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The first item we will be studying together will be **A Modest Proposal** by Jonathan Swift. Here is the text. Visit the Frisch [|Man in Search of G-d] discussion page to post your assignment.

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= GREED, A MODEST PROPOSAL, AND RABBI JONATHAN SACKS =

Here are some excerpts from our discussion on greed located on the Frisch Wiki:

//**Assignment 1**//
Write a response that considers the following: A) Has greed stayed the same or gotten worse since Chaucer's and Swift's times? B) How did the readings affect your opinion on greed? C) What would you do to change greediness in the world today?

Greed is like the common cold; it’s annoying, makes you sick, not liked by others and inescapable. Stopping greed would be a futile attempt because it is, as previously stated, human nature. -Ori fr

People in our time haven't become greedier than people were in the 18th century, when Swift wrote "A Modest Proposal". Rather, there are simply more opportunities to become greedy in these modern times as we now have advanced technology and more ways to steal money from the public. In Swift's time, greed was expressed by landlords and shop owners charging high prices for rent and low- quality items. Now, businessmen can steal billions of dollars from the public and not be caught for decades. Shoshana nc

Unfortunately there will always be people that will feel the urge and the need to have possessions and money, these cursed people will do anything to obtain. Whether they would obtain these precious things by stealing or by bribery, they feel that money completes them; it is almost like their identity. - Meir fr

Swift’s article discusses the luxuries of eating babies. Only the elite in England will be able to eat the poor’s babies. Some of Swift’s real solutions include the rich being kinder to the poor and the women buying fewer luxuries. The women and men of aristocratic England were obsessed with money and greed. - Rachel fr

People don't have to work as hard for every penny earned, and there is a lot more to spend money on. Meals, toys, presents, clothes, houses, etc. As income becomes higher, so does greed. Because in a person's nature, the more they have, the more they want. -- Yonina and Becky nc

Greed is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, which proves that people have been greedy for a very long time and will probably remain greedy. -- Eric fr

Schools should stop teaching the kids to be so competitive and to be willing to do anything to get to the top. Children need to understand by their parents and teachers that money and material isn’t the meaning or the importance of life (they could do this by not buying their kid the best newest stuff and parents have to learn to say no so they could teach their kids to be happy with what they have). -- Yakira and Yaeli nc The great desire for money also helps many people find comfort in being greedy. Today, many people value money far more than fair and just behavior. The values of the world have evolved greatly over time, and need to be addressed in order to prevent further acceptance of greed in society. -- Danielle fr

In order to put a stop to this damaging phenomenon, we must work to improve the face of society, and ask ourselves "How can I decrease my intake and greedy lusts"- so that hopefully one day, we will be able to ask ourselves "How can I help the person standing beside me?".-- Lilach nc

One thing that can be done against this phenomenon is education, like Jonathan Sacks wrote. We should point out the bad effects of greed, in books, articles, and speeches. We should raise awareness, and through that, people might think more about what they do, and how they do it. -- Rotem and Sara nc

Upon reading the responses posted by the other school, we became aware of how living across an ocean doesn’t affect your viewpoint of greed. As the student expressed, the world is getting more advance thus people crave more, which causes greed. -- Riki and Rachel -- fr

= DUBLIN, SODOM AND GREED =

Please read the following article written by our own research skills teacher, Reuven Werber. Then respond to the following question in the discussion.

As I looked through this week's Parsha, Vayera, I thought about the essays I saw in the Frisch – Neveh Channah collaborative wiki project on "greed" in " A Modest Proposal " and in modern society. The story of the destruction of Sodom in Vayera can be read as Divine Retribution for the "greediness" of the people of Sodom.

As the Parsha opens, we see Avram, a 99 year old, recuperating from his Brit Milah, running from the entrance of his tent towards the three strangers who pass by. He begs them to come rest and eat and __runs__ and __hurries__ to prepare a literal feast for them, __standing over them__ to provide for their every need. The Torah vividly shows us how the ideal of caring for others is realized by the founder of the Jewish nation.

Avram's nephew, Lot, who has settled in the "evil" city of Sodom, also beseeches the strangers to spend the night with him, defending them from the violence of the people of Sodom, who demand that they be handed over to be abused. (Bereishit 19). Lot's upbringing in Avram's home has obviously taught him to care for others, even risking his life in their defense.

However, as we look at the people of Sodom, heinous evildoers, causing G-d to decree their destruction,  rtl rtl we see people who can't stand the thought of granting hospitality to strangers. The Talmudic literature depicts them as establishing a legal system that punishes any of its citizens who dare to care for the poor or the stranger. How did the people of Sodom become so inconsiderate and evil towards these unfortunates? If we look at the account of Lot's choice to settle in Sodom, we can learn much about the conditions of life in Sodom at that time. rtl **וַיִּשָּׂא לוֹט אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת כָּל כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן כִּי כֻלָּהּ מַשְׁקֶה לִפְנֵי שַׁחֵת ה' אֶת סְדֹם וְאֶת עֲמֹרָה כְּגַן יְהֹוָה כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בֹּאֲכָה צֹעַר: (בראשית יג, י) ** rtl Sodom was located in a beautiful, water-rich Eden, with abundant agricultural produce. Apparently this wealth and comfort of the people of Sodom, provided a very high standard of living. How did they use this great wealth? How did they treat those who didn't enjoy such wealth and comfortable living? The Prophet Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of how the People of Sodom used their wealth. rtl **הִנֵּה זֶה הָיָה עֲוֹן סְדֹם אֲחוֹתֵךְ גָּאוֹן שִׂבְעַת לֶחֶם וְשַׁלְוַת הַשְׁקֵט הָיָה לָהּ וְלִבְנוֹתֶיהָ, וְיַד עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן לֹא הֶחֱזִיקָה: (יחזקאל טז, מט) ** rtl They enjoyed their secure economic status, but refused to share it with the needy. Why didn't they agree to share their good fortune with the less fortunate? One of the Midrashim in the Talmud puts it this way: rtl **תנו רבנן אנשי סדום לא נתגאו אלא בשביל טובה שהשפיע להם הקדוש ברוך הוא... אמרו וכי מאחר שארץ ממנה יצא לחם ועפרות זהב לו למה לנו עוברי דרכים שאין באים אלינו אלא לחסרינו [מממוננו] בואו ונשכח תורת רגל מארצנו... (בבלי סנהדרין קט.) ** rtl The rich agriculture and abundant resources enjoyed by Sodom allowed them to live a luxurious, comfortable life. They so enjoyed this life that they feared that by sharing their wealth with others they would endanger their own standard of living. So they enacted cruel legislation that would prevent any strangers or poor people from even setting foot in Sodom. This sugya attributes the cruel way of life in Sodom to the greed which their wealth spawned! It was this greedy, selfish way of life, which caused Hashem to decide that Sodom had no right to continue to exist. A way of life that has no compassion for others, that refuses to share with the needy, has no right to exist, in Hashem's eyes. A way of life that has __no__ Avramic חסד והכנסת אורחים is not one worth living.  This reading of the Sodom story tells us that greed is not a new invention of the technological, global age. It existed thousands of years ago. And as Avram and his house lived a life diametrically opposed to this evil way of living, so are we his children commanded to live today.
 * וַיֹּאמֶר ה' זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי רָבָּה וְחַטָּאתָם כִּי כָבְדָה מְאֹד ** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">(בראשית יח,כ) **

Assignment 2:
Many of you have commented that greed has not changed through the centuries; rather,it has grown to accommodate the abundance of resources available to us today. Just so, Reuven has described life in Sodom centuries before Jonathan Swift's time. You differed. however, with your solutions. Some of you say there is nothing to be done. Others believe infusing more socialist ideals into our governments would help. Finally, some of you maintain that the solution lies within each and every one of us. As Reuven wrote, Avram was the antidote to the selfishness and greed of Sodom. His generosity and dedication to his fellow man gave the world a positive role model.

Post your response in the discussion. Open a **__new__** discussion for each response. Write your first name and the initials of your school in the topic bar. As Reuven wrote, Avram was the antidote to the selfishness and greed of Sodom. His generosity and dedication to his fellow man gave the world a positive role model.

1. Please name a person in your community who exemplifies Avram's behavior. Please use first names only on this site, as it is viewed by the general public.

2 Describe how this figure helps create a sense of community responsibility. What values do they uphold? How do they combat the natural tendency toward selfishness and "greed" that we have read about recently?

Looking for an idea? See what popped up in the news this week! [|ejewish philanthropy winner: Ari Teman]

=The Merchant of Venice, and Harold Bloom= Frisch has invited us to join them at the end of their study of The Merchant of Venice. While we have worked on the Ifaces 2010 project, Frisch has explored the place of the Jew in the world.

Visit the Frisch page: Traveling through Time and Space. View Shylock deliver his monologue, where he portrays the jewish plight in England, then, and perhaps today as well. Then read Harold Bloom's review of a recent book, Trials of the Diaspora, by Anthony Julius, which in part discusse the new face of anti-semitism -- anti- Israelism.

Mrs. Weiner has posted an assignment in the discussion tab on The Merchant of Venice. Read her student responses, and add your comment on Bloom's article.You may want to refer to Rav Ronen's presentation on 'antisemitism in art'.