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Prince Edward Island
Rabbi Shmuley gives a brief overview of his visit to Prince Edward Island with his family
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Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Rabbi Shmuley gives a brief overview of his visit to Prince Edward Island with his family
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Israel Under Fire
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Hugo Chavez calls Israel a “genocidal state”. Rabbi Shmuley discusses the state of Israel’s relationships with the rest of the world, as well as Obama’s lack of support for Israel.
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General McChrystal should Not be Fired
General McChrystal should Not be Fired
Rabbi Shmuley, conferencing in from a vacation with his family, discusses why he feels it is a grave error to have fired Gen. McChrystal.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Divorce and Its Impact on Children - Jon & Kate Plus 8
So now the world knows that Jon and Kate Gosselin are not only separated but have formally filed for divorce. TLC has put the show on hiatus for a month for the viewers to get used to the new Jon and Kate, which involves 2 single parents raising their kids. What’s really upsetting is how benign our reaction to the announcement of this divorce has been. I’m not now looking at the causes of the divorce—whether reality TV exacerbated it, or created it, or helped to foster it from its inception, I’m looking at the divorce itself. I’m a child of divorce and the idea that divorce doesn’t affect kids is a lie, a terrible lie, which is parroted in our society because of how commonplace it has become. Divorce leaves children feeling angry, confused, bitter, and puts them into the unnatural state of becoming caregivers to their parents while their parents are busy nourishing their own wounds. I have spent my whole life trying to heal the scars from my parents’ divorce, and even I was not 5 years old at the time, the age of these sextuplets.
Just think about this: 8 young children, 6 of them 5 years old, being subject to being yo-yos throughout their childhood as they go from their mothers’ care to their fathers’ care, being introduced to all kinds of new strangers who their parents date. I’m not blaming the parents or trying to make parents who are divorced feel guilty; I’m simply asking how there could be almost no reaction to this announcement other than our own purient celebrity interests? Guys, wake up. People’s lives are not fodder for entertainment and if adults want to make their lives fodder for entertainment, that’s their business but to insist that upon their children is very unfair. If the Jon and Kate show is to continue without the 2 of them being together, then I would strongly advise the TLC network that part of the show should include working with these kids to help them adjust to the new reality of their parents’ separation and divorce. At least let the show be something positive for the kids and positive for all American families. It should minimize the harm divorce does to children.
Dictated and unchecked by Rabbi Shmuley.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Grizzly Bear Mom
Shmuley thank you for the love you demonstrate for your own offspirng, and all God’s children. Although I don’t share all their values, I greatly enjoy watching Mr & MRS Duggar on TLC because they appear to love and respect each other and teach their children to do so too. Maybe TLC can have a show on demonstrating how divorce impacted adults, to show parents what their children face, and then allow those parents to get help for themselves and their children to serve as a model for others.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Shar
I must admit that I have seen most of the episodes of Jon & Kate. At first, (several seasons ago) I found it charming and enjoyed watching the kids. I really thought the big announcement was going to be that this married couple had come to their senses, remembered that they really loved each other, and were quitting the show (even if they had a contract) to heal and nurture their marriage and family in private. As we know, that isn’t what happened—and I can no longer stomach watching this show. To make the destruction of marriage and family “entertainment” is more than I can take, and I am sad for our culture if this is really something people want to view. Rabbi, you have a connection with TLC. Isn’t there some way you can connect with and try to help these tortured, misguided people. They can’t be getting good advice with all the money that is being made off their troubles. What an awful trap they have fallen into. And to read some of the comments people have about these folks on other blogs—so much hatred towards people you don’t really know anything about. The producers and editors just let you think you know them. Very sad indeed.
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Sunday, September 06, 2009
sherry
Sherry
Well, here’s an idea. Stop doing the show & for God’s sake quite talking about ur divorce on worldwide TV. Ur priority are these children who now have lost their mom & dad.
Unbelievable Jon wants to be free so he can go & sow his wild oats. Now he is in a relationship with Kate’s plastic surgeon. What an idoit. Let’s see u have just wanted 2B free 2 go & find urself & rite away u are in another relationship & ur in love. Makes me want 2 puke. Jon says that he didn’t want 2 stay at home with the children. Well here’s an idea open ur mouth & say so. Ur suppose 2b the priest of ur house. So, get some back bone & say enough is enough. Us being on TV is not good anymore. We need 2 go back 2 our life bfore this. But instead Jon is going 2b out screwing anything & everything because he didn’t get 2 do this bfore he was married. Dumb shit! I’m really pissed off at both of them. For once in ppls lives when will they learn not 2 pimp their children.
They needed 2 both get an excellent marriage therapist & work this out. My niece has twins & I have been helping her from the beginning & 4 almost 2 yrs it was extremely stressful. I can’t imagine six at once, but God is able to restore if we would really work at it & deny ourselves for the welfare of our children.
I came from an alcoholic home. My father was a very mean drunk & still at 54 I struggle with certain issues yet. I have been in alot of counseling, reading books, self-help groups & begging God 2 just help me be normal. It’s no fun but u do meet alot of neat pple along the way & u finally find who u really r & build on that.
I hope they both stop being in the limelight & love themselves & children enough 2 do this.
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