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Bill Kassel's Blog

Occasional reflections on things that come into my mind — plus links to episodes of my radio show / podcast, “Free Expression”

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Faith & Religion

Israel Standing Alone

By Leave a Comment

DRUNK ON ANTI-SEMITISM
THE WORLD MUST SOBER UP

I’ve only ever posted the work of guest writers on a couple of occasions, when I thought what they had to say was better expressed than anything I would have contributed at the moment. This is such an occasion.

I’ve interviewed Jonathan Feldstein on my radio show, “Free Expression.”  He’s president of the Genesis 123 Foundation, an international ministry that works to promote relations between Christians and Jews.

Jonathan has been living through Israel’s war against the Hamas terrorist organization that had controlled Gaza, turning it into a base for murderous assault on the world’s only Jewish state. He has two members of the Israel Defense Force in his immediate family, so he’s directly touched by the action, as well as by the global reaction to this struggle for survival of what Christians call the Holy Land.

His thoughts, distributed to Genesis 123 supporters around the world, are worth contemplating at this pivotal moment…

[Read more…] about Israel Standing Alone

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics, Moral Choices & Actions, Terrorism & War Tagged With: anti-Semitism, Genesis 123 Foundation, Israel, Jonathan Feldstein

Faith & The Donald

By 10 Comments

TRUMP’S SUPPORT IS BASED
ON GUTS AND PRACTICALITY

In case you haven’t been paying attention, Christian Nationalism is the big media bugaboo just now. Secular news people (the word, “secular,” covers most people in the journalistic trades) are convinced that, should Donald Trump return to the White House, compulsory church attendance and a new Inquisition will surely follow.

How could it be otherwise, when he appears to have a lock on the hearts — and votes — of most people with serious faith commitment, especially Evangelicals?

[Read more…] about Faith & The Donald

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics Tagged With: Christian Nationalism, Donald Trump, Evangelicalism, Faith & The Donald, practicality, religion

What Is a Jew?

By Leave a Comment

REACTIONS TO MY LAST POST
REFLECT TODAY’S ATMOSPHERE

Throughout my years of writing this blog I’ve been struck by the surprising ways in which readers respond to my posts.

Frequently they’ll focus on some secondary point I’ve made. Or they’ll offer an elaborate comment on a line I had considered a mere throwaway. Often they’ll bring an entirely unexpected view to the topic under discussion.

There’s very little predictability to how people react.

Response to my recent post about anti-Semitism has revealed that some folks have serious questions about what I would have considered a basic and obvious human reality. They aren’t sure that there’s any such thing as Jews, especially in Israel, and if there are Jews, what makes them such.

[Read more…] about What Is a Jew?

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics Tagged With: anti-Semitism, Jews, zeitgeist

Jews

By Leave a Comment

YOU CAN’T BE A CHRISTIAN AND
HATE OUR LORD’S OWN PEOPLE

Right at the start I’ll confess to having a great affinity for Jews.

I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia with a large Jewish population. Many of my friends were Jewish. When I got married, my best man was a Jew.

Now I live in the Midwest, a region which the late comic genius, Robin Williams, described as “mondo goyim” (gentile world). I miss the Jewish spirit I knew so well on the East Coast: that self-deprecating Jewish wit, that certain cadence of speech, that strong sense of Jewish community.

Ah yes, Jewish community.

There’s the heart of the matter.

[Read more…] about Jews

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics Tagged With: anti-Semitism, Gaza, Israel, Jews, Palestinians

On the Ground in Israel

By Leave a Comment

HOW THE TERRORIST ATTACKS
TOUCHED AN ISRAELI FAMILY

In a special edition of “Free Expression” I interview Jonathan Feldstein, whose Genesis 123 Foundation works to strengthen relations between Jews and Christians.

Jonathan and his family live south of Jerusalem near the border with Gaza. Both his son and his son-in-law serve in the Israel Defense Force.

Three days after the terrorist attacks, Jonathan shared with me how Hamas’ atrocities have shaken the lives of ordinary Israeli citizens.

Take a few minutes and listen to this moving reflection from a man who has dedicated his life to interfaith understanding and cooperation.

[Read more…] about On the Ground in Israel

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics, Terrorism & War Tagged With: Genesis 123 Foundation, Israel, Jonathan Feldstein, terrorist attacks

Good Listening

By Leave a Comment

COMMUNICATING ABOUT
COMMUNICATION

If you’re interested in how communication shapes our lives — and in this increasingly wired world you ought to be — give a listen to my radio show, “Free Expression.”

It’s produced by Good Shepherd Catholic Radio (an EWTN affiliate serving south-central Michigan), and is available worldwide on the PodBean podcasting platform…

“Free Expression” touches on writing, media, online communication, preaching, evangelization — all the various ways in which messages about life (especially religion and morality) are conveyed.

In terms of subject matter, the show covers a lot of ground, demonstrating how we’re impacted by mass media, politics, science, technology, pop culture, and more.

As the title, “Free Expression,” suggests, a special focus of the show is defending First Amendment rights. That’s certainly a timely concern in the current atmosphere of censorship, cancel culture, and anti-religious bigotry — a world where faith and virtue have been turned upside down.

Here are thumbnails of episodes currently posted on PodBean:

[Read more…] about Good Listening

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics, Moral Choices & Actions Tagged With: communication, First Amendment, free expression, podcast, radio show

Christmas Prayers

By Leave a Comment

PRAY FOR PEACE IN THIS
VERY UNCERTAIN TIME

It’s been a couple of years since I posted the lyrics to my little variation on Franz Gruber’s Christmas classic, “Silent Night.”

I wrote these lines for the Christmas concerts presented by my 1980s music group, Company, which I’ve mentioned from time to time. We did an annual benefit program for a regional charity called Christmas Unlimited. The high point was always our rendition of “Silent Night” that included this insert…

[Read more…] about Christmas Prayers

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Song Lyrics Tagged With: Christmas, Franz Gruber, peace, prayers, Vermont Royster

Jesus the Jew

By Leave a Comment

FREE SPEECH DISPUTE REVEALS
CONTRADICTION IN ANTISEMITISM

Elon Musk’s liberation of Twitter has warmed the hearts of those who value freedom of speech.

It’s terrified those who fear open discussion, in particular open discussion of Biden Administration policies, election integrity, and other issues (not to mention Hunter’s laptop).

Charges are flying that — bereft of its former content-moderation practices and the hoard of woke operatives who implemented them — Twitter is becoming a wellspring of white supremacy, racism, misogyny, and every other frightening variety of hate and hostility. Especially antisemitism. [Read more…] about Jesus the Jew

Filed Under: Faith & Religion, Ideology & Politics, Moral Choices & Actions Tagged With: Andrew Torba, antisemitism, Elon Musk, GAB, Jesus, Twitter

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My Brother’s Keeper — Comments from Readers…

From the opening words of Bill Kassel’s novel we are drawn into the complex and colorful world of first century Israel. The reader is caught up in the drama of Christ through the eyes of Jesus’ natural family. Kassel’s work is unconventional, exciting and controversial, offering fresh insights and inspiration for believers and non believers alike.
—Fr. Dwight Longenecker
Blogger and Author

My Brother’s Keeper was, for me, a most gratifying reading experience. The book is beautifully written. And even with my limited early Christian history knowledge, I could tell that it had been exhaustively researched. I consider it a significant literary achievement. It was a privilege to read it.
—Gordon Boardman
Kalamazoo, MI

It makes the Gospels come alive in a new way. I loved it.
Frank Berkemeier
Jackson, MI

This was a fascinating book! It was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought the main character, James the Just, was going to turn out to be one of Jesus’ Apostles and the book would describe what it was like to spread the Good News. Instead, it came from the perspective of a family member who was not 100% sure that Jesus was the Messiah. Not only that: James the Just had a sort of friendship with Pontius Pilate. The entire book put you in the Holy Land while Jesus walked. It was a fascinating read. I would recommend it, and already have!
—Carol McHale
Reviewer for
Good Reads

Bill Kassel has taken a very different approach to the Christian story. His is not the conventional Christmas card portrait of the Holy Family. Rather, he has delved deeply into the earliest writings in Church Tradition and offered some compelling suppositions about what was going on around Jesus and how the people closest to him might have been effected by it. He has crafted a plot that’s engaging to the modern reader and, surprisingly, doesn’t contradict Scripture.”
—Fr. Joe Krupp
Columnist
Faith Magazine

If I lived in the time of Jesus, who would I think He was? What would I have believed about Him? Would I have espoused His teachings? It wasn’t like being raised Catholic in the 20th century. My Brother’s Keeper made me realize in a fresh new way how hard it was, in Jesus’ time, for many people — especially Jews — to believe in Jesus and how amazing His mission really was.
—Cheryl Nael
Ave Maria Radio

This book is one of my favorites. My Brother’s Keeper, from page one, invites you to go deeper into the daily life and time of Christ. Most of us are very familiar with the scriptures that give us an account of his life. This book takes you to a personal level that creates a very real image of not only the people but how Christ’s relationships and decisions created a life outside of themselves. How Jesus related to his family, and how his family saw him, bring a very realistic aspect to his life, and created the beginnings of a more personal understanding of Christ in my own life.
—Chris Hoyt
Osseo, MI

Well worth reading. Kassel Takes Biblical facts, Historic facts, Jewish facts and traditions, and weaves them into a compelling narrative. The dialogue is believable and enlightening. You really feel like you are there it is so well written and believable. I honestly couldn’t put it down even though I know the end as the Bible tells it. Kassel captures the emotions of the characters and they are believable. A very compelling and enjoyable read.
—D. Clark Wonderland
Reviewer for
Amazon.com

Bill Kassel has created a vivid landscape for his characters that can be clearly seen felt and almost touched. The Interaction between the characters is understated and dutiful with silent respect. The reader can almost hear their thoughts in humble reverential tones. The relationships between the characters comes across as genuine and the narrative moves along smoothly. And the storyline in engaging. All in all a very good read.
—Al Ferber
Poet & Author

The subject matter and historical period are interesting to me so I find this a good read. I am Catholic but I think the book would be of interest to any Christian who would like to read a fictionalized rendering of what life might have been like for Jesus’ brother, James.
—M.D. Garnett
Reviewer for
Amazon.com

Read this book. ’Tis a very interesting speculation about the family of Joseph, James and Jesus as the Jewish foundation to the Catholic faith.
—Ralph Wasche
White City, OR

“…a book of history, and, yes, entertainment. Even though we all know how it will end, I can’t put it down! It’s one of those stories you find yourself thinking of when you go about your daily routine …. Whether you are a Christian or not, this is an awesome read.”
—Nancy Ryan
Book Reviewer
Simply Hers
Magazine

Bill Kassel explores the impact Jesus’s birth and ministry had on his family, specifically Joseph and Joseph’s son James. Diligent research vividly describes the geography of the region and portrays the culture and politics of Judaism at that time. Not the typical retelling of the story of Jesus. Kassel poses questions that challenge the reader to rethink basic premises and meditate on new perspectives and their impact on the reader.
—Christine DeNuccio
Reviewer for
Amazon.com

Fantastic! Transported me back to Jesus’ time. And a new perspective on James. Great read.
—“Book Bug”
Reviewer for
Barnes & Noble

Reading “My Brother’s Keeper” is like being part of the part of the crowd at the crucifixion. Mr. Kassel transports you into the Word. I was there and understood the life of Jesus and his family situation.
I am a Protestant, and there are a few things I can’t agree with, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and Mr. Kassel’s grasp of the English language. I was there with my Savior.
—Gail Gioia
Upper Black Eddy, PA

Kassel relates the life and ministry of the Savior of the world through an inspired, historical, and personable lens… His faith, research, and talent shine through the portrayals of the characters James the Just, Simon Peter, Joseph of Arimathea, Mary the Mother of our Lord, Pontius Pilate, and various others. I commend his authorship and recommend “My Brother’s Keeper” to any seeking to kindle a love for those who shared in the Master’s mortal life and ancient Israel. Kassel adheres to the biblical accounts of Christ’s life, expounding with full creative license potential causes, emotions, and situations that might have occurred among the ancient Jews. I pray that you enjoy the story of James the Just, and join him in discovering a greater love for the Son of God, and our fellow men.

—Drew Hooper
Reviewer for
Amazon.com

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