Book and Magazine Report

As reported here first, or perhaps second, the philo-Semites at Sports Illustrated elected to put a Jewess on the cover of the annual swim suit issue. She looks pretty nice, I guess, but this comment, I think, sums up the Torah perspective:

I think this is horrible. If short skirts in shul caused Hurricane Katrina can you imagine what this hottie with her low slung bikini bottom is going to do to the weather?

Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out why the bikini edition of this magazine is still relevant. From what I understand, you can find actual naked women on the Internet for free with just a few clicks. My good friend Deganev tells me, that if you really know how to operate that Google-thingie you can even find pictures of naked women performing unspeakable acts. Why your local raincoat wearing perv would shell out $5 for a magazine when all that flesh can be found for free is one of mysteries.

Make books your companions
In other news, one of the largest collections of Hebew books is going to be auctioned this weekend by Sotheby’s. The collection includes the first book of any kind printed in Turkey ( an Arba’ah Turim from 1493) and a 19th century copy of “A Thousand and One Nights” with the Arabic transliterated into Hebrew script. There is also a Talmud Bavli from 1519 that was found in Westminster Abbey.

Two neat things about this collection: It brings home the fact that (1) Jews flourished almost everywhere. (the collection includes a 20th guide for ritual slaughterers with Hebrew and Marathi on facing pages.); and (2) we used to be interested in all kinds of things. (Can you imagine a 21st century Jewish market for “A Thousand and One Nights” - even in translation?)

Conclusion/Musar Haskil
(I do hope Chaim Bray shows up to tell us how the Israeli SI model proves we're all going to hell, while the fact that we Jews no longer care for thinigs like Arabian folk tales proves how much more pious we have become.)

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