Latest Shows
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Public Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley and Rick Sanchez regarding his firing from CNN after ...
- Date
- Title
- 01/17/11
-
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Public Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley and Rick Sanchez regarding his firing from CNN after comments made that were seen as offensive to the Jewish Community… The discussion takes place at the Carlebach Shul In NYC…
Click title to download! - 01/04/11
-
Raising Spiritual Children
Raising Spiritual Children
Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley, rev. Charles Gilmore, and Felicia Stoler at West Side Presbyterian Church in Englewood, NJ.
Click title to download! - 12/06/10
-
Larchmony NY Female Depression and its Cure
Larchmony NY Female Depression and its Cure
Lecture in Larchmont NY
Click title to download! -
View All Podcast Shows
Articles Listing
Friday, July 30, 2010
Materialism Corrupts. And?
Posted by Jonah Lowenfeld in the Jewish Journal -
“The business of America is Business”—Calvin Coolidge. -
Last night, at a panel organized by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, he and three other panelists attempted to answer the question, “Is Materialism Corrupting the Soul of America?” Boteach—who has a new book out on the subject—responded with a definitive, “yes.” Moderator Rabbi Elazar Muskin of the Young Israel of Century City, where the event was held, seemed to agree, kicking off the panel saying, “The answer is yes—but now we’re going to find out how.” The other three panelists would not allow themselves to be put so firmly into one camp or the other.
Boteach had invited Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, Rabbi Naomi Levy of the Nashuva community, and Jewish Journal staff writer Danielle Berrin to join him on the panel. Boteach spoke first. “Materialism is choking the soul of America,” he said. And though Boteach peppered his speech with comments on Mel Gibson, President Calvin Coolidge (“the business of America is business”) and the iPhone 4, he focused on a past that was far more distant.
“Adam and Eve had nothing,” Boteach said, “and they weren’t ashamed.” It wasn’t until the serpent came into their lives, pointing out the tree from which they could not eat, that the first couple became materialistic—and it’s been that way ever since. “You think you’re happy living in Beverlywood?” Boteach asked with mock incredulity. “You have no idea what Bel Air is like!”
“No matter how much we eat,” Boteach said, citing increasing obesity among Americans as proof of a concurrent rise in materialism, “we’re still hungry.”
Like Boteach, the other panelists invoked historical precedents to support their points. Berrin acknowledged that many of the Hollywood-types she writes about had always loved stuff. But as a community founded by immigrants, Berrin said, the newly rich and famous drove fancy cars and bought big mansions as a way of saying, “we’ve made it in America.” And she didn’t think that was necessarily bad. Like the Jewish community that focuses on torah, spirituality and matters of faith, Berrin said, Hollywood is also ultimately dedicated to something immaterial: human imagination and its products.
Speaking third, Garcetti said that by decrying American materialism as the scourge of our era, we risk “idealiz[ing] a past golden age that never was.” Today’s American economy is 70% based on consumer goods, Garcetti said, but pointed out that in 1947, the earliest data he could find, it made up roughly the same percentage. Ultimately, Garcetti said, neither materialism nor its opposite—idealism—is any good without hard work. “Materialism needs work not to be corrupted,” he said. “But idealism needs hard work to be relevant.”
Levy also cast a backward glance and found that today’s America might not be all that different than earlier societies. Drawing from midrashic commentaries on biblical texts, Levy showed that rabbis recognized that materialism was “a universal problem, a human problem—and a Jewish problem.”
“All the labor of man is for his mouth,” Levy said, quoting from Ecclesiastes, “yet his soul is not filled.” In the lead-up to the High Holy Days, Levy challenged the audience to seek things that will nourish the soul—which often aren’t things at all.
The efficient event concluded at just after 9pm, with Muskin proclaiming consensus.
Share
Comments
-
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
marinarobert
testking]http://www.mytest-king.com/”]testking[/url]
avaya]http://www.mytest-king.com/Avaya-notes.html”]avaya questions[/url]
10g]http://www.mytest-king.com/certification/10g-DBA.html”]10g dba practice exam[/url]
11g]http://www.mytest-king.com/certification/11g.html”]11g questions[/url]
ais]http://www.mytest-king.com/certification/AIS.html”]ais tests[/url]
a+]http://www.mytest-king.com/certification/A-plus.html”]a+ practice test[/url]
ase]http://www.mytest-king.com/certification/ASE.html”]ase tests[/url]
capm]http://www.mytest-king.com/certification/CAPM.html”]capm practice test[/url] -
Thursday, October 13, 2011
oakle78
The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, cheap northface jackets but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.’
-
Sunday, October 30, 2011
ekli
It is able-bodied accepted Moncler Outlet Online jackets, but can aswell be a acceptable Moncler vest.Coat acclimated in wine, can access the Moncler Online Outlet jackets , and his character, and advance your access on others. You can buy Moncler varitey appearance and color. moncler outlet store beautiful and affected architecture Moncler is arresting indeed. The fabric of Moncler jacket will keep you warm in winter season and you are not going to feel any kind of discomfort, while wearing these Men Moncler Jackets, for it is light in weight and will not hinder your daily routine work.
-
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
jolly
I am a poor student ,i have a dream to own a Louis Vuitton Bags ,it comes true now 4
-
Thursday, November 03, 2011
aas
<a >North Face Outlet</a> Here are 3 key facts that you’ll appear beyond whenever you apprehend peoples reviews in retail stores. <a >North Face sale</a> These jackets accumulate you balmy beneath algid conditions.They aswell assure you from rain and snow. <a >North Face clearance</a> This artefact comes in all assorted sizes and colors at reasonable costs. Finally these jackets are accurate to be the a lot of able superior fit for all kinds of weather.<a >north face jackets clearance</a>
-
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
fakedesignerbags
North Face Denali is often a San Francisco based company that was established in 1968. North Face Denali Jacket designed, manufactured, and sold technical mountaineering equipment and apparel. The North Face Denali are hands down the first selection North Face Denali Outlet by most from the world’s most accomplished outdoorsman - skiers, snow boarders, climbers North Face Mens Apex Bionic Jacket
-
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
siyuanseo123
North Face Outlet comes in all different sizes and colors at reasonable costs. Now imagine that you might have one North face discount that keeps you warm. This is when the The north face outlet comes in hand.
-
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
seaset
There are many others about Cheap Nike Air Max you dont know. shoes are ugly, these is one of the reason that mbt footwear is so popular.nike air max Whether at work or at leisure sports, mbt footwear is the best choice.nike air max 2011 Have you any idea why? Nike air max 90 shoes can improve our health, you know, nowaday more and more people work hard in addition to their body sick easily. So that you need mbt shoes which can help you solve these issues. Of course, its very difficult to accomplish this today.nike air max 90 Not only does society dictate that individuals eschew going barefoot, but we rarely walk on truly soft surfaces anymore. Because of this, our bodies have adjusted to those new conditions, albeit on the expense of our posture, gait, and muscle fitness.
This unforgettable experience will make me be keen on burberry check scarf.burberry scarves on saleIf there were no burberry scarves,there is no me.Burberry check scarves soft wool and exqusite workmanship attracted me at first,and cheap price and free shipping satisfied me.burberry scarvesThanks to burberry burberry scarf scarves. -
Thursday, November 24, 2011
FCWCX
If you want to choose a pair of?Ugg Outlet Store, the first option you may think of is shopping online. There are many online stores can offer discount?Ugg Outlet Online?with the similar style with UGG Boots Outlet Online. You can find a great selection of UGG styleUgg Outlet?and all of them are good, warm, and the most important, inexpensive.You can also choose to shop local stores for such?Ugg Outlet Online. Many stores have the similar style you may be able to get them at a discount.Nobody would care if your?Ugg Store?are actually if you get them for a great deal. If you only care about the quality and style of theUgg Store, then you can ignore the expensive brand name and just buy the boot?with the similar style and reasonable prices from another brand. If you want to do so,, many websites are suitable. For example,Ugg Store, you can choose such?boot?on eBay.
-
Friday, November 25, 2011
longchamps
Nous savons tous que Jésus est né dans une mangeoire à l’intérieur,sac longchamps, pourquoi il était né dans la mangeoire pour le choisir? Comme le Fils de l’homme, bien sûr, Sac longchamps pas cher vous pouvez choisir où il est né. longchamps pas cher, Si c’est vous, vous choisissez un des ustensiles de bétail né en elle? Wholesale NFL Jerseys, En fait, Jésus a choisi pour être le fils d’un charpentier, est né dans une mangeoire dans laquelle.sac longchamp moins cher.
To comment, please login or complete the free registration.