When will hospitals begin making themselves healthy places to visit?

(Or, at least acknowledge publicly, like Beth Israel Hospital - Boston, that the problem is real and that BI, unlike many other hospitals, is beginning to face it head-on!)

Check out our website for 10 suggestions how hospitals can be made healthier for patients:

10 Ways to Make Hospitals Healthier Places

(Let's Reduce Hospital Infections!)



Celebrating 353 Years


of Jews in America

Celebrating 353 Years


of Jews in America


Chazak Ve-ematz
“be strong and resolute”

(Moses’ words to Joshua in Deut. 31:7)






The Ten Commandments




See below, Michael Alan Ross' original historical poem,


Zionists


Considering the 10th Commandment,
Don't covet!




Now available!


The Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook

6 Self-Guided Walking/Bicycling Jewish Boston History Tours

Covers Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge

Softcover 198 pages with maps & b/w photos

Print out this
Book Order Form
to ordernow!



Now available!


The Ten Commandments Guidebook

Ways to Self-Struggle with Classic Morals

In Song, Poetry, and Prose

Covers 10 Commandments Plus One Other!

Softcover 153 pages with practical suggestions pages!

Print out this
Book Order Form
to order now!











Boston Walks Publishers presents


The original historical poem,


Zionists


From the New


The Ten Commandments Guidebook


With


Spiritual and practical ways
to self-struggle
with our Ten Commandments





Copyright © Michael Alan Ross, 2004-2007.
All Rights Reserved.















Can a post-denominational, American Jew elucidate both spiritual and practical ways to self-struggle with our traditional Jewish faith in God?

Michael Alan Ross uses his creative poetry, prose, and lyrics to construct modern midrashim and piyyutim, prosaic and poetic commentaries to meet such a challenge.


Mr. Ross has the chutzpah, audacity, to look anew at some of our Jewish texts and experiences.

As a modern, post-denominational, committed, American Jew, he seeks meaningful ways to struggle with our Jewish texts, rituals, good deeds, and beliefs. In his newly published, The Ten Commandments Guidebook, he offers many such ways. He also is author of BostonWalks' The Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook - 6 Self-guided Jewish History Walk Tours of Downtown Boston. Here is an example of his orginal historical poem, Zionists which considers the 10th Commandment, Don't covet, in the following verses:






Zionists

© Michael Alan Ross 2004-2007. All rights reserved.



Jewish nationalism replayed among pogroms and tears,
From Tsarist sponsored massacres and Jewish fears,
From Nazi barbarism and Holocaust years,
Jews arose en masse to reclaim what was theirs,
Their Israel, their holy land, their contract with God.


While Jews had been scattered, some always remained,
Teachers, students, farmers, peasants on the Land,
Hoping and Praying for a Messianic command,
To rebuild King Solomon's Temple,
To restart the temple rites,
To retread to Jerusalem as pilgrims,
To re-covenant with holiness,


It was secular Jews who led the return,
Herzl, Weizmann, Brandeis, Jabotinsky,
Ben Gurion, Meir, Dizengoff and many others,
Who courageously demanded this place for Jews.


Centuries had not dampened hopes.
For millennia, Jews had prayed toward Jerusalem.
Centuries had not dampened charity.
For millennia, monies had been sent to the Land.


In face of murders, expulsions, rapes, and tortures,
Jews bore all with prayers to God,
Saying we are a nation, a people with laws,
Aren't we to be blessed on our own sod,
As neighbors with others who also were there,
Jews, Christians, Arabs, Druze, Bedouins,
In a democratic endeavor to live without fear,
Sharing the pears, oranges, olives and lemons?


Some did agree to be good neighbors.
Others saw Jews as intruders rather than returnees.
Jews tried to make peace whenever attacked.
It was hard to turn Arab animosity and mythology back.


In the 20s and 30s, Arabs attacked mercilessly.
In the 40s and 50s, Arab nations joined in.
Let's wipe out the Jews, their leaders decree,
Then the Middle East will be Jew free!


Jews fought harder for their nation,
Losing so many lives,
To be allowed to live free,
On one small piece of land.


In the 60s and 70s, Arab nations attacked again.
Again, Jews fought back vigorously.
What choice did they have?
With so many dead, bittersweet was Jewish victory.


In the 80s and 90s, Arabs returned to terrorism.
It was like the 20s and 30s once more.
Similarly, Jews again offered to share,
One small piece of land, Jews so wanted to be fair.


22 Arab nations and millions of Arabs,
Still begrudging Jews a miniscule home,
Argue Jews are usurpers, not natives like them,
Ignore reality that both were here before.


Jews still are willing to share their small space,
But won't tolerate Arabs disdaining their race.
If Jews accept Arabs why can't Arabs accept Jews?
Isn't it past time to meet together face-to-face?


Why can't Arabs also accept their brothers and sisters?
How much land Arabs could share with each other?
Saudi Arabia alone could invite so many to partake,
Of its vast riches of money and sandbake.


Jews chose democracy based on their texts.
Torah and Talmud advise to choose the best.
Jews chose nationhood with their brit.
Morality under God, that's the best writ.


Jews aren't going anywhere.
Israel is their home.
Their strength and compassion will continue to loom,
Over anguish and despair.


The people of Israel have traveled everywhere,
But only one place was where they were born.
With their lives and their Torah,
The people of Israel will live on.







Midrashim and Piyyutim


Mr. Ross' prose and poetry about Jewish texts, his prosaic warm memories of family life, and his lyrical voicing of social concerns can be called by the Hebrew words piyyutim and midrashim, poems and commentaries, which offer uplifting, spiritual and, sometimes, challenging interpretations.
In addition, Mr. Ross frequently offers many suggestions for the reader to consider in struggling with such texts as well as suggestions for good deeds. Mr. Ross' The Ten Commandments Guidebook, ISBN 0970082525, is available for purchase online by clicking here Online Print-out The Ten Commandments Guidebook Order Form. The Guidebook also is for sale in selected bookstores such as Kolbo Fine Judaica and Israel Book Shop in Boston/Brookline. It also can be purchased in multiple copies for Hebrew, day school, and adult classes directly from the publisher. The Ten Commandments Guidebook, ISBN 0970082525, by Michael Alan Ross, BostonWalks Publishers 2004. In paperback, 153 pages, list price: $19.95 (Wholesale purchase of 12 or more copies available at 40% discount.). Contact information: BostonWalks Publishers, 50 Grove St., Belmont MA 02478, email: bostonwalks@hotmail.com, telephone: 617-489-5020.






Have you clicked on these other, on-line selections from Michael Alan Ross' new,
The Ten Commandments Guidebook?




Click on some of these other BostonWalks sites!



For further information, email BostonWalks directly

BostonWalks
or telephone us at: 617-489-5020.



Links to Boston and New England





Now available!


The Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook

6 Self-Guided Walking/Bicycling Jewish Boston History Tours

Covers Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge

Softcover 198 pages with maps & b/w photos

Print out this
Book Order Form
to ordernow!



Now available!


The Ten Commandments Guidebook

Ways to Self-Struggle with Classic Morals

In Song, Poetry, and Prose

Covers 10 Commandments Plus One Other!

Softcover 153 pages with practical suggestions pages!

Print out this
Book Order Form
to order now!









"West End House" circa 2004
Begun by 35 Jewish boys in 1903!
Click here to connect with more of
Boston's Best!















Chazak Ve-ematz
be strong and resolute

(Moses words to Joshua in Deut. 31:7)









What's happened to intelligent, satirical, song lyrics?
Here are two worthy songs:



BostonWalks

Integrating the urban, modern Jewish American city experience with its historical sites and themes in such locales as Boston, MA, Portland, ME, East Bay and Providence, RI, and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, NYC.



Isn't it time to make unhealthy hospitals history?

Here's ten ways to reduce hospital infections!



How do you imagine the relationship between freedom and responsibility within a democracy?

Check out this poetic interpretation:


In Defense of Liberty and Democracy, Freedom and Responsibility


considering the parasha of the week, Yitro.




Isn't it time to Attract Middle Class Families Back into Our Cities?

Here's 10 Ways to bring middle-class families back into cities like NYC:


10 Ways to Bring Middle Class Families Back into New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and other Cities


considering the best of the suburban paradigm for our large cities.




Are you curious about what are some of the ethical reasons for single-payer universal health care insurance?


10 Moral Reasons for One Payer Universal Health Care Insurance for America


in light of Hillel's If I'm only for myself, what am I?




When was the last time you really laughed?



We're featuring good Jewish jokes!
Check out this month's featured humor
by clicking here!

We know that there are other belly laughs our there.
Email us at bostonwalks@hotmail.com with your contribution!