look at what they have done to the kosel

 

Compare to the har habayis

electric bike strikes again

 A middle-aged woman was walking on the sidewalk on Monday morning when she was hit by an electric bicycle rider on Ben Tzvi Sreet in Netanya. Worried relatives called United Hatzalah’s Dispatch and Command Center who immediately alerted nearby EMTs and other medical personnel.

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/363610

More kneged culam

 

וכן בכל המצות, ובפרט מצות הצדקה, ששקולה כנגד כל המצות

Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 30

To return now to the opening teaching — that whoever is accustomed to come to the synagogue, and one day did not come, G‑d inquires after him. This does not apply only to the communal prayer of which the Gemara speaks; rather:

וכן בכל המצות, ובפרט מצות הצדקה, ששקולה כנגד כל המצות

The same applies to all the commandments, and especially to the precept of charity, which is3 “balanced against all the commandments.” Thus, if the above teaching applies to prayer, it surely applies to charity: If a person retreats from his customary charitability, “G‑d inquires after him.”

הגם שהיא בלי נדר, חס ושלום

Though [one’s regular giving] is not bound by a vow, heaven forfend, for one should of course see to it that an accustomed mitzvah should not become subject to the legal force of a vow,4

How to handle wild kids from the movie Hoosiers

Player - It feels like we're in the army.

Coach - You are. You're in my army. Every day between three and five. [Some local men try to sit in on the practice.] Listen, guys, practice is closed to outsiders. I don't want any distractions.

Men - Outsiders? Coach Tidd never closed practices.

Coach - That was Coach Tidd. This is something else. [Large farmer enters the gym with his teenage son.] Yeah?

Rollin Butcher - Hi. I'm Rollin Butcher. My son's got something to say to you. [The son had earlier opposed the coach and walked out on practice.]

Son - Sorry, Coach, about walking out. I'd be obliged if I got myself another chance. Won't happen again. You're the boss.

Coach - OK. There's still an hour of practice. Get dressed.

Rollin - My boys get a little mixed up. You get any trouble from Rade or Whit, let me know. [Rollin addresses the local men.] Coach here says he's closing practice to outsiders. You ever...

Coach - I'll handle this.

Rollin - No, I got this. This man's got a job to do. He wants you outta here. You'd better be on your way.

----------------------

I'm not saying any of this applies when kids have questions or their own personalities or a little spunk. But if they are bullying little children, if they are breaking laws, if they are all chutzpah, that's when it applies. There have to be consequences. 

The morning blessings

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night.

This signifies intellectual discernment, the ability to think, to use your own mind. That's how you start your day (after Modeh Ani, which is a testimony of your innate connection to Hashem - see Chabad literature for more on that.)

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who gives sight to the blind.

Using facts, seeing things as they are, not as twisted by ideologies. 

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who releases the imprisoned.

Using your mind will free you.  

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who straightens the bent.

Using your mind will straighten you out, make you honest and upright.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who clothes the naked.

It will give you dignity as clothes dignify a person and raise him above the animals. It will make you human.  

Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, King of the Universe, Who gives strength to the weary.

You'll have energy. 

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who spreads the earth above the waters.

You'll see that there's a big world  out there.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who prepares the steps of man.

You'll be able to move about this world to accomplish.  

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who provided me with all my needs.

You'll become aware of Hashem as He helps you. 

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who girds Israel with might.

You'll find you have now the self-control that eluded you before. Chastising yourself didn't do the trick. You needed intelligence and dignity. 

Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, King of the Universe, Who crowns Israel with glory.

Now you'll be honored for what you have become.  

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a gentile.

You'll be a real Jew.  

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a slave.

No longer a slave.   

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a woman.

You'll be a real man. And when there a real men, women can be women for whom all of this applies as well.

All of this is because you used your mind, applying reason to facts! Now doesn't this contradict the current popular mantra of shutting off your brain and obeying the 'experts' on everything as if anyone else can be an expert on your life?