Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's edition of Laura's Links.
I'm glad that Yom Kippur is over – it was actually very meaningful and went by surprisingly fast for me this year and without the caffeine withdrawal headache I experienced during the last fast that I did (different holiday).
Not surprisingly, like Israeli journalist Haviv Rettig Gur, I had a lot of Big Thoughts throughout the day on a bunch of different topics. There are several things that I want to work on in terms of improving myself this New Year. And when I say 'improving myself' I mean working on closer observance of some of the commandments ("mitzvot") that I believe will really make a difference for me, those closest to me and to circles beyond my own – and bring me closer to G-d.
I was thinking a lot about how "baseless hatred" (or "Sinat Chinam" in Hebrew) has been responsible for many of the greatest disasters that have befallen the Jewish people, and how baseless, or "unfettered" or "boundless", love is the antidote to that.
It's not a big secret that I harbour some, err, ok, a lot of hatred toward members of my tribe (and non-tribe) who are on the extreme left. I'm working out how I can remain politically active, and write about this ideological and existential problem, staying true to my principles, but without "baseless hatred" (and also taking into consideration Judaism's very strict prohibitions against gossip). ACK!!!! How do I warn people about the danger without speaking about specific persons affiliated with the ideology? It's complicated! HALP.
The other thing I thought a lot about is worship.
In Hebrew and in Judaism there is a concept called "Avodat Hashem". Avoda is work and Hashem is G-d. So this phrase is really a multilayer concept. It means that worship is work. It's not something that happens without effort. It's not leisurely. It's concerted and purposeful. But this work bears fruit. Sometimes it's physical and sometimes metaphysical. And there are different kinds of work, different kinds of occupations.
I kind of had an epiphany about this over Yom Kippur. It occurred to me that taking care of a vulnerable human being (my son) is Avodat Hashem. If G-d has entrusted such a vulnerable human, someone who cannot take care of himself, to me, I need to see this as a form of worship. I believe it is. I will, of course, speak to people more learned on this concept, like Rabbis, etc., about these thoughts and read some more as well. I'll keep you posted on these things if there's interest.
I know these past few columns have been very Jewy, and that's because this is the season of Jewish holidays. Wednesday night is also the start of the Sukkot holiday (one week) which culminates in Simchat Torah. And then, frens, we're done till Chanukah, so do bear with me!
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In more secular news, as usual, the world is still a big mess, which is a bummer for the planet and most humans, but grist for the mill for all those of us in the news, or "news adjacent", biz. As a result, there's always lots to talk about and lots to link to, so do check out the robust stash of stories down below.
Have a great weekend, and see you next week!
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North America:
Behold: the "new masculinity" according to the demonic left.
They hate you.
Debt Doom is coming. Mark has been warning about this for decades.
Katie Hopkins is right. The most profitable industry in the world is indeed the trade in human flesh. And I am disgusted and appalled by the many Jewish and other faith-based organizations that have their fingerprints all over this mess and are profiting from it. Absolutely disgusting.
Canada is such a stupid place.
Every accusation is a confession.
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Jews and Israel:
Need more of this.
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Jewish Wisdom:
Walkbackening:
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Europe:
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The Formerly Great Britain:
Everything seems fine in jolly old England.
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Wokestapo and Kooks:
Apparently, a conservative is a liberal who gets dry h-mped by drug addicted homeless men while walking her dog.
"The left wants you to live in a small, poor world where sorry lefty tyrants are on top. Don't let that happen.
More here.
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Human and Canine Grace:
"Worrying is like worshiping the problem." Yes.
Blackshaming by Obama: FAIL
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