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Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman
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Friday, 15 May 2009 10:32 |
In Israel people borrow money from banks differently than they do elsewhere in the world. It is called a Heter Iska where any loan is structured so that the lender becomes an investor rather than as a usurer. This provision is to avoid transgressing the law, found in this weeks’ Torah portion, against usury.
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Last Updated on Friday, 15 May 2009 10:34 |
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Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman
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Sunday, 22 March 2009 09:24 |
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On Thursday I received a call from Alan Salkin a reporter at the New York Times. He asked for my thoughts on the anger that existed towards the AIG employees who received bonuses. My comments appeared in today’s New York Times and can be read here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/fashion/22anger.html?_r=1
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Last Updated on Sunday, 22 March 2009 10:47 |
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Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman
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Friday, 20 March 2009 01:34 |
The great Jewish philosopher Maimonides wrote that a person who has suffered misfortune feels less miserable when confronted by a person in a more calamitous situation than themselves. Similarly when a dejected person sees someone who is more privileged than them their sense of despondency is increased. People who are unsuccessful find it difficult to observe the success of others. Our challenge is to overcome this negative envious trait and be happy for others even if we personally are experiencing setbacks.
Americans, on the whole, have failed in rising to this challenge. Last summer, as oil prices rose, oil companies made record profits. As the profits went up so did the envy and ire of the American people. In response prominent politicians berated the oil companies and threatened to tax them heavily. But things have now become much worse.Recommend this article... |
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Last Updated on Friday, 20 March 2009 01:37 |
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Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman
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Friday, 06 March 2009 09:38 |
The story of Purim contains a universal truth that is especially relevant today: intense hubris is always followed by a downturn and intense contrition precedes an upturn.
The trends found in the story of Purim should be familiar to us especially this year. At the beginning of the Purim story things are relatively good for the Jews. They were in good standing with the government and their leader Mordechai had a high ranking position in the king’s court. They were invited to the royal party despite Mordechai’s call for them not to. The Jews felt powerful and secure as good citizens of the Persian Empire. They could not have been more wrong.Recommend this article... |
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 March 2009 09:48 |
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Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman
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Friday, 20 February 2009 01:31 |
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Watching society over the last ten years has been like observing a sick person who, unaware of his illness, continues pursuing a lifestyle that will eventually kill him. Some people noticed this and tried to warn others about it but no one was listening. The most painful part is that even now that the disease has taken hold to the extent that it is debilitating, only the symptoms are being treated and the main cause is largely being ignored. Recommend this article... |
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 March 2009 09:46 |
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Economy
