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A reminder that everything will be all right

On Christmas Day 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem we now know as the song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Earlier in the year, Longfellow had unsuccessfully pressured his son, Charles, not to join the Union Army. On Christmas Day, Longfellow learned his beloved son had been critically wounded at the Battle of New Hope Church. “I heard the bells on Christmas Day / Their old, familiar carols play, / and wild and sweet / The words repeat / Of peace on earth, good-will to men! “And thought how, as the day had come, / The belfries of all Christendom / Had ...

Sharing some reflections about Bondi Beach

When I go to synagogue, I always smile and wave at the armed police officers stationed outside. I want them to know they’re appreciated, but also, at some level, I guess it’s fair to say that I’m trying to ingratiate myself so that the cop will want to put his or her life on the line to save us if a gunman decides to open fire on or torch our congregation, as happened in Pittsburgh (2018), Poway (2019), Miami (2019), Monsey (2019), Halle, Germany (2019), Colleyville (2022), Jerusalem (2023), Djerba, Tunisia (2023), Berlin, Germany (2023), Yerevan, Armenia (2023), Rouen, France ...

Here’s what Rob Reiner had to say ­— and did to ­— Donald Trump

Yes, President Donald Trump could have taken the high ground rather than excoriating Rob Reiner, the actor, director and producer found stabbed to death, along with his wife. The Reiners’ son, Nick, has been arrested in connection with the murders. Trump doubled down in a Truth Social post, telling reporters: “I think he hurt himself career-wise. He became like a deranged person, Trump derangement syndrome. So, I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.” Criticism about Trump’s harsh remarks even came from ...

A weekend of murder, here and abroad

Historians considering the state of American depravity will doubtless pause to reflect on the remarkable support in certain quarters for accused killer Luigi Mangione, charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk last year. Mangione was caught on video pumping bullets into Thompson, a father of two, as he entered a hotel. There were times when cold-blooded murder would inspire universal revulsion; however, we do not seem to be living in those times. It isn’t that anyone doubts Mangione committed the murder, but rather that many Americans praise ...

Taking stock of all of the non-Christmas lists

‘Tis the season. No, not that season. It’s the season for end-of-year lists. Time magazine, which, like so much in print journalism has suffered from a loss of readers, has published its annual list called the “most influential people of 2025.” The list includes “Artists, Innovators, Titans, Icons, Leaders, and Pioneers.” Time’s “Person of the Year” is Artificial Intelligence. That might also apply to Congress. Most of the people Time considers influential I have never heard of, so they haven’t influenced me. Maybe it’s a generational thing. You may be ...

We have been exposed to a recent torrent of bad news

The past week has brought an unusual amount of bad news; so much that it’s been difficult to focus on any one item before you’re buffeted by the next horrific headline. Here are a few of my personal observations on some of these recent events. n Murder of Rob and Michele Reiner, and President Donald Trump’s response: I still cannot grasp that Rob Reiner and his wife are dead; murdered in such a horrific fashion. Mr. Reiner was a talented comedian and a brilliant director whose films consistently displayed his deft touch with humor and his insights into the best of humanity. ...