Late last night my wife Hope and I had an interesting discussion. The issue at hand was whether or not Michael Vick should be reinstated into the National Football League. This past week Vick completed a 21-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. He had pleaded guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in Virginia. He also admitted to participating in the killing of several underperforming dogs. Needless to say Vick is not exactly the person you would ask to dog sit while you go on vacation, but does that mean he should be black listed for the rest of his life?
The question, which has dominated the media, is whether or not we can assume Vick is a “changed” man. Some say he has endured the punishment that was given to him, and that alone is adequate. There is no need to punish him further than our judicial system has prescribed. They feel Vick has a right to have his job returned to him after having completed his sentence.
The opposing view feels that just because he sat in a federal prison for almost two years, does not mean he is remorseful for his actions. How do we know he is not going to be a repeated offender? Even if he does not repeat the offense is it appropriate to allow a person who has committed such horrific crimes to compete in the NFL on a national stage?
Questions for the Shabbos table: In an email to Vick’s attorneys, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk urged that Vick undergo a brain scan and a full psychiatric evaluation before being eligible to return to the NFL. “If he passes the test, everyone can truly have hope that he has the capacity to change, and indeed has changed, not just in word but in heart, mind and deed,” the email read. What is the Jewish perspective on this case? Is PETA taking this too far? Does G-d demand that we go as far as psychiatric test to ensure that we have truly repented? If the answer is no, how do we know when we have truly repented?
My thoughts: The Jewish belief is regardless of how awful a person’s action is there is always an opportunity for repentance. The Sages explain that there are four steps to repentance.
1. Regret our sin.
2. Admit to our misdeeds.
3. Remove ourselves from the sin.
4. Accept upon ourselves not to commit that sin again.
If a person says that he is remorseful we do not have the right to question him. However, the person who is repenting must make sure he is following the four steps to repentance.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
I Hijacked an Airplane
It was 10:30 pm on a summer night in August and I was waiting at the baggage claim of Port Columbus International Airport. My wife Hope and daughter Temi (who was 16 months at the time) were returning from a “girl’s only” family camping trip. As I was anxiously awaiting their arrival from their weeklong trip and the end of my return to bachelor life, there was an announcement that their Southwest flight was going to be delayed for 30 minutes. I really felt bad for Hope because nothing can be more difficult than trying to take care of a cranky 16-month-old child on a plane (the truth is there is something which can be worse, being one of the other passengers on the plane). I thought it would be really nice if I could at least use the extra time to come up with a plan to meet her at the gate and help her through the terminal.
To get to the gate would not be an easy task. Homeland Security had raised the terrorist alert to code orange because of a bomb scare in London, England. In order for me to get to the gate I would have to convince security to bend the rules.
I put on an extra special smile and added a little extra charm and ventured into the office of Southwest Airline. I began to tell the helpless lady in the office my sob story. She listened patiently to the saga of my wife who is on the plane with a cranky 16-month-old. I explained how I would love to be able to assist my wife at the terminal. She thought to herself for a few minutes and finally caved in (score!). She instructed me to take a letter, which she then printed, and walk through the doors that have a sign saying, “Do Not Enter”! I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive walking through the doors and feared being tackled by Homeland Security.
As I walked towards the door I put on the extra special smile, raised the level of charm another notch and marched forward. Naturally, the security guards wanted to know why I was walking through the door that read “Do Not Enter.” I then went into my routine again and gave them my sob story about my wife and daughter. The next thing I knew, they instructed me to walk through the metal detector and proceed into the terminal.
My excitement of getting through security was short lived as I quickly realized I had no idea which gate to go to. I walked over to a security officer (the smile was back on my face and the charm was in full force) who was patrolling the immediate area and began to “shmooze” with him. During our conversation he told me how he has been working long hours and they are currently under staffed. He told me he is the only security personnel in the immediate area (I felt safe!). I once again delivered my sob story, and explained to him why I was walking around the terminal. I proceeded to tell him that I came this far, but I do not know which gate the plane will be pulling into. My new friend told me not to worry and gave me the information I needed (score!).
The plane finally landed, and I was proudly standing at the entrance of the jetway, which leads to the plane. The passengers began disembarking the plane and walking through the jetway. Suddenly it occurred to me that it is such a shame I am so close to the plane and cannot help Hope open the baby stroller as she exits the plane. It will be very difficult for her to handle a cranky Temi and open the stroller while holding a diaper bag, pocketbook and a carry on. It is such a waste for me to be so close and not be able to help with the most difficult part. Do I do it or not, do I be a chutzpa and walk through the jetway or am I finally going too far. Naturally, my fear was being arrested and making the headlines of the Columbus Dispatch. I could see it now “Terrorist suspect Avrohom Drandoff, son-in-Law of an Iraqi native (Hope’s father is from Iraq), attempted to walk through the jetway.” While I was pondering my dilemma, I recalled that I am now a best friend of the only security guard in the immediate area. I have nothing to fear. I stormed through the jetway unscathed, and successfully opened the stroller at the door to the plane before Hope even got off the plane (Score!).
Then it hit me. It would be such a shame to be standing right outside the plane when Hope can use my help carrying Temi, the diaper bag, pocketbook and whatever else she brought with her on the plane. I really should just enter the plane and help her. I must admit I was a little nervous; I was not convinced that my connections would help me get on to the plane. As I was about to accept that I have gotten only as far as I could, G-d sent me a helping hand. The Pilot of the plane was now exiting the plane. One last time I put on the smile and raised the level of charm as high as I could and told the Pilot my sob story. He looked at me and gave me the signature employee of an airline smile, and said “no problem, follow me.” I could not believe my ears. I have made it onto the plane. I am a hero and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know.
I learned a powerful lesson that evening in the Airport. If I want to accomplish big achievements I have to think big. When I started my journey through the Airport the thought of making it on to the plane never even entered my mind. Who knew at the time what I would be able to accomplish? One has to think big and believe in their abilities and realize if you take the first step Hashem will make it happen!
Question for the Shabbos Table: Are we reaching for the stars? Are we guilty of selling ourselves short? How do we work on developing a belief in ourselves to enable ourselves to climb higher heights?
To get to the gate would not be an easy task. Homeland Security had raised the terrorist alert to code orange because of a bomb scare in London, England. In order for me to get to the gate I would have to convince security to bend the rules.
I put on an extra special smile and added a little extra charm and ventured into the office of Southwest Airline. I began to tell the helpless lady in the office my sob story. She listened patiently to the saga of my wife who is on the plane with a cranky 16-month-old. I explained how I would love to be able to assist my wife at the terminal. She thought to herself for a few minutes and finally caved in (score!). She instructed me to take a letter, which she then printed, and walk through the doors that have a sign saying, “Do Not Enter”! I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive walking through the doors and feared being tackled by Homeland Security.
As I walked towards the door I put on the extra special smile, raised the level of charm another notch and marched forward. Naturally, the security guards wanted to know why I was walking through the door that read “Do Not Enter.” I then went into my routine again and gave them my sob story about my wife and daughter. The next thing I knew, they instructed me to walk through the metal detector and proceed into the terminal.
My excitement of getting through security was short lived as I quickly realized I had no idea which gate to go to. I walked over to a security officer (the smile was back on my face and the charm was in full force) who was patrolling the immediate area and began to “shmooze” with him. During our conversation he told me how he has been working long hours and they are currently under staffed. He told me he is the only security personnel in the immediate area (I felt safe!). I once again delivered my sob story, and explained to him why I was walking around the terminal. I proceeded to tell him that I came this far, but I do not know which gate the plane will be pulling into. My new friend told me not to worry and gave me the information I needed (score!).
The plane finally landed, and I was proudly standing at the entrance of the jetway, which leads to the plane. The passengers began disembarking the plane and walking through the jetway. Suddenly it occurred to me that it is such a shame I am so close to the plane and cannot help Hope open the baby stroller as she exits the plane. It will be very difficult for her to handle a cranky Temi and open the stroller while holding a diaper bag, pocketbook and a carry on. It is such a waste for me to be so close and not be able to help with the most difficult part. Do I do it or not, do I be a chutzpa and walk through the jetway or am I finally going too far. Naturally, my fear was being arrested and making the headlines of the Columbus Dispatch. I could see it now “Terrorist suspect Avrohom Drandoff, son-in-Law of an Iraqi native (Hope’s father is from Iraq), attempted to walk through the jetway.” While I was pondering my dilemma, I recalled that I am now a best friend of the only security guard in the immediate area. I have nothing to fear. I stormed through the jetway unscathed, and successfully opened the stroller at the door to the plane before Hope even got off the plane (Score!).
Then it hit me. It would be such a shame to be standing right outside the plane when Hope can use my help carrying Temi, the diaper bag, pocketbook and whatever else she brought with her on the plane. I really should just enter the plane and help her. I must admit I was a little nervous; I was not convinced that my connections would help me get on to the plane. As I was about to accept that I have gotten only as far as I could, G-d sent me a helping hand. The Pilot of the plane was now exiting the plane. One last time I put on the smile and raised the level of charm as high as I could and told the Pilot my sob story. He looked at me and gave me the signature employee of an airline smile, and said “no problem, follow me.” I could not believe my ears. I have made it onto the plane. I am a hero and I cannot wait to tell everyone I know.
I learned a powerful lesson that evening in the Airport. If I want to accomplish big achievements I have to think big. When I started my journey through the Airport the thought of making it on to the plane never even entered my mind. Who knew at the time what I would be able to accomplish? One has to think big and believe in their abilities and realize if you take the first step Hashem will make it happen!
Question for the Shabbos Table: Are we reaching for the stars? Are we guilty of selling ourselves short? How do we work on developing a belief in ourselves to enable ourselves to climb higher heights?
Friday, May 1, 2009
our secret to success
My last semester as a graduate school student studying counseling at the Johns Hopkins University proved to be an interesting experience. I was enrolled in a course entitled “Multi-Cultural Counseling”. The objective of the course was to increase an awareness of the unique sensitivities of our future clients who may be from a different ethnicity than our own.
Our Professor had an interesting and unique personality. He was a member of a minority group and suffered much as a victim of racism. He constantly shared with the class his great desire to unite his people. He felt that before they can combat racism they have to first become unified amongst themselves.
One day after class my professor approached me and asked to speak with me privately. Naturally, I was filled with anxiety because we all know teachers usually do not ask for a private audience to tell you “you are the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread.”
As I entered his office, my teacher looked at me and said “Avrohom, I am jealous of your people” (as these words came out of his mouth I thought he must be crazy. Why would he envy the Jews? Is he not familiar with the persecution we have endured for thousands of years? Is he jealous of the fact that we are the “chosen people” and he is hurt and feels slighted by G-d? Perhaps the yarmulke on my head and the beard is not a dead give away that I am Jewish; maybe he thinks I am Amish and appreciates the simplicity of their life style). “You Jews are spread throughout the entire world. You may not always see eye to eye with one another, you may even fight with one another, you may not even always enjoy each others company, yet you all know you are part of the same group. Every one of you understands that you are a Jew. When there is a crisis in Israel it becomes a crisis for every Jew in the world. If G-d forbid there is a violent act of anti-Semitism in Texas the Jews in New York mourn as if they lost a member of their own immediate community. Do me a favor; please tell me what is your secret? How is it possible that the Jews have survived thousands of years of persecution and have not withered away? My people may look the same on the outside but unfortunately we are all different on the inside. Please tell me your secret of survival, and what is the glue that keeps you together despite all your differences?”
Question for the Shabbos Table: What answer would you give to my Professor? What is the secret of the Jewish people? What is the force behind the unique bond that the Jewish people share? It has to be deeper than persecution, because many religions, tribes and countries have faced persecution and are not united like the Jewish people. It cannot be the State of Israel because we had this bond for thousands of years without having a Jewish state. Furthermore, we do not even have the benefit of a common language (most Jews are not fluent in Hebrew) or culture because we are spread throughout the world. What is our secret?
My thoughts: Almost 4000 years ago the Jewish people reached an unprecedented level of unification. The Sages tell us that the Jewish people were united as one nation with one heart. It was at that very moment of great unification that every single Jewish man, woman and child was privileged to witness G-d’s revelation at Sinai. G-d then bestowed upon us His holy Torah. The very experience of receiving the Torah as a unified people forever bound us to G-d and to each other. The Torah is our secret!
Our Professor had an interesting and unique personality. He was a member of a minority group and suffered much as a victim of racism. He constantly shared with the class his great desire to unite his people. He felt that before they can combat racism they have to first become unified amongst themselves.
One day after class my professor approached me and asked to speak with me privately. Naturally, I was filled with anxiety because we all know teachers usually do not ask for a private audience to tell you “you are the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread.”
As I entered his office, my teacher looked at me and said “Avrohom, I am jealous of your people” (as these words came out of his mouth I thought he must be crazy. Why would he envy the Jews? Is he not familiar with the persecution we have endured for thousands of years? Is he jealous of the fact that we are the “chosen people” and he is hurt and feels slighted by G-d? Perhaps the yarmulke on my head and the beard is not a dead give away that I am Jewish; maybe he thinks I am Amish and appreciates the simplicity of their life style). “You Jews are spread throughout the entire world. You may not always see eye to eye with one another, you may even fight with one another, you may not even always enjoy each others company, yet you all know you are part of the same group. Every one of you understands that you are a Jew. When there is a crisis in Israel it becomes a crisis for every Jew in the world. If G-d forbid there is a violent act of anti-Semitism in Texas the Jews in New York mourn as if they lost a member of their own immediate community. Do me a favor; please tell me what is your secret? How is it possible that the Jews have survived thousands of years of persecution and have not withered away? My people may look the same on the outside but unfortunately we are all different on the inside. Please tell me your secret of survival, and what is the glue that keeps you together despite all your differences?”
Question for the Shabbos Table: What answer would you give to my Professor? What is the secret of the Jewish people? What is the force behind the unique bond that the Jewish people share? It has to be deeper than persecution, because many religions, tribes and countries have faced persecution and are not united like the Jewish people. It cannot be the State of Israel because we had this bond for thousands of years without having a Jewish state. Furthermore, we do not even have the benefit of a common language (most Jews are not fluent in Hebrew) or culture because we are spread throughout the world. What is our secret?
My thoughts: Almost 4000 years ago the Jewish people reached an unprecedented level of unification. The Sages tell us that the Jewish people were united as one nation with one heart. It was at that very moment of great unification that every single Jewish man, woman and child was privileged to witness G-d’s revelation at Sinai. G-d then bestowed upon us His holy Torah. The very experience of receiving the Torah as a unified people forever bound us to G-d and to each other. The Torah is our secret!
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