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Larry Gellman is a Financial Advisor, Jewish community leader, former TV news reporter, and observer of the human condition.

He has been cited as one of the nation's top money managers by a national investment publication.

He has chaired and served on the boards of a number of major Jewish organizations and has lectured in the U.S. and Israel on the subject of Judaism and Business Ethics.

Blog Entries by Larry Gellman

Feeding the Golem--My Jewish Friends Are Addicted to Anger and Fear Too

Posted March 2, 2010 | 11:06 PM (EST)


In a recent article, I wondered out loud why most of people say they want to be happy and yet spend an ever-increasing amount of time and energy reading, watching, and listening to people who promise to make us angry and afraid. Our need for anger and fear has become...

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Feeding the Beast--Our Addiction to Anger and Fear

19 Comments | Posted February 25, 2010 | 05:32 PM (EST)


If you ask most people what they want the most for themselves--and certainly for their children--the vast majority would say "happiness." We want to be happy and we want our friends and family to go through life with every reason to wear a big smile. If you Google "how...

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A Very Bad Week for America

2 Comments | Posted January 27, 2010 | 05:36 PM (EST)


America and democracy just had a very bad week.

The biggest headlines were garnered by the truly shocking victory of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts. Brown won the Senate seat that had been held for decades by Teddy Kennedy and will represent the only state to vote for George McGovern.

...
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Windows and Mirrors

Posted January 22, 2010 | 05:11 PM (EST)


Any house that we would want to inhabit should have a good number of both windows and mirrors. The windows are needed so we can look through them and see what is going on outside the house. The mirrors are needed inside so we can look back at ourselves critically...

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A New Year's Resolution

Posted September 30, 2009 | 06:10 PM (EST)


These are the most important 10 days of the Jewish calendar -- the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur when we negotiate with God -- making the case that we are worthy to be inscribed in the Book of Life for yet another year.

The biggest part of that...

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Back to the Future -- The Tension Over Tense

Posted September 30, 2009 | 05:46 PM (EST)


Have you ever noticed that most things people say they are worried might happen in the future are things that have already happened? Once the dreaded event has taken place, they start speaking in the future tense about it as though it hadn't happened yet -- but they're worried that...

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The State of Denial Has Zero Electoral Votes -- But It Seems to Be Winning

38 Comments | Posted September 5, 2009 | 06:02 PM (EST)


The Right Wing purveyors of hatred, fear, and anger have adopted a new strategy. Unfortunately, it seems to be working as well as their old one.

Until now, they have focused on spreading lies and distortions about President Obama. He is a socialist and a Nazi (an interesting combination) wants...

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It Was Never Fair and Balanced -- Now It's Not Even News

65 Comments | Posted August 24, 2009 | 01:32 PM (EST)


We are all painfully familiar with the many casualties of the deep economic decline that has ravaged the value of our homes, businesses, and investment accounts.

Another less obvious victim of the economic crisis has been the truth. Hatespeech and lies have been on the rise in...

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The Difference Between Criticism and Hate Speech

127 Comments | Posted August 11, 2009 | 11:56 AM (EST)


A number of friends and readers have called me to task in recent weeks claiming that I have been unfair to Republicans or that I have been giving the "crazies" way too much attention and actually helping their cause by getting so upset. Others have said that my strong...

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Punching the Tar Baby

Posted July 16, 2009 | 11:54 AM (EST)


Last week I suggested that the Republican party was at a crossroads of sorts. They could continue down the road of hatespeech, fear, anger, and thinly-veiled racism or they could take a cue from Conservatives like David Brooks, Peggy Noonan, Colin Powell, David Frum, and many...

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Hatespeech or Dignity - Republicans at the Crossroads

Posted July 9, 2009 | 09:41 PM (EST)


I want to make something perfectly clear. I have supported many Republicans in recent years including my current senators John Kyl and John McCain. I have held fundraisers in my home for Tommy Thompson when he was the Republican governor of Wisconsin. I have supported Democrats as well. I am...

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In Dependence Day 2009

Posted July 6, 2009 | 02:24 PM (EST)


For the last several years I have spent the Fourth of July here at the Aspen Ideas Festival which has always ushered me into the holiday with a new perspective on democracy and the freedoms that have always been unique to our great country.

Last year,...

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I Just Don't Get It

Posted June 24, 2009 | 03:28 PM (EST)


Is it just me or does more and more of what we see and read in the media make no sense? Why do so many seemingly intelligent people keep repeating lies and distortions as though they were true? Why do those same people speak in the present or future...

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My Pro-Israel Friends Need Pro-Zac

Posted June 8, 2009 | 12:50 PM (EST)


Before writing this, I think it is important to talk a little about who I am.

For the last 25 years, my involvement in the Jewish community and Israel have shaped my life. I have chaired campaigns, led missions, and served on the boards of Israel Bonds, Federation, United Jewish...

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Seeds of Hatred---Reaping the Harvest

Posted June 6, 2009 | 02:15 PM (EST)


I was shocked to learn that President Obama and others said they were shocked that Dr. George Tiller was murdered in cold-blood while serving as an usher in his Kansas church. If you believe that you reap what you sow then the murder of Dr. Tiller is not...

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What Is So Outrageous About Paying Our Bills?

Posted May 5, 2009 | 11:52 AM (EST)


I can't help it. I am just furious about all the rage that is out there.

All my Republican friends are pissing me off with their anger over how Obama's a socialist and how he wants to take away their freedoms. But what really gets me worked up is...

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Lenin Rules!

Posted April 22, 2009 | 11:54 AM (EST)


I have really been struggling lately to figure out what in the world has happened to my Republican friends who used to make so much sense and to the so-called cable news channels which have become more and more of an oxymoron. But I struggle no more.

I now realize...

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Keep the Baby -- Throw Out the Bathwater

Posted April 3, 2009 | 05:48 PM (EST)


Those of you who are waiting for the economy to get "back" to normal will probably be waiting for the rest of your lives. We are getting to the new normal on a daily basis but it will bear little resemblance to what passed for normal over the last 20...

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Back to the Future

Posted March 27, 2009 | 10:14 AM (EST)


Over the last several months I have been repeatedly asked by friends and clients when the economy, the stock market, and life in general will get back to normal.

My response each time has been "We are getting back to normal every day." The challenge is that...

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We Are So Angry That We've Lost Our Minds

Posted March 25, 2009 | 02:23 PM (EST)


I remember reading news about the race riots in Detroit and Los Angeles when I was growing up during the '60s. It was confusing to me at the time because I could never understand why enraged mobs would vent their anger by killing people and destroying businesses and homes in...

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