July 2, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The hallmark of a person Abe Novick: Up, up, and aliya July 1, 2009 Rabbi Avi Shafran: The Road Taken The Kosher Gourmet by Marialisa Calta: Get into the holiday spirit with these Star-Spangled desserts June 30, 2009 Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg: What makes a great parent? Caroline B. Glick: Ideologue-in-Chief June 29, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Beware of 'Caveat Emptor' Steven Emerson: ACLU pushing for more money for Hamas June 26, 2009 Rabbi Yoni Posnick: Learn the secret to a healthy marriage from a scriptural villain Caroline B. Glick: Barack Obama vs. International Law June 25, 2009 Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf: The Absurd Power of Truth Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative June 24, 2009 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Advancement of technology is a wake-up call for humanity The Kosher Gourmet by Andrea Weigl: Summer on a stick: Making frozen treats can be easy, creative and fun June 23, 2009 Martin M. Bodek: 'On Surnames': And so, We Begin Caroline B. Glick: The Obama Effect June 22, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Working for a corrupt firm N. Richard Greenfield : Where are American Jews? June 19, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Emotion v. intellect Caroline B. Glick: Israel's rare opportunity June 18, 2009 Jonathan Rosenblum: Sometimes it is more essential to define the nature of evil than good Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative June 17, 2009 Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Language of Confusion The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Nothing pleases Dad more than a thick, juicy onion-smothered steak. Add home-Baked Potato Chips and … June 16, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Career v. Careersism Caroline B. Glick: Obama's losing streak and Israel Richard Z. Chesnoff: ‘Palestinians’: Never Missing an Opportunity … June 15, 2009 Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: How Judea and Samaria can become 'Palestine' Daniel Pipes: Where Netanyahu's speech failed June 12, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Some big thoughts about not acting so big Caroline B. Glick: Obama's High Commissioner June 11, 2009 Victor Davis Hanson: Our historically challenged President Mitch Albom: Beware the True Believers Lewis Grossberger: What we learn from the new Hitler photos June 10, 2009 Mort Zuckerman: What Obama and his advisors won't -- or refuse to -- grasp about Israel and the Muslim world The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky Lotsa pasta: Tips, techniques and (amazing) taste June 9, 2009 Anne Bayefsky: Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: America's first Muslim president? June 8, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Merchant must take responsibility for careless shopper? Mark Steyn: A superpower that feeds on mediocrity cannot survive for long on leftovers from the past Richard Z. Chesnoff: How do you say 'kumbaya' in Arabic? June 5, 2009 Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: In quest of spirituality Caroline B. Glick: Obama's Arabian dreams Charles Krauthammer: The Settlements Myth June 4, 2009 Paul Greenberg: The War Comes to Little Rock The Kosher Gourmet by Judy Hevrdejs: Splash it on! Tap your inner jazz musician and improvise when stirring up a vinaigrette June 3, 2009 The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Should terrible teacher be exposed? Jonathan Rosenblum: The Israel Lobby: Missing in Action June 2, 2009 Dennis Prager: The Speech President Obama Won't Dare Give in Egypt Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Pressure on Israel raises war risk Oct. 29, 2003 Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review The limitations of scientific miracles By Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski Moses' reminder to our generation “To be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. For it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life.”                         —   Deut. 32:46-47 http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Why was it necessary for Moses to even say that Torah is not ''an empty thing?'' Furthermore, he continues, ''for it is your life.'' It is conceivable that one would say about an item, ''It is not worthless. It does have some value.'' But it is too drastic a contrast to say, ''It is not worthless, it is your very life.'' Moses was speaking prophetically to our generation, as he stated so clearly, ''Harm will befall you at the end of days, if you do what is wrong in the eyes of G-d'' (Deuteronomy 31:29). The Jerusalem Talmud makes a sharp comment: ''If you think the Torah is empty, it is the fault of your perception'' (Pe'ah 1:1). We are the beneficiaries of unprecedented scientific advances. Who would have dreamt that a human being would walk on the moon, that computers would be invented that can make thousands if not millions of complicated calculations in seconds, or that doctors would replace diseased kidneys, livers and even hearts. Even these epochal achievements pale before the possibilities that lie in the future: eliminating all disease by genetic engineering. The undeniable accomplishments of science may cause parents to give their children an education that will provide them access to the world of science. However, parents may be so enthralled by the marvels of science that they may lose sight of the fact that science can provide only for the ''how'' of life, but not for the ''why'' of life. Even breaking the DNA code does not give a person an ultimate purpose for life. The Midrash says, ''You may believe that there is knowledge in the secular world, but do not believe that there is Torah in the secular world'' (Eichah Rabbah 2:17). Is it not paradoxical that in this age of scientific miracles, when we have the possibility of living in comfort as never before, that the drug epidemic is ravaging our youth, and that rampant violence and immorality threatens the very survival of mankind? Some parents would never tolerate that their children be given a scanty secular education, but are perfectly willing to allow their children to be ignorant of Torah. How foolish to allow the ''how'' of life to totally obscure the importance of the ''why'' of life, of giving life meaning and value. Yes, Moses was speaking to our generation, to which he had to say, ''Be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. For it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life.'' Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. is a psychiatrist and ordained rabbi. He is the founder of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, a leading center for addiction treatment. An Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, he is a prolific author, with some 30 books to his credit, including, "Twerski on Chumash" (Bible), from which this was excerpted (Sales of this book help fund JWR). Comment by clicking here. © 2004, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.