I have been a lot calmer since Monday. I've asked myself why. I think there are 4 reasons. 1. Friends reached out. That helped. 2. I was able to focus on work. That helps me feel I am doing something. 3. Obama tweeted that Israel should "dismantle" Hamas. That's a major change and means Israel will have diplomatic cover to win the war. 4. I went to a gym class on Monday, despite not wanting to, and felt better.
Here's my advice. You can't escape the news about the war, or the arguments; and some of us actually need to be engaged. But there is a way to do it without sacrificing your mental or physical health, and while managing daily life in a way that doesn't make you feel crazy.
1. Focus on the everyday. Don't drop your regular routines, even if they have to change a bit to make time for some wartime stuff.
2. Don't get bogged down in arguments about what happened; focus on what needs to happen -- i.e. getting rid of Hamas, forever.
3. Consume news skeptically. This includes, especially, news that "helps" your side. View it all skeptically. The basic facts don't change.
4. Do fun things. Take a walk. Go for a swim. Make love. Don't feel guilty about any of it. Try to avoid substances. Take care of yourself.
5. Be patient with angry or upset people. That includes yourself. It's ok to be angry. Walk away from social media for a while, if so.
6. Reach out to people on the other side of this, if you know any. Don't discuss. Don't argue. Just say "Hi, hope you're ok."
7. Remember this: Palestinians would have a state if they made peace, and built one. Peace is a choice. It's also still a possibility.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
