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Levi Brackman

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Israel needs a constitution PDF Print E-mail
Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman   
Friday, 27 March 2009 10:12
There are worrying signs that Israeli society may be tilting towards a damaging inner fight between the religious and secular segments of society. This is occurring not only on the level of national politics where there has been contentious discussion about secular civil marriage and conversion reform, but perhaps more disturbingly, this is also happening in the army.

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My comments published in the New York Times PDF Print E-mail
Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman   
Sunday, 22 March 2009 09:24

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
 
Are Americans becoming too envious and losing their morals? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman   
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.

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Last Updated on Friday, 20 March 2009 01:37
 
A guide to a good marriage PDF Print E-mail
Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman   
Friday, 13 March 2009 10:59
Sheindy (my wife) has a simple philosophy for increased productivity: “People should first do the necessary and essential chores they do not enjoy and only then go on to do the more pleasurable jobs.”

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An Economic Prediction from the Story of Purim PDF Print E-mail
Written by Rabbi Levi Brackman   
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.

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Last Updated on Friday, 06 March 2009 09:48
 
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