RSA Shopping Links

Guest post by Josh Lintz

Ezzie's note: My brother learns at (and has for over 20 years learned at a branch of) Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, also known as the Rabbinical Seminary of America (RSA). Josh Lintz, a tzaddik of a guy who also learns at RSA and works tirelessly to help the yeshiva in numerous innovative ways, asked me to post this up on SerandEz, and I readily agreed to it. For those who shop on these sites anyway, why not help give some tzedaka along the way?

Do you shop on websites such as Amazon.com, Diapers.com or Artscroll.com? Instead of going straight to your website destination, click on www.joshlintz.com/rsa and use the links provided for these and many other popular websites. With every purchase that you make through these links, Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim of Queens (Rabbinical Seminary of America) gets a percentage back. If you are going to be making these purchases anyways, why not help the Yeshiva at the same time?! Just click here and see for yourself how easy it can be to help the Yeshiva.

While the Yeshiva tries to maintain a limited-to-no Internet policy, the realities of modern life has dawned upon them.  The daily parade of huge packages delivered to the Yeshiva by UPS and Fedex are a clear indication as to how much money is spent on Internet purchasing.  As a result, an alumnus, Josh Lintz, has arranged a portal where alumni and supporters can go and click through to make their purchases, and a percentage of those purchases will be given back to the Yeshiva. 

Amazon.com has so far been the most popular; remember, Amazon is more than just books, many people have been using it to buy diapers and other items as well. They have setup Amazon Canada as well for our friends up North.

Jot this down and share it with your friends, family and co-workers as well – www.joshlintz.com/rsa.  Bookmark the page or set it as your home page. And thank you.  Just remember – the Yeshiva does not endorse the use of, or the bringing of the Internet into your home.

Remember: "If you're gonna spend the money anyway, at least help the Yeshiva along the way !!"

How YOU can participate in this easy way to give tzedaka while
doing your online shopping:

1) Shop!

a. go to www.joshlintz.com/rsa

b. Click on the link to the site you were planning on shopping at

c. Buy the products for the same price

d. The yeshiva gets a percentage of the sale

2) Make www.joshlintz.com/rsa page your homepage so that you always remember to shop through these links. Note: There is a Google search box on the page for your convenience so that you can use it as a home page and have easy access to Google search.

3) Send this sample letter to your friends and email lists:

Dear Friend,

I wanted to let you know about a great way for you to give tzedaka

while doing your online shopping. A alumnus of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim of Queens set up a portal where alumni and supporters can go and click through to make their purchases, and a percentage of those purchases will be given back to the Yeshiva. At www.joshlintz.com/rsa, there are many popular websites
such as Amazon, Diapers.com, Artscroll and many other popular
stores. It's so simple. If you are making purchases on these sites
anyways, why not help the Yeshiva at the same time?! So before doing your online shopping, remember to first stop at www.joshlintz.com/rsa !

This is truly an opportunity that you can't pass up! Just as I have
sent this email to you, take a minute and forward this email to as
many friends, family, co-workers, and email lists as you can.

For more information, you can read this blog post where I first heard about this amazing program HERE.

Tizku L'Mitzvos and Thank You,

Your Name Here

Masterful Ceremonies

There is a famous (if overused) saying that goes, "If you need to get something done, find someone who's busy." This post is dedicated in honor of a couple of friends who turned this into an art form.

(For a quick bit of background... After my two years in Israel, I came back to the US and attended the Lander College for Men in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, NY, as a "Lander Scholar" (full academic scholarship). Lander was in its infancy at the time; it was billed as the Honors Division of Touro College, and thank God, it turned out to be rather decent and an overall great experience. Since finishing at Lander, I was asked to join the Lander Alumni Board and was then elected by the other members of the Board to be a Vice Chair. My good friend [and SerandEz contributor] Moshe was appropriately and easily elected to be the Chairman.)

Last night at the White Shul in Far Rockaway was the first-ever Lander Alumni Dinner. Lander has been around for 10 years, and as it's the first dinner, the logistics that went into making it work while bringing back alumni from the beginning was an impossible trick. Our original projections and hopes were to bring in 250 people to the dinner, with an outside shot at breaking 300 - and this despite about 50 people from over the years being honored for having received smicha (rabbinic ordination) over the decade Lander has been in existence.

As a Board member, I was supposed to be doing major work to help out with the dinner. Unfortunately, however, it coincided with the exact weeks I needed to use for preparing my company's financial statements, and I ended up doing just about nothing. Meanwhile, the rest of the Board (except the accountants finishing up busy season) and particularly the tireless Alumni Director of Lander and our Board Chairman Moshe had to work their little tushies off: Despite holding other jobs, despite having wives/families/dating/etc. to deal with, despite all the other headaches that come up in life, or (in Moshe's case) despite being a third-year medical student working on hospital rotations.

And yet... they did it. The AD would work all day, all evening, all night... and Moshe would come back from a rotation and get straight to work. Moshe told me that when he'd leave at 2am to get some rest before the morning, the AD was still working like crazy. They somehow tracked down just about every person who stepped foot in Lander over its ten-year history, and then got a rather large chunk of them to commit to coming. The final total of confirmed reservations was ridiculous in comparison to what we shot for: 507. Including walk-ins who came to wish mazel tov, the total was close to 600 people, despite many alumni who sadly couldn't make it for various reasons. Perhaps even more impressive was the quality of it all: Our innovative approach to the program kept it light and enjoyable, and Moshe kept it moving at a good clip as the MoC. All in all, it gave truth to the (rather impressively done) video tribute to Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, a'h, whose vision is what created the school and who passed away this year.

I'm trying to get a copy of the video, but what was especially fascinating about it was seeing him give a fiery speech about Jewish education when he was a bit younger. While his insane work ethic and vision were still evident while we were in Lander and he was about 90, he simply wasn't the same anymore. To see him with all of his energy and watch him be a dynamo like that was really something. His approach to everything was that anything is possible - and in fact, it's going to happen, because we're going to make it happen.

For me, watching this video along with listening to the various honorees was a bit of a coming together of a lot of different pieces. My own boss was actually a student at Touro College in its very first year of existence, and had R' Dr. Lander not just as a Chancellor, but as a teacher. In the 10 months I've been working with him, I only recall him showing that he was impressed with a person twice; both times were in reference to R' Dr. Lander and his amazing accomplishments. Interestingly, my boss has a very similar attitude, perhaps taken from "Bernie" - ideas that seem to be far beyond what one could reasonably expect, then going after it full-bore... and realizing that it's actually far more reachable than you originally imagined. One-in-a-million is suddenly more like one-in-three.

Lander itself was built the same way: A nice concept, but come on - could it really be pulled off? And yet... it was. When I went, there were a nice amount of good guys like myself who were given some type of scholarship as a means of drawing us to a school we might have liked conceptually, but been afraid to take a chance on. Just a couple of years later, people were being placed in a neighboring apartment complex because the dorms had already exceeded their capacity. The same occurred with this dinner: What seemed like a pipe dream suddenly turned into not just a success, but a resounding one that exceeded all expectations... and the credit goes to the people who put everything they had into making it happen: Specifically, our Alumni Director and our Chairman, Moshe.

Both of the major honorees touched on it in their speeches, but it's still worth noting about these great young men, good friends whom I will always hold in high regard (even as I nitpick them to death in all our meetings): Bernie Lander would have been proud. And, now that we know what we know, may next year be even better.


(Also, great job on the food. Yum.)

Proud to be Socialist

I really, REALLY want to know, how the Tea Party is going to dwarf Jim Crow, segregation and everything she mentions. But again, I am slowly realizing that I should not be at all surprised by this stuff. It's leftists BS. No different than any other emotion baiting rhetoric you hear all the time. No need to deal with the actual issues (chaz veshalom). Its all about playing with language and using emotion to further the rhetoric. And thats why they are able to win. Cause really, who WANTS there to be an era worse the jim crow era and segregation and interment???? Once you are able to convince people of that by playing with their fears....you snagged them.

Death and Taxes 2011

Take a look at this great chart detailing the 2011 Federal Budget. It's an easy way to see where your taxes are actually going.

Da Kirsch's NFL Mock Draft 2010

Ezzie: It's been a couple of years, but our good friend Da Kirsch is back with his mock of the 2010 NFL Draft. He's had pretty good success in past years (better than most "experts", but he spends waaay more time on it than they do ;) ), and he's back for another go-round as our local SerandEz draft expert. 

I'mmmmm back!!!! It's my favorite time of the year and it has been a while since my last mock. This year's draft has some strong positions (OT, S, DT), some weak positions (QB, TE), and some deep positions (WR, RB, LB).  There are sure to be some surprises and this year's new schedule means I don't have to leave the TV on over Shabbat (the first round is being broadcast in prime time Thursday night), so that's a plus right there [Ez: Especially since you've made aliyah!]. Odds are 70% percent of theses picks are wrong so I provided some analysis and alternate picks as well.
Round 1
1. St Louis QB Sam Bradford Oklahoma- When I first was putting my mock together months ago i thought there was no way anyone was gonna pass on Suh, but as draft day got closer more and more reports came out on Bradford's health.  In  a weak QB i still disagree with taking Bradford but they need a QB more than a DT so they go with Bradford.

2. Detroit DT Ndamukong Suh Nebraska - The obvious pick here the easiest pick the Lions have ever made.

3. Tampa Bay DT Gerald McCoy Oklahoma - The Bucs would be happy with either McCoy or Suh and some people say they prefer McCoy over Suh even if he was available.

4. Washington OT Russell Okung Oklahoma State - Earlier on this was Jimmy Clausen, but now that they have McNabb they need to find a way to protect him. They can draft a QB in a later round to develop behind McNabb( a'la Kevin Kolb).
 
5. Kansas City OT Bryan Bulaga Iowa - What made KC an offensive force during the mid-2000s? A dominating offensive line that paved the way for Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson have career years and protected Trent Green.

6. Seattle OT Trent Williams Oklahoma - They have a lot of needs on offense OL,RB,WR and even QB so they can go many ways here. I think the WR issue will be fixed with more consistency at the QB position and one way to do that is by protecting Matt Hasselbeck from injury. C.J. Spiller wowed at the combine and in his workouts, but it might be too early to take him here. Clausen is also a possibility, but more of a long shot( it would be a perfect fit for him but they still have a few years on Hasselbeck and can focus in later rounds or next years draft.)

7. Cleveland [Ez: Here we go Brownies, here we go! WOOF WOOF!!] S Eric Berry Tennessee - The Browns have a good secondary and can instantly make it a great one with this pick.  Berry is the top athlete on most teams boards and is an Ed Reed type of game changer.

8. Oakland DE Jason Pierre-Paul South Florida- No body knows where the Raiders are gonna go with this pick or any pick for that matter, what we do know is that Al Davis like freakish athletes. They have taken offensive players the last few years and really need to get value from this pick, i think they might be scared to take a chance on an offensive player.  They have needs all over the field and the smart pick would be OL and everyone says Bruce Campbell, but that would be stupid he is raw and unpolished they need someone who can start right away.
 
9. Buffalo QB Jimmy Clausen Notre Dame- Buffalo hasn't had stability at the QB position since Jim Kelly if they don't throw Clausen to the wolves he should develop in to a top line starter. Can also go for OL Anthony Davis.

10. Jacksonville DE Derrick Morgan Georgia Tech- They need help on defense and could also select hybrid S/CB Earl Thomas should also look to trade down and get some more draft picks.

11. Denver ILB Rolando McClain Alabama - Josh McDaniels clearly doesn't focus much on his offense (trading QB Jay Cutler and WR Brandon Marshall) so he will look to improve his defense with the top linebacker in the draft and a top 5 talent with McClain. They might also take WR Dez Bryant but with his past discipline issues I don't see that happening they just got rid of a receiver who had off-field issues do you think they will add another?

12. Miami CB Joe Haden Florida- The top CB in the draft is a need due to circumstances and high level of receivers in the AFC East (Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Etc.), could also go with DT Dan Williams.
.
13. San Francisco OL Anthony Davis Rutgers- They are very close to turning the page and become a winning team. Head coach Mike Singletary is determined to give Alex Smith every chance to prove he can keep the QB job, so he helps him by stabilizing the O-line with this pick.

14. Seattle RB CJ Spiller Clemson- Like I said earlier it was too early for Seattle to take Spiller with the 6th pick, not with the 14th though. It will be exciting to see how new Head Coach Pete Carrol uses a Reggie Bush type player after seeing how well he did with Reggie back at USC.

15. NY Giants LB Sean Weatherspoon Mizzou- Giants GM Jerry Reese is like a smarter Al Davis, but with all the obvious picks already off the board I really don't know what he is gonna do. This pick fits a need but Reese doesn't draft for need and is not afraid to take the best player available regardless of position.  They need help in the middle( DT & ILB) and could use added depth on an aging OL. If they don't take a LB here i would love to see them get LB Sean Lee in the second round who is someone I have fallen in love with this draft season.

16. Tennessee OLB/DE Sergio Kindle Texas- The Titans need defense, defense, defense! Kindle will improve an AFC worst passing defense with his pass rushing ability.  They might also address the secondary taking DBs Kyle Wilson, Devin McCourty, or S Nate Allen.

17. San Francisco WR Dez Bryant Ok State- They get a #1 receiver here that they haven't had since TO left. I can actually see the 49ers trading this pick but if they don't they can improve on the DL with a DT or a pass rushing OLB/DE.

18. Pittsburgh OG Mike Iupati Idaho- We all know the type of football that Pittsburgh plays and it starts in the trenches ever since they lost Alan Faneca to the Jets the O-line hasn't been the same. With the recent departure of Santonio Holmes, WR Dez Bryant might be too good to pass up with this pick.

19. Atlanta DE Everson Griffen USC - They were hit with the injury bug last year and could look to add depth at several positions. They could also look to find a complement to workhorse Michael Turner and go for a RB like Ryan Matthews or Jahvid Best.

20. Houston CB Kyle Wilson Boise State - They need to fill the void that Dunta Robinson made when he left to Atlanta can also add a Punishing RB to pair with Steve Slaton  like Georgia Tech RB Jonathan Dwyer.

21. Cincinnati TE Jermaine Gresham - They look to improve on the offense by adding an athletic pass catching TE here. The Bengals really like defensive players from USC and might be tempted to take super freak S Taylor Mays.

22. New England DT Jared Odrick Penn State- The Patriots are know for getting great value from there first round picks and sometimes make suprise picks.  More often then not the take a player on one side of the line and this year is no difference they need help in the pass rush and DL. They can also draft a RB and take some pressure off of Tom Brady's arm and turn a weakness into a strength.
 
23. Green Bay CB Devin McCourty Rutgers- They can add depth to an aging unit and make the lives of Charles Woodson and Al Harris a lot easier.  If OG Mike Iupati is available look for them to shore up an OL that gave up league worst  51 sacks.

24. Philadelphia S Taylor Mays USC - The Eagles need to add some swagger back to that defense and in todays NFL safety is becoming more and more of a premier position.  He isn't the best in coverage and has room to improve but his rare athletic ability will make up for a lot.
25. Baltimore DT Brian Price UCLA- Baltimore focuses on what it does best, defense. They add a top level talent that might be the steal of the draft.

26. Arizona LB Brandon Graham Michigan - They need to find a replacement for Karlos Dansby, but won't reach for a LB they could be possibly be a team to trade up if they need to go get one . If not they add to a young OL and add protection for Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson.

27. Dallas OL Bruce Campbell Maryland- The OL is getting old and can bring Campbell along slowly and in a limited use properly developing him in to a fixture for years to come.

28. San Diego RB Ryan Mathews Fresno State- Darren Sproles isn't a feature back so they attend to their biggest need with this pick.  Also need help in the secondary and if some of the top players are still available they probably go there first.

29. NY Jets S Nate Allen South Florida- They can turn Revis Island into a continent after picking up Cromartie and if they add S Nate Allen. They also need help in the pass rush department and if they don't get Jason Taylor they might add a DE  like Carlos Dunlap or Jerry Hughes.

30. Minnesota CB Patrick Robinson Florida State - Probably go secondary with this pick and take the best player left at that position, can also go with DL.
31. Indianapolis OL Charles Brown USC - Really need to add some pieces to the OL and could also take C/OG Maurkice Pouncey who's versatility will be valuable.
 
32. New Orleans DE/LB Jerry Hughes TCU - Could also take Hughes' TCU teammate LB Daryl Washington to replace the loss of LB Scott Fujita, but Hughes is more versatile and could also be a situational pass rusher DE. 

This year the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears don't have first round draft picks so i will give you a little insight in to what each team needs.

Carolina Panthers: First pick is #48- they need help at WR and DE and might be able to find some value at those positions in the middle of the 2nd round. Guys like  WRs Branden Lafell and (sleeper)Demaryius Thomas can be available as well as DEs Ricky Sapp or Alex Carrington.

Chicago Bears: First Pick #75 not a very good chance to get a star with this pick but can still get a good player need help at WR, OL, and DB.  Should address the WR need first and try to get Jay Cutler someone to throw to a receiver like Jordan Shipley or Dez Briscoe could still be available.

New Human Right - Vacationing

The European Union has declared travelling a human right, and is launching a scheme to subsidize vacations with taxpayers' dollars for those too poor to afford their own trips.

Antonio Tajani, the European Union commissioner for enterprise and industry, proposed a strategy that could cost European taxpayers hundreds of millions of euros a year, The Times of London reports.

"Travelling for tourism today is a right. The way we spend our holidays is a formidable indicator of our quality of life," Mr. Tajani told a group of ministers at The European Tourism Stakeholders Conference in Madrid on April 15. Mr. Tajani was appointed to his post by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The plan -- just who gets to enjoy the travel package has yet to be determined -- would see taxpayers footing some of the vacation bill for seniors, youths between the ages of 18 and 25, disabled people, and families facing "difficult social, financial or personal" circumstances. The disabled and elderly can also be accompanied by one other person. The EU and its taxpayers are slated to fund 30% of the cost of these tours, which could range from youth exploring abandoned factories and power plants in Manchester to retirees taking discount trips to Madrid, all in the name of cultural appreciation.

"The commission is literally considering paying people to go on holiday," Mats Persson, of pro-reform think-tank Open Europe, told Britain's News of the World. "In this economic climate, it's astonishing that the EU wants to bribe people with cheap holidays."

Mr. Tajani said the program will be piloted until 2013, and then fully launched.

Intended to instill a sense of cultural pride in Europeans, Mr. Tajani's human-rights travel will also help bridge the continent's north-south divide and pad resorts' business in their off-season, the Times reports.

Northern Europeans will be encouraged to visit southern Europe, and vice versa. Mr. Tajani wants to ensure people's "right to be tourists" remains intact.

All hail progressiveness

A Community of Hope

When Ezzie asked me to join this blog, I felt privileged to be a part of his group of friends. Friends who live amongst us, who feel the drive, and possess to the urge to impact the community. Of all of my fellow contributors I have met, the feeling of making a difference in the lives of our fellow Jews was there, each in their individual way. Which is why this article in Cross-Currents resonated so strongly with me. I hope it does for you as well.
Here are the parts which struck me:

I think that Rabbi Landesman’s point, however, deals not with antipathy, but deep-seated malaise in other circles, completely within the Torah camp. His essay resonated not only with the usual haredi-haters, but with many card-carrying haredim, who are disappointed, deflated or worse over problems that don’t go away. It would be a major mistake to write off the cynical critics as haters of authentic Torah. To the contrary, I continuously meet up with people living haredi lives (American style), sending their kids to haredi institutions, and having benefited from the best haredi chinuch themselves, who nonetheless are bitter and crushed. Their love for Torah continues unabated. They are disappointed because of that love, not despite it. Knowing what Torah is supposed to do for people and communities, having spent time in the presence of gadlus when they were younger, they resent more than anything else the blemishes and stains on the reputation of HKBH and His Torah. Every chilul Hashem is a blemish; recurring ones are larger blemishes. The largest are the ones that are not accidental, but foreseeable and institutionalized in The System. If anyone will deny such institutionalized failures, including here and there the cover-up of abuse and a tolerance for some kinds of enonomic crimes, I will declare myself on Rabbi Landesman’s side.

 As well as

There is often what to complain about, if not to the point of antipathy. I am tired of listening to the despair of people hurt by entrenched problems in the way we treat parnassah, shidduchim, chinuch. I am tired of listening to the pain of parents whose kids went off because the life style was unnecessarily restrictive or narrow. I am tired of hearing from ba’alei teshuvah who feel betrayed, and in some cases have walked out. They were “sold” on Yiddishkeit with descriptions of a community of personal happiness, marital bliss, and intellectual openness – only to discover that some exaggeration had been involved. I am tired of hearing from young marrieds at the end of their kollel careers who now realize that they have no skills and no reasonable chance bederech hateva to support their families.
If we discuss these things, we will be working b’ezras Hashem, to secure Torah for the future, not to dismantle it. And despite the edge in some of the voices on this blog in the past week, I am proud to be part of a forum that does allow for the airing of divergent views, within a Torah framework, and even criticism from the outside.

I believe the same holds true of our contributors. We are tired of the problems that pervade our community but not to the point of throwing in the towel. There is hope. An overall good structure can always survive necessary maintenance and get rid of its aberrant parts. The Torah doesn't tell us that "Lo Nitnah Torah Le'Malachei HaShareis- The Torah wasn't given to angels" for no reason. It was given to humans to improve our lives and the lives that we touch.

When I was a child I broke my arm, and while waiting in the waiting room for a doctor to see me I noticed a quote which has been stuck in my mind for almost 15 years "With every child's birth, it is proof that G-d hasn't given up on humanity." I do not recall who said it, but I think that everyone can understand the sentiment. We haven't given up even though we may be tired and weary after the centuries in exile. Nor has G-d given up on us.

Checkpoints

A good friend had the following great analogy regarding dating et al that I think is true for most people as they weather the ups and downs of building a relationship:

I feel like there are checkpoints, like in those racing games and it's really comfortable in between the checkpoints. you're just kinda in the zone. but the checkpoints are really hard to pass.

Friends of mine know I like to say "when you're sure, give it some more time. When you're sure again, give it some more time. And when you're sure again, give it a little more. When you're finally really sure again... then you should probably go for it."

The best and surprisingly common description of dating seriously I've heard recently: You consistently swing from pure happiness to feeling like you need to throw up, and often both at the same time. (And the common response from those close to the person: "Great!!")

Hurray!

Congratulations to my dear sister Verv, brother-in-law BIL, and their four amazing kids on their forthcoming aliyah this summer!

So - who's got tips and advice (and money!) for them? :)

Shaimos Dump

LAKEWOOD, N.J. — Environmental regulators in New Jersey are trying to decide what to do about an unlicensed religious artifact burial site.A rabbi coordinated the dumping of 2,000 trash bags full of Jewish text and clothing on private land in Lakewood during Passover. Orthodox Jews are not permitted to discard the items, called shaimos, by normal means.
Some neighbors complained, calling it an illegal dump. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a warning last week and ordered that the site be cleaned up.
The agency, however, says it is sensitive to the religion's requirements. For now, it is allowing the bags to stay until it decides how to relocate them.
The rabbi is expected to discuss options with DEP officials next week. 
Read the full article here

Whoops

Government-controlled health care, coming soon to the whole country! Hope it works better than in one of the smallest states:

This week it became impossible in Massachusetts for small businesses and individuals to buy health-care coverage after Governor Deval Patrick imposed price controls on premiums. Read on, because under ObamaCare this kind of political showdown will soon be coming to an insurance market near you.
The Massachusetts small-group market that serves about 800,000 residents shut down after Mr. Patrick kicked off his re-election campaign by presumptively rejecting about 90% of the premium increases the state's insurers had asked regulators to approve. Health costs have run off the rails since former GOP Governor Mitt Romney and Beacon Hill passed universal coverage in 2006, and Mr. Patrick now claims price controls are the sensible response to this ostensibly industry greed.
Yet all of the major Massachusetts insurers are nonprofits. Three of largest four—Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts Health Plan and Fallon Community Health—posted operating losses in 2009. In an emergency suit heard in Boston superior court yesterday, they argued that the arbitrary rate cap will result in another $100 million in collective losses this year and make it impossible to pay the anticipated cost of claims. It may even threaten the near-term solvency of some companies. So until the matter is resolved, the insurers have simply stopped selling new policies.
A court decision is expected by Monday, but state officials have demanded that the insurers—under the threat of fines and other regulatory punishments—resume offering quotes by today and to revert to year-old base premiums. Let that one sink in: Mr. Patrick has made the health insurance business so painful the government actually has to order private companies to sell their products (albeit at sub-market costs).

Makom

The Rabbi of my shul spoke this past Shabbos about the Haggadah - specifically, about Baruch Hamakom. He said a number of things, one of which was in connection to the four sons. The four sons are written, "echad chacham," "echad rasha," "echad tam," and "echad she'aino yodeah lish'ol." Why was each written with "echad" before his name? The Rabbi said that this showed their individuality - each of the sons had a unique place, a special makom, in his father's heart. And that's how it should be with parents and their children. That's how it should be with family, with close friends. With anyone close to you. It's nice when you can feel that someone has carved out a specific place in their heart for you and only you. That is your place. And although other people also have unique places in someone's heart, theirs does not take away from yours (just like yours does not take away from theirs). It is not a matter of being more or less loved, but of everyone being loved uniquely and individually.

Such attention is rare, but I do believe certain people I know possess the unique ability to make others feel as though they have a special makom with them. Some in their hearts. Some in their home. Some both. It's incredible the way a person can walk into someone else's home and feel as though a part of that place is their home, too, in some way. Or feel like they have a special relationship, even while knowing that many others have special relationships, too.

That is one of the ways one can understand makom, according to the Rabbi of my shul. I only hope that I too learn the ability to make others feel uniquely loved, appreciated, wanted, special...to provide such mekomot for my family and friends within my own heart, the way I know others have provided for me.

I think these videos perfectly illustrate the leftist values (not really Liberals per say). The ultimate value being equality. Equality of outcome. It's not a criticism, but a simple description. Redistribution of wealth, for example, is merely a means to an ultimate goal of everyone being the same. Liberty is a value of course, but its not on the highest agenda.

Is “Being Orthodox” the same thing as “Being Gay”?

Guest Post by Adam

 

In the age old debate of nature vs. nurture, no facet of this argument is more heated than when it comes to homosexuals.  Is their attraction inborn, or is it an acquired orientation?  It is a choice?  What about finding ones way to halachic observance?  Nature or nurture?  Inborn or chosen?  I started to think about this after an Internet chat I had with a friend.  This friend describes himself as a Radical Reform Jew. 

We got into a discussion on the idea that one may receive more than one gives, when giving tzedakah.  The following is the transcript, edited for clarity, grammar, and anonymity (RF stands for Reform Friend).  

********

me: I've seen it many many times, my expenses are somehow lower when I give more tzedakah.

RF: ok

me: there is a cap, 20%, and I don't get anywhere near that yet

RF: mine tend to be much more because I have to pay the donation too

me: just saying, this is the one place where we're told in the Torah to test it out.  So next time you give money, look around your life and see if you either received an unexpected cash increase and/or lower expenses soon after

RF: i will; and then if i do, i will believe

me: lol no you won't :)

RF: ok you are right!

me: even when I had my "wow" moment 12 years ago at the kotel, it still took me another 2 years until I really started keeping Shabbat.  I never expect or even want a Jew to totally flip around based on one good vibe

RF: well i am pretty secure in my belief.  I don't think a single moment at a place that doesn't accept my religious practices is going to change anything.

me: it didn't bother me back then

RF: what didn't bother you?  

me: standing there, as an actively Reform Jew, at the Kotel.  It didn't bother me that men and women had to pray separately

RF: you were never a Reform Jew

me: I wasn't?

RF: you were on your path to where you are.  Perhaps you were practicing as a RJ but you weren't part of the movement like say you are part of the MO movement.

me: I wasn't a twice-a-year RJ, I went to all of the Hebrew school, Sunday schools, Reform and nom-denom youth groups and summer camps

RF: but "something was missing", right?

me: not until high school, but yeah

RF: so once you could start thinking for yourself, when you could actually become a Reform Jews, you did not - that is what i am getting at.

**********

It was the “something was missing” line that really got me thinking.  Something WAS missing in my life.  I really didn’t feel fulfilled there.  It was a relief to find out that there were others like me.  These are all statements that the gay kid makes on the after school special after coming out of the closet.

Which gets back to my opening question:   Is “Being Orthodox” like “Being Gay”?  

What do you say?

This Idea Sounds Really Familiar

I came across this website and its pleasing to see that people are starting to find a way back to shabbos observance. Even if it was done to find a way to connect with family, inner-self, etc. But that which come from tainted intentions, will (hopefully) come to untainted intentions.
Included in their manifesto are:

• Avoid Technology
• Avoid Commerce
• Find Silence

Jewish Jamaica?

(Dedicated to SaraK) Interesting article in the WSJ about Jamaica's new tourism drive:

KINGSTON, Jamaica—This island nation boasts miles of pristine beaches, reggae music and the Western hemisphere's largest butterfly.
Now, it's promoting a new asset to tourists: its Jews.
From the tourism minister on down, Jamaican officialdom has embraced a plan to market the nation's Jewish history as a way of wooing a new segment of travelers.

No matter that Jamaica has just one synagogue and no rabbi, or that its Jewish community is down to around 200 people. It was once home to a Jewish pirate named Moses, according to one account.

Read the whole thing.

Long Distance

Thank God, Serach and I have lots of friends. While this can sometimes place people into situations where they have many friends, but none close enough for when times demand or call for it, we are also blessed with some absolutely incredible close friends whom we can call and rely on whenever and for whatever necessary and who will always do what they can for us just as we would do for them. Even among those friends, however, there are always friends who simply are above and beyond the rest.

Last week, I was forced to think about one such friendship and couldn't help but be saddened. Eight, nine years ago, when I was in Israel, a close friend of mine turned into a rock of friendship that, during one of the most difficult periods of my life, helped keep me sane, positive, religious, and helped turn around my life and direction in ways that even some of the closest people in my life may never really understand.

When I visited this friend about a year later, I was dismayed to find that a difficult accident had completely changed this friend's plans and altered their life in ways they didn't want to acknowledge, yet attacked with a vengeance. As always, though, they simply adapted to yet another difficult circumstance and moved on, acting as if there was nothing in their way and there would be nothing to stop them. My friend is nothing if not tough - perhaps too tough, sometimes - but there is no such thing as giving up and no such thing as giving in.

A year or so later, I finally was able to introduce my friend to Serach - to show her who this great friend who would do whatever was necessary was. Within minutes, they were kindred spirits (perhaps mostly because they could make fun of me together, but kindred nonetheless), and our next task was to return some of the favor by helping this friend plan out the next few years of their life through all of the difficulties they had and would come across. On the flip side, meanwhile, this friend once again became a rock - to me, to Serach, to us, to our kids, to our family... even to some of our friends.

It is hard to put in words what it means to be reliable. Some people don't even bother trying to be; some people say they will be, but too often fail; some try, and sometimes they fail; some try and try and once in a while come up short; and some are just... there. The friend who will run halfway across a neighborhood because someone is outside your door claiming they have a knife with your wife and baby inside and you're not picking up your phone because you're in class - that's reliable. The friend who will (without you knowing) babysit when she's supposed to be going out with friends because she knows you really need it - that's reliable. The one who can walk into your home and make up a whole meal for everyone because people are sick - that's reliable. The one who will stay up all night helping you unpack boxes to move into your new place even though they haven't slept in a day themselves and have class in the morning - that's reliable. The one whom you can trust every damn day no matter what with anything, the one who you can talk to about anything and know that they'll get it and keep it to themselves - that's reliable. The one who knows when you're full of bull and there's something seriously wrong and has no problem calling you on it - plus, they've already figured out what happened and are already doing what they can for you, even though they're moving away that week - that's freaking reliable. (And it's horrifyingly sad to know that you weren't nearly as good of a friend to them as they were to you, to know that you weren't always there for them when they needed it, to know that you were like this even though they would always be there for you even when they really couldn't afford to be. It's so, so bad, and I'm so, so, so sorry.)

Friends like this don't come around often, and when they're there, as much as you might try to avoid it, you start to take them for granted. You take them so for granted and rely on them so much that when they ask your advice again a few years later, you have to force yourself to give the advice that is best for them, and not for you and what would help you. And when they finally decide on their plans, it is all you can do to not burst into tears - both of incredible happiness at what they've accomplished and that they're moving on to the rest of their life, and of intense sadness that they're leaving and how that will impact you, your wife, and your kids and all they rely on and all they feel.

Perhaps the hardest part when a friend leaves is when you know that it might be a while until you see them. You don't want to have a "goodbye", because it's not - and saying so only reinforces that you're not going to see them. When my friend called from the airport, after a tearful goodbye with Serach and the girls while I was at work, I couldn't even bring myself to say goodbye - I didn't even want to talk, knowing that I'm far more likely to keep in touch if I don't. (Of course, I probably came off as rude, uncaring, and distant/not paying attention as always to this friend - sigh.)

Instead of saying goodbye, as I got off the phone, I said simply "Have a safe trip, we'll talk to you soon. And we're really going to miss having you here all the time." As always, nothing else needed to be said - our friend understood just as always.

If you've ever been to our home, you've met our friend, and undoubtedly felt her impact on our lives, and really, on your own. We owe a debt of gratitude which we'll never be able to repay, but have a friendship that we will never fail to appreciate, even if we have sometimes failed to show that appreciation over the years.

Rivka T. - we love you, we miss you, and we better see you soon.

Goldishlocks & The Three Beers

One Purim there was a girl named Goldishlocks, who had golden, curly hair,
Who made beautiful mishloach manos of porridge, cookies, and gummy bears,
She knew her mishloach manos were not yet complete,
‘But what else can I add?,’ she started to think.

She decided to take a walk to clear her mind,
When lo and behold! What’d she find!?
It was all she could do, to not yell in fear,
While in front of her stood a huge scary beer.

He said “Hi Goldishlocks! What do you say?
You should give out some of me on Purim day!”
Goldishlocks stammered “A tax I’d rather levy,
Then give you out, Dad. You’re just way too heavy.”

She had scarcely walked 12 steps before she jumped back in fear,
After getting talked to forever by an overly energetic beer,
The beer pled her case, about how she goes down so smoothly,
And you never have to worry about her coming off fruity.

But Goldishlocks wasn’t to be so easily impressed,
And finally spoke up to the beer so well dressed,
“Imma, be careful, you gave me a fright!
But I’m sorry, you’re no good either – you’re just way too light.”

Goldishlocks was sad as she headed to her room,
All ready for Purim but with a small dash of gloom,
She passed by her baby sis, the cutest little beer,
And couldn’t help but think “Now isn’t she just dear!?”

She was about to give up and call it a night,
When she suddenly remembered an ad for Bud Light,
She turned and yelled, “‘Not too heavy, not too light!’
Oh this is perfect – Baby, you’re Just Right!!”

With excitement she turned and ran down the hall,
And finished making beautiful mishloach manos for all,
And in addition to giving out yummy treats to her peers,
She’s sharing the story of Goldishlocks – and of course, the Three Beers.

Megillah Times in Kew Gardens Hills

Cropped from Josh, originally put together by Yussie Englander as he kindly does for everyone every year, downloadable here:

. Purim Day 5:55:00 AM Shacharis Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 6:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Ahavas Yisroel 147-02 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 6:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 6:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 6:05:00 Shacharis Cong. Chasam Sofer (R. Wiesel) 141-50 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 6:05:00 Shacharis Cong. Etz Chaim 147-16 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 6:05:00 Shacharis Torah Center of Hillcrest 171-05 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 6:05:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Queens Valley 141-55 77th Ave, KGH . Purim Day 6:10:00 Shacharis Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 147-37 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 6:10:00 Shacharis Cong. Aderes Eliyahu (R. Teitz) 144-49 72nd Drive, KGH . Purim Day 6:10:00 Shacharis Cong. Ohr Moshe 170-16 73rd Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 6:10:00 Shacharis Queens Jewish Center 66-05 108th St., FH . Purim Day 6:15:00 Shacharis Cong. Tikvas Israel Shalom (R. Spitalny) 141-25 70th Ave. KGH . Purim Day 6:15:00 Shacharis Kew Gardens Synagogue 82-17 Lefferts Blvd., KG . Purim Day 6:15:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Forest Hills 7100 Yellowstone Blvd., FH . Purim Day 6:15:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 6:15:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Jamaica Estates 83-10 188th St., Jamaica Estates . Purim Day 6:25:00 Shacharis Cong. Degel Israel 144-02 68th Dr., KGH . Purim Day 6:25:00 Shacharis Cong. Nachlas Yitzchak (R. Oelbaum) 141-39 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 6:30:00 Shacharis Cong. Bais Yosef D'Ulam (R. Friedman) 139-19 72nd Rd. KGH

. Purim Day 6:30:00 Shacharis Cong. Machane Chodosh 67-29 108th St., FH . Purim Day 6:30:00 Shacharis Cong. Ohel Yitzchok (R. Arieli) 137-58 70th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 6:30:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 6:50:00 Shacharis Bais Medrash of KGH (R. Bergman) 75-02 137th St., KGH . Purim Day 6:50:00 Shacharis Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim 141-61 71st Ave. . Purim Day 6:50:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 7:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Degel Israel 144-02 68th Dr., KGH . Purim Day 7:00:00 Shacharis Queens Jewish Center 66-05 108th St., FH . Purim Day 7:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Queens Valley 141-55 77th Ave, KGH . Purim Day 7:10:00 Shacharis Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim 76-01 147th St., KGH . Purim Day 7:15:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 7:20:00 Shacharis Cong. Chasam Sofer (R. Wiesel) 141-50 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 7:30:00 Shacharis Cong. Aderes Eliyahu (R. Teitz) 144-49 72nd Drive, KGH . Purim Day 7:30:00 Shacharis Cong. Ahavas Yisroel 147-02 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 7:30:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Forest Hills 7100 Yellowstone Blvd., FH . Purim Day 7:30:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 7:50:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 7:55:00 Shacharis Cong. Degel Israel 144-02 68th Dr., KGH . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 147-37 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Bais Yosef D'Ulam (R. Friedman) 139-19 72nd Rd. KGH

. Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Etz Chaim 147-16 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Nachlas Yitzchak (R. Oelbaum) 141-39 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Ohr Moshe 170-16 73rd Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Torah Lodaas (R. Blum) 138-53 77th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Kehillas Ishei Yisrael YCQ 150th St. & 70th Rd. Enter from Parking Lot) . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Kew Gardens Synagogue 82-17 Lefferts Blvd., KG . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim 141-61 71st Ave. . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Jamaica Estates 83-10 188th St., Jamaica Estates . Purim Day 8:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Queens Valley 141-55 77th Ave, KGH . Purim Day 8:15:00 Shacharis Cong. Ohel Yitzchok (R. Arieli) 137-58 70th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 8:30:00 Shacharis Bais Medrash of KGH (R. Bergman) 75-02 137th St., KGH . Purim Day 8:30:00 Shacharis Lander College 75-31 150th St., KGH . Purim Day 8:30:00 Shacharis Queens Jewish Center 66-05 108th St., FH . Purim Day 8:40:00 Shacharis Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim 76-01 147th St., KGH . Purim Day 8:45:00 Shacharis Yeshiva Kesser Torah 72-11 Vleigh Pl., KGH . Purim Day 9:00:00 Shacharis Cong. Chasam Sofer (R. Wiesel) 141-50 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 9:00:00 Shacharis Torah Center of Hillcrest 171-05 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 9:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 9:00:00 Shacharis Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH

. Purim Day 9:50:00 Megillah Only Kehillas Ishei Yisrael YCQ 150th St. & 70th Rd. Enter from Parking Lot) . Purim Day 9:55:00 Megillah Only Bais Medrash of KGH (R. Bergman) 75-02 137th St., KGH . Purim Day 10:00:00 Women Only Cong. Degel Israel 144-02 68th Dr., KGH . Purim Day 10:00:00 Megillah Only Cong. Torah Lodaas (R. Blum) 138-53 77th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 10:00:00 Megillah Only Meadow Park Rehab Center 78-10 164th St., Hillcrest . Purim Day 10:00:00 Megillah Only Young Israel of Queens Valley 141-55 77th Ave, KGH . Purim Day 10:15:00 Women Only Cong. Ohel Yitzchok (R. Arieli) 137-58 70th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 10:30:00 Megillah Only Cong. Machane Chodosh 67-29 108th St., FH . Purim Day 10:40:00 Women Only Lander College 75-31 150th St., KGH . Purim Day 11:00:00 Megillah Only Kew Gardens Synagogue 82-17 Lefferts Blvd., KG . Purim Day 11:00:00 Megillah Only Queens Jewish Center 66-05 108th St., FH . Purim Day 13:35:00 Mincha Cong. Ahavas Yisroel 147-02 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 13:35:00 Mincha Lander College 75-31 150th St., KGH . Purim Day 13:35:00 Mincha Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim 76-01 147th St., KGH . Purim Day 13:40:00 Mincha Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 13:45:00 Mincha Kew Gardens Synagogue 82-17 Lefferts Blvd., KG . Purim Day 13:45:00 Megillah Only NY Hospital Medical Ctr. Of Queens (Booth) Main St. & Booth Memorial Ave. (917-863-8550) . Purim Day 13:45:00 Mincha Yeshiva Kesser Torah 72-11 Vleigh Pl., KGH . Purim Day 13:45:00 Mincha Young Israel of Forest Hills 7100 Yellowstone Blvd., FH . Purim Day 13:45:00 Mincha Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH

. Purim Day 13:45:00 Mincha Young Israel of Queens Valley 141-55 77th Ave, KGH . Purim Day 14:00:00 Mincha Cong. Ohel Yitzchok (R. Arieli) 137-58 70th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 14:00:00 Mincha Cong. Tikvas Israel Shalom (R. Spitalny) 141-25 70th Ave. KGH . Purim Day 14:00:00 Mincha Kehillas Ishei Yisrael YCQ 150th St. & 70th Rd. Enter from Parking Lot) . Purim Day 14:00:00 Mincha Young Israel of Jamaica Estates 83-10 188th St., Jamaica Estates . Purim Day 14:15:00 Megillah Only Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 14:20:00 Mincha Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim 141-61 71st Ave. . Purim Day 14:30:00 Mincha Bais Medrash of KGH (R. Bergman) 75-02 137th St., KGH . Purim Day 15:00:00 Mincha Cong. Etz Chaim 147-16 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 15:00:00 Mincha Cong. Nachlas Yitzchak (R. Oelbaum) 141-39 73rd Ave., KGH . Purim Day 15:00:00 Mincha Cong. Ohr Moshe 170-16 73rd Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 15:30:00 Mincha Agudath Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 147-37 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 15:30:00 Mincha Cong. Aderes Eliyahu (R. Teitz) 144-49 72nd Drive, KGH . Purim Day 15:30:00 Mincha Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim 76-01 147th St., KGH . Purim Day 15:30:00 Mincha Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 15:30:00 Mincha Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 16:00:00 Mincha Bais Medrash of KGH (R. Bergman) 75-02 137th St., KGH . Purim Day 16:00:00 Mincha Cong. Bais Yosef D'Ulam (R. Friedman) 139-19 72nd Rd. KGH . Purim Day 16:15:00 Mincha Cong. Degel Israel 144-02 68th Dr., KGH . Purim Day 16:15:00 Mincha Yeshiva Kesser Torah 72-11 Vleigh Pl., KGH

. Purim Day 16:30:00 Megillah Only Queens College Chabad 144-03 69th Ave., KGH . Purim Day 17:00:00 Mincha Cong. Chasam Sofer (R. Wiesel) 141-50 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 17:00:00 Mincha Kew Gardens Synagogue 82-17 Lefferts Blvd., KG . Purim Day 17:15:00 Mincha Queens Jewish Center 66-05 108th St., FH . Purim Day 17:15:00 Mincha Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim 76-01 147th St., KGH . Purim Day 17:15:00 Mincha Yeshiva Kesser Torah 72-11 Vleigh Pl., KGH . Purim Day 17:25:00 Mincha Young Israel of Queens Valley 141-55 77th Ave, KGH . Purim Day 17:30:00 Mincha Young Israel of Forest Hills 7100 Yellowstone Blvd., FH . Purim Day 17:35:00 Mincha Young Israel of Hillcrest 169-07 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 18:00:00 Mincha Cong. Chasam Sofer (R. Wiesel) 141-50 70th Rd., KGH . Purim Day 18:00:00 Mincha Cong. Machane Chodosh 67-29 108th St., FH . Purim Day 18:15:00 Mincha Yeshiva Kesser Torah 72-11 Vleigh Pl., KGH . Purim Day 18:45:00 Mincha Kew Gardens Synagogue 82-17 Lefferts Blvd., KG . Purim Day 18:45:00 Mincha Torah Center of Hillcrest 171-05 Jewel Ave., Hillcrest . Purim Day 18:50:00 Mincha Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills 150-05 70th Rd., KGH

Have a Safe Purim

Not getting into the to drink/not to drink debate, but if you are to drink please keep this video in mind of what Purim can become, if not worse.



Before you get that drunk, just STOP!