Opinion

When the human being, living in a world of woe, yet blessed under a blue sky, next to an ocean or with mountains in sight, is pained, speechless or baffled, the cup of Kiddush (santification) and the cup of Havdalah (division) are one and the same.

In the current election cycle, Democrats seem to think that relentless, socialist, AIPAC- and Israel-bashing, which anyone who is not stupid understands is politically sanitized anti-Semitism, will win them elections. The people of Colorado urgently need bipartisan cooperation and compromise to create fair water policy. We most definitely do not need more grandstanding and populist pandering.

For Hamas, disarmament is a euphemism. If Hamas were interested in the welfare of Gaza, and the welfare of Gazans, it would have disarmed, by itself, long ago.

And you thought politics was expensive. Next time you read how much money it took for a political candidate to win a local race, keep in mind: It was only one race. No matter how expensive, the win doesn’t hold a candle to the New York Mets, circa 2026.

This week a tragic entanglement of two brothers lives told the story that many are still carrying. One brother’s joyous wedding night as he married his bride, the other brother, Bar Ashraf, present and participating in the festivities, warmly hugging his family. Only to disappear afterwards. Within the frantic search for her brother’s whereabouts, three days after the wedding, his sister’s feet led her to Liron Barda’s grave.

Apparently, I’m what’s called a “Doehead.” I’d never heard the term before last month. It refers to people who are very into Colorado’s HAW Tabor, Augusta and Baby Doe saga.

August 1. It is the birthday of the two places where I have lived the longest — Colorado and Switzerland, two places I call home. In 1291, three men met on a field in Switzerland to take an oath, committing to an alliance. A little over half a millennium later, 585 years to be exact, Colorado declared statehood, earning itself the moniker the Centennial state.

A little over two decades ago, an event took place whose repercussions are felt today — in Israel, in the Middle East, and globally. At 6:40 a.m. on June 25, 2006 (Israel time), the Israel Defense Forces was informed that one of its soldiers, Gilad Shalit, had been kidnapped by Hamas and other terror groups into the Gaza Strip.

In New York City, 2026, the mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary excludes Jews, even though Jews are approximately 10% of the population. New York City welcomes Jim Crow.

When I come back home I’m back in the days and times of “yore” — when I was growing up. It’s always fun to come back and see old friends. One of these people is Pete Moutzouris, known simply as “Pete” of Pete’s Fruits and Vegetables, at the corner of Holly and Cedar Sts., right across from my shul — EDOS.