Scott Skillman

I have been doing some serious thinking about the attack on Iran by both Israel and the United States. In my research, I have found the following to be helpful in exploring an obvious dilemma: Can we justify our actions morally?

The prospect of an attack on Iran presents a complex ethical dilemma within Judaism, challenging the tension between the imperative to defend life and the prohibition against unjustified bloodshed.

While Jewish law prioritizes the preservation of life and permits pre-emptive, self-defensive actions against imminent threats, it also strongly emphasizes pursuing peace, proportionality, and avoiding unnecessary destruction.

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December is a month steeped in the stories and expectations of miracles.

Across different faiths and cultures, this season is the time when we remember powerful acts of divine intervention, from the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days during Hanukkah to the Christian belief in the miraculous birth of Jesus.

These ancient stories serve as anchors, reminding us of the extraordinary ways the divine intersects with the ordinary world.

But miracles are not just events locked in history books. They happen every day, often hiding in plain sight, waiting for us to open our eyes and our hearts to recognize them.

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I’d like to discuss a television show that I loved watching in the mid ’90s.

No, I’m not talking about Baywatch. My favorite show was Northern Exposure.

The show is a basic fish-out-of-water tale. The main character is a Jewish New York doctor who upon completion of his medical training is set to begin a carefully planned career that would include the location of his practice, his area of expertise and even his “choice” Jewish fiance.

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