Just Following Orders?

The truth is that people who pull triggers are ultimately responsible, whether they're following orders or not. An army of people making individual moral choices may be inefficient, but an army of people ignoring their morality is horrifying - Joel Stein This is a cropped photo of Germany's Einsatzgruppen (death squad) murdering Jewish civilians in …

Rescuer of Warsaw’s Children

“You see a man drowning, you must try to save him even if you cannot swim.”― Irena Sendler, Life In A Jar She was a woman of great courage, risking her life to rescue 2,500 Jewish children.  People may wonder how could one person save so many children. It was in her nature to help …

The Interview, Buenos Aires & Plans for Uruguay

He stared at her. Did she have any idea of how beautiful and sexy she looked in that dress? She was making it really hard for him not to want to scoop her up in his arms and take her up to his hotel room and make love to her. "What's the matter?" she asked. …

Lara and Mr. Hoffmann

"What's that number on your arm, Mr. Hoffmann?" Lara asked. It was a Saturday afternoon and she was at his flat. She liked visiting him. He was such a nice, kind person. He was different from everyone else. He was friendly to her even though she was colored. He had a foreign accent. He wasn't …

Imaginary? Illusions?

"I read a story recently about a man who when caught claimed that the devil made him do it. Instead of admitting that he was guilty and taking responsibility for his crime, he blames it on an imaginary, fictional character." "The devil isn't an imaginary, fictional character. He's real." "Says who?" "Says the Bible." "Men …

You Are Unique

You made my whole being. You formed me in my mother’s body.  I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way - Psalm 139:13, 14 I'm currently in a relationship with an older man. His name is Marek Dabrowski and he's my Sociology professor. It was in my first year at …

Zala’s Story

I'm a Ethiopian Jewish woman living in Israel but life here is terrible for people like me.  We are not welcomed in the Jewish community because of our skin color and we are accused of being "fake Jews".  My husband is a white Israeli Jew.  We met when he came to Gondar, a northern town …

Falling in Love

Gloria was walking down the sidewalk after visiting her grandmother in the nursing home when she ran into David Mansfield.  He was heading into a café when he spotted her.  Smiling, he walked over to her.  “Hello, Gloria,” he said. She smiled at him.  “Professor Mansfield.” “Please call me David.  It makes me feel less …

Ingrid Bergman

I just read in the Stabroek News that the 68th Cannes Film Festival unveiled its official poster featuring legendary actress Ingrid Bergman in a tribute to what would have been her 100th birthday this year.  I think that's wonderful.  She was an actress I truly admired and appreciated.  She had gentle beauty and an air …