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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

As I try to wade through the mountain of lies and stupidity that I hear coming from politicians and news personalities (I'm through calling them "reporters" until they start acting like adults), I think back -- as I often do -- to that great philosophical movie, The Wizard of...

After eight years of the incompetence and deception that were the hallmarks of the Bush administration, the American people are desperate for leaders who are smart and will be honest with them. That was the clear message delivered by voters in November (It Was About Stupid, Stupid -- Nov....

As we watch the actions and listen to the comments of our Congressional leaders, one can only hope that they're really smarter than they seem and that they just can't help themselves.

We now know the reasons that we are facing an economic crisis. Banks and other financial institutions...

Since Bernie Madoff admitted that he had swindled hundreds of his friends and several charities out of $50 billion, we have learned very little regarding the details of his operation. We still don't know exactly how he did it, how many people were in on the scam, and where the...