The Israeli government coalition's package of changes to the supreme court has opened a Pandora's box for the country. Israel cannot return to the way it was before the box was opened. For liberal Israelis, the coalition's proposed changes represent... Continue reading

On a recent trip to Israel I saw many signs of the political conflict roiling the country: "Netanyahu is leading [the country] to civil war," "Democracy or revolt," "Don't throw democracy into the garbage," "Where were you when democracy died?",... Continue reading

Dislike of the saintly nature seems to be a negative result of the biologically useful instinct of welcoming leadership, and glorifying the chief of the tribe. The chief is the potential, if not the actual tyrant, the masterful, overpowering man... Continue reading

I cannot recall a day quite like this. The air smells like you are sitting next to an active fire-pit. Visibility is very poor. The sky is grey without clouds. The sun is mostly concealed by smoke. The temperature is... Continue reading

I tried to focus on what was left of the tooth. I also took a photo of the chunk that came out. That's the last time I'm ever eating Milk Duds. My dentist responded to my text quickly. A few... Continue reading

I. This writing is true. Here the author records what he knows to be so. He has not added to or subtracted from a straightforward account of events as they transpired. For example, the day when the baby was born... Continue reading

A silver lining of Covid Time in my life: The opportunity to explore some Baroque music. Domenico Scarlatti, The Complete Keyboard Works (555 Sonatas, almost all for solo harpsichord). Performed by the late great Scott Ross. I have also enjoyed... Continue reading

He entered the car at Stadium, one of a party of three: two black men and a white woman. The other guy was short and slim, with a large dog on a leash. He was tall, heavy, with a head... Continue reading

We thought that she was a person / then we learned that she was the wrapping of the fetus within We thought she had agency / then we learned that she had one single task: to gestate and deliver We... Continue reading

In response to the publication of a draft decision by Justice Samuel Alito of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn the courts 1973 decision in Roe v Wade. See https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/abortion-draft-supreme-court-opinion-key-passages-00029470 and https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/read-justice-alito-initial-abortion-opinion-overturn-roe-v-wade-pdf-00029504 . 1 If one were... Continue reading

This post tries to make sense of reactionary opposition to democracy in our country. The following are sentiments that I could imagine might be expressed by a self-styled Patriot. They do not reflect the views of Hassagot. “I’ve felt for... Continue reading

How do we explain the following phenomena of American life in the past months? Death threats against responsible election officials who maintained the integrity of elections in states which Trump won in 2016 and lost in 2020? Threats against responsible... Continue reading

D. arrived in time for his appointment at Visionworks. His trial contact lenses had arrived, and he was going to have a class in insertion and removal. He had never worn contacts before. The assistant explained the steps clearly and... Continue reading

My understanding of the 'Logic' of Trumpism. I do not subscribe to the following assertions; it appears that many Americans do. Meditation after the Siege of the Capitol of Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Emphases in quotations are from Hassagot. "Truth"... Continue reading

בן ניתן לנו...ויקרא שמו פרא יחץ, אינו גיבור, ילד-עד, צר-שלום ...Unto us an infant-like one had been given. The government shall no longer be upon his shoulder: His name shall be called divisive savage; the unmighty one; the eternal child;... Continue reading

The Emperor's New Clothes, by Vilhelm Pedersen (1820 - 1859) - English Wikipedia (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Emperor_Clothes_01.jpg ), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4038625 "You want to know how we became fantasists. We staked a claim. As time went on, the claim became hard to maintain.... Continue reading

"I have a big ego and a weak character. This renders me susceptible to bigger egos. "So long as my ego is not confronted by a bigger ego, I espouse a value system. In the presence of a bigger ego,... Continue reading

"I felt that God wants me to be a loyal servant. Is it for me to be an active member of the polis, to be a citizen? Does it matter what I know or understand? Are my understanding and opinion... Continue reading

Sometimes stories are the surest guide to truth. Continue reading

“You delivered the mighty into the hands of weak, many into the hands of the few” – Al HaNissim prayer for Chanukah “We kindle these lamps for the miracles…which You worked for our ancestors…to give thanks and express praise to... Continue reading

An imagined correspondence The Non-Trumpians wrote to the Trumpians: Dear Trumpians, Your candidate lies myriads of times. He is the enemy of truth. To which the Trumpians responded: Dear Traitors, You lay myriads of lies at the feet of Trump.... Continue reading

And lo, the LORD passed by. There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks by the power of the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind—an earthquake; but the LORD was... Continue reading

A note to friends on June 16 I would like to focus on one small element of the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath—particularly as they relate to roles played by police in his killing and in responses to... Continue reading

Avoid the temptation to confuse these terms: Anocracy and Democracy Autocracy and Democracy Kakistocracy and Democracy Kleptocracy and Democracy Kraterocracy and Democracy Leukocracy and Democracy Plutocracy and Democracy Timocracy and Democracy Continue reading

I looked for someone to hate. Someone told me: there's someone to blame. There's someone who infected you. Some country, some lab somewhere, some ethnicity. There's someone who's is responsible for your being sick. Some former president. Some international health... Continue reading