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First Mention: The Hazon Ish
Labels: first mention, Israel
In this new and occasional feature, DovBear will look at the New York Time's first mention of various subjects of interest.
Today: The Hazon Ish
Appeared: October 21, 1952
Click here to read the article.
Why am I thinking about the Hazin Ish today? Because Bray recycled an old story about him, and (natch) is misusing it.
The Last Count of Valmadonna
Labels: Israel
Read about Jack Lunzer here.
Unconfirmed rumor I just made up: That's Bray in the background
Tip of cap: Krum
Valmadonna leftovers
Labels: Israel
Last week, Bray promised to post replies to some questions he had sent to the tour guide who escorted him around the Valmadonna library. Bray hasn't yet followed through, which I presume means he's gotten no answer, lost interest, or received replies he didn't like. Meanwhile, another friend of the blog (HT on request) emailed me some pics, and some questions, two of which appear below.
At the right is what I'm told is one of the first haggadot ever printed. Like the ones, I have it home, it appears to be covered with wine stains. Am I right, or are those reddish brown splotches something else?Other famous haggadot: Sarejevo Haggadah , Szyk Hagaddah, Two Minute Haggadah, Sixty-second Haggadah
At the left is one of two very old Pentatuch manuscripts held by the library. As reported on this blog, back when it was hip, cool, and relevant, Aaron ben Moses ben Asher, the best known of the Masorites, and the man thought to be responsible for the most magnificent Torah manuscript of them all, may have been a Karaite. Indeed, many of the old codices were either commissioned or owned by Karaite communities. Is this also true of the Valmadonna scrolls? Were they also originally the property of Karaites?Other famous Hebrew bible codices: Aleppo Codex, Codex Cairensis, Leningrad Codex
Related: Vamdonnarama-palooza
I thought God only cared about American sporting events?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Labels: IsraelAccording to this memo leaked by a campaign staffer, God helped some creep named Romny Rogers win a primary election no one in the world cares about. Money quote:
"God lifted His mighty hand and allowed Romney to receive the majority of the vote.''
Makes sense to me. Hey, have you tried praying to Jesus? From what I understand that always works.
Sponsored Message
- Celebrate Purim 2009 with Magnificent Purim Baskets - Mishloach Manot from Oh Nuts.
The mystery of Iran's Jew
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Labels: IsraelRoger Cohen, who writes for the Times, visited his co-religionists in Iran recently, and returned with an account that struck me as strange. Here is some of what he claims:
1. Over the entrance of a shul in Esfaham hangs a banner saying, "Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution from theRead the article
Jewish community of Esfahan." Was it put there by Muslims? Is it evidence of Stockhold Syndrome?
2. Jews still gather at this shul, daily at sunrise, to pray I don't think this is strange, but I expect smug euro-centrics like Bray will be surprised to learn that the Persians have a daily minyan. (Then, again, Bray was astonished to learn that Italians studied Torah)
3. On the day he visited, Soleiman Sedighpoor was the chazan. Sdeighpoor is quoted as follows: "Let [Muslims in Iran] say ‘Death to Israel.' I’ve been in this store 43 years and never had a problem. I’ve visited my relatives in Israel, but when I see something like the attack on Gaza, I demonstrate, too, as an Iranian.” Now, that's astonishing. The Iranians who demonstrate on behalf of the Palestenians are not demonstrating as Iranians. They are demonstrating as Muslims, or behalf of Muslims. In what way does a Persian Jew demonstrate "as an Iranian," on behalf of Arabs?
Sponsored Message (and speaking of Persia!)
- Celebrate Purim 2009 with Magnificent Purim Baskets - Mishloach Manot from Oh Nuts.
Welcome Hamodia to the late 20th Century!
Labels: by Rafi G., Israel
A Guest Post by Rafi G
(originally posted on LII)
Hamodia has joined the late 20th century and now has a website!
Chaptzem is upset at Hamodia because of a perceived hypocrisy in the sense that Hamodia has, first of all, always been so anti, but more so because until now they have rejected advertisements that contained websites. And suddenly they are starting their own site!
(Thanks to Parshablog for pointing them out)
If you look at the comments there, it looks like people generally agree with those sentiments.
I disagree. I think we should praise Hamodia for finally having the courage to take the jump. So they used to be against it? Nobody changes their mind? Circumstances are different now. Maybe they see that they will not succeed without a website. Maybe they see the web is so prevalent, they already lost that battle.
About the ads, I am not sure what Chaptzem is talking about. Pick up the paper of any week (in English) and you will see ads with websites. They got rid of that policy (unofficially at least) a long time ago.
So, we condemn them when they oppose the internet, and now we condemn them when they accept the internet. What do we want from them exactly?
I think Hamodia made a good move starting a website. I hope it helps the marketing of their newspaper.
Previously
- Protecting our gedolim from Hamodia
- Easter in Hamodia
- In which I sit like patiance on a monument
Sponsored Message
- Celebrate Purim 2009 with Magnificent Purim Baskets - Mishloach Manot from Oh Nuts.
Happy Rosh Chodesh!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Labels: IsraelAll similarities between this song and the famous Adar tune you know are the result of deep, metaphysical secrets which Bray will happily reveal if you ask him nicely.
Strange and spooky coincidence
Monday, February 23, 2009
Labels: IsraelThe "Mystery of the ‘Land of Twins’"
What's behind it? Something in the water? Or Josef Mengele's ghost?
If you're happy and you know it buy my book. (clap, clap.)
Am I Martian?
Labels: Israel
Occasionally, I think I might be from another planet. Some of the reasons why:
From a book on sholom bayis: "Men need to measure every word they say to their wives. Even an innocently intended remark can easily hurt a woman's feelings and bring her to tears."
My own experience: I've known my wife for over a decade. In that time, I've seen her cry perhaps 5 times.
From a speech our local Rabbi gave this week (to women): "I hear all the time from men, who complain their wives are spending hours and hours online and neglecting the house and children as a result."
My own experience: My wife couldn't find the Internet with a map, and you could perform surgery on our kitchen table (hmmm. Perhaps there is a connection.)
From the woman who lives down the block: "Men are so funny. When they get hungry they really believe that meat is the only solution. And God-forbid you try to get them to eat vegetables."
My own experience: As readers of my posts from the 9 days know, I find dairy perfectly satisfying, and believe vegetables are the perfect snack food.
From some of the locals (who, in most other ways, are quite decent): N-word, N-word, S-word, N-word
My own experience: Only really horrible people still speak that way.
Now, I'm glad to concede that I'm in the minority on all these points... but all that admission does is make the feeling of strangeness more acute.
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of Rabbis and Men of Spirit
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Labels: by Rafi G., IsraelA Guest Post by Rafi G
(originally posted on LII)
Yair Lapid gets upset when he finds out that the speakers before him at an army base course were all rabbis. When he asks why only rabbis and no secular "men of spirit" (media, authors, poets, etc.) were invited, he is told they are all invited. The only ones who come are the rabbis - they agree right away. The secular "men of spirit" never accept the invitations.
Yair Lapid does not come to any conclusion as to why that is. I wonder why that difference exists.
I am thinking out loud here - maybe the difference between the rabbis and the secular "men of spirit" is that the rabbis see themselves as leaders of the people, with the need to give direction, impart of their wisdom to others, etc. While the secular "men of spirit" see themselves as above the people, better than the people.
Or maybe the rabbis see it as an opportunity to reach out to people who would otherwise not likely be exposed to a religious personality of influence, and they jump at the opportunity to have some level of influence. While the secular "men of spirit" don't see the opportunity to share thoughts and wisdom as one that is necessary or important.
Or perhaps the rabbis are just happy to go meet with the people and talk with them and share wisdom, while the secular men of spirit will only do so for a large speaking fee, and if they are not offered a large sum, don't consider it worth their time.
what do you think?
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How they see us (or you, anyway)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Labels: IsraelA really nice post, by a really nice non-Jewish woman, about her her first encounters with the residents of Boro Park.
Note to the residents of Boro Park: Not everyone you meet on the street will know what a shabbos goy is. Such knowledge isn't inborn.
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A good Valmadonna question/observation:
Labels: Israel
CBY:
How much S'char (reward) do you think the non-jewish printer, Daniel Bomberg recieved for being the source of the printed edition of the Talmud?Elsewhere, CBY says he studied the Bomberg Talmud while he was there. I imagine the scores and scores of Jews who visited did the same (including, chalila, some women.) As CBY notes, its fabulous that those books were used again, by Jews, after sitting neglected for 400 years in a church. Another friend say he leined out of the 800 year old chumash manuscripts, as hair on the back of his neck stood up.
How many thousands and thousands of hours of learning was he responsible for? Does he obtain merit for it, or since it was for him a logical business move, was his reward only in this world? Should we envy his portion in Olam Haba?
Personally, I believe that even if he didn't do it lishma, that Hashem has rewarded him generously for his part in spreading Torah through his printing of sefarim, as well as other non-Jewish printers of that era who who printed Hebrew Sefarim.
[How many more Valmadonna posts before this counts as another palooza?]
Small slideshow & supporting article
Related
Mountain Over Their Heads: Sum-Up
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Labels: IsraelAnd they stood under the mount R. Abdimi b. Hama b. Hasa said: This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, overturned the mountain upon them like an cask, and said to them, 'If you accept the Torah, good; if not, here shall be your burial.' --- Shabbath 88A
***
My view is R. Abdimi was speaking literally, and meant the mountain had been picked up and used as a weapon to threaten the encamped people (picture a man holding a barrel from both ends over his head, as if he was about to throw it.)
As I told you yesterday, we have biblical verses which tell us God spoke from the mountain, and biblical verses which tell us He spoke from the heavens. Most midrashim try to have it both ways, and teach that either the heavens descended, or the mountain was lifted. The point, I believe, of R. Abdimi's teaching is to tell us why the mountain might have been lifted. Answer: To threaten the people.
If you're not Dag or Bray, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this interpretation of R. Abdimi .
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Two obituaries, two worlds
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Labels: IsraelYU Mourns Tragic Death of Athletic Trainer Aaron Meyer
http://www.yu.edu/athletics/page.aspx?id=32680
KJ Hatzolah Mourns Death Of Long-Time Member
http://theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/30648/KJ+Hatzolah+Mourns+Death+Of+Long-Time+Member.html
YW neglects to mention the niftar was employed at a YESHIVA, and YU sees no reason to include his community service. Neither decision makes any sense to me.
HT: TTC
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A Royal Repast for the Jewish Bookworm
Labels: by Bray of Fundie, Israel
By the Bray of Fundie
Sotheby’s Auction House is displaying the Valmadonna Trust Library until tomorrow. This is one of the most impressive Judaica collections in the world.
I’ve heard it rumored that YU, BMG of Lakewood, Chabad Headquarters and the JTS have all eyeballed the exhibit with an eye towards obtaining the collection. The size and price of the collection, along with the strings that the current owner has attached to the sale, probably make it out of reach for private collectors.
I won’t vouch for the historicity of this (and even if I did as a Kharedi I have zero credibility when it comes to history or science) but a delicious urban legend has sprung up around the Bromberg Shas being found in Westminster Abbey.
Henry the VIII’s troubled marriage to Catherine of Aragon began as a levirate marriage AKA Yivum. Catherine had been the childless widow of young Henry’s brother, Arthur prince of Wales . A Jewish Scholar told Henry that, per the Talmud, Levirate marriages were no longer considered a mitzvah as Khalitza= the widow release transaction, is the way to go in such scenarios. (parenthetically this issue was debated with much sturm und drang here less than a month ago!)
As ammo in his appeals to the Catholic Church to have the marriage annulled the eighth Hank wanted to be able to cite the pertinent Talmudic passage chapter and verse as it were. And so the eventual six-time khoson went out and treated himself to a Bomberg Shas!
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Was the mountain held over their heads?
Labels: Israel
***And they stood under the mount
{1} R. Abdimi b. Hama b. Hasa said: This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, overturned the mountain upon them like an cask, and said to them, 'If you accept the Torah, good; if not, here shall be your burial.' --- Shabbath 88A
This teaching has been the subject of much discussion, commentary, and even doubt. I remember arguing with my teachers about it. They took it literally, I didn't, and because neither of us had yet encountered the various sages who agreed with me, my faith was called into question. All might have been lost, in fact, were I not rescued and supported by other teachers, teachers who knew the truth about midrashim, and also knew that Rishonoim had taught things like " ...if the words of the ancient [Sages] contradict the intellect, we are not obliged to accept them."
Now in my (very) (very) early middle age, I find myself agreeing with the men my younger self disdained. I think its likely R. Abdimi b. Hama b. Hasa meant what he said (though we're not obligated to accept it); also I think its equally likely that the apologia I offered yesterday to explain this midrash is off point by 180 degrees.
***
Where was God when the Torah was given? The Bible isn't clear. On the one hand, it says "And the Lord went down upon the mountain{2}" and elswhere reports that God "called to [Moses] from the mountain.{3}" Later, God says "You have seen for yourselves that I talked to you from heaven{4}," and at the end of the story Moshe recalls, "Out of heaven He caused you to hear his voice.{5}" So which is it? Heaven or mountain? Some midrashim try to have it both ways:
Rabbi Akiva said: One verse says [I spoke to you from the heaven; another says God descended on the mountain] This teaches that god must have bent the highest parts of the heaven down to the top of the mountain, and spoken from there - but from the heavens! ---MechiltaElsewhere, the same collection of midrashim cites the view that God was able to speak both from the mountain and from the heavens because Sinai ascended into heaven:
And they stood under the mount {1}This teaches that the mountain was actually uprooted from its place and then they came close and stood underneath it. ---Mechilta***
Yesterday, writing about R. Abdimi's drash, I said this: I believe [R. Abdimi] is saying that following the miracles the Israelites had seen, they were in no position to refuse God's invitation; thus it was as if the mountain was being held over their heads.
Today, I'm recanting.
Today, I think its more likely that R. Abdimi was weighing in on the "Where was God" question. I think it was his opinion - intended literally - that God held the mountain over their heads. I don't believe he was correct, nor am I obligated to accept his view, but I no longer thing he was trying tell us something about the collective state of mind of the new Israelite nation. I think he meant exactly what he said, and that he was attempting to reconcile the same contradiction addressed by the midrashim cited above.
FOOTNOTES
1. Ex. 19. 17. The translation is literal.
2. Ex. 19:20
3. Ex. 19:3
4. Ex. 20.21
5. Deut. 4:36
6. Mechilta translations belong to James Kugel.
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What color is your Kool-Aid?
Labels: Barack Obama, Israel
When I heard Obama was in Chicago last weekend, playing ball and meeting friends while Congress debated a crucially important bill, my reaction wasn't negative. Instead, I thought, well sure: "Everyone needs a break. And besides its the weekend."
I rather doubt Republicans responded similarly; likewise, I opposed Bush's frequent trips to the fake ranch during his 8 years in office. In responce, the 30 percenters told me how hard the president worked, and how modern communication made it possible for someone to work effectivly from anywhere. Some of those same 30 percenters are today criticizing the trip to Chicago, just as I once complained about the frequent trips to Crawford. Interesting how that works, no?
(To clarify, following a query in the comments, this post is just a comment on how the mind works. I think we're all in the grips of it.)
(And while we're on the topic of the fake ranch, does anyone else wonder why W. retired to a nice house in Dallas, rather than to his "beloved" Crawford spread?)
Stimulating
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Labels: Barack Obama, IsraelStimulus bill gives $1 billion to Jewish social service providers: "The economic stimulus bill enacted by President Obama will provide $1 billion to Jewish nursing homes and social service agencies, according to the United Jewish Communities"
HT: TTC
PSA
Labels: Israel
Yeshiva University News: "Father Patrick Desbois, Who Documented the Holocaust Massacre of 1.5 Million Ukrainian Jews, to Deliver Annual Rogoff Lecture."
If any of you go, please live blog it.
Announce your own event: $25 and an email to yourfavoriteblogger@gmail.com gets it done.
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Parsha Notes (Yisro)
Labels: Israel, Parsha notes, Parsha notes (Exodus)
With this issue of ParshaNotes, I'm up-to-date.
It's amusing to me each week to see which individual notes generate the most interest and anger. As I compile the post, I usually guess which one will make Bray most irate, or which will generate the most thoughtful commentary from the others in the community. So far, I've been wrong every time.
Antithesis
Jethro's arrival is set in thematic opposition to the arrival of Amelek in the preceding chapter. (Cassuto) [More] [And what is "Amelek" anyway?]
Accurate idiom
18:18 נָבֹל תִּבֹּל גַּם־אַתָּה גַּם־הָעָם הַזֶּה You and your people will wear yourselves out
As Rashi says (following Onkelos) the verb here means "to wither." To an ancient, agricultural society, this means approximately what "burnout" might mean to a modern, technological society like ours. (Alter)
Common Error
Christians often forget that Jesus was not one of them, but one of us. They speak of Jesus teaching or arguing with "the Jews" forever oblivious to the fact that both Jesus and "the Jews" would have thought of each other members of same religion and ethnic group. Jews are guilty of the opposite mistake, specifically toward Moshe's wife Tzipporah. Perhaps she converted (in whatever way that was done before the Torah was given) but she hadn't shared in the history or the burdens of her husband's nation. Their suffering was not her suffering. Her arrival with Jethro, after the Exodus has been executed, drives home this point.
Biblical economy
18:4 Moshe calls his second son Elazar, because [Moses said,] "The God of my father came to my aid and rescued me from Pharaoh's sword." When? As Alter and the Misrash both note this must refer to an episode not depicted in the narrative.
Unnecessary comment
The verse [19:3] says "So shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel" and Rashi, following mechilta, provides an explanation for the double language. This misses the point. It appears far more likely to me that God is speaking in verse to signify the grandeur and majesty of the moment. (The line's meaning and rhythm are both perfectly parallel.)
Upping the ante
God's original deal with Abraham was that we would practice justice and righteousness. Now [19:6] He says "And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes."
External Parallels
לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה־לְךָ פֶסֶל וְכָל־תְּמוּנָה אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וַאֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת וַאֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ׃
You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Here, God is speaking of the three realms of creation, and seems to be replying to Canaanite theology, which had a separate god for each zone (Baal: Land; Yaam:Sea; Mot: Underworld)
Irony Alert
The ban on taking God's name "in vain" may have originally had the sence of "making use of the name in a (false) spell or incantation", as opposed to using it in casual speech. (Alter) Nowadays, of course we're meticulous about not ever mentioning the name, but flock to clairvoyants who offer to work miracles, often through various uses of the name.
Midrashic meaning
Rashi on 19:17: at the bottom of the mountain According to its simple meaning, [DB: Which no Rabbi or preacher ever mentions.] at the foot of the mountain. Its midrashic interpretation is, however, that the mountain was uprooted from its place and turned over them like a vat. — [from Shab. 88a] I don't believe even the midrashic interp. here is meant to be taken literally. Rather, I believe the author of the midrash is saying that following the miracles the Israelites had seen, they were in no position to refuse God's invitation; thus it was as if the mountain was being held over the heads.
Themes
After ordering us to eat a meal using archaic cooking (fire roasting) and archaic baking (unleavened bread) methods, the Lord seals the deal with a pact prepared using an archaic mode of communication (writing on stone.)
Mysteries
- Twice we're told the people heard (or will hear) the sound of a ram's horn, but no information is provided about who is blowing it. At the first mention, the horn is called a "yovel" prompting Rashi to say,"the ram’s horn Heb. הַיוֹבֵל. That is a shofar of a ram, for in Arabia, they call a ram “yuvla.” Do I misunderstand here, or is Rashi glossing a word based on how its used by non-Jews? If so, why?
Wrong Rashi
Rashi 19:4 on eagles’ wings Like an eagle, which carries its young on its wings, for all other birds place their young between their feet since they fear another bird flying above them. The eagle, however, fears only man, lest he shoot an arrow at it, because no other bird flies above it. Therefore, it places them [its young] on its wings. This is an excellent image, but the facts are false: Eagles don't actually carry their young on their wings.
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Tennis Update
Labels: Israel
Tennis Channel Won’t Televise Dubai Event in Protest: "The Tennis Channel will not televise the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships this week to protest the United Arab Emirates’ refusal to grant an entry visa to the Israeli player Shahar Peer. Peer was scheduled to play Anna Chakvetadze in the first round... The $2 million tournament is a premier nonmajor tournament on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour with 9 of the world’s top 10 women. Peer is ranked No. 48."
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Should Jewish men shave?
Labels: Israel
Via Voldermort, I see someone with mad Internet skills has assembled and posted a collection of anti-shaving rulings, advertisements and polemics.
A sampling: [Ransom-note capitalization style SIC]
- Rav Chayim Kanievsky Shlita: "IT IS PROHIBITED TO SHAVE ONE’S BEARD”
- Will You Heed the Call of the Gedolim? AN URGENT PROCLAMATION from the Leading Sages of our generation
- SHARP WORDS from The Gaon, Rabbi Moshe Mordecai Epstein, zt”l regarding the SEVERITY OF CUTTING THE BEARD
- Bnei Yisoschor Can Someone Who Trims His Beard Have Success In His Torah Learning
I only have two impertinent questions:
(1) Why is the creator of this site so angry about clean-shaven men? Are the absence of beards really the greatest crisis facing Jews and Judaism? Does the site creator also have a website dedicated to rabbinic sources which decry child abuse, or dishonesty and fraud? (Are there rabbinic sources which decry dishonesty and fraud?) (there must be, right?)
(2) Isn't the Internet verboten? Many of the same names he cites on his page have also said "sharp words" about blogs and websites. If the author received a rabbinic dispensation for his online war against shaving machines, he doesn't say. (I suppose he's entitled to the benefit of the doubt, but clean-shaven men are, too)
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Houskeeping
Labels: Israel
The blog generates 800-1000 comments per week, but each week 3-5 of them are left on Blogger, rather than Haloscan. Why? If you comment on Blogger, your remarks are often overlooked, and seldom answered. To be read, you need to go where the readers are.. So, on behalf of the community let me cordially invite and strongly encourage the contrarians to join the rest of us on Haloscan.
Guest Post from Mar Gavriel
Monday, February 16, 2009
Labels: Israel
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Cultural Imperialism
Labels: Israel
Not having ever been to a Jewish dance or exercise class, I'm not prepared to say if our woman are working out to Asian music, but... I sort of doubt it. Mysteries: How did the Asians first find this stick of Jewish bubblegum, and how did Heshy find their video?
Previously
- Making music my enemy
- The Dear Leader's taste in music
- Gentile Shiny-show music
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RamatCa"l Gaby Ashkenazy at the Kotel
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Labels: by Rafi G., IsraelA Guest Post by Rafi G.
(originally posted on LII)
Hamodia ran an article, with a picture, about how Gaby Ashkenazy - the IDF Chief of Staff - went to the kotel this week. He went to daven and say thanks to Hashem for the miracles they experienced during the recent Gaza War, and for the success. He also held a se'udas Hoayah with the Rabbi of the kotel, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz.
Whoever says the Israeli army is purely "kochi v'otzem yadi" and therefore bad, does not know what they are talking about.
UPDATE: Searching for a link, I found this article with the same picture on Arutz 7 Hebrew...
Previously
-IDF's Chief Rabbi responds to allegations of Pesach desecration
-The Myth of the (Non) Fighting Jew
-The IDF's professionalism
-Praying for Shalit (or not)
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Deep thought
Friday, February 13, 2009
Labels: Barack Obama, IsraelThe Obama stimulus plan being decried by teeth-gnashing conservatives will cost substantially less than either the Bush administration's 2 trillion in tax cuts or the 1 trillion and counting spent in Iraq. [Source]
Thank God the Gedolim don't read the New York Times
Labels: Israel
If our leaders knew about this everyone but the guy who owns Bodek would be in big trouble:
Tomato juice [per FDA regulations] , may average “10 or more fly eggs per 100 grams [the equivalent of a small juice glass] or five or more fly eggs and one or more maggots.” Tomato paste and other pizza sauces are allowed a denser infestation — 30 or more fly eggs per 100 grams or 15 or more fly eggs and one or more maggots per 100 grams.... Giving new meaning to the idea of spicing up one’s food, curry powder is allowed 100 or more bug bits per 25 grams; ground thyme up to 925 insect fragments per 10 grams; ground pepper up to 475 insect parts per 50 grams. One small shaker of cinnamon could have more than 20 rodent hairs before being considered defective.Coming soon: Bodek everything?
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Abe Lincoln's Big Day
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Labels: Israel
Having once been accused of being two-faced, Lincoln replied,“If I had another face, do you think I’d be wearing this one?”
In honor of President Lincoln's birthday, here are four totally unrelated facts and opinions:
1. That guy was not only tall, but rear-end-of-a-well-beaten-pig ugly. No way he'd get elected nowadays.
2. The South should have been permitted to
3. According to Wikipedia: This photograph of Lincoln delivering his second inaugural address is the only known photograph of Lincoln giving a speech. Lincoln stands in the center, with papers in his hand. John Wilkes Booth is visible in the photograph, in the top row right of center
4. Everyone talks about the Gettysburg Address, which is certainly a great speech, but I prefer the Second Inaugural. Money quote:
Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a justHappy Birthday Mister President.
God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes... Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether'.
A birthday for Charles Darwin
Labels: Israel
(looks like a Rabbi, don't he?) Today is Mr. Darwin's 200th birthday. Whenever I ruminate on Darwin and his discoveries, I find myself recalling an inadvertently hysterical line from the imperishable A.B. Rotenberg song "Atheist Convention in L.A." In the song, three men, traveling by plane to the convention, say:
That we all once were primates is our motto
And the Big Bang's not a theory but a fact!
The line is funny because only an ignoramus would imagine that an atheist might deny that we are still primates and also because of the familiar way it misuses the word theory. In our vernacular a "theory" is an imperfect guess. In science, a "theory" is a set of ideas devised to explain a group of facts. A theory can be debated and modified. Facts usually, aren't.
Evolution is both a theory and a fact (Stephen J. Gould said it first) Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome. (he said that, too.) Thought the mechanism of evolution continues to be debated, the facts aren't in dispute - at least not among educated men.
This is (part of) why I reject the Orthodox Jewish rejection of Darwin: None of what he taught is anathema to Torah Judaism. The idea that life evolves over time can easily coexist with the idea that there is a God who created us and desires our service and devotion. Natural selection poses no threat to our beliefs; the two can be reconciled.
As for the fear that the literal word of the bible is countermanded by Darwin's theory, well, let's first remember that Jews aren't biblical literalists. We have libraries filled with widely-accepted books offering non-literal interpretations of the Divine Writ. And we've always been willing to reinterpret to suit new discoveries. For instance, before Copernicus, we gave the story of Joshua Halting the Sun a literal interpretation; today we know this is impossible, yet Judaism continues to flourish, just as it will continue to flourish after we permit ourselves to fearlessly follow facts wherever they lead and finally reconcile Genesis to Darwin.
Book and Magazine Report
Labels: Israel
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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Israel, the African tribe
Labels: Barack Obama, by Rafi G., Israel
A Guest Post by Rafi G
(originally posted on LII)
Something about this news item bothers me..
US President Barack Obama called President Shimon Peres Wednesday night and congratulated him on a "successful democratic elections."
----YnetNews, but it was also on other news sites..
I am not sure what Barack Obama thinks of Israel, but you don't have presidents calling Obama and wishing him congratulations on a successful democratic election. They called to wish him success and congrats for his victory and inauguration.
It sounds like he considers us an African tribe or a Middle East Islamic regime just trying out democracy and going through our first elections. Yet we have been doing this for 60 years, encompassing 18 democratic election experiences. We are an established and successful democracy.
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Good for the Jews
Labels: Israel
A guest post by JS:
In possibly the most important news report of the day, Israeli model, Bar Refaeli, was selected to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Another Israeli model, Esti Ginzborg, is also featured in the magazine. You can read a bit more about this and see the cover, here. So what are my feelings about this? The astute reader surely noticed that I didn't put a question mark after the title of the post.
What of not wanting to be like the other nations, tznius, and the usual objections to this sort of thing? My first response would be, "Have you seen these pictures? Good God, man!" My second, more reasoned response would be: These concerns are completely outweighed by the fact that you can't get better advertising for the Jewish people or Israel than this. Millions of people are going to see these pictures and salivate, forever creating the Pavlovian response of "Jews/Israel = happy thoughts." And in the calculus of these things, for me at least, it's very good for the Jews.
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Parsha Notes (B'shalach)
Labels: Israel, parsha, Parsha notes (Exodus)
...catching up
Previous notes on the Song (don't miss the excellent comments)
Historicity
(1) 13:17
ויהי בשלח פרעה את־העם ולא־נחם אלהים דרך ארץ פלשתים כי קרוב הוא כי אמר אלהים פן־ינחם העם בראתם מלחמה ושבו מצרימה׃
It came to pass when Pharaoh let the people go, that God did not lead them [by the] Way of the Land of the Philistines for it was near, because God said, Lest the people reconsider when they see war and return to Egypt
The "Way of the Land of the Philistines" would have invited danger not because of the presence of war-hungry Philistines, but because it would have been thick with Egyptians. As Sarna explains, the "Way of the Land of the Philistines" would have been something like a fortified coastal highway, lined with armed Egyptians deployed there to protect the trade route.
Internal Parallels
(1) 15:20
וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחֹות אַהֲרֹן אֶת־הַתֹּף בְּיָדָהּ וַתֵּצֶאןָ כָל־הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת׃
And Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.
Alter surmises that Miriam is called a "prophetess" here in the old sense of an ecstatic who employs music and dance to produce a prophetic frenzy. [Compare with the story of Saul among the prophets] she is designated as Aaron's sister, in keeping with the practice of identifying a woman by the name of her oldest brother. [See Elisheva] Also, the David story depicts women greeting triumphant men with singing and dancing.
(2) Miriam is specifically mentioned as a witness at the water when Moshe's story begins, and again, here, when the water splits.
(3) The wind blowing on the water, followed by a division between sea and land is strongly reminiscent of the beginning of creation.
Style Alert
(1) When Pharaoh has his back against the wall his speech is short and urgent.
וַיְמַהֵר פַּרְעֹה לִקְרֹא לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְאַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמֶר חָטָאתִי לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְלָכֶם׃ [Exodus 10:16]
At other points in the story, he demonstrates confidence and imperiousness by speaking in verse:
ואמר פרעה לבני ישראל נבכים הם בארץ סגר עליהם המדבר׃ [Exodus 14:3]
Are these exact quotes, or the editorial embellishments of the Author? Let's leave that as a question for the reader.
Numerology
(1) The word "yad" appears exactly 7 times in the Amelek episode. (Cassuito)
Symbolism
(1) Passing between walls of water is a strong bit of birth imagery. [Ilana Pardos]
Inside Rashi's Bes Medresh
(1) ...on Exodus 13:17: for it was near and it was easy to return by that road to Egypt. There are also many aggadic midrashim [regarding this].
What are those midrashim?
(a) for it was too near (in time) to the promise Abrahma had made Abimelch [See Gen 20]
(b) For it was too near (in time) to when the Canaanites had taken the land, and they weren't yet deserving of genocide/expulsion etc.
Why doesn't Rashi use these midrashim to interpret the verse? Because they don't solve text problems.
(2) ... on Exodus 14:21 and the waters split All the water in the world. — [from Mechilta Exod. Rabbah 21:6]
Why does Rashi say this? Look at the verse: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord led the sea with the strong east wind all night, and He made the sea into dry land and the waters split.
The verse uses the word "sea" three times, but when the miracle happens the language switches and we're told "the waters split."
(Whether or not Rashi actually thought every body of water in the world split at that moment, too, is left as a question for the reader) (I think he's just proposing a solution to what some might see as a textual anomaly. I don't think he's attempting to provide a history lesson.)
Musar
(1) What we must learn from the fact that God took Israel the long way around, rather than directly through the land of the Phillis tines.
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Will the Times stop at nothing to make us look like monsters?
Monday, February 09, 2009
Labels: IsraelAs part of its never-ending and well-documented campaign to make Jews look as horrid as possible, the Times, today, quotes an especially nefarious Israeli doctor who works at Hadassah Hospital:
If [Arabs] live 10 minutes from Hadassah they will do everything they can to get admitted. And we are happy to take them. There are no politics in our wards. Twenty percent of our patients are Palestinians and we have one common enemy – cancer. The rest is immaterial.I sure hope HonestReporting gets them for this one.
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Why is it "A Yeshiva University Problem"?
Labels: Israel
I confess to not understanding this post, by YMedad:
Not obvious that he's a rabbi? He's described as a rabbi in the very sentence you quote!A Yeshiva University Problem
When it's not immediately obvious that you are a Rabbi:
"Dr. Norman Lamm, a rabbi and the chancellor of Yeshiva University, will officiate." [Source]
Perhaps I'm missing something.
Yosef’s Bones
Labels: Israel
Yosef’s Bones « The Noy G Show
In an interesting post, Noy G, a previous guest blogger at DovBear, asks some questions about this verse:
כִּי הַשְׁבֵּעַ הִשְׁבִּיעַ אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר, פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם, וְהַעֲלִיתֶם אֶת-עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה אִתְּכֶם.1) Why did Joseph think to make this request of his descendants? At the time of his death, the Israelites were happily settled in Egypt. (a) An answer, not given by Noy G., is that Joseph and his brothers were willing actors in something like a pageant. Their great-grandfather Abraham had been told that his descendants were meant to serve as slaves in a foreign land for 400 years. one the trip south, their father Jacob has been told "I will go down with thee to Egypt, and I will also bring thee up" According to Torah-true tradition the brothers knew all, foresaw all, and were willing and eager participants in an Egyptian experience they considered necessary. (b) One might also ask why Joseph described his remains as "bones" when he knew the Egyptian practice was to create mummies. Perhaps he was still thinking in Hebrew terms, despite his Egyptian achievements.
for [Joseph] had sworn the children of Israel, saying: ‘God will surely remember you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you
2) Why weren't other corpses exhumed? Why is Joseph's body the only one taken?
3) Why did Moshe complete this assignment himself instead of delegating it to someone lower in the Hebrew hierarchy, someone like a leader from Ephraim or Menashe?
Read the whole post
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Arabs for UTJ
Labels: by Rafi G., Israel
A Guest Post by Rafi G.
(originally posted on LII)
So now UTJ supports equality...
UTJ is courting the Arab vote, claiming they will fight against Lieberman's racism.
UTJ MK Moshe Gafni says:
we are against racism and for the Torah, and the Torah clearly says 'Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt,'" (Exodus 23:9).I, too, am against racism, and believe that all citizens have rights, but for Gafni to corrupt the Torah like that, simply so he can try to get some more votes to make up for the upset haredim who won't vote for him, is reprehensible. The torah is referring to a ger toshav - one who keeps the 7 Noahide laws. One who accepts jewish rule.
The Arabs of Israel do not qualify under either of those rules.
Court the Arab vote. Don't corrupt the Torah while doing it. Don't be a moiser - or is it ok to be a moiser when it is against a secular Jew, just not against a frum Jew.. and don't make a hillul hashem. You want to fight for the protection of minorities, go ahead. It is a worthy value, but there is a way to do it, and protecting people who call for our death and downfall, while condemning those who call for layoalty, is not the way.
If you were looking for a reason to not vote UTJ... you might have just found one... unless you are an Arab of course.
(source: Ynet)
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Parsha Notes (Bo)
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Labels: Israel, Parsha notes, Parsha notes (Exodus)Better late than not all...
Echos
Compare:
Exodus 10:3: Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? כה־אמר... העברים עד־מתי מאנת לענת מפני
with
Exodus 10:7: Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? ויאמרו עבדי פרעה אליו עד־מתי יהיה זה לנו למוקש
Historicity
- Exodus 10:10 ויאמר אלהם יהי כן יהוה עםכם כאשר אשלח אתכם ואת־טפכם ראו כי רעה נגד פניכם׃
And he said unto them: 'So be the LORD with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones; see ye that evil [ra'ah] before your face.
Rashi takes the mention of Ra'ah as a reference to a particular star, but its seems more likely that Pharaoh is referring to Ra, the Egyptian sun God, and is saying, in essence, that his god stands against ours.
- Exodus 11:5: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones;
According to Cassuito "slave girl who is behind the millstones" is an authentic Egyptian idiom for "lowest of the low"
Idiom
- Exodus 10:13 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night
"East wind" is a Canaanite idiom for a hot wind, or a wind that brought locusts. In Egypt, locusts would typically come from the South. (Sarna)
Fun fact to know and tell
The ibn Ezra says he experienced something much like the plague of Darkness during his sea journeys. (He mentions the Atlantic by name) He is referring to especially thick fogs.
Why do we cook the Passover lamb with no pot, and serve it with flat breads? Possible answer. [Alter ads that we're enjoined not to break the bones of the lamb to preserve the idea of haste. People with time to spare, might break bones and suck marrow. This ties in with the supposed reason for unleavened bread.]
Was Pesach originally one holiday or two? Who cares(!)
Contra midrash
We were all taught that the Jews didn't take Egyptian names or copy Egyptian clothing styles, yet: (Exodus 12:35) and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and cloaks.
Musar:
Why do we keep mitzvos?
How many died during darkness? 1 and 2
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2 Posts on Israeli Politics
Labels: by Rafi G., Israel
A Guest Post by Rafi G.
If you are Israeli and trying to decide for whom to vote, or if you are simply interested in Israeli politics, you should check out these two posts of mine...
The first is - the online debate between YB and Likud.
The second is - interview with Uri Bank of NU.
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Shabas Shira Notes
Friday, February 06, 2009
Labels: IsraelA polite reminder for the Orthodox clergy: In your speeches this shabbos, please do not tell us that Moshe or the Jewish people "sang Az Yoshir." We know what you mean, but its imprecise. The first words of the song are not "az yashir" but "Ashira l'hashem kee goah goah" and the proper name of the song is "Shirat Hayam"
Other notes on the song
Narrative units in the Bible are frequently bookended with long poems. This song marks the conclusion of the Exodus story, and the beginning of the Wilderness tales.
Ashira l'hashem is consistent with ANE literary convention of making announcements at the beginning of poems. (Alter)
Kee goah goah is a great pun. It means "to be exalted" and is also the word for a sea surge.
horse and rider may be an anachronism: At the time Egypt used chariots, not cavalry.
Azi v'zimras is another pun. Zimrah means both song and power.
Who is like you among the gods. possibly indicates that the Israelites weren't quite yet monotheists when then song was first composed.
You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established seems like a clear reference to the Temple, and can be understood as either prophesy or evidence of later tampering. Sarna, incidentally, uses this to explain away the problem of the too-large multitude that was said to have participated in the Exodus.
As is well known, (see this and this) (and don't miss serious counterarguments in the comments) nothing that we know about the ancient world, and nothing that archaeologists have found in the Sinai lends even an iota of support to the idea that 600,000 (or 3 million) people left Egypt. Sarna's solution is ingenious. He says that Temple in Jerusalem was the point, or goal of the Exodus. At the time the Temple was built, the population in Israel was about 600,000. Saying that 600,000 left Egypt is a literary way of connecting the Exodus with the Temple, similar to how even the children of immigrants speak of their "American forefathers."
The apology parade
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Labels: Barack Obama, IsraelLast night our Lord and Master, the anointed Messiah and Rushmore-ready Barak Obama, may his greatness be revealed in honor and glory, speedily and quickly in our days, granted interviews to not one, not two, but five network news programs to apologize for doing a piss poor job of vetting a few of his cabinet appointments. Here is what the president said:
I think I messed up. I screwed up in not recognizing the perception that even though this is an honest mistake, I believe, on Tom's part, that, you know, ordinary people are out there paying taxes every day and whether it's an intentional mistake or not, it was sending the wrong signal. So again, this was something that was my faultSnort. And this is change? Taking responsibility? Being a grown-up? Admitting error? Please. Don't we all remember when Bush gave those heroic apologies for... for....
um... anyone?
Related: Liberal columnist Maureen Dowd, who writes for the liberal and therefore Obama-worshipping New York Times, went down on her knees and planted a big wet one squarely on the president's buttocks. Here is some of what she said: It took Daschle’s resignation to shake the president out of his arrogant attitude that his charmed circle doesn’t have to abide by the lofty standards he lectured the rest of us about for two years.
Feel the love, baby. If she continues showering the president with this brand of blind and unreflective devotion, we might make Maureen spiritual leader of our new Obama-centered religion.
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He's a sneaky one that Obama...
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Labels: Barack Obama, IsraelThe secret plan to destroy us continues to develop.....
Secretary's Remarks: Remarks by Secretary Clinton and Special Envoy Mitchell After Their Meeting
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:17:06 -0600
QUESTION: -- (inaudible) it's clear that from the President's first interview and from the first stop in Cairo that the Administration is making a concerted effort to send a signal of the priorities and the balance, and perhaps a rebalancing. Is that enough going in? Or, eventually, does there have to be a path, a diplomatic path to Hamas, in order to resolve Gaza? And if I could ask both of you, Madame Secretary.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Andrea, you know, we have a very clear policy toward Hamas, and Hamas knows the conditions that have been set forth. They must renounce violence. They must recognize Israel. And they must agree to abide by prior agreements that were entered into by the Palestinian Authority.
We are just at the beginning of this deep and consistent engagement that we are part of, that Senator Mitchell is leading for our Administration, but our conditions with respect to Hamas have not and will not change. It is our hope that the work that needs to be done to move the parties toward an effort to settle many of the disputes that they currently confront will be effective. But Hamas knows that it must stop the rocket fire into Israel. There were rockets yesterday, there were rockets this morning. And it is very difficult to ask any nation to do anything other than defend itself in the wake of that kind of consistent attack. So that's not new news. You know what our position is. It is something that the President has set forth.
We are not able to, you know, look into the future to see whether there will be changes on the part of Hamas that would meet our conditions. But you know, certainly, that would be a clear path for them to follow. We are going to report to the President in the next day. And, you know, we'll have more to say as this process moves forward. But again, I want to thank Senator Mitchell for undertaking one of the most difficult assignments that anyone could be willing to shoulder.
And we want to send a clear message, as he did, both listening and responding during the last week, that the United States is committed to this path, and we are going to work as hard as we can over what period of time is required to try to help the parties make progress together. So thank you all very much.
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Poof goes the ownership society
Labels: Barack Obama, Israel
2002
We can put light where there's darkness, and hope where there's despondency in this country. And part of it is working together as a nation to encourage folks to own their own home."
--George W. Bush,
2004
"Thanks to our policies, home ownership in America is at an all- time high." -- Goerge W. Bush
2008
Census figures show home ownership rates in the fourth quarter of 2008 declining to 67.5 percent, about the same level as in late 2000.
I can't believe Obama is throwing people out of their homes just to undo Bush's legitimate accomplishments. This is bipartisanship?
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The world is on fire..
Monday, February 02, 2009
Labels: Israel...but that doesn't stop the LA Slimes from taking cheap shots at the Vice President's wife.
In 2007, at 55, Jill Biden did earn a doctorate -- in education, from the University of Delaware. Since then, in campaign news releases and now in White House announcements, she is "Dr. Jill Biden." This strikes some people as perfectly appropriate and others as slightly pompous, a quality often ascribed to her voluble husband.
As Media Matters points out, the LA Times routinely refers to the beloved owner of the LA Lakers as Dr. Jerry Buss (Ph.D. Chemistry) and it took me about 20 seconds to find references to Dr. Condaleeza Rice (Ph.D. Political Science).
No articles accusing either of them of being pretentious, however. (Your liberal media)
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Modest proposal
Labels: Israel
If Republican lawmakers are suddenly so certain that spending gob-loads of federal money is a horrible idea, I don't see why their districts should get any of it.
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Fastest honeymoon ever
Labels: Israel
He's been in office less than 2 weeks, and already the war is (a) failing and (b) his fault? So what were the last 8 years about???Remember, (um... was it three weeks ago?) when we absolutely were not allowed to say that the wars were anything like Vietnam?
Some liberal media.
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