Well, here's a quote I thought was a little funny.
My ancestors wandered lost in the wilderness for 40 years because
even in biblical times, men would not stop to ask for directions.
-- Elayne Boosler
My ancestors wandered lost in the wilderness for 40 years because
even in biblical times, men would not stop to ask for directions.
-- Elayne Boosler
Education is hanging around until you've caught on.
Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your
temper or your self-confidence.
Enjoy! Oh - before I forget, R' Horowitz has posted a sharp piece by Jonathan Rosenblum on the need of the charedi community to fix their attitude against work. It is one thing to place learning above work; it is another to disdain work even for those who are unable to sit and learn. A great piece.
- 9) Chana writes up another MedEthics post, this time a fascinating one on How to be an Orthodox Jewish Physician in a Secular World.
- 8) A cute short story from a friend of Gil's.
- 7) Musings notes a good letter in the Yated and adds his own comments about the society of 'support' that shouldn't exist.
If we have any prayer of reversing the damage that is being done, each individual who sees the negativity being created by "The System" must refuse to participate in that same system in his or her personal life. Letters to the Yated are empty when not backed up by actions. My father told me that when he finished college his father basically kicked him out, telling him it was time for him to make it on his own. Tough love, but it worked and clearly my grandfather knew it had to be done for my father to take on the responsibilities of a man.- 6) R' Gil discusses a discussion on Torah U'Madda, then goes on to add his own points about what is and is not "in the Torah".
However, I disagree with what R. Dratch and Mr. Meir both say -- that everything is in the Torah. I think this is clearly incorrect. R. Dratch seems to say that everything is in the Torah but people, due to their failings, are often unable to extract it. Does anyone really believe that Quantum Mechanics can be found in the Torah? The nature of the Circulatory System? Law of Large Numbers? Maybe those who believe that the Chazon Ish could perform brain surgery without any training but I'm not among them. I absolutely reject the idea that a big enough Torah scholar -- perhaps Moshe -- is capable of building a nuclear reactor without studying any secular science.- 5) David Linn has a nice post about his father.
When my Dad would take us to the car wash, you got to stay in the car as it went through the wash and, boy, was it a wonder: Soapy foam slowly creeping down the car, huge water machine guns spraying their high power, steamy mist, large brushes and floppy, orange linguini-like cloths gently slapping the car, flashing lights as you went through the hot wax and that oversized blower with the small wheel in the middle rolling up the front windshield at the end. We loved it so much that I’m positive that there were times when my Dad took us for a car wash even when we didn’t need one. ‘Cuz that’s just what Dads do.- 4) Ariella with a good post about the "right" number of children a family should have. A nice reminder for us all.
- 3) I really enjoyed this post by Bad4Shidduchim about what seminary does (or doesn't) say about a person. Best line: "Nine months of exposure to a “hashkafa” is no match for 18 years of prior life."
The overrated part is how much of an effect seminary has on a person’s rest-of-their-life. In high school they told us that seminary would determine our “mehalech” so we should choose the one with “hashkafos” that match ours—or at least the ones we wish were ours. And post-seminary, guys and their mothers can kick up quite a fuss about a girl’s seminary, because it’s supposed to say something about her “mehalech” and “hashkafos.” Aside from the fact that most bais yaakov high school students go to bais yaakov seminaries, and most non-BY students go to non-BY seminaries, this application is negligable. ... From Michlala on down, every school has its supposed ‘type’. And it’s based on those ‘types’ that high school students choose their seminaries.
Only caveat: most students don’t get into their ‘first choice’ seminary.- 2) R' Gil has an excellent post about elitism and leadership. I have a lot to say on the subject, and perhaps I'll post about that later, but meanwhile enjoy his post.
My wife recently pointed out to me that I've changed since we were married, particularly in my attitude towards those from different communities and with less religious commitment. It seems I've lost some of my elitism and disdain for others. I pointed out that it would be pretty sad if I hadn't changed at all in the past 13 years and that she has changed also in many positive ways. ...
It is easy for those living in the protective confines of a yeshiva to look down upon those who fail to live up to every standard. However, once you are exposed to the responsibilities of real life and the challenges of going out into the world, you gain greater respect for what people are able to maintain and understanding for their imperfections.- 1) Finally, I particularly enjoyed this post by Moshe, who wrote it while sitting on the couch right behind me, so I am feeling free to take some credit for it. Somehow.
My world was colorblind. If you were darker than white you could not be gray; you were black. When I was in ninth grade, my mashgiach stood up to deliver a schmooze. ... Here’s how he began:
During break, I walked up to a shul late one afternoon not expecting to see anyone inside. As I approached the door, I heard some beautiful voices singing the words of Torah. The voices belonged to young students. I was proud to know that even during vacation two boys would get together to learn. But then, my students, I was saddened. I opened the door and entered and although the voices were beautiful, the sight was painful and shameful. They were wearing blue shirts!!
I had a front row seat to this schmooze and I was livid. ... I stood up and shouted: “So what, what’s the big deal that they wore blue shirts?!?!” I then stormed out of the room.
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.
-Mark Twain
It was one of those forms where you have to check off the boxes that describe you.
Great, I thought, multiple choice is so easy.
I got stuck right after the "Name" field.
The first question wasn't. It was simply a list of labels. Affix to forehead as needed.
I thought for a while.
I was relieved to see "Other" as an option. I guess these shadchanim are not as narrow-minded as I'd assumed. I put a check in the adjacent box and wrote "Shomer Torah uMitzvos" in the space provided.
The following part was a little game: I was to read a list of character traits and put a mark by No, Somewhat, or Very as they apply to me.
Outgoing: Well, I'm not the life of a party, but I certainly do go out. I checked "Somewhat."
Friendly: I have friends, but I don't talk to strangers much.
"Somewhat."
Smart: I'm no dummy, but not Einstein either. "Somewhat."
Materialistic: Hum. They're really hoping to weed out the Japs with this one, aren't they? Let's see, I'm not spoiled but I do live a physical existence. "Somewhat."
Page 1: Use it.
The End.
What most struck me was the team that was going to tribal council (where a member of the tribe would be voted off). The council happened to be taking place on a Friday night. Before they left for the council, one of the members got up and said, "You know I am not religious, but every Friday night I have "kabalat Shabbat" with my family. I would like to do it here as well, and whoever wants to, can join me." With that said, he lifted up his canteen, and made a full kiddush over the water inside it, and then proceeded to make "Hamotzi" over the bread.
And, in the morning, as she was preparing for school, I noticed that she had put his picture in her backpack to take to school. When Aliza was done carefully putting it in the backpack, she turned and tried to say something in English. She was missing the word.
A few weeks ago, the cellular phone company sent along a set of magnets that contain words and my kids have been playing with them on the refrigerator, leaving notes for people written out by placing individual words in a line. She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled off one small magnet and brought it to me. It was the Hebrew word for "missing." She was missing Elie, she explained sadly.
Mr. Karnofsky and Mr. Hassenfeld, both 26, are the founders and sole employees of GiveWell, which studies charities in particular fields and ranks them on their effectiveness. GiveWell is supported by a charity they created, the Clear Fund, which makes grants to charities they recommend in their research.Why it's important:
While 34 percent of wealthy donors who responded to a survey sponsored by the Bank of America said they wanted more information on nonprofits, almost three-quarters said they would give more if charities spent less on administration.I'd love to see this done for Jewish charities, though it's so hard to get the information necessary.
“There is no expectation of additional wastage or float,” Mr. Dellaverson said.Honestly, if that were true, then they're simply idiots for not factoring it in.
Shloshim for Yonah will IY"H be on 11 Teves / 20 December. There will be a gathering commemorating Yonah's shloshim at 11am on Sunday, December 23rd at Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Baltimore - 6221 Greenspring Avenue. Several of Yonah's friends and family will share their thoughts and memories.I will iyH be at the Shloshim, which will have a few very short speeches. I understand that R' Gottlieb will be one of them, and sometime contributor/commenter to this blog and good friend of mine Reb Abe (who is excellent and always asked to speak) will be another.Israel Update: The Aliya L'Kever will be this Friday, December 21, at 10:30am. For information, please contact Dina at dinaxoz@gmail.com or through Facebook.
According to an article in the NY Blueprint, a Kosher, Manhattan restaurant (”Talia’s”) is now offering a Kosher cheeseburger - made with soy cheese.The comments at Yeshiva World are rather humorous (alternatively, depressing) as almost all of them decry this as some kind of shanda. I'm reminded yet again that some mindsets are simply hard to fathom. While I understand why some people would initially make a face at the idea, and perhaps even voice concerns about ma'aras ayin or chinuch if others might think that cheeseburgers made of meat and cheese are kosher as well, I'd presume that it is quite clear the restaurant is using soy products - much as Subway does, much as any kosher place which uses soy or other 'fake' products to replace dairy or meat products that otherwise wouldn't be found with the food being served.The following are excerpts of the article:
“After many attempts to melt the cheese, they found the right temperature in a 1950 degree (F) broiler. A broiler so hot it can cook a steak in minutes. As the chef placed my burger in the broiler I watched the cheese melt over it. He placed it on a toasted bun topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles and I walked my burger back to my table.
Like myself, Effie (owner of the restaurant), had never had a cheeseburger before, so he brought some non-Jewish friends to try out his new burger and they loved it. He told me that he’s had some lactose intolerant, non-kosher, customers order the burger.
With my cheeseburger, side of fries and a coke, I felt like I was in a diner of a classic old film, another experience we kosher-eating-Jews don’t have in New York.
While I may not know what a meat and dairy cheeseburger tastes like, I can tell you that Talia’s Steakhouse will serve you a well-prepared kosher cheeseburger with all the looks of the real thing.”
"[Life is] not about getting what you want... it's about wanting what you've got."
One illustrative contrast with Giuliani can be found on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. Here is McCain:The long-elusive quest for peace between Israel and the Palestinians must remain a priority. But the goal must be a genuine peace, and so Hamas must be isolated even as the United States intensifies its commitment to finding an enduring settlement.
Here's Giuliani:
McCain is business as usual — even though there is no good reason why the quest for peace between Israel and the Palestinians should be a priority, much less that we should intensify our commitment to a settlement in the absence of Palestinian fitness for statehood. Giuliani says we can talk about it after the Palestinians grow up. That's rather a large difference, and it's far from the only one.History demonstrates that democracy usually follows good governance, not the reverse. U.S. assistance can do much to set nations on the road to democracy, but we must be realistic about how much we can accomplish alone and how long it will take to achieve lasting progress. The election of Hamas in the Palestinian-controlled territories is a case in point. The problem there is not the lack of statehood but corrupt and unaccountable governance. The Palestinian people need decent governance first, as a prerequisite for statehood. Too much emphasis has been placed on brokering negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians — negotiations that bring up the same issues again and again. It is not in the interest of the United States, at a time when it is being threatened by Islamist terrorists, to assist the creation of another state that will support terrorism. Palestinian statehood will have to be earned through sustained good governance, a clear commitment to fighting terrorism, and a willingness to live in peace with Israel.
The Cohen family was on very good terms with their Roman Catholic neighbors, the O'Briens. In fact, little Yaakov Cohen and Christopher O'Brian from next door would play together from time to time. Or at least they used to.* He often makes up his own jokes, though I don't know if he wrote this or got it from someone.
Well, one late December's day, Duncan O'Brien, the non-Jewish father, came storming in to the Cohen's house holding poor Yaakov by the ear. "Your son is not going near my Chris again; he just has no respect for us and our religion!"
"What's the matter; what did he do?" inquired Mr. Cohen.
"I'll tell you". said Duncan in a rage. "He saw our Christmas tree and started making fun."
"Really, what did he say?" continued Mr. Cohen.
Duncan said, "He saw our tree and started asking all sorts of ridiculous questions - which kinds of pine trees can be used for a Christmas tree? What's the minimum required height? How close to the window does it need to be? Do too many decorations render it unfit? What if it's under a neighbor's balcony?!"
Blogging is really a conversation.
OMG lololololl
LOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLthe vid finally loadedslightly disturbingbut soooooooooo funny!!!!!!
i dont think u know how hard i am laughing righ tnowOMGi dont even know what to say abt that
While the Commentator article mentioned a memo I wrote to Young Israel branch synagogues, the author never contacted me for my comments. My law practice is listed and the NCYI Web site has a direct link to my email address.How can the Commentator not have asked any of the readily available sources for comments?
One must also question the absence of any comment by Yeshiva University President Richard Joel, a member of Young Israel of North Riverdale, NY. Nor, for that matter, did the article contain any comments by Rabbis Zevulun Charlap, Mordechai Willig (a member of the NCYI Vaad Halacha,) Kenneth Auman, Reuvain Fink, Shmuel Hain, Shlomo Hochberg, Ari Jacobson, Yaakov Lerner, Aaron Levine, Marc Penner, or Eliyahu Boruch Shulman who serve as Young Israel rabbis and are employed by Yeshiva University.
J [whisper]: I'm in Shechem... about to enter Kever Yosef.'Twas a bit crazy, but pretty cool. You can read the whole story here, and he has some video as well.
E: What?!
J [whisper]: About to enter Kever Yosef... haven't been here in a long time.
E: How'd you get there?!
J [whisper]: Special with the IDF. ... Okay, gotta run, give me your name ... talk to you later.
If you can help, please do. Every little bit helps. Thank you so much.Yonah Goldman Benefit Fund:
A fund has been created to assist Yonah's wife and son with everyday living expenses. Unfortunately, the fund is not tax deductible. However, ma'aser money can likely be donated. Anyone who would like to make a contribution can send it to:
Yonah Goldman Benefit Fund
c/o Rifka Starkman
69-63 137th St.
Flushing, NY 11367
Keren Moreshet Yonah:
An additional fund has been set up through Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Baltimore, called "Keren Moreshet Yonah."
Checks can be made payable to the Shomrei Emunah Tzedakah Fund with "Moreshet Yonah" indicated on the memo line.
Donations can be sent to the shul's office at:
Congregation Shomrei Emunah
6221 Greenspring Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21209Credit Card donations will also be accepted through the shul's office by calling (410) 358-8604.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
A freilichen Chanukah!
- Jacob Da Jew is now Da Jeweler! Congratulations.
- If you haven't seen it yet, this post by Corner Point is amazing.
- Jack denigrates Cleveland sports heroes at Jameel's;
- JoeSettler discusses an important charity which should show up sometimes in the WebAds box above called Warm the Needy.
- WBM notes some good news for Chanuka - Israel's secular population is turning more traditional. This will simply help the different populations understand one another much better.
- JBM is one of many bothered by an environmentalist call to have people light a candle less each night.
- LOR has some good Chanuka safety tips as usual, along with some Chanuka links.
- And S. notes a shul holding a $100,000 raffle... 200 years ago.
I smile at him.
“Good morning, son” he says. I cannot believe this is happening. I am staring at my first patient. Of course I won’t help cure him or prescribe his medication, but he doesn’t know that. In his eyes, I am a young man in a white coat, which must mean that I can help him.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Roberts,” I respond excitedly and with a higher pitch in my voice than I would have liked. Calm down, I tell myself, calm down. “My name is Moshe and I am a first year medical student. I am going to ask you some questions about your pain and medical history.”
There it is. I opened properly. I stated my name and clearly explained my status and purpose. Suddenly, I become more comfortable.
“So tell me, what brings you to the hospital today?”
Rules:I'm tagging any commenter who doesn't have their own blog [examples: Rea, Special Ed, G, Mommy, etc.] and any contributor here who doesn't have their own blog [Hyrax, MordyS, Pobody's Nerfect, etc.]. Here we go:
- 1. Link to your tagger and post the rules.
- 2. Share 7 facts about yourself; some random, some weird.
- 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names and link to them.
- 4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.
IT SNOWED IN NYC.