Week's Atrocities 

They are weekly and violent and no place on Earth is safe from their crosshairs. It will be a blessing when I don't start a Shabbat message with a terrorist attack but until this global radical Islamic caliphate ends, I feel I must shed light on these brainwashed-induced cold-blooded atrocities. This week's locations were Egypt and Sweden. On Palm Sunday two Coptic (Christian) churches were bombed killing 44 innocent souls and wounding scores of others. 10% of the Egyptian population are Coptic yet they have experienced constant attacks for decades.  The Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared a 3 month State of Emergency, a standard state for locals, since Mubarak instituted a State of Emergency for his full 30-year reign .  The Sinai desert is a popular Passover destination of thousands of Israelis but due to terrorist threats, no Israeli is allowed to travel there and those there are required to return. Sweden's capital, Stockholm, was the site of the new favored terrorist attack of Truck Ramming which killed 4 people and injured 14 others. May the evils of the world disintegrate and disappear from planet Earth. 

No Respect

It's not the same kind of injustice as terrorism, but where was Aretha's R.E.S.P.E.C.T. on this week's United Airline flight from Chicago?   Apparently, the airline needed 4 extra spots for crew on a fully booked flight, but there were no takers from passengers for the $$ bribe to relinquish their seats. Then Dr. David Dao and 3 others were randomly chosen to deplane but, understandably, Dr. Dao felt if he paid for his seat, he should be able to keep it.  Not sure who made this rule, but airlines have the right to physically rip passengers from their seats at will. However, in the era of cameras everywhere, this disturbing video got viewed by millions of eyeballs.  Also, Dr. Dao is of Asian descent so the Asian community (and many others) have called for a United Airlines boycott. This whole incident is disgraceful and United dealing with regret, repent, repair and repayment to those involved as this is only deepening the PR trash pit they are in after they prevented those legging-clad teens from boarding their flight. 

Stolen Seat

Did you feel that right leaning tilt that occurred Monday morning when new Supreme Court Justice, Neil Gorsuch, was sworn in as our 113th SC Justice? Many speculate that Gorsuch could slope to the right of Scalia, yet during his hearing, he was rather tight-lipped with his answers.  Though NG has no record on abortions, but he did side with Lobby Hobby in support of their refusal to provide birth control.  He also has strong beliefs against assisted suicide and even wrote a book about about it.  And as mentioned last week, he seems to favor big business with his decision against the Detroit truck driver who nearly froze to death.  All this is mute until he actually voices his opinion on his first case, though I'm not holding out hope that he'll help reverse the worst ruling in history, Citizens United.  Wishing a very very very very long healthy life to notorious RBG. 

Men and Women

Orthodox Jewish men and women who are Shomer Negiah aren't allowed to touch the opposite gender who aren't their spouse or immediate family member (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter...). They ARE allowed to eat meals, have business meeting and attend functions with alcohol without their spouse.  Our VP Pence calls himself an Evangelical Catholic and lives by the Billy Graham rule of not being alone at a dinner with a woman who isn't his wife.  Also he refuses to attend an event that serves alcohol when his wife isn't present. It makes you wonder if Mrs. Pence follows the same rules in opposite.  Also, this excludes all women in Pence's world from access to business meeting and opens up a huge can of worms on so many other fronts.  Here is an interesting article which explains it in more detail. https://goo.gl/A28NMX

Then and Now

It's not a centennial to necessarily celebrate but 100 years ago on April 6, our reluctant country entered the Great War (also known as WWI) which helped facilitate its swift end and hopefully saved many lives. Coincidentally, 100 years later on that same date, Trump bombed the Syrian airbase.  Since the airbase was up and running the next day, not sure if this action was earth-shattering.  Hopefully it will stop chemical drops but it certainly didn't help Sean Spicer pull his foot out of his mouth. Yes Sean, Hitler did use chemical weapons on Germans. Also, the perception is that the White House is scorning Russia for its support of Assad, while we continue the investigation of the Putin/Trump BFF status. If a substance was dropped on America, imagine where we'd be if that substance was Truth Serum. Now jumping back to 1917, women weren't allowed to vote when we entered WWI, but with their support of the war and democracy, just 3 years later, the 19th amendment provided them/us voting rights. And in the 100 years since, we should continue to make it easier for all citizens to vote and for every vote to count appropriately.  We must eliminate Gerrymandering, stop Statewide voting restriction legislation, increase voting times and locations (especially in poorer neighborhoods) and basically improve our dismal voter turnout rate of 54% for the general election (2016) and 36% for our midterm vote (2014).

Simplify

Do making decisions bog you down? The most successful people in the world have a solution for you and it involves your wardrobe.  Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama eliminated morning decisions by wearing the same outfit everyday. For other tips for efficiency, check out this article. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-successful-individuals-wear-same-outfit-daily-vincent-carlos

"The very worst use of our time is to do extremely well what need not be done at all."

Detroit Sports

Good bye to Joe Lewis Arena as many this week witnessed the farewell party before the historic building is to be demolished starting September 17.  And the Pistons played their last game at Palace this week to scores of fans, legends and memories.  Both the Red Wings and Pistons will start their next session at the new Ilitch built Little Caesars Arena at which point all 4 sports teams (baseball, football, basketball and hockey) will be played in Detroit.  Hopefully, we'll also have a soccer stadium to add to that sporting mix. 

Tax Day

It's not April 15th as usual since this year it falls on a Saturday. It won't be Sunday April 16th nor Monday April 17th because of the DC holiday of Emancipation Day. So all you procrastinators have 3 extra days to file your income taxes, due this year on Tuesday April 18th.  And while you are calculating your forms amid our Passover holiday, you can enjoy a Ben and Jerry favorite.

April 30  (Sunday)

Jewish Heritage Day at Comerica Park

Tigers vs White Sox

Ticket packages benefit the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan and Tamarack Camps

Game time 1:10 p.m.

Tickets: www.tigers.com/jewishheritage

May 22 (Monday)

The Emily Stillman Foundation 

Night of Laughs

The Berman Center for Performing Arts

West Bloomfield

Doors open: 7:30 pm

Featuring: Heather McDonald (from Chelsea Lately)

http://www.foreveremily.org/

June 3 (Saturday)

American Cancer Society

Relay for Life

St. Mary of Orchard Lake

https://goo.gl/D5ESmB