Discussing the Lakewood Shabbos a few weeks ago, I pointed out that the event's advertising revealed some unflattering truths about the Torah True community. After the jump, you'll see another flyer, for another event, that does the same. HT @berelshain via @marksofla
Support the Pathetic Annual Telethon
Another event flyer reveals unflattering truths about the Torah True community.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Man crush
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Some modern critics suggest Jonathan had a homosexual fascination with David; others say the two were lovers. Their evidence is the verses in which the two declare their love for each other, and in which Jonathan clearly seems to idolize David even to the point of betraying his own father for David's sake. This is the kind of forced interpretation that, in other contexts, gives midrash a bad name. Anyway, I think its more likely Jonathan had an ordinary heterosexual man crush on David.
What's that? If you're a man with ordinary powers of observation you've likely seen such crushes develop at work or shul. One guy, usually a beta, starts shadowing an alpha. The beta contrives to always walk home with the alpha, invites himself over to the alpha's house, and may even begin echoing the alpha's speech patterns. If the beta is a loser, who comes on too strong, the man crush dance looks pathetic and makes the alpha uncomfortable -- but not every man crush follows that pattern. Sometimes the beta plays it cool and the alpha enjoys the attention. Sometimes the beta has something to offer the alpha. Sometimes he and the alpha become good friends. Such things happen whenever and wherever males interact. The apes do it too.
The David and Jonathan bro-mance seems to have begun with such a man crush. David is obviously an ultra alpha. He's charismatic, people flock to him, and no other man in the bible is said, in so many words, to be loved by a woman. In fact, as the verses make clear again and again, everyone loves David, especially Jonathan, who though a prince, and a winner on the battlefield, doesn't seem to posses powers equal to David's. Instead, he falls under the usurper's sway and starts to idolize him. Being in David's company makes Jonathan feel whole. He wants to be around David, and he wants to do things for David. This is a a pretty typical man crush behavior with mo homosexual aspect required.
Delicious word-play
Friday, February 25, 2011
The London Telgraph has a kind article about the Haredim of Stamford Hill, that's entirely inoffensive unless you catch the word play in this passage:
Beneath their hats and locks they had a scholar’s pallor. Many, one noticed, wore spectacles. It was once assumed that it was strain brought on by the long hours of study in the yeshive, or Torah schools, that affected the eyesight of so many Haredi men. However, a study in Israel suggested that much of the blame lay with shockelling - the fervent rocking backward and forward motion that students make as they read the texts, and which causes an incessant change of focus in the eyes leading to myopia.:) Caught and submitted by the very excellent @marksofla
Kumaz questions
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The kumaz gets its first mention in this week's parsha, where it is one of the golden items donated to the Tabernacle.
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים עַל־ הַנָּשִׁ֑ים כֹּ֣ל נְדִ֣יב לֵ֗ב הֵ֠בִיאוּ חָ֣ח וָנֶ֜זֶם וְטַבַּ֤עַת וְכוּמָז֙ כָּל־ כְּלִ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכָל־ אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵנִ֛יף תְּנוּפַ֥ת זָהָ֖ב לַיהוָֽה׃
And they came both men and women as many as were willing hearted and brought bracelets and earrings and rings and [kumaz] all gold objects and every man that offered an offering of gold unto the LORD
And what is the kumaz?
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים עַל־ הַנָּשִׁ֑ים כֹּ֣ל נְדִ֣יב לֵ֗ב הֵ֠בִיאוּ חָ֣ח וָנֶ֜זֶם וְטַבַּ֤עַת וְכוּמָז֙ כָּל־ כְּלִ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכָל־ אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵנִ֛יף תְּנוּפַ֥ת זָהָ֖ב לַיהוָֽה׃
And they came both men and women as many as were willing hearted and brought bracelets and earrings and rings and [kumaz] all gold objects and every man that offered an offering of gold unto the LORD
And what is the kumaz?
What Jews believe
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
[Explanation: Not all Jews embrace these convictions, of course, but some do. The point of this post is not to mock them, but to stamp out errors.]
Experience tells me that in any group of Orthodox Jews, you'll find a few who accept the truth of at least one of the following statements.
Experience tells me that in any group of Orthodox Jews, you'll find a few who accept the truth of at least one of the following statements.
Lesbian kisses
Monday, February 21, 2011
Point: Civilization is going down the tubes! Morality is on the decline! And how do I know? Because of lesbian kisses. Lesbian kisses! 10 years ago you never saw them on TV, and when that Elenor Degenerate person did a lesbian kiss on someone the whole world was up in arms! Today? You can't watch anything on the T.V without seeing lesbians kissing. And that's how I know we're less moral today then we were in years gone by.
Counterpoint: See, I take a different approach. I say we were less moral in the old days when we disrespected people based on their sexuality and expected them to remain hidden, and out of sight. I think the fact that we're more accepting of different kinds of people, less judgmental, and less likely to make people feel like subhumans over trivialities means we are more moral. So, my view is we've come a long way.
On women and their roles in Judaism
If women can serve as principals and provide religious guidance and instruction to high school students, why can't they do the same for adult women in an official capacity?
If women can decide for themselves when it's necessary to bring a question to a posek, why can't they make that decision for other women?
If we trust mothers to answer the questions about halacha their kids ask, why can't we trust them to answer questions on halacha asked by adults?
If the typical shul rabbis answers questions based on his education and brings difficult or novel questions to a posek, why cant we allow a woman to do the same?
Purim Katan Observances
Friday, February 18, 2011
Labels: by EFinkA Guest Post By E. Fink
On my Twitter stream, I see many people observing Purim Katan (today). The rituals range from imbibing, giving charity, having a special seuda and I have even heard of giving mishloach manos.
On my Twitter stream, I see many people observing Purim Katan (today). The rituals range from imbibing, giving charity, having a special seuda and I have even heard of giving mishloach manos.
What the world needs is a proper kosher breakfast shop
Perhaps its different where you live but in these parts all breakfast options are bagel-oriented. If you wish to sit at a table and be served by a waitress who checks your coffee you're out of luck. At Jewish places its strictly self-serve with the meager available breakfast options served on paper ---or worse: in Styrofoam boxes. Even something simple like toast with jam is hard to find.
Why is that? Are we not a breakfast eating people? Is it because the non-kosher diners that sell omelettes and white-bread toast make their real money on meat dishes? Then what explains the ubiquity of kosher bagel joints? Every frum neighborhood has 10 places where you can wait on line for a bagel with too much cream cheese, but not one that offers table service and a proper breakfast menu. If we'll line up for bagels, why won't we sit down for eggs, potatoes, and maybe some veggie-bacon?
Why is that? Are we not a breakfast eating people? Is it because the non-kosher diners that sell omelettes and white-bread toast make their real money on meat dishes? Then what explains the ubiquity of kosher bagel joints? Every frum neighborhood has 10 places where you can wait on line for a bagel with too much cream cheese, but not one that offers table service and a proper breakfast menu. If we'll line up for bagels, why won't we sit down for eggs, potatoes, and maybe some veggie-bacon?
Parsha Notes Ki Tisah 5771
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Labels: Parsha notes, Parsha notes (Exodus)Before we start, a quick lunchtime poll [*]: how many of you refer to the parsha of the week as Ki Sisah? Follow up: How many of you snarl your faces into a wicked grimace and harumph audibly about the "modern Jews" when you hear someone say Ki Tisah? Just curious.
* Please get the reference.
External Parallels
(1) Robert Alter says that it was a common belief in Mesopotamian cultures that it was dangerous to be counted. This ancient fear survives today among the Orthodox. It also explain why, in Ex 30:11 ff each man had to give a half-shekel as a "ransom for his life" [=kofer nefesh] during the census that opens the parsha.
(2) Many Mesopotamian cultures used a golden icon as footstool or throne for an invisible diety. The golden calf is thought to have been something like this. (So, by the way, are the cherubim. See, e.g., Isaiah 37:16 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim...")
(3) In the ANE smashing tablets upon which a binding agreement had been written was a legal way of abrogating the agreement. This is what Moshe does with the 10C. (Alter)
Internal Parallel
(1) In Exodus 11 we're told "That man Moshe had become very great", and the people are told to "borrow" gold and silver ornamentals. In Exodus 32, the people worry out loud about the fate of "That man Moshe" just before Aaron takes their golden earings.
(2)When the calf is ready, the people declare: "These are your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up from the land of Egypt!" These words are precisely what Jeroboam says five centuries later when he establishes golden claves in Dan and Bethel (I Kings 12:2‑33)
(3) Aaron and Jeroboam both had sons who died under unusual circumstances. Aaron's sons are called Nadav and Avihu; Jereboam's sons are Nadav and Aviya. (Scholars say Avihu and Aviya are the same name.)
(4) The Israelites were forced to drink water into which the pulverized calf had been sprinkled. This corresponds to the Sota ritual, with Israel playing the role of the adulterous woman. The fact that the water was likely water Moshe had earlier provided for them miraculously only compounds the irony (Richard Elliot Friedman) Also, the verse later says that Aaron "let the people loose" using a verb (parau'a) that relates to letting loose long hair (as was done to the Sota.)
(5) When Aaron defends himself saying he "threw" the gold into the fire, he's employing the same verb the Torah used to describe how Moshe cast down the tablets.
(6) The tribe of Levi gathers for a massacre; their namesake did the same against the males of Shchem.
Forgotten Rambam
The 13 attributes start with a repetition, with God's name being said twice: וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה עַל־ פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהוָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ [= "And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed The LORD The LORD God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth."] Rambam reads it And the LORD passed by before him and the Lord proclaimed "The LORD is a merciful God..." [See? No duplication.]
Erroneous Midrash
Exodus 32:15 says the Ten Commandments "were written on both their sides,” Rav Chisda [BT Shabbat 104a.] says that the writing of the tablets was cut completely through the tablets, so that it could be read from either side. Archeological discoveries of tablets indicate, however, that it was not unusual for stone tablets to have inscriptions on either side.
Themes
The low point of Aaron's career is when the great compromiser comprises once too often before the sin of the golden calf when he seeks to delay, and to find a kosher way of satisfying the demand. Moshe, otoh, is blunt and direct, the very opposite sort of man. The low point of his career comes when he angrily strikes a rock he should have spoken to. (Shmuel Goldin)
Mystery
What does Moshe mean when he asks to be removed from Gods book?
Why did Moshe break the tablets? Rashbam says he grew weak, and lost control of them; Mesech Chachma says he did it deliberately to make a point.
Anomaly
The verse says Aaron saw something... but doesn't say what it was. The Peshitta solves the problem one way, and seems to take into account the midrash, too.
What about the Golden Calf?
The verse says Moshe "lagged" [in coming down the mountain] with the word boshesh; in the midrash this becomes "ba shesh" i.e the sixth hour of the deadline day had com; therefore the people had reason to wonder if Moshe would ever return.
Number games
During the discussion of shabbos in Ex 31:13-17 the word shabat appears 7 times (once as shabaton) and the verb "to keep" three times.
At the end of the parsha, the verb "spoke" is used 7 times. These are the passages describing Moshe's conversations his God, and how he delivered God's messages to the people.
Poetic structures
The whole short discussion of shabbos in Ex 31:13-17 is chiastically structured (Yitzchak Avishur)
Moshe's words upon returning from the mountain also have a poetic sense. They scan, and there is an intensification of the noun. אֵ֥ין קֹול֙ עֲנֹ֣ות גְּבוּרָ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין קֹ֖ול עֲנֹ֣ות חֲלוּשָׁ֑ה קֹ֣ול עַנֹּ֔ות אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃ [=Not the sound of crying out in triumph / and not the sound of crying out in defeat. A sound of crying I hear.] (translation's is Alters. Others have it as a "sound of singing" that Moshe hears.
Anthropomorphisms
(1) The literal meaning of the last phrase in Exodus 31:17 is "and on the seventh day He ceased and caught his breath" [=וּבַיֹּום֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שָׁבַ֖ת וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ]
(2) In Ki Tisah God also hulks out, angrily threatening to destroy the people and, per the Ibn Ezra, he cancels the Tabernacle construction project when he refuses to dwell in their midst (Moshe has to leave the camp to speak to him at the end of the sedra.)
(3) God also covers Moshe with his hand, shows him his backside, and speaks to him "face to face, as a man speaks to his fellow."
Great moments in Parshanut
In which the Rashbam calls Jerome a moron
* Please get the reference.
External Parallels
(1) Robert Alter says that it was a common belief in Mesopotamian cultures that it was dangerous to be counted. This ancient fear survives today among the Orthodox. It also explain why, in Ex 30:11 ff each man had to give a half-shekel as a "ransom for his life" [=kofer nefesh] during the census that opens the parsha.
(2) Many Mesopotamian cultures used a golden icon as footstool or throne for an invisible diety. The golden calf is thought to have been something like this. (So, by the way, are the cherubim. See, e.g., Isaiah 37:16 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim...")
(3) In the ANE smashing tablets upon which a binding agreement had been written was a legal way of abrogating the agreement. This is what Moshe does with the 10C. (Alter)
Internal Parallel
(1) In Exodus 11 we're told "That man Moshe had become very great", and the people are told to "borrow" gold and silver ornamentals. In Exodus 32, the people worry out loud about the fate of "That man Moshe" just before Aaron takes their golden earings.
(2)When the calf is ready, the people declare: "These are your gods, O Israel, who have brought you up from the land of Egypt!" These words are precisely what Jeroboam says five centuries later when he establishes golden claves in Dan and Bethel (I Kings 12:2‑33)
(3) Aaron and Jeroboam both had sons who died under unusual circumstances. Aaron's sons are called Nadav and Avihu; Jereboam's sons are Nadav and Aviya. (Scholars say Avihu and Aviya are the same name.)
(4) The Israelites were forced to drink water into which the pulverized calf had been sprinkled. This corresponds to the Sota ritual, with Israel playing the role of the adulterous woman. The fact that the water was likely water Moshe had earlier provided for them miraculously only compounds the irony (Richard Elliot Friedman) Also, the verse later says that Aaron "let the people loose" using a verb (parau'a) that relates to letting loose long hair (as was done to the Sota.)
(5) When Aaron defends himself saying he "threw" the gold into the fire, he's employing the same verb the Torah used to describe how Moshe cast down the tablets.
(6) The tribe of Levi gathers for a massacre; their namesake did the same against the males of Shchem.
Forgotten Rambam
The 13 attributes start with a repetition, with God's name being said twice: וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה עַל־ פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהוָ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ [= "And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed The LORD The LORD God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth."] Rambam reads it And the LORD passed by before him and the Lord proclaimed "The LORD is a merciful God..." [See? No duplication.]
Erroneous Midrash
Exodus 32:15 says the Ten Commandments "were written on both their sides,” Rav Chisda [BT Shabbat 104a.] says that the writing of the tablets was cut completely through the tablets, so that it could be read from either side. Archeological discoveries of tablets indicate, however, that it was not unusual for stone tablets to have inscriptions on either side.
Themes
The low point of Aaron's career is when the great compromiser comprises once too often before the sin of the golden calf when he seeks to delay, and to find a kosher way of satisfying the demand. Moshe, otoh, is blunt and direct, the very opposite sort of man. The low point of his career comes when he angrily strikes a rock he should have spoken to. (Shmuel Goldin)
Mystery
What does Moshe mean when he asks to be removed from Gods book?
Why did Moshe break the tablets? Rashbam says he grew weak, and lost control of them; Mesech Chachma says he did it deliberately to make a point.
Anomaly
The verse says Aaron saw something... but doesn't say what it was. The Peshitta solves the problem one way, and seems to take into account the midrash, too.
What about the Golden Calf?
- How did Aaron make it?
- What was the role of the sorcerers?
- Calf loose ends
- What do ancient and modern interpreters say about the calf?
- How does your baal koreh read about it?
The verse says Moshe "lagged" [in coming down the mountain] with the word boshesh; in the midrash this becomes "ba shesh" i.e the sixth hour of the deadline day had com; therefore the people had reason to wonder if Moshe would ever return.
Number games
During the discussion of shabbos in Ex 31:13-17 the word shabat appears 7 times (once as shabaton) and the verb "to keep" three times.
At the end of the parsha, the verb "spoke" is used 7 times. These are the passages describing Moshe's conversations his God, and how he delivered God's messages to the people.
Poetic structures
The whole short discussion of shabbos in Ex 31:13-17 is chiastically structured (Yitzchak Avishur)
Moshe's words upon returning from the mountain also have a poetic sense. They scan, and there is an intensification of the noun. אֵ֥ין קֹול֙ עֲנֹ֣ות גְּבוּרָ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין קֹ֖ול עֲנֹ֣ות חֲלוּשָׁ֑ה קֹ֣ול עַנֹּ֔ות אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃ [=Not the sound of crying out in triumph / and not the sound of crying out in defeat. A sound of crying I hear.] (translation's is Alters. Others have it as a "sound of singing" that Moshe hears.
Anthropomorphisms
(1) The literal meaning of the last phrase in Exodus 31:17 is "and on the seventh day He ceased and caught his breath" [=וּבַיֹּום֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שָׁבַ֖ת וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ]
(2) In Ki Tisah God also hulks out, angrily threatening to destroy the people and, per the Ibn Ezra, he cancels the Tabernacle construction project when he refuses to dwell in their midst (Moshe has to leave the camp to speak to him at the end of the sedra.)
(3) God also covers Moshe with his hand, shows him his backside, and speaks to him "face to face, as a man speaks to his fellow."
Great moments in Parshanut
In which the Rashbam calls Jerome a moron
- Search for more information about THE PARSHA at 4torah.com
Is this additional evidence Israel has lost its mind?
Labels: Israel
My good friend "the beadle" reports that the learned and exalted Members of Israel's august Parliament are considering a bill that would offer new protections for political speech. Only one problem. The bill limits these protections to Rabbis teaching Torah. Presumably everyone else is still at risk. Here's what the proposed law says:
A letter to the (gutless editor of the) 5 Towns Jewish Times
Labels: Israel
From @azigra
To DovBear:
I submitted this letter to the editor of the 5 Towns Jewish Times, in response to the article they published last week by Aryeh Ginzberg [in which he called bloggers digital murderers,or rotzchim.]. It was noticed on this blog so most of you are already familiar with what he had written.
DB: @azigra's letter to the editor of the 5 Towns Jewish Times has not been published. He's asked me to run it here.
To DovBear:
I submitted this letter to the editor of the 5 Towns Jewish Times, in response to the article they published last week by Aryeh Ginzberg [in which he called bloggers digital murderers,or rotzchim.]. It was noticed on this blog so most of you are already familiar with what he had written.
DB: @azigra's letter to the editor of the 5 Towns Jewish Times has not been published. He's asked me to run it here.
Are the Egyptians ready for democracy?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Labels: IsraelIs Egyptian Democracy possible? Still no answer, but what seems increasingly clear is that those frightened Nellies at Fox News and Hasbrah blogs were dead wrong to predict the Muslim Brotherhood would win any Egyptian election in a landslide. They're currently polling at 15 percent. Whoo-hoo.
Also, those of you who continue to insist that the brown little Muslims lack the innate genetic ability to create a democracy should remain ashamed of yourselves. Here's Colbert: [Part that matters starts @2:50 and continues into the second video]
Also, those of you who continue to insist that the brown little Muslims lack the innate genetic ability to create a democracy should remain ashamed of yourselves. Here's Colbert: [Part that matters starts @2:50 and continues into the second video]
The last taboo? Or the ultimate team-up?
Labels: Israel
 |
| Click to see the OU-D |
Such an odd marketing decision. Nothing screams treif like Burger King, and nothing screams kosher like the OU. Yet there they are, working together to make you fat, and take your money, side-by-side on one package. Jacob and Esau. Batman and the Joker. Tom and Jerry. United at last.
What's the underlying strategy?
(1) The mega-corp that produces these flavored puffs of chemical corn starch slaps an OU on everything without thinking too much about it (most likely)
(2) The brand steward thought the OU might make the product more appealing to Jews (possible)
(3) The yetser hara had the dastardly and sinister idea that "kosher burger king" might appeal to naughty Jews, taking them further from Torah and mitzvos and ultimately blurring the lines between good and evil with the ultimate goal of persuading Jews to eat hamburgers and milk shakes on Yom Kippur while sitting in a car at the drive-through (Impossible, but don't doubt some mashgiach is already working on this speech)
Tip of the paper crown: Amshi
Against Bans, Harassment and Threats
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Labels: IsraelFourth in a series. Read the first one here, the second one here the third one here, and the fourth one here This is the mass email, and joint show of protest discussed in the first post.
A little over a month ago, a number of rabbis signed onto a ban that forbade advertising on or otherwise working with the website VosIzNeias. This ban singled out one website without addressing other websites or public forums like newspapers or magazines. The singling out of a solitary website raises many questions, particularly when newspapers in the same community regularly publish arguably libelous stories and online discussion forums for the community are essentially unbounded by civility. Additionally, VosIzNeias has publicly stated that it has already raised its standards and is willing to do even more with rabbinic guidance, provided the same guidelines are applied to its competitors.
Bans of this nature are generally brought into fruition by activists and this one is attributed to a specific activist who seems to have business and political interests in this ban. He ignored VosIzNeias’ request to meet with the rabbis in order to explore ways to satisfy their concerns. With this ban, the activist is threatening the commercial viability of the VosIzNeias business.
We have now received reports of continued harassment by this activist, who is threatening to publicly denounce people, companies and charitable organizations who continue to cooperate with the website. He has also reportedly threatened to remove the kosher certification of companies that fail to adhere to the ban. However, on being contacted, the activist behind the ban denied all knowledge of this harassment and attributed it to someone acting without authorization. We are, therefore, making no formal accusation as to who is conducting this campaign of harassment.
To the best of our understanding, this activity is illegal. One individual told us he reported that harassment to the police.
Harassing good people with threats is illegal and inexcusable. We call on rabbis and people of good faith to denounce this behavior, and we encourage victims to respond to this activist as follows:
If he calls or e-mails you or your organization, thank him for bringing the ban to your attention and say that you will decide how to proceed after consulting with your rabbi or other advisor. And because there are rumors that there is harassment involved in this matter, add that if he contacts you or anyone else in your organization again, you will have to report him to the police.
We have a copy of an e-mail forwarded to us by people involved, which includes a pseudonym and phone number, and we have been told of intimidating phone calls. Note that at this time we are withholding this activist's identity. If he continues harassing people, we will have to be less discrete.
Signed,
DovBear and other bloggers
(please sign your own name and post this to your blog if you agree)
A little over a month ago, a number of rabbis signed onto a ban that forbade advertising on or otherwise working with the website VosIzNeias. This ban singled out one website without addressing other websites or public forums like newspapers or magazines. The singling out of a solitary website raises many questions, particularly when newspapers in the same community regularly publish arguably libelous stories and online discussion forums for the community are essentially unbounded by civility. Additionally, VosIzNeias has publicly stated that it has already raised its standards and is willing to do even more with rabbinic guidance, provided the same guidelines are applied to its competitors.
Bans of this nature are generally brought into fruition by activists and this one is attributed to a specific activist who seems to have business and political interests in this ban. He ignored VosIzNeias’ request to meet with the rabbis in order to explore ways to satisfy their concerns. With this ban, the activist is threatening the commercial viability of the VosIzNeias business.
We have now received reports of continued harassment by this activist, who is threatening to publicly denounce people, companies and charitable organizations who continue to cooperate with the website. He has also reportedly threatened to remove the kosher certification of companies that fail to adhere to the ban. However, on being contacted, the activist behind the ban denied all knowledge of this harassment and attributed it to someone acting without authorization. We are, therefore, making no formal accusation as to who is conducting this campaign of harassment.
To the best of our understanding, this activity is illegal. One individual told us he reported that harassment to the police.
Harassing good people with threats is illegal and inexcusable. We call on rabbis and people of good faith to denounce this behavior, and we encourage victims to respond to this activist as follows:
If he calls or e-mails you or your organization, thank him for bringing the ban to your attention and say that you will decide how to proceed after consulting with your rabbi or other advisor. And because there are rumors that there is harassment involved in this matter, add that if he contacts you or anyone else in your organization again, you will have to report him to the police.
We have a copy of an e-mail forwarded to us by people involved, which includes a pseudonym and phone number, and we have been told of intimidating phone calls. Note that at this time we are withholding this activist's identity. If he continues harassing people, we will have to be less discrete.
Signed,
DovBear and other bloggers
(please sign your own name and post this to your blog if you agree)
I hate Valentines Day
Monday, February 14, 2011
Labels: Israel
...there is a grim, long forgotten reason for Jews not to rush out to invest in lingerie or make dinner reservations. According to Cecil Roth in his classic 'The Jewish Book of Days', it was on this day in 1349 that the Massacre of Strasbourg took place, perhaps the worst of the many anti-Jewish outrages that occurred during the Black Death. The locals had blamed fluctuations in the price of corn on the Jews, whom they suspected of being protected by the city council. It was on February 14th that a mob barricaded the Judengasse (Street of the Jews) and drove the whole Jewish community into the cemetery where they built a huge pyre. About two thousand Jewish men, women and children were burned to death.
A few words about the post's title: Every December, the Christian Right (They are neither[*]) makes as much noise as it can about how the forces of Soros and Donahue are ruining their little tree festival. They call it the War on Christmas (if only.) In this hysterical little clip a Daily Show correspondent brings them up sharply.
[*] John McCain's line back from when he was not a sell-out phony Worth repeating. Often.
Today in Antisemitism
Labels: Israel
This disgusting little nugget was tweeted last night by the Anthony half of The Opie And Anthony Show, who apparently thinks the takeaway point about Treblinka is its chimney got a lot of use.
Great Moments in Marketing: Valentines Day Chocolate with Badatz Certification
Labels: Israel
The kashrus organization that won't certify a pizza shop that permits mixed seating, has apparently signed off on Valentine's Day chocolate:
Bizarre in the extreme, no? Who in the Badatz world is looking for kosher Valentine's Day candy?
Via @rabbigreen who correctly considers this an example of "contemporary society or pop culture creeping into the Charedi World."
Just like upshurin and Lag B'omer bonfires
Other great moments in marketing
Search for more information about upshurin and Lag B'omer bonfires at 4torah.com.
Via @rabbigreen who correctly considers this an example of "contemporary society or pop culture creeping into the Charedi World."
Just like upshurin and Lag B'omer bonfires
Other great moments in marketing
Search for more information about upshurin and Lag B'omer bonfires at 4torah.com.
Is R. Chaim Kanievsky selling magical salvation wine?
Labels: Israel
R. Chaim Kanievsky is one of the great Rabbis of Benai Brak, and regarded as a leading posek and top authority on halacha, yet his photo and an endorsement from his wife seem to be adorning this advertisement for magical salvation wine:
I see two ways to understand this:
(1) RCK and his wife believe the wine works, and honestly think you should buy it; or
(2) Some unscrupulous shyster has attached the Rav's endorsement to the ad without the Rav's knowledge or permission.
Alas, neither interpretation reflects positively on the Rav.
If he's actually hawking magical salvation wine, what does that say about his values and credibility? How is magical salvation wine any different from the magical salvation water sold by Peter Popoff?
And if the ad is running without his permission, this is yet another example of the rabbis/leaders remaining silent while their names are used for ill gain. I can only assume RCK is not aware of how his image is being abused, and would complain if he did.
If you're in Israel, please dial the numbers and report back.
HT @BigPhil
Search for more information about magic wine at 4torah.com.
I see two ways to understand this:
(1) RCK and his wife believe the wine works, and honestly think you should buy it; or
(2) Some unscrupulous shyster has attached the Rav's endorsement to the ad without the Rav's knowledge or permission.
Alas, neither interpretation reflects positively on the Rav.
If he's actually hawking magical salvation wine, what does that say about his values and credibility? How is magical salvation wine any different from the magical salvation water sold by Peter Popoff?
And if the ad is running without his permission, this is yet another example of the rabbis/leaders remaining silent while their names are used for ill gain. I can only assume RCK is not aware of how his image is being abused, and would complain if he did.
If you're in Israel, please dial the numbers and report back.
HT @BigPhil
Search for more information about magic wine at 4torah.com.
The chi on the temple breads
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Labels: Israel
On the spot, Rashi says the desert breads were likewise decorated with a chi. Points to ponder after the jump
Oh Bleep
Friday, February 11, 2011
Labels: IsraelA guest post by a H.S student
(name on request)
For the average person, 80 - 90 words per day, or .5% - .7% of all spoken words, are what society deems bad words. Many people probably find this statistic extremely disturbing. I am one of those people. Because of my strong feelings against cursing, I created an organization called Bleep!, whose mission is to eradicate the usage of cursing among kids and teens today. Bleep!’s mission is not to tell people that it's illegal to curse; its mission is to illustrate the negative effects of cursing and show people the reasons they shouldn’t use bad words.
Read the rest after the jump
(name on request)
For the average person, 80 - 90 words per day, or .5% - .7% of all spoken words, are what society deems bad words. Many people probably find this statistic extremely disturbing. I am one of those people. Because of my strong feelings against cursing, I created an organization called Bleep!, whose mission is to eradicate the usage of cursing among kids and teens today. Bleep!’s mission is not to tell people that it's illegal to curse; its mission is to illustrate the negative effects of cursing and show people the reasons they shouldn’t use bad words.
Read the rest after the jump
Fastest Scandal Ever
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Labels: IsraelYesterday Gawker reported on yet another GOP Congressman who talks big about family values and opposes gay rights, yet runs around on his wife. Here's the report:
Previous examples of professional GOP moralizers who turned out to be hypocrites include: David Vitter, Bill Bennett, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Ted Haggard, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, Tom Delay, Duke Cunningham, Bob Livingston, Bob Ney, Mark Foley, and Don Sherwood.
Search for more information about phonies at 4torah.com.
Rep. Christopher Lee is a married Republican congressman serving the 26th District of New York. But when he trolls Craigslist's "Women Seeking Men" forum, he's Christopher Lee, "divorced" "lobbyist" and "fit fun classy guy." One object of his flirtation told us her story.In less time that it took you to read this Congressmen Lee resigned, skipping the denials, press conference, and attacks on his accuser that have become customary whenever a Republican is caught with his pants down.
On the morning of Friday, January 14, a single 34-year-old woman put an ad in the "Women for Men" section of Craigslist personals. "Will someone prove to me not all CL men look like toads?" she asked, inviting "financially & emotionally secure" men to reply.
That afternoon, a man named Christopher Lee replied. He used a Gmail account that Rep. Christopher Lee has since confirmed to be his own. (It's the same Gmail account that was associated with Lee's personal Facebook account, which the Congressman deleted when we started asking questions.)
By email, Lee identified himself as a 39-year-old divorced lobbyist and sent a PG picture to the woman from the ad. (In fact, Lee is married and has one son with his wife. He's also 46.)
Previous examples of professional GOP moralizers who turned out to be hypocrites include: David Vitter, Bill Bennett, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Ted Haggard, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, Tom Delay, Duke Cunningham, Bob Livingston, Bob Ney, Mark Foley, and Don Sherwood.
Search for more information about phonies at 4torah.com.
As for me, I think Obama is Jewish
Labels: Israel
Lawrence O'Donnell absolutely nails Steve King, the brain-dead Congressperson from Iowa
Lots of other great juicy bits in this interview, including King talking out of both sides of his mouth on the significance of the Cairo speech.
Also, can we put this GOP promoted nonsense about Obama's middle name to rest? As I saw on a website:
If Obama is Muslim because his middle name is hussein, then if you are named
jack=you murder prostitutes
lizzie=you are a murderer of parents
jefferey=you're a cannibal
henry=you are a wife murderer
thomas= you doubt jesus rose from the dead
charles=you order your followers to murder a pregnant woman and her friends and another couple for vindictive reasons
ted=you are a killer of woman. need i go on?
Search for more information about [topic] at 4torah.com.
Lots of other great juicy bits in this interview, including King talking out of both sides of his mouth on the significance of the Cairo speech.
Also, can we put this GOP promoted nonsense about Obama's middle name to rest? As I saw on a website:
If Obama is Muslim because his middle name is hussein, then if you are named
jack=you murder prostitutes
lizzie=you are a murderer of parents
jefferey=you're a cannibal
henry=you are a wife murderer
thomas= you doubt jesus rose from the dead
charles=you order your followers to murder a pregnant woman and her friends and another couple for vindictive reasons
ted=you are a killer of woman. need i go on?
Search for more information about [topic] at 4torah.com.
MUBAREK STEPS DOWN
Labels: Israel
Hosni Mubarak will step down tonight, according to reports on both ABC and NBC news.
MUBARAK TO STEP DOWN? ENTIRE FOX AUDIENCE TO SEEK FORTIFIED BUNKERS?
POSTED BY STEVE M.
at "NO MORE MISTER NICE BLOG"
Reports are that Hosni Mubarak will step down today, to be replaced by Vice President Suleiman or the army -- but no matter who actually replaces him, if you have "Take a sip every time someone says 'Muslim Brotherhood'" in the Fox News drinking game, hand someone your keys right now and book yourself a cab -- or an ambulance. Same with "caliphate." If you have "Suleiman" or "army," you'll probably still be sober enough by late this evening to serve as a designated driver.
Even before this news broke, Fox Nation was prepared -- the "Breaking News" banner is new, but the lead story has been the lead story all day:
POSTED BY STEVE M.
at "NO MORE MISTER NICE BLOG"
Reports are that Hosni Mubarak will step down today, to be replaced by Vice President Suleiman or the army -- but no matter who actually replaces him, if you have "Take a sip every time someone says 'Muslim Brotherhood'" in the Fox News drinking game, hand someone your keys right now and book yourself a cab -- or an ambulance. Same with "caliphate." If you have "Suleiman" or "army," you'll probably still be sober enough by late this evening to serve as a designated driver.
Even before this news broke, Fox Nation was prepared -- the "Breaking News" banner is new, but the lead story has been the lead story all day:
Erase me from your book!
Labels: Israel
When God got angry at Israel regarding the golden calf, Moshe put on his lawyering cap, and went to court on our behalf. One of his maneuvers is recorded in Exodus 32:32 where Moshe says "And now, lift their sin, and if not, erase me please from Your book that You wrote."
Our school children are taught (following Rashi) that Moshe was asking to have his name erased from the Torah, if Israel was not forgiven. After God's anger abated, and atonement was granted, God was left with a problem, so to speak: Moshe had said "erase me from your book" and we have a principle that the curses and blessings of a righteous person comes true, even if the words were only uttered conditionally. Therefore, Moshe's words were partially fulfilled and his name was erased from Tetzaveh.
There are two obvious problems with this teaching. See them after the jump
Our school children are taught (following Rashi) that Moshe was asking to have his name erased from the Torah, if Israel was not forgiven. After God's anger abated, and atonement was granted, God was left with a problem, so to speak: Moshe had said "erase me from your book" and we have a principle that the curses and blessings of a righteous person comes true, even if the words were only uttered conditionally. Therefore, Moshe's words were partially fulfilled and his name was erased from Tetzaveh.
There are two obvious problems with this teaching. See them after the jump
Local boy make good
Labels: Israel
Our own @e_fink was a guest on Zev Brenner's radio program the other day. You can hear the interview here:
Did you know the Internet causes cancer?
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Labels: IsraelMuch as I wish this was a joke, its still a little early for Purim.
Search for more information about [topic] at 4torah.com.
Haredi ads: Internet causes cancerTake away points:
New ultra-Orthodox marketing campaign uses scare tactics to prevent community from Web surfing. 'Internet causes disease, adversity,' Rabbi Shmuel Wosner writes
Ari Galahar • Ynet
The Internet causes drought and terminal disease – so claims a new marketing campaign publicized in the ultra-Orthodox community and aims to curb use of the world wide web.
"Where there is Internet, there are no rains," read one of the posters that were pasted in central haredi spots. "Let's remove the foreign work from among us. Hundreds of thousands of cancer patients (suffer) because of the Internet."
Fearing the community's exposure to secular culture, different establishments within the haredi sector published the intimidating declarations, in addition to quotes from prominent rabbis - among them Rabbi Ovadia Yosef - that describe Internet use as the root of impurity.
"The connection to the Internet is an abomination, and the one who does it in his home brings abomination into his home," Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv was quoted as saying.
"The Internet causes disease and all types of adversity. Since the creation of the world, there has never been invented a tool so dangerous and corrupting like it," reportedly wrote Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Wosner.
The fear-inducing posters blame the inability of teenagers to study – and the destruction of tens of thousands of homes – on the web, and use gematria, which assigns numeric values to Hebrew letters, to prove that Internet equals cancer.
- Something seriously rotten must be happening inside Haredista; but instead of looking inward, and trying to fix the cultural problem, the leadership is lashing out.
- Claiming the Internet causes cancer is about as pathetic as it gets. No wait. The fact that the Haredi masses are likely to swallow this whole is as pathetic as it gets.
- If the cause of cancer can be ascertained via gematria, perhaps the cure can be found via gematriah as well! Why aren't they trying this at the top labs?
- Lying, apparently, is ok so long as you don't do it on the Internet (HT @esteelavitt)
Search for more information about [topic] at 4torah.com.
The Scandal of Meah Shearim
Labels: Israel
Hardly a day goes past where I don't learn something interesting from blog comments, and today's lesson was a doozy. I'm still sort of reeling.
Here's the original report from Micheal:
Here's the original report from Micheal:
Is Brett Keisel Breslov?
A Guest Post By E. Fink
You've probably seen this video already, but it's still funny. It's not funny because it's so clever but because seeing Breslov Chassidim dancing to techno music is ALWAYS funny. Throw in Brett Keisel and it gets even funnier.
Enjoy.
Search for more information about chasidic NFL players at 4torah.com.
Look who is famous now!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Labels: Israel@e_fink strikes a chord with his Tweet about Groupon's Super Bowl ad:
Nice going @e_fink.
Also, because I know Chaim Bray cares, I'm pleased to announce my most favorite Super Bowl ads after the jump:
To date (24 hours later) it has been retweeted (What is a retweet?) using the native retweet feature 52 times by people who I do not know. It has been retweeted the old-fashioned way by dozens more. I had struck a chord.
In fact the tweet was even picked up by Read Write Web on their blog: Why Groupon’s Super Bowl Ad Was So Offensive (According to Technorati, RWW is the 12th ranked blog in the world.)
Also, because I know Chaim Bray cares, I'm pleased to announce my most favorite Super Bowl ads after the jump:
Naar or Naara?
Labels: Israel
In old English, the word "girl" meant a child of either gender. It was only around the beginning of the 16th century that the meaning of the word shifted, and "girl" came to mean specifically a female child.
Shmuel Dovid Luzatto makes the not-at-all-unreasonable suggestion that something similar happened in biblical Hebrew. The word naar, which today means specifically a male youth, seems to have once been employed to describe a youth of either gender. When the Torah speaks of various marriage violations in Deuteronomy 22 a word spelled naar is used on 13 occasions to denote a female. The same usage appears in many other places in the Torah.
For Luzzato and others, this is strong evidence that there was an alteration in meaning, and that the alteration occurred after the Torah was written.
Today, we avoid the problem by vocalizing the word naar in those instances so that it is read naarah, ie נַּעֲרָ, that word that today means specifically a female youth.
Search for more information about meaning shifts at 4torah.com.
Shmuel Dovid Luzatto makes the not-at-all-unreasonable suggestion that something similar happened in biblical Hebrew. The word naar, which today means specifically a male youth, seems to have once been employed to describe a youth of either gender. When the Torah speaks of various marriage violations in Deuteronomy 22 a word spelled naar is used on 13 occasions to denote a female. The same usage appears in many other places in the Torah.
For Luzzato and others, this is strong evidence that there was an alteration in meaning, and that the alteration occurred after the Torah was written.
Today, we avoid the problem by vocalizing the word naar in those instances so that it is read naarah, ie נַּעֲרָ, that word that today means specifically a female youth.
Search for more information about meaning shifts at 4torah.com.
Question from a reader
Monday, February 07, 2011
Labels: IsraelFrom the mail:
A Jewish woman is interested in having another child. Although legally married by the American secular system, she does not have sexual relations or friendship with her Jewish husband. She is interested in having a known Jewish sperm donor assist her to become pregnant. What must she do in order for her to not commit adultery according to Halacha? What must the Jewish sperm donor do in order to not be committing adultery according to Halacha? What must her husband do in order for neither her nor the sperm donor to be committing adultery according to Halacha?
Search for more information about embryos at 4torah.com.
A Jewish woman is interested in having another child. Although legally married by the American secular system, she does not have sexual relations or friendship with her Jewish husband. She is interested in having a known Jewish sperm donor assist her to become pregnant. What must she do in order for her to not commit adultery according to Halacha? What must the Jewish sperm donor do in order to not be committing adultery according to Halacha? What must her husband do in order for neither her nor the sperm donor to be committing adultery according to Halacha?
Search for more information about embryos at 4torah.com.
Did Obama misquote Isaiah 40:31?
Labels: Israel
Did Obama misquote Isaiah 40:31?
Short answer: No
What the president did at a recent prayer breakfast was provide an incomplete translation of Isaiah 40:31 based in part on the NIV version.
Based on what I see here Obama seems to have omitted the clause about renewed strength, and to have inadvertently combined two different translations. "Those that wait upon/for/on the Lord" appears in many versions, but not in any that have the ending phrases as Obama recalled them.
Small beer right? He got the substance correct and translations are not infallible. So why are the malignment artists at FOX telling everyone that the president botched a bible verse?
Oh right. Because they are malignment artists. Caveat emptor
Short answer: No
 |
| FOX proves how Christian they are via lies |
Here's what the verse says: וְקוֹיֵ יְהוָה יַחֲלִיפוּ כֹחַ, יַעֲלוּ אֵבֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִים; יָרוּצוּ וְלֹא יִיגָעוּ, יֵלְכוּ וְלֹא יִיעָפוּ
Here's how Obama recited it: Those who wait on the Lord will soar on wings like eagles, and they will run and not be weary, and they will walk and not faint
Here's how the NIV has it: ...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
Based on what I see here Obama seems to have omitted the clause about renewed strength, and to have inadvertently combined two different translations. "Those that wait upon/for/on the Lord" appears in many versions, but not in any that have the ending phrases as Obama recalled them.
Small beer right? He got the substance correct and translations are not infallible. So why are the malignment artists at FOX telling everyone that the president botched a bible verse?
Oh right. Because they are malignment artists. Caveat emptor
I write to AOL
Labels: Israel
I was astounded to learn that your company still exists when I read this morning that you have purchased HuffPost and put Ariana in charge of all of your editorial content. The Twitter machine says you are paying more than $300 million.
With all due respect, you could have had DovBear for a whole lot less.
That is all,
DB
PS: You still owe me for the big dent you put in my stock portfolio ten years ago. And let's not even discuss how you usurious persons born of unmarried parents once charged us $5/hr just to go online and chat with people.
PPS. You must be kicking yourself about FaceBook, eh? That whole "closed garden" thing they have going was your shtick at the beginning. Social Network could have been your story.
PPPS Regards to Steve Case
PPPS Regards to Steve Case
Benjamin cries for Shilo, and I make a point about midrashim
Labels: Israel
Note: The post has been modified to take into account some excellent points made in the comments. To eliminate confusion some comments have been deleted.
When Joseph and his brothers are reunited, Genesis tells us that Benjamin and Joseph cried on one another's necks. On the spot, Rashi says they were crying because of something that would occur in the future: Joseph for the two destroyed Temples that stood in Benjamin's territory, and Benjamin for the shrine in Shilo that stood in the territory of Joseph's son Ephraim. For his source, Rashi cites the Talmud, which in turn is likely based on older material.
Elsewhere on the Internet some regard this as a historical event and wonder why Benjamin would cry for Shilo. After all, the plan had always been to replace Shiloh at some point with something permanent. So why cry?
Though the question is also asked by some achronim, I think it is a misguided line of inquiry. Midrashim such as this aren't history. They are interpretations. More than two-thousands years ago, someone noticed that only Benjamin and Joseph were said to cry on each others necks. When Joseph greets his other brothers, the verse tells us only that he cried. Necks are not mentioned. To an ancient interpreter operating under the (possibly correct) assumption that the Torah is cryptic and that every word signifies some special meaning the inconsistent mention of necks cried out for interpretation. And because the Song of Songs also speaks of necks in a way that had already suggested to some other interpreter that the usage was intended as an allegory for the Temple the seemingly unnecessary mention of the word necks in Genesis was interpreted in the same way.
I don't believe this interpreter was trying to tell us a historical fact, nor do I think any muser message was intended. I think he was simply trying to provide some justification for what he took as an anomaly. Therefore follow-up questions such as the one mentioned above miss the point, and commit what is rightly called a genre error. Benjamin shed tears when he saw his brother, but he never really cried for Shilo. The assertion that he did is not history, nor was it intended to be presented as history. It is simply an invention of an ancient interpreter who was puzzled by the mention of the word necks. Asking questions on his invention, as if it was a fact of history, and not a solution to a perceived anomaly, is nothing so much as building sand castles on clouds.
Two Others Lines of Naked Speculation
FIRST
-- When was the interpretation of Benjamin's crying first publicized? I don't know and haven't been able to trace it. But if its very old, perhaps it predates the idea that Shiloh was intended to be temporary, an idea that itself is likely an interpretation (I say likely because I haven't yet taken the time to trace the history of that idea either. As I say, this is all naked speculations).
But bear with me: Let's say that when Shiloh was first built people presumed it was "the place that God had chosen" and that no future move was needed. Perhaps the idea that Shiloh was, from day 1, intended to be temporary was invented as a theological explanation for the contingent facts of history only after Shiloh was destroyed, and after David chose a new place. The people might have said, "How can David do this if Shiloh was the place God chose?" To which the reply might have been "Shilo was only a temporary place. David has selected the real place. "
If so (and I am still speculating here) perhaps the interpreter who said "Benjamin was crying for Shilo" came before the interpreter who said "Shilo was from Day 1 a temporary structure". If so (still with me?) the question discussed above is a dead end.
With the help of God I shall research this and report back.
SECOND
--Often an interpreter has another biblical event in mind when he explains the passage in front of him. On a hunch, I Googled "Benjamin cry Shiloh" and came up with Samuel 4:13ff:
Search for more information about torah at 4torah.com.
When Joseph and his brothers are reunited, Genesis tells us that Benjamin and Joseph cried on one another's necks. On the spot, Rashi says they were crying because of something that would occur in the future: Joseph for the two destroyed Temples that stood in Benjamin's territory, and Benjamin for the shrine in Shilo that stood in the territory of Joseph's son Ephraim. For his source, Rashi cites the Talmud, which in turn is likely based on older material.
Elsewhere on the Internet some regard this as a historical event and wonder why Benjamin would cry for Shilo. After all, the plan had always been to replace Shiloh at some point with something permanent. So why cry?
Though the question is also asked by some achronim, I think it is a misguided line of inquiry. Midrashim such as this aren't history. They are interpretations. More than two-thousands years ago, someone noticed that only Benjamin and Joseph were said to cry on each others necks. When Joseph greets his other brothers, the verse tells us only that he cried. Necks are not mentioned. To an ancient interpreter operating under the (possibly correct) assumption that the Torah is cryptic and that every word signifies some special meaning the inconsistent mention of necks cried out for interpretation. And because the Song of Songs also speaks of necks in a way that had already suggested to some other interpreter that the usage was intended as an allegory for the Temple the seemingly unnecessary mention of the word necks in Genesis was interpreted in the same way.
I don't believe this interpreter was trying to tell us a historical fact, nor do I think any muser message was intended. I think he was simply trying to provide some justification for what he took as an anomaly. Therefore follow-up questions such as the one mentioned above miss the point, and commit what is rightly called a genre error. Benjamin shed tears when he saw his brother, but he never really cried for Shilo. The assertion that he did is not history, nor was it intended to be presented as history. It is simply an invention of an ancient interpreter who was puzzled by the mention of the word necks. Asking questions on his invention, as if it was a fact of history, and not a solution to a perceived anomaly, is nothing so much as building sand castles on clouds.
Two Others Lines of Naked Speculation
FIRST
-- When was the interpretation of Benjamin's crying first publicized? I don't know and haven't been able to trace it. But if its very old, perhaps it predates the idea that Shiloh was intended to be temporary, an idea that itself is likely an interpretation (I say likely because I haven't yet taken the time to trace the history of that idea either. As I say, this is all naked speculations).
But bear with me: Let's say that when Shiloh was first built people presumed it was "the place that God had chosen" and that no future move was needed. Perhaps the idea that Shiloh was, from day 1, intended to be temporary was invented as a theological explanation for the contingent facts of history only after Shiloh was destroyed, and after David chose a new place. The people might have said, "How can David do this if Shiloh was the place God chose?" To which the reply might have been "Shilo was only a temporary place. David has selected the real place. "
If so (and I am still speculating here) perhaps the interpreter who said "Benjamin was crying for Shilo" came before the interpreter who said "Shilo was from Day 1 a temporary structure". If so (still with me?) the question discussed above is a dead end.
With the help of God I shall research this and report back.
SECOND
--Often an interpreter has another biblical event in mind when he explains the passage in front of him. On a hunch, I Googled "Benjamin cry Shiloh" and came up with Samuel 4:13ff:
And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head... And when the man came into the city and told it all the city cried outWas the interpreter thinking of this when he wrote about Benjamin crying for Shiloh? Perhaps. Points in its favor are the use of the words Benjamin and Shiloh. Points against include the word "cry" which here is not the same verb that is used in Genesis. Also, arguing against this suggestion is my failure to find a parallel verse about Joseph. I could not find any mention of a "man from Joseph," (or Ephraim, or Menashe) crying or being the cause of crying about Jerusalem. The closest I came was Jeremiah 31:6
There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'Here the verb is also wrong, and the crying is not connected to mourning or destruction. But perhaps the crying interpretation, as it was originally constructed, did not suggest tears of grief? If I am able to discover where the crying interpretation was first articulated, perhaps the language and context there will confirm or defeat this idea.
Search for more information about torah at 4torah.com.
Yerušalaim or Yerušalem?
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Labels: IsraelIf you follow along during the haftarot, or study Nach, you've noticed that the word Yerusahalayim (Yerušalaim) is almost always misspelled in many of the prophetic books, where it frequently appears without a yud. Were it not for the nekudot, we'd pronounce that word Yerušalem (or Yerushalem) .
According to Professor Emanual Tov there is a simple explanation. During the time of the prophets the name of the city WAS pronounced Yerušalem -- the spelling in our books is accurate. But by the time of the Masorites the pronunciation had shifted to Yerushlayim. Unable to recognize that the city's name had changed, the Masorites vocalized the word as per the pronunciation they knew.
This is why the word is spelled one way, but pronounced another.
For more see page 43 here. The relevant bit from Tov's book is below:
Search for more information about Emanuel Tov at 4torah.com.
According to Professor Emanual Tov there is a simple explanation. During the time of the prophets the name of the city WAS pronounced Yerušalem -- the spelling in our books is accurate. But by the time of the Masorites the pronunciation had shifted to Yerushlayim. Unable to recognize that the city's name had changed, the Masorites vocalized the word as per the pronunciation they knew.
This is why the word is spelled one way, but pronounced another.
For more see page 43 here. The relevant bit from Tov's book is below:
Search for more information about Emanuel Tov at 4torah.com.
Now what does DovBear think about Egypt?
Friday, February 04, 2011
Labels: IsraelThanks for asking. The official blog position on the ongoing turmoil in Egypt is as follows:
The masses of Egypt have an inalienable right to toss Mubarak. It is wrong to stop them. True, an Islamacist pharaoh might rise up to take his place, but were that to occur the masses can toss him, too.
As for the US president, I believe he is right to stand up for inalienable rights. Along with free speech and free worship, this includes consent of the governed.
Interestingly, neo-cons Republicans used to agree with all of this.
Search for more information about the crisis in Egypt at 4torah.com.
The masses of Egypt have an inalienable right to toss Mubarak. It is wrong to stop them. True, an Islamacist pharaoh might rise up to take his place, but were that to occur the masses can toss him, too.
As for the US president, I believe he is right to stand up for inalienable rights. Along with free speech and free worship, this includes consent of the governed.
Interestingly, neo-cons Republicans used to agree with all of this.
Search for more information about the crisis in Egypt at 4torah.com.
TDS supports and insults Jews all in the same feature.
Labels: Israel
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Jewish Speaker of Texas State House | ||||
| ||||
Much as I appreciate Jon Oliver's latest attack on Jew-hating Texas Christians, I'm growing tired of his shtick about how Jews have lots of words that sound like a throat being cleared.
I also think the dour Rabbi made a mistake appearing on camera in his talis. (Not that agreeing to be interview by a Daily Show correspondent was such a smart move in the first place.)
Hat tip Chometz ben yayin.
Search for more information about TDX at 4torah.com.
O'Reilly's winning argument against evolution
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Labels: IsraelOkay, wise guys, Bill O’Reilly heard the Internet snickering when he debuted his “Tide Goes In, Tide Goes Out” catchphrase last month, showing the world he doesn’t know how ocean tides happen. Alright, so you think the Moon is doing this. O’Reilly has a response: “How da Moon get dere?” AIRTIGHT ARGUMENT, SIR.
For anyone who believes that in a giant sprawling universe, there’s a pretty good chance intelligent life will randomly come together somewhere, please read the following lines of text:
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Sun get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How dit get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Sun get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How da Moon get dere?
How dit get dere?
See, now you believe in God. It was so desperate of you to think you were made of the things you see around you rather than --- magic. Because --- magic is the obvious cause of all things.
(As we all know, the Moon was put there by the NASA, who made a fake moon so we could land on it. It was all staged!) [Videogum]
Daniel Lapin hearts anti-Semites
Labels: Israel
Daniel Lapin, the for-profit preacher best known for his spirited defense of Mel Gibson, has a new anti Semite to support. In his new article, he explains why Glen Beck is a Great Friend of the Jews and Israel (TM), and cruelly denounces 500 rabbis who saw fit to criticize Beck for being a hate-mongering liar.
For those not following the story, what Beck did was simply despicable. Seeking to discredit Soros, a political rival, Beck called him a Nazi collaborator on the basis of fabrications, misquotes and out-of-context facts. Though Lapin's love of truth has been in doubt since his famous attempt to sell Jack Abramoff a degree in Talmud, I would still expect someone who wears a kippa to side with the Jew, and to appreciate the awfulness of Beck's naked, dishonest attempt to slander a foe.
Yes, exactly. When disgraceful liars damage the reputation of a good man, it is appropriate to publicly protest. This is exactly why the Rabbis publicly objected to Beck's lie about Soros
LAPIN: These rabbis attacked Glenn Beck not because he is an anti-Semite, but because he is a conservative. The attack was political; liberals tarnishing someone whose influence they hope to diminish.
And exactly why do you think Glen Beck attacked Soros? Wasn't that attack political? Lapin, are you really this lacking in self-awareness? Do you honestly expect us to accept that you and Beck operate from motives that are snow white, while everyone who disagrees with you is a lout and a scoundrel pursuing an immoral agenda?
Though this blinkered review of the facts is bad enough, Lapins goes further. Not content to defend Beck, and vilify a fellow Jew, he also seeks to de-legitimize the Rabbis who criticized Beck. They're not Orthodox, see; thus nothing they say can be trusted, their motives are suspect, and their positions are flawed. Lapin really is this cruel. And if you thought cruelty couldn't be topped with shamelessness consider this: Lapin the bogus OJ Rabbi, who mis-characterizes Torah for personal profit concludes his drive-by attack on other rabbis by shilling for his latest CD:
LAPIN: The decline from Adam to the generation of the Flood, which I delve into in my audio CD set, The Gathering Storm, on sale this week, sounds eerily current. I encourage you to listen to it, and make sure you learn how to distinguish between those with whom you wish to stand and those whose entreaties you should ignore.
Or to paraphrase, "All those other Rabbis are con men. If you want the real, unvarnished truth, along with the secret key for identifying unscrupulous rabbis like those liberals, BUY MY NEW CD SET"
Gross.
Search for more information about Lapin at 4torah.com.
LAPIN: When such people damage the reputation of a good man, it is appropriate to publicly protest.
Yes, exactly. When disgraceful liars damage the reputation of a good man, it is appropriate to publicly protest. This is exactly why the Rabbis publicly objected to Beck's lie about Soros
LAPIN: These rabbis attacked Glenn Beck not because he is an anti-Semite, but because he is a conservative. The attack was political; liberals tarnishing someone whose influence they hope to diminish.
And exactly why do you think Glen Beck attacked Soros? Wasn't that attack political? Lapin, are you really this lacking in self-awareness? Do you honestly expect us to accept that you and Beck operate from motives that are snow white, while everyone who disagrees with you is a lout and a scoundrel pursuing an immoral agenda?
Though this blinkered review of the facts is bad enough, Lapins goes further. Not content to defend Beck, and vilify a fellow Jew, he also seeks to de-legitimize the Rabbis who criticized Beck. They're not Orthodox, see; thus nothing they say can be trusted, their motives are suspect, and their positions are flawed. Lapin really is this cruel. And if you thought cruelty couldn't be topped with shamelessness consider this: Lapin the bogus OJ Rabbi, who mis-characterizes Torah for personal profit concludes his drive-by attack on other rabbis by shilling for his latest CD:
LAPIN: The decline from Adam to the generation of the Flood, which I delve into in my audio CD set, The Gathering Storm, on sale this week, sounds eerily current. I encourage you to listen to it, and make sure you learn how to distinguish between those with whom you wish to stand and those whose entreaties you should ignore.
Or to paraphrase, "All those other Rabbis are con men. If you want the real, unvarnished truth, along with the secret key for identifying unscrupulous rabbis like those liberals, BUY MY NEW CD SET"
Gross.
Search for more information about Lapin at 4torah.com.
What does Terumah tell us?
Labels: Israel
Terumah is one of a few parashot that moderns find mind-numbingly boring. The whole thing reads like a construction plan. What's the point?
Robert Alter speculates that such descriptions were exciting to an ancient audience, perhaps because they enjoyed hearing about the lavish accouterments. Martin Buber, on the other hand, has identified a network of parallels - magic number 7 in all - between the language and terms used to describe the building of the sanctuary, and the words used in Genesis for the creation of the world. I haven't thought it through yet, but present the associations he discovered (as cited by Nechama Leibowitz in Studies on Exodus, 479-81) after the jump for your review:
Robert Alter speculates that such descriptions were exciting to an ancient audience, perhaps because they enjoyed hearing about the lavish accouterments. Martin Buber, on the other hand, has identified a network of parallels - magic number 7 in all - between the language and terms used to describe the building of the sanctuary, and the words used in Genesis for the creation of the world. I haven't thought it through yet, but present the associations he discovered (as cited by Nechama Leibowitz in Studies on Exodus, 479-81) after the jump for your review:
Dueling headlines about Egypt
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Labels: IsraelAre the antiquities safe or are't they? Two different papers offer two different views:
Egypt’s Antiquities Chief Says Sites Are Secure
The vast majority of Egypt’s museums and archaeological sites are secure and have not been looted, Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s chief antiquities official, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
By KATE TAYLOR, New York Times
February 1, 2011
Antiquities imperiled amid Egypt protest
Egypt’s Antiquities Chief Says Sites Are Secure
The vast majority of Egypt’s museums and archaeological sites are secure and have not been looted, Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s chief antiquities official, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
By KATE TAYLOR, New York Times
February 1, 2011
Antiquities imperiled amid Egypt protest
Tumultuous protests sweeping the country carry hope of a new government. But as looters move to take advantage of the unrest, archaeologists warn that Egypt's treasure trove of antiquities is in peril.
By LAURA KING, Los Angeles Times
February 2, 2011
Taylor's article for the Times is far superior. It's based on an interview with Egypt's chief antiquities official, and disuccess actual facts on the ground.
King's article for the L.A paper is nothing but ordinary fear-mongering, belonging to the despicable genre of HEY HERE'S SOMETHING SCARY THE MIGHT HAPPEN ACCORDING TO RANDOM PEOPLE WE FOUND ON THE STREET.
Search for more information about Egypt at 4torah.com.
By LAURA KING, Los Angeles Times
February 2, 2011
Taylor's article for the Times is far superior. It's based on an interview with Egypt's chief antiquities official, and disuccess actual facts on the ground.
King's article for the L.A paper is nothing but ordinary fear-mongering, belonging to the despicable genre of HEY HERE'S SOMETHING SCARY THE MIGHT HAPPEN ACCORDING TO RANDOM PEOPLE WE FOUND ON THE STREET.
Search for more information about Egypt at 4torah.com.
The Jerusalem UFO
Labels: Israel
By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire...
...And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.
The superstitious side of me is eager to connect this event with the turmoil in Egypt, and to interpret it a as a sign of God's benevolence....
Unfortunately, the evil blogs have long ago introduced me to the Sharpshooter Fallacy, so... shrug.
Search for more information about manipulative ways to link random bible verses with random events to produce "meaning" at 4torah.com.
...And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.
The superstitious side of me is eager to connect this event with the turmoil in Egypt, and to interpret it a as a sign of God's benevolence....
Unfortunately, the evil blogs have long ago introduced me to the Sharpshooter Fallacy, so... shrug.
Search for more information about manipulative ways to link random bible verses with random events to produce "meaning" at 4torah.com.
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