While the question of “free will” takes up a fair amount of energy and thought in scientific, spiritual and philosophical quarters, I have never understood how there can be any doubt. To be able to ask the question–“Is there free will?”–is to assume the existence of free will as the question itself, as all questions,…
There are books and stories and sacred texts and parables and all manner of words used to describe and explain “enlightenment.” However, if Marshall McLuhan is right that “The medium is the message,” all such linguistic gymnastics may be inadequate for that kind of consciousness that is not conscious. Consider the picture below. See how…
Arthur Yavelberg “We don’t need no education.” (Pink Floyd) Pink Floyd’s iconic song is an anthem to those who see schools as assembly lines to produce brain dead cogs for the factories of industrialism. “We don’t need no education.” flouts the decorum of what goes for “civilized” society—claiming that such rituals are artificial at best…
(Published in the Arizona Daily Star, June 4, 2023) In the wonderful fantasy movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion and Dorothy are all seeking something they believe is lacking: a brain, a heart, courage and the way back home. While they lacked the terminology to discuss their despair as “existential…
There is a lovely story in the midrash (Talmudic legends) which offers an explanation as to why the light of the sun and the moon is so different, even though they were both created on the same day in the Book of Genesis. It appears that the sun and the moon were very much in…
In the Jewish Talmud, the comparison is made between how the Romans made coins in the image of Caeser and how God created people in His image. Whereas the Roman coins all looked the same, God’s creations are all unique. Put another way, the Romans’ goal was to “Hail, Caeser!” while God wanted to create…
“We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.” (Rav Shmuel in the Talmud) Is it possible to perceive things “as they are” or are all our perceptions distorted by the limitations of our senses, intellect, upbringing, etc.? ” It is a question that has vexed scientists and philosophers for generations….
Arthur Yavelberg Most people are familiar with the Biblical “Garden of Eden” story from the Book of Genesis. The newly created Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge—which was likely a fig and not an apple—after which they realize they were naked, cover themselves and are exiled from the Garden. …
Arthur Yavelberg People sometimes wonder about why the Jewish holiday of Passover often overlaps with the Christian celebration of Easter. There are many explanations for this—such as both are carryovers from pagan fertility rites having to do with the “rebirth” in spring. (Hence the use of “eggs” on the Passover seder plate and Easter egg…
In the Ancient Egypt of the pyramids, the Pharaoh Akhenaten tried to institute a monotheism based on the worship of the Sun. The context was that every morning the star’s all powerful light conquered the dreaded darkness of night, thus announcing the daily assured victory of the good and rational over evil and ignorance with…