Friday, September 11, 2020

How Nobel in Reason...

 Good afternoon to all.

It is Friday afternoon.  Candle-lighting is in less than four hours.  The hallah is not baked.  I have two sermons to write for Rosh Hashanah, as well as a little bit of music to learn.  Naturally, I am writing a blog entry.

Nominations for the Nobel Prize close on January 31st.  Winners are announced in October.  President Obama was nominated less than two weeks after he assumed the Oval Office.  In no way is it my intention to disparage him or the award.  Still, even he was surprised at receiving it.

In the last several weeks, Israel has signed a treaty with the United Arab Emirates.  As well, Kosovo and Serbia have made economic agreements with each other, and have recognized Israel.

Today, the news reports that Bahrain has also agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

All of these events came to fruition with the help of President Trump.

President Trump was also formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  The cynic in me doubts that he will receive the honour.  This is not because he does not deserve it.  It is because he would be fact-checked for saying that the sky is blue.  People will vote against him just because he is President Trump.

That being said, it is absolutely clear that the nomination of President Trump is entirely appropriate.  

Mr. President, congratulations on the nomination, and more importantly on the achievements behind it.

Shabbat Shalom to all.

R/SCG

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

The Importance of Proper Spelling...

 Good afternoon to all...

NYPD has throughout its history attempted to maintain good community relations.  In general, it has been successful.  I suspect further that it has been successful even in the last several months.  The reasons have finally become clear.  Besides having loyal and dedicated police officers, support staff, and up until recently, support from the city government, NYPD has also brought good theatre to the City of New York.

We observe such a commitment to theatre in the following screen shot.


Please note what I have highlighted.  Above and beyond the obligation to serve and protect, above and beyond maintaining good community relations, above and beyond the selfless willingness to pay the ultimate price in the service of the good people of New York (and the others), it appears that NYPD has a vaudeville actor on staff.  Sadly, it also appears that Mr. Chaplin is subject to the same challenges that many other New Yorkers face these days.

And more seriously, having initially seen this in the New York Post, the incident involved the chaplain.  There was no vaudeville.  Rav Jen and I happen to know Rabbi Kass.  He is a senior colleague, and has been with NYPD for as long as I can remember.  It appears he was injured very lightly.

To the nice folks at Fox, spelling counts.

Have a good day everyone.

R/SCG