Old Haloscan comments from my Torat Ezra blog
These are all the comments that I collected from my old blog before Haloscan went kaput. Most of those posts have been imported to this blog, so these comments match up with many posts. At some point in the future, I'd like to insert these comments into the appropriate posts, but till then, I figure may as well make them available to my readers.
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Rabba bar bar Chana: In defense of the Upper West Side
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Lady-Light
Thank G-d I'm not in that scene anymore.
Nicely said. Could you explain what the "Flatbush" mentality is(my Alma Mater is Ramaz, if that tells you anything)? I guess I'm an "MO from the word GO." With Chassidic leanings, of course...
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:52:12 – Like – Reply
Lion in Zion
the one time someone called me up as a shidduch reference, the mother of the girl asked me a million question about my friend's decision to live on the UWS. as if this was a fatal flaw.
Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:19:00 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Wanted to let you know that I linked to this post over at Superraizy.
Monday, September 15, 2008, 16:22:16 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I absolutely agree. The Jewish singles of the UWS are not putting their lives on hold while waiting to get married. They are living rich professional, religious and social lives in a vibrant and active community. Good for them!
Sunday, September 14, 2008, 16:45:04 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Is Modern Orthodoxy leaning to the right?
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Lady-Light
Me too. (always wanted to say 'me too' in a post).
Hmmm....where do you live? I might pack up and. . .
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:46:56 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i agree.
Sunday, September 21, 2008, 22:42:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Downsizing America
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Lady-Light
What an interesting post: I'm surprised you have no comments!
I think I agree with you (have no time--just skimmed your post), but are you aware that what you are advocating is a bit of socialism?
Look, social security is socialism, too; I don't see a problem with a system that is mostly free-market economy with a little socialism thrown in for good measure; after all, a "government" is a social contract(hat tip: hubby) with a citizenry, isn't it?
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:44:45 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: We're not terrorists - really!
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we are not terrorists
we are not terrorists
arab and muslims are not terrorists
those who bomb there silfes are not real muslims
u will find terrorism in eny cultur and religion
christean : kkk group "
jewesh .. etc
i wish you visite my blog
http://youth-4-peace.blogspot.com/
Saturday, October 18, 2008, 06:00:33 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
Oy. Where was this "tourist trap"?
Monday, October 06, 2008, 16:09:03 – Like – Reply
Ahuva
It is sad... Then again, maybe it's good to publicize the fact that stereotypes are often untrue.
I experienced a funny incident over shabbos. I was walking through a tourist trap with my boyfriend. A Muslim woman and I smiled at each other as we passed. About 10 minutes later, my kippah-wearing boyfriend was intentionally kicked by a Caucasian 20-something kid. I felt considerably safer around the Muslim woman and her husband/boyfriend. They had *much* more in common with us than that antisemitic "normal American."
Monday, October 06, 2008, 14:16:33 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
I have heard of several Arab shop owners (Arab btw, not 'Arabic')who, after 9/11, felt obligated to hang an American flag from their store, either outside and/or inside, to show their patriotism and dissuade anyone from taking negative action (such as boycotting their store, or worse).
The problem is, most terrorists are Islamofascists (hat tip: Michael Savage); there are moderate Muslims, but they're afraid to speak up.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:37:56 – Like – Reply
DYS
You could be right, but I have a gut feeling that it's what I thought.
Sunday, October 05, 2008, 13:33:08 – Like – Reply
Jessica
... or they really did just feel such solidarity with their fellow Americans when 9/11 happened that they decided to put up a big American flag.
Sunday, October 05, 2008, 12:26:14 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The Boss
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Lady-Light
No point, just commenting. I know you made your decision before the rally.
And thank you for sharing - I meant no disparaging remarks. I would have shared, too.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 13:54:24 – Like – Reply
DYS
Your point?
I wasn't convinced to vote for Obama at the rally - I made that decision months ago. I just had a great time and wanted to share it.
Yes, many voters on both sides make their voting decisions based on emotion. I think that's a shame. But this rally was to fire up the base and to get people to vote early, which has already begun here in Ohio.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:31:40 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
That's what happens at rallies; the excitement of many like-minded people together takes over(it's called "the mob effect.")
I'm sure it was a great rally, if you were for Obama. McCain rallies are equally exciting, for McCain supporters.
It says nothing about the candidate's qualifications, though.
The only rallies I went to (as a teenager or an adult) were pro-Israel rallies.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:16:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: What did you do during the break?
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Raizy
Reading cookbooks on Yom Kippur is a bit like self-torture, no?
Monday, October 13, 2008, 15:52:29 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
We only had an hour's break; musaf finished at 3:40 or so, and mincha was due to start at 4:45.
I went to a friend's, only 2.5 blocks away--whom I hadn't seen in shul (was worried why she wasn't there); turns out I inadvertently did a 'miztvah.' She had been sick, and didn't go for shacharit/musaf, but was feeling better and planning to come for mincha. She was really happy for the company. My husband stayed at shul and 'hung out.'
As a result of our visiting with each other, my friend and I returned to shul a tad late--just at the end of the Torah reading (but we didn't miss Yonah...!)
Friday, October 10, 2008, 12:35:14 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Obama and Israel
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Jessica
Yeah, but the reason McCain seems "worse" than Obama is because we know what he was doing before the campaign and how different it was from what he's doing now.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 22:53:32 – Like – Reply
DYS
I meant in the campaign - they've both been campaigning the same amount of time.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 21:02:46 – Like – Reply
Jessica
That's only because Obama hasn't done as much in his short career as a politician.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 19:25:28 – Like – Reply
DYS
I think it refers to any politician to some extent - the ones who don't play that game don't get elected. But it feels like McCain has compromised himself far more than Obama.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 15:40:54 – Like – Reply
Jessica
"Really man, get your head out of the clouds. He'll say whatever he needs to to get votes, but he's so obviously full of it."
I agree, only I think that applies to McCain, not Obama.
Unfortunately, at this point, it refers to both of them.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 15:32:48 – Like – Reply
DYS
Terrorist organizations have "endorsed" Obama the same way that the KKK has "endorsed" McCain. It says nothing at all about the candidate.
And how about the fact that Al Queda has "endorsed" McCain. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102477.html)
The only reason you think that Obama has been endorsed by terrorist groups is because the McCain campaign isn't above stooping really low. Obama could have turned this around on McCain, but he's much more of a mentch.
As for Wright, half the people I know in Flatbush have sat through racist stuff said by the rabbis of their shuls without agreeing. It's total hypocrisy for the frum community to make this an issue. And as for Farrakhan, just because he endorsed Obama doesn't mean Obama has any connection to him or relationship with him. Does McCain have a relationship with Hagee?
Everything else you wrote is simply your notions without any facts to back them up.
"McCain kicks ass"? That's not an argument, that's a slogan.
"Obama sees Iran as just some country not as a threat."
Obama has never indicated anything close to that. On the contrary, he has made his positions on the threat Iran poses very clear. (From a year & a half ago: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/281249,CST-NWS-OBAMA03.article) Again, you're spouting slogans with no factual basis. The only difference with McCain is that he has indicated he would utilize diplomacy as a tool in addition to military might, as opposed to McCain who indicates he simply wants to follow the failed policies of Bush who relegated diplomacy to the garbage can. All previous presidents valued diplomacy as a useful tool, even when dealing with rogue regimes and madmen. Bush and now McCain are the first ones to go straight to war.
"Really man, get your head out of the clouds. He'll say whatever he needs to to get votes, but he's so obviously full of it."
I agree, only I think that applies to McCain, not Obama.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 11:03:28 – Like – Reply
walt
Anita--your vitriol is interesting & absurd & quite entertaining.
But,who really cares what Dershowitz says? Another bloated ego who thinks his viewpoints are any better than anyone else!
Friday, October 24, 2008, 10:50:18 – Like – Reply
Anita
keep in mind almost every terrorist organization endorsed Obama.
Kinda says something about him.
What about his affiliation with Rev. Wright? And Farakhan?
McCain kicks ass- literally.
Currently Iran wants a preemptive strike against Israel. Iran is also the top sponser of terrorism (economically wise).
Obama sees Iran as just some country not as a threat. This is a guy you believe will be a "friend" to Israel?
Really man, get your head out of the clouds. He'll say whatever he needs to to get votes, but he's so obviously full of it.
Thursday, October 23, 2008, 20:45:53 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Stupidity and racism of the frum community
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A Living Nadneyda
Ichabod -- The point is to what extent, and in what ways, his congressional record and other political activity has been influenced by his religious beliefs and/or associates, not what his religious beliefs are, or who his associates are. If, when making political decisions, he has shown himself to decide independently, without acting beholden to extremist religious groups, then that would be more significant to me than his associates and beliefs, in an of themselves.
If they said "no he's not a Moslem, he's a Christian liberation theologist", he wouldn't be looked upon any more favorably in the frum community or in any conservative community.
Since when is there one "frum community?"
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 09:12:18 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
"I'm Torat Ezra"
Oops sorry about that. You have a nice blog even if I disagree with you about
Obama.
As for your other points, Obama has been aligned with Farrakhan and Jackson. He's certainly sympathetic to much of what they stand for, even if he's not as extreme as Farrakhan. It's legitimate for people to point that out.
As for the liberation theology movement, sorry but I think you're being naive. Obama is certainly in favor of many of the things they stand for. He wants federally mandated community service for 11 year olds for heaven's sake. He was an organizer for Acorn. Look at his associates. His whole history shows that he's an extremist.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 00:34:42 – Like – Reply
DYS
I'm Torat Ezra. And my point is that these insinuations about Obama's religion and the equating of him with Farrakhan and Jackson are a result of his being black and racism.
As for your statement:
The fact of the matter is that if Obama really believes in the Christian liberation theology movement, as it appears he does, then that's a problem.
There is absolutely no basis for that assertion whatsoever. Please quote me a single time that Obama has indicated such. And please don't quote Wright at me, he's not Obama. I have racist frum friends and I have had racist frum rabbis. That doesn't mean that I'm a racist in any way, shape, or form.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 12:47:22 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
DYS, Torat Ezra's post was about Obama's religion, not his race.
I don't know what lies and rumors you mean, but if the lies and rumors that you're referring to have to do with being a Muslim, then it seems pretty clear that anyone of any race with a middle name like Hussein who stands for the same things as Obama does, who is considered by Moslem law to be a Moslem, and who ran against the Clinton rumor machine would be in the same position.
The fact of the matter is that if Obama really believes in the Christian liberation theology movement, as it appears he does, then that's a problem. If they said "no he's not a Moslem, he's a Christian liberation theologist", he wouldn't be looked upon any more favorably in the frum community or in any conservative community.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 11:47:55 – Like – Reply
DYS
Ichabod,
Do you really think a white candidate would be subjected to the same lies and rumors? It's racism.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 06:35:39 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Have to disagree. Moslems aren't a race, so your racism argument doesn't hold water.
I think that the Hussein is being mentioned to emphasize where his sympathies are. So in that sense it's legitimate.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 00:42:40 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
(Oops, the rest of my comment got lost in cyberspace).
Still don't know who I'd vote for if my absentee ballot had arrived on time, since after all's said and done, (and I hate to admit it) McC might be better for Israel than O, but either way, the racism that's been flying is completely unjustified. Bottom line: even if he were a practicing Muslim, that is his business. Policy matters.
Monday, October 27, 2008, 17:18:36 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I agree, and kudos for having the courage to say so!
Monday, October 27, 2008, 09:44:12 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Its just the democratic party and the excuse is that he is muslim and the end of the world will come if he is elected.
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 20:05:46 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
Still
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 15:13:36 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Can I get an Amen up in here?
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 10:48:09 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'm not an Obama supporter, but you are so right!
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 09:31:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: "Spread the weath" in context
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holy Hyrax
Why would that push you toward him? And do you really believe he is only talking about rolling the bush tax cuts?
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 20:23:20 – Like – Reply
DYS
and McCain criticized those tax cuts until he was ready to run for president. He then shamefully reversed himsef and supported making the tax cuts permanent, just to pander to the Republican base.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 11:44:45 – Like – Reply
DYS
These aren't really "new" taxes. This just rolls back some of the irresponsible tax cuts that Bush made.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 11:43:35 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
The real answer tothe crisis is to not tax any higher to anyone its what hoover (president in middle of the great depression) did and it didnt help anyone.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 23:35:52 – Like – Reply
Guest
Spreading the wealth is good for everybody but those whose wealth is spread.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 21:57:48 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Are midrash and aggada literal?
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David
I get the impression that my rabbi believes all the midrashim literally (including the contradictory ones). It drives me nuts-- I can't even take too much of the Torah literally, much less the folk tales that grew up around it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 09:27:42 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
I have heard that with a fire burning for 7 years a salmander comes forth from the fire. a fire is its breeding ground.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 23:38:01 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
I see them as ways to understand some aspects of the Torah better, not literal truths.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 17:55:11 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I always assumed midrashim were not meant to be taken literally...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 16:14:05 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: No more politics! (for now)
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Jessica
We should meet then, abandoning eden, because I am definitely not obsessed with this presidential election.
Friday, October 31, 2008, 05:48:59 – Like – Reply
abandoning eden
is there anyone NOT obsessed with this presidential election? Cause if there is, I haven't met them.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 14:14:24 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Aish HaTorah affiliates sponsoring controversial political videos
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Ahuva
Out of curiosity, have you ever watched the video? I am a proud Democrat with a number of Muslim friends and thought that video did a very good job of making clear that it was talking about Wahhabism, not mainstream Islam. The DVD cover is unfortunate, but the actual content is pretty good.
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 17:24:08 – Like – Reply
walt
Kiruv,buy nature,is a form of brainwashing & these people are in the brainwashing business.So,no surprise that they do this for,after all,the total brain needs washing!!!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 11:17:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Ivanka Trump - a nice frum girl?
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Mikeinmidwood
cant last.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 22:56:08 – Like – Reply
frum single female
this is the funniest bit of news ive heard yet.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 22:25:04 – Like – Reply
frumsatire
You guessed right- but its on the down low- im keeping the suspense
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 17:40:43 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Oldest Hebrew text ever found?
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Baalhabos
>Apparantly, as far as Reuters is concerned, anything to do with Israel has to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Not quite. Unstated in this is the Palestinian claim that is that Jews are latecomers to the Israeli landscape, that there never was a First temple, etc etc. Archaeological findings of Jewish roots going back to 1,000 BC strengthen the Israeli position.
Saturday, November 01, 2008, 20:41:11 – Like – Reply
Raizy
It does sound like a fascinating find. Maybe the three letter verb is "asa" (from "la'asot"- to do.)
Saturday, November 01, 2008, 20:12:43 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Wow, popular topic. I blogged on this, and so did the Jew Wishes blog.
Great minds think alike!
Friday, October 31, 2008, 13:51:47 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Vote Obama to keep Israel safe
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Lady-Light
Thank you for commenting on my post. For a minute there, I thought I had convinced you (!)
First of all, I commend you for posting even those comments that disagree with you-kol hakavod!
I agree with you in that the war in Iraq de-stabilized the Middle East and gave Iran more power, but not because we got rid of Sadaam; rather, because we did not understand the ethnic demographic make-up of Iraq and had no exit strategy (sometimes, ok-often-U.S. foreign policy is stupid that way).
I, like John McCain (le-havdil?)agreed with the war on Iraq, to rid the world of Sadaam and WMDs. They say now that there were no WMDs, but I'm still not sure; I remember seeing a video of truck convoys rolling north towards Syria, with audio questioning what was in those trucks; and then, it disappeared-I couldn't ever find that video again. So as far as I'm concerned, the Jury is Out on that point.
And don't forget the Scud missiles which rained on Israel during Gulf War I in 1990. We got rid of Sadaam, and rightly so.
How do you explain Obama's affiliations with and support from those nefarious characters who are serious haters of Israel and the Jews which I wrote about? Just give me an explanation; I'm listening. Until I hear something, I won't take a chance with Obama. It's NOBAMA for me. Or as my friend said, "if you really belieive in Mashiach and want him to come fast (the violent way), vote for Obama.
Monday, November 03, 2008, 16:47:10 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Before Bush invaded Iraq there were tons of suicide bombers one almost every day. I still remember Dec. 12 2002 were a bus was ripped apart by a bomb this was before We invaded Iraq.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 21:03:32 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
I disagree with you on Iraq. Sadaam was a danger. He'd have weapons of mass destruction by now, if he didn't have them in 2003, and he'd be willing to use them, or give them to Al Qaeda.
Also idov isn't just saying that it's the Israeli polls, it's the reason for the polls. McCain for all his faults, gets it. Obama doesn't.
Obama is going to take a more "even handed" approach to the MidEast, he's not going to fight terrorism (except as a law enforcement issue), he's going to abandon Iraq, and he's going to turn over US security to what the European socialists want. Is that what you really want to see happen?
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 20:56:20 – Like – Reply
DYS
I am aware that most American Israelis don't agree with me. That doesn't make their opinion correct. 71% of American Jews voted for Carter in 1976. Just because a particular demographic votes a particular way doesn't mean their voting in their best interests. Otherwise I would have no reason to try to convince people with posts like this one. Popularity in polls isn't an argument.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 15:19:53 – Like – Reply
idov
The vast majority who actually live in Israel do not agree with you. Pre-election polls showed support for McCain running up to 75 and in the first exit poll of Israeli Americans actually voting McCain got 76 per cent. Bush consistently got a 70 per cent approval rating and is considered the best friend in the White House Israel ever had, which was a surprise because his father got extraordinarily low ratings. As for Iran people agree with Sarkozy who was quoted in Haaretz last week as saying Obama is totally clueless on that issue. Dealing with Iran for us is a matter of life and death and McCain is trusted, Obama is not.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 11:38:06 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Vote Obama to keep Israel safe
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Lady-Light
Thank you for commenting on my post. For a minute there, I thought I had convinced you (!)
First of all, I commend you for posting even those comments that disagree with you-kol hakavod!
I agree with you in that the war in Iraq de-stabilized the Middle East and gave Iran more power, but not because we got rid of Sadaam; rather, because we did not understand the ethnic demographic make-up of Iraq and had no exit strategy (sometimes, ok-often-U.S. foreign policy is stupid that way).
I, like John McCain (le-havdil?)agreed with the war on Iraq, to rid the world of Sadaam and WMDs. They say now that there were no WMDs, but I'm still not sure; I remember seeing a video of truck convoys rolling north towards Syria, with audio questioning what was in those trucks; and then, it disappeared-I couldn't ever find that video again. So as far as I'm concerned, the Jury is Out on that point.
And don't forget the Scud missiles which rained on Israel during Gulf War I in 1990. We got rid of Sadaam, and rightly so.
How do you explain Obama's affiliations with and support from those nefarious characters who are serious haters of Israel and the Jews which I wrote about? Just give me an explanation; I'm listening. Until I hear something, I won't take a chance with Obama. It's NOBAMA for me. Or as my friend said, "if you really belieive in Mashiach and want him to come fast (the violent way), vote for Obama.
Monday, November 03, 2008, 16:47:10 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Before Bush invaded Iraq there were tons of suicide bombers one almost every day. I still remember Dec. 12 2002 were a bus was ripped apart by a bomb this was before We invaded Iraq.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 21:03:32 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
I disagree with you on Iraq. Sadaam was a danger. He'd have weapons of mass destruction by now, if he didn't have them in 2003, and he'd be willing to use them, or give them to Al Qaeda.
Also idov isn't just saying that it's the Israeli polls, it's the reason for the polls. McCain for all his faults, gets it. Obama doesn't.
Obama is going to take a more "even handed" approach to the MidEast, he's not going to fight terrorism (except as a law enforcement issue), he's going to abandon Iraq, and he's going to turn over US security to what the European socialists want. Is that what you really want to see happen?
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 20:56:20 – Like – Reply
DYS
I am aware that most American Israelis don't agree with me. That doesn't make their opinion correct. 71% of American Jews voted for Carter in 1976. Just because a particular demographic votes a particular way doesn't mean their voting in their best interests. Otherwise I would have no reason to try to convince people with posts like this one. Popularity in polls isn't an argument.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 15:19:53 – Like – Reply
idov
The vast majority who actually live in Israel do not agree with you. Pre-election polls showed support for McCain running up to 75 and in the first exit poll of Israeli Americans actually voting McCain got 76 per cent. Bush consistently got a 70 per cent approval rating and is considered the best friend in the White House Israel ever had, which was a surprise because his father got extraordinarily low ratings. As for Iran people agree with Sarkozy who was quoted in Haaretz last week as saying Obama is totally clueless on that issue. Dealing with Iran for us is a matter of life and death and McCain is trusted, Obama is not.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 11:38:06 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Barack Obama is not the messiah
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jos boersma
Hi,
I am moshiach, this is no joke. Get on with it. I can`t snap with my fingers to solve problems either, I am not a god. But I have worked for years and years on my stuff, and that should be able to solve all problems. Please download, back up & study, many thanks.
There have come out some dire messages about Obama, or rather his puppet masters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MouUJNG8f2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-KJCMWcoms
... oops !
Monday, December 08, 2008, 03:42:19 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Well put, most definitely.
And if Rahm Emanuel shows up as the chief of staff, do you think it'll help the Isreali/Jewish community quit with the jihad thoughts?
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 15:27:01 – Like – Reply
walt
Outstanding--you hit the nail on the head.This job could not be easy for any human being.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 11:15:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Grappling with fresh fruit
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Ahuva
Grapples are so much more expensive than regular apples, I can't imagine anyone offering you one without saying that it's a Grapple. I tried one once, mistakenly thinking that it was a hybrid. It definitely wasn't worth the price (even if it had been kosher).
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 17:12:37 – Like – Reply
dys
Well, I think the point is to get kids to eat more apples. Kinds seem to love the taste of concord grapes, which is why so many kids taffies, gums, drinks, etc, are flavored that way (though it's usually artificial flavor).
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 11:20:53 – Like – Reply
Jessica
What's the point? If you want the taste of grape, eat a grape. If you want to eat an apple, eat an apple. Why do you need a grape flavored apple?
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 10:41:14 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Obama's non-existent Jewish problem
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B
Frum jews make up 21% of American jews and 8% of world jews. THEY DON'T MATTER!
Sunday, November 09, 2008, 22:37:06 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Thanks for providing those figures.
I agree with you, and others, who have blogged on the same issue, racism in the frum community is worrying.
Friday, November 07, 2008, 08:22:05 – Like – Reply
dys
Jessica,
I apologize if you misunderstood. I certainly didn't mean that all frum McCain supporters are racists by any means. There are plenty them who opposed Obama on genuine issues. But based on the discourse I've heard coming from the frum community, there's plenty of racism as well, unfortunately, some subtle, some shockingly overt.
(see what I wrote on Oct 26: http://toratezra.blogspot.com/2008/10/stupidity-and-racism-of-frum-community.html)
Friday, November 07, 2008, 06:50:13 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I resent that being a frum McCain supporter puts me into the category of racist. I voted for McCain because I liked his views, not because he was white.
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 23:22:43 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
You have got the racism part right.
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 22:33:48 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Rav Elyashiv bans wigs?
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Guest
Wow Do you have any respect for the wisdom of torah? Obviously someone like R Eliashev has more wisdom and knowledge because of his depth of Torah knowledge. Torah contains everything in it! If you dont believe it you should study it more. You thin such a holy man is an idiot?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 01:30:30 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I think that a frum woman who wears long sleeves and long skirts to work year-round looks out of place in most offices anyway, regardless of what she wears on her head. And I like the idea of getting rid of wigs. They are extremely expensive and a real drain on most families.
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 20:05:11 – Like – Reply
frum single female
if i were married and was going to cover my hair i would definitely opt for wearing a sheitel to work. i guess because it makes one stand out less. especially if u work in a public service type of job. i do work with a woman who has lupus who wears scarves or berets on occasion, but for the most part she wears a wig.
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 19:53:37 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Really? They would tell a Muslim woman that she couldn't wear her hijab? A Jewish man can't wear his kippah? An Indian man can't wear a turban? If someone is doing something for religious reasons, I think it would be awfully hard to tell them that they had to "look professonal".
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 19:05:36 – Like – Reply
dys
It depends on the kind of office and how rigidly professional the environment is. I know plenty of offices where it would be unacceptable to wear a scarf or hat. But I'm glad you found a place where it's OK.
Friday, November 07, 2008, 14:10:50 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I cover my hair with scarves. Earlier this year I worked in an office and no one had an issue with me wearing a scarf... You don't need a wig to cover your hair -- it's just that people feel less self-conscious with a wig on.
Friday, November 07, 2008, 13:42:52 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Would Aliyah be a yeridah?
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gadamoogoonoodoo
I say hang out with the nitnachalim, or Americans if you can. Or both (like Karnei Shomron for example). Otherwise you might get stuck with people with little idealism..
Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 10:57:03 – Like – Reply
holy Hyrax
Then maybe Israel needs more people like you. Instead of you making Aliyah, help Israel make its own aliyah (kivyachol)
Thursday, November 13, 2008, 15:14:46 – Like – Reply
dys
No, but there's a significant percentage who do. And of the people my wife & I hang around with most, the majority too. Would I be able to find a similar chevra in Israel? I hope so.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 15:31:06 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Do you live in a society now where all the people around you share your values and way of thinking?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 13:55:02 – Like – Reply
dys
certainly not, but can I really be happy in a society where all the people around me don't share my values and way of thinking?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 12:26:38 – Like – Reply
dd
is yeridah and alliyah in life defined by racism alone??
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 12:04:31 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Why is the @$%#* hard drive buried so deep!
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dys
I did reformat it, but it's not good enough according to most experts. Good information thieves can still get information off it. See here: http://www.microsoft.com/australia/smallbusiness/issues/technology/protect/harddrive.mspx
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 21:35:03 – Like – Reply
B. Spinoza
couldn't you just reformat the hard drive without physically destroying it?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 21:17:23 – Like – Reply
dys
Not if it's a small laptop hard drive that's a fraction of the storage size of today's hard drives. I already got all the data off using some open-source recovery software a long time ago. Not worth the effort to install it anywhere else.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 15:54:58 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
No dude, you keep the hard drive and put it in a new computer.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 15:33:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: I want to raise kids far away from NY
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TooYoungToTeach
It was ridiculous, right before and after the elections, my students were spouting every Obama joke possible. I'll admit some were funny, but the difference was, it was a joke to me, but they really believed it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:32:43 – Like – Reply
frum single female
where i grew up things were alot less racially charged than nyc. i visit there every so often, and i would say that its still pretty much the same. if i had children i would prefer to raise them outside of ny. its much more innocent out of ny.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 01:13:09 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
It really is horrible and its affecting everyone not just the big cities.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 22:15:48 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Thanks for the link; it is a good article. What some of those kids said is shocking but the response is heartening.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 15:21:31 – Like – Reply
Raizy
It's not just from their classmates. I can't count the number of racist and "anti-goy" comments that my kids have heard from their Rabbis and teachers.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 08:09:36 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'm from Cleveland. Though it wasn't everyday that someone said something racist, there were times when students said something without even realizing what they were saying. It's not like kids go home and tell their parents, "Today ______ said something racist." Chances are Columbus is no different, it's just not as noticeable.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 07:41:17 – Like – Reply
dys
It certainly is less common here in Columbus. Maybe it's not less common in big cities like Chicago or LA, but I suspect that most smaller communities are like mine.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 07:21:36 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'm all with you in not wanting to have my kids go to NY schools, but racism is no less common in out-of-town schools.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 07:19:57 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Motorcyclists are wimps
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Cady
I got a phrase for you: Wind Chill
Let's say you ride at 12 mph. At a temp of 38 degree that will feel like 30 to you.
My ninja, carried me to work in 38 degree weather yesterday at speeds of 65mph. The temperature feels like 21 degree with that kind of windchill.
That is a 9 degree difference in an environment where you can't risk pulling up your collar or your socks. You ride and shiver and snot freezes in your helmet and your tears freeze on your cheeks and your fingers won't cooperate when you have to slam on the brakes because someone cut you off.
As a bicycle commuter until I was 31 y.o. and a motorcycle commuter now I'm just sayin'...
Very different circumstances.
But hooray for anyone who commutes on two wheels.
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 16:42:17 – Like – Reply
dys
10 year old Giant Cypress. It's the one in front in the pic
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:58:07 – Like – Reply
XGH
Cool. What kind of bike do you ride?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:26:36 – Like – Reply
Jacob da Jew
Oh yeah, cyclist are total masocists. Myself included.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:47:12 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Cheating
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espes
i know which blogger ur talking about...
and i think ur being a bit harsh....
i kinda agree with her- if my major has nothing to do with writing, then why cant i ask someone to write my paper for me? if i go over it after and change things that i wouldnt say, then its like im getting helped! i wouldnt do that in high school, but in college i feel like its different
Tuesday, December 09, 2008, 00:53:27 – Like – Reply
David
I completely agree with you, and was horrified at the blogger's cavalier attitude towards an action that bespeaks a complete lack of integrity.
Friday, November 21, 2008, 12:59:31 – Like – Reply
TooYoungToTeach
About teachers who use the same tests year after year...halachically it's not considered cheating, because it's in rishus harabbim.
Even if the teacher says not to look at previous test, most rabbanim will still say it's not cheating. Teachers need to be responsible and keep their material and tests to themselves.
(I only know this because of some whole saga in HS...some people looked at an old test, teacher found out, wanted to fail them, found out that she was in the wrong. She failed them anyway. No, I was not part of it.)
Friday, November 21, 2008, 02:24:59 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
DYS we agree on this one. Actually I'm as appalled by her response to you as I am at the cheating.
Friday, November 21, 2008, 01:46:49 – Like – Reply
Halo
don't look at it as cheating, look at it as outsourcing
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 17:03:34 – Like – Reply
frum single female
when i went to college there was tons of cheating going on. i was not amongst the cheaters.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 19:13:56 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
"There are definitely a significant number of students who don't 'get' college, and go only becuase they need the degree to earn more money, or becuase their parents forced them to go to college (as I see frequently in the Modern Orthodox community) when they were not mature enough to want to go there on their own."
Strongly, strongly agreed.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:56:32 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
It disgusts me also and I think it is widespread within mainstream OJ circles and not seen as problematic at all.
I went to college at a school with a large frum population - graduated about six years ago.
At said school among the Orthodox crowd there was a widely known list of classes in which professors used the same tests every year. Students would save tests, advise younger students to take the same class, and then pass on the tests. This was referred to as the "mesorah."
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:55:27 – Like – Reply
abandoning eden
as an adjunct professor, this is definitely the worst kind of cheating- because it's nearly impossible to catch.
But in the end, the disservice goes to the students who are cheating. I design my assignments in order to teach very specific skills that will help my students in the long run (how to do their own research, how to write in a professional manner, critical thinking, etc.) If they aren't doing the assignment, they aren't getting anything out of my class. But that's fine with me- I get paid either way. What's the waste is that students are wasting their (or more like, their parent's) money and time when they could be learning something that could have been valuable to them.
But then again, that's probably what you get when you have students going to school to get the piece of paper in the end, and don't value what that piece of paper is supposed to represent. There are definitely a significant number of students who don't 'get' college, and go only becuase they need the degree to earn more money, or becuase their parents forced them to go to college (as I see frequently in the Modern Orthodox community) when they were not mature enough to want to go there on their own.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:50:43 – Like – Reply
Jessica
"But there seems to be a generation gap on this issue."
I'm only a few years older than the blogger you're referring to and I feel the same way about cheating as you do. It is completely unethical and there is no way to justify doing it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:11:47 – Like – Reply
dys
If she wants to identify herself on here, that's her prerogative, but I don't like to create targets for angry commenters, no matter how wrong she is.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:51:05 – Like – Reply
Jacob da Jew
Please provide a link to said blogger.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:41:34 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Am I the only one appalled that someone can approach cheating so casually and justify it with the reasoning she uses?
No, you're not. I am of the old school too. Cheating is wrong!
I too cheated, once, in Physics at the age of 15 and felt so bad about it that I never did it again.
Yet as a teacher in a state school I also know that students cheat, or at least try to. A collegue angered her students the other day by proposing alternate tests so they wouldn't cheat and they yelled at her, complaining they couldn't cheat.
I try to explain why it's wrong each time I am faced with the issue. I keep telling myself that they need examples and that some might get the point, eventually.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:31:20 – Like – Reply
TooYoungToTeach
I teach High School English and Writing...and while none of my students, well maybe a few, think much of their writing future, I expect my students to do their own work. That is why, most of their writing in done in class, and I need to see handwritten drafts. I don't particularly trust them, considering how much I "helped" my friends when I was in High School.
It's cheating, plain and simple, the bigger question is, what's wrong with cheating?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:25:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Nude pics lost on cellphone end up online
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The Jewish Side
Wow, that really is crazy.
I guess some people just don't think.
Friday, November 28, 2008, 12:03:04 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Streets of Jerusalem - on Google Maps
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dys
not on the regular maps site - still pretty blurry. Maybe on Google Earth - I'll have to check that out.
Monday, November 24, 2008, 15:19:39 – Like – Reply
XGH
Evebn better, they now have the detailed satellite photos.
Monday, November 24, 2008, 13:28:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Nurse, um, I mean Doctor
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Jessica
I tend to think of nurses as female simply because my mom is one...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 22:15:43 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
I (as is probably obvious by now) consider myself a feminist. That said, my sister once shocked me by asking me the following riddle: (The answer to which will probably be a lot more obvious now that it's contextualized.)
A man and his son got into a car accident. Both were badly injured and rushed to an hospital. Once they arrived, the nurses rushed the boy into the E.R. for emergency surgery. All of a sudden, the doctor opened the door, looked down at the patient and exclaimed, "That's my son!" Who is the doctor?
Well, it took me at least 3 guesses before I was even like, "Oh wait. The doctor could be the mother." It was really shocking to see how much these conceptions of the world are so ingrained into my sensibilities.
Since then, I've asked many people the same riddle. You'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many people can't even come up with an answer. They try everything first, "Maybe the boy was adopted?" etc., etc.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 16:00:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Holding onto fading hope in Mumbai
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BlackEyedP
Please read my post on the Holzberg children and how you can help them by giving tzedakah.
http://blackeyedp-scatteredthoughts.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 03, 2008, 16:53:41 – Like – Reply
kaguya
Extremely saddened to hear what happened in the end and even more so reading what ProfK has to say.... I can only hope that the Holzbergs children are taken care of well. Extremely sad.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 15:29:17 – Like – Reply
ProfK
Horrible news, but it's worse than just one orphan--the Holzbergs had two children, one of whom was not in Mumbai during the attack.
Saturday, November 29, 2008, 20:34:45 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Its really sad. Hashem yiracheim.
Friday, November 28, 2008, 13:22:54 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Orthodox single mothers by choice
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shalom-el
happy holidays women and babies!
the code of jewish law says "a woman is not enjoined to fulfill the precept of propagation-so as long as you are willing to deal with people who might subject you to suspicion, i say "ride!"- have yourself a family-i'm all for it and wish the best for you and your children after all the rebbe, (pbh), said that the law was for the children so please keep having babies. also inside the siddur tehillat hashem is the redemption of the firstbourn, (i believe the same for a firstborn daughter as for a firstborn son), and that is in the exact first line of this ceremony a woman is recognized as an israelite so please keep having children and let nothing stop you from having them not even turning 40 plus.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 10:50:53 – Like – Reply
shalom-el
have them!
the first line in the siddur ceremony to redeem the first born son, (i also believe that it applies to having a first born daughter too), says "my israelite wife has born me this first born son-you are isreali and nothing that anyone says will change that. so please keep having babies because the rebbe, pbh, said that the law is for the children. and since the code of jewish law says that a woman is not enjoyned to fulfill the precept of propagation, keep building your family. lechayim!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 10:18:29 – Like – Reply
Chava
I had a child via donor insemination and I can honestly say it was the worst decision I made in my life. My child does not have a father, I am lonely and I'm finding it very difficult to raise him alone. My child has autism which I have since found it is more common than usual amongst donor conceived children because men who become sperm donors are very emotionally unattached men. I would not recommend this to anyone!
Saturday, September 19, 2009, 10:54:19 – Like – Reply
dys
Zehava Chaya,
Ironically, I just flew home this morning from the Harrisburg airport!
I find that smaller Orthodox communities are much more supportive of "nonstandard" families than the big communities like New York.
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 10:20:40 – Like – Reply
zehava chaya
I'm an orthodox single mother by choice - but by adoption. I have an absolutely beautiful 4 year old boy, and we are enormously happy. I live in Harrisburg, PA and in this rather small orthodox community, we are unique. I found this site looking for other people out there like me, because while "older single adoptive parent" is not that unusual out there in the secular world, it presents some really unusual challenges here within orthodoxy (even though this community is very supportive). Anybody out there?
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 00:46:26 – Like – Reply
Guest
>These mothers are not propagating the problem, they are a symptom of the problem. You don't treat leprosy with rouge, and you don't treat a community social problem by condemning its victims.
Of course they are propagating this problem. People cannot make a problem worse, and claim victimhood. Personal responsiblity has to play a role and the community cannot let it get worse and worse. This is not on par, but do we allow child molesters to continue molesting in the Jewish community until the social problems (ie, secrecy, not going to authorities) are treated first?
>Now, you appear to believe that Judaism has a universally applicable extra-halachic ethic.
No, I don't think that at all. I think rigid halacha can sometimes go against a greater need a specific moment. That greater need, though, is ALSO part of Judaism. So sometimes there is a tension. But the subject at hand, IS a Jewish ethic that is far reaching time and place. That is my point. The traditional family structure that all our collected wisdom and halacha try to protect and produce is NOT an extra-halachic ethic
Friday, December 12, 2008, 14:46:16 – Like – Reply
efrex
There's no "having it both ways" here. These mothers are not propagating the problem, they are a symptom of the problem. You don't treat leprosy with rouge, and you don't treat a community social problem by condemning its victims. Speaking out against these women does nothing to address the fundamental underlying problem (now, if you claim that by speaking out against these women, the community will force them to be less picky and get married so that they better conform to the ideal, well, you might have a rational and coherent argument. I might think it's demeaning and inherently destructive, but it would be rational and coherent).
Your example from the gemara is exactly a case of religious philosophy as opposed to halacha. There are a multitude of reasons why we should go lefnim meshurat hadin in individual cases. You cannot, however, make the lifnim the din. Now, you appear to believe that Judaism has a universally applicable extra-halachic ethic. I disagree. I believe that extra-halachic ethics are functions of time, place, and the individuals involved. See, for example R' Yosef Dov Soloveitchik's story of R' Hayyim Brisker in St. Petersburg in Halachic Man (pg. 90), where he refused to prohibit uncircumcised children from being registered in the Jewish community, as opposed to many who wanted to do so, so as to force their parents to give their sons a brit:From a political and practical perspective... no doubt the majority was correct. However, on the basis of pure Halakhah, R' Hayyim was correct. And he would not sacrifice this halakhic truth even for the sake of realizing the most noble of ideals.
Ideals, no matter how wonderful and ethical, cannot be transformed into normative halacha.
Friday, December 12, 2008, 14:35:25 – Like – Reply
Guest
Isee this development, as not being problematic in itself, but as a symptom of a greater social/communal problem that needs to be addressed. As such, I view this development as a net negative, but not as someth
You can't have it both ways. You can't admit that this is a social/communal problem, but not decry the act itself. If there are communal problems, you don't make it worse by saying "such and such" is OK. This is basically neglecting to stop a few pebbles rolling down the hill not realizing it will eventually start an avalanche.
-Holy Hyrax
Friday, December 12, 2008, 12:55:27 – Like – Reply
Guest
I view halacha as defining actions, not attitudes. How "good" a Jew is is solely determined by the extent of his/her complete adherence and surrender to the halacha.
This is but a part of the overall component of being a "good" jew. We have the famous story in the Talmud of some porters dropping some jugs. The rabbi basically takes away their clothes as payment. The porters go the Rav and complain. Rav not only tells the Rabbi to return the clothes but to pay them their wages. The Rabbi complains that halacha goes according to him in which case, Rav, basically quotes something to mean that we have to go beyond the halacha at times for a greater need. So just looking at halacha is not always a barometer for being a good Jew. You have other examples in the Talmud as well.
>Others argue that any foreign values may be adopted, so long as they do not explicitly conflict with halacha. Still others adopt a variety of intermediate positions.
You are right, to a point and how it fits in with the rest of Judaism's teaching, not just halacha.
>Does it conform to the standards of the halachic philosophical systems of the community?
I agree, but, the question at hand currently is not one how to approach text, or are cell phones allowed, this is an issue that goes at the very heart of the collected teachings, lores, wisdom and halachas mean't to a maintain a traditional family.
Friday, December 12, 2008, 12:50:40 – Like – Reply
efrex
durned cut-off...
Last line: but not something that needs to be decried in itself. Does that help?
Friday, December 12, 2008, 09:18:26 – Like – Reply
efrex
Hyrax: I believe that we are talking past each other. I'll try to get to my points one-by-one, and see if that helps. Here goes:
1) I view halacha as defining actions, not attitudes. How "good" a Jew is is solely determined by the extent of his/her complete adherence and surrender to the halacha.
2) Looking at the halacha as a whole has led many great Jews to develop philosophies and value systems. These movements include classic philosophies (the Ramchal's Mesilat Yesharim, the Rambam's Moreh Nevuchim) as well as relatively contemporary ones (chassidut, the mussar movement, Torah Im Derech Eretz). These philosophies can, and do, radically differ in their interpretation and application of halachic values; however, they are all predicated on complete acceptance of halacha.
2a) How Judaism relates to secular, Western values is an issue of halachic philosophy. Many argue that, since the only true source of ethical knowledge is the Torah, no Western values can be accepted by Jews, regardless of how "noble" they might be. Others argue that any foreign values may be adopted, so long as they do not explicitly conflict with halacha. Still others adopt a variety of intermediate positions.
3) When halachically evaluating the permissibility or acceptance of specific actions or attitudes, there are two issues that need to be adressed: I) Does this action or attitude conform to the halacha? II) Does it conform to the standards of the halachic philosophical systems of the community?
4) When there is explicit conflict between halacha and external social mores, halacha wins out. No Orthodox rabbi can validate practices that violate halacha.
5) Many actions, while halachically technically permissible, violate specific halachic value systems. In these cases, the permissibility of these actions and communal attitudes towards them can vary widely, in accordance with the halachic philosophy there*. The issue of single motherhood is such an issue: there may be halachically permissible ways to achieve it, but it goes against the philosophical view of many halachic systems.
6) As such, many communities, especially those who adopt the minimalist view of permissibility of outside value systems, will decry this development as something to be shunned which completely goes against the sacred values of the Torah. This, as I understand it, is close to your view; however,
6a)Others will argue that, so long as no halacha is being violated, there can be no inherent negativity associated with it, and it should therefore be supported as a valid halachic choice. The latter seems to be the position of our esteemed ba'al hablog.
6b) My position is somewhat intermediate, albeit closer to the second. I see this development, as not being problematic in itself, but as a symptom of a greater social/communal problem that needs to be addressed. As such, I view this development as a net negative, but not as someth
Friday, December 12, 2008, 09:15:41 – Like – Reply
tikunolam
"simply because I have two letters in front of my name (Dr), they refuse to date me."
You are looking in the wrong places my friend. We are Mr. and Dr. at my house. My husband is plenty macho and not only does he have no problem with it, it makes him proud.
As a graduate of one of those uppity schools, I have countless examples of women with "Dr." married to men who are proud of their wives accomplishments. Many of these today married female doctors were my classmates and suitemates not that long ago.
In fact, there are hundreds if not thousands of men, successful in their own right, doctor or not, on the upper west side who would not be fazed for one second about dating or marrying a doctor.
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 19:40:30 – Like – Reply
Guest
Efrex, my comment on halacha and social norms was more a reply to this:
"I also believe that there are social mores. And those values and mores adapt to the changing needs of the human beings who live Jewish lives."
Simply put, what is he going to do when halacha actually DOES go againt those mores?
-Holy Hyrax
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 17:15:29 – Like – Reply
Guest
Sorry, got cut off
A computer and kollel and stuff like that are not comparable in the least to the overall thrust of what Judaism has been trying to teach and preserve for millenia.
My point was that once you start claiming any overall "spirit" of the halacha as a universal, you will inevitably end up enforcing the supposed spirit at the expense of the halacha.
No, I am not talking about spirit of halacha I am talking about the spirit of Judaism. There are times when the halachic approach is abandoned for something better. And there are times, when just because in the pages of Talmud it doesn't mention single motherhood, does not mean you should aim for that.
After all, if Judaism is about bringing morality to society, why should we observe the laws that keep us separate from those who need our guidance?
If you compromise your basic tenants, there will be nothing left for the future. This is not just about Judaism this can even be applied toward any law. What DYS is basically saying is for Judaism to compromise its tenants and values because all of a sudden, the western world has given a thumbs up to single motherhood and now Jewish ladies want to insert that into Judaism
On the other extreme, if Judaism is about the purity of family life, how can we tolerate a woman wearing short sleeves on a bus?
You're right. I think we should stone her.
I don't understand how you can make such an extreme statement like that.
-Holy Hyrax
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 17:07:04 – Like – Reply
Guest
>Hyrax: I'm very puzzled about your statement that "you can't be concerned about halacha and social values at the same time." What on earth does that mean?
I will deal with this first:
There are certain social values that are accepted in the west, like single mothers being OK, like homosexuality act being OK or now even gay marriage to the concept of gender roles being called sexist.
Judaism has obvious halachic issues with these REGARDLESS what the 'social norms' are, as DYS says. If you are first going to look and see what halacha says, then go chase after a social norm, you are eventually going to hit a brick wall. What should be done is first look at the overall Jewish value of something REGARDLESS of whether its technically halachic.
which brings us to the first comment of yours:
I dispute the idea that, outside of strict halachic adherence, there's a defined "overall spirit of the whole entire [halachic] system" that should be universally enforced.
Looking around this country, I find many value systems that a halachic Jew can work within, and a range of potential involvements with American society. You can be philosophically inclined towards capitalism, socialism, libertarianism, and many other "isms" without violating a single halacha. You can decide that American society is fundamentally corrupt and should be completely shunned, you can decide that only certain limited aspects are allowable, or you can decide that one should engage in the entire society and only withdraw when engagement violates explicit halacha.
Certainly there are some things that you can work in the American System, but they have to be parallel to Jewish values or not hinder it. I can be an environmentalist, as long as I don't forget the Jewish value that humans become before trees. I can become a capitalist as long as it does not lead me to be greedy and forget the poor.
A woman deciding to be a single mother in accordance with halacha is raising the next generation of Jews, expanding the knowledge of Torah, and improving the survivability of the global Jewish community. Where exactly is any of that out of sync with Jewish values?
Because just because something is halachically permissable, does not mean its good. And its not just a matter of Jewish survivability, but a matter of what KIND of survivability. The Jewish value that we speak of is not that you only survive, but with that survival by a certain mechanism. Mediocrity and abandoning your greatest aim and principle is NEVER a solution for any system in this world.
Jewish values, even Orthodox ones, are not monolithic: one can plausibly argue that the Yeshiva/kollel system is completely antithetical to "Jewish values," or that anybody who owns a computer is against "Jewish values," that someone who makes aliyah is against "Jewish values," that someone who refuses to make aliyah is against "Jewish values," etc. etc.
A computer and kolle
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 17:05:35 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Anti-Semitism under every rock
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DYS
Thanks!
Now that actually re-read it, I still find the article to be powerful, but a little to strident for my 39 year old tastes. At age 21, I loved every bit of it.
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 20:53:26 – Like – Reply
cady
When you want to see old web pages as they were before they disappeared go to the wayback machine at: http://www.archive.org/index.php
and put in the URL you are wishing to see.
which will bring you back this:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/antisemit/FightAntiSem.html
I picked the earliest permutation to see the article you were refering to.
http://web.archive.org/web/20020617200554/http://juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/antisemit/FightAntiSem.html
Sincerely,
Your friendly lurking librarian
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 19:08:00 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: A giant Fonzie scheme?
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Raizy
Oh God, I thought you were serious all the way through the first paragraph!
Monday, December 15, 2008, 21:47:42 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Latkes vs. Sufganiyot
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Mikeinmidwood
Both are really good.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 22:54:31 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i love donuts as well as all sweets, but for chanukah im all about the latkes.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 18:18:15 – Like – Reply
Child Ish Behavior
It sounds like a tall tale. Doughnuts are yummy whatever the reason we eat them happens to be.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 17:56:04 – Like – Reply
JoeB
Both are yummy..
You get Chanukah once a year for eight days...
So enjoy the latkes and doughnuts...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 17:20:10 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Not much sympathy for Gazans
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dys
Of course you don't sympathize with Gazans. You're Jewish.
I normally do sympathize with suffering, wherever it occurs. I'm not willing to demonize or dehumanize the other side. But after 2 years of bombardment from a territory that Israel vacated, it's hard to feel that sympathy.
Monday, December 29, 2008, 08:14:49 – Like – Reply
Shul Candyman
Of course you don't sympathize with Gazans. You're Jewish.
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 20:37:45 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'll add you to my tagged list then. So, consider yourself tagged!
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 18:45:54 – Like – Reply
dys
Actually, no one has meme'd me yet - I've been feeling left out
Happy to be tagged!
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 17:52:18 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Random totally off-topic question here, but have you ever been tagged in a meme and if so, would you do said meme? I was recently tagged and was thinking of tagging you on mine, but wasn't sure you were the meme-ing type (whatever that means).
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 16:42:19 – Like – Reply
dys
Do you even care? Do you just like the revenge?
Subtlety of opinion seems to be lost on some people. Apparently, not agreeing with your extreme automatically puts me in the opposite extreme, in your book.
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 13:11:52 – Like – Reply
SM
No - you're right. It's not just targeting civilians either. In putting their institutions and armaments amongst civilians Hamas is making a clear declaration that its own ends are more important than the people it governs.
I don't think this will work in terms of changing Hamas' view. But I suspect it will significantly lessen the danger to those living near Gaza. That may only be fire-fighting, but sometimes you have to put out the flames before you can think about doing anything else.
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:18:51 – Like – Reply
Craig Travis
What is the end result going to be? Care to take a guess? Do you even care? Do you just like the revenge? When is Israel going to give up on the George Bush school of Diplomacy? Ever? Do you think if you kill half the Gazans the other half will behave?
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:17:35 – Like – Reply
Guest
Wrong. See this article. (Not to mention all the killings in the 1948 war, which you'd probably quibble with by saying it was the Haganah/Irgun, not the IDF.)
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 11:37:46 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My first meme – 7 facts about me
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Tikunolam
Ok, that was really fun to read!
Friday, January 09, 2009, 12:06:02 – Like – Reply
frum single female
tag accepted.
Monday, December 29, 2008, 21:34:40 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
Tag accepted. Though I'm not sure I'll tag anyone. But then, as we know from the very content of my blog, I'm a bit of a rule breaker!
Monday, December 29, 2008, 16:15:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Sex trafficking in Israel
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evanstonjew
I am happy to see you posted on this topic. This is the first time I have visited your blog, and I'll be back again.
I wrote about this topic twice, maybe three times on Rabbi Maryles's blog and no one showed any interest. For some reason Orthodox Jews go nuts if a sexy looking woman wears a too fancy sheitl, but have no feeling at all if a few thousand prostitutes are wandering around Israel or if these women are being beaten and held against their will.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 11:49:39 – Like – Reply
Jameel @ The Muqata
If Israel & the Jewish people are "Or LaGoyim" (A light unto the nations), this is hardly the way to show it.
Ben-Gurion would be kvelling at this news; he couldnt wait for the day for there to be Jewish robbers and prostitutes in the newly established Jewish State.
Thankfully, Israel has made serious advances to getting away from the top countries involved in this.
Monday, January 26, 2009, 10:26:28 – Like – Reply
Joachim Martillo
Sex trafficking since the middle 19th century has been a major occupation among ethnic Ashkenazim.
Sholem Aleichem wrote about it, and it was the reason for one of the larger Jew-on-Jew pogroms in Czarist Russia.
Sources:
Arun Gandhi and Sholem Aleichem
Robert Lindsay: The Zwi Migdal - Jewish Pimps of Argentina
Wednesday, January 07, 2009, 03:14:31 – Like – Reply
Notageek
How sad...
Even more so, considering these girls are probably minors.
But as long as people patronize and support this it will be hard to put an end to it.
Sunday, January 04, 2009, 17:18:34 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Dismayed at death in Gaza
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Kaguya
Beautifully stated. Thank you.
Monday, January 26, 2009, 01:57:37 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Thanks for writing this post. I quite agree with Raizy on this.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 15:24:34 – Like – Reply
Rachel
Absolutely - rejoicing in the pain and suffering of another cannot be right.
Rachel
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 11:57:48 – Like – Reply
Raizy
"cheering on those casualties" is absolutely not acceptable. The Torah tells us "Al tismach b'npol oivecha"- don't rejoice at the downfall of your enemy. You're absolutely right- this war is a defensive and moral necessity, but we should never take pleasure in our ability to take the lives of our enemies.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 23:20:27 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
"We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children.
We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children.
We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."
-- Golda Meir
I disagree with some of those sentiments, but the overall idea? Absolutely. Soldiers who are forced by circumstances -- or by the enemy -- to kill and maim, come back irreversibly damaged. A huge proportion of soldiers suffering from PTSD recall, in their trauma having to hurt or kill others, or be killed themselves. We will have great difficulties keeping our nation strong if so many of us are traumatized by being victims, or by causing victimhood.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 14:52:29 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Surreal hero worship
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dys
TO,
First of all, I think the label of "hero" is thrown about far too indiscriminately. We award it to sports stars.
I agree that in this case, the label hero would seem to be somewhat appropriate for his keeping a cool head and doing his job and saving the people aboard. But you wrote your comment with almost 3 weeks of hindsight to absorb it.
My objection, barely a day after the incident, was the instant coronation of this man without any look at what really happened, before waiting for even preliminary results to tell us that it truly was an accident, and not pilot error, to be sure he wasn't drunk or something (which has happened with pilots before), etc. The mass craze of adulation before ANY of the facts were in was what I was objecting to.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 09:06:43 – Like – Reply
Tikunolam
I have to disagree. It is a story of good judgement under extreme pressure which prevented a probable catastrophe and tremendous potential loss of life. We reward people with the title "hero" for things like this all the time, someone pulls someone out of a burning home, a soldier carries another to safety. We certainly felt that way about our folks in uniform on 9/11 who saved lives even when only "doing their job." That is heroism. It is inspiring and apparently appreciated by enough people that it made news internationally.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 07:57:12 – Like – Reply
Rachel
Madness, utter madness. I agree that if he was responsible for making a safe landing then he should be congratulated etc, but it's so OTT. And why do things like this always make the top story on the news here in the UK?
FWIW, we have the same issues here with the press.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 02:22:55 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The mouse? It'll never catch on!
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memoryten
http://www.memoryx.net/ provides easy way to find any type of memory, like - computer memory , apple memory, compaq memory, flash memory . You can make best deal out of it.
Monday, September 28, 2009, 18:20:55 – Like – Reply
welovemacs
http://www.welovemacs.com/ One Stop Store for iphone, Bluetooth Product, imac memory, iPOD Accessories , video cards, networking, software and so on.
Friday, September 25, 2009, 20:10:59 – Like – Reply
smarterdeals
www.SmarterDeals.com provides Online Shopping and best price comparison features exclusively for hi-tech products, like - computer hardware, software and electronics. You can make best deal out of it.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 00:51:10 – Like – Reply
Child Ish Behavior
In the end he was right, people soon will not need to use a mouse any longer. Tough screen, and other devices will replace it. In the end it all becomes outdated and useless.
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 04:13:43 – Like – Reply
worldofcables
WorldofCables One Stop Store for Apple/Macintosh, Chargers, MP3 & iPOD Accessories, PDA & Phone Accessories, Computer Accessories, PC Cables, Flash Memory Cards, USB Cables, DVI Cables, Firewire Cables, Monitor Cables, Adapters, Connectors, Audio Video Cables, Gaming Accessories.
http://www.worldofcables.com/store/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=2779
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 02:57:01 – Like – Reply
Rachel
These new-fangled devices annoy the heck out of me. The wheel - isn't walking fast enough?! And as for that fire thing - words fail me... grrr
Rachel
Monday, January 19, 2009, 09:51:42 – Like – Reply
Raizy
What a grouchy old guy.
What kind of a computer industry analyst doesn't want "one of these new fangled devices"? That's like a physician claiming that there is no need to develop new medications. It makes no sense.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 21:01:58 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
People cant be more wrong.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 16:04:41 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Flatbush, Ohio
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dys
yes
Monday, February 09, 2009, 15:10:46 – Like – Reply
Katie
Bexley?
Monday, February 09, 2009, 14:32:03 – Like – Reply
Guest
yup, I do
Sunday, February 08, 2009, 19:40:01 – Like – Reply
Katie
Literally - (if you live in Columbus?)
Saturday, February 07, 2009, 21:52:36 – Like – Reply
Prof K
We moved to Midwood when we first got married because Boro Park, where my husband was raised, was frumming out to the right. Modern Midwood didn't last too long. In late 1976 you could already see what was coming so in 1977 we moved to Staten Island, our own little version of what Flatbush used to be. And Willowbrook SI pretty much still remains a "normal" place to live, I guess protected by the bridges you have to cross to get here.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 15:25:16 – Like – Reply
dys
Katie,
Figuratively, or literally?
Friday, February 06, 2009, 09:08:20 – Like – Reply
lars shalom
yah de bah yah
Thursday, February 05, 2009, 06:35:21 – Like – Reply
Katie
I think I used to live where you live.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009, 23:05:36 – Like – Reply
Steg (dos iz nit der shteg)
Flatbush, Ohio sounds like a nice place
Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 23:03:20 – Like – Reply
dys
And then of course, there was some sub-area of Vanderveer called Nottingham, which I may have lived in - not sure...
Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 11:43:04 – Like – Reply
dys
Well, I was using "Flatbush" in the colloquial sense, the way Orthodox Jews refer to it. Technically, I grew up in Vanderveer, not Midwood.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 11:40:47 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
The real area is midwood (and now even ohio), not flatbush. For some reason flatbush extended from (if youre familiar with the area) ave. H to brighton beach, everything in the middle is called flatbush.
Monday, February 02, 2009, 22:13:53 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Good post!
When my parents moved from Boro Park to Flatbush in 1980, they were running away from the "Hasidization" of Boro Park. Flatbush was cool then. Now, as you noted, it's choking with frummies. (Not that there's anything wrong with that ( ;
Monday, February 02, 2009, 22:06:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Torat Ezra Judaism isn't Orthodox
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Ilana-Davita
You're probably closest to the people at YCT or "Institute of Jewish Ideals"; both Orthodox.
I'm lloking forward with what more you have to say on the subject.
Monday, February 16, 2009, 15:41:53 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i think that civil marriages in israel would be good for the more secular jews. if there is no jewish marriages, then they dont wont have the problem of having to get a get. it would be one way of solving the agunah problem. and its a big problem in israel.at least the non-frum wont get to experience this problem.
Saturday, February 14, 2009, 19:38:33 – Like – Reply
dys
Actually, the wife has meat for dinner this shabbat...
Friday, February 13, 2009, 15:28:49 – Like – Reply
efrex
If you're looking for halachically observant Jews who believe that the religious parties are doing more harm than good, you can certainly find them in Israel. One of my favorite lecturers on yutorah, Rabbi Rakeffet-Rothkoff, has been saying the same thing for decades now, and I seem to recall R' Shach saying that it would be better if Israeli civil marriage were not connected to the rabbinate.
As far as your general religious philosophy: well, as we've both noted elsewhere, "Orthodox" is an externally-applied label, and one that rabbis from Hirsch to Soloveitchik have repudiated. Just make sure that you don't get called late for dinner (although with no meat at the table, I'd be in no hurry to show up... *ducks thrown organic vegetables* I kid! I kid!)
Friday, February 13, 2009, 14:34:47 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Whether or not your readers agree with you, these are important issues that should be discussed. I look forward to reading your opinions.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:17:55 – Like – Reply
Child Ish Behavior
The pluralism argument is more of a liberal argument than a religious argument. If the goal is to allow each person to worship as they please, at whatever level of observance that they choose, then it follows that pluralism is necessary, no matter what your specific religious philosophy happens to be. However, if you believe that your form of worship is the only form and all other forms are idolatry, then pluralism is really out of the question. It doesn't matter if a few people get to worship the way they want. All that matters is the fact that the one true form of worship is kept to. It isn't that they are toeing the party line, they are just acting based on conservative platform while you are acting on a liberal one.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:00:18 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Destroying a friendship because of an interpretation of halacha
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Guest
How do you square your innate moral sense, which gave you clear guidance, with your commitment to halakha, which, if it doesn't take the opposite position, certainly is far less clear on the issue?
Saturday, February 21, 2009, 22:40:21 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
I agree with efrex in appreciating that the O-U didn't editorialize it. Perhaps they meant to inspire others to follow in Aliza's footsteps.
Her piece expresses sadness but I also sensed some ambivalence at the difficulty of holding onto a friend, however wonderful, who belonged to her pre-Jewish life. (She mentioned having lost other non-Jewish friends, although none as close as Cynthia).
I imagine it would be /much/ more difficult for an ex-Catholic convert to Judaism to enter a church, than it would be for someone who grew up Jewish, and for this reason I can understand why she chose to follow the Rav who forbade it (as opposed to the one who, himself, enters churches).
Similarly, perhaps she could have found alternative, "virtual" ways of attending the wedding, but she chose a relatively black-and-white approach, and I think this, too, might reflect her ambivalence and difficulty holding onto friends - even much-loved ones -- from her previous life.
Conversion is hard and she is making the decisions she needs to make to take care of herself as best she can.
Thursday, February 19, 2009, 15:26:17 – Like – Reply
efrex
I'm actually pleased that the OU posted the article in toto, with no editorial additions.
Dealing with interfaith issues is an extremely complex process, particularly for geirim and ba'alei teshuva, who often lack the confidence or social structure/ minhag to make these kind of decisions on their own, and need to get rabbinic guidance. At some level, even FFBs need to ask themselves how far they should go, and get appropriate rabbinic advice.
IMHO, this article isn't meant to be inspiring, in the sense of spiritual uplift ("ooh! Look how wonderfully she's growing up away from the tarfus of her past!"), but thought-provoking. For those of us who live and thrive in heterogeneous social worlds, where do we draw lines? When is it appropriate to draw them based on our own subjective feelings of right & wrong, and when do we seek guidance? What do we do when the advice we sought contradicts our own innate sense?
These are serious questions, and deserve serious thought from clergy and laity alike.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 16:18:42 – Like – Reply
frum single female
wow! what a sad story . i think that it would be such a hard thing to tell a convert to judaism not to attend her gentile best friend's wedding or funeral even if in a church. some of the comments on the ou site are quite heartless, like the ones that say not to mix with gentiles. good greif. the woman was a convert.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 22:07:14 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
I have read the article and have found the arraya of comments interesting. Not all (Orthodox) rabis believe that Christianity is idolatry. besides if you feel confident in your Judaism, would a ttending a wedding and obviously not participate in the service change your religion? I believe not.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 16:28:51 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: TEJ overview - please add suggestions!
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Ilana-Davita
Looks interesting and inspiring. Looking forward to whatever you will write.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009, 15:57:13 – Like – Reply
dys
Whoops - forgot to add pluralism. That's a big one.
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:59:19 – Like – Reply
dys
*condensing
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:35:43 – Like – Reply
dys
Efrex,
I'll definitely be addressing that.
As to your earlier point - yes, it's probably a tad ambitious - I was just sort of making a stream of conciousness list - I'm welcome to suggestions for condesing the list too!
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:35:13 – Like – Reply
efrex
You've got 16 points, each of which could easily be a ten-page essay, and you're asking for more?! Dude, there's type-A personality and there's just craziness...
One thing that I'd like to see addressed (perhaps within "Rabbinic Authority"): Under what circumstances would you heed a religious authority if he/she told you something that went against your intuitive halachic/hashkafic understanding? Would it be only a certain person (i.e. "My rabbi") or only certain issues (i.e. "I'll listen on kashrut, but on interpersonal things, my understanding is what counts")?
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:02:28 – Like – Reply
Chavi
If you call it "Underconstructionist" and it involves constant evolution and reconsiderations regarding one's Judaism? I am SO signing up as a member :D
Sunday, March 01, 2009, 19:55:11 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
I think I'd start by answering the question "what is the purpose of living a religious life?" Once you've got that down, you can go into specifics of what that religious life is.
Sunday, March 01, 2009, 11:49:37 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Exposing myself
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dys
BHB - lol!
And yes, I am under 40 & know who Alfred E Newman is - I grew up on MAD.
I'm WAY under 40! I won't be 40 for another 8 months.
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 21:17:39 – Like – Reply
Baal Habos
Heh, I had one of those moments - http://baalhabos.blogspot.com/2007/03/time-has-come.html
And look what happened as a result - http://baalhabos.blogspot.com/2007/03/monsey-herald.html
Careful...
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 19:16:20 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Blast from the (recent) past - reinvigorating my idealism
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katrina
Did you ever move out of town and find a shul you liked? Have you thought about publishing a list of good shuls out of town?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 08:25:46 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: REALLY glad I voted for Obama!
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Mike S.
One would think from what has been reported in the press and said in political commentary that President Bush instituted a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Actually what he did was loosen a ban that had been imposed during the Clinton administration, by allowing federal funding on 7 stem-cell lines that were extant at the time of the announcement.
Monday, April 20, 2009, 19:56:02 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
You might want to see this from NPR's website (4/1). It claims that the banning of phthalates in children's toys is unnecessary but the Dems supported the ban anyway. Think we'll be hearing anything about the Dems' war on science?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102567295
Friday, April 03, 2009, 00:17:57 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
DYS,
Well first of all let's be clear about what's gettng reversed. It's not a ban on stem cell funding it's a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. There are arguments pro and con about this, and the arguments against it aren't all religious.I don't see anything in Obama's statement that you quoted that addresses any of them.
Now Obama's comments that you quote expresses ideals, but he isn't saying how he intends to make sure they succeed at what they're are supposed to do. So it's the type of thing that's simply designed to make people feel good without really showing that he's eliminating his administration's influence in scientific research.
So, as I see it, and maybe I'm wrong, but then you didn't give me any reason to suspect that I might be wrong, is that you're saying that you're glad you voted for Obama because Obama issued a vague proclamation that made you feel good. A statement like that is like saying you're glad you voted for Obama because he just said something that made you feel glad that voted for him. That's circular reasoning to me.
If you had given a reason to believe that a, there had previously been a problem with this and b, Obama actually had done something specific to keep his administration's political influence out of science (ha, ha), then you really would have said something, and I wouldn't be complaining about circular reasoning. But you didn't.
It seems that you just made some assumptions, didn't articulate what they were, or explain why you thought they were valid, and then you assumed that they were so obvious that everyone who reads the blog would make the same assumptions. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn't.
Friday, March 13, 2009, 12:41:47 – Like – Reply
dys
Ichabod,
Not sure what you're asking. Of course I'm pleased that the decision has been reversed, but what I was happy about specifically was the attitude towards science that Obama is espousing, after too many years of science being supressed or manipulated to fit the preconceieved notions of conservatives, be it on stem cell research, climate change, energy policy, etc.
Your assertion that "all (I) know about federal funding of stem cell research is what's in Obama's speech" is made up out of whole cloth, and is nowhere implied in my few words in my post outside of the quote.
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 12:07:18 – Like – Reply
Raizy
The Bush administration's ban on federal funding for stem cell research was purely to appease the Republican party's ultra-conservative base. It really has nothing to do with preventing abortions. It simply impeded necessary research into finding cures for neurological disorders. I am also very glad that it has been reversed.
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 08:17:49 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Hmm. Are you saying you're glad you voted for Obama because he says nice things about stem cell research and all you know about federal funding of stem cell research is what's in Obama's speech? It's kind of circular reasoning, no?
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 00:34:02 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: So what if Birchat Hachama isn't "true"?
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RJM
See my post on this http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009, 14:20:06 – Like – Reply
lvnsm
I agree, we should still take a lesson from this and appreciate the gift that Hashem has given us, for example, the light and the warmth that we get from the sun
Tuesday, April 07, 2009, 04:49:03 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Cheating revisited - what would you do?
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Jessica
I'd probably choose B (simply because I'm not a fan of talking to people one on one... yeah, I'm a weirdo.). If I lose my scholarship, I lose it. At least I'll still be able to say that I stuck to my guns and didn't give in to temptation. Some things are just more important than grades.
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 11:01:00 – Like – Reply
Child Ish
I would cheat. And I am not the type of person who cheats, it is just the scenario you presented is such that cheating is not really cheating in this case. Since the grading is on a curve, what is being testing is knowledge relative to everyone else, by not cheating you cost yourself the test. This is not the same situation as would be the case if everyone were judged on their own merits.
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 00:37:03 – Like – Reply
robert
Honestly, I would rationalize choice "C" by saying that its the professor's fault for not properly safeguarding the test. The results of the test curve will be skewed and therefore "dishonest" whether or not I were to cheat. Cheating would be the only prudent way to handle this unfortunate breach of security. In fact, I can and probably would go so far in my rationalization to say that in this case I was a victim of the lax system, and had no other choice but to cheat.
Isn't the human mind a great thing?
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 00:15:04 – Like – Reply
frum single female
wow... this is a tough one. i wouldnt have the guts to do A, and i hope that i would be able to do B. .
Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 22:50:17 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Who were the Tzidukim? (Sadducees)
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Material Maidel
Interesting post.
The first time I heard about the Saduccees and Essenes, and all the other 'sects' was when I took a Religion course in College.
I still don't understand how Judaism could have divided into 'sects'. Would we now consider Conservative and Orthodox judaism as different sects?
Tuesday, May 05, 2009, 22:02:50 – Like – Reply
smoo
I have two posts relevant to you topic. The first is an easier read than the second.
http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2008/12/antigonus-and-tradition.html
http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2008/04/road-to-rabbinic-rule.html
Tuesday, May 05, 2009, 14:20:39 – Like – Reply
Sheryl Abbey
Since you're discussing historical reality...have you seen the new Koren Sacks Siddur? It combines the renowned textual accuracy and design of Koren Publishers Jerusalem with a contemporary English translation and an amazing commentary by Chief Rabbi of the UK, Sir Jonathan Sacks and--dare I say--includes prayers for Yom Ha'atzma'ut, Yom Hazikaron, missing Israeli soldiers, the US military and other historical realities.
Sunday, May 03, 2009, 16:55:11 – Like – Reply
Baal Habos
>The Sadducees were a heretical sect active during the Second Temple era. They denied the validity of the Oral Tradition, maintaining that only the literal sense of the Torah was binding."
That's the pshat in "History belongs to the victor".
Sunday, May 03, 2009, 07:19:21 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: A very Charedi Lag Ba-Omer
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mikeinmidwood
Thats a famous one, I was going to go to that.
Friday, May 15, 2009, 15:36:00 – Like – Reply
dys
E.27 between J & K
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 22:44:54 – Like – Reply
mikeinmidwood
Where was this one?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 22:06:35 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My Blackberry Pearl, Z"L
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dys
I have a new blackberry
Withdrawal was tough
Friday, May 22, 2009, 12:11:22 – Like – Reply
rachel
Oh no!
Friday, May 22, 2009, 11:50:00 – Like – Reply
dys
no
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 20:19:01 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
So the bed of rice didn't work.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 16:40:39 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The incredible shrinking God
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Child Ish
Good point. I think people have to have some sort of blinders on to ignore empirical evidence. It takes a special type of dishonesty, or at least a misconception of Hashem, to believe in God of the gaps. Religion never was the denial of the empirical, in fact the Halacha manifests itself in empirical ways. Do we only nod our heads when things seem to fit what we want them to say?
Thursday, May 28, 2009, 15:12:40 – Like – Reply
efrex
dys:
If you haven't already done so, pick up R' Hirsch's writings on evolution, where he makes the point more clearly (indeed, Slifkin quotes Hirsch routinely). (excerpt from an online source; it sounds accurate, but I don't have the original to compare)
Even if this notion [evolution] were ever to gain complete acceptance by the scientific world... Judaism... would call upon its adherents to give even greater reverence than ever before to the one, sole God Who, in His boundless creative wisdom and eternal omnipotence, needed to bring into existence no more than one single, amorphous nucleus and one single law of “adaptation and heredity” in order to bring forth... the infinite variety of species we know today... This would be nothing else but the actualization of the law of le-mino, the “law of species” with which God began His work of creation...
Another great inspiration for me is the late Nobelist Richard Feynman, physics professor at Cal Tech and raconteur, who, although not at all a traditionally observant Jew, routinely waxed poetic about the spiritual beauty of natural laws:
Poets say science takes away from the beauty of the stars — mere globs of gas atoms... Nothing is "mere"... I too can see the stars on a desert night, and feel them. But do I see less or more? The vastness of the heavens stretches my imagination... It does not do harm to the mystery to know a little more about it. For far more marvelous is the truth than any artists of the past imagined it. Why do the poets of the present not speak of it? What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 11:19:42 – Like – Reply
dys
Smoo,
I really like that way of thinking about it. Thanks!
Friday, May 22, 2009, 13:32:59 – Like – Reply
smoo
A thought from R. Slifkin regarding evolution: What is a greater power? A. God must constantly be making new creations, updating things regularly or B. doing one act that unfolds into infinite expressions.
ANS: B is correct. Imagine all the updates you receive and fixes that Microsoft sends you for your computer so that all will go well and repair the unforeseen. Now imagine if someone made a computer that never needed updating, fixes, etc because all contingencies were accounted for from inception. Now look at what God did. He made a big bang, one act of creation ex nihilo. From that, all the universe differentiated and life sprung up. Included in the program was a mechanism of evolution whereby life changed, adapted, varied with environmental and inter-species pressure etc. I'd say that is much more impressive and that is not only how I see my God but how I can remain a logical, intellectually honest scientist and be a religious Jew.
Torah wasn't meant to be a scientific lesson but a moral/social one.
See Slifkin's approach to allegory in breishis at my post: http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2006/09/zoo-torah.html
Friday, May 22, 2009, 12:58:12 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Values and ethics and morals, oh my!
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Ilana-Davita
Fine post. A good "summary" of the major ethical dilemmas we have to face. Thanks for writing it.
Friday, June 05, 2009, 02:37:45 – Like – Reply
Child Ish
I think everyone does this to an extent. Everyone get's their own morals from themselves. I have yet to find one person that feels the same way on every issue, even people who profess to be the most charaidi. The differences in people's opinions come from the fact that everyone's judgments on things come out of a mixture of various components, and not just The Torah. I think the ideal for a Jew is to see the Torah, or some interpretation of the Torah, as the basis for making ethical decisions and forming the basis for what you believe to be right and wrong.
"Struggling with ethical dilemmas and thinking for oneself, based on the richness of oneâ??s own experience is part of life." The only way there can be such a struggle is if you have chosen a system of ethics that is not changeable based on your own whims. Where is the ethical dilemma if "it's all good"?
You have to look at the world from the prism of the torah, and not the other way around, at least ideally. The question isn't, what do the rabbis want me to do, it isn't even, what does the torah actually want me to do. The way an independently thinking Jew approaches ethics is, as a person who believes himself to be a follower of the Torah, how should I act?
Thursday, June 04, 2009, 01:44:02 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My first post criticizing Obama (no kidding)
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Ichabod Chrain
DYS,
I know your politics lean left, but my question is why? Massive governmental spending didn't work when FDR tried it during the 30's, it didn't work in 1930's Germany (which was going bankrupt before they signed the pact with Stalin), and it isn't working for the Japanese now.
And Bush's foreign policy wasn't a disaster. We could disagree with specific aspects of it, but for the most part (including the Iraq war) it was a breath of fresh air compared to what it followed and to what I expect we'll have now.
Thursday, June 11, 2009, 01:26:22 – Like – Reply
dys
This is your only criticism of Obama? The stimulus bill that's giving us mounds of debt but isn't giving us any jobs doesn't bother you? The fact that Obama goes all over the world apologizing, doesn't bother you? The expanded role he's giving the government doesn't bother you?
Ichabod,
My politics lean very liberal on most issues. I applaud most of Obama's moves on the economy. Recovery takes time.
As for Obama going "all over the world apologizing", I have to say that I haven't seen that. What you mean is that he's grovelling, and that's a right-wing interpretation. He may have acknowleged real mistakes by the US, but that's just good diplomacy after the disaster of Bush.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 13:05:59 – Like – Reply
dys
David,
Obama's not a minister. I presume there are hundreds of bible verses we've never heard him say. Your comment is idiotic.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 13:01:27 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
This is your only criticism of Obama? The stimulus bill that's giving us mounds of debt but isn't giving us any jobs doesn't bother you? The fact that Obama goes all over the world apologizing, doesn't bother you? The expanded role he's giving the government doesn't bother you?
I would suggest that you should be worried. Very, very worried.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 10:55:36 – Like – Reply
David
BIBLE VERSES OBAMA AVOIDS !
For reasons known only to him, President Obama avoids certain Bible verses:
Proverbs 19:10 (NIV): "It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury - how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!"
Also Proverbs 30:22 (NIV) which says that the earth cannot bear up under "a servant who becomes king."
Monday, June 08, 2009, 23:36:22 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
I think Obama's right not to visit Israel, so long as wing-nuts like Lieberman are are trying to pass McCarthyist legislation mandating loyalty oaths and outlawing free expression. Obama and the US shoudl eb friends with Israel because of shared values. When Israel's government abandons those values, the US should rightly step back from it, at least symbolically.
Thursday, June 04, 2009, 08:45:43 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The Staten Island Ferry
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efrex
Back when I was working in the Wall Street area, and had free time, I would regularly ride the ferry back and forth when the weather was nice... One of the greatest things to do for free in the city, and almost makes keeping Staten Island worth it (*in best Don Rickles voice* "I kid! I kid!")
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 09:53:32 – Like – Reply
dys
Well, my current work situation is changing soon anyway and I only do the commute on a semi-regular basis, not every day. So for the meantime, I'll enjoy it!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 20:46:22 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I LOVE the Staten Island ferry. It is relaxing, if you take it once in a while. But it's very slow and you may start to go a bit crazy if you take it every day.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 20:34:04 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: I work for a giant rat!
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Trackback
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Title: wireless cell service
Excerpt: Be A Part of An Explosive Business, That Will Change Mobile Technology Forever - Unlimited your Income at http://www.zero1mobile.us
Blog name: wireless cell service
Wednesday, July 08, 2009, 10:59:02 – Like
Jessica
That's where the dog lived. (I honestly don't know how her owner could even afford her apartment. She was from Italy and spoke almost no English). Didn't realize they moved it around.
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 21:44:05 – Like – Reply
dys
They move the rat around. This was in Lower Manhattan, in the financial district. It wasn't there this morning.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 21:22:14 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I used to walk a dog in that area. I would pass by that rat everyday on the way to her apartment.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 21:05:41 – Like – Reply
frum single female
wow. i never realized why they would have that inflatable rat on the street. i always thought it was kind of cute. i didnt know it was used for protests!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 19:44:31 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: To tweet or not to tweet
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E. Fink
Twitter is a great way to meet and interact with people if used properly.
Thursday, July 09, 2009, 17:10:43 – Like – Reply
Holy Hyrax
The answer lies in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN2HAroA12w
Twitter is the first great evil of this century.
Monday, June 22, 2009, 16:54:59 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Twitter began as a microblogging platform, and I know it's ruined a lot of people for actually blogging. Why blog when you can just write 140-character blurbs every 20 seconds?
I'm not one of those people, unfortunately.
I like Twitter because it's allowed me to network like crazy, it's connected me to a lot of Jewish bloggers I otherwise wouldn't have met, and it's allowed me to meet people in the Jewish e-verse that are worthwhile people, darn't.
It's unique in that it connects you in a way that Facebook and Blogging cannot. Does that help ...?
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 22:59:08 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Is the ketchup kosher?
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goody
i don't know what 'kosher' actually mean, but listen my advice: don't complicate you life too much with all those religious stuff... just enjoy it, because you'll never know how long you're gonna live
Monday, July 27, 2009, 10:54:55 – Like – Reply
RS
"But on pesach, a "mashehu", even a miniscule amount of chametz in a product classifies the entire product as chametz. Therefore, almost any processed product that isn't specifically kasher l'pesach must be considered chametz."
Unfortunately you don't know the halacha. This only applies if the chametz was mixed on pesach. If the chametz is less than 60 and was mixed before pesach it is fine. So there is nothing wrong with the ketchup.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 10:42:55 – Like – Reply
efrex
Naturally, this is l'halacha velo lema'aseh (theoretical, not practical), especially as I'm not at all a halachic authority, but I can think of at least two concepts that require explicating before you could answer the question:
1) Your mechirat chametz: did you specify the locations where your chametz was located? If so, did you include your work location on the shtar mechira?
2) Even if you didn't sell the chametz, you made your nullification statement ("kol chamira v'chamiya"). Now, this is actually quite an interesting issue, as there's a rabbinic debate as to what this accomplishes (side note: while selling chametz is a rabbinic innovation, the "nullification" is considered to be a Torah halacha). According to one opinion, you actually are negating the food status of your chametz ("declare it as dust,") while according to the other, you merely give up your ownership*. Now, as I see it, according to the first viewpoint, you couldn't decide to use the ketchup, since by considering it food, you retroactively nullify your original declaration (machshava mevatelet machshava), and you'd find yourself in posession of chametz. According to the second viewpoint, however, you've merely re-established your ownership over something that was not yours over Pesach; so long as that chametz was publicly available and you weren't makpid on it (not sure if that applies or not), you could reclaim it afterwards.
There's an argument to made on the value of the internet that I could actually make a long halachic post; I'm not sure if it's a positive or negative one, though...
________________________________________
* Rabbi Meir Fulda, one of YU's unsung heroes (the man's been teaching Torah for half a century in the less-glamorous JSS/mechina programs, living in relative anonymity in my neighborhood despite being a close talmid of Rabbis Joseph Soloveitchik and Chaim Heller) has a wonderful shiur where he notes that our formulation combines both viewpoints, "so what you wind up with is someone else's dust!"
Monday, June 29, 2009, 08:50:21 – Like – Reply
Mark
When I sell my chametz before Pesach, I make a list (for the contract) of all places the chametz might be found, and I include my office and my cars.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 22:28:55 – Like – Reply
dys
In any case, this is a halachic intellectual exercise. I'm not actually planning to eat it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 13:43:21 – Like – Reply
dys
Huh,
Did you even read my last comment? It's not kitniyot! It's chametz!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 13:42:27 – Like – Reply
huh?
this kitniyaose we're talking about, and you're worried about chametz sh'avar alav hapesach?! if this isn't baal tosif, don't know what is.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 13:21:31 – Like – Reply
dys
Liza,
Almost any processed product has many ingredients, some of which likely come from processes that utilize grains. For example, ketchup has distilled vinegar in it, which is often made from grain.
On Pesach, unlike the rest of the year, there's no concept of "batel b'shishim". During the year, if there's less than 1/60th of a nonkosher ingredient in a kosher product, or less than 1/60th of milk in a meat product, or vice versa, it's bedi'eved OK to eat.
But on pesach, a "mashehu", even a miniscule amount of chametz in a product classifies the entire product as chametz. Therefore, almost any processed product that isn't specifically kasher l'pesach must be considered chametz.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 12:42:22 – Like – Reply
liza
i dont get it.
it isnt chametz, it isnt even taaruves. its at worst kitniyos.
Is this a joke?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 02:31:34 – Like – Reply
dys
MM & CI,
I don't have serious plans to eat the ketchup. I usually try to buy organic ketchup anyway, that doesn't have refined sugars like corn syrup, like Heinz does. Like I said, it's just food for thought. But as far as the age of the ketchup goes, those packets last forever. They'd probably survive a nuclear war!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 23:56:53 – Like – Reply
Child Ish
I offer you one getto hetter coming right up.
CSAAAHP was put into place as a kinas for people who kept chametz in their possession over yom tov. You can follow the train of thought from there... But I'd just throw out the ketchup. as MM pointed out, it is old ketchup sitting in a desk for a long period of time.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 23:35:18 – Like – Reply
Material Maidel
Who cares if it's kosher.
You're actually gonna eat old ketchup???!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 23:22:17 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Tunisia - an Arab democracy?
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Ilana-Davita
There are still a few Jews in Tunisia (in the capital mainly) but they are old and theer probably won't be any left in twenty years' time.
It is probably one of the most democratic among Arab countries but not quite as democratic as Western countries.
Sunday, July 05, 2009, 10:38:07 – Like – Reply
rachel
Now that's interesting. You hear/read so little about this country...
rachel
Friday, July 03, 2009, 05:22:23 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i thought all the jews left tunisia for france in the early sixties due to anti-semitsm, then again that might not mean tunisia isnt democratic.
Thursday, July 02, 2009, 23:48:15 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Yehudi Hilchati
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Lady-Light
I was wondering where you went...(went back to Yehudi Hilchati, but was locked out. Can you unlock?)
I appreciate your straightforward honesty. They are very similar reasons for my blogging anonymously. I guess I am not prepared (or have the strength) to defend myself from the blows that would inevitably come from readers in my community who read my blog, and who disagree with my views. Just don't have the energy for it at this time...
Sunday, August 16, 2009, 00:09:09 – Like – Reply
dys
anonimuss,
I didn't think that the connection between the 2 blogs was a big secret to discerning minds. Especially when I lifted old posts wholesale from the old one & posted them here with only minor updates. That's why I decided that the whole switch turned out to have been mostly a waste of time.
Monday, July 27, 2009, 12:43:01 – Like – Reply
anonimuss
I knew it the whole time... no joke.
Sometimes it's tempting to just say revealing things. But I don't.
Saturday, July 25, 2009, 19:56:56 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
The main two reasons I blog anonymously are to protect my family's privacy, and to provide a degree of separation from the hospital where I work.
I don't write much on my blog that I wouldn't say out loud in front of my friends.
That said, there are many things I would like to write and don't, because I know my parents and their friends read the blog.
Half-anonymity doesn't quite work...
Sunday, July 19, 2009, 05:44:40 – Like – Reply
rachel
Hey there - Ilana Davita pointed me in the direction of this post. Interesting that we chose to post on similar issues during the same week!
Shabbat Shalom to you...
Rachel
Friday, July 17, 2009, 05:41:37 – Like – Reply
Jessica
No worries, I didn't take offense. I always thought I was so observant and could read people very well. I didn't even see a connection between the two blogs, lol.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 09:03:08 – Like – Reply
dys
Sorry - just realized the above sounds a little condescending and sounds like I "rewarded" you with a space on my blogroll for commenting on my old blog!
I just meant that because you commented a lot, I became aware of your blog, so I put it on my blogroll.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 21:27:48 – Like – Reply
dys
Thanks, Raizy!
Jessica,
Yes you did. You commented on many posts there too. That's why you ended up on my blogroll on this blog.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 21:00:40 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I think I used to read your old blog because that post sounds insanely familiar to me (and the screen name too).
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 20:10:49 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Popeye said "I yam what I yam".
Changing your blog name was not going to change your interests, opinions, or writing style, so it's not surprising that your new blog is similar to your old one. But I don't see any problem with that. The whole point is to feel free to express yourself, and while you may be "far from radical compared with many others", your readers (including me!) think that your posts are interesting, and intend to keep reading.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 18:33:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Doctors vs Moneylenders
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A Living Nadneyda
If he made the comment as a factual observation then it is not a stereotype. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would quote statistical sources but maybe he had actually checked the figures (if they exist).
Sunday, July 19, 2009, 05:40:35 – Like – Reply
kosherbride
A a soon to be Dr. I have to insert my opinion that the quote was correct. My class has a large percent of (mostly non-religious) Jews. It is the same at many medical schools on the coasts. In the south or midwest the stereotype does not hold as true. Medicine has lately been opening up to a lot of new people. Certain schools that were notoriously anti-Semitic are taking a few religious students every year and women are starting to take over the majority at other schools.
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 15:16:45 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Papers from the sky on 9/11
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Jessica
Hey, just wanted to let you know I tagged you in a meme.
Monday, August 03, 2009, 12:02:47 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Two days after the attacks, when school resumed, many of my students brought in singed papers that they had collected as they floated down from the skies. We discussed what should be done with them, and one boy said "I'm keeping these papers to show my children. Otherwise how will they ever believe what these bastards did to us?"
Sunday, August 02, 2009, 18:30:52 – Like – Reply
frum single female
you've been tagged.
Sunday, August 02, 2009, 18:09:58 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Glad to be on the bride's side
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jacob da jew
Didn't fast, sefradim don't fast. I always hang by the shmorg and go to the chassan's tish for some shots
Sunday, August 30, 2009, 15:18:36 – Like – Reply
dys
It might also be fainting from fasting. I was lucky - I got married on Purim Katan - didn't have to fast
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 17:10:25 – Like – Reply
Raizy
At every wedding I've ever attended, the groom has looked like he was about to faint from nerves. I can't imagine that those guys ever remember who was at the tish and who wasn't. You can probably stay at the shmorg the whole time if you want to. The groom will never know the difference.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 16:47:52 – Like – Reply
dys
I've done that. But I've also been stuck at the tish for the whole time.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 16:38:33 – Like – Reply
WolfishMusings
At the risk of sounding silly, why not simply take some food from the smorgasbord to the chosson's tish?
The Wolf
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 16:25:43 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The great bee massacre of August 2009
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Steg (dos iz nit der shteg)
go for the moss ? moss is mawesome
Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 09:38:09 – Like – Reply
dys
Thanks for the suggestion. I was feeling really crappy about the bees. I hate to kill anything. But our landlords would be very upset if they got fined for us not cutting the lawn, and today was my window to do it.
A few years ago, there was a cool article in the NY Times Magazine about the uselessness of lawns. I have to try to find it.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 20:42:52 – Like – Reply
Bzzzz
Sorry to hear about the bees.
Get a long stick - bamboo pole, broomstick, something like that, and shake it through the grass first. Do what you can to get the bees out BEFORE you start mowing. Or, go over it with a rake. If they keep coming back, rake a section, then mow it before they all come back.
Give this a try next time.
And, as always, make sure that they are not hornets and that it is not a hornet's nest built in the grass that they are gathered over. You don't want to disturb or mow over that.
I was kind of ticked off when I began reading your post, but then I read WHY you needed to mow the grass, so I can understand why it was necessary to mow then. From your comments, you do seem to like bees, so I can tell that you didn't do what you did out of malice or indifference. I do hope more got away than appeared to you.
It's good that you have so many bees around your area. I've only seen two or three honeybees all summer this year where I live.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 17:14:17 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Blogroll etiquette - reciprocity
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Ilana-Davita
I follow Raizy on this one.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 16:22:04 – Like – Reply
Something Different
Thats the main reason I don't have a blogroll. I wouldn't know who to add...
I've always been called an escapist...
Saturday, August 22, 2009, 22:40:19 – Like – Reply
tikunolam
One of the many reasons I don't have a blog. Too many rules to keep track of. But if I did have a blog, I'd put you on my blogroll and I would appreciate but not expect reciprocity.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 17:16:46 – Like – Reply
frum single female
if i really like a blog i will add them to my blogroll. it is always a tough decision if i see someone has me on their blogroll, but im not sure if i want to add them to my blogroll. this is why i have a secondary blogroll for blogs i like but dont necessarily read daily.
Monday, August 17, 2009, 23:34:38 – Like – Reply
E. Fink
These are two different concepts.
Blogroll and link exchange.
Monday, August 17, 2009, 15:32:17 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
My blogroll is for blogs I read regularly and that are consistent with my blog's genre. I don't do link exchange.
Monday, August 17, 2009, 08:13:09 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I was actually thinking something similar the other day. Though I was thinking in opposite terms: if you add someone to your blogroll and/or comment regularly on their blog, but the blogrolling/commenting is not reciprocated, would you remove them out of spite? (Yeah... I'm just a tad negative.)
Monday, August 17, 2009, 08:02:37 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I only add blogs that I enjoy reading and would feel comfortable recommending to other people.
Sunday, August 16, 2009, 16:28:03 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Live blogging Israel - sort of
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Abacaxi Mamao
In Israel, most people carry toilet paper for blowing their nose, instead of tissues. That's also what they often have in offices. I don't know why. I guess because it's cheaper? It's totally normal to see people taking toilet paper out of their backpacks to blow their noses on the bus, etc.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 23:26:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: I said no to a tzedaka plea
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TH
Although you may be correct in terms of perpetuating the system and all of that, It is assur to turn someone away empty handed. Perhaps next time give that single solitary shekel so as not to embarrass him. Or better, ask him why he was reduced to panhandling. These guys usually have a story they're happy to share. And for a brief, fleeting, moment you'll allow him to feel like a human being.
Friday, September 04, 2009, 01:33:40 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Don't feel too bad. There are plenty of other opportunities to give tzedakah, if you so choose.
Thursday, September 03, 2009, 20:16:06 – Like – Reply
Jessica
"Maybe I read too many blogs complaining about the kollel system... "
Sounds about right to me.
Thursday, September 03, 2009, 16:20:55 – Like – Reply
robert
In answer to your question the answer is yes. You were being smart. And stingy. I highly doubt that a few shecks here and there is really doing anything to perpetuate the kollel system.
Thursday, September 03, 2009, 13:11:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: God does not exist
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Ichabod Chrain
Robert,
Why do you think we need more halachic observance? People will observe to the extent that they feel is appropriate for them. Some halachas seem to be pretty arubitrary. What do you think the advantage of more halachic observance would be? (Not trying to argue with you, I can sort of understand why someone would aspire to such a goal for himself, but I can't understand what principled basis he might have for wanting others to be that way.)
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 01:18:02 – Like – Reply
robert
OK, so I went a bit overboard in my comments, and for that I must apologize to you. But since you market your blog as "Rational, critically thinking, socially progressive, halachically observant Judaism with a good deal of common sense thrown in" I think that when you post on weighty issues such as the existence of GOD, your focus on the main point you are trying to bring out, ought to be sharpened.
I hope that you accept my way too sharp critiques in the spirit in which they were intended-as a means of improvement of your blog. Lord knows we need more critical thought and common sense, as well as halachic observance.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 18:34:07 – Like – Reply
robert
dys said:
"...but my main point is that God cannot be proven."
And my main critique of your main point is that it is TOTALLY erroneous, and possibly dangerously misleading to think that since the existence of (God), (love), (Barack Obama) can not be proven, that it leads in any way to the conclusion that (God), (love), (Barack Obama) do not exist.
Just look how easily some of the comentators drank from your kool aid of denying G-d's existence. Shame on you, that a religious jew for whom God's existence should be axiomatic, should lower himself to write such drivel. And for what end, to "play semantics"?
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 18:13:04 – Like – Reply
robert
can you convince me that Barack Obama exists using logical arguments?
"Love is people's reaction to each other. The people exist. Thus the love is real."
By what method are you ascertaining that "The people exist"?
Furthermore, so what if the people exist? It is not a logical extension to say that since people exist, therefore love exists. And your statement that love is a reaction of one person to another is just nonsense. You are somehow elevating a reaction or an interaction into "love". That is not what love is. You are totaly obfuscating the issue.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 15:32:28 – Like – Reply
dys
Robert @ 12:15pm,
I reject the notion that any topic is off-limits to discussion. My version of Judaism isn't based on closing one's eyes to preserve emunah.
Your assertion that this post represents some sort of "lifnei iver" is silly. There are hundreds of Jewish blogs out there advocating no belief in God at all. And many of them are far more popular than mine.
As for the content, I'm just playing semantics to some degree, but my main point is that God cannot be proven. All we have is our emotions. I can't convince somebody that God is real using logical arguments. If anyone could, we wouldn't have free will.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 14:33:35 – Like – Reply
dys
Robert,
Love is people's reaction to each other. The people exist. Thus the love is real.
People also react to God. The love they have for God is real. But that doesn't mean that God himself is real. Someone can fall in love with an imaginary woman. That doesn't make her real.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 14:28:35 – Like – Reply
dys
Does love exist? Does a table exist? Emotions exist in the sense that there's a chemical reaction in the brain. And more tangibly, we view actions and interpret the motivation behind them as emotion or intent.
"Existence" is a tricky term, as my post pointed out.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 14:24:31 – Like – Reply
robert
dys,
I am uncertain if you are just trying to engage in an academic exercise as to whether or not God exists. However, I believe that this is a topic that ought not be discussed by a person who professess to be a halachically observant religious jew.
I believe that you should know that the ramifications of your words can have a tremendous impact on the practice of those who might happen upon your post.
Reading your words and using my enormous God-given ability to rationalize, I might justify my eating that cheeseburger or lobster "just this one time". After all, God, as you say, doesn't REALLY exist, but my desires to indulge REALLY do exist! So, what the hell, why not?
I believe that you ought to be more cognizant of the mighty power of your pen before posting on such speculative inquiries.
Additionally, you place yourself in the precarious position of being less of a "ma'amin" then the people of nineveh who obviously had a more tangible understanding of emunah than you did.
Dys, it is not yet too late for you to repent.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 12:10:09 – Like – Reply
B. Spinoza
I would say God is Existence
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 11:48:21 – Like – Reply
robert
IC,
The fourth sentence of the post asks what is the common definition of existence. I think that it is fair game to use the answer given by dys, and test it on other realms. My assertion is that utilizing dys's definition of existence, it follows that love, like god, does not exist.
My point is that love most definitely exists in this world. The way I know this with a high degree of certainty (100%) is through empiricism. There is no other way.
Same with Barack Obama. He most definitely exists. But again, the ONLY way I know this is true is through empiricism. The fact that his existence is corporeal does not prove in and of itself with ABSOLUTE certainty thst he exists. It is only through empiricism that we know with 100% certainty that he exists.
And I said in a previous post, God's incorporeality does not mitigate the reality of HIS existence by use of empiricism.
So, love most certainly exists, Barack Obama most certainly exists, and God most certainly exists.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 08:25:04 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Robert,
In answer to your question, I don't know. The post was entitled God Does Not Exist, not Love Does Not Exist
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 01:18:27 – Like – Reply
robert
dys said:
"...That's why I feel that those who try to "prove" God are on the wrong track. You can never prove God's existence, because by all standards of measurement that we use in our physical plane, God doesn't exist."
dys,
I feel that you are wrong.
True, God's existence can not be proven using objective standards.
However, God's incorporeality does not mitigate the reality of HIS existence by use of empiricism.
By which method can you prove to me that Barack Obama exists?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 19:55:54 – Like – Reply
robert
IC,
Does the statement you made also apply to my belief in the existence of love?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 13:43:29 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Robert,
It seems to me that you need to figure out how you know that what you're sensing is God. It could be something else.
Ichabod Chrain
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 02:27:10 – Like – Reply
robert
IC,
You seem to be saying that b/c love is an internal state, the knowledge of the existence of love can be wrong. Therefore love does not neccessarily exist. Please explain if I am wrong.
I believe that love exists and its existence can be sensed.
Similarly, I believe that H' exists, and HIS existence can be sensed. Therefore, from an empirical point of view, G-d exists.
Monday, September 21, 2009, 14:10:39 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Life is crazy, who has time to blog?
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Ilana-Davita
Hope you were lucky with your job interviews.
Thursday, October 08, 2009, 14:10:35 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Good luck with the job search!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 07:45:29 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
Good luck with your job interviews!!! Are you going to move? You seem like you really like where you live right now!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 02:55:22 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Why don't the women dance?
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dys
This post is now cross-posted on DovBear. Please leave any further comments there.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 15:49:40 – Like – Reply
bankman
From a techinical standpoint, you seem right....it would be like a wedding where they have a mechitza and the women dance on their side.
In this case, I wonder if it is looked down upon just from the sense of kalos roish that the day brings (see DovBear's post on Simchat Torah shtick) and of course the drinking, etc. - maybe women dancing in that environment would not be viewed in a favorable light from a tznius standpoint.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 14:47:01 – Like – Reply
dys
Bankman,
But the frummer shuls have pretty high mechitzot already - how would they see the women? How does it differ from a wedding.
REF,
Next year maybe we'll come to the west coast & your shul!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 13:30:15 – Like – Reply
E. Fink
They dance in our shul.
I agree with you completely, but I have been told by some women that they prefer watching the men. It is more fun for them.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 13:08:54 – Like – Reply
bankman
becasue the men might see the women dancing and that would be untznius
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 13:02:55 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Frum Jews and RV's
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efrex
Friends of ours actually did this a few years ago at Pesach-time: they had two children and a third well on the way. The father's job took him out of town until just before chag, and the mother was in no condition to make Pesach in their home. Her mother offered to feed them, but had no space to house the family.
What to do?
They closed their house, rented an RV, and parked it in her mother's driveway for the whole week! Instant guest space, no Pesach cleaning hassle, and much cheaper than a hotel!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 08:45:08 – Like – Reply
dys
I wonder how long it'll be before there are trailer parks for frum people!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 13:24:20 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
The boyfriend and I have considered doing this for a long time now ... the houses in the frum hood are so expensive that after we're married, if we can't afford one, we're buying an RV and parking it in the shul parking lot. Talk about convenience
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 00:30:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Can you vote in a church?
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neli g
iv sent you 2 e-mails, can you reply please?
Sunday, November 08, 2009, 12:07:53 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
My voting location is in a church, not the chapel, but the social hall. There are signs prominently posted that it's a polling place, so I don't see how there could be a problem with appearances.
Thursday, November 05, 2009, 01:32:14 – Like – Reply
Material Maidel
I think it's fine for voting - you're not in the actual chapel part are you? I know someone frum who goes to AA meetings in a church basement (don't ask how i know this).
for a funeral - i think that's a little more sketch. you could have just gone to the cemetary...
Thursday, November 05, 2009, 00:25:18 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I know someone who's voting area (whatever it's called) was in a church... I think you can just have it changed if you don't want to go into a church.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 08:49:52 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: First they came for the Conservative & Reform
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frum single female
i dont think its productive for any rabbis to be condemning reform, conservative or orthodox jews as a group . the goyim think we are all the same anyway. funny thing is , they get what we dont seem to get. we are all jews.
Sunday, December 20, 2009, 15:07:47 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
Why do Christians and Muslims have to be fought? Is that mitzvah #614 ?
Thursday, December 17, 2009, 01:23:48 – Like – Reply
XGH
Hey, he retracted (or clarified):
"No. That was a poorly structered sentence. Esav should not be lumped together with any group of Jews. I do not consider R and C Jews to be Esav. Today most of them are Tinokos SheNishba... including their rabbis and especially Reform rabbis. They are not Reshoim in the sense that Esav was."
Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 21:08:34 – Like – Reply
Steg (dos iz nit der shteg)
true that.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 16:00:38 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Tropper's an easy opponent
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efrex
how do those of us with a more open approach combat their increasing influence in all sectors of public Orthodox life?
Honestly? Ignore 'em. Other than my local food establishments taking on kashrut stringencies (glatt, yoshon, chalav yisrael), there's little charedi influence in my life. Those of us who follow a more "modern" way need not apologize for maintaining a lifestyle that is as valid, and has at least as long and glorious a history as the Eastern European shtetl. Those who want to denounce my lifestyle are clueless and ignorant, and their proclamations and bans are meaningless.
By the way, it's very hard to say just how entrenched extreme fundamentalist thinking is, even in the yeshiva world. When I was last in Lakewood, I saw many signs in shuls that included email addresses and URLs, despite the apparent internet ban. The yeshiva world is much more diverse than it may appear, and I think that most people (both MO and yeshivish) are much too busy with the travails of day-to-day life to worry about how old the universe really is.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 07:48:16 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
LL,
You're the 2nd person who was offended by my post. Maybe I should have worded things differently. This is not about attacking all Charedim. This is about opposing their undue influence on all sectors of Orthodox communal life & institutions.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 07:21:38 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
One wonders why 'moshiach isn't here yet'? (if you believe it that way); what you are writing about is akin to sin'at hinam, not to mention the corruption and menuvalim being exposed amongst many Hareidim.
Don't have a solution yet (it's late and I'm tired.)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 00:47:42 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Earthquake in Haiti - the Jewish connection
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MKR
I'm coming in rather late here, but at my blog, Skeptical Jew, I made a series of entries on this subject, or rather about Pat Robertson's remarks on it and some related matters, back in January. Only one entry, though, has anything specifically Jewish in it -- a bit about the Book of Job and Rabbi Harold Kushner's interpretation of it.
Monday, March 15, 2010, 22:33:59 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
In the days following the earthquake, the Jblogosphere, and Jewish insititutions in general, really rose to the challenge of helping. I wrote my post before all that, and was subsequently impressed with my fellow Jews.
I'm well, thanks for asking!
Monday, January 18, 2010, 15:47:10 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Eliyahu Fink had a link last Friday - I had put included it in my weekly review so had Baila from I'll Call Baila (http://illcallbaila.blogspot.com/2010/01/avi-goes-to-haiti.html).
BTW I hope you are well.
Monday, January 18, 2010, 15:28:35 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: A Scott Brown win: Good for health care reform?
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Rabba bar bar Chana
Looks like I was wrong. It's a month later & no health care bill. The Democrats are wimps.
Friday, February 19, 2010, 13:36:51 – Like – Reply
Garnel Ironheart
Ultimately what the socialist left wants is a government monopoly on healthcare like up here in Canada. If that's the case, it would be instructive to learn about how it was done in Canada.
In Canada we used to have a system similar to the U.S. About 50 years ago the government started to take over the system but it did so in the manner of "creeping socialism".
First, it took over the hospitals, essentially paying for anything done in them that was medically necessary like surgery, treatment of critical conditions, etc. You still had to pay the doctor and for medications but hospitalizations were covered and back then that was the big medical expense people feared.
Then bit by bit they introduced more and more control. They included basic visits to the doctor in health care, then started covering basic medications, physiotherapy, a little bit at a time, a little bit at a time. Over 30 years they took over the entire heath care system but because it was done so gradually there was no uproar because no individual decision was so controversial.
It was only in the late 1980's that even doctors finally realized what was happening when extra billing was taken away.
If the Dem's are smart, they'll do the same thing. Pick one thing to socialize, one thing that people will not complain about if the government takes it over and just make that their big change. Then, in another term, try something else...
Friday, January 22, 2010, 09:10:44 – Like – Reply
Woodrow/Conservadox
1. It is not true that the "bill" had been rejected by Mass. voters. Mass. voters rejected a specific candidate. In fact, the voters who named health care as the most important issue voted Democratic.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/massachusetts/a_final_look_at_massachusetts_election_night_poll
2. In any event, Mass. is a special case because people already have health care reform very similar to what's left of the Senate bill- an individual mandate, subsidies for more coverage, but no public option. So they saw no need to do much for the rest of the country.
3. Having said that, the Democrats will wimp out and nothing will be passed, because Democrats are scared of their own shadow even when they get the issues right. If Democrats were terrorists (not that, chas veshalom, I would imply that they are) they would be the sort of terrorist that accidentally blows himself up in a bomb-making accident before having the chance to kill anyone else.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 15:03:32 – Like – Reply
tesyaa
HaloScan still exists??
Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:44:40 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Sorry about the double post. I though Haloscan ate the first one.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 20:01:24 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Also, rushing to pass a bill the voters in MA won't support has to be very bad for the Dem. in November. This sate is so one sided that even when there were Republican governors the Reps. did not contest (i.e. run any candidate at all) enough districts in the state legislature to sustain a veto. Yes, the Democrat ran unopposed in more than 2/3rds of the district. If the health care bill won't sell here, it won't sell anywhere in the US.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 20:00:52 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Also, while I am no expert, I would imagine that rushing to pass a bill that had just been rejected by the most liberal electorate in the country would not, to say the least, bode well for the Democrats in November.
You may be unaware of just how lopsided MA is. Even when we had Republican governors there weren't enough Rep. legislators to sustain a veto. Indeed, in some years the Reps. didn't even field enough candidates to sustain a veto even if they had all won. And, especially in the last week or so, this has been about health care. If the current bill won't sell in MA, it won't sell anywhere.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 19:57:22 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Of course, a better outcome, no matter who wins in MA, would be to tear the whole thing up and work out a better bill that would meet the two most important objectives, namely giving everyone insurance while limiting costs so both government and private citizens can afford other things as well. The current bill does neither; it is a terrible bill fashioned among the lobbyists for the providers of various sorts, the insurance industry and the unions, made even worse with bribes for particular Senators.
A good bill should be sufficiently popular to pass easily
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 19:41:22 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Can prayers time travel?
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Mr. Cohen
Babylonian Talmud, tractate Berachot, page 54A:
A prayer about the past is called a prayer in vain (Tefilat Shav).
?????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???
To receive quick quotes from Jewish holy books and short true inspirational stories of Rabbis, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DerechEmet/
Saturday, April 03, 2010, 23:38:52 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My approach to Kitniyot
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Ichabod Chrain
I never underestood how a minhag as distingushied from a gzairah can have the force of law, since they come from different sources. On what basis can it be enforced?
Also doing something because my grandparents and great grandparents did something makes no sense to me. For all I know they could have swung chickens over the heads. As for kitneyot, if they were here today with modern packaging, they might not have had any problems eating kitneyot.
Friday, April 02, 2010, 02:04:14 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Laissez ici votre commentaire en respectant les lois. Tout commentaire jugé inapproprié (agressif, raciste, diffamatoire, publicitaire, grossier, hors sujet…) sera supprimé
Interesting approach. I agree with you; the prohibition against quinoa is ridiculous.
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 18:12:07 – Like – Reply
onherown
It's nice that you have this feeling toward halacha's evolution.
I have a feeling toward the broader picture of Judaism in that way, but not really with the development of minhagim, etc. I start to feel that at a certain point it seems absurd. When you look at what Judaism originally was and what it is now, the gulf is just way too big.
I guess I can understand the beauty of honoring what my anscestors were doing, but for me that doesn't translate into the minutiae.
Friday, March 26, 2010, 15:08:17 – Like – Reply
xgh
Here's my approach to kitniyot.
1. Put kitniyot in mouth
2. Eat kitniyot
Thursday, March 25, 2010, 09:12:50 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Yom Hazikaron LaShoah VeLaGvura
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onherown
Mr. Cohen -- Okay, so what? You didn't deal with any of my points!
Thursday, April 22, 2010, 11:41:42 – Like – Reply
Mr. Cohen
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 141 teaches:
When the [month of] Adar comes, we increase in happiness.
Nisan, the month which follows Adar, is supposed to be even more happy than Adar.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 19:41:43 – Like – Reply
onherown
Mr. Cohen:
In terms of it being forbidden or undesirable to fast during Nisan, what about the fast of the firstborn that immediately precedes Pesach?
Nor is Yom HaShoah a fast day. In fact, when we think about the fact that it's commemorated on the day of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, we can understand that it's more about being appreciative for those that made the effort to fight back and/or the fact that the Jewish people DID survive the Holocaust.
In other words, yes -- we definitely talk about the terrible things that happened during the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah, but we do the same thing on Pesach. Why do we eat bitter herbs, etc.? There's an "avdut" before there's a "cherut" in the Pesach story and we're supposed to remember that on Pesach also.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 18:40:43 – Like – Reply
Mr. Cohen
Sefer Kav HaYashar, Chapter 88:
During the month of Nisan, the Divine Name shines with complete mercy, which is why it is forbidden to fast and we do not go to the cemetery to pray at graves and we do not recite tachanun [prayers for repentance and forgiveness].
CHRONOLOGY:
Kav HaYashar was written by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover and published in 1705.
The point of this quote is to help explain why Yom HaShoah
should not have been scheduled for the month of Nisan.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 23:01:34 – Like – Reply
Mr. Cohen
Bair HaGolah comment on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 686, note 3:
Even though the original Fast of Esther happened in the month of Nisan, they [the Rabbis] did not want to fast in Nisan, because our ancestors were redeemed then, and the mishkan [portable sanctuary] was erected then.
CHRONOLOGY:
The Bair HaGolah commentary on Shulchan Aruch was written by Rabbi Moshe ben Naftali Hertz Rivkes, who was born in Lithuania around the year 1600 and died in Holland in the year 1672 of the Common Era.
The point of this quote is to help explain why Yom HaShoah
should not have been scheduled for the month of Nisan.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 23:00:51 – Like – Reply
onherown
"According to his Rav, it's inappropriate that Yom HaShoah was established on the date of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, because that's only remembering those who died fighting back instead of those who submitted to the will of Hashem and became Kedoshim."
This kind of ideology makes me sick. It's not like other persecutions (convert or else!) where it can conceivably be considered martyrdom to be killed.
There is no reason to suggest that Holocaust victims should have "submitted to the will of Hashem" and let themselves be killed? I'm not condemning those Holocaust victims who didn't fight back; I can't even imagine being in their shoes.
But to condemn those who DID fight back for not just passively accepting the will of God? How can anyone believe they know the will of God? How does this rabbi know that it wasn't the will of God to have them fight back?
If something similar were to happen tomorrow in America, would this rabbi really suggest that we just sit down and take it instead of fighting back?
Your response is a good one, but it doesn't make me feel any less sick that there are people out there spreading such an ideology.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 12:18:00 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Happy Earth Day - we've come a long way, but there's still a long way to go
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Ichabod Chrain
"The most often cited environmental problem today is that of climate change. But that’s something most people don’t see on a daily basis. It’s doesn’t prompt a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) response. And the skepticism of climate change is greater than ever, bolstered by overblown and inaccurately reported stories like “climate gate”.
You end the paragraph there and don't go any further. Are you saying the skepticism is or is not justified?
What is it about "climate gate" that's overblown and inaccurately reported?
You also might want to take a look at this:"The Really Inconvenient Truths"
ttp://www.amazon.com/Really-Inconvenient-Truths-Environmental-About-Because/dp/1596980540
From the inside flap:
"Talk about really inconvenient truths--that's one of the many you'll find in Iain Murray's rollicking exposé of environmental blowhards who waste more energy, endanger more species, and actually kill more people (yes, that's right) than the environmental villains they finger. Did you know that estrogen from birth control and "morning after" pills is causing male fish across America to develop female sex organs? Funny how "pro-choice" and "environmentalist" liberals never talk about that. Or how about this: the Live Earth concert to "save the planet" released more CO2 into the atmosphere than a fleet of 2,000 Humvees emit in a year? We hear a lot about AIDS in Africa, but the number one killer of children in much of Africa is malaria--and guess who was responsible for banning the pesticide that used to have malaria under control? Iain Murray, a sprightly conservative environmental analyst with a long record of skewering liberal hypocrisy, has dug up seven of the all-time great environmental catastrophes caused by the Left and exposed them in The Really Inconvenient Truths. Murray lays bare:
* How ethanol, the liberals' favorite fuel, is destroying the world's rainforests--and could cause global food shortages
* How Al Gore's hero Rachel Carson cost the lives of millions of Africans through her efforts to ban DDT
* How the environmentalists have covered up the polluting effects of contraceptive and chemical abortion drugs
* How the Endangered Species Act actually endangers species
* How Gore's vision of greater state control over the economy has already produced some of the greatest environmental disasters in history"
You might also want to look at the controversy over Bjorn Lonborg's The Skeptical Environmentalist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skeptical_Environmentalist. (I'm not taking a position on it, I'm just saying that some of the environmental issues aren't as simple as you've implied..)
Sunday, April 25, 2010, 02:42:10 – Like – Reply
rachel
Well said. It is too easy to ignore the damage the earth is suffering, when it's not so obvious as it used to be. At risk of revealing that I'm not a youngster any more, I do remember acid rain. Blech.
Friday, April 23, 2010, 10:40:22 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: LOST finale review
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Yogsoggoth
Or the numbers meant nothing because the makers of the show just made random stuff up to keep people watching. In the end the show collapsed under the weight of too many dangling plotlines. Glad you liked the ending, but it didn't do anything for me.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 18:37:28 – Like – Reply
Shilton Hasechel
What was the deal with Claire's psychic? What was Walt's deal and what did the others do to him? Why was it a big deal to stop Locke from leaving the island? So many unaswered questions!!!!!! Basically all the finale did was answer some questions raised in the sixth season very unsatisfying.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 18:01:00 – Like – Reply
Netanya
Wow, I'm impressed that you got hooked from an episode in season 5. I didn't tihnk anyone would be able to follow if they started that late in the series!
One thing I really liked about the finale is how, just like they all had to be on the Ajira flight in order to get back to the island, they all had to be in the church(? place of worship?) - they had to wait for Jack before they could all move on, together, into the "light."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 17:01:45 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
Maybe "hooked" was the wrong word. I was extremely intrigued. It was the episode where Eloise kills Daniel, not knowing he's her son. There was all sorts of time travel talk. It intrigued me enough that I went back and started watching from season 1, and that's what really hooked me!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 17:35:03 – Like – Reply
Jessica
So happy to see the someone else understood it. Like you said, there was no way they could answer every question and it's just Lost's style to leave some things a mystery. This was the perfect ending for the series. I could not be happier with it. (My enthusiasm actually convinced my husband to FINALLY watch the series! All of my shows are done for the season, so that's what we'll be doing this summer.)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 16:21:01 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
My brain won't turn off Lost. That show was a roller coaster! What really strikes me about it is that it was really a work of art, with all the symbolism and foreshadowing. And the ending may have been poignnant, but it was painfully beautiful.
Glad to hear your husband is getting into it. If he stops watching at any point, lock him in a hatch and force him to watch an episode once every 108 minutes.
I only started watching late in season 5. I mean I watched an episode on TV at a friend's place, was hooked, and then went back and watched them all online in order from season 1, catching up just in time for season 6.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 16:34:08 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Rabbi Ginzberg's article on Rabba Sarah Hurwitz
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Onherown
Wow, that editorial is REALLY bad. You make some good points and the "yet I am highly doubtful" clause (that she knows all of Schach & Taz) just kills me. Would he suggest the same thing of a man ordained as a rav? To quote him, "I am highly doubtful," though based on some of the men I've met who've gotten smicha, I would venture to guess that not all of them do...
Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from the Five Towns Jewish Times. It might just be the worst of the worst in terms of journalistic (or other?) ethics.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 17:07:46 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Failing the homeless
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ilanadavita
I totally agree with every word in this post. Not that anyone really cares...
Friday, July 16, 2010, 02:08:53 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Reform Judaism's 200th birthday
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ilanadavita
Reform has probably helped more Jews retain a Jewish identity than they’ve helped lose.
Certainy true in te Paris Reform shuls.
Friday, July 16, 2010, 02:06:57 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i definitely agreee with you . if there wasnt reform judaism it wouldnt mean that suddenly everyone would be orthodox.there would just be much fewer jews considering themselves jewish at all.
Friday, July 16, 2010, 00:04:33 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Who judged this award?! - Top 50 Judaism blogs
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Michal
I know this is old but, I agree. A bunch of these are little early 20's something with no life experience and blogs in a vacuum.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 16:47:49 – Like – Reply
Jessica
lol! I wonder if anyone who won blogged about it...
Monday, July 19, 2010, 14:48:03 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
Jessica - turns out it was fake: http://badforshidduchim.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/whats-this/
Monday, July 19, 2010, 14:38:44 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Me thinks there may have only been 50 entrants into this award show
Friday, July 16, 2010, 13:27:25 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Should we really be fasting?
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Woodrow/Conservadox
To me, the fast and the run-up to it isn't just about the Temple, but about the Crusades and the Inquisition (the Holocaust, because of my family background, is too important for a day where its just one of many disasters). During the 3 weeks, I try to read something related to one or both of these.
Monday, September 27, 2010, 01:13:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Boycott the Israeli Rabbanut
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noa@israel
i seincerly laughted when rabbanut forced kosher mc donalds to change their logo on blue one. crazy enough. still for many more jewish people it is important to be sure that food is kosher and so on
Friday, September 17, 2010, 09:51:06 – Like – Reply
Jewzilla
Excellent, I agree.
I do believe there should be an observant (yet, benevolent) Torah leadership and authority, but that is not about politics but real Torah; and not galuth-Judaism.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010, 20:58:04 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
I'm with you on this one for sure. The whole situation is really awful.
Monday, August 02, 2010, 15:53:36 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: In defense of the Upper West Side
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Lady-Light
Thank G-d I'm not in that scene anymore.
Nicely said. Could you explain what the "Flatbush" mentality is(my Alma Mater is Ramaz, if that tells you anything)? I guess I'm an "MO from the word GO." With Chassidic leanings, of course...
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:52:12 – Like – Reply
Lion in Zion
the one time someone called me up as a shidduch reference, the mother of the girl asked me a million question about my friend's decision to live on the UWS. as if this was a fatal flaw.
Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:19:00 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Wanted to let you know that I linked to this post over at Superraizy.
Monday, September 15, 2008, 16:22:16 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I absolutely agree. The Jewish singles of the UWS are not putting their lives on hold while waiting to get married. They are living rich professional, religious and social lives in a vibrant and active community. Good for them!
Sunday, September 14, 2008, 16:45:04 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Is Modern Orthodoxy leaning to the right?
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Lady-Light
Me too. (always wanted to say 'me too' in a post).
Hmmm....where do you live? I might pack up and. . .
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:46:56 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i agree.
Sunday, September 21, 2008, 22:42:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Downsizing America
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Lady-Light
What an interesting post: I'm surprised you have no comments!
I think I agree with you (have no time--just skimmed your post), but are you aware that what you are advocating is a bit of socialism?
Look, social security is socialism, too; I don't see a problem with a system that is mostly free-market economy with a little socialism thrown in for good measure; after all, a "government" is a social contract(hat tip: hubby) with a citizenry, isn't it?
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:44:45 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: We're not terrorists - really!
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we are not terrorists
we are not terrorists
arab and muslims are not terrorists
those who bomb there silfes are not real muslims
u will find terrorism in eny cultur and religion
christean : kkk group "
jewesh .. etc
i wish you visite my blog
http://youth-4-peace.blogspot.com/
Saturday, October 18, 2008, 06:00:33 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
Oy. Where was this "tourist trap"?
Monday, October 06, 2008, 16:09:03 – Like – Reply
Ahuva
It is sad... Then again, maybe it's good to publicize the fact that stereotypes are often untrue.
I experienced a funny incident over shabbos. I was walking through a tourist trap with my boyfriend. A Muslim woman and I smiled at each other as we passed. About 10 minutes later, my kippah-wearing boyfriend was intentionally kicked by a Caucasian 20-something kid. I felt considerably safer around the Muslim woman and her husband/boyfriend. They had *much* more in common with us than that antisemitic "normal American."
Monday, October 06, 2008, 14:16:33 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
I have heard of several Arab shop owners (Arab btw, not 'Arabic')who, after 9/11, felt obligated to hang an American flag from their store, either outside and/or inside, to show their patriotism and dissuade anyone from taking negative action (such as boycotting their store, or worse).
The problem is, most terrorists are Islamofascists (hat tip: Michael Savage); there are moderate Muslims, but they're afraid to speak up.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:37:56 – Like – Reply
DYS
You could be right, but I have a gut feeling that it's what I thought.
Sunday, October 05, 2008, 13:33:08 – Like – Reply
Jessica
... or they really did just feel such solidarity with their fellow Americans when 9/11 happened that they decided to put up a big American flag.
Sunday, October 05, 2008, 12:26:14 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The Boss
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Lady-Light
No point, just commenting. I know you made your decision before the rally.
And thank you for sharing - I meant no disparaging remarks. I would have shared, too.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 13:54:24 – Like – Reply
DYS
Your point?
I wasn't convinced to vote for Obama at the rally - I made that decision months ago. I just had a great time and wanted to share it.
Yes, many voters on both sides make their voting decisions based on emotion. I think that's a shame. But this rally was to fire up the base and to get people to vote early, which has already begun here in Ohio.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:31:40 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
That's what happens at rallies; the excitement of many like-minded people together takes over(it's called "the mob effect.")
I'm sure it was a great rally, if you were for Obama. McCain rallies are equally exciting, for McCain supporters.
It says nothing about the candidate's qualifications, though.
The only rallies I went to (as a teenager or an adult) were pro-Israel rallies.
Monday, October 06, 2008, 12:16:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: What did you do during the break?
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Raizy
Reading cookbooks on Yom Kippur is a bit like self-torture, no?
Monday, October 13, 2008, 15:52:29 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
We only had an hour's break; musaf finished at 3:40 or so, and mincha was due to start at 4:45.
I went to a friend's, only 2.5 blocks away--whom I hadn't seen in shul (was worried why she wasn't there); turns out I inadvertently did a 'miztvah.' She had been sick, and didn't go for shacharit/musaf, but was feeling better and planning to come for mincha. She was really happy for the company. My husband stayed at shul and 'hung out.'
As a result of our visiting with each other, my friend and I returned to shul a tad late--just at the end of the Torah reading (but we didn't miss Yonah...!)
Friday, October 10, 2008, 12:35:14 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Obama and Israel
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Jessica
Yeah, but the reason McCain seems "worse" than Obama is because we know what he was doing before the campaign and how different it was from what he's doing now.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 22:53:32 – Like – Reply
DYS
I meant in the campaign - they've both been campaigning the same amount of time.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 21:02:46 – Like – Reply
Jessica
That's only because Obama hasn't done as much in his short career as a politician.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 19:25:28 – Like – Reply
DYS
I think it refers to any politician to some extent - the ones who don't play that game don't get elected. But it feels like McCain has compromised himself far more than Obama.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 15:40:54 – Like – Reply
Jessica
"Really man, get your head out of the clouds. He'll say whatever he needs to to get votes, but he's so obviously full of it."
I agree, only I think that applies to McCain, not Obama.
Unfortunately, at this point, it refers to both of them.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 15:32:48 – Like – Reply
DYS
Terrorist organizations have "endorsed" Obama the same way that the KKK has "endorsed" McCain. It says nothing at all about the candidate.
And how about the fact that Al Queda has "endorsed" McCain. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102477.html)
The only reason you think that Obama has been endorsed by terrorist groups is because the McCain campaign isn't above stooping really low. Obama could have turned this around on McCain, but he's much more of a mentch.
As for Wright, half the people I know in Flatbush have sat through racist stuff said by the rabbis of their shuls without agreeing. It's total hypocrisy for the frum community to make this an issue. And as for Farrakhan, just because he endorsed Obama doesn't mean Obama has any connection to him or relationship with him. Does McCain have a relationship with Hagee?
Everything else you wrote is simply your notions without any facts to back them up.
"McCain kicks ass"? That's not an argument, that's a slogan.
"Obama sees Iran as just some country not as a threat."
Obama has never indicated anything close to that. On the contrary, he has made his positions on the threat Iran poses very clear. (From a year & a half ago: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/281249,CST-NWS-OBAMA03.article) Again, you're spouting slogans with no factual basis. The only difference with McCain is that he has indicated he would utilize diplomacy as a tool in addition to military might, as opposed to McCain who indicates he simply wants to follow the failed policies of Bush who relegated diplomacy to the garbage can. All previous presidents valued diplomacy as a useful tool, even when dealing with rogue regimes and madmen. Bush and now McCain are the first ones to go straight to war.
"Really man, get your head out of the clouds. He'll say whatever he needs to to get votes, but he's so obviously full of it."
I agree, only I think that applies to McCain, not Obama.
Friday, October 24, 2008, 11:03:28 – Like – Reply
walt
Anita--your vitriol is interesting & absurd & quite entertaining.
But,who really cares what Dershowitz says? Another bloated ego who thinks his viewpoints are any better than anyone else!
Friday, October 24, 2008, 10:50:18 – Like – Reply
Anita
keep in mind almost every terrorist organization endorsed Obama.
Kinda says something about him.
What about his affiliation with Rev. Wright? And Farakhan?
McCain kicks ass- literally.
Currently Iran wants a preemptive strike against Israel. Iran is also the top sponser of terrorism (economically wise).
Obama sees Iran as just some country not as a threat. This is a guy you believe will be a "friend" to Israel?
Really man, get your head out of the clouds. He'll say whatever he needs to to get votes, but he's so obviously full of it.
Thursday, October 23, 2008, 20:45:53 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Stupidity and racism of the frum community
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A Living Nadneyda
Ichabod -- The point is to what extent, and in what ways, his congressional record and other political activity has been influenced by his religious beliefs and/or associates, not what his religious beliefs are, or who his associates are. If, when making political decisions, he has shown himself to decide independently, without acting beholden to extremist religious groups, then that would be more significant to me than his associates and beliefs, in an of themselves.
If they said "no he's not a Moslem, he's a Christian liberation theologist", he wouldn't be looked upon any more favorably in the frum community or in any conservative community.
Since when is there one "frum community?"
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 09:12:18 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
"I'm Torat Ezra"
Oops sorry about that. You have a nice blog even if I disagree with you about
Obama.
As for your other points, Obama has been aligned with Farrakhan and Jackson. He's certainly sympathetic to much of what they stand for, even if he's not as extreme as Farrakhan. It's legitimate for people to point that out.
As for the liberation theology movement, sorry but I think you're being naive. Obama is certainly in favor of many of the things they stand for. He wants federally mandated community service for 11 year olds for heaven's sake. He was an organizer for Acorn. Look at his associates. His whole history shows that he's an extremist.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 00:34:42 – Like – Reply
DYS
I'm Torat Ezra. And my point is that these insinuations about Obama's religion and the equating of him with Farrakhan and Jackson are a result of his being black and racism.
As for your statement:
The fact of the matter is that if Obama really believes in the Christian liberation theology movement, as it appears he does, then that's a problem.
There is absolutely no basis for that assertion whatsoever. Please quote me a single time that Obama has indicated such. And please don't quote Wright at me, he's not Obama. I have racist frum friends and I have had racist frum rabbis. That doesn't mean that I'm a racist in any way, shape, or form.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 12:47:22 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
DYS, Torat Ezra's post was about Obama's religion, not his race.
I don't know what lies and rumors you mean, but if the lies and rumors that you're referring to have to do with being a Muslim, then it seems pretty clear that anyone of any race with a middle name like Hussein who stands for the same things as Obama does, who is considered by Moslem law to be a Moslem, and who ran against the Clinton rumor machine would be in the same position.
The fact of the matter is that if Obama really believes in the Christian liberation theology movement, as it appears he does, then that's a problem. If they said "no he's not a Moslem, he's a Christian liberation theologist", he wouldn't be looked upon any more favorably in the frum community or in any conservative community.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 11:47:55 – Like – Reply
DYS
Ichabod,
Do you really think a white candidate would be subjected to the same lies and rumors? It's racism.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 06:35:39 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Have to disagree. Moslems aren't a race, so your racism argument doesn't hold water.
I think that the Hussein is being mentioned to emphasize where his sympathies are. So in that sense it's legitimate.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 00:42:40 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
(Oops, the rest of my comment got lost in cyberspace).
Still don't know who I'd vote for if my absentee ballot had arrived on time, since after all's said and done, (and I hate to admit it) McC might be better for Israel than O, but either way, the racism that's been flying is completely unjustified. Bottom line: even if he were a practicing Muslim, that is his business. Policy matters.
Monday, October 27, 2008, 17:18:36 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I agree, and kudos for having the courage to say so!
Monday, October 27, 2008, 09:44:12 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Its just the democratic party and the excuse is that he is muslim and the end of the world will come if he is elected.
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 20:05:46 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
Still
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 15:13:36 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Can I get an Amen up in here?
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 10:48:09 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'm not an Obama supporter, but you are so right!
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 09:31:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: "Spread the weath" in context
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holy Hyrax
Why would that push you toward him? And do you really believe he is only talking about rolling the bush tax cuts?
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 20:23:20 – Like – Reply
DYS
and McCain criticized those tax cuts until he was ready to run for president. He then shamefully reversed himsef and supported making the tax cuts permanent, just to pander to the Republican base.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 11:44:45 – Like – Reply
DYS
These aren't really "new" taxes. This just rolls back some of the irresponsible tax cuts that Bush made.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 11:43:35 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
The real answer tothe crisis is to not tax any higher to anyone its what hoover (president in middle of the great depression) did and it didnt help anyone.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 23:35:52 – Like – Reply
Guest
Spreading the wealth is good for everybody but those whose wealth is spread.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 21:57:48 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Are midrash and aggada literal?
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David
I get the impression that my rabbi believes all the midrashim literally (including the contradictory ones). It drives me nuts-- I can't even take too much of the Torah literally, much less the folk tales that grew up around it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 09:27:42 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
I have heard that with a fire burning for 7 years a salmander comes forth from the fire. a fire is its breeding ground.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 23:38:01 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
I see them as ways to understand some aspects of the Torah better, not literal truths.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 17:55:11 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I always assumed midrashim were not meant to be taken literally...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 16:14:05 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: No more politics! (for now)
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Jessica
We should meet then, abandoning eden, because I am definitely not obsessed with this presidential election.
Friday, October 31, 2008, 05:48:59 – Like – Reply
abandoning eden
is there anyone NOT obsessed with this presidential election? Cause if there is, I haven't met them.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 14:14:24 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Aish HaTorah affiliates sponsoring controversial political videos
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Ahuva
Out of curiosity, have you ever watched the video? I am a proud Democrat with a number of Muslim friends and thought that video did a very good job of making clear that it was talking about Wahhabism, not mainstream Islam. The DVD cover is unfortunate, but the actual content is pretty good.
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 17:24:08 – Like – Reply
walt
Kiruv,buy nature,is a form of brainwashing & these people are in the brainwashing business.So,no surprise that they do this for,after all,the total brain needs washing!!!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 11:17:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Ivanka Trump - a nice frum girl?
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Mikeinmidwood
cant last.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 22:56:08 – Like – Reply
frum single female
this is the funniest bit of news ive heard yet.
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 22:25:04 – Like – Reply
frumsatire
You guessed right- but its on the down low- im keeping the suspense
Thursday, October 30, 2008, 17:40:43 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Oldest Hebrew text ever found?
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Baalhabos
>Apparantly, as far as Reuters is concerned, anything to do with Israel has to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Not quite. Unstated in this is the Palestinian claim that is that Jews are latecomers to the Israeli landscape, that there never was a First temple, etc etc. Archaeological findings of Jewish roots going back to 1,000 BC strengthen the Israeli position.
Saturday, November 01, 2008, 20:41:11 – Like – Reply
Raizy
It does sound like a fascinating find. Maybe the three letter verb is "asa" (from "la'asot"- to do.)
Saturday, November 01, 2008, 20:12:43 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Wow, popular topic. I blogged on this, and so did the Jew Wishes blog.
Great minds think alike!
Friday, October 31, 2008, 13:51:47 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Vote Obama to keep Israel safe
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Lady-Light
Thank you for commenting on my post. For a minute there, I thought I had convinced you (!)
First of all, I commend you for posting even those comments that disagree with you-kol hakavod!
I agree with you in that the war in Iraq de-stabilized the Middle East and gave Iran more power, but not because we got rid of Sadaam; rather, because we did not understand the ethnic demographic make-up of Iraq and had no exit strategy (sometimes, ok-often-U.S. foreign policy is stupid that way).
I, like John McCain (le-havdil?)agreed with the war on Iraq, to rid the world of Sadaam and WMDs. They say now that there were no WMDs, but I'm still not sure; I remember seeing a video of truck convoys rolling north towards Syria, with audio questioning what was in those trucks; and then, it disappeared-I couldn't ever find that video again. So as far as I'm concerned, the Jury is Out on that point.
And don't forget the Scud missiles which rained on Israel during Gulf War I in 1990. We got rid of Sadaam, and rightly so.
How do you explain Obama's affiliations with and support from those nefarious characters who are serious haters of Israel and the Jews which I wrote about? Just give me an explanation; I'm listening. Until I hear something, I won't take a chance with Obama. It's NOBAMA for me. Or as my friend said, "if you really belieive in Mashiach and want him to come fast (the violent way), vote for Obama.
Monday, November 03, 2008, 16:47:10 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Before Bush invaded Iraq there were tons of suicide bombers one almost every day. I still remember Dec. 12 2002 were a bus was ripped apart by a bomb this was before We invaded Iraq.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 21:03:32 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
I disagree with you on Iraq. Sadaam was a danger. He'd have weapons of mass destruction by now, if he didn't have them in 2003, and he'd be willing to use them, or give them to Al Qaeda.
Also idov isn't just saying that it's the Israeli polls, it's the reason for the polls. McCain for all his faults, gets it. Obama doesn't.
Obama is going to take a more "even handed" approach to the MidEast, he's not going to fight terrorism (except as a law enforcement issue), he's going to abandon Iraq, and he's going to turn over US security to what the European socialists want. Is that what you really want to see happen?
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 20:56:20 – Like – Reply
DYS
I am aware that most American Israelis don't agree with me. That doesn't make their opinion correct. 71% of American Jews voted for Carter in 1976. Just because a particular demographic votes a particular way doesn't mean their voting in their best interests. Otherwise I would have no reason to try to convince people with posts like this one. Popularity in polls isn't an argument.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 15:19:53 – Like – Reply
idov
The vast majority who actually live in Israel do not agree with you. Pre-election polls showed support for McCain running up to 75 and in the first exit poll of Israeli Americans actually voting McCain got 76 per cent. Bush consistently got a 70 per cent approval rating and is considered the best friend in the White House Israel ever had, which was a surprise because his father got extraordinarily low ratings. As for Iran people agree with Sarkozy who was quoted in Haaretz last week as saying Obama is totally clueless on that issue. Dealing with Iran for us is a matter of life and death and McCain is trusted, Obama is not.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 11:38:06 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Vote Obama to keep Israel safe
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Lady-Light
Thank you for commenting on my post. For a minute there, I thought I had convinced you (!)
First of all, I commend you for posting even those comments that disagree with you-kol hakavod!
I agree with you in that the war in Iraq de-stabilized the Middle East and gave Iran more power, but not because we got rid of Sadaam; rather, because we did not understand the ethnic demographic make-up of Iraq and had no exit strategy (sometimes, ok-often-U.S. foreign policy is stupid that way).
I, like John McCain (le-havdil?)agreed with the war on Iraq, to rid the world of Sadaam and WMDs. They say now that there were no WMDs, but I'm still not sure; I remember seeing a video of truck convoys rolling north towards Syria, with audio questioning what was in those trucks; and then, it disappeared-I couldn't ever find that video again. So as far as I'm concerned, the Jury is Out on that point.
And don't forget the Scud missiles which rained on Israel during Gulf War I in 1990. We got rid of Sadaam, and rightly so.
How do you explain Obama's affiliations with and support from those nefarious characters who are serious haters of Israel and the Jews which I wrote about? Just give me an explanation; I'm listening. Until I hear something, I won't take a chance with Obama. It's NOBAMA for me. Or as my friend said, "if you really belieive in Mashiach and want him to come fast (the violent way), vote for Obama.
Monday, November 03, 2008, 16:47:10 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Before Bush invaded Iraq there were tons of suicide bombers one almost every day. I still remember Dec. 12 2002 were a bus was ripped apart by a bomb this was before We invaded Iraq.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 21:03:32 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
I disagree with you on Iraq. Sadaam was a danger. He'd have weapons of mass destruction by now, if he didn't have them in 2003, and he'd be willing to use them, or give them to Al Qaeda.
Also idov isn't just saying that it's the Israeli polls, it's the reason for the polls. McCain for all his faults, gets it. Obama doesn't.
Obama is going to take a more "even handed" approach to the MidEast, he's not going to fight terrorism (except as a law enforcement issue), he's going to abandon Iraq, and he's going to turn over US security to what the European socialists want. Is that what you really want to see happen?
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 20:56:20 – Like – Reply
DYS
I am aware that most American Israelis don't agree with me. That doesn't make their opinion correct. 71% of American Jews voted for Carter in 1976. Just because a particular demographic votes a particular way doesn't mean their voting in their best interests. Otherwise I would have no reason to try to convince people with posts like this one. Popularity in polls isn't an argument.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 15:19:53 – Like – Reply
idov
The vast majority who actually live in Israel do not agree with you. Pre-election polls showed support for McCain running up to 75 and in the first exit poll of Israeli Americans actually voting McCain got 76 per cent. Bush consistently got a 70 per cent approval rating and is considered the best friend in the White House Israel ever had, which was a surprise because his father got extraordinarily low ratings. As for Iran people agree with Sarkozy who was quoted in Haaretz last week as saying Obama is totally clueless on that issue. Dealing with Iran for us is a matter of life and death and McCain is trusted, Obama is not.
Sunday, November 02, 2008, 11:38:06 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Barack Obama is not the messiah
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jos boersma
Hi,
I am moshiach, this is no joke. Get on with it. I can`t snap with my fingers to solve problems either, I am not a god. But I have worked for years and years on my stuff, and that should be able to solve all problems. Please download, back up & study, many thanks.
There have come out some dire messages about Obama, or rather his puppet masters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MouUJNG8f2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-KJCMWcoms
... oops !
Monday, December 08, 2008, 03:42:19 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Well put, most definitely.
And if Rahm Emanuel shows up as the chief of staff, do you think it'll help the Isreali/Jewish community quit with the jihad thoughts?
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 15:27:01 – Like – Reply
walt
Outstanding--you hit the nail on the head.This job could not be easy for any human being.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 11:15:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Grappling with fresh fruit
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Ahuva
Grapples are so much more expensive than regular apples, I can't imagine anyone offering you one without saying that it's a Grapple. I tried one once, mistakenly thinking that it was a hybrid. It definitely wasn't worth the price (even if it had been kosher).
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 17:12:37 – Like – Reply
dys
Well, I think the point is to get kids to eat more apples. Kinds seem to love the taste of concord grapes, which is why so many kids taffies, gums, drinks, etc, are flavored that way (though it's usually artificial flavor).
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 11:20:53 – Like – Reply
Jessica
What's the point? If you want the taste of grape, eat a grape. If you want to eat an apple, eat an apple. Why do you need a grape flavored apple?
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 10:41:14 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Obama's non-existent Jewish problem
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B
Frum jews make up 21% of American jews and 8% of world jews. THEY DON'T MATTER!
Sunday, November 09, 2008, 22:37:06 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Thanks for providing those figures.
I agree with you, and others, who have blogged on the same issue, racism in the frum community is worrying.
Friday, November 07, 2008, 08:22:05 – Like – Reply
dys
Jessica,
I apologize if you misunderstood. I certainly didn't mean that all frum McCain supporters are racists by any means. There are plenty them who opposed Obama on genuine issues. But based on the discourse I've heard coming from the frum community, there's plenty of racism as well, unfortunately, some subtle, some shockingly overt.
(see what I wrote on Oct 26: http://toratezra.blogspot.com/2008/10/stupidity-and-racism-of-frum-community.html)
Friday, November 07, 2008, 06:50:13 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I resent that being a frum McCain supporter puts me into the category of racist. I voted for McCain because I liked his views, not because he was white.
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 23:22:43 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
You have got the racism part right.
Thursday, November 06, 2008, 22:33:48 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Rav Elyashiv bans wigs?
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Guest
Wow Do you have any respect for the wisdom of torah? Obviously someone like R Eliashev has more wisdom and knowledge because of his depth of Torah knowledge. Torah contains everything in it! If you dont believe it you should study it more. You thin such a holy man is an idiot?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 01:30:30 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I think that a frum woman who wears long sleeves and long skirts to work year-round looks out of place in most offices anyway, regardless of what she wears on her head. And I like the idea of getting rid of wigs. They are extremely expensive and a real drain on most families.
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 20:05:11 – Like – Reply
frum single female
if i were married and was going to cover my hair i would definitely opt for wearing a sheitel to work. i guess because it makes one stand out less. especially if u work in a public service type of job. i do work with a woman who has lupus who wears scarves or berets on occasion, but for the most part she wears a wig.
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 19:53:37 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Really? They would tell a Muslim woman that she couldn't wear her hijab? A Jewish man can't wear his kippah? An Indian man can't wear a turban? If someone is doing something for religious reasons, I think it would be awfully hard to tell them that they had to "look professonal".
Saturday, November 08, 2008, 19:05:36 – Like – Reply
dys
It depends on the kind of office and how rigidly professional the environment is. I know plenty of offices where it would be unacceptable to wear a scarf or hat. But I'm glad you found a place where it's OK.
Friday, November 07, 2008, 14:10:50 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I cover my hair with scarves. Earlier this year I worked in an office and no one had an issue with me wearing a scarf... You don't need a wig to cover your hair -- it's just that people feel less self-conscious with a wig on.
Friday, November 07, 2008, 13:42:52 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Would Aliyah be a yeridah?
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gadamoogoonoodoo
I say hang out with the nitnachalim, or Americans if you can. Or both (like Karnei Shomron for example). Otherwise you might get stuck with people with little idealism..
Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 10:57:03 – Like – Reply
holy Hyrax
Then maybe Israel needs more people like you. Instead of you making Aliyah, help Israel make its own aliyah (kivyachol)
Thursday, November 13, 2008, 15:14:46 – Like – Reply
dys
No, but there's a significant percentage who do. And of the people my wife & I hang around with most, the majority too. Would I be able to find a similar chevra in Israel? I hope so.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 15:31:06 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Do you live in a society now where all the people around you share your values and way of thinking?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 13:55:02 – Like – Reply
dys
certainly not, but can I really be happy in a society where all the people around me don't share my values and way of thinking?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 12:26:38 – Like – Reply
dd
is yeridah and alliyah in life defined by racism alone??
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 12:04:31 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Why is the @$%#* hard drive buried so deep!
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dys
I did reformat it, but it's not good enough according to most experts. Good information thieves can still get information off it. See here: http://www.microsoft.com/australia/smallbusiness/issues/technology/protect/harddrive.mspx
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 21:35:03 – Like – Reply
B. Spinoza
couldn't you just reformat the hard drive without physically destroying it?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 21:17:23 – Like – Reply
dys
Not if it's a small laptop hard drive that's a fraction of the storage size of today's hard drives. I already got all the data off using some open-source recovery software a long time ago. Not worth the effort to install it anywhere else.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 15:54:58 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
No dude, you keep the hard drive and put it in a new computer.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 15:33:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: I want to raise kids far away from NY
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TooYoungToTeach
It was ridiculous, right before and after the elections, my students were spouting every Obama joke possible. I'll admit some were funny, but the difference was, it was a joke to me, but they really believed it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:32:43 – Like – Reply
frum single female
where i grew up things were alot less racially charged than nyc. i visit there every so often, and i would say that its still pretty much the same. if i had children i would prefer to raise them outside of ny. its much more innocent out of ny.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 01:13:09 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
It really is horrible and its affecting everyone not just the big cities.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 22:15:48 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Thanks for the link; it is a good article. What some of those kids said is shocking but the response is heartening.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 15:21:31 – Like – Reply
Raizy
It's not just from their classmates. I can't count the number of racist and "anti-goy" comments that my kids have heard from their Rabbis and teachers.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 08:09:36 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'm from Cleveland. Though it wasn't everyday that someone said something racist, there were times when students said something without even realizing what they were saying. It's not like kids go home and tell their parents, "Today ______ said something racist." Chances are Columbus is no different, it's just not as noticeable.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 07:41:17 – Like – Reply
dys
It certainly is less common here in Columbus. Maybe it's not less common in big cities like Chicago or LA, but I suspect that most smaller communities are like mine.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 07:21:36 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'm all with you in not wanting to have my kids go to NY schools, but racism is no less common in out-of-town schools.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 07:19:57 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Motorcyclists are wimps
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Cady
I got a phrase for you: Wind Chill
Let's say you ride at 12 mph. At a temp of 38 degree that will feel like 30 to you.
My ninja, carried me to work in 38 degree weather yesterday at speeds of 65mph. The temperature feels like 21 degree with that kind of windchill.
That is a 9 degree difference in an environment where you can't risk pulling up your collar or your socks. You ride and shiver and snot freezes in your helmet and your tears freeze on your cheeks and your fingers won't cooperate when you have to slam on the brakes because someone cut you off.
As a bicycle commuter until I was 31 y.o. and a motorcycle commuter now I'm just sayin'...
Very different circumstances.
But hooray for anyone who commutes on two wheels.
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 16:42:17 – Like – Reply
dys
10 year old Giant Cypress. It's the one in front in the pic
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:58:07 – Like – Reply
XGH
Cool. What kind of bike do you ride?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:26:36 – Like – Reply
Jacob da Jew
Oh yeah, cyclist are total masocists. Myself included.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:47:12 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Cheating
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espes
i know which blogger ur talking about...
and i think ur being a bit harsh....
i kinda agree with her- if my major has nothing to do with writing, then why cant i ask someone to write my paper for me? if i go over it after and change things that i wouldnt say, then its like im getting helped! i wouldnt do that in high school, but in college i feel like its different
Tuesday, December 09, 2008, 00:53:27 – Like – Reply
David
I completely agree with you, and was horrified at the blogger's cavalier attitude towards an action that bespeaks a complete lack of integrity.
Friday, November 21, 2008, 12:59:31 – Like – Reply
TooYoungToTeach
About teachers who use the same tests year after year...halachically it's not considered cheating, because it's in rishus harabbim.
Even if the teacher says not to look at previous test, most rabbanim will still say it's not cheating. Teachers need to be responsible and keep their material and tests to themselves.
(I only know this because of some whole saga in HS...some people looked at an old test, teacher found out, wanted to fail them, found out that she was in the wrong. She failed them anyway. No, I was not part of it.)
Friday, November 21, 2008, 02:24:59 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
DYS we agree on this one. Actually I'm as appalled by her response to you as I am at the cheating.
Friday, November 21, 2008, 01:46:49 – Like – Reply
Halo
don't look at it as cheating, look at it as outsourcing
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 17:03:34 – Like – Reply
frum single female
when i went to college there was tons of cheating going on. i was not amongst the cheaters.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 19:13:56 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
"There are definitely a significant number of students who don't 'get' college, and go only becuase they need the degree to earn more money, or becuase their parents forced them to go to college (as I see frequently in the Modern Orthodox community) when they were not mature enough to want to go there on their own."
Strongly, strongly agreed.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:56:32 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
It disgusts me also and I think it is widespread within mainstream OJ circles and not seen as problematic at all.
I went to college at a school with a large frum population - graduated about six years ago.
At said school among the Orthodox crowd there was a widely known list of classes in which professors used the same tests every year. Students would save tests, advise younger students to take the same class, and then pass on the tests. This was referred to as the "mesorah."
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:55:27 – Like – Reply
abandoning eden
as an adjunct professor, this is definitely the worst kind of cheating- because it's nearly impossible to catch.
But in the end, the disservice goes to the students who are cheating. I design my assignments in order to teach very specific skills that will help my students in the long run (how to do their own research, how to write in a professional manner, critical thinking, etc.) If they aren't doing the assignment, they aren't getting anything out of my class. But that's fine with me- I get paid either way. What's the waste is that students are wasting their (or more like, their parent's) money and time when they could be learning something that could have been valuable to them.
But then again, that's probably what you get when you have students going to school to get the piece of paper in the end, and don't value what that piece of paper is supposed to represent. There are definitely a significant number of students who don't 'get' college, and go only becuase they need the degree to earn more money, or becuase their parents forced them to go to college (as I see frequently in the Modern Orthodox community) when they were not mature enough to want to go there on their own.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:50:43 – Like – Reply
Jessica
"But there seems to be a generation gap on this issue."
I'm only a few years older than the blogger you're referring to and I feel the same way about cheating as you do. It is completely unethical and there is no way to justify doing it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:11:47 – Like – Reply
dys
If she wants to identify herself on here, that's her prerogative, but I don't like to create targets for angry commenters, no matter how wrong she is.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:51:05 – Like – Reply
Jacob da Jew
Please provide a link to said blogger.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:41:34 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Am I the only one appalled that someone can approach cheating so casually and justify it with the reasoning she uses?
No, you're not. I am of the old school too. Cheating is wrong!
I too cheated, once, in Physics at the age of 15 and felt so bad about it that I never did it again.
Yet as a teacher in a state school I also know that students cheat, or at least try to. A collegue angered her students the other day by proposing alternate tests so they wouldn't cheat and they yelled at her, complaining they couldn't cheat.
I try to explain why it's wrong each time I am faced with the issue. I keep telling myself that they need examples and that some might get the point, eventually.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:31:20 – Like – Reply
TooYoungToTeach
I teach High School English and Writing...and while none of my students, well maybe a few, think much of their writing future, I expect my students to do their own work. That is why, most of their writing in done in class, and I need to see handwritten drafts. I don't particularly trust them, considering how much I "helped" my friends when I was in High School.
It's cheating, plain and simple, the bigger question is, what's wrong with cheating?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 11:25:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Nude pics lost on cellphone end up online
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The Jewish Side
Wow, that really is crazy.
I guess some people just don't think.
Friday, November 28, 2008, 12:03:04 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Streets of Jerusalem - on Google Maps
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dys
not on the regular maps site - still pretty blurry. Maybe on Google Earth - I'll have to check that out.
Monday, November 24, 2008, 15:19:39 – Like – Reply
XGH
Evebn better, they now have the detailed satellite photos.
Monday, November 24, 2008, 13:28:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Nurse, um, I mean Doctor
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Jessica
I tend to think of nurses as female simply because my mom is one...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 22:15:43 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
I (as is probably obvious by now) consider myself a feminist. That said, my sister once shocked me by asking me the following riddle: (The answer to which will probably be a lot more obvious now that it's contextualized.)
A man and his son got into a car accident. Both were badly injured and rushed to an hospital. Once they arrived, the nurses rushed the boy into the E.R. for emergency surgery. All of a sudden, the doctor opened the door, looked down at the patient and exclaimed, "That's my son!" Who is the doctor?
Well, it took me at least 3 guesses before I was even like, "Oh wait. The doctor could be the mother." It was really shocking to see how much these conceptions of the world are so ingrained into my sensibilities.
Since then, I've asked many people the same riddle. You'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many people can't even come up with an answer. They try everything first, "Maybe the boy was adopted?" etc., etc.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 16:00:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Holding onto fading hope in Mumbai
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BlackEyedP
Please read my post on the Holzberg children and how you can help them by giving tzedakah.
http://blackeyedp-scatteredthoughts.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 03, 2008, 16:53:41 – Like – Reply
kaguya
Extremely saddened to hear what happened in the end and even more so reading what ProfK has to say.... I can only hope that the Holzbergs children are taken care of well. Extremely sad.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 15:29:17 – Like – Reply
ProfK
Horrible news, but it's worse than just one orphan--the Holzbergs had two children, one of whom was not in Mumbai during the attack.
Saturday, November 29, 2008, 20:34:45 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
Its really sad. Hashem yiracheim.
Friday, November 28, 2008, 13:22:54 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Orthodox single mothers by choice
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shalom-el
happy holidays women and babies!
the code of jewish law says "a woman is not enjoined to fulfill the precept of propagation-so as long as you are willing to deal with people who might subject you to suspicion, i say "ride!"- have yourself a family-i'm all for it and wish the best for you and your children after all the rebbe, (pbh), said that the law was for the children so please keep having babies. also inside the siddur tehillat hashem is the redemption of the firstbourn, (i believe the same for a firstborn daughter as for a firstborn son), and that is in the exact first line of this ceremony a woman is recognized as an israelite so please keep having children and let nothing stop you from having them not even turning 40 plus.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 10:50:53 – Like – Reply
shalom-el
have them!
the first line in the siddur ceremony to redeem the first born son, (i also believe that it applies to having a first born daughter too), says "my israelite wife has born me this first born son-you are isreali and nothing that anyone says will change that. so please keep having babies because the rebbe, pbh, said that the law is for the children. and since the code of jewish law says that a woman is not enjoyned to fulfill the precept of propagation, keep building your family. lechayim!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 10:18:29 – Like – Reply
Chava
I had a child via donor insemination and I can honestly say it was the worst decision I made in my life. My child does not have a father, I am lonely and I'm finding it very difficult to raise him alone. My child has autism which I have since found it is more common than usual amongst donor conceived children because men who become sperm donors are very emotionally unattached men. I would not recommend this to anyone!
Saturday, September 19, 2009, 10:54:19 – Like – Reply
dys
Zehava Chaya,
Ironically, I just flew home this morning from the Harrisburg airport!
I find that smaller Orthodox communities are much more supportive of "nonstandard" families than the big communities like New York.
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 10:20:40 – Like – Reply
zehava chaya
I'm an orthodox single mother by choice - but by adoption. I have an absolutely beautiful 4 year old boy, and we are enormously happy. I live in Harrisburg, PA and in this rather small orthodox community, we are unique. I found this site looking for other people out there like me, because while "older single adoptive parent" is not that unusual out there in the secular world, it presents some really unusual challenges here within orthodoxy (even though this community is very supportive). Anybody out there?
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 00:46:26 – Like – Reply
Guest
>These mothers are not propagating the problem, they are a symptom of the problem. You don't treat leprosy with rouge, and you don't treat a community social problem by condemning its victims.
Of course they are propagating this problem. People cannot make a problem worse, and claim victimhood. Personal responsiblity has to play a role and the community cannot let it get worse and worse. This is not on par, but do we allow child molesters to continue molesting in the Jewish community until the social problems (ie, secrecy, not going to authorities) are treated first?
>Now, you appear to believe that Judaism has a universally applicable extra-halachic ethic.
No, I don't think that at all. I think rigid halacha can sometimes go against a greater need a specific moment. That greater need, though, is ALSO part of Judaism. So sometimes there is a tension. But the subject at hand, IS a Jewish ethic that is far reaching time and place. That is my point. The traditional family structure that all our collected wisdom and halacha try to protect and produce is NOT an extra-halachic ethic
Friday, December 12, 2008, 14:46:16 – Like – Reply
efrex
There's no "having it both ways" here. These mothers are not propagating the problem, they are a symptom of the problem. You don't treat leprosy with rouge, and you don't treat a community social problem by condemning its victims. Speaking out against these women does nothing to address the fundamental underlying problem (now, if you claim that by speaking out against these women, the community will force them to be less picky and get married so that they better conform to the ideal, well, you might have a rational and coherent argument. I might think it's demeaning and inherently destructive, but it would be rational and coherent).
Your example from the gemara is exactly a case of religious philosophy as opposed to halacha. There are a multitude of reasons why we should go lefnim meshurat hadin in individual cases. You cannot, however, make the lifnim the din. Now, you appear to believe that Judaism has a universally applicable extra-halachic ethic. I disagree. I believe that extra-halachic ethics are functions of time, place, and the individuals involved. See, for example R' Yosef Dov Soloveitchik's story of R' Hayyim Brisker in St. Petersburg in Halachic Man (pg. 90), where he refused to prohibit uncircumcised children from being registered in the Jewish community, as opposed to many who wanted to do so, so as to force their parents to give their sons a brit:From a political and practical perspective... no doubt the majority was correct. However, on the basis of pure Halakhah, R' Hayyim was correct. And he would not sacrifice this halakhic truth even for the sake of realizing the most noble of ideals.
Ideals, no matter how wonderful and ethical, cannot be transformed into normative halacha.
Friday, December 12, 2008, 14:35:25 – Like – Reply
Guest
Isee this development, as not being problematic in itself, but as a symptom of a greater social/communal problem that needs to be addressed. As such, I view this development as a net negative, but not as someth
You can't have it both ways. You can't admit that this is a social/communal problem, but not decry the act itself. If there are communal problems, you don't make it worse by saying "such and such" is OK. This is basically neglecting to stop a few pebbles rolling down the hill not realizing it will eventually start an avalanche.
-Holy Hyrax
Friday, December 12, 2008, 12:55:27 – Like – Reply
Guest
I view halacha as defining actions, not attitudes. How "good" a Jew is is solely determined by the extent of his/her complete adherence and surrender to the halacha.
This is but a part of the overall component of being a "good" jew. We have the famous story in the Talmud of some porters dropping some jugs. The rabbi basically takes away their clothes as payment. The porters go the Rav and complain. Rav not only tells the Rabbi to return the clothes but to pay them their wages. The Rabbi complains that halacha goes according to him in which case, Rav, basically quotes something to mean that we have to go beyond the halacha at times for a greater need. So just looking at halacha is not always a barometer for being a good Jew. You have other examples in the Talmud as well.
>Others argue that any foreign values may be adopted, so long as they do not explicitly conflict with halacha. Still others adopt a variety of intermediate positions.
You are right, to a point and how it fits in with the rest of Judaism's teaching, not just halacha.
>Does it conform to the standards of the halachic philosophical systems of the community?
I agree, but, the question at hand currently is not one how to approach text, or are cell phones allowed, this is an issue that goes at the very heart of the collected teachings, lores, wisdom and halachas mean't to a maintain a traditional family.
Friday, December 12, 2008, 12:50:40 – Like – Reply
efrex
durned cut-off...
Last line: but not something that needs to be decried in itself. Does that help?
Friday, December 12, 2008, 09:18:26 – Like – Reply
efrex
Hyrax: I believe that we are talking past each other. I'll try to get to my points one-by-one, and see if that helps. Here goes:
1) I view halacha as defining actions, not attitudes. How "good" a Jew is is solely determined by the extent of his/her complete adherence and surrender to the halacha.
2) Looking at the halacha as a whole has led many great Jews to develop philosophies and value systems. These movements include classic philosophies (the Ramchal's Mesilat Yesharim, the Rambam's Moreh Nevuchim) as well as relatively contemporary ones (chassidut, the mussar movement, Torah Im Derech Eretz). These philosophies can, and do, radically differ in their interpretation and application of halachic values; however, they are all predicated on complete acceptance of halacha.
2a) How Judaism relates to secular, Western values is an issue of halachic philosophy. Many argue that, since the only true source of ethical knowledge is the Torah, no Western values can be accepted by Jews, regardless of how "noble" they might be. Others argue that any foreign values may be adopted, so long as they do not explicitly conflict with halacha. Still others adopt a variety of intermediate positions.
3) When halachically evaluating the permissibility or acceptance of specific actions or attitudes, there are two issues that need to be adressed: I) Does this action or attitude conform to the halacha? II) Does it conform to the standards of the halachic philosophical systems of the community?
4) When there is explicit conflict between halacha and external social mores, halacha wins out. No Orthodox rabbi can validate practices that violate halacha.
5) Many actions, while halachically technically permissible, violate specific halachic value systems. In these cases, the permissibility of these actions and communal attitudes towards them can vary widely, in accordance with the halachic philosophy there*. The issue of single motherhood is such an issue: there may be halachically permissible ways to achieve it, but it goes against the philosophical view of many halachic systems.
6) As such, many communities, especially those who adopt the minimalist view of permissibility of outside value systems, will decry this development as something to be shunned which completely goes against the sacred values of the Torah. This, as I understand it, is close to your view; however,
6a)Others will argue that, so long as no halacha is being violated, there can be no inherent negativity associated with it, and it should therefore be supported as a valid halachic choice. The latter seems to be the position of our esteemed ba'al hablog.
6b) My position is somewhat intermediate, albeit closer to the second. I see this development, as not being problematic in itself, but as a symptom of a greater social/communal problem that needs to be addressed. As such, I view this development as a net negative, but not as someth
Friday, December 12, 2008, 09:15:41 – Like – Reply
tikunolam
"simply because I have two letters in front of my name (Dr), they refuse to date me."
You are looking in the wrong places my friend. We are Mr. and Dr. at my house. My husband is plenty macho and not only does he have no problem with it, it makes him proud.
As a graduate of one of those uppity schools, I have countless examples of women with "Dr." married to men who are proud of their wives accomplishments. Many of these today married female doctors were my classmates and suitemates not that long ago.
In fact, there are hundreds if not thousands of men, successful in their own right, doctor or not, on the upper west side who would not be fazed for one second about dating or marrying a doctor.
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 19:40:30 – Like – Reply
Guest
Efrex, my comment on halacha and social norms was more a reply to this:
"I also believe that there are social mores. And those values and mores adapt to the changing needs of the human beings who live Jewish lives."
Simply put, what is he going to do when halacha actually DOES go againt those mores?
-Holy Hyrax
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 17:15:29 – Like – Reply
Guest
Sorry, got cut off
A computer and kollel and stuff like that are not comparable in the least to the overall thrust of what Judaism has been trying to teach and preserve for millenia.
My point was that once you start claiming any overall "spirit" of the halacha as a universal, you will inevitably end up enforcing the supposed spirit at the expense of the halacha.
No, I am not talking about spirit of halacha I am talking about the spirit of Judaism. There are times when the halachic approach is abandoned for something better. And there are times, when just because in the pages of Talmud it doesn't mention single motherhood, does not mean you should aim for that.
After all, if Judaism is about bringing morality to society, why should we observe the laws that keep us separate from those who need our guidance?
If you compromise your basic tenants, there will be nothing left for the future. This is not just about Judaism this can even be applied toward any law. What DYS is basically saying is for Judaism to compromise its tenants and values because all of a sudden, the western world has given a thumbs up to single motherhood and now Jewish ladies want to insert that into Judaism
On the other extreme, if Judaism is about the purity of family life, how can we tolerate a woman wearing short sleeves on a bus?
You're right. I think we should stone her.
I don't understand how you can make such an extreme statement like that.
-Holy Hyrax
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 17:07:04 – Like – Reply
Guest
>Hyrax: I'm very puzzled about your statement that "you can't be concerned about halacha and social values at the same time." What on earth does that mean?
I will deal with this first:
There are certain social values that are accepted in the west, like single mothers being OK, like homosexuality act being OK or now even gay marriage to the concept of gender roles being called sexist.
Judaism has obvious halachic issues with these REGARDLESS what the 'social norms' are, as DYS says. If you are first going to look and see what halacha says, then go chase after a social norm, you are eventually going to hit a brick wall. What should be done is first look at the overall Jewish value of something REGARDLESS of whether its technically halachic.
which brings us to the first comment of yours:
I dispute the idea that, outside of strict halachic adherence, there's a defined "overall spirit of the whole entire [halachic] system" that should be universally enforced.
Looking around this country, I find many value systems that a halachic Jew can work within, and a range of potential involvements with American society. You can be philosophically inclined towards capitalism, socialism, libertarianism, and many other "isms" without violating a single halacha. You can decide that American society is fundamentally corrupt and should be completely shunned, you can decide that only certain limited aspects are allowable, or you can decide that one should engage in the entire society and only withdraw when engagement violates explicit halacha.
Certainly there are some things that you can work in the American System, but they have to be parallel to Jewish values or not hinder it. I can be an environmentalist, as long as I don't forget the Jewish value that humans become before trees. I can become a capitalist as long as it does not lead me to be greedy and forget the poor.
A woman deciding to be a single mother in accordance with halacha is raising the next generation of Jews, expanding the knowledge of Torah, and improving the survivability of the global Jewish community. Where exactly is any of that out of sync with Jewish values?
Because just because something is halachically permissable, does not mean its good. And its not just a matter of Jewish survivability, but a matter of what KIND of survivability. The Jewish value that we speak of is not that you only survive, but with that survival by a certain mechanism. Mediocrity and abandoning your greatest aim and principle is NEVER a solution for any system in this world.
Jewish values, even Orthodox ones, are not monolithic: one can plausibly argue that the Yeshiva/kollel system is completely antithetical to "Jewish values," or that anybody who owns a computer is against "Jewish values," that someone who makes aliyah is against "Jewish values," that someone who refuses to make aliyah is against "Jewish values," etc. etc.
A computer and kolle
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 17:05:35 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Anti-Semitism under every rock
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DYS
Thanks!
Now that actually re-read it, I still find the article to be powerful, but a little to strident for my 39 year old tastes. At age 21, I loved every bit of it.
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 20:53:26 – Like – Reply
cady
When you want to see old web pages as they were before they disappeared go to the wayback machine at: http://www.archive.org/index.php
and put in the URL you are wishing to see.
which will bring you back this:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/antisemit/FightAntiSem.html
I picked the earliest permutation to see the article you were refering to.
http://web.archive.org/web/20020617200554/http://juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/antisemit/FightAntiSem.html
Sincerely,
Your friendly lurking librarian
Thursday, December 11, 2008, 19:08:00 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: A giant Fonzie scheme?
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Raizy
Oh God, I thought you were serious all the way through the first paragraph!
Monday, December 15, 2008, 21:47:42 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Latkes vs. Sufganiyot
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Mikeinmidwood
Both are really good.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 22:54:31 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i love donuts as well as all sweets, but for chanukah im all about the latkes.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 18:18:15 – Like – Reply
Child Ish Behavior
It sounds like a tall tale. Doughnuts are yummy whatever the reason we eat them happens to be.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 17:56:04 – Like – Reply
JoeB
Both are yummy..
You get Chanukah once a year for eight days...
So enjoy the latkes and doughnuts...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 17:20:10 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Not much sympathy for Gazans
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dys
Of course you don't sympathize with Gazans. You're Jewish.
I normally do sympathize with suffering, wherever it occurs. I'm not willing to demonize or dehumanize the other side. But after 2 years of bombardment from a territory that Israel vacated, it's hard to feel that sympathy.
Monday, December 29, 2008, 08:14:49 – Like – Reply
Shul Candyman
Of course you don't sympathize with Gazans. You're Jewish.
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 20:37:45 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I'll add you to my tagged list then. So, consider yourself tagged!
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 18:45:54 – Like – Reply
dys
Actually, no one has meme'd me yet - I've been feeling left out
Happy to be tagged!
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 17:52:18 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Random totally off-topic question here, but have you ever been tagged in a meme and if so, would you do said meme? I was recently tagged and was thinking of tagging you on mine, but wasn't sure you were the meme-ing type (whatever that means).
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 16:42:19 – Like – Reply
dys
Do you even care? Do you just like the revenge?
Subtlety of opinion seems to be lost on some people. Apparently, not agreeing with your extreme automatically puts me in the opposite extreme, in your book.
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 13:11:52 – Like – Reply
SM
No - you're right. It's not just targeting civilians either. In putting their institutions and armaments amongst civilians Hamas is making a clear declaration that its own ends are more important than the people it governs.
I don't think this will work in terms of changing Hamas' view. But I suspect it will significantly lessen the danger to those living near Gaza. That may only be fire-fighting, but sometimes you have to put out the flames before you can think about doing anything else.
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:18:51 – Like – Reply
Craig Travis
What is the end result going to be? Care to take a guess? Do you even care? Do you just like the revenge? When is Israel going to give up on the George Bush school of Diplomacy? Ever? Do you think if you kill half the Gazans the other half will behave?
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:17:35 – Like – Reply
Guest
Wrong. See this article. (Not to mention all the killings in the 1948 war, which you'd probably quibble with by saying it was the Haganah/Irgun, not the IDF.)
Sunday, December 28, 2008, 11:37:46 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My first meme – 7 facts about me
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Tikunolam
Ok, that was really fun to read!
Friday, January 09, 2009, 12:06:02 – Like – Reply
frum single female
tag accepted.
Monday, December 29, 2008, 21:34:40 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
Tag accepted. Though I'm not sure I'll tag anyone. But then, as we know from the very content of my blog, I'm a bit of a rule breaker!
Monday, December 29, 2008, 16:15:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Sex trafficking in Israel
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evanstonjew
I am happy to see you posted on this topic. This is the first time I have visited your blog, and I'll be back again.
I wrote about this topic twice, maybe three times on Rabbi Maryles's blog and no one showed any interest. For some reason Orthodox Jews go nuts if a sexy looking woman wears a too fancy sheitl, but have no feeling at all if a few thousand prostitutes are wandering around Israel or if these women are being beaten and held against their will.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 11:49:39 – Like – Reply
Jameel @ The Muqata
If Israel & the Jewish people are "Or LaGoyim" (A light unto the nations), this is hardly the way to show it.
Ben-Gurion would be kvelling at this news; he couldnt wait for the day for there to be Jewish robbers and prostitutes in the newly established Jewish State.
Thankfully, Israel has made serious advances to getting away from the top countries involved in this.
Monday, January 26, 2009, 10:26:28 – Like – Reply
Joachim Martillo
Sex trafficking since the middle 19th century has been a major occupation among ethnic Ashkenazim.
Sholem Aleichem wrote about it, and it was the reason for one of the larger Jew-on-Jew pogroms in Czarist Russia.
Sources:
Arun Gandhi and Sholem Aleichem
Robert Lindsay: The Zwi Migdal - Jewish Pimps of Argentina
Wednesday, January 07, 2009, 03:14:31 – Like – Reply
Notageek
How sad...
Even more so, considering these girls are probably minors.
But as long as people patronize and support this it will be hard to put an end to it.
Sunday, January 04, 2009, 17:18:34 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Dismayed at death in Gaza
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Kaguya
Beautifully stated. Thank you.
Monday, January 26, 2009, 01:57:37 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Thanks for writing this post. I quite agree with Raizy on this.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 15:24:34 – Like – Reply
Rachel
Absolutely - rejoicing in the pain and suffering of another cannot be right.
Rachel
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 11:57:48 – Like – Reply
Raizy
"cheering on those casualties" is absolutely not acceptable. The Torah tells us "Al tismach b'npol oivecha"- don't rejoice at the downfall of your enemy. You're absolutely right- this war is a defensive and moral necessity, but we should never take pleasure in our ability to take the lives of our enemies.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 23:20:27 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
"We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children.
We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children.
We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us."
-- Golda Meir
I disagree with some of those sentiments, but the overall idea? Absolutely. Soldiers who are forced by circumstances -- or by the enemy -- to kill and maim, come back irreversibly damaged. A huge proportion of soldiers suffering from PTSD recall, in their trauma having to hurt or kill others, or be killed themselves. We will have great difficulties keeping our nation strong if so many of us are traumatized by being victims, or by causing victimhood.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 14:52:29 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Surreal hero worship
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dys
TO,
First of all, I think the label of "hero" is thrown about far too indiscriminately. We award it to sports stars.
I agree that in this case, the label hero would seem to be somewhat appropriate for his keeping a cool head and doing his job and saving the people aboard. But you wrote your comment with almost 3 weeks of hindsight to absorb it.
My objection, barely a day after the incident, was the instant coronation of this man without any look at what really happened, before waiting for even preliminary results to tell us that it truly was an accident, and not pilot error, to be sure he wasn't drunk or something (which has happened with pilots before), etc. The mass craze of adulation before ANY of the facts were in was what I was objecting to.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 09:06:43 – Like – Reply
Tikunolam
I have to disagree. It is a story of good judgement under extreme pressure which prevented a probable catastrophe and tremendous potential loss of life. We reward people with the title "hero" for things like this all the time, someone pulls someone out of a burning home, a soldier carries another to safety. We certainly felt that way about our folks in uniform on 9/11 who saved lives even when only "doing their job." That is heroism. It is inspiring and apparently appreciated by enough people that it made news internationally.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 07:57:12 – Like – Reply
Rachel
Madness, utter madness. I agree that if he was responsible for making a safe landing then he should be congratulated etc, but it's so OTT. And why do things like this always make the top story on the news here in the UK?
FWIW, we have the same issues here with the press.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 02:22:55 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The mouse? It'll never catch on!
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memoryten
http://www.memoryx.net/ provides easy way to find any type of memory, like - computer memory , apple memory, compaq memory, flash memory . You can make best deal out of it.
Monday, September 28, 2009, 18:20:55 – Like – Reply
welovemacs
http://www.welovemacs.com/ One Stop Store for iphone, Bluetooth Product, imac memory, iPOD Accessories , video cards, networking, software and so on.
Friday, September 25, 2009, 20:10:59 – Like – Reply
smarterdeals
www.SmarterDeals.com provides Online Shopping and best price comparison features exclusively for hi-tech products, like - computer hardware, software and electronics. You can make best deal out of it.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 00:51:10 – Like – Reply
Child Ish Behavior
In the end he was right, people soon will not need to use a mouse any longer. Tough screen, and other devices will replace it. In the end it all becomes outdated and useless.
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 04:13:43 – Like – Reply
worldofcables
WorldofCables One Stop Store for Apple/Macintosh, Chargers, MP3 & iPOD Accessories, PDA & Phone Accessories, Computer Accessories, PC Cables, Flash Memory Cards, USB Cables, DVI Cables, Firewire Cables, Monitor Cables, Adapters, Connectors, Audio Video Cables, Gaming Accessories.
http://www.worldofcables.com/store/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=2779
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 02:57:01 – Like – Reply
Rachel
These new-fangled devices annoy the heck out of me. The wheel - isn't walking fast enough?! And as for that fire thing - words fail me... grrr
Rachel
Monday, January 19, 2009, 09:51:42 – Like – Reply
Raizy
What a grouchy old guy.
What kind of a computer industry analyst doesn't want "one of these new fangled devices"? That's like a physician claiming that there is no need to develop new medications. It makes no sense.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 21:01:58 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
People cant be more wrong.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 16:04:41 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Flatbush, Ohio
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dys
yes
Monday, February 09, 2009, 15:10:46 – Like – Reply
Katie
Bexley?
Monday, February 09, 2009, 14:32:03 – Like – Reply
Guest
yup, I do
Sunday, February 08, 2009, 19:40:01 – Like – Reply
Katie
Literally - (if you live in Columbus?)
Saturday, February 07, 2009, 21:52:36 – Like – Reply
Prof K
We moved to Midwood when we first got married because Boro Park, where my husband was raised, was frumming out to the right. Modern Midwood didn't last too long. In late 1976 you could already see what was coming so in 1977 we moved to Staten Island, our own little version of what Flatbush used to be. And Willowbrook SI pretty much still remains a "normal" place to live, I guess protected by the bridges you have to cross to get here.
Friday, February 06, 2009, 15:25:16 – Like – Reply
dys
Katie,
Figuratively, or literally?
Friday, February 06, 2009, 09:08:20 – Like – Reply
lars shalom
yah de bah yah
Thursday, February 05, 2009, 06:35:21 – Like – Reply
Katie
I think I used to live where you live.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009, 23:05:36 – Like – Reply
Steg (dos iz nit der shteg)
Flatbush, Ohio sounds like a nice place
Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 23:03:20 – Like – Reply
dys
And then of course, there was some sub-area of Vanderveer called Nottingham, which I may have lived in - not sure...
Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 11:43:04 – Like – Reply
dys
Well, I was using "Flatbush" in the colloquial sense, the way Orthodox Jews refer to it. Technically, I grew up in Vanderveer, not Midwood.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 11:40:47 – Like – Reply
Mikeinmidwood
The real area is midwood (and now even ohio), not flatbush. For some reason flatbush extended from (if youre familiar with the area) ave. H to brighton beach, everything in the middle is called flatbush.
Monday, February 02, 2009, 22:13:53 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Good post!
When my parents moved from Boro Park to Flatbush in 1980, they were running away from the "Hasidization" of Boro Park. Flatbush was cool then. Now, as you noted, it's choking with frummies. (Not that there's anything wrong with that ( ;
Monday, February 02, 2009, 22:06:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Torat Ezra Judaism isn't Orthodox
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Ilana-Davita
You're probably closest to the people at YCT or "Institute of Jewish Ideals"; both Orthodox.
I'm lloking forward with what more you have to say on the subject.
Monday, February 16, 2009, 15:41:53 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i think that civil marriages in israel would be good for the more secular jews. if there is no jewish marriages, then they dont wont have the problem of having to get a get. it would be one way of solving the agunah problem. and its a big problem in israel.at least the non-frum wont get to experience this problem.
Saturday, February 14, 2009, 19:38:33 – Like – Reply
dys
Actually, the wife has meat for dinner this shabbat...
Friday, February 13, 2009, 15:28:49 – Like – Reply
efrex
If you're looking for halachically observant Jews who believe that the religious parties are doing more harm than good, you can certainly find them in Israel. One of my favorite lecturers on yutorah, Rabbi Rakeffet-Rothkoff, has been saying the same thing for decades now, and I seem to recall R' Shach saying that it would be better if Israeli civil marriage were not connected to the rabbinate.
As far as your general religious philosophy: well, as we've both noted elsewhere, "Orthodox" is an externally-applied label, and one that rabbis from Hirsch to Soloveitchik have repudiated. Just make sure that you don't get called late for dinner (although with no meat at the table, I'd be in no hurry to show up... *ducks thrown organic vegetables* I kid! I kid!)
Friday, February 13, 2009, 14:34:47 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Whether or not your readers agree with you, these are important issues that should be discussed. I look forward to reading your opinions.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:17:55 – Like – Reply
Child Ish Behavior
The pluralism argument is more of a liberal argument than a religious argument. If the goal is to allow each person to worship as they please, at whatever level of observance that they choose, then it follows that pluralism is necessary, no matter what your specific religious philosophy happens to be. However, if you believe that your form of worship is the only form and all other forms are idolatry, then pluralism is really out of the question. It doesn't matter if a few people get to worship the way they want. All that matters is the fact that the one true form of worship is kept to. It isn't that they are toeing the party line, they are just acting based on conservative platform while you are acting on a liberal one.
Friday, February 13, 2009, 12:00:18 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Destroying a friendship because of an interpretation of halacha
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Guest
How do you square your innate moral sense, which gave you clear guidance, with your commitment to halakha, which, if it doesn't take the opposite position, certainly is far less clear on the issue?
Saturday, February 21, 2009, 22:40:21 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
I agree with efrex in appreciating that the O-U didn't editorialize it. Perhaps they meant to inspire others to follow in Aliza's footsteps.
Her piece expresses sadness but I also sensed some ambivalence at the difficulty of holding onto a friend, however wonderful, who belonged to her pre-Jewish life. (She mentioned having lost other non-Jewish friends, although none as close as Cynthia).
I imagine it would be /much/ more difficult for an ex-Catholic convert to Judaism to enter a church, than it would be for someone who grew up Jewish, and for this reason I can understand why she chose to follow the Rav who forbade it (as opposed to the one who, himself, enters churches).
Similarly, perhaps she could have found alternative, "virtual" ways of attending the wedding, but she chose a relatively black-and-white approach, and I think this, too, might reflect her ambivalence and difficulty holding onto friends - even much-loved ones -- from her previous life.
Conversion is hard and she is making the decisions she needs to make to take care of herself as best she can.
Thursday, February 19, 2009, 15:26:17 – Like – Reply
efrex
I'm actually pleased that the OU posted the article in toto, with no editorial additions.
Dealing with interfaith issues is an extremely complex process, particularly for geirim and ba'alei teshuva, who often lack the confidence or social structure/ minhag to make these kind of decisions on their own, and need to get rabbinic guidance. At some level, even FFBs need to ask themselves how far they should go, and get appropriate rabbinic advice.
IMHO, this article isn't meant to be inspiring, in the sense of spiritual uplift ("ooh! Look how wonderfully she's growing up away from the tarfus of her past!"), but thought-provoking. For those of us who live and thrive in heterogeneous social worlds, where do we draw lines? When is it appropriate to draw them based on our own subjective feelings of right & wrong, and when do we seek guidance? What do we do when the advice we sought contradicts our own innate sense?
These are serious questions, and deserve serious thought from clergy and laity alike.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 16:18:42 – Like – Reply
frum single female
wow! what a sad story . i think that it would be such a hard thing to tell a convert to judaism not to attend her gentile best friend's wedding or funeral even if in a church. some of the comments on the ou site are quite heartless, like the ones that say not to mix with gentiles. good greif. the woman was a convert.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 22:07:14 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
I have read the article and have found the arraya of comments interesting. Not all (Orthodox) rabis believe that Christianity is idolatry. besides if you feel confident in your Judaism, would a ttending a wedding and obviously not participate in the service change your religion? I believe not.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 16:28:51 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: TEJ overview - please add suggestions!
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Ilana-Davita
Looks interesting and inspiring. Looking forward to whatever you will write.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009, 15:57:13 – Like – Reply
dys
Whoops - forgot to add pluralism. That's a big one.
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:59:19 – Like – Reply
dys
*condensing
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:35:43 – Like – Reply
dys
Efrex,
I'll definitely be addressing that.
As to your earlier point - yes, it's probably a tad ambitious - I was just sort of making a stream of conciousness list - I'm welcome to suggestions for condesing the list too!
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:35:13 – Like – Reply
efrex
You've got 16 points, each of which could easily be a ten-page essay, and you're asking for more?! Dude, there's type-A personality and there's just craziness...
One thing that I'd like to see addressed (perhaps within "Rabbinic Authority"): Under what circumstances would you heed a religious authority if he/she told you something that went against your intuitive halachic/hashkafic understanding? Would it be only a certain person (i.e. "My rabbi") or only certain issues (i.e. "I'll listen on kashrut, but on interpersonal things, my understanding is what counts")?
Monday, March 02, 2009, 16:02:28 – Like – Reply
Chavi
If you call it "Underconstructionist" and it involves constant evolution and reconsiderations regarding one's Judaism? I am SO signing up as a member :D
Sunday, March 01, 2009, 19:55:11 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
I think I'd start by answering the question "what is the purpose of living a religious life?" Once you've got that down, you can go into specifics of what that religious life is.
Sunday, March 01, 2009, 11:49:37 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Exposing myself
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dys
BHB - lol!
And yes, I am under 40 & know who Alfred E Newman is - I grew up on MAD.
I'm WAY under 40! I won't be 40 for another 8 months.
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 21:17:39 – Like – Reply
Baal Habos
Heh, I had one of those moments - http://baalhabos.blogspot.com/2007/03/time-has-come.html
And look what happened as a result - http://baalhabos.blogspot.com/2007/03/monsey-herald.html
Careful...
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 19:16:20 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Blast from the (recent) past - reinvigorating my idealism
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katrina
Did you ever move out of town and find a shul you liked? Have you thought about publishing a list of good shuls out of town?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 08:25:46 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: REALLY glad I voted for Obama!
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Mike S.
One would think from what has been reported in the press and said in political commentary that President Bush instituted a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Actually what he did was loosen a ban that had been imposed during the Clinton administration, by allowing federal funding on 7 stem-cell lines that were extant at the time of the announcement.
Monday, April 20, 2009, 19:56:02 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
You might want to see this from NPR's website (4/1). It claims that the banning of phthalates in children's toys is unnecessary but the Dems supported the ban anyway. Think we'll be hearing anything about the Dems' war on science?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102567295
Friday, April 03, 2009, 00:17:57 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
DYS,
Well first of all let's be clear about what's gettng reversed. It's not a ban on stem cell funding it's a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. There are arguments pro and con about this, and the arguments against it aren't all religious.I don't see anything in Obama's statement that you quoted that addresses any of them.
Now Obama's comments that you quote expresses ideals, but he isn't saying how he intends to make sure they succeed at what they're are supposed to do. So it's the type of thing that's simply designed to make people feel good without really showing that he's eliminating his administration's influence in scientific research.
So, as I see it, and maybe I'm wrong, but then you didn't give me any reason to suspect that I might be wrong, is that you're saying that you're glad you voted for Obama because Obama issued a vague proclamation that made you feel good. A statement like that is like saying you're glad you voted for Obama because he just said something that made you feel glad that voted for him. That's circular reasoning to me.
If you had given a reason to believe that a, there had previously been a problem with this and b, Obama actually had done something specific to keep his administration's political influence out of science (ha, ha), then you really would have said something, and I wouldn't be complaining about circular reasoning. But you didn't.
It seems that you just made some assumptions, didn't articulate what they were, or explain why you thought they were valid, and then you assumed that they were so obvious that everyone who reads the blog would make the same assumptions. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn't.
Friday, March 13, 2009, 12:41:47 – Like – Reply
dys
Ichabod,
Not sure what you're asking. Of course I'm pleased that the decision has been reversed, but what I was happy about specifically was the attitude towards science that Obama is espousing, after too many years of science being supressed or manipulated to fit the preconceieved notions of conservatives, be it on stem cell research, climate change, energy policy, etc.
Your assertion that "all (I) know about federal funding of stem cell research is what's in Obama's speech" is made up out of whole cloth, and is nowhere implied in my few words in my post outside of the quote.
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 12:07:18 – Like – Reply
Raizy
The Bush administration's ban on federal funding for stem cell research was purely to appease the Republican party's ultra-conservative base. It really has nothing to do with preventing abortions. It simply impeded necessary research into finding cures for neurological disorders. I am also very glad that it has been reversed.
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 08:17:49 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Hmm. Are you saying you're glad you voted for Obama because he says nice things about stem cell research and all you know about federal funding of stem cell research is what's in Obama's speech? It's kind of circular reasoning, no?
Thursday, March 12, 2009, 00:34:02 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: So what if Birchat Hachama isn't "true"?
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RJM
See my post on this http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009, 14:20:06 – Like – Reply
lvnsm
I agree, we should still take a lesson from this and appreciate the gift that Hashem has given us, for example, the light and the warmth that we get from the sun
Tuesday, April 07, 2009, 04:49:03 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Cheating revisited - what would you do?
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Jessica
I'd probably choose B (simply because I'm not a fan of talking to people one on one... yeah, I'm a weirdo.). If I lose my scholarship, I lose it. At least I'll still be able to say that I stuck to my guns and didn't give in to temptation. Some things are just more important than grades.
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 11:01:00 – Like – Reply
Child Ish
I would cheat. And I am not the type of person who cheats, it is just the scenario you presented is such that cheating is not really cheating in this case. Since the grading is on a curve, what is being testing is knowledge relative to everyone else, by not cheating you cost yourself the test. This is not the same situation as would be the case if everyone were judged on their own merits.
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 00:37:03 – Like – Reply
robert
Honestly, I would rationalize choice "C" by saying that its the professor's fault for not properly safeguarding the test. The results of the test curve will be skewed and therefore "dishonest" whether or not I were to cheat. Cheating would be the only prudent way to handle this unfortunate breach of security. In fact, I can and probably would go so far in my rationalization to say that in this case I was a victim of the lax system, and had no other choice but to cheat.
Isn't the human mind a great thing?
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 00:15:04 – Like – Reply
frum single female
wow... this is a tough one. i wouldnt have the guts to do A, and i hope that i would be able to do B. .
Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 22:50:17 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Who were the Tzidukim? (Sadducees)
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Material Maidel
Interesting post.
The first time I heard about the Saduccees and Essenes, and all the other 'sects' was when I took a Religion course in College.
I still don't understand how Judaism could have divided into 'sects'. Would we now consider Conservative and Orthodox judaism as different sects?
Tuesday, May 05, 2009, 22:02:50 – Like – Reply
smoo
I have two posts relevant to you topic. The first is an easier read than the second.
http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2008/12/antigonus-and-tradition.html
http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2008/04/road-to-rabbinic-rule.html
Tuesday, May 05, 2009, 14:20:39 – Like – Reply
Sheryl Abbey
Since you're discussing historical reality...have you seen the new Koren Sacks Siddur? It combines the renowned textual accuracy and design of Koren Publishers Jerusalem with a contemporary English translation and an amazing commentary by Chief Rabbi of the UK, Sir Jonathan Sacks and--dare I say--includes prayers for Yom Ha'atzma'ut, Yom Hazikaron, missing Israeli soldiers, the US military and other historical realities.
Sunday, May 03, 2009, 16:55:11 – Like – Reply
Baal Habos
>The Sadducees were a heretical sect active during the Second Temple era. They denied the validity of the Oral Tradition, maintaining that only the literal sense of the Torah was binding."
That's the pshat in "History belongs to the victor".
Sunday, May 03, 2009, 07:19:21 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: A very Charedi Lag Ba-Omer
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mikeinmidwood
Thats a famous one, I was going to go to that.
Friday, May 15, 2009, 15:36:00 – Like – Reply
dys
E.27 between J & K
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 22:44:54 – Like – Reply
mikeinmidwood
Where was this one?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 22:06:35 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My Blackberry Pearl, Z"L
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dys
I have a new blackberry
Withdrawal was tough
Friday, May 22, 2009, 12:11:22 – Like – Reply
rachel
Oh no!
Friday, May 22, 2009, 11:50:00 – Like – Reply
dys
no
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 20:19:01 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
So the bed of rice didn't work.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 16:40:39 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The incredible shrinking God
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Child Ish
Good point. I think people have to have some sort of blinders on to ignore empirical evidence. It takes a special type of dishonesty, or at least a misconception of Hashem, to believe in God of the gaps. Religion never was the denial of the empirical, in fact the Halacha manifests itself in empirical ways. Do we only nod our heads when things seem to fit what we want them to say?
Thursday, May 28, 2009, 15:12:40 – Like – Reply
efrex
dys:
If you haven't already done so, pick up R' Hirsch's writings on evolution, where he makes the point more clearly (indeed, Slifkin quotes Hirsch routinely). (excerpt from an online source; it sounds accurate, but I don't have the original to compare)
Even if this notion [evolution] were ever to gain complete acceptance by the scientific world... Judaism... would call upon its adherents to give even greater reverence than ever before to the one, sole God Who, in His boundless creative wisdom and eternal omnipotence, needed to bring into existence no more than one single, amorphous nucleus and one single law of “adaptation and heredity” in order to bring forth... the infinite variety of species we know today... This would be nothing else but the actualization of the law of le-mino, the “law of species” with which God began His work of creation...
Another great inspiration for me is the late Nobelist Richard Feynman, physics professor at Cal Tech and raconteur, who, although not at all a traditionally observant Jew, routinely waxed poetic about the spiritual beauty of natural laws:
Poets say science takes away from the beauty of the stars — mere globs of gas atoms... Nothing is "mere"... I too can see the stars on a desert night, and feel them. But do I see less or more? The vastness of the heavens stretches my imagination... It does not do harm to the mystery to know a little more about it. For far more marvelous is the truth than any artists of the past imagined it. Why do the poets of the present not speak of it? What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 11:19:42 – Like – Reply
dys
Smoo,
I really like that way of thinking about it. Thanks!
Friday, May 22, 2009, 13:32:59 – Like – Reply
smoo
A thought from R. Slifkin regarding evolution: What is a greater power? A. God must constantly be making new creations, updating things regularly or B. doing one act that unfolds into infinite expressions.
ANS: B is correct. Imagine all the updates you receive and fixes that Microsoft sends you for your computer so that all will go well and repair the unforeseen. Now imagine if someone made a computer that never needed updating, fixes, etc because all contingencies were accounted for from inception. Now look at what God did. He made a big bang, one act of creation ex nihilo. From that, all the universe differentiated and life sprung up. Included in the program was a mechanism of evolution whereby life changed, adapted, varied with environmental and inter-species pressure etc. I'd say that is much more impressive and that is not only how I see my God but how I can remain a logical, intellectually honest scientist and be a religious Jew.
Torah wasn't meant to be a scientific lesson but a moral/social one.
See Slifkin's approach to allegory in breishis at my post: http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2006/09/zoo-torah.html
Friday, May 22, 2009, 12:58:12 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Values and ethics and morals, oh my!
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Ilana-Davita
Fine post. A good "summary" of the major ethical dilemmas we have to face. Thanks for writing it.
Friday, June 05, 2009, 02:37:45 – Like – Reply
Child Ish
I think everyone does this to an extent. Everyone get's their own morals from themselves. I have yet to find one person that feels the same way on every issue, even people who profess to be the most charaidi. The differences in people's opinions come from the fact that everyone's judgments on things come out of a mixture of various components, and not just The Torah. I think the ideal for a Jew is to see the Torah, or some interpretation of the Torah, as the basis for making ethical decisions and forming the basis for what you believe to be right and wrong.
"Struggling with ethical dilemmas and thinking for oneself, based on the richness of oneâ??s own experience is part of life." The only way there can be such a struggle is if you have chosen a system of ethics that is not changeable based on your own whims. Where is the ethical dilemma if "it's all good"?
You have to look at the world from the prism of the torah, and not the other way around, at least ideally. The question isn't, what do the rabbis want me to do, it isn't even, what does the torah actually want me to do. The way an independently thinking Jew approaches ethics is, as a person who believes himself to be a follower of the Torah, how should I act?
Thursday, June 04, 2009, 01:44:02 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My first post criticizing Obama (no kidding)
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Ichabod Chrain
DYS,
I know your politics lean left, but my question is why? Massive governmental spending didn't work when FDR tried it during the 30's, it didn't work in 1930's Germany (which was going bankrupt before they signed the pact with Stalin), and it isn't working for the Japanese now.
And Bush's foreign policy wasn't a disaster. We could disagree with specific aspects of it, but for the most part (including the Iraq war) it was a breath of fresh air compared to what it followed and to what I expect we'll have now.
Thursday, June 11, 2009, 01:26:22 – Like – Reply
dys
This is your only criticism of Obama? The stimulus bill that's giving us mounds of debt but isn't giving us any jobs doesn't bother you? The fact that Obama goes all over the world apologizing, doesn't bother you? The expanded role he's giving the government doesn't bother you?
Ichabod,
My politics lean very liberal on most issues. I applaud most of Obama's moves on the economy. Recovery takes time.
As for Obama going "all over the world apologizing", I have to say that I haven't seen that. What you mean is that he's grovelling, and that's a right-wing interpretation. He may have acknowleged real mistakes by the US, but that's just good diplomacy after the disaster of Bush.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 13:05:59 – Like – Reply
dys
David,
Obama's not a minister. I presume there are hundreds of bible verses we've never heard him say. Your comment is idiotic.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 13:01:27 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
This is your only criticism of Obama? The stimulus bill that's giving us mounds of debt but isn't giving us any jobs doesn't bother you? The fact that Obama goes all over the world apologizing, doesn't bother you? The expanded role he's giving the government doesn't bother you?
I would suggest that you should be worried. Very, very worried.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 10:55:36 – Like – Reply
David
BIBLE VERSES OBAMA AVOIDS !
For reasons known only to him, President Obama avoids certain Bible verses:
Proverbs 19:10 (NIV): "It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury - how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!"
Also Proverbs 30:22 (NIV) which says that the earth cannot bear up under "a servant who becomes king."
Monday, June 08, 2009, 23:36:22 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
I think Obama's right not to visit Israel, so long as wing-nuts like Lieberman are are trying to pass McCarthyist legislation mandating loyalty oaths and outlawing free expression. Obama and the US shoudl eb friends with Israel because of shared values. When Israel's government abandons those values, the US should rightly step back from it, at least symbolically.
Thursday, June 04, 2009, 08:45:43 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The Staten Island Ferry
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efrex
Back when I was working in the Wall Street area, and had free time, I would regularly ride the ferry back and forth when the weather was nice... One of the greatest things to do for free in the city, and almost makes keeping Staten Island worth it (*in best Don Rickles voice* "I kid! I kid!")
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 09:53:32 – Like – Reply
dys
Well, my current work situation is changing soon anyway and I only do the commute on a semi-regular basis, not every day. So for the meantime, I'll enjoy it!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 20:46:22 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I LOVE the Staten Island ferry. It is relaxing, if you take it once in a while. But it's very slow and you may start to go a bit crazy if you take it every day.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 20:34:04 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: I work for a giant rat!
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Title: wireless cell service
Excerpt: Be A Part of An Explosive Business, That Will Change Mobile Technology Forever - Unlimited your Income at http://www.zero1mobile.us
Blog name: wireless cell service
Wednesday, July 08, 2009, 10:59:02 – Like
Jessica
That's where the dog lived. (I honestly don't know how her owner could even afford her apartment. She was from Italy and spoke almost no English). Didn't realize they moved it around.
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 21:44:05 – Like – Reply
dys
They move the rat around. This was in Lower Manhattan, in the financial district. It wasn't there this morning.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 21:22:14 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I used to walk a dog in that area. I would pass by that rat everyday on the way to her apartment.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 21:05:41 – Like – Reply
frum single female
wow. i never realized why they would have that inflatable rat on the street. i always thought it was kind of cute. i didnt know it was used for protests!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 19:44:31 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: To tweet or not to tweet
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E. Fink
Twitter is a great way to meet and interact with people if used properly.
Thursday, July 09, 2009, 17:10:43 – Like – Reply
Holy Hyrax
The answer lies in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN2HAroA12w
Twitter is the first great evil of this century.
Monday, June 22, 2009, 16:54:59 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
Twitter began as a microblogging platform, and I know it's ruined a lot of people for actually blogging. Why blog when you can just write 140-character blurbs every 20 seconds?
I'm not one of those people, unfortunately.
I like Twitter because it's allowed me to network like crazy, it's connected me to a lot of Jewish bloggers I otherwise wouldn't have met, and it's allowed me to meet people in the Jewish e-verse that are worthwhile people, darn't.
It's unique in that it connects you in a way that Facebook and Blogging cannot. Does that help ...?
Thursday, June 18, 2009, 22:59:08 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Is the ketchup kosher?
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goody
i don't know what 'kosher' actually mean, but listen my advice: don't complicate you life too much with all those religious stuff... just enjoy it, because you'll never know how long you're gonna live
Monday, July 27, 2009, 10:54:55 – Like – Reply
RS
"But on pesach, a "mashehu", even a miniscule amount of chametz in a product classifies the entire product as chametz. Therefore, almost any processed product that isn't specifically kasher l'pesach must be considered chametz."
Unfortunately you don't know the halacha. This only applies if the chametz was mixed on pesach. If the chametz is less than 60 and was mixed before pesach it is fine. So there is nothing wrong with the ketchup.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 10:42:55 – Like – Reply
efrex
Naturally, this is l'halacha velo lema'aseh (theoretical, not practical), especially as I'm not at all a halachic authority, but I can think of at least two concepts that require explicating before you could answer the question:
1) Your mechirat chametz: did you specify the locations where your chametz was located? If so, did you include your work location on the shtar mechira?
2) Even if you didn't sell the chametz, you made your nullification statement ("kol chamira v'chamiya"). Now, this is actually quite an interesting issue, as there's a rabbinic debate as to what this accomplishes (side note: while selling chametz is a rabbinic innovation, the "nullification" is considered to be a Torah halacha). According to one opinion, you actually are negating the food status of your chametz ("declare it as dust,") while according to the other, you merely give up your ownership*. Now, as I see it, according to the first viewpoint, you couldn't decide to use the ketchup, since by considering it food, you retroactively nullify your original declaration (machshava mevatelet machshava), and you'd find yourself in posession of chametz. According to the second viewpoint, however, you've merely re-established your ownership over something that was not yours over Pesach; so long as that chametz was publicly available and you weren't makpid on it (not sure if that applies or not), you could reclaim it afterwards.
There's an argument to made on the value of the internet that I could actually make a long halachic post; I'm not sure if it's a positive or negative one, though...
________________________________________
* Rabbi Meir Fulda, one of YU's unsung heroes (the man's been teaching Torah for half a century in the less-glamorous JSS/mechina programs, living in relative anonymity in my neighborhood despite being a close talmid of Rabbis Joseph Soloveitchik and Chaim Heller) has a wonderful shiur where he notes that our formulation combines both viewpoints, "so what you wind up with is someone else's dust!"
Monday, June 29, 2009, 08:50:21 – Like – Reply
Mark
When I sell my chametz before Pesach, I make a list (for the contract) of all places the chametz might be found, and I include my office and my cars.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 22:28:55 – Like – Reply
dys
In any case, this is a halachic intellectual exercise. I'm not actually planning to eat it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 13:43:21 – Like – Reply
dys
Huh,
Did you even read my last comment? It's not kitniyot! It's chametz!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 13:42:27 – Like – Reply
huh?
this kitniyaose we're talking about, and you're worried about chametz sh'avar alav hapesach?! if this isn't baal tosif, don't know what is.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 13:21:31 – Like – Reply
dys
Liza,
Almost any processed product has many ingredients, some of which likely come from processes that utilize grains. For example, ketchup has distilled vinegar in it, which is often made from grain.
On Pesach, unlike the rest of the year, there's no concept of "batel b'shishim". During the year, if there's less than 1/60th of a nonkosher ingredient in a kosher product, or less than 1/60th of milk in a meat product, or vice versa, it's bedi'eved OK to eat.
But on pesach, a "mashehu", even a miniscule amount of chametz in a product classifies the entire product as chametz. Therefore, almost any processed product that isn't specifically kasher l'pesach must be considered chametz.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 12:42:22 – Like – Reply
liza
i dont get it.
it isnt chametz, it isnt even taaruves. its at worst kitniyos.
Is this a joke?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 02:31:34 – Like – Reply
dys
MM & CI,
I don't have serious plans to eat the ketchup. I usually try to buy organic ketchup anyway, that doesn't have refined sugars like corn syrup, like Heinz does. Like I said, it's just food for thought. But as far as the age of the ketchup goes, those packets last forever. They'd probably survive a nuclear war!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 23:56:53 – Like – Reply
Child Ish
I offer you one getto hetter coming right up.
CSAAAHP was put into place as a kinas for people who kept chametz in their possession over yom tov. You can follow the train of thought from there... But I'd just throw out the ketchup. as MM pointed out, it is old ketchup sitting in a desk for a long period of time.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 23:35:18 – Like – Reply
Material Maidel
Who cares if it's kosher.
You're actually gonna eat old ketchup???!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 23:22:17 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Tunisia - an Arab democracy?
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Ilana-Davita
There are still a few Jews in Tunisia (in the capital mainly) but they are old and theer probably won't be any left in twenty years' time.
It is probably one of the most democratic among Arab countries but not quite as democratic as Western countries.
Sunday, July 05, 2009, 10:38:07 – Like – Reply
rachel
Now that's interesting. You hear/read so little about this country...
rachel
Friday, July 03, 2009, 05:22:23 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i thought all the jews left tunisia for france in the early sixties due to anti-semitsm, then again that might not mean tunisia isnt democratic.
Thursday, July 02, 2009, 23:48:15 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Yehudi Hilchati
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Lady-Light
I was wondering where you went...(went back to Yehudi Hilchati, but was locked out. Can you unlock?)
I appreciate your straightforward honesty. They are very similar reasons for my blogging anonymously. I guess I am not prepared (or have the strength) to defend myself from the blows that would inevitably come from readers in my community who read my blog, and who disagree with my views. Just don't have the energy for it at this time...
Sunday, August 16, 2009, 00:09:09 – Like – Reply
dys
anonimuss,
I didn't think that the connection between the 2 blogs was a big secret to discerning minds. Especially when I lifted old posts wholesale from the old one & posted them here with only minor updates. That's why I decided that the whole switch turned out to have been mostly a waste of time.
Monday, July 27, 2009, 12:43:01 – Like – Reply
anonimuss
I knew it the whole time... no joke.
Sometimes it's tempting to just say revealing things. But I don't.
Saturday, July 25, 2009, 19:56:56 – Like – Reply
A Living Nadneyda
The main two reasons I blog anonymously are to protect my family's privacy, and to provide a degree of separation from the hospital where I work.
I don't write much on my blog that I wouldn't say out loud in front of my friends.
That said, there are many things I would like to write and don't, because I know my parents and their friends read the blog.
Half-anonymity doesn't quite work...
Sunday, July 19, 2009, 05:44:40 – Like – Reply
rachel
Hey there - Ilana Davita pointed me in the direction of this post. Interesting that we chose to post on similar issues during the same week!
Shabbat Shalom to you...
Rachel
Friday, July 17, 2009, 05:41:37 – Like – Reply
Jessica
No worries, I didn't take offense. I always thought I was so observant and could read people very well. I didn't even see a connection between the two blogs, lol.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 09:03:08 – Like – Reply
dys
Sorry - just realized the above sounds a little condescending and sounds like I "rewarded" you with a space on my blogroll for commenting on my old blog!
I just meant that because you commented a lot, I became aware of your blog, so I put it on my blogroll.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 21:27:48 – Like – Reply
dys
Thanks, Raizy!
Jessica,
Yes you did. You commented on many posts there too. That's why you ended up on my blogroll on this blog.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 21:00:40 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I think I used to read your old blog because that post sounds insanely familiar to me (and the screen name too).
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 20:10:49 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Popeye said "I yam what I yam".
Changing your blog name was not going to change your interests, opinions, or writing style, so it's not surprising that your new blog is similar to your old one. But I don't see any problem with that. The whole point is to feel free to express yourself, and while you may be "far from radical compared with many others", your readers (including me!) think that your posts are interesting, and intend to keep reading.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 18:33:19 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Doctors vs Moneylenders
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A Living Nadneyda
If he made the comment as a factual observation then it is not a stereotype. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would quote statistical sources but maybe he had actually checked the figures (if they exist).
Sunday, July 19, 2009, 05:40:35 – Like – Reply
kosherbride
A a soon to be Dr. I have to insert my opinion that the quote was correct. My class has a large percent of (mostly non-religious) Jews. It is the same at many medical schools on the coasts. In the south or midwest the stereotype does not hold as true. Medicine has lately been opening up to a lot of new people. Certain schools that were notoriously anti-Semitic are taking a few religious students every year and women are starting to take over the majority at other schools.
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 15:16:45 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Papers from the sky on 9/11
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Jessica
Hey, just wanted to let you know I tagged you in a meme.
Monday, August 03, 2009, 12:02:47 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Two days after the attacks, when school resumed, many of my students brought in singed papers that they had collected as they floated down from the skies. We discussed what should be done with them, and one boy said "I'm keeping these papers to show my children. Otherwise how will they ever believe what these bastards did to us?"
Sunday, August 02, 2009, 18:30:52 – Like – Reply
frum single female
you've been tagged.
Sunday, August 02, 2009, 18:09:58 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Glad to be on the bride's side
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jacob da jew
Didn't fast, sefradim don't fast. I always hang by the shmorg and go to the chassan's tish for some shots
Sunday, August 30, 2009, 15:18:36 – Like – Reply
dys
It might also be fainting from fasting. I was lucky - I got married on Purim Katan - didn't have to fast
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 17:10:25 – Like – Reply
Raizy
At every wedding I've ever attended, the groom has looked like he was about to faint from nerves. I can't imagine that those guys ever remember who was at the tish and who wasn't. You can probably stay at the shmorg the whole time if you want to. The groom will never know the difference.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 16:47:52 – Like – Reply
dys
I've done that. But I've also been stuck at the tish for the whole time.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 16:38:33 – Like – Reply
WolfishMusings
At the risk of sounding silly, why not simply take some food from the smorgasbord to the chosson's tish?
The Wolf
Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 16:25:43 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: The great bee massacre of August 2009
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Steg (dos iz nit der shteg)
go for the moss ? moss is mawesome
Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 09:38:09 – Like – Reply
dys
Thanks for the suggestion. I was feeling really crappy about the bees. I hate to kill anything. But our landlords would be very upset if they got fined for us not cutting the lawn, and today was my window to do it.
A few years ago, there was a cool article in the NY Times Magazine about the uselessness of lawns. I have to try to find it.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 20:42:52 – Like – Reply
Bzzzz
Sorry to hear about the bees.
Get a long stick - bamboo pole, broomstick, something like that, and shake it through the grass first. Do what you can to get the bees out BEFORE you start mowing. Or, go over it with a rake. If they keep coming back, rake a section, then mow it before they all come back.
Give this a try next time.
And, as always, make sure that they are not hornets and that it is not a hornet's nest built in the grass that they are gathered over. You don't want to disturb or mow over that.
I was kind of ticked off when I began reading your post, but then I read WHY you needed to mow the grass, so I can understand why it was necessary to mow then. From your comments, you do seem to like bees, so I can tell that you didn't do what you did out of malice or indifference. I do hope more got away than appeared to you.
It's good that you have so many bees around your area. I've only seen two or three honeybees all summer this year where I live.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 17:14:17 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Blogroll etiquette - reciprocity
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Ilana-Davita
I follow Raizy on this one.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009, 16:22:04 – Like – Reply
Something Different
Thats the main reason I don't have a blogroll. I wouldn't know who to add...
I've always been called an escapist...
Saturday, August 22, 2009, 22:40:19 – Like – Reply
tikunolam
One of the many reasons I don't have a blog. Too many rules to keep track of. But if I did have a blog, I'd put you on my blogroll and I would appreciate but not expect reciprocity.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 17:16:46 – Like – Reply
frum single female
if i really like a blog i will add them to my blogroll. it is always a tough decision if i see someone has me on their blogroll, but im not sure if i want to add them to my blogroll. this is why i have a secondary blogroll for blogs i like but dont necessarily read daily.
Monday, August 17, 2009, 23:34:38 – Like – Reply
E. Fink
These are two different concepts.
Blogroll and link exchange.
Monday, August 17, 2009, 15:32:17 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
My blogroll is for blogs I read regularly and that are consistent with my blog's genre. I don't do link exchange.
Monday, August 17, 2009, 08:13:09 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I was actually thinking something similar the other day. Though I was thinking in opposite terms: if you add someone to your blogroll and/or comment regularly on their blog, but the blogrolling/commenting is not reciprocated, would you remove them out of spite? (Yeah... I'm just a tad negative.)
Monday, August 17, 2009, 08:02:37 – Like – Reply
Raizy
I only add blogs that I enjoy reading and would feel comfortable recommending to other people.
Sunday, August 16, 2009, 16:28:03 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Live blogging Israel - sort of
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Abacaxi Mamao
In Israel, most people carry toilet paper for blowing their nose, instead of tissues. That's also what they often have in offices. I don't know why. I guess because it's cheaper? It's totally normal to see people taking toilet paper out of their backpacks to blow their noses on the bus, etc.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 23:26:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: I said no to a tzedaka plea
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TH
Although you may be correct in terms of perpetuating the system and all of that, It is assur to turn someone away empty handed. Perhaps next time give that single solitary shekel so as not to embarrass him. Or better, ask him why he was reduced to panhandling. These guys usually have a story they're happy to share. And for a brief, fleeting, moment you'll allow him to feel like a human being.
Friday, September 04, 2009, 01:33:40 – Like – Reply
Raizy
Don't feel too bad. There are plenty of other opportunities to give tzedakah, if you so choose.
Thursday, September 03, 2009, 20:16:06 – Like – Reply
Jessica
"Maybe I read too many blogs complaining about the kollel system... "
Sounds about right to me.
Thursday, September 03, 2009, 16:20:55 – Like – Reply
robert
In answer to your question the answer is yes. You were being smart. And stingy. I highly doubt that a few shecks here and there is really doing anything to perpetuate the kollel system.
Thursday, September 03, 2009, 13:11:40 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: God does not exist
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Ichabod Chrain
Robert,
Why do you think we need more halachic observance? People will observe to the extent that they feel is appropriate for them. Some halachas seem to be pretty arubitrary. What do you think the advantage of more halachic observance would be? (Not trying to argue with you, I can sort of understand why someone would aspire to such a goal for himself, but I can't understand what principled basis he might have for wanting others to be that way.)
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 01:18:02 – Like – Reply
robert
OK, so I went a bit overboard in my comments, and for that I must apologize to you. But since you market your blog as "Rational, critically thinking, socially progressive, halachically observant Judaism with a good deal of common sense thrown in" I think that when you post on weighty issues such as the existence of GOD, your focus on the main point you are trying to bring out, ought to be sharpened.
I hope that you accept my way too sharp critiques in the spirit in which they were intended-as a means of improvement of your blog. Lord knows we need more critical thought and common sense, as well as halachic observance.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 18:34:07 – Like – Reply
robert
dys said:
"...but my main point is that God cannot be proven."
And my main critique of your main point is that it is TOTALLY erroneous, and possibly dangerously misleading to think that since the existence of (God), (love), (Barack Obama) can not be proven, that it leads in any way to the conclusion that (God), (love), (Barack Obama) do not exist.
Just look how easily some of the comentators drank from your kool aid of denying G-d's existence. Shame on you, that a religious jew for whom God's existence should be axiomatic, should lower himself to write such drivel. And for what end, to "play semantics"?
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 18:13:04 – Like – Reply
robert
can you convince me that Barack Obama exists using logical arguments?
"Love is people's reaction to each other. The people exist. Thus the love is real."
By what method are you ascertaining that "The people exist"?
Furthermore, so what if the people exist? It is not a logical extension to say that since people exist, therefore love exists. And your statement that love is a reaction of one person to another is just nonsense. You are somehow elevating a reaction or an interaction into "love". That is not what love is. You are totaly obfuscating the issue.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 15:32:28 – Like – Reply
dys
Robert @ 12:15pm,
I reject the notion that any topic is off-limits to discussion. My version of Judaism isn't based on closing one's eyes to preserve emunah.
Your assertion that this post represents some sort of "lifnei iver" is silly. There are hundreds of Jewish blogs out there advocating no belief in God at all. And many of them are far more popular than mine.
As for the content, I'm just playing semantics to some degree, but my main point is that God cannot be proven. All we have is our emotions. I can't convince somebody that God is real using logical arguments. If anyone could, we wouldn't have free will.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 14:33:35 – Like – Reply
dys
Robert,
Love is people's reaction to each other. The people exist. Thus the love is real.
People also react to God. The love they have for God is real. But that doesn't mean that God himself is real. Someone can fall in love with an imaginary woman. That doesn't make her real.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 14:28:35 – Like – Reply
dys
Does love exist? Does a table exist? Emotions exist in the sense that there's a chemical reaction in the brain. And more tangibly, we view actions and interpret the motivation behind them as emotion or intent.
"Existence" is a tricky term, as my post pointed out.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 14:24:31 – Like – Reply
robert
dys,
I am uncertain if you are just trying to engage in an academic exercise as to whether or not God exists. However, I believe that this is a topic that ought not be discussed by a person who professess to be a halachically observant religious jew.
I believe that you should know that the ramifications of your words can have a tremendous impact on the practice of those who might happen upon your post.
Reading your words and using my enormous God-given ability to rationalize, I might justify my eating that cheeseburger or lobster "just this one time". After all, God, as you say, doesn't REALLY exist, but my desires to indulge REALLY do exist! So, what the hell, why not?
I believe that you ought to be more cognizant of the mighty power of your pen before posting on such speculative inquiries.
Additionally, you place yourself in the precarious position of being less of a "ma'amin" then the people of nineveh who obviously had a more tangible understanding of emunah than you did.
Dys, it is not yet too late for you to repent.
Thursday, September 24, 2009, 12:10:09 – Like – Reply
B. Spinoza
I would say God is Existence
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 11:48:21 – Like – Reply
robert
IC,
The fourth sentence of the post asks what is the common definition of existence. I think that it is fair game to use the answer given by dys, and test it on other realms. My assertion is that utilizing dys's definition of existence, it follows that love, like god, does not exist.
My point is that love most definitely exists in this world. The way I know this with a high degree of certainty (100%) is through empiricism. There is no other way.
Same with Barack Obama. He most definitely exists. But again, the ONLY way I know this is true is through empiricism. The fact that his existence is corporeal does not prove in and of itself with ABSOLUTE certainty thst he exists. It is only through empiricism that we know with 100% certainty that he exists.
And I said in a previous post, God's incorporeality does not mitigate the reality of HIS existence by use of empiricism.
So, love most certainly exists, Barack Obama most certainly exists, and God most certainly exists.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 08:25:04 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Robert,
In answer to your question, I don't know. The post was entitled God Does Not Exist, not Love Does Not Exist
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 01:18:27 – Like – Reply
robert
dys said:
"...That's why I feel that those who try to "prove" God are on the wrong track. You can never prove God's existence, because by all standards of measurement that we use in our physical plane, God doesn't exist."
dys,
I feel that you are wrong.
True, God's existence can not be proven using objective standards.
However, God's incorporeality does not mitigate the reality of HIS existence by use of empiricism.
By which method can you prove to me that Barack Obama exists?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 19:55:54 – Like – Reply
robert
IC,
Does the statement you made also apply to my belief in the existence of love?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 13:43:29 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
Robert,
It seems to me that you need to figure out how you know that what you're sensing is God. It could be something else.
Ichabod Chrain
Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 02:27:10 – Like – Reply
robert
IC,
You seem to be saying that b/c love is an internal state, the knowledge of the existence of love can be wrong. Therefore love does not neccessarily exist. Please explain if I am wrong.
I believe that love exists and its existence can be sensed.
Similarly, I believe that H' exists, and HIS existence can be sensed. Therefore, from an empirical point of view, G-d exists.
Monday, September 21, 2009, 14:10:39 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Life is crazy, who has time to blog?
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Ilana-Davita
Hope you were lucky with your job interviews.
Thursday, October 08, 2009, 14:10:35 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Good luck with the job search!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 07:45:29 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
Good luck with your job interviews!!! Are you going to move? You seem like you really like where you live right now!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 02:55:22 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Why don't the women dance?
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dys
This post is now cross-posted on DovBear. Please leave any further comments there.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 15:49:40 – Like – Reply
bankman
From a techinical standpoint, you seem right....it would be like a wedding where they have a mechitza and the women dance on their side.
In this case, I wonder if it is looked down upon just from the sense of kalos roish that the day brings (see DovBear's post on Simchat Torah shtick) and of course the drinking, etc. - maybe women dancing in that environment would not be viewed in a favorable light from a tznius standpoint.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 14:47:01 – Like – Reply
dys
Bankman,
But the frummer shuls have pretty high mechitzot already - how would they see the women? How does it differ from a wedding.
REF,
Next year maybe we'll come to the west coast & your shul!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 13:30:15 – Like – Reply
E. Fink
They dance in our shul.
I agree with you completely, but I have been told by some women that they prefer watching the men. It is more fun for them.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 13:08:54 – Like – Reply
bankman
becasue the men might see the women dancing and that would be untznius
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 13:02:55 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Frum Jews and RV's
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efrex
Friends of ours actually did this a few years ago at Pesach-time: they had two children and a third well on the way. The father's job took him out of town until just before chag, and the mother was in no condition to make Pesach in their home. Her mother offered to feed them, but had no space to house the family.
What to do?
They closed their house, rented an RV, and parked it in her mother's driveway for the whole week! Instant guest space, no Pesach cleaning hassle, and much cheaper than a hotel!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 08:45:08 – Like – Reply
dys
I wonder how long it'll be before there are trailer parks for frum people!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 13:24:20 – Like – Reply
Chaviva
The boyfriend and I have considered doing this for a long time now ... the houses in the frum hood are so expensive that after we're married, if we can't afford one, we're buying an RV and parking it in the shul parking lot. Talk about convenience
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 00:30:32 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Can you vote in a church?
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neli g
iv sent you 2 e-mails, can you reply please?
Sunday, November 08, 2009, 12:07:53 – Like – Reply
Ichabod Chrain
My voting location is in a church, not the chapel, but the social hall. There are signs prominently posted that it's a polling place, so I don't see how there could be a problem with appearances.
Thursday, November 05, 2009, 01:32:14 – Like – Reply
Material Maidel
I think it's fine for voting - you're not in the actual chapel part are you? I know someone frum who goes to AA meetings in a church basement (don't ask how i know this).
for a funeral - i think that's a little more sketch. you could have just gone to the cemetary...
Thursday, November 05, 2009, 00:25:18 – Like – Reply
Jessica
I know someone who's voting area (whatever it's called) was in a church... I think you can just have it changed if you don't want to go into a church.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009, 08:49:52 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: First they came for the Conservative & Reform
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frum single female
i dont think its productive for any rabbis to be condemning reform, conservative or orthodox jews as a group . the goyim think we are all the same anyway. funny thing is , they get what we dont seem to get. we are all jews.
Sunday, December 20, 2009, 15:07:47 – Like – Reply
rejewvenator
Why do Christians and Muslims have to be fought? Is that mitzvah #614 ?
Thursday, December 17, 2009, 01:23:48 – Like – Reply
XGH
Hey, he retracted (or clarified):
"No. That was a poorly structered sentence. Esav should not be lumped together with any group of Jews. I do not consider R and C Jews to be Esav. Today most of them are Tinokos SheNishba... including their rabbis and especially Reform rabbis. They are not Reshoim in the sense that Esav was."
Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 21:08:34 – Like – Reply
Steg (dos iz nit der shteg)
true that.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 16:00:38 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Tropper's an easy opponent
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efrex
how do those of us with a more open approach combat their increasing influence in all sectors of public Orthodox life?
Honestly? Ignore 'em. Other than my local food establishments taking on kashrut stringencies (glatt, yoshon, chalav yisrael), there's little charedi influence in my life. Those of us who follow a more "modern" way need not apologize for maintaining a lifestyle that is as valid, and has at least as long and glorious a history as the Eastern European shtetl. Those who want to denounce my lifestyle are clueless and ignorant, and their proclamations and bans are meaningless.
By the way, it's very hard to say just how entrenched extreme fundamentalist thinking is, even in the yeshiva world. When I was last in Lakewood, I saw many signs in shuls that included email addresses and URLs, despite the apparent internet ban. The yeshiva world is much more diverse than it may appear, and I think that most people (both MO and yeshivish) are much too busy with the travails of day-to-day life to worry about how old the universe really is.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 07:48:16 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
LL,
You're the 2nd person who was offended by my post. Maybe I should have worded things differently. This is not about attacking all Charedim. This is about opposing their undue influence on all sectors of Orthodox communal life & institutions.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 07:21:38 – Like – Reply
Lady-Light
One wonders why 'moshiach isn't here yet'? (if you believe it that way); what you are writing about is akin to sin'at hinam, not to mention the corruption and menuvalim being exposed amongst many Hareidim.
Don't have a solution yet (it's late and I'm tired.)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 00:47:42 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Earthquake in Haiti - the Jewish connection
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MKR
I'm coming in rather late here, but at my blog, Skeptical Jew, I made a series of entries on this subject, or rather about Pat Robertson's remarks on it and some related matters, back in January. Only one entry, though, has anything specifically Jewish in it -- a bit about the Book of Job and Rabbi Harold Kushner's interpretation of it.
Monday, March 15, 2010, 22:33:59 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
In the days following the earthquake, the Jblogosphere, and Jewish insititutions in general, really rose to the challenge of helping. I wrote my post before all that, and was subsequently impressed with my fellow Jews.
I'm well, thanks for asking!
Monday, January 18, 2010, 15:47:10 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Eliyahu Fink had a link last Friday - I had put included it in my weekly review so had Baila from I'll Call Baila (http://illcallbaila.blogspot.com/2010/01/avi-goes-to-haiti.html).
BTW I hope you are well.
Monday, January 18, 2010, 15:28:35 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: A Scott Brown win: Good for health care reform?
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Rabba bar bar Chana
Looks like I was wrong. It's a month later & no health care bill. The Democrats are wimps.
Friday, February 19, 2010, 13:36:51 – Like – Reply
Garnel Ironheart
Ultimately what the socialist left wants is a government monopoly on healthcare like up here in Canada. If that's the case, it would be instructive to learn about how it was done in Canada.
In Canada we used to have a system similar to the U.S. About 50 years ago the government started to take over the system but it did so in the manner of "creeping socialism".
First, it took over the hospitals, essentially paying for anything done in them that was medically necessary like surgery, treatment of critical conditions, etc. You still had to pay the doctor and for medications but hospitalizations were covered and back then that was the big medical expense people feared.
Then bit by bit they introduced more and more control. They included basic visits to the doctor in health care, then started covering basic medications, physiotherapy, a little bit at a time, a little bit at a time. Over 30 years they took over the entire heath care system but because it was done so gradually there was no uproar because no individual decision was so controversial.
It was only in the late 1980's that even doctors finally realized what was happening when extra billing was taken away.
If the Dem's are smart, they'll do the same thing. Pick one thing to socialize, one thing that people will not complain about if the government takes it over and just make that their big change. Then, in another term, try something else...
Friday, January 22, 2010, 09:10:44 – Like – Reply
Woodrow/Conservadox
1. It is not true that the "bill" had been rejected by Mass. voters. Mass. voters rejected a specific candidate. In fact, the voters who named health care as the most important issue voted Democratic.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/massachusetts/a_final_look_at_massachusetts_election_night_poll
2. In any event, Mass. is a special case because people already have health care reform very similar to what's left of the Senate bill- an individual mandate, subsidies for more coverage, but no public option. So they saw no need to do much for the rest of the country.
3. Having said that, the Democrats will wimp out and nothing will be passed, because Democrats are scared of their own shadow even when they get the issues right. If Democrats were terrorists (not that, chas veshalom, I would imply that they are) they would be the sort of terrorist that accidentally blows himself up in a bomb-making accident before having the chance to kill anyone else.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 15:03:32 – Like – Reply
tesyaa
HaloScan still exists??
Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 11:44:40 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Sorry about the double post. I though Haloscan ate the first one.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 20:01:24 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Also, rushing to pass a bill the voters in MA won't support has to be very bad for the Dem. in November. This sate is so one sided that even when there were Republican governors the Reps. did not contest (i.e. run any candidate at all) enough districts in the state legislature to sustain a veto. Yes, the Democrat ran unopposed in more than 2/3rds of the district. If the health care bill won't sell here, it won't sell anywhere in the US.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 20:00:52 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Also, while I am no expert, I would imagine that rushing to pass a bill that had just been rejected by the most liberal electorate in the country would not, to say the least, bode well for the Democrats in November.
You may be unaware of just how lopsided MA is. Even when we had Republican governors there weren't enough Rep. legislators to sustain a veto. Indeed, in some years the Reps. didn't even field enough candidates to sustain a veto even if they had all won. And, especially in the last week or so, this has been about health care. If the current bill won't sell in MA, it won't sell anywhere.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 19:57:22 – Like – Reply
Mike S.
Of course, a better outcome, no matter who wins in MA, would be to tear the whole thing up and work out a better bill that would meet the two most important objectives, namely giving everyone insurance while limiting costs so both government and private citizens can afford other things as well. The current bill does neither; it is a terrible bill fashioned among the lobbyists for the providers of various sorts, the insurance industry and the unions, made even worse with bribes for particular Senators.
A good bill should be sufficiently popular to pass easily
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 19:41:22 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Can prayers time travel?
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Mr. Cohen
Babylonian Talmud, tractate Berachot, page 54A:
A prayer about the past is called a prayer in vain (Tefilat Shav).
?????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???
To receive quick quotes from Jewish holy books and short true inspirational stories of Rabbis, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DerechEmet/
Saturday, April 03, 2010, 23:38:52 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: My approach to Kitniyot
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Ichabod Chrain
I never underestood how a minhag as distingushied from a gzairah can have the force of law, since they come from different sources. On what basis can it be enforced?
Also doing something because my grandparents and great grandparents did something makes no sense to me. For all I know they could have swung chickens over the heads. As for kitneyot, if they were here today with modern packaging, they might not have had any problems eating kitneyot.
Friday, April 02, 2010, 02:04:14 – Like – Reply
Ilana-Davita
Laissez ici votre commentaire en respectant les lois. Tout commentaire jugé inapproprié (agressif, raciste, diffamatoire, publicitaire, grossier, hors sujet…) sera supprimé
Interesting approach. I agree with you; the prohibition against quinoa is ridiculous.
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 18:12:07 – Like – Reply
onherown
It's nice that you have this feeling toward halacha's evolution.
I have a feeling toward the broader picture of Judaism in that way, but not really with the development of minhagim, etc. I start to feel that at a certain point it seems absurd. When you look at what Judaism originally was and what it is now, the gulf is just way too big.
I guess I can understand the beauty of honoring what my anscestors were doing, but for me that doesn't translate into the minutiae.
Friday, March 26, 2010, 15:08:17 – Like – Reply
xgh
Here's my approach to kitniyot.
1. Put kitniyot in mouth
2. Eat kitniyot
Thursday, March 25, 2010, 09:12:50 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Yom Hazikaron LaShoah VeLaGvura
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onherown
Mr. Cohen -- Okay, so what? You didn't deal with any of my points!
Thursday, April 22, 2010, 11:41:42 – Like – Reply
Mr. Cohen
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 141 teaches:
When the [month of] Adar comes, we increase in happiness.
Nisan, the month which follows Adar, is supposed to be even more happy than Adar.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 19:41:43 – Like – Reply
onherown
Mr. Cohen:
In terms of it being forbidden or undesirable to fast during Nisan, what about the fast of the firstborn that immediately precedes Pesach?
Nor is Yom HaShoah a fast day. In fact, when we think about the fact that it's commemorated on the day of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, we can understand that it's more about being appreciative for those that made the effort to fight back and/or the fact that the Jewish people DID survive the Holocaust.
In other words, yes -- we definitely talk about the terrible things that happened during the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah, but we do the same thing on Pesach. Why do we eat bitter herbs, etc.? There's an "avdut" before there's a "cherut" in the Pesach story and we're supposed to remember that on Pesach also.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 18:40:43 – Like – Reply
Mr. Cohen
Sefer Kav HaYashar, Chapter 88:
During the month of Nisan, the Divine Name shines with complete mercy, which is why it is forbidden to fast and we do not go to the cemetery to pray at graves and we do not recite tachanun [prayers for repentance and forgiveness].
CHRONOLOGY:
Kav HaYashar was written by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover and published in 1705.
The point of this quote is to help explain why Yom HaShoah
should not have been scheduled for the month of Nisan.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 23:01:34 – Like – Reply
Mr. Cohen
Bair HaGolah comment on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 686, note 3:
Even though the original Fast of Esther happened in the month of Nisan, they [the Rabbis] did not want to fast in Nisan, because our ancestors were redeemed then, and the mishkan [portable sanctuary] was erected then.
CHRONOLOGY:
The Bair HaGolah commentary on Shulchan Aruch was written by Rabbi Moshe ben Naftali Hertz Rivkes, who was born in Lithuania around the year 1600 and died in Holland in the year 1672 of the Common Era.
The point of this quote is to help explain why Yom HaShoah
should not have been scheduled for the month of Nisan.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 23:00:51 – Like – Reply
onherown
"According to his Rav, it's inappropriate that Yom HaShoah was established on the date of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, because that's only remembering those who died fighting back instead of those who submitted to the will of Hashem and became Kedoshim."
This kind of ideology makes me sick. It's not like other persecutions (convert or else!) where it can conceivably be considered martyrdom to be killed.
There is no reason to suggest that Holocaust victims should have "submitted to the will of Hashem" and let themselves be killed? I'm not condemning those Holocaust victims who didn't fight back; I can't even imagine being in their shoes.
But to condemn those who DID fight back for not just passively accepting the will of God? How can anyone believe they know the will of God? How does this rabbi know that it wasn't the will of God to have them fight back?
If something similar were to happen tomorrow in America, would this rabbi really suggest that we just sit down and take it instead of fighting back?
Your response is a good one, but it doesn't make me feel any less sick that there are people out there spreading such an ideology.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 12:18:00 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Happy Earth Day - we've come a long way, but there's still a long way to go
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Ichabod Chrain
"The most often cited environmental problem today is that of climate change. But that’s something most people don’t see on a daily basis. It’s doesn’t prompt a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) response. And the skepticism of climate change is greater than ever, bolstered by overblown and inaccurately reported stories like “climate gate”.
You end the paragraph there and don't go any further. Are you saying the skepticism is or is not justified?
What is it about "climate gate" that's overblown and inaccurately reported?
You also might want to take a look at this:"The Really Inconvenient Truths"
ttp://www.amazon.com/Really-Inconvenient-Truths-Environmental-About-Because/dp/1596980540
From the inside flap:
"Talk about really inconvenient truths--that's one of the many you'll find in Iain Murray's rollicking exposé of environmental blowhards who waste more energy, endanger more species, and actually kill more people (yes, that's right) than the environmental villains they finger. Did you know that estrogen from birth control and "morning after" pills is causing male fish across America to develop female sex organs? Funny how "pro-choice" and "environmentalist" liberals never talk about that. Or how about this: the Live Earth concert to "save the planet" released more CO2 into the atmosphere than a fleet of 2,000 Humvees emit in a year? We hear a lot about AIDS in Africa, but the number one killer of children in much of Africa is malaria--and guess who was responsible for banning the pesticide that used to have malaria under control? Iain Murray, a sprightly conservative environmental analyst with a long record of skewering liberal hypocrisy, has dug up seven of the all-time great environmental catastrophes caused by the Left and exposed them in The Really Inconvenient Truths. Murray lays bare:
* How ethanol, the liberals' favorite fuel, is destroying the world's rainforests--and could cause global food shortages
* How Al Gore's hero Rachel Carson cost the lives of millions of Africans through her efforts to ban DDT
* How the environmentalists have covered up the polluting effects of contraceptive and chemical abortion drugs
* How the Endangered Species Act actually endangers species
* How Gore's vision of greater state control over the economy has already produced some of the greatest environmental disasters in history"
You might also want to look at the controversy over Bjorn Lonborg's The Skeptical Environmentalist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skeptical_Environmentalist. (I'm not taking a position on it, I'm just saying that some of the environmental issues aren't as simple as you've implied..)
Sunday, April 25, 2010, 02:42:10 – Like – Reply
rachel
Well said. It is too easy to ignore the damage the earth is suffering, when it's not so obvious as it used to be. At risk of revealing that I'm not a youngster any more, I do remember acid rain. Blech.
Friday, April 23, 2010, 10:40:22 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: LOST finale review
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Yogsoggoth
Or the numbers meant nothing because the makers of the show just made random stuff up to keep people watching. In the end the show collapsed under the weight of too many dangling plotlines. Glad you liked the ending, but it didn't do anything for me.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 18:37:28 – Like – Reply
Shilton Hasechel
What was the deal with Claire's psychic? What was Walt's deal and what did the others do to him? Why was it a big deal to stop Locke from leaving the island? So many unaswered questions!!!!!! Basically all the finale did was answer some questions raised in the sixth season very unsatisfying.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 18:01:00 – Like – Reply
Netanya
Wow, I'm impressed that you got hooked from an episode in season 5. I didn't tihnk anyone would be able to follow if they started that late in the series!
One thing I really liked about the finale is how, just like they all had to be on the Ajira flight in order to get back to the island, they all had to be in the church(? place of worship?) - they had to wait for Jack before they could all move on, together, into the "light."
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 17:01:45 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
Maybe "hooked" was the wrong word. I was extremely intrigued. It was the episode where Eloise kills Daniel, not knowing he's her son. There was all sorts of time travel talk. It intrigued me enough that I went back and started watching from season 1, and that's what really hooked me!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 17:35:03 – Like – Reply
Jessica
So happy to see the someone else understood it. Like you said, there was no way they could answer every question and it's just Lost's style to leave some things a mystery. This was the perfect ending for the series. I could not be happier with it. (My enthusiasm actually convinced my husband to FINALLY watch the series! All of my shows are done for the season, so that's what we'll be doing this summer.)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 16:21:01 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
My brain won't turn off Lost. That show was a roller coaster! What really strikes me about it is that it was really a work of art, with all the symbolism and foreshadowing. And the ending may have been poignnant, but it was painfully beautiful.
Glad to hear your husband is getting into it. If he stops watching at any point, lock him in a hatch and force him to watch an episode once every 108 minutes.
I only started watching late in season 5. I mean I watched an episode on TV at a friend's place, was hooked, and then went back and watched them all online in order from season 1, catching up just in time for season 6.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 16:34:08 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Rabbi Ginzberg's article on Rabba Sarah Hurwitz
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Onherown
Wow, that editorial is REALLY bad. You make some good points and the "yet I am highly doubtful" clause (that she knows all of Schach & Taz) just kills me. Would he suggest the same thing of a man ordained as a rav? To quote him, "I am highly doubtful," though based on some of the men I've met who've gotten smicha, I would venture to guess that not all of them do...
Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from the Five Towns Jewish Times. It might just be the worst of the worst in terms of journalistic (or other?) ethics.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 17:07:46 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Failing the homeless
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ilanadavita
I totally agree with every word in this post. Not that anyone really cares...
Friday, July 16, 2010, 02:08:53 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Reform Judaism's 200th birthday
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ilanadavita
Reform has probably helped more Jews retain a Jewish identity than they’ve helped lose.
Certainy true in te Paris Reform shuls.
Friday, July 16, 2010, 02:06:57 – Like – Reply
frum single female
i definitely agreee with you . if there wasnt reform judaism it wouldnt mean that suddenly everyone would be orthodox.there would just be much fewer jews considering themselves jewish at all.
Friday, July 16, 2010, 00:04:33 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Who judged this award?! - Top 50 Judaism blogs
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Michal
I know this is old but, I agree. A bunch of these are little early 20's something with no life experience and blogs in a vacuum.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 16:47:49 – Like – Reply
Jessica
lol! I wonder if anyone who won blogged about it...
Monday, July 19, 2010, 14:48:03 – Like – Reply
Rabba bar bar Chana
Jessica - turns out it was fake: http://badforshidduchim.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/whats-this/
Monday, July 19, 2010, 14:38:44 – Like – Reply
Jessica
Me thinks there may have only been 50 entrants into this award show
Friday, July 16, 2010, 13:27:25 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Should we really be fasting?
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Woodrow/Conservadox
To me, the fast and the run-up to it isn't just about the Temple, but about the Crusades and the Inquisition (the Holocaust, because of my family background, is too important for a day where its just one of many disasters). During the 3 weeks, I try to read something related to one or both of these.
Monday, September 27, 2010, 01:13:23 – Like – Reply
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Rabba bar bar Chana: Boycott the Israeli Rabbanut
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noa@israel
i seincerly laughted when rabbanut forced kosher mc donalds to change their logo on blue one. crazy enough. still for many more jewish people it is important to be sure that food is kosher and so on
Friday, September 17, 2010, 09:51:06 – Like – Reply
Jewzilla
Excellent, I agree.
I do believe there should be an observant (yet, benevolent) Torah leadership and authority, but that is not about politics but real Torah; and not galuth-Judaism.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010, 20:58:04 – Like – Reply
On Her Own
I'm with you on this one for sure. The whole situation is really awful.
Monday, August 02, 2010, 15:53:36 – Like – Reply
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