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May 13, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Why the giving of the document that would permanently change the world could only be done in desolation

David G. Savage: Church-state, literally? Supreme Court weighing public school graduation in a church

Emily Alpert: Recession dragged down birth rates for less-educated women
Morgan Housel: The deep downside of home ownership

Peter Teffer: Will Dutch police soon be stalking cybercriminals on your computer?

Heidi McIndoo, M.S., R.D.: Meatless 'meat' can have its own set of problems

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate! This must-try appetizer is delicate yet has depth of flavor: Corn-Leek Cakes with Caviar, Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche

May 10, 2013

Rabbi Berel Wein: Be all that you should be

Caroline B. Glick: The dirty little secret about Israel's Arabs

Mona Charen: Hawking's Moral Calculus: The man and the movement he embraces
Morgan Housel: The biggest retirement myth ever told

Sandi Doughton: Eyes may provide new insight into brain problems

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : The Great Gatsby's Jewish Ties; Jews in the "Time 100 list" List; People's Most Beautiful Women

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: A sweet-hot meal: Pear salsa spices up salmon

May 8, 2013

Peter Ford: Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas

Warren Richey: Obama administration quietly backs out of appeal over new contraceptive mandate

Fred Weir: At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw --- a tad
Amanda Paulson: Study reveals sad truths about community colleges

Harvard Health Letters: Evidence weak that zinc, echinacea are beneficial

The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad with Sicilian inspiration will tickle the taste buds and delight your visual sensibility

May 6, 2013

Edmund Sanders and Patrick J. McDonnell: Think Israel's objective in Syria is to weaken Assad or embolden the rebels? Think again

Brian Bennett: Israeli airstrikes may show weakness in Syrian defense

Michael Ollove: Millions of ex-felons, parolees and those on probation are about to be entitled to tax-payer paid health coverage
Karen Kaplan: Most men can skip PSA test for prostate cancer, urologists say

Kimberly Lankford: How to track down a lost life insurance policy

Dream of Mars exploration achievable, experts say

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan M. Selasky: EGGPLANT WRAPS are an easy, sumptuous and scrumptious meal

May 3, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Human Courage and the Unavoidable, Disturbing Text

Steven Emerson: Attorney General Fights CAIR in Court, Lauds it in Public

Mediterranean diet helps beat dementia: study
Harvard Health Letters: When to be screened for a hearing problem

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Iron Man's Jewish Connections; Marc Maron's New TV Show; Martin Landau Grows Up with Israel; Shalom, Allan Arbus

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: A sweet surprise for Mother's Day dessert

May 1, 2013

Jonathan Rosenblum: An Improbable Journey to Orthodoxy

Jonathan Tobin: Blame Obama, Not Israel for Syria Push

Kids, kittens the Same? With employee perks at struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! it's hard to tell
Halena M. Gazelka, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: What you need to know about implanted pain relief devices

Sandy Kleffman: Artificial kidney offers hope to patients tethered to a dialysis machine

Jessica Shugart: When it comes to math, MRIs may be better than IQs

The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: The celebrated chef on how high-maintenance ASPARAGUS RISOTTO need not be

April 29, 2013

Roy Gutman: Poland's new Jewish museum celebrates life, doesn't revisit Holocaust

Mark Clayton: Terrorism in America: Is US missing a chance to learn from failed plots?

Kim Murphy: Boston Bomber's 'Svengali' Revealed
Morgan Housel: He's rich, smart and old: Listen to him

Thomas Salinas, D.D.S.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: The safety of amalgam fillings

Harvard Health Letters: Tomatoes and stroke protection

Pete Spotts: Tiny satellites + cellphones = cheaper 'eyes in the sky' for NASA

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Swing into spring with lemon cream pie

April 26, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The world is a mirror

Caroline B. Glick: Time to confront Obama

Clifford D. May: Defense in the Age of Jihadist Terrorism
Kimberly Lankford: New strategies ease pain of paying for long-term care insurance

Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Too much ibuprofen?

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: How to feel your best -- with plenty of energy, a healthy weight and optimal mental and physical function -- without driving yourself batty

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Major Leaguers, 2013; New Movies and Comedy Show; Shalom, 'Lumpy' (Leave it to Beaver)

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : A bright and cheerful salad to herald the warmer months ahead

April 24, 2013

Steven Emerson: Boston Bomber Exposes Islamist Secret

Morgan Housel Admit it: No one has any idea what's going on
Harvard Health Letters: Can you get headaches from headache medication?

Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D.: How to easily get more Omega-3s in your diet

Melissa Healy: Pot in a pill: All the pain relief without the smoke

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: Chipotle Chili Butternut Squash Soup is bold, zesty, hot

April 22, 2013

Ken Dilanian: Counterterrorism's future is unclear

US man departing country arrested on terror charges
Barbara Williams: An unorthodox but growing treatment in a 9-year-old's battle against cancer

P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: How to recognize a good whole grain product

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Teen actor Jonah Bobo in New Flick: Hunky James Wolk on Mad Men; Erich Segal's Daughter Writes Prize-Winning Jewish Novel

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: 'Noodles,' Asian style is a carb sub, sure. But they are also amazingly delicious and colorful

April 19, 2013

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: When violence seems the only answer

Caroline B. Glick: Why Obama's visit to Israel had no impact on public opinion or government policy

Morgan Housel: Gold collapse: The start of something big?
Harvard Health Letters: Can you die of a broken heart?

Pete Spotts: Livable super-Earths? Two candidates among Kepler's latest finds

Nora Schultz: Oxytocin helps beat booze cravings

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: Middle Eastern cuisine meets Italian delicious with this lentil and eggplant pastitsio

April 17, 2013

Shira Rubin: Too much of a good thing? 'Palestinians' realize downside of foreign aid boom

Geoffrey Mohan: Can computers decode dreams? Researchers take a first step

Morgan Housel: BAD NEWS: EVERYONE IS RIGHT!
Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 heart-healthy eating tips help cut saturated fat but not taste

Michael Craig Miller, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Told your child has sensory processing disorder? Seek a second opinion

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Corn and Curry Add Zing to Chilled Soup

April 15, 2013

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Death of Education?

Kristen Chick: Egyptian Christians respond with harsh words to attack -- rocks, Molotov cocktails, and gunfire -- against main cathedral

Marcy Darnovsky and Karuna Jaggar: High Court to decide if you should own your DNA
Howard LaFranchi: US bracing for more Russian blowback after taking action against 18 more human rights violators

Kristin Ohlson : The loneliest fight

The Kosher Gourmet by Dana Velden: A tasty, rich dish that hints at spring's arrival while still anchored in a favorite winter staple

April 12, 2013

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: The Inspired Loner

Caroline B. Glick : Must we continue to be enablers of our own destruction?

Mark Clayton: New cybersecurity bill: Privacy threat or crucial band-aid?
Morgan Housel: Twitter: The carnival barker of investing

Harvard Health Letters.: Dietary supplements: Do they help or hurt?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jackie Robinson's Friend, Hank Greenberg; CNN's Jake Tapper; Texas County in the News is named for 19thC. Jewish soldier and Congressman

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: FRUITY QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS: A flavorful, colorful and edible vessel of delicately fluffy, mildly nutty filling combined with chewy apricots, tangy cherries, and crunchy pistachios

April 10, 2013

Edmund Sanders: Kerry leaves Israel with hopes, but few results

Nicholas Blanford: Iran's 'axis of resistance' loses its Palestinian arm to Syrian war

Peter Grier: North Korean missiles: Could US shoot them down?
Morgan Housel: Warning: Don't waste your capital being fooled by profit prophets

Donald Hensrud, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Take vitamin supplements with caution --- even approved, they may actually do damage

Eryn Brown: 74 DNA discoveries move cure closer for three cancers

Mark Guarino: Google Glass already has some lawmakers on high alert

The Kosher Gourmet by Dana Velden: A soup to feed every guest, no matter how finicky

April 8, 2013

Jonathan Tobin: What Part of No Preconditions Do American Jews Not Get?

Christa Case Bryant: No Place on Earth

Fred Weir: Is Putin finally trading his own party for a new power base?

Hara Estroff Marano: The Spice of Life
P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: Generic drugs: Don't ask, just tell

David Cook : Husband-hunting advice from Princeton alum triggers outrage, humor

The Kosher Gourmet by James T. Farmer III : A simple, rustic white pizza: Good ingredients, fresh herbs, and an infused olive layered upon a crispy crust hits the spot


Jewish World Review Aug 14, 2012 / 26 Menachem-Av, 5772

A man of ideas, and who is clear about them

By Paul Greenberg




http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | This Mitt Romney means business, in more than one sense of the word. He has just chosen the most businesslike member of Congress as his running mate. Not only is Paul Ryan a serious man, a man of ideas, but he's had the courage to put them into specific form, complete with numbers and goals, and let the American people be the judge. And invite the opposition to take its best shot.

This must be why Paul Ryan is regularly described as "controversial," which is supposed to be a criticism. As if anybody with ideas, convictions and the courage to fight for them wouldn't be controversial. Ronald Reagan was controversial, too. So was Winston Churchill, who could recognize a mounting danger when he saw one. It was Neville Chamberlain who was the safe choice, when of course his kind of "safety" was the riskiest course of all to follow.

It was only fitting that Paul Ryan's selection for the vice-presidential slot on his party's ticket should be announced aboard a battleship -- the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk harbor. The man fights for what he believes, and, at least as important, explains just how he would put those beliefs into practice. And turn this country around. Back to basic ideas -- prudence, patience, economy, constancy of purpose, faith in freedom....

Putting out clear ideas, complete with goals and numbers, is no way to court public favor. Not when cagier politicians stick with platitudes, take no chances, drift with the times. But not Paul Ryan of Janesville, Wis. A seven-term congressman, he's chairman of the House Budget Committee, which figures. He'll be the only candidate on a national ticket who's actually proposed a serious, detailed federal budget within the past three years. This president certainly hasn't, let alone passed one.

The federal government continues to operate budgetless under this president, which is clear enough from the record $15-trillion-plus national debt. Something's got to give, but all our president seems to do is give speeches, the gist of which is that it's all somebody else's fault, usually those dratted Republicans.

Paul Ryan dares talk not just sense to the American people but dollars-and-cents. As in the Ryan Plan. You may not like what you hear -- fiscal reality isn't always easy to face. You may not agree with his ideas, but there's no denying he's been up-front about them. Clear, specific, detailed. Nor is there any denying where the country is headed if current trends continue. Right over a fiscal cliff.

Fiscal trends aren't just fiscal in their effect. They have social, political and moral consequences. Essential programs -- from defense to Social Security and Medicare and everything in between -- grow unsustainable. Passing on vast debt to future generations isn't just irresponsible but immoral. Wasn't there a time when the purpose of government in America was to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity" -- but who now mentions posterity, or considers the size of the burden we're saddling it with?

Instead, we're supposed to settle for things as they are and are becoming, to act as if there's really nothing to be done but to stay the disastrous course. That's not Paul Ryan's way, never has been. Which is why he's been a constant affront all these years to those politicians who would rather drift than reverse course. As he put it aboard the Wisconsin when he made his first appearance as his party's vice-presidential nominee to be:

"No one disputes President Obama inherited a difficult situation. And, in his first two years, with his party in complete control of Washington, he passed nearly every item on his agenda. But that didn't make things better. In fact, we find ourselves in a nation facing debt, doubt and despair. This is the worst economic recovery in 70 years. Unemployment has been above 8 percent for more than three years, the longest run since the Great Depression....

"Whatever the explanations, whatever the excuses, this is a record of failure. President Obama, and too many like him in Washington, have refused to make difficult decisions because they are more worried about their next election than they are about the next generation. We might have been able to get away with that before, but not now. We're in a different, and dangerous, moment. We're running out of time. ... I hear some people say that this is just the New Normal. High unemployment, declining incomes and crushing debt is not a new normal. It's the result of misguided policies."

Anyone can sense how this administration has failed and is now only flailing, how it is substituting the politics of resentment for the politics of ideas, personal attacks for civil discourse. Hope and Change gave way some time ago to fear and inertia.

But some of us still believe in the American Dream, and we don't believe that America was built by some vague collectivity -- rather than individuals with their own individual ideas, talents, dedication, successes and, yes, failures.

For whatever America is now or will be in the future, whatever it has meant or will mean, we built it, not some blank collection of Julias, that cartoon figure the Obama campaign has chosen to represent the American people. Much like Julia, we are to be assured of security from the cradle to the grave, and guaranteed a life unmarked by struggle, protected at every stage of a cushioned existence from the dangers and terrors of freedom.

The message of Julia's story is clear enough: Who would want to subject this poor girl to the rigors of life in the wilderness, where there's no guarantee of safety, where wild beasts prowl and she might have to find her own way, cross deserts and climb mountains, and, worst of all, make her own decisions? Better to stick with the fleshpots of Egypt, and know she'll always be taken care of. Why take risks? Better to accept what is, and drift.

Paul Ryan says different, thinks different. He understands that the safety net so long and arduously built by previous generations is now endangered not by some direct, frontal assault but by the slow creep of our own dependence on government for all the answers. We grow passive in the warm embrace of bureaucracy, with more of the same ahead. This has been going on for years now. Do you like the results? They're certainly plain to see. Or have you had enough?

This election year the American people have been given a choice, not one more echo of a failed policy. Paul Ryan made his choice years ago. The American people will make its Tuesday, November 6.

Paul Greenberg Archives

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