This Week's sign that the apocalypse is upon us...

2 signs this week....actually, 2 signs today.....

1) It is being reported that all-around NFL bad boy Terrell Owens (pictured) attempted suicide by downing a bottle of pain pills....I don't know what bothers me more...the tiny salary he garners (ha), or the fact that he didn't swallow enough pills...

2) I joined Facebook.

Truth: yours or mine?

Well, there's absolutely no difference between the two....

Truth is absolute. Truth is reality. Truth is the path in which G-d allows us to reach our potential, realize the true nature of our collective and individual existence and it guides our thoughts and actions on a near sub-conscious level. I would like to begin with an analogy to better express my point....

Let us assume that there is a beautiful tree growing in the forest. This particular tree is easy to identify amongst the other trees in the forest due to its size and the shadows it casts. Now, there are 3 people enjoying the shade which this humungous tree provides. Person #1 mentions to the other 2 how beautiful the trees leaves are. He says he's never seen such a vibrant shade of red before. Person #2 disagrees. When he looks at the tree, all he can see are the amazing leaves as well, but when he looks up at the tree, all he sees are great, green leaves. Person #3, conversely, can only appreciate the beauty of the yellow leaves which, in his eyes, blanket the tree from top to bottom, left to right. So, our situation involves 3 different people, all looking at the same tree, but each seeing something different. This is exactly how truth works in our world. Truth is the tree. It is immovable, absolute and attainable. The problem with this tree of Truth is that we, as people, become so jaded in our world views, whether through our childhood, our upbringing, our relationships, our memories, etc...it is those variables which determines how we view Truth. It doesn't change Truth, just how we view it.

Our 3 people in the tree analogy each "see" a different colour of leaves...one sees red, another green, and another yellow. So what colour are the trees leaves actually?

I see 2 answers here. One which I like, and one which I do not.

1) Just as the tree has multiple colours of leaves, so does Truth have multiple layers of meaning. According to this explanantion, Truth is neither absolute nor unchangeing. Truth would become this crutch which everyone leans on to justify their actions, collectively or individually. A quick example.....human sacrifice. According to this answer, I cannot claim that human sacrifice is immoral or wrong or anything of the sorts. According to this answer, human sacrifice is totally kosher...human sacrifice is simply a different colour leaf on our tree. If that's what you see, then that's Truth, right? Absolutely not....this is what is called Neo-Paganism (thanks for the term, Rabbi Spiro). Neo-Paganism is the idea that there is no absolute Truth, no real right or wrong. Neo-Paganism is the acceptance of other people doing what they want, justifying it through "traditions" or the like, and us accepting that as unchangeing. What a crock! There are things in this world which are plainly wrong. There are no ifs ands or buts...it is just wrong, like human sacrifice. Therefore, this explanation can be thrown to the dogs...

2) The trees leaves are brown. Sure our 3 people each saw 3 other colours, but, given that Truth is indeed absolute, its colours are consistent throughout. So how do we explain how 3 different people saw 3 different colours? The answer to that, my friends, is the essence of Truth.

Truth is immovable. Absolute. It is our experiences and memories which deceive us as we grow, and we get tricked into thinking that the leaves are green or red or yellow, when, in fact, they have always been brown, are brown and will continue to only be brown. Our perceptions lie to us and make us see the colours, or, the "truth" we want to see...not the brown leaves that grow on its branches. These leaves, this Truth, is, therefore absolute. The consequences to this epiphany are severe...

If Truth is absolute, then it is logical to say that there also exists right and wrong, immoral and moral. As such, we can no longer hide behind the old adage of you do what you want, I'll do what I want. If we allow that to happen, our society would be plunged into an abyss of chaos, a veritable hell on earth. Anything and everything would be allowed, spoiling our civilisation. The poison pill would be planted (has been planted), and our acceptance of such will foster the seed, nourish it, until a time comes when we are surrounded by the fruits of this sad, desperate labour. We see this all around the world...and have been witnessing the downward spiral of our collective society for decades, even centuries. Conflicts grow, war seems easier than peace and life changes.

But.....

Then life happens. The good things.....friends having babies, getting married, travelling, experiencing true meaning in life. Things to value...things to cherish and celebrate. So how do we balance the cold, narrow-mindedness of truth with the warmth and happiness that life provides??

Well, if I knew that, more people would be reading this blog...

During these intermediate days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I extend my most sincerest apologies for having offended or hurt any and all of you. My friends have always been my family, and I thank Hashem for that blessing--for you--every day.

As we approach the New Year.....

Friends, as we approach Rosh Hashanah this friday, it behooves us all to take some time and try and wrap our minds around our lives. Where have we been? Where are we now? And where do we want to go? It is the answers to these questions that will help us prop our lives into the limelight, and give us the clarity necessary to move forward to achieve our life goals, and, of course, try to bring ourselves closer to Hashem.

Yet, that's not enough. Our lives do not function within a vacuum. Our lives intersect with others, giving birth to relationships. We must examine these relationships as well. What kind of relationships do we have? Are they beneficial to both parties? Are they based on physicality, or spirituality? What purpose do they serve? You see, in this beautiful reality we find ourselves in, the consequences of our actions are meant to serve as the guide to our decisions. A good decision will yield a good result; a bad decision will yield a bad result. We must observe these results, learn from our bad decisions and mistakes, and pledge not to repeat them. For me, this is the essence of Rosh Hashanah.

Since my return from the Holy Land, this has become a daily routine. I have learnt that only through introspection can I improve my actions and bring myself closer to Hashem. And it is through this daily introspection that I have tagged my (numerous) faults, and I try to make a conscious choice to improve on them. For example, judging others. It used to be second nature. Someone walks by, and in my head, I have already scripted his life....what brought him here; what drives him; how he lives; Obviously, that's wrong. So, whenever I find my mind wandering in that direction I remember, 'judge not lest ye be judged'. Also, in Judaism, we believe that the way one judges others is the way the Almighty judges us on the day of our death. If we judge people favorably, Hashem extends us that same benefit. The flipside...well, you know the flipside.

And yet there's even more to our equation of introspection. Beyond ourselves and our relationships with others, we must all function within the boundaries and rules of society. Whether it's a call from muslim clerics to kill the Pope over comments associating violence to Islam (and the subsequent VIOLENT response), to heads of state calling for other states destruction, to kidnapping soldiers, to child warriors, to this 'culture of entitlement', to democracy v. dictatorship, to the decaying of "truth" from a goal to a means to an end, to human self-interest and state's self-interest, to the fallacy of human judgement, to the beauty of human empathy....all these things contribute to our own view of the world, and consequently, the way we behave in said world.

Rosh Hashanah is a gift from Hashem. Here, he's telling us that no matter what the previous year held, as long as we take stock, take help and take control of our lives, He will be there to help us and to guide us to wherever we want to go. That's His gift to us, but we need to earn it, it's not just given away. So please, my friends, sometime this week, sit down, take a pen and pad and draw up your life's plan. With dedication, an open heart and mind, and Hashem's help, there's nothing you cannot accomplish.

Take stock, take help, take control.

May we all be blessed this year with happiness, health and safety. No matter how far we fall, we have Hashem and our friends and family to pick us up. Remember that. Take solice in that. Understand that no matter what, we are not alone. We have each other...another of Hashem's many gifts. And this is the time of year to appreciate it.

L'Shana Tova U'Metuka!!!!!

RIP Croc Hunter, Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin, famed "Crocodile Hunter", nature conservationist and all around great guy passed away yesterday at the tender age of 44. Let me just say that I am quite sad that Steve has passed so soon. His television shows were simply amazing. His ability to relate to his audience, all the while wrestling a poisonous snake in one hand and fending off a Grizzly Bear with the other, Steve's love for animals and all things wild was truly a gift.

Fortunately, Steve died doing what he loved....playing with really dangerous animals. As he was diving off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Steve began swimming with deadly Sting-rays. It should be noted that that in and of itself is nothing surprising----Steve always played with the most dangerous of animals. But this time, Steve got too close......the Sting-ray attacked Steve, stung him in the chest and made a hole in his heart. Hopefully, Steve did not suffer much.

Steve leaves behind a young family. His death is a tragedy to all those who loved and admired his work. I hope you'll join me in offering my condolences to the Irwin family. It is a sad day, today. Steve was one of the good guys. Someone able to use his podium to improve our society and the world in which we live. Let us take the example Steve left us and try to improve ourselves and those around us.

Steve Irwin. Father. Son. Croc Hunter. We will miss you.

Getting all caught up.....

I know, it's been a while......I seem to say that a lot...

So what's new with Avi, you ask? Good question...

Politics- Status Quo Ante...the more things (seem to) change, the more they stay the same. Our brethren are still in the hands of the enemy, there is no resolution to the War in sight...People think that because CNN's headlines don't read "The Road to WWIII", all is quiet on the Mid-Eastern front. Well, it ain't. By the end of September, the IDF will be back in Lebanon, ontinued fighting in Gaza, and, G-d willing, we would have killed Nasrallah by then.
Oh, and I love Stephen Harper(pictured)...have I mentioned that lately?

Sports- Andre Agassi. Sure he's Persian, but what a story! I hate watching (men's) tennis, but this guy has appeal. I'm a fan. Hockey season's starting soon...yay!

Professional- School starts soon...this seems to be my last "summer" weekend. Man, that went by quickly.

That's pretty much it....spent all last week at 2 conferences, one for Hillel staff and one for the top leaders on campus. Both were pretty chill; a good way to get hyped for the upcoming year. But the best....absolute best....was getting to spend some quality time with Alana Kayfetz. For those who don't know who Alana is yet, you need not worry, she is the upcoming Hillel all-star. After an amazing activist career at Mac, Western has snagged her as their JCSC (Jewish something or other) fellow, which just means she's a Hillel director getting paid what a 17 year old at MacDonald's get payed (without the benefits). Alana is the future of Jewish professionals, and her dedication, creativity, motivation and charisma is the template from which Hillel would mint their staff (if they could).

I was very hesitant coming back as QH director this year, especially after my time at Aish. Fortunately, after spending some time with SuperYid Kayfetz, I feel better prepared to handle this year's stuff. Oh, and she's a hottie.....

So that's pretty much it for now....I miss and love you all. Special shout out to Avraham Chaim Jegher (aka Schwartzy) as well as Sydney Gelfer, one of my campers from 2 summers ago. She's coming to Queen's!!!! Yay!!!

Have a great Shabbos all.....coming next week, "Truth: subjective or absolute?"