I was scheduled to teach 3 units of Berlitz lessons today, but no one showed up for the first one, a 1-unit lesson (I still get paid, of course): 9:00-9:45 and 10:30-12:00.
I went to Il Pentolino for my traditional Friday lunch today.
I usually don't comment on the news here, but today offered two very big and very contrasting stories.
First, I read about Islamic State attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait. The IS is just one radical Islamist organization that threatens world peace and safety today, but it and the others (including the Islamic Republic of Iran) are not to be taken lightly. The lessons from the 1930s should not be forgotten -- radical, oppressive, dictatorial ideologies do NOT always simply disappear on their own, and the price of fighting them only gets bigger with delay and dithering.
The second big story of today is, of course, the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to extend marriage to couples throughout the country with out regard to their gender. This is indeed something to celebrate. We must remember, though, that freedom is NOT free, and there are still many dark forces in the world working to suppress it. We ignore these at our peril.
I leave you with the evening blessing for peace:
שלום רב על-ישראל עמך תשים לעולם,
כי אתה הוא מלך אדון לכל השלום.
וטוב בעיניך לברך את-עמך ישראל
בכל-עת ובכל-שעה בשלומך.
ברוך אתה, יי, המברך את-עמו ישראל בשלום.
May You place abundant peace on Israel, Your people, forever,
For You are sovereign and ruler of all peace.
And may it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people, Israel
always and at every hour with Your peace.
Blessed are You, Adonai -- You bless Your people, Israel, with peace.
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