Pages

I have always imagined that Paradise would be a kind of library.
Jorge Luis Borges

So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Saint John, Letter to Galatians 4:16

Freedom of Religion - Freedom from Religion - Freedom of Public Display of Religion and Traditions

We establish no religion in this country, nor will we ever. We command no worship. We mandate no belief. But we poison our society when we remove its theological underpinnings. We court corruption when we leave it bereft of belief. All are free to believe or not believe; all are free to practice a faith or not. But those who believe must be free to speak of and act on their belief.
--
Ronald Reagan (Temple Hillel Speech, 1984)

Friday, March 14, 2014

Saint Patrick's Day: March 17th

Saint Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17th, in the dioceses of Ireland it is a solemn and holy day of obligation and is officially called Saint Patrick's Feast Day. The original color associated with Saint Patrick was blue, but over time the color association changed to green and green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of the day was early as the 17th century. The phrase “the wearing of the green”, which means wearing a green shamrock on clothing comes from a song of the same name.
Saint Patrick is a national day in Ireland, but Irish in Europe have been celebrating it since the 9th century; and later became known as the patron of Ireland. The Feast Day was officially listed in the liturgical calender in the Catholic Church, influenced by Luke Wadding, a Franciscan scholar in the early 17th century. A solemn ceremony in the Roman Catholic Church, it is a great feast day in the Church of Ireland

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

What is "Kosher" Food?

Have you ever wondered what Kosher meat is or why some pickle jars have the words: Kosher Pickles printed on the label? Just what is Kosher?
Merriam-Webster dictionary -
1 a: sanctioned by Jewish law; especially : ritually fit for use like kosher meat.
b: selling or serving food ritually fit according to Jewish law, as a kosher restaurant.
2 being proper or acceptable, or satisfactory, as is the deal kosher?
It all has to do with Jewish dietary laws from the ancient text: Kashrut

The word is a Hebrew derivative of Kaf-Shin-Reish, which means fit, proper, or correct. Rabbis or religious officials do not bless food in order to make it kosher, as the urban legend goes. However, there are blessings that Jews observe and recite before food is eaten, just as Christians and Muslims do in certain tradition.