Levi Ben-Shmuel

My latest contribution to The Huffington Post is titled, “The Month of Elul as Opportunity: Monica, Eve, and Repentance.” Elul, the current month on the Hebrew calendar, is a time of looking back to reflect on errors committed during the past year in preparation for Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins Wednesday night.

Jewish tradition believes all people go before the Creator on Rosh HaShanah, the anniversary of the creation of man, to be judged whether or not they are found worthy to be written into the Book of Life for another year.

The essence of the post explores taking responsibility for our actions in relationships. In it, I use the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and the Lewinsky/Clinton scandal to illustrate how quick so many are to blame another for our own mistakes.

If one can recognize they have made mistakes in relationships, feel remorse about them and commit not to do them again, an opening is created for a powerful and beautiful aspect of humanity to shine: forgiveness. Forgiveness cleanses the heart and leads to healing.

May we be blessed with the strength to take responsibility for our actions and the grace to be forgiven for what we have done. May we be blessed with embracing life and being a force for good in our thoughts, actions and words.

My latest on The Huffington Post. Enjoy!

My latest Huffington Post blog. Enjoy!

My latest blog on The Huffington Post is titled, “How Much is Enough? Sharing Personal Wealth When Times are Tough.” In it, I explore the question of how much, if anything, of one’s personal assets should be given to the needy in a society where there is no state or religious law obligating one to give over and above giving through paying taxes.

At the end of the post, I ask the question, “Would a movement of wealthy people publicly using their money to assist those in need create a wave of generosity that lifts this country up in miraculous ways?”

Last week, a couple of friends alerted me that Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett started a program to encourage other wealthy people to give. So far, more than three-dozen billionaires have promised to donate at least half of their fortunes to charity.

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, the giant database company, wrote regarding why he signed up, “Until now, I have done this giving quietly — because I have long believed that charitable giving is a personal and private matter. So why am I going public now? Warren Buffett personally asked me to write this letter because he said I would be ‘setting an example’ and ‘influencing others’ to give. I hope he’s right.”

My sense is Larry Ellison will not be disappointed. When people set an example, it does inspire others to go beyond perceived or real limitations.

May outpourings of tremendous generosity continue. May we built our society in a way that raises everyone up. May it be a society where more and more of the wealthy understand they have a special obligation to give back, and do so with open and compassionate hearts.