Marijuana can make you stupider
-it is frightening how its use among teens is on the increase- an absolute indictment against those who favor its legalization
“people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost an average of 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38”
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
European Parliament election results: scary stuff!
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/26/far-right-europe-election_n_5391873.htm
The terrible tragedy of a Crown-Heights toddler falling to his death out a 6’th floor window is indescribable , and we feel the pain of the parents at this aweful time and wish them comfort, for what its worth.
It is absolutely frightening how many apartments in today’s day and age are not childproof, and this highlights the importance of adequate bars being installed on windows in order to help prevent such tragedies in the future- this should be a legal requirement.
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Another frightening legacy of Obama’s “foreign policy”- Al Qaida on our doorstep
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Syrian-al-Qaida-reach-foothills-of-Golan-Heights-353017
Children need to be trained to be passionate Torah Jews in a modern setting, not sheltered from modernity so they cannot face it.
this does not mean that we should expose our kids to everything bad and dangerous in the world- just like we wouldn’t allow them to drive without a driver’s license, or drive through a war-zone even with a license, we have to give our kids sensible boundaries as we train them for life.
Common Sense and much guidance needs to be used in order to find a balance between these two essential goals.
Justifying the unjustifiable
Why do so many people believe that it is a Torah requirement to justify unjustifiable behavior when it is carried out by great people?
The Gemoro I know says “In a situation where there is Chillul Hashem, we do not show respect for a teacher.” – in other words, one does not refrain from criticizing one’s own Rabbi, if Chilul Hashem is involved, even if it seems disrespectful. [Brachos 19b]
It also tells us that the obligation to rebuke one’s neighbor applies even to a student in front of his Rabbi [B.M. 31a]-
I have always asked my students to apply this halocho to me, and they have usually obliged!
obviously humility is needed when criticizing those greater than oneself, but refraining from doing so, or even worse, justifying actions of theirs that are clearly wrong, is not the Torah way- its the way of a different religion
echoes of the past with lessons for the future- we should never take extremist incitement lightly or pass it off as “only fringe lunacy”
May peace come to Israel, from within and without, and to the whole world.
http://www.torah.org/rabin/amital.html
I felt so nauseous over this yesterday, that its was hard to enjoy Shabbos. the very fact that a “Ben Torah” could even say such a thing in
“error”, or as a “joke” is probably reason to tear keriya.
things are getting out of hand and I fear that this incident will be swept under the carpet instead of the roots of the terrible rhetoric being addressed- hopefully, I am wrong
A Mechanech has to love his Talmidim, give them a love of Torah, AND teach them a lot- if he doesn’t do any of these, he is not a mechanech
yoniisaacson.com 