Blog Post No. 5

July 7, 1930
Einstein expresses support for creating a Jewish homeland in Peru.

Monday, July 7, 2025

Today, I realized something was wrong:

Not just with our leaders ignoring the truly catastrophic needs of humanity — climate catastrophe, poverty, health care as a basic human right, equal rights, the ever widening gap between haves and have nots, affordable housing, mental illness, educational reform, the need for more science, freedom from gun violence…

Is it inevitable that greed trumps humanity?

What was wrong with me and A Human Requiem was the constant intensity. This awareness led to a thinning out of the orchestra for movements IV, V & VI.

I am curious to see if more of less is needed.

***

A Human Requiem Mov. V

The current version, based on Domino Deus from Vivaldi’s Gloria, is scored for 

Solo violin
Solo cello
Contrabasses
Woodwinds
Brass 

Percussion, contrabassoon and piccolo rest along with section violins, violas and cellos.

***

And Ye Therefore Have Sorrow
The helpful will shed their tears and know joy.

Joy, as all things, passes.
Rather than the unreality of seeking never-ending pleasure, teachers inspired me to find purpose in service.
It is my hope that my writing and teaching help at least one person.

Judaism teaches us that though the world’s problems are too great for any one person, we are none the less needed to do our share.
I only began to feel close to Judaism when Israel was attacked on October 7, 2023.
That is not to say I approve of everything Israeli leaders do— far from it.

My sister is a therapist, my wife volunteers to comfort the dying, my cousin cared for injured animals, one of my friends donates his talent and time to giving performances and master classes in public schools. Beethoven did not take up arms… he did what he knew how to do. We can all help in some way.

As in Lincoln’s time, we need a peacemaker.

We all need to be peacemakers.