Daniel Lubetzky

It never crossed my mind that an idea that began to take shape years ago to heal divisions among nations would be as urgently needed to bridge divides within our own country.

Today, I am proud to announce how Empatico will help address the major challenges that our nation and world face in terms of growing alienation, hatred, and the inability to listen to one another.

Fifteen years ago, as I was traveling across the Middle East and the world to build a grassroots Movement to amplify the voice of Israeli and Palestinian moderates, I was struck by a concern shared by everyone with whom I spoke. Each side felt that their people was misunderstood and mischaracterized. Tensions were at an all-time high, but it was clear that each group’s desire was similar: Muslim, Christian or Jew, Arab or Israeli, secular or religious, they wanted to tell their stories and where they were coming from. They wanted to be treated with dignity and respect. [Read more →]

By Fareed Zakaria, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017

“He was a sick man, a demented man,” said President Trump, trying to explain the latest mass shooting in the United States. We hear this view expressed routinely, after every new incident. But it is a dodge, a distortion of the facts and a cop-out as to the necessary response.

There is no evidence that the Las Vegas shooter was insane. (I prefer not to use his name and give him publicity, even posthumously.) He did not have a history of mental illness that we know of, nor had he been reported for behavior that would suggest any such condition. He was clearly an evil man, or at least a man who did something truly evil. But evil is not crazy. If we define the attempt to take an innocent human being’s life as madness, then every murderer is mad. If not, we should recognize that it is a meaningless term that adds little to our understanding of the problem.

Actually, the quick assumption of mental illness distorts the discussion. First, it smears people who do have mental disorders. Such people are not inherently highly prone to violence. They are more often victims of violence than perpetrators. And to the extent that some are violent, they are more likely to inflict harm on themselves. Mental-health issues are correlated to suicides far more closely than they are to homicides. [Read more →]

Weighing a big decision? Here’s what experts say about when to go with your gut or your rational brain—or some combination of both.
By Elizabeth Bernstein

You have an important decision to make. You’ve done research, made a list of the pros and cons, asked friends and family for advice.
When should you just trust your gut?

Scientists, authors and motivational speakers (plus plenty of moms) have long touted the power of intuition—our mind’s ability to understand something without the need for conscious reasoning. Think of all the recommendations you’ve heard: “Put the problem away and come back to it later.” “Intuition doesn’t lie.” “Sleep on it.”

Many studies support this advice, showing that the decisions we make unconsciously, before our rational mind can get involved, are often better. But not always. [Read more →]

My wife and I recently saw Captain Fantastic. I highly recommend it! It was thought provoking — about parenting, modern society, capitalism, and life in general. Strong, powerful, sad, entertaining and very well done. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a good movie.