Life Is An Exciting Challenge
The classic work of Jewish Ethics, "Path of the Just," says: "Every aspect of our lives is a challenge and test."
The classic work of Jewish Ethics, "Path of the Just," says: "Every aspect of our lives is a challenge and test."
With this perspective, life will never be boring or mundane. Every single situation and occurrence is different from every other - and each is an opportunity for elevation and growth.
When you are aware that a situation is a test, you will find it much easier to deal with. To illustrate this concept, imagine that you went for a job interview and the potential employer shouted an insult at you. You would most probably feel either upset or angry. But if someone told you in advance that this employer shouts at job candidates to test their reaction to stress, you would find it easy to remain calm. You realize it is just a test and it is in your best interests to pass it.
That is how we can view each event and situation. It is a test of our spiritual strength and courage, and we can look forward to passing it.
Love Yehuda Lave
Livni: 'Jewish State' Second to Democracy
by Maayana Miskin
Israel must create a constitution – even if the minority groups it is meant to defend do not want one, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said Tuesday. Israel's status as a Jewish state is second to its status as a democracy, she argued.
Livni spoke at the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.
"The hope was to agree on a constitution. But I don't think we can reach an agreement," she told the committee.
"A constitution would be meant to protect minority rights, but bizarrely, it is the hareidi-religious and Arab minorities that oppose it," she continued. "That's a mistake on their part."
"Even if we cannot reach an agreement, it is time to create a constitution. In the past I busied myself trying to reach an agreement, but the time has come for decisive action," she declared.
Livni noted the religious-secular divide regarding legal authority in Israel. "In practice, each person decides his own constitution… There is a battle over our source of authority, is it the constitution and law, with the courts clarifying its meaning? Or is it based in halakha [Jewish law] and rabbis clarifying its meaning?"
"I'm on the side of the constitution and the courts," she continued. "Even if I sometimes disagree with a particular verdict… I don't accept the opinion that the State of Israel is first and foremost a Jewish state, and a democratic regime."
If a constitution is made, she said, its first clause should be the Right of Return, which outlines the right of Jews and their children and grandchildren to receive Israeli citizenship and residency.
HISTORICAL PHOTOS
(Rare photos. Some computer "colorized" from original black and white.)
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