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Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

“My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt.” Virginia Roberts Giuffre I was hesitant about reading this memoir. Like many people, I’d heard about Jeffrey Epstein and the crimes he’d committed against young girls. I’m not talking about young women, I’m talking about underage girls. … Continue reading Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

Political Murders

I’ve avoided blogging about anything political recently because the situation in the United States is so volatile these days. However, the recent shooting of Charlie Kirk is one more act of gun violence in a long list. Let me add this disclaimer right off the bat. Until Wednesday, September 10, I had no idea who Charlie Kirk was. I subsequently read a bit about him … Continue reading Political Murders

Tikkun Olam

When I was studying to convert to Reform Judaism I learned a vital concept called Tikkun Olam. It means to actively perfect or heal the world through deeds of kindness, social justice, and advocacy. Originally in the Mishnah, the first written collection of Jewish oral tradition, Tikkun Olam is the mending of the law to keep society working correctly. Generally, it’s designed to improve social … Continue reading Tikkun Olam

Woke?

            The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of “woke” is “…aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” Recently, some groups have used “woke” as a pejorative. Where does the word come from, and what does it mean?             In the United States in the 1930s, the expression “stay woke” became part of the African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). … Continue reading Woke?