By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Hanukkah ( in Modern Hebrew, also romanized as Chanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE, Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. - Source: Wikipedia
A disagreement over the ownership of a set of Torah finial bells from Colonial times that is worth millions has led to dueling lawsuits between leaders of the nation's first Jewish congregation and the nation's oldest synagogue.
For weeks, my 4-year-old son has been admiring the presents (especially his own) under our Christmas tree. He's also been wondering what's in his stocking hung over the fireplace.
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee recently incited a controversy in his state over an unlikely issue -- what to call the large decorated evergreen tree in the Statehouse. Mr. Chafee insists that the blue spruce is a "holiday tree," suggesting that calling the official tree a "Christmas tree" would be akin to requiring schoolchildren to pray.
At last, some Hollywood news of interest: silver screen conservative Jon Voight is likely to take on a meaty role as a Soviet agent in "Reagan," an upcoming $35 million independent production backed by an unapologetic, determined team of creatives, including producer Ralph Winter, a force behind the "X-Men" film series, plus Mark Joseph, a producer associated with "The Passion of the Christ" and "The Chronicles of Narnia."
For decades, many Americans have lamented the commercialization of Christmas. It's the theme of countless TV shows and movies that have a well-meant core message against excessive materialism.
It hasn't been an easy year, decade or early century for organized religion. Books by atheists proliferate, some meaner than others. Fewer men and women attend church or synagogue services.
The following list represents the most viral tracks on Spotify, based on the number of people who shared it divided by the number who listened to it, from Monday, Dec. 10, to Sunday, Dec. 16, via Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Spotify.
Religious people aren't asking for laws to abridge others' free speech, but we should expect that our leaders will help shape the public conversation toward an authentic respect for believers, God and the sacred symbols by which we worship. Our American tradition demands as much.
Only four days remain for Hanukkah, which ends on the evening of Dec. 16. After that, it's only nine days until Christmas (except for many Orthodox Christians, who will celebrate on Jan. 7). Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26.
Jews around the world ushered in the eight-day Hanukkah festival Saturday evening, lighting the first candles of ceremonial lamps that symbolize triumph over oppression.
The nice thing about cooking a monster brisket for Hanukkah — aside, of course, from the fact that the meat can be mouth-meltingly delicious — is that it is a dish you can mostly ignore as it cooks.
With the recent conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as background, the music by Matisyahu, the Grammy-nominated Jewish reggae singer, is all the more poignant.
Holidays may be particularly painful — even disastrous — for the parents and children of divorce.
Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 8 operating system, which debuted at retail at the end of October, is, at best, an acquired taste. Should you chow down until you like it or should your response be the same as the famous toddler confronting a plate of greens in an old "New Yorker" magazine cartoon: "I say it's broccoli and I say the hell with it!"
An unusual speculation on the election outcome emanates from a small campus in Buffalo, N.Y.: agitated America could end up with President Mitt Romney and Vice President Joseph R. Biden, insist Canisius College political science professors Michael Haselswerdt, a Democrat, and Kevin Hardwick, a Republican. The race is so close that there's a viable chance that the presidential candidates could split the electoral votes evenly, 269-269.
