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Welcome to the otzer machshavos - thought store

Mems (Micro Embedded Machshavos and Shiurim) are
gems of thought, concise in length, but full in content.

‘Pure’ Science

Theology is big picture thinking, science is minutiae thinking. If you only have the latter you can be convinced that tonsils are a relic and remove them, until it’s proven that they are important for the immune system (which might only happen when everyone's tonsils are removed,) or men can be women, or genetic engineering is ok simply because we can do it, regardless of the consequences ...

Jewish Extremisim

If you go with the Rambam’s “shvil hazahav”, a Jewish religious fanatic is a cognitive and behavioral moderate, except for anger, where he is extreme the other way.

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The Power of Speech

I think the power of speech lies in the fact that, more than any other human faculty, it combines the 4 elements of creation (as per Ramban, Braishis.) Eish - hot air, mayim - vapour, ruach - dvorim pshutim, adamah- mouth. How we combine them is in our bechirah (creation.) Thus מות וחיים ביד לשון (Mishlei 18:21)

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Veahavtah Lereiecha Kamocha

I’m trying to get into the habit of more frequently judging myself by my actions and others by who they are.

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Harmonious Contrast

We live a life of contrast between Dayeinu and Ana Hashem Hoshia Na.

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Negotiating the Generation Gap

It’s taken me a lifetime to develop old world thinking, now I have to learn to translate that for my kids.

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