BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

By DAVID CRARY Joseph Rocha reported being cruelly hazed by Navy colleagues. Katherine Miller resigned from West Point halfway through, weary of concealing her sexual orientation. David Hall was outed by a fellow Air Force cadet and booted from the career he loved. The exits from military service were wrenching consequences of "don't ask, don't tell," the policy prohibiting gay and lesbian personnel from being open about their sexuality. Yet Hall, Rocha and Miller savored military duty and now — with "don't ask, don't tell" heading toward oblivion — they want to return. Rocha, 24, was in Washington on Wednesday, watching euphorically as President Barack Obama signed the bill clearing the way for repeal of the 17-year-old policy. Obama encouraged those who were discharged to re-enlist, and Rocha said he hopes to do just that by enrolling in the Marine Corps' Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va. "I had a rough childhood, and th

I had the good fortune to stumble on Ms. Lefave's blog a while back. Her writing on psychology & psychiatry is insightful and laser-like in cutting through the b.s. My kinda girl. She absolutely nails the "get over it" crowd -- those pathology sympathizers who think victims of emotional, psychological trauma and emotional rape are just being 'overly dramatic.' She also nails the perpetrators of the trauma who want you to A CT LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED and smear you for being angry and demanding accountability. Especially the CLUELESS therapists, life coaches and snake oil salespeople who try to treat sufferers and end up revictimizing them all over again. You Go, Ms. Lefave! By Patricia Lefave, Labeled, D.D.(P) What is L.O.A.D.? Well, it is described by many of the family members as a frightening altered state much like the hypnotic trance or brainwashed state of cult members. It tends to strike the upper classes just as much, if not more than a

by Tzvi Freeman Question: I've been getting into Torah lately. But the more I learn, the more I see how everyone around me is doing it all wrong. I don't mean the people that are not observant. I mean the people that have committed to an observant life. There's so much hypocrisy!   Answer: Don't get so excited. It's just a personality thing. You're probably one of those School of Shammai souls. Remember the story with the Talmudic sage Shammai? A man came and asked, "Convert me to Judaism on condition that you tell me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot!" Shammai chased the mocker out with a yardstick. So he went to Hillel. Hillel converted him on the spot and then told him: "That which is hateful to you, don't do to others. This is the entire Torah. The rest is commentary. Now go and learn it!" Some people tie their shoelaces a little looser. Some tie them real tight. Some let the world come in as one big blur. Others foc

It has been a true pleasure & learning experience meeting other Jewish bloggers (and friends) these last 6 years. I have learned a great deal from you on my Journey. May you, your family and those you care about be well & prosper. Now let's go kick some blog butt. - Barbara

GOYIM FRIENDS by The LeeVees (from Hanukah Rocks) All my goyim friends are making up their lists And all my goyim friends get some pretty sweet gifts Like snowboards, cell phones, paintball guns and iPods Memberships to the last restricted golf clubs But we, we will march on Six-pack of socks from each of our Moms It's oh so wrong But we will march on And all my goyim friends are eating up their ham Honey-glazed, baked to perfection With dinner rolls, gravy boats and turkey Crème brulée, cherry pie, and fruitcake (yuck) But we, we will march on With General Tsao and egg foo yong Takeout's not wrong And we will march on We have heard all of our goyim friends say How lucky we are to get off each holiday Like Tu BiSh'vat, Purim and Rosh Hashanah Passover, Sukkot and Simchat Torah And we, we have more stuff From holiday fun All the day long While they have none And we have marched on We've got the day off And another day off See ya Mond