S Blog: YHVH’s Heart-On: A (Mildly Cynical) Parable

BY: JAKE GOODMAN
Once upon a time, it happened (or it didn’t) that a god named YHVH (sp?) ran for President.  The terrain was tough: the electorate was apathetic, voter-turn out was expected to be dismal (hardly surprising given all the voter restrictions) and the field was already packed with establishment favorites (Ra, Isis, Osiris and [...]

Sh’ma Blog: Clowns & Looney Tunes

BY: JAKE GOODMAN
NOTE:  After having written this blog, it is clear that at least part of my thinking was inspired by “Kaddish for an Unborn Child,” by Imre Kertész.  It is one of the most brilliant books I’ve ever read;  I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Like so many other Americans, I have been paying attention [...]

Sh’ma Blog: Dating with a Sucky Brand

BY: JAKE GOODMAN
My Branding Problem:  Overview

A date is an interview, a testing of waters, an attempt to envision what a shared life with a particular other individual might look and feel like.  Once the basic standard of attraction has been met, the real question we all seem to ask ourselves is, “Can I stomach [...]

Sh’ma Blog: For the Love of Humanity: Philanthropy & Privilege

BY: JAKE GOODMAN
Philanthropy literally means love of humanity.  To my understanding, philanthropists draw from personal resources to financially enable selected organizations, movements, initiatives, programs and people to engage in work that transforms some part of their (i.e., the philanthropists’) ethical ideal into tangible reality.  I imagine that philanthropists’ love of humanity must be tied to [...]

Sh’ma Blog: Child Sacrifice: Playing Sarah

BY: JAKE GOODMAN

I understand the Akedah, the story of the binding of Isaac, in the context of a people beginning to break away from an age-old tradition of child sacrifice. To gain a sense of control over the chaos of life, people sought to appease the gods through child sacrifice. Somehow, a shift occurred. People decided that they were no longer willing to sacrifice their children to the gods and re-framed the narrative. Today, we still practice child sacrifice when we reject our queer family members.