♫ Abraham, Martin and John ♫

Filosofa's Word

Today, in a comment, dear friend Roger sent me this song, and as I listened, something … clicked.  I felt tears welling, wanted to share this beautiful moment.  I realize this is one I have played here before, this is the same version musically, but a slightly different video and a very moving one, I think.  Thank you, Roger, for reminding me of this song … a tribute to some truly great men who helped people, who cared about the nation and its people.


A tribute to the memory of four assassinated Americans, all icons of social change: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy.  This song was written in response to the assassination of King and that of Robert Kennedy in April and June 1968, respectively.  More than 50 years … can it really have been so long ago?  I remember it ……

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Parashat Emor / פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר, What Authority Stands For

Context, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest Offers Project Do Better

     This week’s Torah portion,  Emor,  is the 31st (31/54 or 52, depending on the year: this year, it’s 54…) reading in the annual cycle, and the 8th parashah in the book of Vayikra/Leviticus.

   This portion ( Leviticus 21:1-24:23 ) has examples of a central authority and their expected behavior, not to mention their care and feeding, and the representative structure of their authority:  the Mishkan (aka The Tabernacle).  The parashah also details some of the use of that authority for gathering purposes, and an example of the enforcement of said authority.

    Several thousand years, and a new nation, ago, such hierarchies were not uncommon ways of establishing the rule of law.  Common laws and norms, indeed, are necessary for us to live together.  But, now that we have advanced to the point where most (%90 of males, john_hancock_envelope_signature    & 82.7 of females, per UNESCO as of 2019), …

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Women in situations of domestic and family violence:

Talking about domestic violence is, in addition to bringing up a painful theme, the result of hard work. As much as one wonders, no matter how much one disputes, it is never enough to fight this type of crime. The rates of domestic violence against women remain very high and many factors are responsible for this statistic. It would be possible to name several, but I will highlight the lack of compassion for others. Every aggressor, deep down, is a coward. Source: Women in situations of domestic and family violence: