Political Vitriol

Politics

The political vitriol that has been grinding away since 2016 is choking the tolerance out of me.

The increasingly ugly, harsh, angry, and hateful language used on social media is laced with bitter criticism, personal attacks, and a lack of constructive dialogue.

The intensely negative, accusatory language used over the past few months when expressing political opinions seems particularly biting, discrediting, and demeaning, and it’s hideously appalling and corrosive.

Nothing productive can come from it, yet it drags on endlessly.

And it has gone way past the point of critical. It’s bitter and dehumanizing.

All sides have gone insane. Inflammatory social media posts include words and phrases like “you’re dead to me,” “vermin,” “enemy from within,” “slime dogs,” and “Nazi Barbie.”

Ouch.

Now, I’m not suggesting that any of this hatefulness was meant for me. But maybe it was.

Because, yes, I post some political stuff, but it’s all been centered around Jew hating. The Jew hating and Jew baiting has indeed become a maddening reality.

When I feel that I can’t safely wear my Jewish Star in public—right here in the U.S. of A, something has gone terribly wrong, no?

Would anyone disagree that Jews here in the U.S. have been unfairly targeted?

Duh, yes. Many. Okay, more than many, which doesn’t make me want to rage, it makes me want to cry.

Although if you’re not Jewish, or you don’t live in Jewish communities, you can’t possibly experience Jew hatred firsthand.

And I hope you never feel unsafe wearing a cross, regardless of your political affiliation.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been slaughtered in Islamic terrorist attacks, and the myriad Islamic regimes in the Middle East terrorize, torture, jail, and commit horrific violations against their people EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Yet, somehow, it’s the Jews who are the terrorizing demons against people who have been warring with them since the 1870s.

Is there nowhere else in the world worthy of American outrage?

What about the Ukrainians, Rohingya, the Maghreb and Sahel regions of Africa, the Sudanese, Somali, and Syrian civil wars, the Ethiopian, Congolese, Cameroonian, Yemeni, and Afghan civil conflicts, the Mexican drug war, Kurdish separatists and Pakistan-India insurgencies, civil unrest in Venezuela, the Indo-Pakistani wars, and the Kashmir conflict?

Nada.

No outrage on American college campuses. No taking to American streets demanding the elimination of a people, country, or state.

ONLY OUTRAGE AGAINST THE JEWS.

So yes, I do state my political Jewish opinion, and yes, I openly demonize Islamist terrorists and their brutal regimes.

But please note that I do not demonize or single out any one person or political party.

I gave up on hating Trump when the Democrats lost the 2024 election. I’m tired, and I did my part. I voted. (Not for him.) He won. The power of one, right?

And please don’t tell me the 2024 election was rigged. I’ve had my fill of rigged election conspiracy theories.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MADE THEIR CHOICE BASED ON THE CHOICES THEY WERE GIVEN.

I get all the Trump-hating, although I think there are glimmers of reality in some of what he says. And I can see why there is outrage about many of his policies. I said “some,” and “many,” so please think twice before you unfriend me, because I’m the same person I was last week, last month, in 2016, and way before that.

And I think everyone deserves to have a voice, but when someone calls Trump “Hitler,” it sickens me.

Or when someone compares the current unseemly and yes, horrible immigration situation to Nazi Concentration Camps, it makes me cringe.

HELLO.

NOTHING that has ever happened here in the U.S. can compare to what Jews (including my in-laws) endured during the Holocaust.

To say otherwise is ignorant hyperbole, and it makes me doubt your motive and empathy for the Jewish suffering.

How anyone can equate ANYTHING that is happening in the United States to the Nazi gas chambers is willfully uninformed at best and in complete denial at worst.

Well, the worst would be if you’re a Jew hating, Holocaust denier.

I’ve been accused of “drinking the Kool-Aid,” which I haven’t, but using the Holocaust and gas chambers to prove a point about the current haphazard handling of illegal immigration is way worse than anything I’ve been drinking lately.

Happily Even After

Observe & Ponder

As a wordsmith, I know that one word can change a life or a sentence.

One word. That’s all it takes.

In this case, it took two:

EVEN and EVER.

It all started this past Sunday afternoon while hosting my daughter’s BRIDAL SHOWER.

The day had challenges, but I think it turned out okay, EVEN though the food was COLD,

which was a crying shame because it was yummy.

Just iced-COLD.

But I stayed calm. I didn’t yell or carry on. I stayed positive because it was my daughter’s special day.

Also, my favorite cake was being served: ITALIAN RUM CAKE with vanilla and chocolate pudding, extra Rum flavoring, “dressed” with snow-white whipped cream. (The BAKER used the word “dressed,” and as soon as I heard it, I vowed never to use the word “topped” again.)

When I ordered the cake, I asked the BAKER to adorn it with the couple’s engagement photo and then, underneath the image, to write the words:

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

It’s too long of a story to tell here, but I’ll tell it anyway. When I went to pick up the cake, the BAKER was surrounded by many—too many—undressed cakes, mine included…

I waited patiently for the BAKER to finish “dressing” my cake, and when he shouted twice that I was making him nervous, I twice skulked to my car to while away my precious time.

And because he was late, I was late. So, when the BAKER nervously presented the ITALIAN RUM CAKE to me, camouflaged by a glass display of Italian pastries, I said, “It looks fine,” EVEN though I couldn’t see it.

I’m not making excuses here. I’m just saying.

At the BRIDAL SHOWER, everyone enjoyed introductions, music, and mingling, and seeing my daughter so happy was pure JOY.

JOY.

That’s not a word you’ll hear coming out of my mouth very often.

Okay, not EVER.

But I’ll say it loud and proud. I was experiencing JOY.

And the BRIDAL SHOWER was going better than EVER.

Games were played, prizes were won, and then the COLD food came out.

The PARTY POINT PERSON tried to heat up that COLD food with chafing dish candles, but the air conditioner vent kept blowing out the flames.

Four employees, including the bartender, hovered around the food, investigating the situation, but to no avail; we all ate COLD food.

And because the food was COLD, the PARTY POINT PERSON said she felt bad and would put out more food. I told the PARTY POINT PERSON it wasn’t necessary to put out more food because everyone was full.

And everyone was full because they had already eaten,

COLD food.

I also told the PARTY POINT PERSON that if she were to put out more food, she might want to move the buffet server station away from the air conditioner vent duh. (I didn’t say, “duh,” because of the JOY thing, but I thought it.)

The PARTY POINT PERSON took my station relocation suggestion to heart because she immediately moved the buffet servers to another wall and then put out more food,

which was also COLD.

At that point, I was still determined to fill myself up with JOY, so I feigned serenity and was now totally and utterly dependent upon the ITALIAN RUM CAKE being the best ITALIAN RUM CAKE it could be to make up for the COLD food.

The almost-groom arrived at the BRIDAL SHOWER with a stunning bouquet at 3 pm, and the cake-cutting/photo op was scheduled for 3:30.

When the PARTY POINT PERSON brought out the cake, my daughter and I were aghast at the inscription:

HAPPILY EVEN AFTER

My daughter thought it was hilarious while I stared in horror.

My doctor friend, who was in attendance, promptly grabbed a knife and meticulously performed surgery on the N, turning it into a near-perfect R.

Well, not an R…an r.

!!! Thanks to Dr. Andrea, the ITALIAN RUM CAKE now said:

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

And EVEN though we righted the BAKER’S wrong, the original inscription on the ITALIAN RUM CAKE was a ginormous hit.

It was such a hit that the BRIDAL SHOWER guests took more photos of the botched cake message of:

HAPPILY EVEN AFTER

than photos taken of the soon-to-be-married couple cutting the surgically amended version:

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

!!!

Once the EVEN was punctiliously changed to EVER, the ITALIAN RUM CAKE was couple-cut and served.

FROZEN.

So FROZEN that it was difficult to cut.

And also, I almost broke a tooth on a hard candy pearl that the BAKER had strewn all over the “dressing” of the cake. Those suckers were lethal. That ITALIAN RUM CAKE should have come with a warning:

HAPPILY EVEN AFTER you break a tooth on the hard candy pearls.

Needless to say, there was a lot of ITALIAN RUM CAKE left, so I took it home. And once it thawed, it was fabulously delicious.

Despite the COLD food and the FROZEN ITALIAN RUM CAKE, I think the BRIDAL SHOWER was a success.

But I still haven’t been able to get that darn inscription

HAPPILY EVEN AFTER

out of my head.

I might EVEN like it better than “dressing.”

Managing Diverticulitis

Books, Journals & Worksheets, , , ,

 

A diverticulitis journal or food tracker can be a lifesaver for managing diverticulosis or flare-ups, known as diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is a medical condition characterized by the formation of bulging pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon, which can catch and harbor small particles of food. These pouches are generally harmless, but the trapped food particles can sometimes become inflamed or infected, leading to a condition called diverticulitis, which in some cases can be deadly.

Managing diverticulitis involves a combination of dietary adjustments, medication, and in some cases, surgery. During a flare-up, your doctor may prescribe a clear liquid diet for a few days, followed by a transition to soft foods. Your doctor may also prescribe oral antibiotics to treat the infection.

Your doctor may also recommend pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), but your doctor may instruct you to avoid NSAIDS like ibuprofen, Advil, and aspirin.

Your doctor may also recommend a fiber supplement, such as Metamucil, in gummy, capsule, or powder form.

You should rely on your doctor to work with you to monitor the situation, taking into account your individual experience and the severity of your diverticulitis.

Long-term management focuses on preventing future attacks by maintaining a personalized diet, consistent hydration, adequate sleep, and a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, is crucial for staying on a healthy digestive track.

The best way to monitor any medical issue is to create a written record of your daily food intake, body pain, mood, and stress levels.

Using a food diary, pain tracker, or a symptom and digestive management workbook can provide a written record of which foods, stress levels, and drinks may be contributing to your flare-ups.

While there’s no evidence that specific foods cause diverticulitis, some individuals find that certain foods, such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, or corn, can worsen or trigger a digestive flare-up.

Unfortunately, determining which foods you can and cannot tolerate is often a matter of trial and error. To be safe when introducing new foods into your diet, start with small amounts and gradually increase them over time.

Find a journal or food tracker which offers ample space to record daily symptoms, the location of body pain, digestive activity, and any other additional personal notes.

During a diverticulitis flare-up, your doctor may recommend a temporary clear liquid diet (consisting of broth, clear juices, and lots of water) to allow the colon to rest and heal.

As symptoms improve, your doctor may suggest gradually introducing a soft or mushy food diet, followed by a low-fiber diet that you can tolerate, and eventually transition to a higher-fiber diet if possible.

Food intake is challenging because every patient has foods they can tolerate and others that can trigger a colon attack. Setbacks and triggers can occur unexpectedly, depending on stress and other factors, which is why a journal or food tracker/worksheet that allows you to track your food intake is so important.

In severe or recurrent cases of diverticulitis, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the affected portion of the colon if necessary.

If you experience new or worsening abdominal pain, fever, or blood in your stool, seek immediate medical attention. Take your digestive pain seriously.

Keeping a daily tracker can identify patterns and determine which foods or activities might be triggering diverticulitis flare-ups. A tracker also helps patients become more attuned to their bodies and empowers them to actively participate in managing their diverticulitis.

For a free copy of a food tracker, click here to contact me.

Ancient Garden Discovered Next to Jesus’ Tomb

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Yesterday, I read a fascinating article about the landmark excavation of an ancient garden discovered under the floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The garden is situated between where Jesus was crucified and his tomb, and described in the Gospel of John, reminding me of why both holidays—Passover and Easter—are inexorably entwined in biblical history.

Millions worldwide will soon gather with their friends and families to celebrate Passover and Easter, and they have much more in common than the Last Supper: Both holidays are about the dead rising to new life.

The two hallowed religious holidays are a time of reflection, sorrow, freedom, renewal, and redemption, and are both considered a time for cleansing.

Passover and Easter commemorate life-altering religious events but also represent victory over death and freedom—freedom from Egyptian slavery in Passover and freedom from original sin in Easter.

The seasonal overlap between Passover and Easter is no accident, and they are forever and intimately linked. Until the fourth century, Easter’s date was based on the Jewish calendar and the date of Passover. However, in 325 CE, church leaders decided to create a way to date Easter independent of Jewish influence.

Moses is considered the miracle-working leader chosen by God to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Jesus is considered the miracle-working son of God, chosen to save his followers from spiritual slavery.

Recent archaeological excavations under the Church of the Holy Sepulchre floor in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem revealed the 2,000-year-old garden that mirrors the description of the area between the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and his tomb in the Gospel of John.

John 19:19-20:

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus.”

According to Christian belief, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre sits on the spot where Jesus was crucified (known as Calvary) and on his tomb, also named the Holy Sepulchre.

The three religious communities that manage the church, the Orthodox Patriarchate, the Armenian Patriarchate, and the Custody of the Holy Land, were replacing the building’s floor when they uncovered the unprecedented historical discovery.

Even before the erection of the church, the land had a long and storied history. At the time of Jesus, it was a quarry with a dual purpose as a burial site.

Around 313 CE, approximately 285 years after Jesus’ crucifixion, Constantine the Great, the first emperor to convert to Christianity, tore down the pagan temple to Venus to determine if beneath it was indeed the venerated and rumored location of Jesus’ tomb. When the limestone cave was discovered, Constantine deemed it the Holy Sepulchre of Jesus. He excavated around the tomb in the area that now constitutes the current church rotunda.

He also discovered several other tombs, including one for Joseph Arimathea, who assumed responsibility for the body, preparation, and burial of Jesus.

According to Matthew 27:57-60, Joseph asked Pontius Pilate for Jesus’ body to ensure he wouldn’t be left on the cross overnight, which was prohibited under ancient Jewish law.

When Pontius Pilate agreed, Jesus was buried in an unused man-made cave belonging to Joseph, who had prepared and intended it as a tomb for himself.

Matthew 27:57-60

 “Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.  This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.  When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.”

Once Jesus’ tomb was excavated, Constantine ordered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is now considered the holiest place in all of Christendom, to be built upon it. Around the same time that the church was under construction, Constantine abolished crucifixion and declared Sunday (the day of Jesus’ resurrection) an official day of rest, closing down markets and public offices.

Since its erection in the fourth century, the church has endured hundreds of years of destruction and restoration. The Persians set the church on fire in the seventh century, and it was attacked again by Caliph al-Hakim, a Shia Arab Muslim, in 1009. In the twelfth century, under Crusader rule, the church underwent significant restoration. The Crusaders, primarily Western European Christians, rebuilt the church after conquering Jerusalem in 1099, giving the building its current appearance.

The archeological excavation team has uncovered a treasure trove of thousands of artifacts dating back to the fourth century, including part of the original structure built by Constantine, coins minted under Constantine (337-361 CE), and coins minted under Valens, the Roman emperor from 364-378 CE.

Easter and Passover, like Christianity and Judaism, are forever linked by a history that began in ancient Jerusalem.

The history of the spot where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands is tantamount to the importance and religious significance of not only the history of Jerusalem and the ancient Jews but also the history of Jesus’ final hours—from his crucifixion to his burial to his ascension.