SANDY -A WEEK LATER

Sandy arrived just about a week before the national elections and left behind a level of devastation which could be reasonably described as being of Biblical proportions. Such an event cannot go without reflection and comment.

Maybe the first thing to notice is the relatively small loss of life in relation to the extent of property damage and disruption Sandy left behind. Zev Brenner of Talkline Communications offered that Sandy's legacy is to remind everyone that what matters is what binds us together and not what separates us.

Maybe there are some lessons to take away from Sandy First and foremost everything comes from G-D and therefore even natural phenomena are part of Providence, G-D is sending a message and has a purpose.

Possibly there was decree against the US to suffer devastation and Sandy was sent in place of an Iranian Biological or Nuclear weapons.

Additionally in a but for the Grace of G-D go I  perspective the mistake one  makes in taking the circumstances of one's life for granted. Failing to see one's stuff as on loan or as D-vine gifts  maybe why G-D needed the send a wake up call, that houses, furnishings, cars, gadgets and toys are here to make life  easier and more comfortable but not just to provide pleasure but to facilitate our growth and further fulfill one's D-vinely given role in G-D's design.

Lastly before anyone criticizes Government's response to Sandy bear in mind the level of devastation was unprecedented. Certainly a multi state disaster is a situation that even proponents of small government acknowledge rightly falls under the jurisdiction of a Federal-Local partnership. As Katrina showed in the past and now with Sandy a doomsday plan needs to be in place so that those isolated by a Sandy like storm need not suffer unnecessarily. Friday November 2, 2012 on Red Eye Radio a caller from Manhattan spoke how he was sitting in a dark apartment, cold without food or water and with no inkling of help , not FEMA, National Guard or NYPD or FD the desperation was as frightening as it was heart wrenching. It is doubtful this fellow is alone.

Additionally, a report came out that electric workers came from Alabama to work on restoring service to stricken areas only to be turned back because they were not union. Imagine in the face of massive suffering on the most basic level  protecting one's economic interest remains more important-shame on you! The organizations designed to protect the average working man from exploitation would in turn use their power to exploit their power.

Though at the end of the election cycle maybe an issue for the coming year's agenda is how to prepare for the unimaginable a nation, region, State, City, community and as individuals.
This needs to go beyond  suggestions at www.ready.gov but encourage creation legions of first responders and channels of communications etc. with periodic drills etc. show just in case . Although ultimately one must remember life is  G-D's blessing along with all the world has to offer when used according to His design. 

UNITY DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING GOES

Recently Israel’s Attorney General decided that Reform and Conservative Rabbis should receive state salaries as ‘community leaders”  who would not be involved in rendering Halachic-Jewish Law decision. Sephardic Chief  Rabbi, the Rishon L’Zion, Shlomo Amar was adamant in his opposition.

Rav Amar’s commentswere denounced as divisive by the national leadership of  Federation as well as  the leadership of the Rabbinical Assembly.

In the interest of full disclosure this writer is ordained as a Rav by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and even though I agree with Rav Amar on the basis of religion. However, it as an attorney that I truly agree with the Rishon L’Zion .  The Chief Rabbi’s opposition against the recognition on any level of non-orthodox  Jewish clergy by the State of Israel begins a slippery slope fraught with unintended consequences.

Under principles of democracy and civil rights how does Reform or conservative enjoy more legitimacy than Karaites,  Ethiopian Commandment Keepers (not to be confused with real Ethiopian Jews) or Messianic Jews ET. Al?  Indeed as a teenager I recall a book that argued the present day Reform movement was part of a tradition of dissent beginning with the Sadducees and continuing through the generations including the Karaites, Shabbtai Zvi  etc . . .  Once notions of equality and democracy are applied over time what is included within the ambit of a principle tends to expand. It is doubtful that the civil rights activists that championed racial equality in 1960 envisioned they were opening the doors for  the disabled or sexual orientation? Most likely not however once the great historic forms of prejudice race and gender were addressed other groups previously viewed as different  eventually began to be seen as fitting the paradigm of discrimination deserving of the law’s protection.

Certainly I do not endorse discrimination against the disabled or anyone else for that matter. However, even good ideas need reasonable limitations. Under Israeli law religion has official status. One’s faith is connected to matters of personal status. Consequently being Jewish and Judaism cannot be loosely defined concepts. The absence of a common denominator leads only to confusion diluting Judaism’s official status particularly regarding marriages, divorces, Kashruth certification and conversion etc . . . However by recognizing a single standard rabbinate this is pretty much avoided. Otherwise the possibility is some time in the future the Chief Rabbi for the State of Israel would be commenting about how her favorite Yom Kippur morning breakfast is bacon & eggs just like her Jewish father. Extreme true but too far fetched? Honestly can one really be dismissive of this worst case scenario?

Rav Amar is so right to protest the Attorney General’s order is principled and must be supported. Rav Amar’s position is not in the least way divisive but actually a true cal for Jewish unity.