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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Is it not refreshing that Tiger Woods' career has crashed and burned so dramatically?
By Rabbi Yonason Goldson
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Along with athletic prowess and screen presence, forgiveness is rapidly becoming a marketable commodity. Before much longer, the rich and famous may find themselves advised by their agents to commit acts of moral turpitude in order to schedule press conferences seeking public absolution.
Sexual indiscretion has become so much a part of our society that many wonder why the latest scandal surrounding Tiger Woods has generated more than a passing interest. After all, the peccadillos of former President Clinton, former vice-presidential candidate John Edwards, and former New York governor Elliot Spitzer — among many, many others — should have left us jaded to the culture of infidelity in which we live. We may find refreshing, therefore, that Tiger Woods' career has crashed and burned so dramatically. Apparently, many Americans still care about morality.
Ironically, the scandals not only continue but increase in frequency and magnitude. Given that fame and power seem the common-denominators in a litany of ruined families and careers, should we not expect that the powerful and the famous might learn from the failures of their predecessors? Assuming that an average amount of intelligence is required to attain public prominance, why are so few apparently able to avoid repeating the mistakes of others?
Perhaps the answer can be found by turning the clock back two and a half centuries. According to Jewish tradition, Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, reported that before his birth, his soul was paired with another pure and righteous soul with whom he studied the secrets of Torah wisdom prior to being sent forth into the physical world. After birth, his pre-natal learning partner was blessed with anonymity, whereas he, the Ba'al Shem Tov, was "condemned to fame."
Few people today would consider anonymity a blessing or fame a curse. Then again, many celebrities do recognize the curse of fame, even if they continue to pursue it as a drug addict pursues his next fix.
Notoriety carries with it the public scrutiny of every word and action and the loss of a private life — a steep price to pay for the superficial rewards of fame. How much better to live a quiet existence and enjoy the genuine rewards of family, community, and a life lived well.
Jewish philosophy therefore stresses the importance of modesty. Commonly misunderstood as a precept applying to women's clothing with the intent of preventing sexual arousal in men, the Jewish concept of modesty is in truth a code of personal conduct designed to preserve personal privacy. In truth, the concept of modesty applies to both men and women, and it extends to all manner of public and private behavior far beyond either attire or sexuality.
The popular cliche "don't judge a book by its cover" accurately reflects the spirit of Jewish modesty. In our physical world, outward appearance often belies inner nature. To admire a great book for its cover is to miss its greatness entirely. Similarly, by valuing only the blandishments of material existence, by pursing the transient pleasure of physical indulgence at the expense of genuine relationships, we find ourselves relentlessly seeking a satisfaction that perpetually eludes us. By coveting the egoistic gratification of public adulation at the cost of inner meaning, we leave ourselves with only the most two-dimensional and unfulfilling rewards of a life half-lived.
The acceleration of technology has rendered us far more vulnerable to the curse of superficiality. The so-called information age has created the illusion that we are well-informed, when in fact we are so inundated by headlines that we rarely plumb the depth of any single story. Instant access to everything has left us impatient and unwilling to exert the effort to acquire anything that requires time and discipline. We don't want to work for what is truly valuable, so we value only that which demands little work.
At the same time, we can't escape the awareness that something profoundly important has been lost. And so we are no longer surprised when our heroes fail us. Beneath the surface, we don't expect anything more from them. Despite the virtue of forgiveness, however, our reluctance to forgive may be the most revealing symptom that there remains some small hope for our society. With privilege comes responsibility, and we feel passionately that those who shirk responsibility deserve to forfeit their privileges.
Perhaps enough such incidents will finally produce a much needed paradigm shift, returning us to our senses so that we reject the fantasy world of celebrity and the allure of power. A life of modesty focuses our attention on the rewards that come with a rich inner life of enduring values and true purpose, a life all the richer for its privacy, its quiet dignity, and the contentment that, once lost, can never be recaptured by making public apologies for having abused the narcotics of power and fame.
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Comment by clicking here. JWR contributor Rabbi Yonason Goldson teaches at Block Yeshiva High School in St. Louis, MO, where he also writes and lectures. He is author of Dawn to Destiny: Exploring Jewish History and its Hidden Wisdom, an overview of Jewish philosophy and history from Creation through the compilation of the Talmud, now available from Judaica Press. Visit him at http://torahideals.wordpress.com .
© 2010, Rabbi Yonason Goldson
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