We've all heard of identity theft. But what about identity fraud? 

Someone recently shared with me a recent story of an individual who created an entire history of himself as a college football player. It was only found out because of some other incident he was involved in. I wonder how many of us create false personas for ourselves? How many of us live lives created out of fraud and never really expose our true selves? Perhaps so many of us do this because it is so hard and confusing to know who we really are? What is my identity?

Most things are able to be identified by what they do. For example a pen is clearly an ink writing instrument. True, it could be used for other things but that wouldn't be its optimal purpose. One could use it as a q-tip and it would clean the ear out, perhaps even of things meant to stay in the ear but clearly it was made to write. That is its purpose and its identity. Human beings as well can be identified by what they do. Every human being is by nature a pleasure seeker. Every decision we ever make will be based primarily on what we believe will ultimately give us more pleasure. That is clearly our purpose and identity as a human. However that only helps define who I am in regards to what species I belong to. That doesn't help me with my own individual identity. This is where it becomes confusing. This is because we have become accustomed to identifying ourselves as individuals as well by what we do rather than by who we are. I am a rabbi. I am a teacher. I am a doctor. I am a lawyer etc. What happens when we no longer are doing these functions? I recently met with a 72 year old man who was having a "mid-life" crisis. His profession was one that is extremely physical in nature and he was no longer capable of performing. He was lost. He had no identity outside of his former proffesion.

If you ask people to point to themsevles most often they point to their heart. Where would a person point if they had a heart transplant? What about a person who had a face transplant? It is only a matter of time before we are able to perform brain transplants and insert our memories and personalities via computer chips into that brain. Where would we point to then? Judaism says our individual identity comes from our soul. It is not relegated to our bodies. Our soul is not only what makes us unique as humans it was makes us each special as individuals.

There are actually five levels of our soul. The base level soul, often referred to as the animal soul is what creates desire for any physical need. Because the soul has no relation to time this desire is always urgent. When we are hungry we must eat now. When we are standing in line in the market and gravity pulls on our physical body we must get out of this line now!

The fourth level soul is where we have the ability to direct and control these urges. This is where free will comes in. This is the soul that distinguishes us from animals. The urges of the fifth level soul are not bad as long as they are not what leads us in our decisions. Without the existence of the fifth level soul we would never take care of our bodies. With nothing but the fifth level soul we would become like animals merely allowing every physical urge turn into an action. Left unbridled the fifth level soul would force each of us to remain children regardless of our age. It is the fourth level soul that allows us to grow and mature.

The third level soul is an even higher level of conciousness. This is where intellect and wisdom come in. It is here where we have the ability to learn and understand life. It is this level of consciousness that gives us meaning and the ability to choose happiness.

The second level soul is that essence of our being that is distinct from every other person. This soul is what gives each of us our unique purpose for existince. Why did I come into this world? There is some purpose that I am here to fulfill that no other human being can achieve. 

And the final soul is that part of us that is absolutely pure of all self. The only desire is to connect with the Infinite Being that created the soul, to reunite the spark with the Source.

It is the combination of all five levels united with the body that makes up our identity. We are not just souls nor bodies rather we are a combination of body and soul. The rabbis compare our existence to a horse and rider. Neither one is complete without the other. The rider can not get where he needs to without the horse and the horse has nowhere to go without a rider. The body is what allows us to experience life. With that life we can attain pleasure which is what we all seek. However we must take care of the body. In order to do that we must function as a responsible human being. This is what we do with our lives. This is not the purpose of our lives. Our purpose is to seek the ultimate pleasure. What we do in this world is an integral part of that purpose and our identity however it is not the sum of our being. What we do allows us to function and create the platform for which we can grow, live and achieve pleasure. 

What I do is not who I am.

Every year Time, CNN and other media publications put together lists of the most significant events of the past year. Sometimes these lists are nothing more than a compilation of notoriety  and have little to do with actual significance and impact on human history. Just because something is known or unknown isn't always the barometer of its importance to history. On the contrary, the more sensationalized an event is often is an indicator of how little it matters to our lives.

This week on the Jewish calendar we commemorate an event in human history that must be according to all logic the single most important event to ever happen, with the exception of the first human coming to life. This week is a less known major holiday called Shavuos; the day that God spoke to the world. Upon leaving Egypt, the Jewish people travelled through the desert to Mount Sinai. Unlike the depiction in Cycil B Demille's great film; The Ten Commandments, God then spoke to the entire nation! An entire nation heard God speak. Just think of the importance of that statement. There are millions, if not billions, of dollars being spent on simply listening to the galaxies. Just listening, waiting to hear something other than white noise. Should some form of sound be heard that is clearly artificial, and not just the natural noise of matter, the world would become mesmerized. We would be obsessed with knowing where did it come from? What does it mean? Why was it sent? The questions would go on. And this is even if the sound was entirely indecipherable. This is even if the sound wasn't even meant for us, it could have been unintentionally received. Now imagine if the actual Creator of the Universe intentionally spoke to His creation.

A colleague of mine told the following parable. A group is sitting in the middle of a large warehouse under a single exposed light bulb. Each one begins to discuss why they are there. One says, we were put here to be storage boxes, we have a door and open space inside. Another one says, no, we are more than storage spaces, we are a cooling unit for our inside is considerably colder than the outside. Finally a door at the end of the warehouse opens, flooding the space with light and a man walks in. He tells the group that he is from GE, informs the group that they are refrigerators and they have the power to create ice. 

We all walk through life with so much doubt. What is life about? What am I living for? Can I truly be happy? If the Creator of the Universe not only spoke to us but gave us the secrets of the Universe than we should be able to spin this world on our fingertips. We can create much more than ice; we can create life. Not just the act of procreation but life beyond the physical. We can create ourselves into great human beings. We can create a world filled with unity. We can change the world. Simply because God said we can.

On the holiday of Shavuot we remember that God spoke to the world and told us what life is all about. There can be no greater event in human history than that. And even the atheist would have to acknowledge that if there was a God, and He told us how to live our lives and that we can achieve greatness with His help then there is absolutely nothing that we can't accomplish.

this blog is in the merit of Shoshana Rachel bas Elimelech

A few months ago an 82 year old man in Oregon made national news for wearing a sign around his neck stating that he was looking for a wife. He even wrote a short description and a clarification that this was not a joke. In some ways wouldn't it be refreshing if people were more like this man being honest and open about what they were looking for when dating? Instead we all seem to play this game of trying to attract others and be attractive in ways that seem to be contrary to what we wish to find. How often do women lament that men are only interested in one thing? Men also complain that so many women are just seeking a guy with a lot of money and success. Yet ironically, women go out of their way to be physically attractive and often sexual when hoping to be noticed by a guy. Men as well will be concerned about things that make them look successful when pursuing a woman. We seem to play this game and resent the situation at the same time. We would much rather prefer that relationships were based on much more profound elements of attraction and not on less meaningful desires and needs.

The truth is that neither is correct. Both elements are absolutely necessary. The reason that we are uncomfortable with the game is because it is misunderstood and often left to be viewed as the sole attraction. However without them the human element of desire and attraction are missing in relationships. This idea of attraction was present at the very beginning of relationships. The Talmud states that God made Eve beautiful by "braiding" her hair when she was created and then brought her to Adam. The Torah is telling us that the very initial spark of male-female relationships needs to begin with an element of physical attraction. However the relationship is not meant to end there but rather build through much more profound and substantive factors. Therefore the Torah informs us that they were to share common goals and values. It is this healthy balance of both physical attraction combined with positive character that makes for successful attraction in a relationship. This is why according to Judaism a woman is supposed to make herself attractive for her husband. 

The same is true in the reverse. The assumption on men's part that a women is merely looking for a man with money is based on a similar misunderstanding of attraction. According to Jewish law a man is obligated to provide financially for his wife. A man is required to be a responsible individual. Success is sometimes a mistaken indicator of that ability.

These elements of attraction are problematic when they become the sole basis of a relationship. If a man is merely attracted to a woman because of her appearance or a woman to a man because of his ability to allow her to indulge herself with gifts then there is nowhere for that relationship to grow. And even though he might be able to maintain his ability to provide it is certain that her looks will change. What happens then? If the relationship is built on shared goals and values and complimented by the game of attraction then it can flourish.

This game when understood properly is what helps keep a relationship alive and fresh. A theme that is extremely common in love stories is all about the conquest, the challenge. The story of one person, usually the man, getting the other to say yes. One of the reasons these stories are so appealing is because this is a reality. The tragedy is that the message taken from is that there is merely one conquest and then the challenge is done. The truth is that process must continue. There needs to be this continuous effort on both to win the others love. With each victory the relationship gets stronger and stronger. In order to achieve this the game of attraction must continue to be played. On the man's side gestures and overtures of love and desire must be displayed on a continuous basis to let her know that he is still desirous of her and loves her. And the woman needs to make a continued effort to make herself attractive to her husband if nothing more than to keep his eyes on her.

So realize as you dress yourselves up and enter into this game, as long as we are playing for the right victory there is no need to hate the players nor the rules. On the contrary the rules are there precisely because of how sweet the end game can be. 

We all have insecurities. Some greater then others. I was discussing this just last week with someone very dear to me. I mentioned to him that the person who can stand in front of thousands of people has the same insecurity as the one who'd be petrified of such a situation. Being in front of all those people, exposed like that would be so intimidating to the latter. However the one on stage would say the exact opposite; on stage he is in control of what is being exposed and how close people can get. The notion of an intimate setting is far more threatening to such a person. Both individuals are afraid and insecure of some level of intimacy. I don't recall exactly how we came about discussing this topic but the circumstances of our being together was ripe for heavy soul bearing with each other. Last Sunday my dear friend Rabbi Mike Stern and his wife Denise lost their twelve year old daughter Shoshie in a tragic car accident. How does one comfort someone from such pain? I did not know, so I flew to Florida to simply be there and let them know that I love them deeply. 

I never had the fortune of getting to know Shoshie but everything that is known and becoming more known, clearly demonstrates she was a very special young lady. There have already been many articles written about her as well as a beauttful memorial website. Additionally, her brief life and sudden loss have impacted so many to take on serious meaningful life commitments. My sixteen year old daughter received an email just yesterday encouraging her to take on a mitzvah in Shoshie's merit from a camp friend in England! However, while I was there for a few days I was also moved deeply by something else.

We all know the notion that when we see someone else's struggles we realize that ours are not so difficult. Yet it is an entirely different lesson when we witness how great people go through those challenges. I went to Florida along with so many others to show my love and support. The truth is that we all ended up being lifted and held by the Sterns. The strength and dignity that not only Mike and Denise displayed but their children as well was profound. From the very beginning of the ordeal, Denise had the fortitude to show concern about the drivers state of being. Upon hearing that it was not a result of drunk or reckless driving she beseeched the officer to inform the driver that he shouldn't let this ruin his life with guilt. Mike stood in front of the thousand people attending Shoshie's funeral and earnestly informed us all that he was privileged to have had Shoshie in their life for these past twelve years. This continued throughout the entire funeral and shiva. Each one of us that came ended up being the ones comforted. What struck me most though was something else; the overwhelming outpouring of love.

When the little boy from Brooklyn was taken and brutally murdered the entire Jewish world mourned. There was a worldwide response of love and support as a result of that heinous act. This was something different. This was not a response to an attack against us or some unbelievable abnormality, this was a tragic accident that sadly does happen occasionally and yet the response felt similiar. As I watched the Stern family it became clear to me why.

In Pirke Avos it states: "Who is honored? The one that honors others". The Sterns have a gift of not only caring about the countless people that have walked into their home but making sure that each and everyone of them knows that they are loved. Mike and Denise see no denominations nor distinctions, only people created in the image of Hashem and deserving of our love and concern. It is no wonder that the funeral and shiva were filled with a spectrum of people ranging from Belzer Chassidim to tye-dye tzi-tzis wearing individuals to the most unafilliated. Each one of them came as a result of the tremendous love they had for the Sterns. This ability to show our love is one of our greatest insecurities. We are all too often afraid to let those dearest to us know how we feel about them. We hide within self imposed walls that trap in our emotions and lock out those close to us. This very insecurity is what prevents us from seeing Hashem's love for us. Mike and Denise clearly have the ability to knock down those walls not only with their guests but with their children. It is no surprise that Mike calls his organization Rabbi Without Walls. His ability to break down any emotional barriers are what enabled Rabbi Goldberg from Boca Raton to exclaim that this was the first time all three distinct Boca Raton communities came together as one. The overwhelming outpouring of love is because of the tremendous love the Sterns have for everyone else.

Mike commented at Shoshie's funeral how at a mere twelve years old she got it. She figured out what life was all about. I'm sorry Mike, you're wrong. You figured it out! You and Denise figured out that life is so simple, just live with the reality that Hashem loves you and share that love with all those around you. Not to be scared of being hurt or rejected. To allow ourselves to experience the greatest of all traits, to be like God, loving everyone regardless of classification. To be close and open with those dear to you before it is to late. Because you two figured it out, all of your amazing children got it as well. Now hopefully some of us will too. Thank you.

The ability to discern and understand distinctions is one of the first steps to wisdom. As we grow our ability to fine tune these distinctions helps us get to the essence of who we are and how we live. Differences though are only meaningful when viewed in contrast to similarities. For example to discribe a person as not being a girrafe is not very insightful. It is only when we compare that person to other people that we begin to see meaningful distinctions. If we could find a person's twin and then explain how they are different we would have exposed the very essence of who each one is individually and what makes them unique. This is demonstrated in the Torah when Jacob dressed up as Esav. Prior to that point the distinctions between the two were very external and somewhat superficial. Esav was red and hairy and Jacob was not. Jacob was a sheperd while Esav was a hunter. It is only when Jacob disguised himself as Esav and they externally looked alike that the Torah gives us insight as to what really distinguishes Jacob from Esav. The Torah states, quoting Isaac their father, "the voice is the voice of Jacob while the hands are the hands of Esav". Jacob's essence is through his words, through his ability to articulate his thoughts and wisdom while Esav is interested in conquering and building.

This same process can help us understand what Passover is all about and the true essence of freedom. There is an extreme similarity that exists between freedom and slavery. This is apparent with the central symbol of Passover; the matzoh. Isn't it incredibly ironic that the way we celebrate freedom is by eating the bread of slavery and affliction? Granted we would want to acknowledge the experience of slavery during our celebration to ensure we maintain the proper appreciation. Nonetheless, shouldn't the eating of the bitter herbs on the seder night alone suffice? Why not simply eat the matzoh on that first night with the marror and the remainder of the holiday indulge in the rich fluffy leavened challahs? However, the truth is that the matzoh is the very symbol of freedom. This can clearly be seen by the fact that we are required to lean when we eat the matzoh in contrast to the eating of the bitter herbs. How can matzoh be both the reminder of slavery as well as an expression of freedom?

The movie Shawshank Redemption shows us just how slavery and freedom appear almost identical. The character Andy Dufrane is wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his wife yet remains quite free from the confines of prison. Morgan Freeman's Red on the other hand is truly enslaved by the institutionalized existence even though he has established an ability to bypass the rules and regulations. In one very poignant scene Andy is placed in isolation and explains that it was the easiest time yet because he had his "music" with him. His music was his connection to his identity and awareness that he defines who he is and no external limitations can take that away. That is real freedom; the ability to not allow external forces nor our egos to dictate who we are.

In Chapters of the Fathers it states that there is no free person other than one that is involved in the Torah. On the surface this seems quite strange since the Torah mandates every aspect of our lives. If Freedom is the ability to live without mandates then the Torah is the furthest thing from freedom. However in order to be free we must know what it is we want to do with our freedom. That is because freedom is the ability to choose, not the escape from choice. Freedom is having the clarity to know what it is that we want to accomplish and having the ability to do so. Freedom is being aware of our potential and living up to that responsibility. Freedom is being driven to achieve. Freedom is actually choosing what we wish to be a slave to.

It is for this reason that matzoh is the same bread for both slavery and freedom. Matzoh is the bread of slavery when we are subjected to the mandates of Egypt and Pharaoh. That same bread becomes the symbol of freedom when we choose to live by the moral standards of the Torah. Both are a result of a lack of time. One is a lack of time stolen from us against our will, the other is a lack of time to waste being idle. Both the slave and the free person are therefore driven. The difference between freedom and slavery is that even though they are both very driven; one is driven and forced by the whims of something holding us back. We could just as easily be a slave to our laziness and desires as we are to the dictatorship standards of society. On the other hand a free person is driven for greatness. One who is free has no time to waste. The choice to be free is the choice Andy Dufrane so aptly stated; "get busy living or get busy dying".

I'm not sure when this happened but it seems that the turn-signal has become optional. Aside form the fact that this is a actually illegal it appears to me that this is indicative of a much bigger problem. It is the same issue that causes people to actually speed up if someone signals that they need to enter the lane. It is what allows someone to usurp a parking space regardless that another driver was waiting patiently for a spot, to sit idly at an intersection checking on one's phone or blocking an entrance by leaving one's car unattended justifiying this by turning on the hazards. People have become so concerned with their own needs that anyone that even appears to encroach on them is viewed as an offense; the road is mine and all that it entails. The selfishness that is so prevalent on the road has become somewhat the mark of the generation. This is the age of entitlement. The irony is that the very first thing we are taught is to be selfish. From the moment we are born the concern of our own needs is cultivated and nurtured within us. When we are infants as soon as we cry individuals rush to our call. As a matter of fact the first time we are aware that we aren't going to get what we want and that no might be a possible answer to our call we can't handle that reality bringing forth the inevitable, the tantrum. After teaching us to be concerned with ourselves for the most formidable years of our lives we are then expected to realize that being selfish is not good and we must share and sometimes must even learn to do without for the benefit of others.
The irony here is that being selfish is actually what we all still are. Every decision we ever make is a selfish one. Every choice we make is because we think that is what will ultimately give us the most pleasure. Who we marry is the person we think is the best for me. What job we take is because that will be best for us in the long run. Every choice is a selfish choice. What we must learn is that greatest act of selfishness we can have is to be unselfish. To learn to give and be concerned with other people's pleasure is what ultimitely will give us the most pleasure. We see this so clearly in relationships; when we give we receive so much more. The challenge is learning to have a healthy balance between the realization that we are always concerned with what is best for us and the awareness that negating others is not to our benefit. When we focus on ourselves in a way that negates others that is what leads to the attitude of entitlement and narcisim. You are an intruder in my world. However when we realize that being concerned with others needs and pleasures is what gives me the most pleasure then we can learn to give in a healthy balanced way. Just like one should not take care of them self to the exclusion of others it is just as bad to give to others at the cost of our own self needs. We should look at the world as if it is our own. It is our own to get the most pleasure from. And the greatest pleasure we can get is by being selfish in the right way.

Bill Clinton is Father of the Year! Now that is a shock. This is by no means a statement that Mr. President is not a good father. On the contrary, There are so many images of Mr Clinton with his daughter demonstrating love and support for each other. I have no reason to believe that he is anything but a loving father to his daughter Chelsea while being an adulterous husband to her mother. And just because someone is clearly not a faithful husband does not mean that they can not be a good father. However, Bill Clinton is far from a model image of what a person should aspire to be like and that is what honor should be about. This is precisely because these actions are an integral part of what it means to be not just a parent or husband but a decent human. His repeated escapades with women that became so public and certainly caused incredible pain to Hillary should have been enough to disqualify him from this accolade. To designate an honor such as this that should require a certain level of integrity and character that goes beyond the isolated task at hand. If a charitable organization were honoring a donor for his contributions and commitment to their cause who was an embarrassment to the community because of his character we would be appalled. Father of The Year is of even greater severity. The only reason that some are not is because we have desensitized ourselves to the depravity of society. We have convinced ourselves that we are able to separate character from accomplishment. This is the same attitude that prompted people to defend Mr Clinton during his presidency regarding the whole Lewinsky affair with the statement "what difference does it make what he does in his private life, as long as he is doing a good job as president". Now while that may be true regarding his accomplishments as president, it is far from the truth when it comes to the impact he made on society. If our leaders are able to live outside the parameters of a moral basis then there is no reason individuals shouldn't follow suit. When we choose who we honor we are elevating those individuals to a place of aspiration. We inevitably look to them to set our sites on what we hope to become. Therefore we must choose people that not only have accomplished great tasks but have cultivated their character as well. Had Mr Clinton shown any demonstration of remorse and contrition that might have deemed him worthy of such accolades yet that has not been the case. So while one may say that he could have done an excellent job as President and an amazing performance so far as a loving parent the title of Father of the Year should have gone to a more worthy recipient.

The other day I was discussing my take on a favorite movie of mine and elaborating on the various Torah ideas that are represented through the story. The other individual asked me if I thought the representation of these ideas was deliberate. Now, not having spoken with the writer, director nor producer I can't say with certainty whether they were or not. What I do believe is that Torah ideas embody the Human existence and anyone with some insight into Human relationships will be able to express Torah ideas in a variety of different formats. Take for example, super-heros. I am sure there might be some exceptions but focussing on the more prominent heroes one can't but help notice Judaism's basic understanding of the individual's desire for greatness. Each character has two distinct identities. One of a regular individual who on the surface is just like everyone else and another person filled with amazing power. Even Bruce Wayne, who on the surface appears to have this already without the super-hero  imposed over his existing identity; he is a billionaire playboy, still needs the alter-ego of the powerful batman. That is because engrained in each one of us is the realization that we have so much more potential than we are actually utilizing. We should be able to leap over tall buildings. We should be able to dodge bullets or climb walls. We should be able to living lives that are extraordinary. Yet we are not. Those images are relegated to the stuff of movies or comic books. However, what the creators of those characters were able to capture was this notion that within each one of us there is greatness. We just need to figure out how to identify it. What makes each of us unique is that special gift that only we have. That is the lesson of Superman and Kryptonite. Kryptonite reminds Superman of a place where he is just like everyone else. That is the tragic state of the Jewish people today. When we realize that we are unique then we can utilize our identity to do great things. However, when we try to assimilate and be like everyone else then we lose our power and potential. We fall prey to our own Kryptonite.

Steve Jobs commissioned a yacht to be built prior to his death. That yacht was not finished before his demise and was recently impounded due to a financial dispute. In Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs, the late Apple CEO is quoted as saying that, "I know that it's possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat, but I have to keep going on. If I don't, it's an admission that I'm about to die." Steve Jobs actually has quite a number of profound statements to his credit. However, this is one that albeit the intent is accurate the actual wording is incorrect.
We should all have a keen awareness that we are going to die. As a matter of fact, in his now famous Stanford commencement speech, Jobs himself attested to the reality that death is the greatest motivator. Judaism tells us that we should all view every day as if it is our last day. God forbid this should be but if it were, how would we want to have lived that day. What I believe was Steve Jobs' intent was to not go on living even though I am about to die would be quitting. That is something that we should never do. He understood that regardless of how much time he had left he needed to move forward. This is something that we all need to be real with. Every day is another opportunity to accomplish. Regardless of how old we are or how tired we have grown we must never give in to the desire to coast and rest through our lives. Retirement is a luxury that should only be a release from having to earn a living but not from living. Every day ask ourselves what am I going to accomplish today and what do I want to achieve in the future. Each day brings a new step towards our destination in life. That destination is unknown and can not be quantified in regards to a specific level of achievement or financial stability. The destination is the culmination of our entire lives, the summation of a continuous and consistent series of small but grand steps. Don't worry about wether that future will exist or not, that is nothing more than an excuse to do nothing. FYI, the yacht was subsequently released.

I am never surprised by the logical inconsistencies that are constantly thrown out by those that oppose any mention or discussion of God. 

Dr. Lawrence Krauss, a well known skeptic and proponent of a Godless world posted an article on CNN today entitled; "Why must the nation grieve with God?". Now to be fair to his article, there are actually points to which I agree. It is extremely insensitive to proclaim to know why the children from Newtown died in that tragic attack. It is beyond the ability of anyone to know these things. To say that anyone who does not turn to God is unable to fully love is also quite absurd. However, Dr Krauss' emotional anger seems to have allowed him to make a similar error in judgement. To ask how an intelligent deity could act rationally and allow such things to happen clearly shows that one doesn't understand the nature and essence of an intelligent and infinite Deity. To ascribe attributes such as callous to a Being that has no emotions is as silly as the previous fallacies. An infinite Being is precisely that, infinite. It has no emotional response to the world such as we do. The only thing that we can be clear on is that if there is a Creator that is Infinite then what we know just by our being here is that Creator is a giver; from the fact that we were given life. The gift of life that we were given is for us to choose how to live and how to act. To ascribe acts of cruelty to such a being would simply negate the very nature of our free will. This is something that requires a tremendous amount of thought and focus which is beyond the scope of this platform to truly understand.

However, the logical flaw that struck me in the article was this statement of callousness. Why is it any less callous to state that there is no God? If there is no God than there is no soul. If there is no soul then these innocent children whose lives were stolen are simply that; lives that are stolen and ended. Why is that no less heart wrenching to a suffering parent? Why is it that to speak about God is insulting to one who doesn't believe in God but to tear away the existence of the eternal is justified because it is simply rational science?