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July 24, 2008

Rabbi Berel Wein: On the road again --- and again and again

Richard Z. Chesnoff: Mideast Refugees --- Failure vs. Success

JWisdom:: Word power is about more than vocabulary by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 23, 2008

Jonathan Tobin: The Mufti of Jerusalem's Nazi ideology lives on among contemporary Islamists

The Kosher Gourmet by Joe Gray: Smoked paprika turkey meatballs simmered in red wine and tomato sauce

JWisdom:: 'Routine' doesn't need to mean ‘rote’ By Rabbi David Aaron

July 22, 2008

Yossi Klein Halevi: Dear Barack Obama

Elliot B. Gertel: Eli Stone: Self-indulgent, arrogant corporate attorney as modern-day prophet

JWisdom:: Three Weeks - Nine Days - One Purpose by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 21, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Spending your kids' money

Mitch Albom: A grim exchange illustrates a key difference

JWisdom:: The Holocaust in the Perspective of Faith: Hammered on the Anvil --- Severed by the Sickle by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

July 18, 2008

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: The Sanctification and Importance of Time

Caroline B. Glick: US wants it absolutely clear it has no intention of attacking Iran's nuclear installations

Mona Charen: What can you say about a people who welcome a child murderer as a hero?

JWisdom:: Living a dog's life, dawg? by Rabbi Dovid Gross

July 17, 2008

Steven Emerson: Deals with devils

Libby Lazewnik: One Step at a Time

JWisdom:: Leader the follower? by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

July 16, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Poaching humans

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Meaty pasta salad with summer berries perfect for warm evenings

JWisdom:: Keeping A Secret by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

July 15, 2008

Dennis Prager: False Equation: Opposing Same-Sex Marriage and Opposing Interracial Marriage

Joel Greenberg: Researchers look to Israeli circumcision program to help combat AIDS 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

JWisdom:: Re-Jew-venating prayer, Part V: Why Judaism ISN'T Spiritual by Rabbi David Aaron

July 14, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: A warning from Canada to those who value life

Jonathan Tobin: 'Alternatives' to Logic Won't Work

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

July 11, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: It's hard to be humble when you're great

Caroline B. Glick: A tale of two hostages

JWisdom:: Profane for Prophet by Rabbi Sroy Levitansky

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

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 Oct. 18, 2007 / 6 Mar-Cheshvan 5768

Giving parenting a shot

By Lloyd Garver


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Most parents sometimes wonder if they've been good parents or not. We ask ourselves, "Should I have been more involved?" "Should I have been less involved?" "Did I set a good example?" "Did I screw up the kids?" We know we're not perfect and that we've made some mistakes, but we hope that, on balance, we've done a pretty good job. Sometimes we look at other people and wonder if they're better parents than we are. And sometimes we look at other people and we know that we're better parents than they are. This last situation presented itself recently when the mother of a 14-year-old boy who had been feeling unhappy lately, allegedly cheered him up by buying him three guns, including a semi automatic rifle with a laser scope. Feel better about your parenting skills yet?


According to authorities, the 14-year-old told another boy that he had plans to stage a Columbine-like attack on a school. The second boy told his father, he and his dad went to the police, and the cops very quickly went to the house and arrested the boy. So, fortunately, violence was avoided.


In addition to the three guns that his mom allegedly had bought her son, police found videos of the 1999 Columbine attack, approximately 30 air-powered guns, swords, knives, hand grenades, and a bomb-making book. This kid was better armed than some countries.


Authorities said the boy's father also tried to buy his son a rifle back in December, 2005, but was turned down when they found out he was a convicted felon. Dad was then sentenced to house arrest for lying about his criminal record. So, the parents not only knew about the kid's fascination with weapons, but they tried their best to contribute to it. From a parenting standpoint, maybe they thought his collection was an innocent hobby: "Some kids make model airplanes, some collect stamps. Ours just happens to have an arsenal that could blow up a small town."


He kept all the weapons in his bedroom. It's a little scarier than when I was a teenager and boys hid copies of Playboy in their rooms. The worst that could happen from having a collection of those magazine was that a boy could get the impression that all women had tiny waists, huge breasts, and a love for walking on the beach at dawn while trying to think only positive thoughts.


And this kid allegedly didn't even hide his stash of weapons. They were in plain sight in his room. Again, maybe the parents thought, "Other kids display athletic trophies or certificates for academic achievements, ours likes to show off the latest in munitions."


In her explanation for why she allegedly bought her son the guns, the mom reportedly said she was being "overindulgent." Most parents have been "overindulgent" with their kids at times. We've gotten them a toy they didn't really need, or the sleeker looking bicycle, or the more expensive jacket. But an assault weapon? I don't know about you, but it's never crossed my mind.


And if your teenager has felt depressed and picked on for a couple of years, isn't a gun about the last thing you should buy him? I'm sure there's inexpensive therapy available near their home, and I'll bet there's not even a three-day waiting period for it.


But let's not lose sight of something very positive about the story: the other 14-year-old boy. We all know how hard it is for a teenager to talk to his parents about anything, let alone something that one of his peers asked him to keep secret. It's also very hard for kids that age to "tattle" or "rat out" another kid. But this boy had the emotional maturity and the moral fiber to do those things because he knew they were the right things to do.


His name is Lewis Bennett III, and he is a hero. He may have prevented another school shooting disaster. Lewis made his brave decision on the same day as a shooting at a Cleveland high school. He said, "I didn't want another kid to do the same thing and keep this chain of events going on." None of the news reports gave much information about Lewis, but I know one thing for sure: There's a kid whose mom and dad (left) did a great job of parenting.

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.

JWR contributor Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them in hardcover. Comment by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.

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© 2007, Lloyd Garver

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