Opinion

 What do Mr. Potato Head, Dr. Seuss, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, the Cleveland Indians, the Washington Redskins, the State of Georgia, and separate gender bathrooms all have in common? The answer is obvious: They have all fallen victim in one form or another to Cancel Culture. Society now imposes its current politically correct set of values on institutions that have been with us for decades – and even centuries. If those values don’t match the current ones, then out they go. Out go toys, books, political heroes, ball clubs, and even entire states. We don’t approve of you, so you are now canceled out of our culture.

 I make it no secret that I was and remain a supporter of former President Donald Trump. Despite his obvious personal flaws, he was the best thing ever to happen to the United States and to Israel in recent times. Nothing can prove that statement more than the shakeup in every direction brought upon by the Biden administration. We were warned that energy would go up in price due to the new administration’s war on oil-based energy, but I didn’t think it would be this fast. Have you been on the New Jersey Turnpike lately? Gas is now a shocking $2.83 a gallon. Just a few months ago it was about $2.22. That’s just one indication. No need to elaborate, as that is not the focus of this article.

 Rashi (B’reishis 34:25) explains the reason why Shimon and Levi acted in an unacceptably rash manner when they avenged the defilement of their sister Dinah at the hands of Shechem: because they did not consult beforehand with their father Yaakov. Yaakov would likely have counseled them to take pause before reacting in the violent fashion that they did. The Midrash on this pasuk goes a step further: They should have at least consulted with each other, states the Midrash.

 In 2005, Israeli TV journalist Amnon Abramovich said that we must protect Ariel Sharon “like an esrog.” Ariel (Arik) Sharon had always been an anathema to the Israeli left. He was, after all, a hawk who was the main driver behind the settlement movement. He pushed especially for the settlement of Gush Katif, which flourished for many years thanks to his encouragement. He was an aggressive military hero in his campaign during the Yom Kippur War and brought the IDF deep into Lebanon during Menachem Begin’s time. In short: He stood for everything the left was against.

 About ten years ago, I toured a duck farm on Long Island. This farm raised ducks from hatchlings until ready for slaughter. The OU used this farm for duck sh’chitah, so I thought it would be interesting to visit, even though I was not at all involved in sh’chitah.

I have been on the phone with my daughter in Houston this week. The situation there is bizarre beyond words. Houston this time of year is usually either somewhat chilly, at about 40 degrees, or in the 70s. Right now, it is about 16 degrees, with streets frozen and power cut off. Largely, the power outage is due to the eco-friendly, electricity-producing windmills freezing. No power, no heat. This is expected to remain for a few days. Scary.