friends. Friends, I was asked to say a few words about rabbinic authority and personal autonomy, and to do so in half an hour.

Now, I can do half of that in half an hour, and we will perhaps sit together some other time and talk about rabbinic authority

i want to say just a few words if i may about personal autonomy

see i made a discovery this year

uh... reading the uh... newspapers after the oscar ceremonies

when a new word enters the vocabulary, you are in the presence

with something very interesting and intriguing. And I discovered a new word after this year's

Oscar ceremonies, which fascinates me. The word is selfie.

Do you know what that is?

Selfie is you take a photograph of yourself together with whoever you happen to be with

and that is the word of our time.

And I think actually if you were to ask

what is the Avodazara of our time, it would have to be the worship of the self.

Now, I just want to share with you just a few thoughts about why this is not a good idea.

And I begin with the figure that I think is the figure for our time.

The man who had everything, who drove a Ferrari and dressed in Armani and had Picasso's on the wall,

his name was Kohelet.

Kohelet was the man who had everything.

He lived in Fifth Avenue and had holiday homes all over the world.

He was not quite the wolf of Wall Street, but almost he had everything.

And yet, having everything, he comes to the conclusion that

Havel Havelim, Haqal Havel, meaningless. Everything is meaningless. How is this possible

...