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July 8, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Duty to save gullible from themselves?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Islamists have the West just where they want us

JWisdom:: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 3: The Fully Loaded Human Being by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 3, 2008

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget (TOUCHING!)

Jeff Jacoby: Israel still paying for its defeat

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part IV by Rabbi David Aaron

JWisdom:: The Moses Method by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 2, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Appeasers Make Poor Patriots

The Kosher Gourmet By Kathleen Purvis: Slaw, y'all: For BBQs or Sabbath dinner, these southern recipes are something else!

JWisdom:: Rabbi Mordechai Becher: Jewish Rx for A Simpler Life

July 1, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. I think it's important to leave a legacy to my children. How much should I save towards this end?

Paul Greenberg:A President who is history deficient?

JWisdom:: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Poland's Unique Antisemitism

June 30, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Remembering the architect of Torah Judaism for the modern world

Abe Novick: Hulk: Still a Jew?

JWisdom: : Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality, Part 2: The Abandoned Child

June 26, 2008

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Quantum leap to evil

Caroline B. Glick: Victimized families must not be allowed to dictate policy

June 25, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Today in Biblical History: King Jeroboam of Israel prevents pilgrimage to Jerusalem

Jonathan Tobin: Real Friends and Real Enemies

JWisdom: Raping of reason By Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 25, 2008

Steven Emerson: Kristof: Never Mind the Terrorists

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: Mediterranean Flyover: Telegraphing an Israeli Punch?

JWisdom: Rabbi David Aaron: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part III

June 24, 2008

Caroline B. Glick: What were they thinking!?

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Guilty knowledge

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Warping Innocence

June 23, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Diploma dilemma

Jeff Jacoby: A world without children

JWisdom: Rabbi Dovid Gross: Putting the Spirit Back into Spirituality --- Introduction

June 20, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Man: The Crowning Glory of Creation

Caroline B. Glick: Israel's darkest week

JWisdom: We aren't worthy? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 19, 2008

Rabbi Elazar Meisels: The saints who don't come marchin' in

Chris Christoff: Muslim woman demands an apology from Obama after camera snub

June 18, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: Still Dancing Around Jerusalem

The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky: Chilled fruit and vegetable soups

JWisdom: Souls Need A Check Up? by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 17, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Baby Einstein

Caroline B. Glick: Bush's rhetoric, Bush's policies

JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part II by Rabbi David Aaron

June 16, 2008

Varda Branfman: Bob Dylan, won't you please come home?

Diana West: Academic dares to question the 'religion of peace'

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Positive Backfire

June 13, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: Trading manna for whine

Caroline B. Glick: Peace with friends

JWisdom: From the mouths of … by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 12, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet Paul Revere's pal, the Orthodox Jew who played a key role in laying Boston's cultural and business infrastructure

The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Manweiler: No need to be tempted by Wendy's mandarin chicken salad

JWisdom: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part I by Rabbi David Aaron

June 11, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: What would Hillel say?

Jonathan Tobin: UNRWA and NGOs: The Real U.N. 'Insult'

JWisdom: Sara Yoheved Rigler: Greatness Made Simple: How a momentary decision shifted life's course and destination

June 6, 2008

Rabbi Pinchas Stolper: Revelation: The basis of faith

Binyamin L. Jolkovsky: Mere hours after becoming Israel's new 'best friend' Obama backtracks on status of Jerusalem

Caroline B. Glick: UN choosing to protect rogue nuclear programs

JWisdom: Sameness in difference by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

June 5, 2008

David Lightman: Now Obama wants to be Israel's newest 'best friend'

Obama's remarks to AIPAC policy conference

The Kosher Gourmet By Ethel G. Hofman: Shavous cuisine: Ruby Fruit Soup, Lokshen Kugel with Cheese, Key Lime Curd, Calsone Casserole Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Sun-dried tomatoes and Olives, Baked Tilapia with Pepper Cheese Cream and Brown Sugar Shortbread

JWisdom: Why a Jewish Jerusalem makes so many nervous by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 4, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: A different sort of 'religious broadcaster'

Jonathan Tobin: Misgivings on the Road to Damascus

JWisdom: 44 Years Without An Argument? by Sara Yoheved Rigler

June 3, 2008

Daniel Pipes: Obama vs. McCain on the Middle East

Everything's Relative: There is a crisis growing in Orthodox synagogues worldwide, reveals Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkel

JWisdom: White Facades; Black Secrets by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

June 2, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q: Lie to outsmart discriminator?

He writes the songs that make our souls sing:Gavriel Aryeh Sanders interviews Jewish music legend Ben Zion Shenker; includes stirring, uplifting song

JWisdom: Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: Of laws and lives

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review Sept. 24, 2007 / 12 Tishrei 5768

Some things are worth fighting for — others, not so much

By Mitch Albom


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Free speech is a vital issue. Civil rights is a vital issue. Police brutality is a vital issue.


But when Andrew Meyer, a 21-year-old University of Florida student, was rude, disruptive and got dragged off and Tasered by police — after being warned and still resisting — I'm not sure THAT was a vital issue.


Oh, you wouldn't know it from the coverage. For a white-hot 24 hours, this was all you saw on cable TV and — more important to Meyer's generation — YouTube, where it shot to the top.


There was Meyer, shouting questions at Sen. John Kerry, then being led away by police, then squirming and resisting, then going down in a pile and screaming, "Don't Tase me, bro!" (even though one of the officers was a woman).


At first watch it was disturbing.


But it didn't take long before "Don't Tase Me Bro" T-shirts were selling on the Internet, and news had leaked of Meyer's history of practical jokes filmed for his Web site.


And you began to wonder, as I find myself doing more and more these days, what exactly we had just seen.

A BIZARRE CHAIN OF EVENTS
Let's be clear about the behavior in Meyer's case. The question-and-answer period from Kerry's lecture was over; Meyer insisted on asking his question anyhow. He was told one question; he asked at least three. He was told to stop; he refused. The mike was turned off; he complained. He was led away by police; he resisted. He was told if he continued, he would be Tasered; he was.


In other words, there were numerous points at which Meyer, had he acted differently, might not have been jolted or tossed in jail for a night. Still, his supporters suggest that his principle was a higher cause.


Well, I agree free speech in the shadow of authoritarian violence is a high cause. Tiananmen Square. Kent State. The march in Selma. But to liken Meyer to any of those is to cheapen them and elevate him.


Here are the "crucial" questions Meyer insisted on disturbing the event over: why Kerry didn't fight harder to challenge the 2004 election, impeaching President Bush, and whether Kerry and Bush belonged to the Skull and Bones society at Yale.


Hardly new material. Meyer also told Kerry about a book he thought he should read. Not exactly "We Shall Overcome."


What I'm saying is, there are things that are worth fighting police over and there are things that are not. Once you've acted rudely, taken advantage of your opportunity, and the only "issue" is you not getting your very average questions answered — maybe this is one of the "nots."

THE STATE OF OUR SOCIETY
Now, having said that — and please read this carefully — the police were wrong to have used the Taser. They had the kid under control. It was overkill. Which is why two have been placed on leave.


But you know what's scarier than that? We don't know — and maybe never will — if the whole thing was done to get attention. It sure appeared on YouTube quickly enough. And while Meyer, through his lawyer on TV this past week, claimed attention wasn't his motivation, once you've had yourself filmed and displayed on your Web site before, you leave it open to question.


Honestly, in this world of reality TV, the questions never end. There was a book 10 years ago called "Eyewitness to History," which collected the rare accounts of encounters with people as distant as Attila the Hun and Napoleon.


Today, everyone is an Eyewitness to History — to nearly everything — yet we don't know what we're seeing. Just because something is on tape doesn't mean it wasn't staged or edited. Just last week, an audio recording of O.J. Simpson in an alleged memorabilia robbery was later accused of being doctored — this after every major media outlet had played it countless times.


As for Meyer, who knows? It may seem like it was overreacting (his screaming "Owwww!" or bolting back down the aisle after he had been led to the door). And if getting famous for 15 seconds was his wish, well, wish granted.


But as for Andrew Meyer, Hero, Champion of Free Speech? Sorry. But as they say in sports, I'll need to check the videotape. .

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

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