Years ago, I attended a funeral officiated by a prominent Los Angeles Conservative rabbi. In his remarks at the grave site, he told the grieving family and friends of the deceased that Judaism does not affirm a belief in an afterlife, rather “we live on through our good works and in the memories of loved ones.”
Given these difficult economic times, I would like to make a suggestion that, if enacted, can save many readers $200,000 or more per child. Do not send your son or daughter to an expensive college.
For my first column as a contributing writer for The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, I thought I would share some thoughts on 40 years in Jewish life and introduce myself to readers through a brief, specifically Jewish, autobiography.
Harvard Law professor Alan M. Dershowitz is that rare individual who is both a highly respected academic and well known to the general population.
Early this past summer, Mel Gibson invited me to see \”The Passion,\” his film on the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. The invitation was significant in that I was the first practicing Jew and active member of the American Jewish community to be invited.
Decades of lecturing around America and of speaking with parents on my radio show have led me to an incredible conclusion: More American parents would be upset with their teenage children if they smoked a cigarette than if they cheated on a test.
Some Americans apparently believe that we have gone to war with Iraq \”because of the Jews.\” Having written a book explaining anti-Semitism (\”Why the Jews?
The Reason for Anti-Semitism,\” Simon & Schuster, 1983), all I can do is marvel at the durability of anti-Semitism and the eternality of the charge that the Jews are responsible for everything anti-Semites fear.
No group in the world has been the target of nearly as many twisted and ludicrous accusations.
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This past Saturday, something extraordinarily rare took place: My team, the Anaheim Angels, was positioned to win a post-season series — against the New York Yankees no less. And my friend and radio colleague Hugh Hewitt, who could not use his seats (first row, near home plate), sent them to me.
Is there an issues that some Hollywood star — director, producer, actor actress — has not publicly commented on? It\’s hard to name one. Producer-director Rob Reiner has devoted years to imposing onerous taxes on poor people who smoke and to putting perhaps half of California\’s cigar and pipe stores out of business. Barbra Streisand has devoted yeoman efforts to promoting leftist causes (sometimes with malice, as in her recent letter to House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt in which she writes that \”industries, run by big Republican donors and insiders, clearly have much to gain if we go to war against Iraq\”). Ed Asner has devoted much of his life to defending leftist tyrannies.
During Passover and on Good Friday the Los Angeles Times published a front-page article titled \”Doubting the Story of Exodus.\”
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