Parashat VaYechi 5783, Favoritism vs. Family Mental Health, and The Common Good

        This week’s parashah is VaYechi, the 12th and final portion of Bereshit/Genesis, and first Torah portion of the secular year 2023 CE/ 12023 HE.  In this parashah, Joseph swears to bury his father up north, gets the double inheritance, promises not to kill his brothers for what they did to him, and then, dies, after making them swear to bury his bones up north, some time in the future.  Once again, we see the effects of favoritism, jealousy, and rigid inheritance rules on family relationships, and how harmful this can all be.   Here is another reason that long term planning and access to basic survival and equal health care resources for everyone is essential to the democratic process, right?

     The common good requires both rule of law and an acceptance by all to refrain from taking personal vendettas to their individually desired conclusions, while trusting in a system of justice that will both resolve existing cases of injustice, and also prevent future wrongs.  This makes favoritism bad both for the general welfare in terms of law and order, and also for public mental and even physical health, due to both fear and threat of violence, as well as the public health menaces which are increased when sanitation, food and water access, and other services are disrupted by ongoing lawlessness.   When a family, especially a ruling or powerful family, does not set the best example for the common good of all without distinction, society degrades into a set of competing groups which then prevents all of us from solving common problems together in a more efficient way for everyone.  Thus, the difference that Joseph shows us between justice (as he got a double portion) and vengeance (as he refrained from taking revenge on his brothers) set an example for later society.    Even if his taking of the land and persons of Egypt were less than just, some progress takes longer…

   Last year we looked at this portion, Parashat VaYechi, from the point of view of Endings.

     Last week was  Parashat VaYigash 5783, Land vs. Public Health, and Tightening Belts.

     While there are many ways to help increasing empathy,  Language Learning as a Fourth Tool for Empathy Building is both fascinating and practical.

     Empathy building is a crucial task, particularly in our contentious society today.  The task is tiring, and cannot be done all at once, but with careful planning, education, and greater cooperation between the generations, it can be done.

     Let’s Do Better.

–

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic College Algebra & GED/HiSET Night School Lesson Plans,

           or My Nonfiction  & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading and sharing about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Parashat VaYigash 5783, Land vs. Public Health, and Tightening Belts

       In this week’s parashah, Vayigash, the 11th in the Torah and last of the secular year 2022 CE/ 12022 HE, Joseph ends freedom and begins the slide toward feudalism by taking ownership of almost all of the land in Egypt in exchange for releasing the stored grain to the very farmers who had planted and harvested it, but lacked storage space.  See why long term planning and access to basic survival and equal health care resources for everyone is essential to the democratic process?

   Last year we mentioned R. Hillel‘s comment on responsibility   .

     Last week, we looked at reverse engineering solutions to prevent famine, in Parashat Miketz 5783, Famine Prevention as Public Health, and More Dreams:

While there are many ways to help increasing empathy,  Language Learning as a Fourth Tool for Empathy Building is both fascinating and practical.

Empathy building is a crucial task, particularly in our contentious society today.  The task is tiring, and cannot be done all at once, but with careful planning, education, and greater cooperation between the generations, it can be done.

Let’s Do Better.

–

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic College Algebra & GED/HiSET Night School Lesson Plans,

           or My Nonfiction  & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading and sharing about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Legal and Health Sciences Learning on GED/HiSET Lesson Plan Day 42/67, and Why Words are Important

Understanding health/life sciences,  distinctions between meanings of the same word, and local legal details, on Day 42/67: Five Month GED, “Discrete What?” & Health Terminology includes being able to tell apples from oranges, and knowing where to find up to date answers.  The local public library is there to help.

Photo by RP Photography on Pexels.com

  Free access to Public Legal Education, as part of Phase I’s Public Financial Knowledge Infrastructure section, in Project Do Better, is an integral part of the sets of learning needed for all adults, and the project has several free handouts available on the topic for all interested persons, especially volunteers wishing to share the information with others.  Please ask for details or updates.

Shira

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector & Sihirli Annem,  Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,

           or Long Range Nonfiction, or Historical Fiction Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Parashat Miketz 5783, Famine Prevention as Public Health, and More Dreams

This parashah, Joseph sees more dreams, but not his.  The ruler of the land has two dreams which Joseph is wise enough to both interpret and plan for, long term.  His long term plans prevent a major famine, at least in Egypt, and thus also prevent the knock-on health menaces often associated with famines.  Need I add that long term planning and access to full health care for everyone is essential?

Last year, we looked at engineering,    in  Parashat MiKetz, and Reverse Engineering.    

Empathy starts to be heard, sort of, in this parashah, the 10th in the Torah.   What do you think, Thoughtful Readers?

While there are many ways to help increasing empathy,  Language Learning as a Fourth Tool for Empathy Building is both fascinating and practical.

Empathy building is a crucial task, particularly in our contentious society today.  The task is tiring, and cannot be done all at once, but with careful planning, education, and greater cooperation between the generations, it can be done.

Let’s Do Better.

–

Last week was Parashat Vayeshev 5783, Family Mental Health, and Jealous Brothers  …

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic College Algebra & GED/HiSET Night School Lesson Plans,

           or My Nonfiction  & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading and sharing about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Parashat Vayeshev 5783, Family Mental Health, and Jealous Brothers

This parashah looks at Joseph’s jealous brothers, and Tamar’s husband’s jealous brother(s), and the results of both situations.  Need I say that this parashah points up the need to look carefully at how hierarchy, inheritance, and jealousy affects the most vulnerable among us?  It also underlines the need for full access to that mental health care for everyone.

Last year, we looked at Parashat Vayeshev, and Knowing Your Rights  (which is how Tamar saved herself…),   

while

the previous year, 5781, we turned away from this, the 9th Torah portion.

Etz Chaim

Empathy screams to be heard in this parashah, the 9th in the Torah.   What do you think, Thoughtful Readers?

While there are many ways to help increasing empathy,  Language Learning as a Fourth Tool for Empathy Building is both fascinating and practical.

Empathy building is a crucial task, particularly in our contentious society today.  The task is tiring, and cannot be done all at once, but with careful planning, education, and greater cooperation between the generations, it can be done.

Let’s Do Better.

–

Last week was:  Parashat VaYishlach 5783, Women’s Mental Health, and Generational Trauma …

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic College Algebra & GED/HiSET Night School Lesson Plans,

           or My Nonfiction  & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading and sharing about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Please Vote For The Good of All, on GED/HiSET Lesson Plan Day 35/67

      My thoughts on Day 35/67, 5 Month GED, FDR’s New Deal , and Pro-Bono Legal Aide at the end of week 9 of 18 , are on the importance of voting.   Now, more than ever, is the time not to give in:  we have come too far to lose all of the work of the past.

Probono legal aid, understanding both mathematical logic and how to apply social and evidential logic to situations and ideas,

Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com

mask wearing, and finding updated and accurate information,

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

are all crucial in the voting process, and

   

   Voting in the current midterms, more than ever,  is crucial to our republic, and to our future.

Shira

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector & Sihirli Annem,  Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,

           or Long Range Nonfiction, or Historical Fiction Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Please Vote, on GED/HiSET Lesson Plan Day 34/67

      My thoughts on Day 34/67 of GED in Five Months, circles, and Flu-Safe Homes?, middle of week 9 of 18 , are on the importance of voting.   

Construction of circles and triangles,

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

mask wearing, and applying logic to ideas, are all crucial in the voting process, and

   

   Voting in the upcoming midterms, more than ever,  is crucial to our republic, and to our future.

Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com

Shira

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector & Sihirli Annem,  Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,

           or Long Range Nonfiction, or Historical Fiction Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Parashat Re’eh, and Self Health Care

 

Parashat Re’eh / פרשת רְאֵה

 

I taught a class on this parashah at the DC Beit Midrash, some years ago, as a follow up to the previous year’s class on a different parashah.   Since I schedule my posts ahead, I will be away (mostly) from the internet all weekend, concentrating on clearing paper notes from my desk for my own mental health. 

May we all find healthy and inclusive community.

I will be taking off tomorrow, so our usual Sunday GED class post will resume next week.

Last week was: Parashat Eikev (עֵקֶב) 5782, and Carrots And Sticks  ;

Action Items:

1.) Share your thoughts on how community can help, or hinder, inclusive thinking,

Shira

 

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Sihirli Annem,  Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,

           or Long Range Nonfiction, or Historical Fiction Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS

 

 

ShiraDest

Shira Destinie Jones’ work licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Why Health Care and Science Education Matter

I was shocked that anyone might not know what CO was: So this is what educational priv. looks like, and why Science Ed Matters?

And this is why Health Care, as a Human Right, matters.

Thanks for the local investigative reporting, NPR and ProPublica.

Shira

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector,  Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews

Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,

           or Long Range Nonfiction, or Historical Fiction Writing

Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS

Shira

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Parashat Emor / פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר, What Authority Stands For

     This week’s Torah portion,  Emor,  is the 31st (31/54 or 52, depending on the year: this year, it’s 54…) reading in the annual cycle, and the 8th parashah in the book of Vayikra/Leviticus.

   This portion ( Leviticus 21:1-24:23 ) has examples of a central authority and their expected behavior, not to mention their care and feeding, and the representative structure of their authority:  the Mishkan (aka The Tabernacle).  The parashah also details some of the use of that authority for gathering purposes, and an example of the enforcement of said authority.

    Several thousand years, and a new nation, ago, such hierarchies were not uncommon ways of establishing the rule of law.  Common laws and norms, indeed, are necessary for us to live together.  But, now that we have advanced to the point where most (%90 of males,    & 82.7 of females, per UNESCO as of 2019),  human beings are literate, perhaps such trappings around the rule of law are less needed.

         What do you think our world could look like if every one of us learned, taught, and followed the empathetic rule of law? 

     I look forward to hearing your opinions on this matter, Thoughtful Readers.

We can really  Do Better.

-Shira   

 

     Last week was: Parashat Kedoshim, What Torah Stands Upon ,

Action Prompts:

    Share your thoughts on how to build buy-in create a more equal, or at least less inequitable, society, please.   Writing, by the way, is my personal contribution to Project Do Better. 

What would yours be, if you had time?

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Click here to read, if you like:

B5, Hakan:Muhafiz/The Protector, Lupin, or La Casa De Papel/Money Heist Reviews,

Holistic High School Lessons,

           or Long Range Plans, & Historical Fiction Serial Writing

 

Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BsCs

Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.