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The strange story of Shlomo Veingrad
Labels: Israel
This is new to me. Its a piece from April about Alan Veingrad, a Jewish football player who after retiring from the NFL with a Super Bowl ring found the Jewish God, and dedicated himself to living as an observant Jew.
I like how the Bernie Kosar and the two announcer dudes at the end found it just about impossible to hide their real opinion of the man. It was clear to me that they think he's nuts. I also think it was nice of the TV station to give Shlomo what amounts to a free commercial for his motivational speaker business. You scratch my back I'll scratch yours.
If you wrote about this already, tell me and I'll link you up.
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Rav Mayer Twersky's Response to the YU's Gay Forum
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Labels: Israel
Birshuso al pi horaso, moreinu Rav shechter, v’rabosai.
Tashchis choshech … zeh domeh halaila [didn’t catch it all].
Chazal said that Olam Hazeh resembles night. Mesilas Yesharim explains that the darkness of night engenders two types of mistakes. Some things people can’t see at night because it’s dark, so people stumble. But there is a more insidious error which darkness engenders, says the Ramchal: he sees but doesn’t see what he is seeing. Darkness of night can engender illusions, delusions, and confusions. If Olam Hazeh is compared to lailah, and the geulah yemos hamachiach, and the geulah is compared to yom, it is darkest we know, before dawn. In the darkest hours of night, the delusion, illusion, confusion is greatest. Not only in my lifetime, but I think in your lifetimes, there was a point where such a schmooze would have been unimaginable, inconceivable. Not only unnecessary, but inappropriate and wrong. What is there to talk about – is it a matter of public discourse?
Yesha road rage
Labels: Israel
According to an article in the New York Times:
Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a major access highway to Jerusalem running through the occupied West Bank could no longer be closed to most Palestinian traffic.
As usual, when it comes to these issues, I’m of two minds. On the one hand, I’m concerned for the safety of settlers, including members of my immediate family, who regularly travel the roads over the green line. On the other hand, as always, I feel tremendous pride that the Israeli Supreme Court stands up for civil rights.
But I’m not surprised by this predictable reaction:
Israeli settler leaders expressed alarm at the court’s decision, saying it would endanger Jewish travelers. They charged that the justices “never missed an opportunity to blame Jews for racism and provide Arabs with convenient conditions for the next terror attack.”Is the ideal of democracy not one that Israeli citizens, of any stripe, hold dear? The refusal of the right wing in Israel to even acknowledge civil rights of Palestinians is something that is unsurprising, given what they’ve endured, but unfortunate nonetheless. But imagine how refreshing it would be if we’d seen this instead:
Israeli settler leaders expressed concern at the court’s decision, saying it might endanger Jewish travelers. They said that the justices “while making a valid point about civil rights of all residents of Yesha, may not be fully taking into account the safety of Jewish travelers. If the decision does stand, we hope to work together with the army and the Palestinian Authority to ensure safety and fairness for all who will use the road.”
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Why I Don't Identify As Gay
A GUEST POST BY 'BARRY' (posted by E. Fink)
(An old friend of mine)
With great shock, many have asked me—a man who experiences homosexual attractions—why I don't identify as "gay." To so many people, being gay is “who you are,” and “who you're meant to be,” and to do otherwise is to "deny yourself." To them, it’s a simple truth as plain as day. But my reason for not identifying as gay is also simple: a gay identity is a social construction.
Allow me to explain: When I was younger, one was a "homosexual" if one engaged in homosexual activity, but there was no such identity as "gay." Gay people weren't referred to as "kinds" of people, in the way we refer to men and women as the different sexes. Rather, homosexuals were seen simply as men or women who have or experience a specific kind of desire — the sexual and emotional desire for members of the same sex. We don't identify short people and tall people as different kinds of people, just people, some of whom happen to be short and others who happen to be tall. They are not distinct versions of human beings.
Homosexuality is a non-behavioral trait. And like all non-behavioral traits, like desires, emotions, thoughts (apart from those being acted upon), it is amoral and private, and cannot be identified like race or biological sex, beyond the statement of the individual that he or she has such feelings.
Nowadays, though, a “gay person” is a kind of person, independent of sexual conduct. Yet the latest document on homosexuality by the American Psychological Association says that most scientists believe homosexual attractions are developed through a complex mixture of both nature and nurture, so not only are homosexual attractions not a physical trait like race or biological sex, but they are also not purely innate.
It's interesting, however, that many Orthodox Rabbis don't see this distinction, however. That is certainly no fault of theirs, and I don't judge those who don't see this difference. The mood of the culture has really caught on and, as a result, many have adopted these labels, seemingly, with little thought or criticism. But as an orthodox Jew who experiences homosexual attractions, I believe the thoughtful approach is one that relies not upon cultural shifts, but on the enduring Word of G-d.
So, what does the Torah have to say about this issue to those who, like me, are halacha-abiding Orthodox Jews?
As far as I know, the Torah has no word for someone with these desires; it simply refers to sexual acts. Of course, we all know that the Torah expressly forbids homosexual acts (along with certain other illicit sexual acts). But does it say nothing beyond that? Certainly, the Torah has very strict rules concerning sexual conduct, which by divine design and intent is geared towards men and women in marriage and procreation. Sexuality is specifically for married men and women, and the mitzvah to procreate can only be understood in that context. In fact, all the rules about sexuality exclude all but married men and women in the sexual bond, united and coming to bear children (in the case where childbearing is not possible, sexual activity is still allowed within male-female marital bounds alone). Much of the Jewish Orthodox life revolves around family, too.
The family provides a good illustration for my point. The young child who doesn’t get what he wants can hit or scream, but the responsible parent reacts accordingly to teach or demonstrate to the child there are certain ways to act and not act. No matter how angry we get, we must not hit people. There is responsible behavior, and irresponsible behavior. Some things we can engage in, and some we cannot engage in. Some feelings we can indulge, and some we cannot indulge.
It is much the same with homosexuality. Feelings are just feelings, but the Torah teaches us that same-sex sexual behavior is forbidden according to the biblical sexual ethic. We have the power to do and not to do. We feel what we feel, but when it comes to action, we look to the infinite wisdom of the Torah for guidance.
So if we are dealing with mere feelings, rather than an identity, what are we to do with them? Feelings or desires are just that: feelings and desires, and one isn’t held accountable for having them. The Torah lays out a moral code by which we are to live. And it’s precisely because G-d knows some people will experience homosexual attractions that He found it necessary to state that acting on those desires is forbidden. As we’re brought up in the ways of the Torah, we’re taught that some actions are good, some bad, some destructive, some neutral and so on. We are to decide what a desire is and its corresponding action — if it is halachically forbidden and perhaps harmful or halachically positive and perhaps helpful. G-d gives us guidance through halacha and the Torah outlook on life.
To me, this certainly gives good reason to not only reject any identity that revolves around my homosexual attractions, but to limit to the fullest extent possible how I view and identify myself and my homosexual attractions. I see no reason to claim a "gay" identity anymore than I see a reason to claim a identity around my desire to wear blue shirts or to drive fast cars. Some say that liking blue shirts is hardly the equivalent to being homosexual, something which separates you from the entire heterosexual world, something that makes normal, married life very difficult if not impossible, and something that the Torah addresses directly (as opposed to wearing blue shirts). This is true indeed, and certainly, marriage is no cure or answer. But my life and sexual attractions are not defined by cultural standards, and this is precisely my point. Culturally, one may boil red at the comparison, but coming from the Torah perspective, I exclusively define myself through the Torah’s wisdom and guidance, not the culture’s. If I don’t define myself as “gay,” and if I remain single, as far as I’m concerned, I am just like every other single man out there, both heterosexual and homosexual.
Further, a gay identity more often than not is a socio-political label with socio-political connotations, meaning that it has much wrapped up in it apart from one’s sexual desires. I do not say that to condemn those who do accept a “gay” identity, but I see no fundamental truth that warrants my ascribing to it. I know of no standard Orthodox Torah view that could accommodate such an identity. In addition, this means I don’t ascribe to poorly defined terms like “homosexual” and “sexual orientation,” too, terms that science has difficulty defining in a universal and scientifically rigorous manner. I choose merely to describe the actual experience of one who feels sexual attractions to the same sex, and certainly nothing more. This is after all the principal commonality between gay people; they all experience homosexual attractions, though there are many other homosexual things homosexual people identify with that not all homosexual people share. So to identify as “a gay man” means to potentially to set myself up to adopt a whole set of ideas that seem contrary to the Torah true life.
The Torah seems to limit homosexual acts to just that--sexual acts--and sexuality to the sexual bond between the married man and woman, especially with regard to the procreative dimension. I choose to leave it at just that and let G-d in His infinite wisdom be my guide, also believing that through Torah principles, every wrongful desire – including homosexual attractions – can be resisted and perhaps overcome.
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Did I win or did I lose?
Labels: by Rafi G., Israel
A Guest Post by Rafi G
As mentioned previously, I no longer give donations to organizations via credit card over the telephone. The only exceptions will be for a couple specific organizations I am personally familiar with and have a relationship with.
Last night an organization called for a donation. Two, actually.
the first called and after going through her spiel, she asked how I could help them. I asked her to send me an envelope as donating over the phone is not possible for me. She graciously said thank you, took my details and hung up, despite knowing that most of the time asking for an envelope means they will not be getting much, if anything at all.
The second organization called shortly after. After going through her spiel, I told her she should send me an envelope, as I could not donate over the phone. She started arguing with me about it, how it is better if I donate over the phone. I didn't want to listen to her argue, and I did not see the point in arguing about how I should donate to an organization I have nothing to do with.
So I said to her "Ok, so don't send me an envelope. Up to you. Good bye." and I hung up the phone while she was still screaming at me. A minute later she called back and asked for my details to send me an envelope.
I am still not sure if I "won" or if I lost the argument.
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Is it ok to lie to our kids?
Monday, December 28, 2009
Labels: IsraelA guest post from Lakewood Leah
I have a set in stone policy not to lie to my kids. It's extremely important to me, and I will go to great lengths to avoid lying. However, after this evening, I wonder if sometimes perhaps it's ok to embellish the truth.
My preschool age son was watching Bambi and asked me what happened to Bambi's mother. In my defense, he loves watching scary movies (age appropriate of course) that involve fighting and killing. I happen to hate when he watches those movies, and it bothers me how much violence and innuendo are in Disney movies and the like, but that's for another discussion. I've pretty much banned most Disney movies, but I figured Bambi was clean enough and I let him watch it. When he asked me why someone told Bambi that his mother can't be there anymore, I told him that she was killed. I know, sue me. What a terrible thing to tell a 4 year old. But like I said, these things never seemed to bother him before. However, he starting obsessing over it and asking a lot of questions. I discussed it with my husband, and we realized that in most of the other movies, it's always the bad guy who ends up dead.
I want to tell him that I made a mistake and she really just fell and hurt herself, but he's sleeping now. I feel like a horrible mother. But it also really bothers me to lie to him even if he has no way of knowing the truth. Am I taking this too far? Is lying to your kids ok when necessary?
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Am I Expecting Too Much?
BACKGROUND: This was submitted to me via email. The author lives in a "black-hat" community, sends his children to top tier Yeshivos, before entering the workforce worked in Chinuch as a Rebbe in a Yeshiva and is a supporter of Torah and Chesed organizations.
We have gone almost 2 weeks since the news of the EJF scandal broke. It is alleged along with solid evidence that a Rosh Yeshiva who was the gatekeeper for geirus to Klal Yisroel was personally involved with prostituting and inappropriate behavior with a potential giores. In addition there are many unanswered questions regarding Rabbonim and others who enabled him and continue to enable this organization to bully geirim, potential geirim, and batei din.
A very frequently mentioned theme in both the Torah and Tanach is the horrible idea of the powerful and privileged taking advantage of the weak and helpless (ger, yasom, v’almanah.) This scandal typifies the elite (or leaders by their silence condoning) extorting the underprivileged.
The Gemara Sanhedrin 19a,b tells of the wicked King Yannai who was summoned to trial by Shimon ben Shetach. When the trial began Shimon ben Shetach told Yannai to stand so the trial could begin. Yannai responded by saying that he wanted to see which other judges demanded that he be brought to trial. At that point all the other judges started looking at the ground and pretended that they hadn’t summoned him. Their punishment was severe, and Yannai went on to kill numerous Rabbonim. Ironically Yannai spared Shimon ben Shetach because he respected him and his courage.
I have yet to hear one single Yeshivish Rov or Rosh Yeshiva who has condemned any of this. Am I asking too much by expecting to hear some outcry that these activities are out of bounds or unacceptable? I asked these exact questions to a Rov in my community and was given a strange array of answers:
• "Everyone knows already so what’s the point"
• "Since he is finished anyway, why bother"
• "We’ve known about him for years"
• "Yes, probably something should be said"
The organization itself released a statement which merely says something like “Rabbi X is leaving, we thank him for his good work, we now welcome in Rabbi Y.” All is well, life goes on….. I have asked many people about this incident and about a third of them had no idea about the story. Another third said that if no Rabbonim have come out forcefully, it probably isn’t true and is just lashon hara. The others felt that it is an outrage but differed as to how to react.
I believe that the silence creates the impression that our community can tolerate anything and evil won’t be condemned especially when it involves people who are in “the club.” This is our community. Do we have any standards? Where are our leaders? Who are they protecting? Am I the only outraged person regarding this silence? Am I expecting too much?
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Atheist greetings
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Labels: Israel
This sign, which appears at the Illinois State Capital, alongside various Christian displays, reads as follows: "At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." It made the news last week after an especially unreflective Republican candidate for state office attempted to remove the sign. His concern?
"The fact that sign was immediately in front of the tree, I found that to be disturbing because any family and any child would run up to that tree with a smile on their face, and they would immediately see that sign."I can relate. I don't like it when my kids see nativity scenes with their implicit message that we Jews are damned. I'd prefer to have nothing religious displayed on public land, but so long as trees and creches are ok, counter statements like this are ok, too.
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Update on the Fee-Low
Friday, December 25, 2009
Labels: IsraelBobby, proud as punch, brought his fee-low home today. It was a paper cut out, illustrated in classic almost-three year old style. He came home wearing it around his neck/shoulder like a guitar.
The strap - really, a ribbon - broke within minutes. He didn't mind a bit.
Shabbotshalom
R. Malkiel and the MO Jews: Follow up
Labels: Israel
Received by email
This morning I spoke with the fellow who forwarded to me the email from R. Aharon Kotler in which R. Aharon wrote that R. Malkiel never lumped reform, conservative and MO Jews together as being people whom we have to fight. This person told me that he is on the Board of BMG and that he wrote to R. Aharon Kotler about what R. Malkiel Kotler said. This is how he received the reply that I distributed recently which denied that R. Malkiel Kotler had said negative things about MO Jews.
I told this member of the Board who the fellow was who had told me that R. Malkiel did indeed lump MO Jews with reform and conservative Jews. Shortly after davening I put the two of them together. The person who had heard R. Malkiel speak said that he had attended a small private gathering in someone's home on Shabbos. There were very few people there. Then he told us that he heard R. Malkiel not only lump MO with reform and conservative but that he added YU to the mix.
The person who heard R. Malkiel speak at this small gathering was infuriated to learn about the email message that R. Aharon Kotler sent out denying the entire thing. He told us that he was going to contact R. Aharon Kotler about this.
The person who is a member of the Board of BMG was taken aback by what he heard.
Very Important Note: The person who wrote these words is NOT (to the best of my knowledge) the person who sent me the message. The message was originally posted on one of the super-secret public bulletin board, where people too cool for blogs gather to do what we lower life forms do on blogs.
I am not a member of this board, and I am not bound by its no-sharing rule. I post this for information purposes only and make no claims as to its accuracy. Ceaveat emptor. Take it with a grain of salt. Ignore it if you choose. Its probably not true, anyway.
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Lakewood Gets it Right (Mumps)
Labels: Israel
The clarity is not great, but you can see this notice, which is on BMG bulletin boards, clearly instructs unvaccinated students to get the anti-mumps shot.
Provided by bootsy thorton
Provided by bootsy thorton
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Slate tells the world about nittle nacht
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Labels: IsraelFrom here:
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Jews were playing dreidel, being celibate, and tearing toilet paper. Allow me to explain. Please. MoreMy own previous post on this hysterical subject here
CA Writes:
I have read the summary of the Toledot Yeshu in the Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledot_Yeshu
http://www.essene.com/History&Essenes/toled.htm
(The Toldedot Yeshi is some sort of Jewish anti-Christian polemic of unknown origin, traditionally studied on Nittel Nacht.)
The storyline is kind of interesting. It claims that the conceptions of Jesus (Yeshu) was the result of Mary (Miriam) being raped by Joseph. (Now there's a Christmas story for you.) Also, Mary was betrothed to someone else and a niddah at the time she was raped, so not only is Jesus a mamzer, he's a ben-niddah. This might be worth discussing -- After all, it wasn't Jesus' fault that he was the product of a rape or that his motherwas niddah, so why should that make hom the evil character that he was portrayed in this book? (This has some personal interest to me, becuase I suspect that I am a ben-niddah, as are neasrly all non-Orthodox Jews. Does that mean the frummers think folks like us are evil? Or is this plotline developed just becuase of what Jesus' follwers became?)
Enquiring minds want to know!
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Actual Conversation with My Almost Three Year Old Son
Labels: Israel
Him: DAH-DEE
Me: Hey Bobby [not his real name] [duh]
Him: I make a FEE-LOW at my school
Me: A what?
Him (louder) a FEE-LOW
Me: A pillow?
Him: No I make a (louder still) a FEE-LOW
Me: (to the household) What's he saying?
Oldest daughter: Well, we think he made a fee-low.
Him: DAH-DEE I MAKE A FEE-LOW AT MY SCHOOL! (slowly) A FEEEEEE LOW
Me: Okay! Yay! You made a Fee-Low!
Him: NO NO A FEE LOW. I MADE A FEE LOW
Me: Right. Um... a pillow?
Him: NO A FEE LOW
Me: (thinking to myself) Ok, his weekly projects are always connected to the parsha. Let's see... vayigash.... vayigash.... what could it be?
And suddenly it hit me.
Me: A FIDDLE?
Him: YEAH! DAH-DEE I MADE A FEE-LOW
Oy
PART 2 OF THE STORY Later that evening, or, actually early this morning, Bobby was in my wife's bed, still babbling about his fee-low, when suddenly he gave that distinctive cough which means some vomit is on the way. And sure enough, the vomit came, and when it did my wife cupped her hands and caught it.
Why did you do that, I said, as I ran for a container.
I just washed the sheets she replied. (!)
Disgusting or heroic? I still can't decide.
Search for more information about serach bat asher's non-fiddle at 4torah.com.
Me: Hey Bobby [not his real name] [duh]
Him: I make a FEE-LOW at my school
Me: A what?
Him (louder) a FEE-LOW
Me: A pillow?
Him: No I make a (louder still) a FEE-LOW
Me: (to the household) What's he saying?
Oldest daughter: Well, we think he made a fee-low.
Him: DAH-DEE I MAKE A FEE-LOW AT MY SCHOOL! (slowly) A FEEEEEE LOW
Me: Okay! Yay! You made a Fee-Low!
Him: NO NO A FEE LOW. I MADE A FEE LOW
Me: Right. Um... a pillow?
Him: NO A FEE LOW
Me: (thinking to myself) Ok, his weekly projects are always connected to the parsha. Let's see... vayigash.... vayigash.... what could it be?
And suddenly it hit me.
Me: A FIDDLE?
Him: YEAH! DAH-DEE I MADE A FEE-LOW
Oy
PART 2 OF THE STORY Later that evening, or, actually early this morning, Bobby was in my wife's bed, still babbling about his fee-low, when suddenly he gave that distinctive cough which means some vomit is on the way. And sure enough, the vomit came, and when it did my wife cupped her hands and caught it.
Why did you do that, I said, as I ran for a container.
I just washed the sheets she replied. (!)
Disgusting or heroic? I still can't decide.
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Tropper is teflon?
Labels: Israel
A reader and friend has some news about Tropper the Pimp.
Horizons is an organization Tropper essentially owns, but their website still touts him as Judaism's gift to the nations. See here: "R’ Leib Tropper’s passion for the importance of character development is contagious, and the centrality of "being a mensch" to the Torah worldview is his leitmotif. His delivery, which blends a lucid and jargon-free elucidation of traditional sources with his expansive reading in modern psychology and philosophy, has captivated the minds and hearts of three generations of American youth. "
http://www.horizons.edu/retreat/index.htm
Just to be sure, I called Horizons a minute ago and they confirmed that this info is accurate.
Can one of you mega bloggers encourage your readers to express their outrage with Horizons?
Horizons' contact info:
phone 1.845.425.3863
fax 1.845.425.3571
email info@horizons.edu
Mailing Address:
Horizons
29 West Maple Avenue
Monsey, NY 10952
Web Address:
www.horizons.edu
Being Gay In the Orthodox World
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Labels: IsraelVideo from the big event at YU, which (as noted by Chakira) drew more people then "yomim noraim services in the main bes medrash" (not a fair comparison, obviously: Still, point made.)
What's wrong with gay sex?
Labels: Israel
These signs were displayed around YU last night, while inside some campus auditorium over 500 people attended a panel discussion on Being Gay In The Orthodox World
Photo Credit: @marczeffren
My New Header, and an Announcment
Labels: Israel
The new header, which those of you who are not blind have certainly noticed, was created for me by Tikun Olam's fabulously talented 11 year old son. Isn't it great? No decision has yet been made on whether or not to make it permanent (I'm finicky, and change the design of this place all the time) but I did want to call your attention to it, and give him a very well deserved public thank you.
Also, I'm thrilled to announce that Tik has a new blog, which makes her a member of an exclusive society. (I've lost count of how many members this exclusive society has). Tik's new blog, Foster Parenting Adventures, can be found here. We wish her loads of luck, and hope she'll continue to post here as often as she likes.
Comment problems still not solved
Labels: Israel
UPDATE: Having touble leaving a comment? Pease have a look at this topic: http://support.js-kit.com/
Ok, the neat thing about JS/Echo is their customer support and tech people are very responsive. They answer questions, and seem to really care about getting things right. And their CEO, Khris Loux, seems like a hands-on -guy. Yesterday he commented on one of my threads, and he answers Tweets.
The bad news, though, is this new commenting system is rediculously complicated and even the best intentioned, hardest working customer-support people seem unable to make things simple enough for me to understand.
For an example see this. It's a great answer, I suppose, and I appreciate that Anna took the time to compose it, only I understood about 20 percent of it. I don't know where to find the various attribute thingies she describes, and I'm not really happy about having to mess around with code. Why can't we get buttons, or a WYSWG system? Why do I have to muck around in HTML?
Also, some issues just seem unsolvable. To date, no one has explained how to make this load more quickly, nor does anyone seem to have a way to make the package slim enough to load on a mobile phone (Not being able to comment on a phone sucks.) I see that there's some way, involving RSS, to find links to individual comments, but really doesn't that sound like too much work? Why can't it be automatic? And the only way to restore the great little feature that told us when a comment had been left by someone else while you were reading others or writing your own is also a pain: You have to activate something called "live echo events" which restores the neat feature, but also makes the last comment appear first. No one seems to like that. (Worse while playing around with the feature this morning three or four comments went missing.)
Is there anyway to bring back Haloscan? It was slim, crisp, and always worked. I've had more difficulties with Echo in three days then I did with Haloscan in 5 years. And if Haloscan is gone for good, can the really first rate support people please, pretty please, make the solutions a little bit simpler to understand and implement?
more here and here
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Complaints about the new JS/Echo commenting system
Labels: Israel
Here are some complaints about the new system, which was forced on me when Haloscan was absorbed by JS/Echo. These complaints are shared by my commenters.
(1) When you click on a comment on the recent comment widget (sidebar) it takes you to the top of the thread, rather then to the comment itself (as on Haloscan)
(2) When you have the browser open, it does not tell you if new comments have been left while you were writing your own (Haloscan's yellow bar)
(3) There appears to be no way to link to a comment
(4) There appears to be no way to deactivate threading. Threading causes people to miss comments.
(5) There appears to be no way to edit a comment. Its delete or nothing
(6) Some say the font is too small. I see no way to fix.
Add your own objections in the comments. (and ponder the irony of using a tool to gripe about that tool, while you are at it)
You can also contact JS/Echo at
@Echoenabled
http://support.js-kit.com/jskit
Or staff members as follows:
Khris Loux
CEO Co-Founder
@KhrisLoux khris@js-kit.com
Lev Walkin
CTO Co-Founder
lev@js-kit.com
I should point out that they have been very responsive to one problem. He hasn't fixed it yet, but Mr. Igor the support director, has delivered excellent service,
Is it rational to believe that God exists?
Labels: Israel
I believe in God, by which I mean I'm certain that He exists. However, as I confessed last night on Twitter, I don't think this belief is rational. In fact, I think this belief of mine is highly irrational. There don't seem be very good grounds for believing in God, and the most famous argument is notably flawed as the ensuing Twitter conversation showed:
DB: I believe in God. Give me a reason, though, to believe in God that is better than the reason to believe Elvis is still alive. [By this I meant that neither belief seems justified by evidence.]
SM: There is simply no rational explanation for too many things [in Israel] to question whether God exists.There's no reason to deny the hand of God in miraculous events when no other explanation could possibly exist.
DB: There's no rational reason to introduce God to solve something you can't immediately explain. That's the philosophical problem [with that approach.] If "no rational explanation exists," the rational answer is to leave it a mystery, not to introduce something [i.e.: God] that [itself] can't be proved or explained.
RK: The fact that we exist makes the possibility of a Creator much more likely than Elvis still being alive.
DB: I don't need to introduce God to explain why I exist. And, anyway, why [introduce] God and not fairies, or aliens? If "no explanation exists," why introduce God, to solve the problem and not dragons, or a witch with a magic wand?
RK: I'm talking about the starting point. First Cause. Prime Mover. Creator. More likely than Elvis still being alive.
DB: You say everything needs a cause, right? So what caused the 1st cause? Why is the 1st cause the exception to the rule? Maybe the universe itself is the exception to the rule? Your argument contradicts itself. It depends on the premise that "all things have a cause" which you then contradict with the claim that God has no cause.
[RK is using the design argument, and saying that everything needs a creator, including the universe, and that creator is God. In my response, I'm pointing out that if the rule is everything needs a creator the God who created the universe requires a creator, as well. By claiming that God doesn't need a creator, RK is contradicting the premise upon which his whole argument is based. What is his justification for doing that?]
RK: Once you are dealing with a supernatural entity, these questions don't apply (certainly not the same way). All NATURAL things need to have a cause.
[DB: Did you catch the ad hoc maneuver? When confronted with his contradiction, he changed the premise to "all natural things" need a cause, but how does RK know this? How does he know that supernatural things don't require causes? Maybe they do. How would we know otherwise? What empirical information or evidence does RK posses about supernatural things? What are his grounds for asserting that they don't requires causes? I ask him in my next Tweet.]
DB: ...how do you know what rules govern supernatural entity? You have to PROVE supernatural entities dont require a cause. You can't just assert it loudly.
RK: When talking about G-d? You've got to be kidding.
DB: You're trying to prove God exists. You can't do that by saying "You've got to be kiddding" of course he exists. "You've got to be kidding" is a dodge and an appeal to emotion. Not an argument. Make one or resign.
From here, things deteriorated. RK was never able to provide proof that supernatural entities don't require causes; indeed he was never able to provide any grounds for belieiving in God at all. All he had to offer was a fallacious argument based on a contradiction, though he refused to see or acknowledge this. Those who think Elvis lives make the same sort of arguments, and are equally blind to the shortcomings of their claim. Does it follow that beleiving in God is no less irrational then believing that Elvis lives? I'm afraid so. Because no good argument for God seems to exist, I'm left with nothing but the conclusion that we (like the Elvis-faithful) believe for no good reason.
And yet, I continue to believe.
See: The DovBear Creed
This Makes Me Sick
A Guest Post By E. Fink
UPDATE! See Below:
Names of people and institutions have been changed to protect the guilty.
Yankel Levovitz sends his children to Yeshiva Gedolei HaDor. The Levovitzes are thriving in the Yeshiva which is a newer, more progressive and open minded place than the typical RW yeshivishe place.
Unfortunately, Yankel's financial fortunes took a turn for the worse. So Yankel sought the advice of his spiritual leader, his Rabbi. His Rabbi's background was raised Modern Orthodox, and he has now become more "Yeshivishe" right wing.
The Rabbi had some sound advice for Yankel. "Perhaps if you take your kids out of Yeshiva Gedolei HaDor and place them in (more closed-minded, old fashioned) Yeshiva Derech Hashem you will have more hatzlacha in parnassa".
Levovitz promptly takes his children out of YGH and places them in YDH save for one.
The principal of YGH is miffed so he calls a Rabbinic advisor. After all, the Levovitzes were thriving in his school and it is never good for children to change schools unnecessarily. He wants to know if he should keep the one remaining Levovitz. The Rabbi says, "You're not the type of school or Rabbi who is vengeful, just let if go. Besides, you can't really hold it against them today's Jews are all looking for voodoo Judaism. It is the malady of our generation, everyone is looking for a shortcut. The Levovitzes just got caught up in the latest voodoo fad."
The YGH principal kept the Levovitz in the school but remains miffed and incredulous.
Update! If the story seems a bit ambiguous please continue...
Bottom line summary:
Two equally frum schools, one is more open minded than the other, parent losing money was told by his rabbi to switch to the more closed minded school as a segulah for better parnassah. Bigger Rabbi than he (and almost all) called this practice Voodoo Judaism.
Two equally frum schools, one is more open minded than the other, parent losing money was told by his rabbi to switch to the more closed minded school as a segulah for better parnassah. Bigger Rabbi than he (and almost all) called this practice Voodoo Judaism.
Search for more information about that Voodoo [Judaism] that they do at 4torah.com.
Carter Appologizes to Jews, Israel
Monday, December 21, 2009
Labels: IsraelNow this is the behavior of a good hearted man:
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Jimmy Carter asked the Jewish community for forgiveness for any stigma he may have caused Israel.And following Carter's example, I will offer an Al Het to YWN (Your Worst Nightmare, I mean Yeshiva World News) if they publish this story.
In a letter released exclusively to JTA, the former U.S. president sent a seasonal message wishing for peace between Israel and its neighbors, and concluded: "We must recognize Israel’s achievements under difficult circumstances, even as we strive in a positive way to help Israel continue to improve its relations with its Arab populations, but we must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel. As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so."
"Al Het" refers to the Yom Kippur prayer asking God forgiveness for sins committed against Him. In modern Hebrew it refers to any plea for forgiveness.
Carter has angered some U.S. Jews in recent years with writings and statements that place the burden of peacemaking on Israel, that have likened Israel's settlement policies to apartheid, and that have blamed the pro-Israel lobby for inhibiting an evenhanded U.S. foreign policy.
Abraham Foxman, the Anti-Defamation League's national director, welcomed the statement, calling it the "beginning of reconciliation."
"We welcome any statement from a significant individual such as a former president who asks for Al Het," Foxman said. "To what extent it is an epiphany, time will tell. There certainly is hurt which needs to be repaired."
Holding my breath.
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Remember: There are no coincidences
Labels: Israel
Don't miss the hot new release from Rockstar's new Torah Story Division:
BOOK OF AMAZING FACTS AND FEATS
THE CREATOR'S WORLD AND ALL THAT FILLS IT
THE CREATOR'S WORLD AND ALL THAT FILLS IT
Binding: large-format Hard Cover / 178 pages
Dimensions: 8.7 x 12.3 inches / Weight: 2.8 lbs
Published by FeldheimDimensions: 8.7 x 12.3 inches / Weight: 2.8 lbs
Say, does that cover art look familiar? Why yes it does. Perhaps this is why:
Which reminds me: Do you think Kars 4 Kids pays
HT The LAW
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Going to Israel?
Now get 2 phones for the price of 1 (and free calls too) with Talk'n'Save.
Great News!
Labels: Israel
I've just purchased a Haloscan upgrade that allows you to comment and tweet simultaneously. How great is that? It should be available on all posts by the middle of next week.
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Goodwin slits his wrists
Labels: Israel
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Highway to Health - Last Tea Party Protest of the Year | ||||
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Tropper Story About to Explode
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Labels: IsraelI hear from Luke, who has it from Jack that Monsey's finest, Rabbi Leib Tropper, will be the subject of a New York Times article this weekend. What a way to celebrate Shabbos "zos" Chanuka, eh? Here's my proposed opening paragraph:
As head of EJF, the Eternal Jewish Family, Rabbi Leib Tropper, became well know for his ardent efforts to make converting to Judaism as difficult as possible. Yet, there was one way around the formidable obstacles Tropper and the EJF erected. According to tapes now circulating on the internet, the locked door to Judaism could occasionally be thrown open for female candidates for conversion who were willing to prostitute themselves for Rabbi Tropper's profit
Great moments in publishing
Labels: Israel
I'm told by E_fink, who says he saw it on XGH, that Leib Tropper wrote a book on the Laws of Yichud. I'm sure its full of fabulous advice, and only the finest, unfiltered daas torah.
In other news, Bernie Madoff will be releasing a book on business ethics. Look for it at fine bookstores everywhere.
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More bad news about Israel for people who love bad news about Israel
Labels: Israel
Here's some extra evidence for you RWers who wish to remain convinced that Barak Obama and his friends in the Muslim world are busily plotting to make Jerusalem a Muslim city. From Haaretz:
The United States and Egypt, along with France, are planning a joint move to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks on the basis of the June 4, 1967, borders, territorial exchanges and a complete freeze of construction beyond the Green Line, including East Jerusalem. The freeze would not be announced publicly.No source for this scary prediction is provided, though the article's next paragraph tries badly to link it to the always reliable foreign minister of Egypt.
In other news, Obama's secret plan to give me $10 million will also "not be announced publicly."
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What are Levivot?
Labels: Israel
In 2 Samuel Amnom the rapist makes use of a traditional chanuka treat. As a pretext for getting Tamar into his room, Amnon feigns illness, and then asks the inquiring king to send in his half-sister with some hand-baked levivot.
And what are they? Pancakes, I presumed, for all the obvious reasons.
But when I checked to see how my favorite Targum had teiched the word I found not "pancakes, or even the KJV's "cakes" but something else: "heart shaped dumplings" Heart shaped dumplings? In his note, Alter provides symbolic and etymological justifications:
The verb and its object are both transparently cognate with lev “heart” The term could refer to the shape of the dumplings, or to their function of “strengthening the heart” (idiomatic in biblical Hebrew for sustaining on encouraging) In the Song of Songs the same verb is associated with the idea of sexual arousal.The word from Shir HaShirim that Alter has in mind is L'vavtini, which means something like "you have charmed me" or "you have made my heart beat faster" [more possibilities] Interestingly enough, the word L'vavtini (and indeed the entire chapter where it appears) is directed at a "sister bride" whom the speaker is attempting to flatter or seduce. (Recall Tamar and Amnon were half-siblings) That, and the 6 instances of l v v in the Tamar story as either a noun ora verb seem to justify Alter's reading, and his view that the biblical levivot are somehow connected to the heart or its affairs.
But what exactly were these things? The Aramaic targum on the spot seems to be the source for Alter's idea that they are dumplings, and Rashi agrees: Both say Tamar's levivot were some kind of dough boiled in water. But what was their shape? As I discussed this with my wife yesterday over breakfast, she correctly pointed out that our iconic idea of a heart is something new. Ancients would not have imagined the heart as looking like something from a Valentines day card. They lived closer to nature, and were familiar with blood and gore. More likely, their idea of a heart was closer to reality, and a real heart does look something like a dumpling.
[Related: As we talked, my wife went to a computer where she found this post. A bit of digging at that interesting site revealed that the yiddish word latka is derived from a Ukrainian word for pancake, that is itself derived from a Greek word for oil. How's that for an interesting chain of coincidences?]
From Dec 23 2008
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My Chanukka Bush
Labels: Israel
Another great Bush Chanukka moment came in 2005. Unwilling to re-arrange his precious vacation, the panderer in chief staged a mock Chanuka celebration at the White House two weeks ahead of time. Some poor unwitting Jew even had to light the candles (8 of them for some reason) for the president's amusement and say the blessings. If Bush cared about Chanuka, and not the photo-op, he'd have had some Jews over to his vacation mansion on the actual holiday. But that's not what he did.
Though I didn't collect Bushisms - those funny lapses of syntax, grammar and sense, for which he was famous - I remain amused at the stupid thing he said on Chanukka 2001. “I couldn’t imagine someone like Osama Bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah.” This fails on two counts: First, "understanding the joy of XXX" sounds like something from a Christmas special. I expect Bush, like most moron gentiles, simply presumes that Chanuka and Christmas are interchangeable, so the tropes of one holiday can be farily applied to another. Second, Osama Bin Ladin, the guerrilla fighter at war with a superpower to establish a narrow theocracy, might be the one person on earth who BEST understands Chanuka. Politics and personal preferences aside, who is more of a modern Maccabee than he?
Lets hope for a conflagration
Labels: Israel
וְהָיָה֩ בֵית־ יַעֲקֹ֨ב אֵ֜שׁ וּבֵ֧ית יֹוסֵ֣ף לֶהָבָ֗ה וּבֵ֤ית עֵשָׂו֙ לְקַ֔שׁ וְדָלְק֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם וַאֲכָל֑וּם וְלֹֽא־ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה שָׂרִיד֙ לְבֵ֣ית עֵשָׂ֔ו כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃
I'm not going to name names because nothing is verified yet and nothing has been published by a reliable source, but one of the big names in obnoxious Orthodox Jewish zealotry is about to go down hard. Let the Chanukka pyre which is going to consume his reputation become a raging uncontrolled burning that devours obnoxious Orthodox Jewish zealots everywhere.
A Picture is Worth 1000 Words
A Guest Post By E. Fink
I have nothing to add to this gem.
Search for more information about ham recipes for Chanukah at 4torah.com.
Criminals Advertising on VIN
A Guest Post By E. Fink
The following 2 ads are running on a constant basis over at VIN. The top ad is to raise money for the teens imprisoned in Japan for smuggling thousands of dollars of ecstasy. The bottom ad is a flash ad for Spinka with 2 lines of text (I have included both). Now that they are no longer laundering money, Spinka needs money too.
Both of these ads are asking for your money to help support Jewish "frum" criminals.
Pidyon Shvuyim is clearly a halachic requirement. It is not so clear what the halacha is when the captive is a victim of his or her own crime.
Tzedaka is a clearly a mitzva. It is not clear if it is a mitzva to save a Chasidic dynasty that got itself in trouble with the law by laundering millions of dollars.
And these ads are just a tad more offensive than the Christmas ads on this blog ;)
Search for more information about "anything to make a buck" at 4torah.com.
Additional attempts by secular museums to undermine the Mesorah
Labels: Israel
This photo was taken at the Marble Museum in Devon. Obviously, the game the placard describes is a complete robbery of our holy, masoretic game of dreidel. That old story about the Jews who concealed their Torah-learning during the Greek persecutions by playing driedal, by the way, is 100 percent true. Only our ancestors used an 9-sided top, not a four-sided top, and instead of having one letter each for the phrase "[A] Great Miracle Happened There," the letters on the ancient Judean dreidal were an acronym for : [A] Great Miracle [is] Going [to] Happen Here Pretty Soon, We Think." Really!
The Orthodox Jewish War on Christmas
Labels: Israel
A guest post by CA
DB,
I know that some of your loyal readers who hail from the right side of the political and religious spectrum sometimes defend American right-wing political commentators who go on and on about how the evil Liberal Atheists are supposedly waging a war on Christmas. And some of the right-wing J-bloggers even agree with this assessment and believe that we Jews should show some respect to Christians.
However, over in the Eretz HaKodesh, aka Israel, it seems that the shoe is on the other foot. It seems that the right-wing Orthodox Jews over there are, indeed, waging a war against Christmas, threatening to pull kashrut certification of Establishments that display Christmas decorations.
I guess the religious powers in Israel really don't care whether they offend Christian pilgrims who visit this time of year, or drive the Christian pilgrims to the Arab side of town, where they can be properly indoctrinated into the Arab side of the Arab-Israeli issue. And what about the Israelis of Russian descent who the Rabbinate doesn't think are Jewish and won't let them convert? They might be Christian, but they're also just as Israeli as any hareidi, in fact they serve in the army. And what kind of message will this send to Sen. Orrin Hatch when he comes to visit and sing his Hannukkah song in Jerusalem?
In other words, there are lots of reasons why a kosher-certified establishment in Jerusalem might want to put up Christmas decorations without it meaning that they want Jews to celebrate the holiday.
Feel fee to pass this on. I'm looking forward to seeing the (figurative) exploding heads.
[DB: Three quasi related points: (1)I'm in favor of any effort by any individual to defeat Christianity, and to undermine its lies, but do not desire assistance from the government. Let falsehoods be defeated on the merits, with no help from the state. (2) If a private kashrus organization wishes to pull certification from an establishment that puts up trees and lights, that's fine with me; and its also fine with me if a private kashrus organization looks the other way. (3) The great thing about America is that Jews are no longer required to show Christmas any respect, and I'd prefer that we didn't.]
Jew York Times Again.
Labels: Israel
I don't know why David Brooks thought it necessary to use his NYT op-ed column to tell the story of Chanukkah, but he doesn't do a bad job of it. Money quote
...there is no honest way to tell their story as a self-congratulatory morality tale. The lesson of Hanukkah is that even the struggles that saved a people are dappled with tragic irony, complexity and unattractive choices.Rest here
Green Chanukah Drasha
A Guest Post By E. Fink
I was tipped off by my friend and DovBear reader, who works at YU media relations.
The NY Times picked up on a story about a student duo at Yeshiva University who made a very unique Chanukah menorah. Raffi Holczer and Mark Stauber are physics students and they spent 2 weeks making a different kind of menorah.
This menorah is powered by a battery that is powered by a windmill. The whole set up is pretty cool. What caught my eye was their "drasha" on the Chanukah story.
As the story goes, the Maccabees wrestled the Temple from Greek rule and wished to light the lamps. Temple lamps can only be lit with ritually pure oil, none of which would be available for 8 days. A small jug of oil was found. It would only last for one day and the lamp would go dark after the one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for the 8 days.
One of the duo, Mark Stauber, offers a very nice lesson to be taken from the aforementioned Chanukah story. In his own words:
"In the miracle of the menorah, they got back to the temple and there was only enough oil for one night, but they made it last eight days,” he said. “I see an analogy with the world’s fight for sustainable energy, to take that and make it last as long as we’re going to need it.”
Managing and maintaining our natural resources is definitely something the Torah teaches us. From Jacob lingering to save a few small vessels (according to the Midrash) to the prohibition of destroying fruit trees. The Torah has been teaching "Green" for thousands of years.
I like the application of the principal to the Chanukah story.
Search for more information about sustainable energy at 4torah.com.
Holiday Music 2
Two for the price of one, again today. First the great YLove's dreidel, and beneath it an ecumenical children's choir singing a classic to a tune I don't know.
Jetton shuts down his lobbying firm
Labels: Israel
What follows was stolen, without permission, from Wonkette.If you're curious about the redactions, go here.
Former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton, who was arrested Monday night for allegedly beating XXXXXXX a ladyfriend XXXXXXXXX — possibly because he had roofied her, which made it super hard for her to say “green balloons” during the fifth or sixth donkey punch and/or choking episode — has dissolved his lobbying firm, Jetton and Associates. According to a statement, he wants to spend more time with his family HAAHAHAH OH YES SURE YOU DO XXXXXXX
Also, his firm was actively lobbying while he was House Speaker, which doesn’t sound illegal at all:
Former House Speaker Rod Jetton sent an aftershock through Missouri’s political terrain Tuesday, saying he will close his political consulting firm to fight a felony charge that he assaulted a Sikeston woman.
Jetton “will be leaving politics to deal with false allegations and spend time with his family,” said his attorney, Stephen Wilson, in a written statement. “He is confident that when the facts of this case are heard, he will be found innocent.”
Formed in 2004, the same year Jetton was elected speaker, Jetton and Associates eventually became one of the go-to GOP political shops in the state because of his connections in the General Assembly.
Holiday Music 1
As an antidote to Hatch's horrorshow, I now intend to post video of classic renditions of classic holiday songs. We'll start with two. Enjoy.
The Maccabee Books
Ok, can we settle this once and for all? If any of you readers are aware of evidence that the Rabbis held a meeting and voted to exclude the Maccabee Books from the canon, please share it with us.
Because absent evidence to the contrary, I think its safe to follow the wise suggestion made by S. and Kosheracademic and presume that these books were never intended to be canonical scripture. In short, the fact that a book was accepted into the canon of others faiths is not, in of itself a proof, that it was formally rejected from our canon. We know of many books that didn't make it into our canon, yet are quoted favorably by Chazal (Ben Sira, Book of the Wars of the Lord). There are also non-canonical books (Jubilees, Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs, and many more) that seem to have influenced the later development of aggadic interpretation, as recorded in books like Avot d'Rabbi Natan or Tanchuma.
Perhaps it would be correct to view the Maccabee Books simply as a non-canonical work, rather than as books that were officially and formally opposed by the Sages.
Today's Twitter Torah: Chanuka and Unicorns
Labels: bet twitrash, Israel
This morning a Twitter conversation about lighting Chanuka candles developed into a discussion of the agadic view of unicorns. A quick summary (all paraphrased):
@hsabomilner: If my husband is lighting candles in a different city, in his own house, am I covered? Or do I light candles in my own house? And what about the brocha?
Almost everyone said yes, light the candles and say a blessing. (My own view was "who cares?" If you want to light, light; if not, don't.) I say "almost" everyone, because @noahroth took the view that she's not supposed to light because both houses are part of her husband's halachic domain, and his lighting in one houses covers both. According to @noahroth only one person (the husband, naturally) lights per house/halachic domain.
A discussion about @noahroth's approach to halacha ensued, as his answer does not take into account the view of ashkenazi psak halacha, which says the mitzvah is made more beautiful if as many people as possible in each house light candles. @tikun_olam_ asked him to explain how @hsabomilner's own personal house, where she pays rent, could be part of someone else's domain. @noahroth answered,but torts and domains bore me, so I didn't really follow it. I got the sense his reply irritated some of the women, however.
I started paying attention again when @noahroth said that if @hsabomilner is going to bless the candles, she might as well say a blessing on a unicorn. (From his perspective neither are legitimate blessings) I responded that there is a blessing on unicorns (meshaneh es habriyos) and anyway, the aggada says they are real. Using notes, I quickly provided several sources:
[The] lxx translates re'em as unicorn. JT shabos says tachash has one horn. BT chulin says keresh has one horn. koheles raba says keresh has one horn midrash tanchuma says tachash has one horn.
@IsraeliMom objected that unicorns are similar to horses, which are not kosher. I replied that the unicorn that Jewish lore seems to presume existed was more like a goat. @judahe said that according to Slifkin, the giraffe fits the midrashim. I replied that, in my view, the giraffe answer is apologia, as there's no question chazal were thinking of a one horned animal. I supplied the quote from the Talmud: BT Chulin 59b vkeresh af al pi she ain lo ela keren achas mutar. [The Keresh, even though it has one horn, is permitted [i.e. as food] Rashi: daled yud yud nun (old french) [Can anyone translate that?]
... and on and on it goes. Our name for this new type of Torah study? How about Bet Twitrash (I think @hsabomilner coined that, but I can't locate the Tweet. Was it her?)
Green Balloons
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Labels: IsraelI'm trying to find a Torah-true way to discuss former Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton's current sex scandal, ideally in a way that also makes mention of the fact that Jetton is (surprise) a Republican and a regular participant in services at his local Methodist church. Failing.
Search for more information about Green Balloons at 4torah.com.
New rejoinder for those who say pre-War America was a bad place for Torah
Monday, December 07, 2009
Labels: IsraelFred at the Main Line has uncovered evidence that representatives of 30+ NY congregations asked Rabbi Meir Leibush (aka Malbim) to come to New York and serve as Chief Rabbi. According to the newspapers, he accepted.
I searched the archives of the New York times for additional information, and found none.
More on the subject: Defending pre-war America
Search for more information about Malbim at 4torah.com.
Smarter School Teachers Please Redux
A Guest Post By E. Fink
Yesterday I got a phone call from the mother of a 6 year old child in a yeshiva day school. A very good yeshiva day school in fact. This is the kind of school that has a (by yeshiva standards) diverse parent body, provides a well-rounded education and has a responsible hanhala.
Here is a paraphrased transcript of the conversation and relevant events:
Mom: Rabbi? I need to ask you a question.
Me: Sure, go ahead...
Mom: I picked up my child from school today and we had a conversation that disturbed me and I need some advice.
Me: What happened?
[child and mom had the following conversation]
Child: "next report card probably won't be as good as my last report card...
Mom: Why? How are you so certain?
Child: My teacher was teaching us how to wash netilas yadayim properly and one of the things the teacher said was that if we dry our hands on our shirt we will forget our Torah learning, I never knew that before and I used to dry my hands on my shirt (and I won't ever do it again), so probably I am going to forget the Torah that I learned and that's why I am not going to have such a good report card.
Mom: (a little panicked) Hmm. Let me call the Rabbi...
[back to the adult conversation]
Mom: Is it possible that my child will forget their Torah learned? What was the teacher talking about?
Me: That was an irresponsible thing for the teacher to say. You're child won't magically forget what they learned.
Mom: So do I tell my child that the teacher is wrong? What if the child thinks the teacher is right and I am wrong?
Me: Schools and teachers are surrogates for parents, we hold the primary obligation to teach our children, your child must know that you are their final authority. Also, there is no real conflict here in terms of rules, both you and the teacher agree that one should dry one's hands on a paper-towel, if available, so in this situation the chasm is not too great. Be sure to call the teacher or a superior and let them know that you are disappointed with this lesson.
Mom: Thanks Rabbi, you deserve a raise. (I kid.) [hangs up]
Rabbi: Heads over to computer to write a post on DovBear about "Smarter School Teachers Please".
The original "Smarter School Teachers Please" post.
Search for more information about magically forgetting all your Torah at 4torah.com.
Eida using goyim on Shabbos
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Labels: by Rafi G., IsraelA Guest Post by Rafi G
According to this sign, placed around RBS B, the Eida rav, Rav Rosenberger, has found a solution to the increasing levels of break-ins taking place on shabbos in the neighborhood.
They have decided to hire a security company to patrol the area on Friday night. They will use a goy to do the patrols who will be paid b'havlaa - i.e. not directly paid for his work on shabbos, but for work done during the week that will also include the Friday night patrols.
Notice that the Eida has found it acceptable to use a goy to do melacha on shabbos when it is in their interests, yet when it was proposed in the negotiations with Intel in an effort to minimize, or stop, chillul shabbos, the Eida rejected it and considered such a solution nto acceptable.
What are the Eida's true intentions and goals?
Search for more information about Eida Haredis goyim at 4torah.com.
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