Thoughtful as always. I post on Substack and write blogs for the same underlying reason as you: not only to share my feelings and thoughts, but to figure them out.
This situation is terrible. There is no winning. It feels like winning the current battle prolongs the never ending war, and maybe it does. At the same time, if the war is really never ending, then winning battles is the best anyone can hope for.
I also want to add a comment about life and its unpredictability. Every year on Yom Kippur we recite:
Who shall live and who shall die,
Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not,
Who shall perish by fire and who by water,
Who by sword and who by wild beast,
Who by hunger and who by thirst,
Who by earthquake and who by plague…
There is a pervasive post enlightenment arrogance that Judaism is the cure for, if only we'd take our medicine. These words are always true for each of us. The coil of our mortality is constant, and we don't know how or when we will die. Kids dancing at a party did not think they were taking mortal risk. We are all taking that mortal risk at all times.
And this is why Orthodox Jews ultimately have it right. When asked how they are doing, they will respond with "thank god" or "b'ezrat hashem"--with God's help. Without that help, without that cosmic luck, anything can happen at any time.
Thanks to you, Dr Bregman, for recommending I listen to Sam Harris' podcast The Bright Line Between Good and Evil. It is extraordinary. I recommend listening to it to everyone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-sense-with-sam-harris/id733163012?i=1000634032064
Thank you for writing words when we are speechless. It helps!
Can't see photo.
❤️🩹🇮🇱
Great writing. And great conceptual art photograph.
Maria
Why do you write?
To uncoil your mortality.
" Words fly away, written words remain."
Keep doing it Bertie, you do it well.
Thoughtful as always. I post on Substack and write blogs for the same underlying reason as you: not only to share my feelings and thoughts, but to figure them out.
This situation is terrible. There is no winning. It feels like winning the current battle prolongs the never ending war, and maybe it does. At the same time, if the war is really never ending, then winning battles is the best anyone can hope for.
I also want to add a comment about life and its unpredictability. Every year on Yom Kippur we recite:
Who shall live and who shall die,
Who shall reach the end of his days and who shall not,
Who shall perish by fire and who by water,
Who by sword and who by wild beast,
Who by hunger and who by thirst,
Who by earthquake and who by plague…
There is a pervasive post enlightenment arrogance that Judaism is the cure for, if only we'd take our medicine. These words are always true for each of us. The coil of our mortality is constant, and we don't know how or when we will die. Kids dancing at a party did not think they were taking mortal risk. We are all taking that mortal risk at all times.
And this is why Orthodox Jews ultimately have it right. When asked how they are doing, they will respond with "thank god" or "b'ezrat hashem"--with God's help. Without that help, without that cosmic luck, anything can happen at any time.
Really well said - I was looking forward to what you were going to write about this and it did not disappoint. Peace to you & yours.
Thank you for writing especially at a time when it feels like we are screaming into the void.
Among so many of your fabulous articles- this is your BEST yet! Yesher Koach.