BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION

… and not “the” response. Rather, it’s just another response — a voice — which I hope will create the conditions to pause and reflect on the current “reality.”

This blog is a long delayed fulfillment of a commitment I made immediately following the sudden and untimely death of my father, of blessed memory. For a period before his death he would always be telling me how well I wrote and how I should write articles and letters to the editor … I mostly chalked it up to parental pride. While this blog is in many ways a tribute to him and the example of principled living he gave me, it’s mostly for me, to put my thoughts to “paper” (or at least a screen). I trust it will live up to the build up and the principals of my father, of blessed memory.

The blog will address my existential struggle with living in a modern world — one without any set of universally accepted rules of conduct and behavior. How does someone create and then maintain an identity — ethnic/national, religious, sexual/gender, general? How can I come to terms with a need to think through issues when all I see around me are people plowing through without any true plan in mind? Where knee-jerk and instantaneous gratification trumps consideration for the greater good and critical thought? Where ‘blissful ignorance’ trumps angstful intelligence?

Since live in Israel, I expect that many entries will deal with what’s going on (or not) here relative to the outside Jewish and non-Jewish world with particular regard to Jewish identity, periodic “battles” and policy making. Since I grew up in North America, issues I confront from my readings from the media there will also be ‘food for thought.’

While I believe “objectivity” and “truth” are Platonic ideals rather than actual in the world, I do hope to be fair in my arguments. I aspire to be an equal opportunity offender; to cause people to think and rethink their positions based on the facts (or at least what’s known). After all, I view myself as a Marxist — a Groucho Marxist — in fulfillment of his quip, “I’d never join a club that would have me as a member.” While I certainly have my strongly held opinions and biases, I do hope to hold them in check, or at least disclose them up front.

One last introductory comment and ‘warning.’ I’m very sensitive to the use of (specific) words and, by extension, I’m prone to punning (a genetic trait from my father, of blessed memory).

The title of my blog should, therefore, be seen as a pun.

Thanks for reading.