy. We did not see that happen. Instead, we saw a decline in income for the majority of Americans.
Now consider the people who showed up in a state of generalized rage in Washington over the weekend. They have no leaders, save a self-described rodeo clown — Glenn Beck of Fox News — and some well-funded Astroturf outfits from the permanent lobbying class inside the Beltway. They are loosely organized under a Tea Party movement, but these people are closer to British Tories than 18th century patriots with a love of equality.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
New Year Greetings
Standing Together has greeting cards you can send to Israeli soldiers for Rosh HaShanah.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
1984
It had been 25 years since I last read 1984 by George Orwell. The first time I read it, I couldn't really visualize the description of the Two Minute Hate and people becoming riled up to the extent they were in the book. But now that I see the hour long hate-fest by Glenn Beck, the moronic writings of Pat Buchanan, and the hate Rush Limbaugh spews, I can understand a little better.
Friday, August 28, 2009
My Katrina: Four Years
Looking at all the rebuilding and reconstruction that has happened since Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast four years, I can still recall the feeling of despondency at all the destruction Katrina caused. One of the hardest places to visit was the beach at Gulfport. This is where I spent a lot of my childhood and where I took my son when he was younger. These pictures are also from my brother's neighborhood.
Biloxi's beach was annihilated by Hurricane Katrina. Buildings over 150 years old were just gone. Below is the harbor master's building.
This a view from Water street in Biloxi looking toward some condominiums that have since been torn down.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed the place I work. We've since rebuilt but this is what it looked like.
The FEMA trailers helped give shelter to those who lost their homes. 65,000 homes were destroyed in Mississippi by Hurricane Katrina.
This is a photo of Bay St Louis. In front the house used to be a road. It was completely washed out by Hurricane Katrina. Bay St Louis was inundated by an estimated 24 foot storm surge. It is an estimate because many of the instruments used to determine storm surge were washed out to sea. Many feel that Katrina's storm surge was much higher.
Below are some posts I did 4 years ago:
This one was done while waiting for Katrina. It was 9 days before I could post again.
This was my first post after electricity had been restored.
This was my first trip to Biloxi after Katrina.
My first glance of where I work.
Thankful for all those who came and helped us
Sobering stats
My New World
We are still rebuilding. I made the following video last year. I hope we and those in New Orleans continue to dance and to rebuild stronger, together.
I feel so thankful. Even though it's been hard these past four years, I thank HaShem that no one in my family lost their homes, that no one I knew lost their lives, and that things have improved tremendously. I cannot describe the joy my congregation felt as we dedicated our new synagogue in May of this year and that we will be able to have our High Holy Day services in our synagogue and not at the Keesler Air Force Base chapel.
Biloxi's beach was annihilated by Hurricane Katrina. Buildings over 150 years old were just gone. Below is the harbor master's building.
This a view from Water street in Biloxi looking toward some condominiums that have since been torn down.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed the place I work. We've since rebuilt but this is what it looked like.
The FEMA trailers helped give shelter to those who lost their homes. 65,000 homes were destroyed in Mississippi by Hurricane Katrina.
This is a photo of Bay St Louis. In front the house used to be a road. It was completely washed out by Hurricane Katrina. Bay St Louis was inundated by an estimated 24 foot storm surge. It is an estimate because many of the instruments used to determine storm surge were washed out to sea. Many feel that Katrina's storm surge was much higher.
Below are some posts I did 4 years ago:
This one was done while waiting for Katrina. It was 9 days before I could post again.
This was my first post after electricity had been restored.
This was my first trip to Biloxi after Katrina.
My first glance of where I work.
Thankful for all those who came and helped us
Sobering stats
My New World
We are still rebuilding. I made the following video last year. I hope we and those in New Orleans continue to dance and to rebuild stronger, together.
I feel so thankful. Even though it's been hard these past four years, I thank HaShem that no one in my family lost their homes, that no one I knew lost their lives, and that things have improved tremendously. I cannot describe the joy my congregation felt as we dedicated our new synagogue in May of this year and that we will be able to have our High Holy Day services in our synagogue and not at the Keesler Air Force Base chapel.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Memories
Saturday will mark the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I've been thinking about the things I was doing and the feelings I had while we watching the weather reports.
BK (before Katrina), hurricanes to me were a source of fascination and wonder. They still are but now it is tempered by the knowledge of the great destructive powers hurricanes can hold.
If I remember correctly, I had my son mow the grass and at work, I started planning the times I would begin making computer backups.
I remember going out to take photos after work and there was this sense of urgency to take photos of everything along the beach front. It was an urgency I didn't heed.
Who could imagine everything being wiped away?
I remember the dreams I had before Katrina hit. Nightmares really of a red sky and howling winds. Having been through Frederick, Georges, and other hurricanes that came at night, I knew the skies are usually very dark with an eery glow. The glow seems to speak of the awesome power of the hurricane.
Little did I know the awesome power Hurricane Katrina was set to unleash upon the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
BK (before Katrina), hurricanes to me were a source of fascination and wonder. They still are but now it is tempered by the knowledge of the great destructive powers hurricanes can hold.
If I remember correctly, I had my son mow the grass and at work, I started planning the times I would begin making computer backups.
I remember going out to take photos after work and there was this sense of urgency to take photos of everything along the beach front. It was an urgency I didn't heed.
Who could imagine everything being wiped away?
I remember the dreams I had before Katrina hit. Nightmares really of a red sky and howling winds. Having been through Frederick, Georges, and other hurricanes that came at night, I knew the skies are usually very dark with an eery glow. The glow seems to speak of the awesome power of the hurricane.
Little did I know the awesome power Hurricane Katrina was set to unleash upon the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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