Mendel Bluming | Blogger

Here’s a thought:  I will leave the resolution of this conundrum to others while I focus on a more fundamental aspect of the matter. A statue, any statue, is purposely made to look solid, imposing and, above all, enduring - able to withstand the vicissitudes of time and even to seem immortal, as the very word monument (a lasting public tribute) implies. But, in reality this is all only an illusion. As powerful as these monuments may seem, the truth is that they are ephemeral and transient. What is now being so powerfully demonstrated, is that these monuments only last as long as the ideas they represent endure. The moment that societal sensibilities shift, they can be unceremoniously taken down and shipped off to the dump. This is not just a contemporary condition but has been the way of history from time immemorial. Have you ever wondered why there are no Jewish monuments? Even King David, who fought and was victorious in many wars and secured the land of Israel, ...

Question to R' Menachem Bluming this week: I like the idea of a day of rest. But why should I start my day of rest at a prayer service? Aren't there better ways to start my weekend? Here’s a thought: We each have our own way of spending the weekend. Some play sports, others watch television, paint, write or just vegetate. But often we find that even though we are chilling out, somewhere in the back of our minds is that nagging feeling that we still have a pile of work waiting for us. We indeed left work, but work didn't leave us. Even while we are enjoying the weekend we are already dreading Monday morning. There needs to be a transition. It is not enough to stop working; we must leave work behind. We can't simply collapse into the weekend; we have to welcome ourselves into it. Only by consciously stepping out of our work week and ushering in our day of rest can we truly relax and rejuvenate. Then we will be ready to face the coming week with renewed pu...