Dennis Prager speaks most Saturday mornings at the liberal Bel Air synagogue Stephen S. Wise. Prager says that all blessings carry curses with them.
Rituals protect ethics.
They train us to do right, and they accustom us to saying no to our inclinations. Rituals provide a buffer against us acting naturally and unethically. Prager said that he reads the Torah to seek wisdom on how to live today, not because he's fascinated with the ancient Near East. Good people generally want to spend their time with family, community and friends, and shun public office. The parallels to Clinton are obvious.