NO LONGER A LAUGHING MATTER

The situation in comedy is no longer a laughing matter. 

THE LEFT IS DESTROYING COMEDY. BUT THE BEAR HAS A-WOKE-N.

SNL's firing of Shane Gillis is the last straw. The Left's vindictive and nearly Fascist "cancel culture" has gone too far for too long.

Kevin Hart gets it. Dave Chappelle gets it. Bill Burr gets it.  Norm Macdonald gets it and in a recent tweet he has "declared" war.

Hundreds of other comedians get it too. So do tens of millions of Americans. But comedians have special sensitivities and sensibilities.

Comedians see into our culture, our society and human behavior in deeper and more profound ways than the average citizen.  Their livelihood depends on it. So when legends like Dave Chappelle and Norm Macdonald say we got a problem in America, America's GOT A PROBLEM!

The 1st and 2nd Amendments of our Constitution are under attack. The importance of these two Amendments to the Framers is self-evident by virtue of the fact that they are 1st and 2nd. "The pen is mightier than the sword."

Our Founding Fathers were deeply fearful of the tendencies of human nature. They were afraid that the people running our Country would eventually destroy this unique creation they called The United States of America.

The Founders knew it wasn't enough that they fought the Revolution and won despite terrible odds. They knew the Articles of the Confederation* were not enough so they created the Constitution to replace it.

The Framers did everything they could to protect Americans from their Government and the human beings that run it.

Norm Macdonald is absolutely right - America is at war. There is a non-military Revolution going on in our Country.

The Left is attacking America's conservative traditional values on every major front including but not limited to: Religion and morality, the Constitution, Culture, our Economic system and the most basic practice of Patriotism.

Even the classic meaning of being a Liberal or a Feminist is under attack. Today's Leftist is not yesterday's Liberal. And the 3rd Wave of Feminism is an abomination of the original. Today's Democratic Party is off the rails.

The Left has also attacked the Office of the President in a coup attempt. The Deep State will stop at nothing.

Sadly, one of the most important institutions we have for protecting us from our government has become as corrupt and Partisan as politics.  The Press is no longer a servant of the People.  Fake News is "the enemy of the people."

The Framers also believed that our Nation was created with Divine providence. Look at BOTH sides of our Great Seal -- it is obvious. The Founders knew they had more too fear than human nature. If God stops favoring America our Country is doomed.

America was Founded and built on Judeo Christian values. The Founders knew that even the Constitution was not enough for a Godless Nation.

I suspect that if a false Messiah were to rise up, otherwise known as the Antichrist by Christians, the Left would follow him too.

This situation is no laughing matter. Who knows that better than comedians?!

If/When Trump wins the 2020 Election, the last laugh will be on the Left. Their cruel and vindictive "cancel culture, as well as the way they have been destroying people's life and reputation for political purposes,  will be partly the reason why they lost.

#WALKAWAY
#BLEXIT
#JEXODUS

* The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was the approved by the 2nd Continental Congress in 1777 and served as our Constitution for the 13 original United States of America that served as its first constitution.

P.S. I do favor laws and regulations which will help prevent the wrong people from obtaining dangerous weapons.  But I believe we can mitigate the problems of gun violence without violating our Constitution.

Part 5 - Midrash on the Story of Jonah: Revelation

The angels whispered prophecy into my mother's ear and she named me Robert Jonah.

Kabbalah teaches that parents are given "one sixth prophecy to choose a name for their child."  Throughout the Torah, names are profoundly significant. 

Three years ago today on Taslich,  I elevated my Hebrew middle name Jonah. Prior to that I was known most commonly by my first name, Bobby, in my childhood years.

My personal Jewish identity is entwined with Jonah from the Book of Jonah. However, my personal understanding of the Book of Jonah did not quite fit with what I have been taught by my Rabbis over my lifetime.  

I have always felt the Rabbis where missing an important part of the story. 

This midrash expresses my personal interpretation of The Book of Jonah. This is the 5th chapter in a five part series which I began 3 years ago. 

The first four chapters set an important foundation for this chapter.  Here are links to all of them including the explanation of how my journey from Robert to Jonah started.

Call Me By My Other Name.
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.

This 5th chapter has been missing all my life. (See footnote below.) In order to write this 5th chapter I needed a revelation.

Before I could write this 5th chapter, the 5th chapter had to write itself in my life.

Each of my four previous chapters were written in first person and this one is as well.  So now, as I literally start to write my midrash I will be writing as though I am the "Jonah" who is speaking to God. I pray for the words to come to me NOW.

My Midrash begins:

Oh mighty God, when Nimrod built Babel You delivered judgment by Your own hand.  Nimrod built Nineveh too, and there is much wickedness in the name of their false gods.

I know that it is not sinners that You seek God. But Nineveh is a warring and lustful city filled by mine enemies. No place has been more deserving of Your judgment.

Such is the fate for any place that turns from You and follows the way of false gods or the ways of Man.

As it is written Deuteronomy 12:2You must utterly destroy all the places where the nations that you will dispossess served their gods—on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.3You are to tear down their altars, smash their pillars, burn their Asherah poles in the fire and cut down the carved images of their gods, and you are to obliterate their name from that place.

There is no place for one to hide from Your sight LORD. Nor am I ashamed of my nakedness like Adam & Eve. Lest they say of me otherwise I do declare, I didn't abandon your calling God. I objected to it!

But who am I to bring the threat of the ONE God they do not know in Nineveh?  YET, It is not the fear of death that sends me running! I know Your power.

It is the fear of offering my enemies an opportunity for redemption that frightens me.  For I also know Your power to forgive.

I would rather die than give the Assyrians fair warning of Your coming and offer them the chance to ask for and receive Your forgiveness. How could I do this to my people? How can You God? Bring Your judgment down!

Is it Judgment you wish to declare, or forgiveness you wish to provide?  Do you send me to save my worst enemies?

I sought You for greater  understanding. In the hull of the ship on it's way to Tarshis I called for You in my dreams. But You delivered no response.

Only the captain spoke. Your great seas were angry on my account.

In my loneliness I knew I sinned by failing to follow Your command.  There was a price to be paid.  A sacrifice to be made.

Cast me off! Let the sailors not die on my account. Send me into the deep. Deliver me to Your judgment!

But lo and behold, You forsake me not. Three days inside the deep.  Then You returned me from the deep with fresh eyes and clear conviction.

You filled me with needed understanding.  I went to Nineveh with great Thanksgiving.  Firm was my belief that the Ninivites would forsake their own welfare by continuing to cling to the folly of their ways and to their gods. Deliverance would be the LORDS!  Hallelujah!!

Knowing what I believed I ran to You by going to Nineveh to declare Your judgment in 40 days. I went with complete and unwavering faith. I went with a new life which belongs to you. I had no fear. Why should I fear, when Your Temple awaits me.

I took care and listened to your command that it may go well for my children and their children after me. Nineveh was to be cut off and dispossessed.  For every abomination of You which You hate the people there have done. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. [Deut. 12:31] No good fruit can come from a tree in Nineveh. The city must be cut down.

Unlike your other prophets I went without any signs or miracles to display.  I went without David's sling or Judah's army. I went to do Your command with only Your word.

Such is the Power of Your Word delivered by Your faithful and fearless servant. I was Your Trumpet blast and they heard You in all the land. Every person in Nineveh trembled in awe. They didn't turn to their gods. They turned to the ONE GOD.

All the people, including their king, bowed down and repented. Not to my surprise, but rather to my great regret.

From the hillside I watched and waited. I waited for Your judgment to come down on Nineveh.  And when You sparred my enemies it saddened me deeply.  So deeply LORD that I wished to die again.

I had gone to Nineveh to see the evil city receive Your judgment, not Your forgiveness.

But it was not to be Your will. I had done your will. And Your will WAS done. I should have rejoiced. Instead I morned.

I knew You were a compassionate God. My greatest fear was realized --  that You would grant forgiveness rather than deliver judgment on the city of Nineveh.

In my loneliness You came to me again. With a short lesson in the form of shade tree. But it is not Your capacity to offer forgiveness to sinners that confuses me.

A great tragedy has occurred.  What of Your chosen people?  By doing Your Will have I not delivered Your people to mine enemies?

Your decision to spare the Assyrians is a great tragedy for the ages. What have I done?  How do your people reconcile Your ways God?

I thought I knew better when you raised me from the deep and set me on the shore to go to Nineveh.  But little did I know.  There was a greater lesson for me to learn. Little did I know that You had another purpose for me. I was to be a great sign of Your forgiveness.

Through my story I was to foretell an even greater story.  My sadness would become joy to the world.

My life was to be a lesson. Tragedy befalls us throughout history and in our lives. If these are by Your hand we ask, "have you no compassion on us?" But if these tragedy are the price for our sins how are we to satisfy You?  We fail again and again.  Even Jacob, Moses and King David failed You.

What of Nineveh? How can they be worthy of Your Promise Land while Moses is not?!

You have given us a sign. There is no greater sign of Your capacity for forgiveness.  No greater sign that your gates remain open until the last moment. Even to a sinner. Even to a city of sinners.

But even a great city filled with Your chosen people will be judged if they fail and follow other nations and the ways of Men.

You, the One and only God provided me with a great gift - a gift that is rarely accepted.  The chance to be born again in Your waters.  You have given us the opportunity to make new choices.  To choose the path You wish for us all - that we may follow Your ways and serve you.

You have proven by Your Acts that You are always ready to forgive us.  This is the lesson of Nineveh.  But what of me, your servant.  I did Your will and now I must bear the burden of knowing that I have delivered my enemies to You to be spared.

The people of Nineveh love darkness, they will go back to their evil ways.  And when the evil spirit returns it will bring seven times more evil. The condition in Nineveh will be worse than first for this evil generation.

You knew this God. This is Your prophecy, not mine.  What lesson is there which You can give me to help me bear my pain for the evil that the people of Nineveh will bring upon my people?

So terrible was my sadness that I wished to die, again. The same death I wished for on the boat to Tarshis for the same reason I first refused to go to Nineveh.

I cry out to You NOW, today, through my midrash.

How am I to understand your mysterious ways? 

You answered me. Now I see how your answer was there for me since the beginning of Man.

We were never meant to judge the good and evil in another's heart.

Once we walked together in the Garden.  When we chose to eat from the Tree of Knowledge we had to leave the Garden.

The path back is your Word. And even that must be guarded because ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing are always seeking to confuse us.

The evil did return to Nineveh. But it was not for me to judge what is in their hearts' on the day You accepted their repentance as sufficient.

Tragedy tests our faith.  Tragedy can also return us to You.

But it is Hate in our heart, and the ways of Man with false and no Gods, which takes us from a path to You.

We needn't fear sheep in wool. It is Wolves in sheep's clothing that speak to deceive us.

Therefore until our last breath, we must always seek You through Your Word. We must inscribe Your Word in all places before our way.  So we do Your way.  Then upon our last breadth we will be received to You.

I see, through my midrash, that You have sent Jonah to be a sign that it is not sinners that You seek. Rather it is sinners that You seek to save.  The fearless ONE with pure faith and passion can show the way to even the most lost sinners. You have used my enemies to strengthen the faith of future generations. 

As for me, I will stay here where You have sent me. Your question gives my life new purpose.  I put my life in your hands. 

I tested your Word.  My midrash is such a test. By faith and Your Grace your Temple awaits me.

Baruch Hashem
Jonah, Jonah



Footnote:  The 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Hei, pronounced "Hey."  The ancient symbol for Hei looks like a man with his arms raised. The symbol of Hei has the meanings:  Look, Reveal, Breath.

The numerical equivalent of Hei is the number 5.  In gematria Hei is associated with revalation and grace.  

More on the Hebrew Gematria of Five: Not only does the hei repre­sent the garments of thought, speech and action, but these garments comprise a total of five elements: Two levels of thought, imaginative and meditative; two levels of speech, the words of the heart and the words of the lips; and one level of action. 

Hei/Five also signifies the five levels of the soul: 
nefesh, ruach, neshamah, chayah and yechidah. The fifth tier, yechidah, means union.

3 Days, 3 years - My Personal Jonah Story

They who cling to empty folly Forsake their own welfare. Jonah 2:10.                     

"But I, with loud thanksgiving,

Will sacrifice to You;

What I have vowed I will perform.

Deliverance is the LORD’S!"

From Book of Jonah

It was three days in the belly before God put Jonah back on land to perform what he was commanded. It was three days walk across the great city of Nineveh that Jonah was called to declare would face "JUDGMENT" and be overthrown in 40 days.

On Sunday September 29th it will be the three year anniversary of the Taslich when I elevated my middle name Jonah.  Three years since this.

Three years since I raised my awareness and opened my mind and heart to find a even greater understanding of God. Three more years of studying and searching.

What did I find? What have I personally discovered?  I have found more than I imagined when I began.  What I found has enabled me to write the last chapter in my personal midrash about The Book of Jonah.

In the Book of Jonah, the evil Assyrians repent and God does not overthrow the city.  It would seem that the story is about Repentance and Forgiveness.  So it is very fitting that Jews tell the Book of Jonah on Yom Kippur, the Hebrew Day of Atonement.

Nearly all my life I believed that there was something not quite right about how the Rabbis were interpreting the Book of Jonah.  The message and meaning was incomplete.  There was something profoundly missing.

I have been on a lifelong journey to complete the story.  For me, that journey took on a much deeper and more spiritual purpose when I did Taslich 3 years ago -- When I cast off "fear" on the water, and asked friends to call me by my middle name Jonah for the first time.

That moment, captured by someone who sent me the photo you see above was truly an amazing spiritual and intimate experience with God.  I felt different.  I became different.  But I didn't know where my heart, God was leading me.

THE BOOK OF NACHUM v.14.

"The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:    “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods.I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.”"

Very Soon I plan to write the 5th chapter in my midrash based on my understanding of the Jonah story. When I do I will share on my blog.

I will publish that during the High Holy Days.  It has yet to be "penned."  Besides, I want to be open to more meaning and greater blessings between now and the Holiday.  Whatever they may be. Deliverance is the Lord's!  (Baruch HaShem.)

Please pray with me.
Shalom,
Jonah

THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT RUNNERS

LOOKING AT THE FRONT RUNNERS ON STAGE IN THE 2ND DEBATE:

Even though two of my four Democratic favorites made into the 2nd debate, there is NO sense in examining them since they don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of making it to the final debate, let alone the Election.  And by "hell" I mean Hell.

I am only going to speak about: Biden, Bernie, Warren and Harris.
They are the only Democratic Candidates that I think the DNC is willing to clear the way for. And by "clear the way" I mean clear the way for.

Make no mistake, THE DNC IS CALLING THE SHOTS.  If you didn't learn your lesson about Democratic politics from the last election, you may never learn.

And YES it is different in GOP politics.  But NOT because the GOP is terribly different!  It is because Donald J Trump REDEFINED Politics in America.  The Democratic Party simply hasn't had it's Trump, YET.  

THE WASHINGTON D.C. SWAMP IS VAST AND THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS PART OF THE SWAMP.

One of those four won't make to the final primary debate stage. Care to guess who that is?  I will answer that out of the gate.

CURRENT FRONT RUNNER JOE BIDEN.

- Would be 77, 7 years older than DJT at the start of his first term.

- He is clearly and obviously having memory, cognitive and verbal dysfunction already!  Mind you, he has had multiple brain aneurysms.That is before the tremendous strains and demands of the Presidential office. Biden is not up for the campaign trail let alone the position of Commander In Chief. Forgetting "Creepy Joe," Trump's description of Binden as "Sleepy Joe" was actually being KIND!

RELATED SIDE NOTE: In retrospect, it was brilliant for Trump to take the high road and not mock a man who Trump must have known has serious health issues regarding brain function. Those of us who are old enough to remember the sad way Ronald declined should appreciate Trump's choice of "Sleepy Joe" - God help Joe in the next phase of is life.

STOP THERE . . .
I won't list all the reasons Biden can't handle China, Russia, the Middle East or even NATO.

Let's spare all the humorous, numerous and significant reasons Joe Biden will NOT be the Democratic Presidential nominee.

BOTTOM LINE!
Joe is actually and truly "incompetent" to be President.  I give him a 35% chance of even lasting to the Primary election.

SO WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT BIDEN? HERE'S WHY . . .

Once again, the DNC is controlling the process and rigging things. They are playing the candidates like pieces on a chess board.

The DNC knows Biden can't survive the process figuratively and literally.  Biden is on stage to give the illusion that there is any moderate aspect to the Democratic platform left.

If you took Biden off the debate stage, the entire group looks so far to the radical Left that Independent and Moderate Democrats and all businesses would be making donations to re-elect Trump at this point.

Biden is ALSO up there to help keep Kamala Harris a viable candidate.  The DNC hasn't made up it's mind whether Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris should be President. Kamala's record as a Prosecutor and the California AG is such that EVERY African American should be supporting DJT. Biden who also has a poor reputation with Blacks, except for his relationship with Obama, helps Kamala look good.

Speaking of "looking good," Kamala is Obama's girl.  Kamala doesn't need to go as far as she did with Mayor Willie Brown to get Obama to advance her career.

Kamala just needs Biden to step out of the race for health reasons. That's where Obama "comes in."

HOW IT GOES DOWN . . .
In a "private heart-to-heart" which will be public knowledge, Obama will give his stooge Joe Biden the "wise advice" he needs to hear to withdraw. Obama will tell Biden in effect, "Joe, you should take care of yourself, spend time with family and enjoy the time you have left." Of course with the MILLIONS HE MADE AS A CORRUPT POLITICIAN.

I would be NOT be surprised to see Obama make a large personal contribution to a Foundation that is near & dear to his old pal. That way Joe can focus on something meaningful in his "retired years." Say something to do with brain cancer or anything with the words "brain" and "non-profit" in it.  Biden needs to hear the word "brain" in the cause. And Obama needs the tax deduction.

THE HYPOCRISY IS GREATER THAN THE TRUTH.

THE DNC'S REASON FOR FRONT RUNNER BERNIE SANDERS:

- Would be 80 years old when he takes office as President. (10 yrs older than when DJT started.)

- Never had a real job in his life, yet has three luxury homes and is worth millions.

- Has been in politics for ~40, but has accomplished literally nothing and is essentially a joke in Congress. Crazy Uncle Bernie has NEVER TRULY been taken seriously in the Senate.

- Bernie's leadership style is basically to yell and wag his finger while he scolds everyone. He made up his mind on everything decades ago and hasn't had a new idea or solution since then. Bernie wouldn't recognize a fresh new approach to our nation's problems if hit him in the face.  Someone please do.

- Started as Capitalist-hating Communist who praised Cuba and honeymooned in Russia.  Evolved into a Capitalist-hating Socialist who wants to destroy the essential motivation for success in America that creates jobs, drives business, innovation, competition and success.

- Shows great contempt for America. It is a wonder if he has any "Love of Country" or Patriotism in him at all.

- Believes we can improve health care in America by putting every insurance company out business, financially destroying the drug industry and controlling what every doctor and hospital can charge for anything.

- Believes we can control health care costs in America by putting every American, including non-citizens here illegally on full health care coverage with no limits, no deductibles, no co-pay at virtually no charge by putting them on the bankrupt Medicare system. Thinks charging "major corporations" and 1% of Americans for all the costs is viable. The only thing more ludicrous is the Green New Deal which he supports too.

- Believes that by wiping out what practically every drug company, hospital and doctor can charge and taking away all their profits and essentially driving them out of business that somehow patients will have better choices and greater access to health care.

- Thinks the way to control the cost of education in America is to pay every teacher, regardless of where they are, experience or skills at least $60k and to give everyone a FREE college education.  Again, all his Socialist system needs to do is take the money away from business and the wealthy people and everything will be great.  It worked so well in Venezuela.

 - Has no clue about diplomacy,  national security, how to deal with foreign enemies and defense.

- Is a self-hating/Israel hating Jew.

🤔, that's one of the best the Democratic party can do??

The truth is that Bernie is unelectable and the DNC knows it!! (They just won't say it.)  Just like with Hillary, the DNC will NOT let Bernie win the Primary. Crazy Bernie is up there to make Elizabeth Warren look good and everyone else look less crazy than they are.

The only one on the debate stage who doesn't get it is Bernie Sanders.  He is everyone's stooge.  

THE HYPOCRISY IS GREATER THAN THE TRUTH.

ELIZABETH WARREN IS THE OBVIOUS FINALIST:

Warren has the most momentum and is taking votes away from Biden and Bernie. Plus, as the rest of the field drops out of the race the long tail of voters from other candidates need to make their final choice and that will benefit Warren.

Warren's political machinery is strengthening as her candidacy picks up momentum.  The DNC will start to put it's full forces to work in Warren's favor.

Warren comes with a lot of political "street cred." She is also hyper-progressive, intelligent, a clever debater/speaker and a woman. Without a doubt Warren is on the stage in the last debate.

But Warren brings plenty of baggage that ought to concern Democrats. Right off the bat is the fact that you & I are probably more Native American than she is. But you & I didn't lie about to get a job.  That "Pocahontas" label still sticks and still stings.

Warren will get every college professor in America's vote!  But every banker, insurance professional, doctor, manufacturer, miner, someone in the energy industry,  entrepreneur, investor and anyone with a 401k ought to be terrified by the thought of Warren being President.

As fast as Trump reduced regulations and the economy grew, with Warren it will all go in the other direction.  

Warren is worth millions, way more than Bernie. But unlike Bernie she may be THE MOST SOCIALIST Democratic Presidential nominee in history, IF she WINS the Primary.

What's for sure is that it will be entertaining to watch Warren and Trump debate one another.

The big question is whether or not she is fully backed by the Obama's.  That leads me to who I saved for last.

YOU CAN'T TAKE KAMALA SERIOUS,  BUT YOU HAD BETTER!:

They want you to believe she doesn't have a chance. Just like Obama pretends he is out of politics.  He's not. She does. Just wait and see. Kamala's time will come .... after the DNC has eliminated all the FRONTRUNNERS.

A POEM ABOUT A PSALM ABOUT CREATION

THE POWER OF CHOICE.

On many an evening, in the silence well after midnight, but well before the dawn, my spirit wakes me. Then, I have a choice to make. To return to my slumber, or to make time.

More often than not, I choose to make time in the still of the night.  In this most intimate moment it is my choice where to put my attention.

I choose -- Not the TV. Not the telephone.  Not my customers. Not my friends and family. Not even my animals, they sleep too. This is my time to do as I choose.

ALL is quite. All except my mind and spirit. In the quiet I can hear. I choose whether to listen to my mind or my spirit. I choose my muse.

Psalm 104 Verse 34: Let my muse be sweet unto him; as for me, I will rejoice in the LORD.

Then I return to my slumber, more rested. Glory to God's choices.