Remember a few weeks ago when Ann Coulter taught the world that all would be perfect if Jews accepted Jesus and became “perfected” and if everything was like the Republican National Convention in NY in ’04?

Leah Kaufman, a senior at Temple University, wrote a funny song about Ann Coulter. Take a look at it on this you tube clip. Learn more about Leah here.
[hat tip to Unsealed Room]

I’ve watched some insightful, challenging, enjoyable television lately. I recommend the following programs:

Bill Moyer’s Journal, especially this week’s segments on: Regent University (or as some call it, G-d’s University) and the Costs of the Iraq War.

Secret Files of the Inquisition, a PBS series on the history up to and the time of the Inquisition (12th century forward). This series is based on Vatican archives of the time first opened to some in 1998. Apparently some find this series controversial. Some sites on the series are: a Catholic forum, Jerusalem Post introductory article, a blogger called “Mission Territory.”

What do you think?

Sitting on my couch and listening to NPR report election results (and cheering more than moaning – thank G-d) my hope for this country is increasing a tad. Maybe this will be real change. Maybe not.

What is Jewish about this post? What is Jewish about caring about elections?   Many things, in my opinion.

First, on voting – Jews have been prohibited from voting and participating in government in many of the countries in which we have lived. Voting is a privelege and, in America, Canada, Israel and other  countries it is a right.  I believe that voting is a right which all Americans (and etc) are obliged to take seriously.  This obligation is even heavier for Jews – for those who were never permitted to vote and for the principle of tikkun olam (the obligation to repair the world).

Tikkun olam appears throughout our texts – we must care about the world around us and we must  take part in making the world a better place.

Using the voices we have in the American government – voting, writing/talking to congressional personnel is our obligation and our right!

Columnist Ann Coulter has recently published a new book. In it she calls a group of 9-11 widows "self-obsessed" and acting "as if the terrorist attacks happened only to them." She also writes, "I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much," according to The Associated Press.

"And by the way, how do we know their husbands weren't planning to divorce these harpies? Now that their shelf life is dwindling, they better hurry up and appear in Playboy," The Daily News quoted the book as saying.

What a shame it is to defame the lives of the dead and the lives of their survivors for the purpose of politics. Each person has the right to their own political opinion. Judaism teaches us that each life is precious, created in the image of G-d. Passing jugdement for political purpsoe dishors the people defamed and the speaker. I hope the Ms. Coulter isn't in the unfortunate situation of having her deceased loved ones trampled and her own character defamed.

[Source for the quotations is the New York Times.]

It is hard to believe that the tragedies of September 11, 2001 happened four years ago today. In far too many ways, nothing has changed since that horrible day. We aren’t any closer as a country (in fact, I think recent events show that we are farther apart than ever) and more parts of the world dislike American than before.

This afternoon I participated in a small, quiet and reflective memorial. We each left the service with a clear marble for a tear and a flower for hope.

I pray that all those touched by 9-11 find some comfort and I pray that the day comes soon when our world will be focused on peace and not hate.

May salaam, shalom, peace spread throughout the world.