Down By The Shul Yard

Someone taught Danny Saunders to hit a ball, run the bases, and come home. Chaim Potok‘s adolescent character in The Chosen emerges from a culture steeped in tradition, education, learning and study. While his family’s primary focus may have been the Torah and the Talmud, someone took responsibility for extending Danny’s learning to the ball […]

Read more "Down By The Shul Yard"

Smoke That, Jay

Jay Bruce’s first-of-the-2017-Mets-season home run (which was followed on by another, last night, in Game 6) will be an easy one to remember. Whether you say ‘he’s smokin,’ or ‘what was he smokin’?,’ Bruce’s smooth, early-season performance extends the past two years of Mets’ rolling out unexpected delights for the fans. The existence of entheogens, which, according […]

Read more "Smoke That, Jay"

Politics & Moral Suasion

Who would have thought New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio — controversial and unpredictable as he is as a political figure — would show a body language completely familiar with and respectful of spiritual practice? As good sports Guiliani and Bloomberg were, it’s hard to recall those former Gotham leaders with heads as bowed, arms as […]

Read more "Politics & Moral Suasion"