Nov, 21, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters? Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank Nov, 20, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto Nov, 19, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them? Nov, 18, 2008 Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster? Nov, 17, 2008 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit? Nov, 14, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead Nov, 13, 2008 Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla Nov, 12, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks Nov, 11, 2008 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad? Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate Nov, 10, 2008 Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built? Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist Nov, 7, 2008 Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy Nov, 6, 2008 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes Nov, 5, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie Nov, 4, 2008 Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East Nov, 3, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart? Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything? Oct. 31, 2008 Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Our Immutable Noble Essence Caroline B. Glick: Running against Bush Oct. 30, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: The End of the Special Relationship? Steve Lipman: 'Kid Kosher' Gets A Title Shot Oct. 29, 2008 Binyamin L. Jolkovsky: GET US THE TAPE THE L.A. TIMES REFUSES TO RELEASE, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU CASH! Dr. Ari Korenblit: Making The Write Choice for President Oct. 28, 2008 Mona Charen: Denial runs through American Jewry Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Sell-off to capitalism or sell-out to Islam? Oct. 27, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Are tax deductions for charitable donations moral? Jonathan Mark: The Mystery Of The Arab-American Vote Oct. 24, 2008 'Why aren't all religious people vegetarians?': Response by Miriam Kosman Caroline B. Glick: Testing Obama's mettle Oct. 23, 2008 Daniel Pipes: Obama Would Fail Security Clearance The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: A fast chicken dish with an Asian accent Oct. 20, 2008 Gary Rosenblatt: Still One Torah Jonathan Tobin: Government 'Gifts' Are Not Free Oct. 17, 2008 Jonathan Rosenblum: Sukkos and the Great Meltdown Caroline B. Glick: The disappearance of law Oct. 16, 2008 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Copying DVDs: RIP OR RIPOFF? Cal Thomas: Blaming the Jews (again) 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 Dec. 21, 2006 / 30 Kislev 5767 This Jew's favorite Christmas movie By Rosally Saltsman http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | One Christmas movie stands out as a classic of all time and its message is in many ways … Jewish. It's a Wonderful Life, the brainchild of Frank Capra, the granddaddy of feel good movies, is a holiday tradition in and of itself. For those who have yet to see it, the premise is very simple; a man dreams of doing great things and changing the world and ends up spending his life in the same small town, working in the same small office, struggling with what he deems an unremarkable life haunted by his unrealized aspirations. The movie's arch villain, Mr. Potter (no relation to Harry) surreptitiously pilfers his funds and so in a moment of despair and hopelessness he is about to put an end to his life. And then, the miracle happens, an angel appears and shows him what the world would have been like had he never been born. Well, it's a mess. Many are miserable, dozens are dead and everyone's worse off. Having witnessed how much he means to the town, and what a truly wonderful life he has had, he asks for a second chance and gets it. He goes home, to yet another miracle, all the town's people contributing money to get him out of trouble because after all, they owe everything to him. Excuse me while I get a tissue. I've seen this movie at least 25 times and I can't watch it without crying, no, sobbing. The message, in case we've missed it, is transmitted by the angel who says, "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" No one can see this movie without wishing that they too had such an impact on the people around them but the happy ending is they do. None of us can see the ramifications of our actions. Like the proverbial stone skipped in a lake, each action we do, each word we say, creates ripples upon and deep beneath the surface of the lives of the people we touch extending far beyond what we can see or imagine. When all is said and done, it's possible that we may have accomplished more than we ever dreamed possible by doing the best we could in the circumstances we were given. The heroes of the world are not necessarily the rich and famous, the accomplished and "successful". The heroes of the world are the average people who live their often humdrum lives doing the best they can each with his shining moments. Actually, ironically, if George Bailey, the movie's hero would have gone on to do all that he had dreamed, the town's residents would have been worse off and he wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much. The wonderful truth about the movie's message is that yes, many of us don't realize our most heartfelt hopes and dreams and life does throw us many curveballs but often it is exactly because of that that we realize our greatest potential and do the most good. Each one of us does a plethora of things that make the world better in a way that only he or she can. While most of us don't have a guardian angel who comes down to earth when we're in crisis to show us that we really do have a wonderful life, we do have hints here and there. But the appreciation and recognition we get a glimpse of is only a tip of the iceberg. Knowing that is the key to appreciating all we are and all we have done. I have always wanted to be George Bailey. Well, I got my wish in part. I struggle with debt and I rarely get to work at what I want, I have a faucet that always comes off in my hand and I have always wanted to visit the Amazon jungle though I doubt I'll get there. But perhaps, I've touched the world in ways I'm not aware of. Perhaps we all have. When things are hopeless, when we think we can't go on and what does it all mean anyway, we need to remember that G-d runs the world in a way that puts us where we need to be and gives us the situations we need in which to reach our greatest potential and do the most good. And if we only had the same perspective as He does, we'd see that things are working in the best way possible for everyone concerned. We just have to have faith and do the best we can because that's all we can ever dream of doing. Have a bright and happy Chanukah — and a wonderful life! Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here. Comment by clicking here. JWR contributor Rosally Saltsman has written a novel called Soul Journey. You can see it at her website, here. © 2006, Rosally Saltsman