What does it mean to be a good person?
When a conversation ensues about good people, what is the exact definition? It is interesting to hear some people’s explanations of who a good person is. Some people say that a good person is one that gives tzedaka. Others say that it is one that upholds all the laws. Yet, there is not one concrete consensus on what makes a good person. I was conversing with my gentile co-worker and it came out about making donations and or contributions to our respective charities. It really intrigued me to find out that they do not donate to any organization regularly; still she said if someone needed the money then she would give it over. Though, as the conversation continued I realized that her initial blanket statement was partially false. What she meant by helping people out was by donating her used items of clothing, or other used goods. However, with all of that said and done she did say that she helps out the family, this statement she proved by dropping a few numbers. A roughly calculated estimate would say that she does not donate anywhere close to 10% though she probably does donate to family about 5%. So, with all of that said, does this make her a good person? She educates her children, raises them with manners and respect, pays taxes and is a law abiding citizen. Is she a good person?
In my opinion she is. She works hard, pays her dues and lives her life the way she chooses to. Yet, if she was of the Jewish faith we would criticize this person to no end. She does not send her kids to a private school, she eats out all the time, and she doesn’t give enough charity. So, how could this person possibly be good?
Is it possible that our understanding of good and bad is skewed? Is it possible that we give more heed to someone wearing the garb but not practicing the basic principals of being a good person. Is it possible that we are too critical, to judgmental and too closed minded for our own good? I think that the answer is yes to all of the fore mentioned questions. I think that in the orthodox circles we feel that we are better than everyone else even though we do not show that off, even though we do not act the way that we should. There have been so many times where I hear two friends talking about religion and religious obligation; I hear them get so specific about one point that they lose sight of the big picture. When two friends are talking about being tznius and are going into so much depth about the length of a skirt or the color of a yarmulke and then turn around and speak loshon hora it makes me feel like I don’t want to associate or be associated with anything that the two women stand for. People are such hypocrites that they don’t see what they are doing to themselves, their family members or anyone else around them.
So does this mean that the hypocrites are bad people and everyone that lives their lives properly isn’t? If so, then what is the definition of proper? If the orthodox way of life is supposed to be proper, righteous, and overall good then why are so many of the orthodox people the exact opposite of everything listed? Why pretend to be something and somebody that a person is definitely not? Why not just live the way that you want to without having need or necessity to keep up an image and feel like an impostor?
I guess for now, all we can do is live our lives so that they are the best for ourselves and our families.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Food, Again?
So this topic is re-occurring and I'm not sure if it is because it is such a large part of my life or because I now pay attention to it way more than I used to!
Before I moved out on my own I had no idea how much anything cost in the grocery store. I didn't know what the average price was, and I certainly didn't know what a 'good' price was for any of the essential fruits and vegetables. Once I moved out and started to buy my own groceries I realized a few things very quickly: 1) I should have lived at home for longer because there food was free unless I wanted junk food which was a total of $10 a week if that. 2) Food spoils quickly, you cannot stock up for more than one week on fruits and vegetables. 3) Fruits and vegetables cost a lot more and are a lot less filling then buying junk food. It is this last point I would like to concentrate on.
This week I was at one of our kosher supermarkets in town. It is quite extensive and the biggest in the city where I reside. I noticed that the fruits and vegetables were definitely marked up a little more than what I just spent in the produce store down the street. I also noticed that there are so many aisles of already prepared food. What caught my attention, while not realizing this earlier, were the number of aisle dedicated to strictly junk food. What I mean by junk food: potato chips, candies, chocolates and the sub categories of each. There were 4 complete aisles in two separate parts of the store dedicated to these items. That is 4 aisles, both sides of the aisle. Then another aisle, both sides dedicated to pop and juices. Then I started to think of the recent articles that I've read about obesity and the crisis that America is in. It doesn't surprise me that this country is in a crisis. HOW could it now be? When you have more processed food available for purchase, when there is so much junk food, appealing to anyone and everyone, from chocolate to caramel and everything in the middle, how can anyone resist the temptation to buy and eat something that just looks so appealing! With these foods containing so many negative additives that do not break down easily in our bodies, that work against our bodies digestive systems how can Americans be thin?
The temptation to buy unhealthy food is too great to resist for a few different reasons: it tastes good, it's cheaper than anything healthy and there is no preparation time involved. If eaten enough of it, a person can definitely get full on junk food. So what is better - buying something that costs more and is less filling or buying something cheap and filling? Really the option there is an obvious one...right? WRONG? In the long run eating healthy will be beneficial to the individual. Spending less on doctors visits, spending less on dentist visits and overall feeling better. In the short run, it costs more and is more time consuming.
In North America it seems that people are more focused in getting more for you buck and spending as little time as possible doing things that they do not like to do. So, for a lot of people it is much better to eat out, or eat unhealthy foods because there is no prep time involved an no cleaning. Even when we think of Shabbat and all the good that it is, we have to take into the fact of how much food there is on this holy day. We're eating late and eating mass amounts of bread and, of course, there is dessert - it's a shabbat treat! What if we ate healthy on Shabbat too? What if instead of a whole dessert we would eat half of a dessert? Would this behaviour kill us? NO, this behaviour would give us the strength to be healthy. This behaviour would give us the strength to get up early in the morning and go to shul on time for shabbat services. These good eating habits give us the strength to stay up on shabbat day and learn rather than get so full that a nap is a necessity rather than to learn and fill our hearts and souls with Torah and Knowledge.
In conclusion: eating healthy is just a start. It is a start to become healthy not only in body but also in mind and spirit. Fight the urge and evilness of eating junk food. Your body is your domain, don't let it be invaded by something that costs $0.99!
Before I moved out on my own I had no idea how much anything cost in the grocery store. I didn't know what the average price was, and I certainly didn't know what a 'good' price was for any of the essential fruits and vegetables. Once I moved out and started to buy my own groceries I realized a few things very quickly: 1) I should have lived at home for longer because there food was free unless I wanted junk food which was a total of $10 a week if that. 2) Food spoils quickly, you cannot stock up for more than one week on fruits and vegetables. 3) Fruits and vegetables cost a lot more and are a lot less filling then buying junk food. It is this last point I would like to concentrate on.
This week I was at one of our kosher supermarkets in town. It is quite extensive and the biggest in the city where I reside. I noticed that the fruits and vegetables were definitely marked up a little more than what I just spent in the produce store down the street. I also noticed that there are so many aisles of already prepared food. What caught my attention, while not realizing this earlier, were the number of aisle dedicated to strictly junk food. What I mean by junk food: potato chips, candies, chocolates and the sub categories of each. There were 4 complete aisles in two separate parts of the store dedicated to these items. That is 4 aisles, both sides of the aisle. Then another aisle, both sides dedicated to pop and juices. Then I started to think of the recent articles that I've read about obesity and the crisis that America is in. It doesn't surprise me that this country is in a crisis. HOW could it now be? When you have more processed food available for purchase, when there is so much junk food, appealing to anyone and everyone, from chocolate to caramel and everything in the middle, how can anyone resist the temptation to buy and eat something that just looks so appealing! With these foods containing so many negative additives that do not break down easily in our bodies, that work against our bodies digestive systems how can Americans be thin?
The temptation to buy unhealthy food is too great to resist for a few different reasons: it tastes good, it's cheaper than anything healthy and there is no preparation time involved. If eaten enough of it, a person can definitely get full on junk food. So what is better - buying something that costs more and is less filling or buying something cheap and filling? Really the option there is an obvious one...right? WRONG? In the long run eating healthy will be beneficial to the individual. Spending less on doctors visits, spending less on dentist visits and overall feeling better. In the short run, it costs more and is more time consuming.
In North America it seems that people are more focused in getting more for you buck and spending as little time as possible doing things that they do not like to do. So, for a lot of people it is much better to eat out, or eat unhealthy foods because there is no prep time involved an no cleaning. Even when we think of Shabbat and all the good that it is, we have to take into the fact of how much food there is on this holy day. We're eating late and eating mass amounts of bread and, of course, there is dessert - it's a shabbat treat! What if we ate healthy on Shabbat too? What if instead of a whole dessert we would eat half of a dessert? Would this behaviour kill us? NO, this behaviour would give us the strength to be healthy. This behaviour would give us the strength to get up early in the morning and go to shul on time for shabbat services. These good eating habits give us the strength to stay up on shabbat day and learn rather than get so full that a nap is a necessity rather than to learn and fill our hearts and souls with Torah and Knowledge.
In conclusion: eating healthy is just a start. It is a start to become healthy not only in body but also in mind and spirit. Fight the urge and evilness of eating junk food. Your body is your domain, don't let it be invaded by something that costs $0.99!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
War in Iraq
Just a little reminder of how nice it is to live in America and enjoy all of the freedoms that the country allows. As of today there are 4101 soldiers that have died for the United States of America.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Fat and Dieting
This topic is so widely spread and talked about that I’m sure everyone knows about everything that I have to write about. Still, I would like to point out a couple different ideas.
It is interesting to me that as of late, dieting has come up in relation to the escalating food prices. In my opinion that is bizarre. Un-healthy food or junk food as we know it costs much less than nutritious or good food as we know it. The real issue is not the cost but the health concerns behind such statements. When someone is slightly overweight the issue is less severe than for someone who is obese. Unfortunately the scale for overweight or obese is very small and someone that might look like they are a little overweight could potentially be classified as obese. I think this article is very interesting; one of the interesting points of it is that this morbidly obese man who weighed 1235 pounds blames his problem on….JUNK FOOD!
“Uribe said his weight problem spiraled out of control after he moved to the United States for a few years in 1988 and indulged in a nonstop diet of junk food and soft drinks.”
See the distressing part in this particular case is this man feels that it was not his fault for getting into the situation he is currently in. He blames junk food and soft drinks so naturally his hands were tied. He became that big because of those issues and that is all. What is more interesting is that he is not the only one. Many people that become obese or really overweight blame other issues and rid them of the guilt. Making something an obsession is a psychological problem and of course is a disease. In my opinion, when a person takes something whatever it maybe to such an extreme, it is a mental issue and it needs to be addressed. Someone pinning all the blame onto ‘junk food’ clearly needs help addressing the real issues.
Now, for everyone else that just happens to be overweight and not 1235 pounds, the best way of shedding weight is the ancient way that has been tried. It has been tested and it is truly the only way………..eating well balanced meals and exercise. There is no mystery behind it. There are no hidden facts, or hidden agendas, eating right and working out is the way to live a healthy life. This article outlines some lies and gives good advice as to achieving success
One last thought on dieting: eating at 9pm is not healthy because you have a large meal and go to sleep. That is bad. If eating at 9pm is necessary as we know it is when Shabbat starts at 8:08pm then maybe eating a lighter meal should be a possible solution. Nobody needs to eat meat that late at night, nor eating lots of carbohydrates. Eating right and thinking of what is going into your body are ways of losing weight and feeling great about it. Dieting in ways that are hurtful to your overall health is not a way to a successful diet plan. Just a way to shed some pounds and then gain them back the second you stop doing the diet.
Good luck.
It is interesting to me that as of late, dieting has come up in relation to the escalating food prices. In my opinion that is bizarre. Un-healthy food or junk food as we know it costs much less than nutritious or good food as we know it. The real issue is not the cost but the health concerns behind such statements. When someone is slightly overweight the issue is less severe than for someone who is obese. Unfortunately the scale for overweight or obese is very small and someone that might look like they are a little overweight could potentially be classified as obese. I think this article is very interesting; one of the interesting points of it is that this morbidly obese man who weighed 1235 pounds blames his problem on….JUNK FOOD!
“Uribe said his weight problem spiraled out of control after he moved to the United States for a few years in 1988 and indulged in a nonstop diet of junk food and soft drinks.”
See the distressing part in this particular case is this man feels that it was not his fault for getting into the situation he is currently in. He blames junk food and soft drinks so naturally his hands were tied. He became that big because of those issues and that is all. What is more interesting is that he is not the only one. Many people that become obese or really overweight blame other issues and rid them of the guilt. Making something an obsession is a psychological problem and of course is a disease. In my opinion, when a person takes something whatever it maybe to such an extreme, it is a mental issue and it needs to be addressed. Someone pinning all the blame onto ‘junk food’ clearly needs help addressing the real issues.
Now, for everyone else that just happens to be overweight and not 1235 pounds, the best way of shedding weight is the ancient way that has been tried. It has been tested and it is truly the only way………..eating well balanced meals and exercise. There is no mystery behind it. There are no hidden facts, or hidden agendas, eating right and working out is the way to live a healthy life. This article outlines some lies and gives good advice as to achieving success
One last thought on dieting: eating at 9pm is not healthy because you have a large meal and go to sleep. That is bad. If eating at 9pm is necessary as we know it is when Shabbat starts at 8:08pm then maybe eating a lighter meal should be a possible solution. Nobody needs to eat meat that late at night, nor eating lots of carbohydrates. Eating right and thinking of what is going into your body are ways of losing weight and feeling great about it. Dieting in ways that are hurtful to your overall health is not a way to a successful diet plan. Just a way to shed some pounds and then gain them back the second you stop doing the diet.
Good luck.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
War in Iraq
It is interesting for me to see that America doesn't care about America!
The beginning of this article really starts with the war in Iraq. Most Americans don't even know there is a war in Iraq. There are slight little updates here and there, but really it doesn't effect anyone in the slightest. We all have deeper issues to deal with then this Mideastern war. Americans don’t see this war as their own. Most Americans don’t know that we have lost over 4087 soldiers their in the last 5 years, and every day the number grows larger. Most Americans, don’t understand the amount of veterans coming home with psychological issues and thousands have tried to commit suicide. American’s don’t understand or maybe they just don’t care about their own people risking their lives in a war with Iraq.
Do Americans not care because the war is not on American soil? Everyone was very patriotic during 9/11, was that only because it was on our soil? The news barely touches on this war, it’s almost like it only exists for people that are in the army or directly affiliated with it. There is no talk of it at work, nor at extra curricular activities. So either people are so concerned that they are not talking about it, or more likely, people think that if you ignore it, it might go away.
I just feel that Americans don’t value the freedom that soldiers provide for them. The reason they are not fighting a war in America is because they are taking care of the problem before it reaches American shores, but, Do Americans understand that? Do they believe in that? Do they believe in anything?
Why do we take freedom for granted?
The beginning of this article really starts with the war in Iraq. Most Americans don't even know there is a war in Iraq. There are slight little updates here and there, but really it doesn't effect anyone in the slightest. We all have deeper issues to deal with then this Mideastern war. Americans don’t see this war as their own. Most Americans don’t know that we have lost over 4087 soldiers their in the last 5 years, and every day the number grows larger. Most Americans, don’t understand the amount of veterans coming home with psychological issues and thousands have tried to commit suicide. American’s don’t understand or maybe they just don’t care about their own people risking their lives in a war with Iraq.
Do Americans not care because the war is not on American soil? Everyone was very patriotic during 9/11, was that only because it was on our soil? The news barely touches on this war, it’s almost like it only exists for people that are in the army or directly affiliated with it. There is no talk of it at work, nor at extra curricular activities. So either people are so concerned that they are not talking about it, or more likely, people think that if you ignore it, it might go away.
I just feel that Americans don’t value the freedom that soldiers provide for them. The reason they are not fighting a war in America is because they are taking care of the problem before it reaches American shores, but, Do Americans understand that? Do they believe in that? Do they believe in anything?
Why do we take freedom for granted?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Food.
It is always interesting to me how big of a deal food is. I was just thinking about it and realized that food takes up the better half of our lives. We have to think about it, we have to buy it, we have to prepare it. We go out for food, we stay in for food, we socialize over food. We spend time reading recipes, discussing recipes and picking out just the right ingredient for the recipe. Our lives really revolve around food.
Now, think of someone on a diet. Not only do their lives revolve around food, they also cannot eat it! Now, even more time is needed to review recipes, and measure accurately and count and watch what you eat. Really, in our society our lives revolve around food. It is incredible how more people do not have obsessions on this topic.
It is no wonder to me that the price of food is going up. Gas prices are going up, therefore they have a direct link to all other prices involving transportation. It seems though that people are genuinely shocked when the price of food is higher. Why, because they feel it is a necessity and therefore should not go up in price. The fact is, because it IS a necessity is why it is going up in price. People cannot live without food, therefore, no matter what the price they will pay it.
Now, here is a question: What if someone is on a very limited budget, what can they now buy for $20 a week in groceries to feed a family of 2.
Answer: 1 pound of tomato's, 1 pound of cucumbers, 1 pound of onions, 1 pound of carrots, 1 lettuce, 1 cabbage, 1 bunch dill, 5 pound bag of potatoes, 1 bag of rice (1 pound), 1/2 turkey breast, 5 kiwi's, 1 pound of grapes.
You don't have to pick those particular items but just as an example.
Who thinks that's enough food to last a whole week without feeling hungry? Who thinks that's enough nutrients? I'm not sure that I do.
Last week I spent $40 to feed my husband and I for a week. That did not include shabbat. Where we were invited out for all meals. We brought with us fresh fruit salad that I made.
Just wondering what will happen to the value of the dollar? Wondering what is already happening in countries where the economy is weak? What are people meant to do?
Now, think of someone on a diet. Not only do their lives revolve around food, they also cannot eat it! Now, even more time is needed to review recipes, and measure accurately and count and watch what you eat. Really, in our society our lives revolve around food. It is incredible how more people do not have obsessions on this topic.
It is no wonder to me that the price of food is going up. Gas prices are going up, therefore they have a direct link to all other prices involving transportation. It seems though that people are genuinely shocked when the price of food is higher. Why, because they feel it is a necessity and therefore should not go up in price. The fact is, because it IS a necessity is why it is going up in price. People cannot live without food, therefore, no matter what the price they will pay it.
Now, here is a question: What if someone is on a very limited budget, what can they now buy for $20 a week in groceries to feed a family of 2.
Answer: 1 pound of tomato's, 1 pound of cucumbers, 1 pound of onions, 1 pound of carrots, 1 lettuce, 1 cabbage, 1 bunch dill, 5 pound bag of potatoes, 1 bag of rice (1 pound), 1/2 turkey breast, 5 kiwi's, 1 pound of grapes.
You don't have to pick those particular items but just as an example.
Who thinks that's enough food to last a whole week without feeling hungry? Who thinks that's enough nutrients? I'm not sure that I do.
Last week I spent $40 to feed my husband and I for a week. That did not include shabbat. Where we were invited out for all meals. We brought with us fresh fruit salad that I made.
Just wondering what will happen to the value of the dollar? Wondering what is already happening in countries where the economy is weak? What are people meant to do?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Shidduch Making/Dating Part 2
In recent news the ‘shidduch crisis’ is on everyone’s blogs again. Everyone is thinking about the problem and thinking of possible ways of evading the problems that are bound to come up in the future.
Part of the problem in my humble opinion is: people don’t know how frum to be. They are crazy with the amount of issues laid upon them. They don’t know weather to pay a girl a compliment, or weather or not the girl should bring examples of torah in conversation. These issues are just so interesting to everyone around them. For the boy he doesn’t know weather to sit or stand or jump, the girl, pretty much the same thing. Why did all of this start? Where are all of these issues coming from? Why is it important if a girls family collects plates at the table or weather or not takes them into the kitchen one by one? In my opinion some simplified questions/statements can be used. Some of the questions include: Have you ever had premarital sex? In your opinion is paying taxes right or wrong? Clarify upon your previous answer of tax paying with why you feel the way you do? Do you feel illegal immigrants help or hurt the countries economy? Do you feel there is anything wrong with having illegal immigrants work for a large company, get paid very little, work in sub human conditions in order for the large company to profit lots of money is okay as long as none of the illegal immigrants are Jewish?
The above questions are a true representation of what questions should be phrased as in order to really understand the person and if they are good people or just wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Part of the problem in my humble opinion is: people don’t know how frum to be. They are crazy with the amount of issues laid upon them. They don’t know weather to pay a girl a compliment, or weather or not the girl should bring examples of torah in conversation. These issues are just so interesting to everyone around them. For the boy he doesn’t know weather to sit or stand or jump, the girl, pretty much the same thing. Why did all of this start? Where are all of these issues coming from? Why is it important if a girls family collects plates at the table or weather or not takes them into the kitchen one by one? In my opinion some simplified questions/statements can be used. Some of the questions include: Have you ever had premarital sex? In your opinion is paying taxes right or wrong? Clarify upon your previous answer of tax paying with why you feel the way you do? Do you feel illegal immigrants help or hurt the countries economy? Do you feel there is anything wrong with having illegal immigrants work for a large company, get paid very little, work in sub human conditions in order for the large company to profit lots of money is okay as long as none of the illegal immigrants are Jewish?
The above questions are a true representation of what questions should be phrased as in order to really understand the person and if they are good people or just wolves in sheep’s clothing.
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