SoMeHoW Frum

DafYomi Dignifies Dream Destination

2012-02-16T22:16:00.015-05:00

When Rav Meir Shapiro first proposed the idea (At the first Agudah conference in 1923) that Jews all over the world should learn the same page of Talmud daily, completing the 2711 pages in approximately 7.5 years, his dream quickly became reality.

Yet nobody could possibly have dreamed that almost a century later, the Siyum celebration will take place in a destination which is the antithesis of all that Daf Yomi stands for - MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford NJ.

MetLife stadium is brand new, and is home for the metropolitan football teams, among them the New York Giants, this year's Superbowl champions.

This state-of-the-art arena has seating for 82,566 fans. It is the newest and most expensive of all NFL stadiums, and the DafYomi commission plans to seat over 90,000 individuals within.

Rabbonim and Maggidei Shiur will be afforded preferred seating. Women will comprise about 25% of the seats. Additionally, a Mechitza will separate between the men and women.

According to Wikipedia, Twenty giant high-definition-ready light emitting diode (LED) pylons display videos of the action. The pylons measure approximately 54 feet high by 20 feet wide. Inside, four 30 feet by 116 feet video displays from Daktronics, which incorporate high definition video technology, hang from each corner of the upper deck. This will enable just about anyone to follow the program, even from the cheapest seats.

Seats range from 18$ to 1000$, with the additional seating available on the field itself.

Daf Yomi celebrations have increased exponentially for the last few cycles. In 1975 there were only 1200 participants at the Manhattan Center. I was in attendance in 1982 when the Felt Forum was host to 5500 attendees. 1990 saw the Siyum in Madison Square Garden, and I joined 20,000 others along with many senior Roshei Yeshiva of the past generation. The highlight of the evening was the Maariv Tefillah, where the gentile ushers marvelled how 20,000 people could be totally silent during the Amidah.

1997 began the era of hook-ups, and the Nassau Coliseum joined MSG for a joint celebration. The most recent Siyum took place in 2005 at MSG and the Continental Airlines Arena, along with other sites for a total of 100,000 participants.

Although August 1st seems like a long time away, it will be here before you know it. Tickets are now on sale, so call the Agudah at (212) 797-9000 or Fax (646) 254-1610 or email siyumhashas@agudathisrael.org or call (877) SIYUM12. I assume this will be a sellout, and it will not be easy to find tickets when the summer rolls around.

Ticker-Tape Tuesday Tabs Treasury

2012-02-07T14:32:00.014-05:00

So it seems like the NY Giants were victorious, either because of, or despite of, prayer.

In any event, modern society deems athletic victors worthy of a parade down the Canyon-of-Heroes.

Why those who win football games are granted hero status, while war veterans are denied the same honor, is a mystery that escapes me. Yet if one can peer through the confetti snowed down upon the SuperBowl Champions, if one can tread through the garbage strewn streets of Lower Manhattan, one can perhaps find a silver lining meaning to this madness.

According to the numbers crunchers, NY will actually make money for the treasury. An estimated 500,000 to 1 million fans will line the parade route, spending an average 23 dollars each.

So after all is said and done, NYC will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Does Davening Determine Dynasties?

2012-02-02T12:30:00.024-05:00

Back in the 1980's, I was told that the local Shul made a MiSheberach for their football team the Shabbos preceding the Superbowl. I suppose it was the sacrilege of this action that contributed to their defeat a day later.

But this has been on my mind recently when I wondered whether fans' Davening actually helps or hinders the outcome on the gridiron, in the arena or on the diamond.

According to some Hashkafically, no blade of grass grows without divine intervention. So one can argue that prayer may be a factor in deciding a positive outcome. Just ask Tim Tebow (although it seems that prayer is not the only factor, considering he will not be in the big game).

When you think of sports dynasties, one conjures up images of baseball's New York Yankees, perhaps The Boston Red Sox. Basketball's LA Lakers and Boston Celtics. Football's Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco's Forty Niners and others.

The common denominator that one notices is that the cities that boast winning sports teams coincidentally maintain large Jewish populations. New York, Los Angeles, Boston (New England) etc.

One can therefore rightfully make the argument that prayer is a prelude to victory.

Yet the conundrum remains as to what happens when NY/NJ meets up with New England. Some say that the battle will take place on the Christian day of rest, but one can argue that the real battle takes place a day earlier, on the Jewish Day of Rest - at the Bimah.

Wicked Writers Warp Wikipedia

2012-01-27T11:07:00.015-05:00

The Frum World often seems to be a Johnny-Come-Lately in certain regards. Part of this might stem from the dictum "Chadash Asur Min HaTorah". Tradition by nature is very suspect of change, and people are uncomfortable in upsetting the apple cart. If it worked until now, we will not change it.

Yet time moves on. It is very easy to say that computers are not necessary in the schools, that cell phones are not necessary, that the internet is evil - that we've survived for thousands of years without this technology and therefore have no use for it now...yet these arguments eventually get stampeded and eventually we come around to figuring out how the new advances in science can actually help the Frum World thrive.

Computers have opened new windows in learning. Schools need not hire tutors when the same job can be performed over and over by a machine that does not tire. The internet has spawned new avenues for finding hard-to-find Seforim, and countless hours are saved as a result. Cell phones allow one to go out to learn, not tied to the house waiting for a call. Etc.

Yet one avenue where the FW has not caught up yet is in updating Wikipedia. [The concept of Wikipedia is to have all the world's information available to poor and rich alike. Money should not be an impediment to knowledge. Wikipedia allows anyone to update their encyclopedic website. If I know information about a concept or person, I can add to this world's knowledgebase so that others will now know the same information.]

While this concept is truly one of noble intention, unfortunately it is rife with abuse. Anyone with a grudge against someone else can simply post unflattering, even derogatory information and destroy a lifetime of good. A Rosh Yeshiva can counsel thousands of Talmidim for a jubilee, yet one disgruntled student can bury that RY with a few swift pecks at his keyboard. A doctor can serve faithfully for decades, then give it all up because of one crackpot with loose fingers.

My recommendation is that the Frum World hire publicists and scrubbers to ensure that their reputations remain clean. Waiting ten more years to figure this out and then try to undo the damage may be too late.

Three Threats Thankfully Thwarted

2012-01-24T13:54:00.017-05:00

Reading the news from time to time, one can get depressed from all the evil that exists in the world, particularly when it is perpetrated against fellow members of the tribe.

There was a time when we were not so wired, when days, weeks and even months passed before we were made aware of happenings outside our own backyards.

I often wonder how the current generation will turn out, due to the never ending bombardment of beeps, rings and TXT's. I've commented in the past what a blessing Shabbos is, how the entire electronic world is brought to a standstill for 25 hours, allowing one to regenerate and rejuvenate for the week ahead.

It boggles the mind how we've come so far so fast in so short a span in technological advances. Yet the psychological fallout of all these "improvements" may not be reaized for decades.

But aside from my familiar theme of Torah/technology, what I'd like to focus on for this post is Hakoras Hatov. Three unconnected instances of hate against Jewish people were newsworthy these past few weeks. A stolen Torah, A jewelry heist killing and the firebombing of a Shul. Surprisingly, they all came to a somewhat happy ending with law enforcement apprehending those responsible.

We must give much to thanks to our society which differs from the old European model and works to catch criminals who prey on others. If our great-great-granfathers would return from Europe, aside from the cars, planes, phones and rocketships, I think they would find having the police on our side one of the great advances of our modern era.

Ferocious Frogs Fight Faraoh

2012-01-22T16:01:00.002-05:00

HT: Gruntig

Lamenting Losing Letters' Legacy

2012-01-15T13:57:00.013-05:00

I remember going to camp as a child, when cellular phones were not commercially available. Several Ma Bell telephones served the entire camp population, yet these were seldom used due to the prohibitive cost of making a long distance call.

Communication was facilitated by postcards. Every several days one was supposed to write home, and part of the camp requirements were to come to camp prepared with a certain amount of prepaid postcards.

I can't describe the joy of being on the receiving end of a letter from home. Going to camp meant that one was virtually cut off from home, and getting news of one's loved ones was soothing balm to many a home-sick child.

Fast forward to the modern era of camping. Camps now have computer rooms whereby campers can stay in touch with their Facebook Friends. Campers have cell phone whereby parents and friends can TXT and call at anytime.

While I appreciate the advances of modern technology, I lament the missing postcards. I lament the nostaglic history that will no longer grace the scrapbooks and albums of the youngsters. I lament the history lost in The New Age of Psak.

And so too, the beautiful letters depicted in the new Artscroll volume above, may not have any modern additions, as letter writing goes the way of the dodo.

Communication, Collaboration: Cellular Calling

2012-01-11T13:53:00.021-05:00

I am always amazed at how technologically advanced we have become over previous generations.

Man has come a long way since the days of simply finding food, shelter and clothing.

Invention of fire, bow and arrow, metal-working, the wheel, hieroglyphics, alphabets, sea navigation, the printing press, steam engine for boats and trains, the assembly line, radio waves, sound recording, electricity, the automobile, airplane, rocketship, telephone, television, computers, air-conditioning, refrigeration, spacecraft, internet, lasers, nuclear technology, biotechnology, the space station and recently the mobile smart phone has proceded with dizzying pace.

In my youth, I thought that we had already discovered all possible inventions. Man had recently stepped on the moon, and it seems that there were no more spheres to conquer. Yet the past few decades have practically seen more inventions than the last millenia combined. This dizzying pace, confounded by the various "Springs" in the Arab World do not bode well for peace.

Yet for the believing Jew, they fit well into the prophecies of old. A grand battle of Gog and Magog is shaping up. Once thought to be the USA vs. the USSR, the battle now seems to be defined as the West vs. the Islamic World. Not only will the conflict be fought with unconventional weapons, but we are getting closer and closer to a technology war, whereby the fighting will be with our computers against theirs.

The dizzying pace of the technology race is one to be noted. I recently re-read a few pages of a popular mystery series from my youth, only to discover that the the villains cut the phone wires to prevent communication with the authorities. I laughed. Today's child would not understand, which explains why these books need to be updated every so often, to replace the roadsters of old with the modern equivalents.

A recurring theme on this blog is how technology is fueling a floundering belief. There was a time when people accepted as an act of faith that the arrival of Moshiach will be known throughout the world simultaneously. As time went on, there were those who questioned how such a thing will be possible; yet today's savvy technologically advanced youth will accept it as par for the "smartphone" course.

Shabbos Sounds So Sweet

2012-01-09T17:18:00.005-05:00

Click this link to watch without the coming attractions: purelink

See this link for more about purelink.

Hat Tip: YL

Tim Tebow Theological Triumph

2012-01-01T18:33:00.011-05:00

Not since Sandy Koufax refused to play on Yom Kippur, has a professional sports player worn his religion on his sleeve so prominently.

Tim Tebow, Quarterback/Runningback for the NFL Denver Broncos has quite a few accomplishments under his belt.

He was the first college football player ever to score 20 rushing touchdowns and 20 passing touchdowns the same year.

He was the first college football player to win the Heisman Trophy in only his Sophomore year. He is also the only home-schooled player ever to receive this honor.

He owned the NFL record for Jersey Sales even before he played his first professional game.

He has engineered some spectacular fourth-quarter-comebacks this season.

Yet what I consider to be his greatest accomplishment is his unabashed thanks that he shows on the field - as he prays publicly.

He should serve as an example to all of us not to be embarrassed to Daven to our creator - even in a public setting.

Yet what makes all of this more becoming, is the fact that doctors unsuccessfully tried to convince his mother to abort him. Thank G-d she refused.

Hidden Heirloom Heralds History - Happy Hanukkah

2011-12-25T12:45:00.007-05:00

click

Second Temple Era Seal Unveiled.

The Israel Antiquities Authority unveiled a rare ancient seal that underscores the bond of the Jewish people to Jerusalem.

Seems like another link identifying the Jewish People's right to the Makom HaMikdosh has been found.

A modern day Nes Chanukah.

This joins the recent find of a golden bell and many Mikvaos in the same area.

Sam Schmid Stumps Scientists

2011-12-25T08:29:00.007-05:00

click

Coma patient wakes up, speaks after nearly being taken off life support following crash...

What puzzles me when I read stories like this is the double standard of many. On one hand, they are reluctant to support the Death Penalty, for the minute chance that they might kill an innocent person, yet they are quick to remove life support, even though there is a small percentage whom recover.

Mafteach Manufacture Margin Muse

2011-12-20T23:01:00.010-05:00

Feldheim is Marketing a new Mafteach for Shas.

Me wonders why the Market for Material Manufactured in Hebrew Merits Minimal price, while the Match Made in English Measures More?

In other words, the list price for the Hebrew version of the Mafteach sells for 25.00 dollars, while the English equivalent sells for 30.00?

Many Minds Might Merit Meaning.

Goodnight Generation-Y, Gaming, Gadgets

2011-12-14T12:15:00.002-05:00

Agudah Advocates Against Automation (Internet)

2011-12-11T13:00:00.013-05:00

Rabbi Avrum Schorr made the following points at the Agudah convention:

1. The Tzibbur should be coming to the Rabbonim to ask how to stem the tide of losing Neshomos due to the new smart-phone/internet technologies.

2. A child said he would break an i-phone, being that his father was addicted to it and no longer had time for his children.

3. TXTing has destroyed Shabbos for many who become addicted to it.

4. People answer that they've been on the internet for years and have not seen any inappropriate content (ed. I find this hard to believe). Yet their children see them spending all day on the internet and the message they take away is how great the internet is. They don't differentiate between good and bad sites.

5. The anti-technology fight is war. One can't let up from fighting this war. For those who say it can't be won...look at Eretz Yisroel where Yeshiva people would be embarrassed to have a non-approved cellphone.

5b. Wonders how Mispallelim are not embarrassed to hand their i-phone to their Rav; when one button accesses Facebook, another button, Twitter.

6. Wants to create internet cafes in our neighborhoods, open 24x6 where filtered access will be available to all, and would remove the need to have internet in the homes.

7. Claims that i-phones are really for pleasure, not business.

8. Asked someone why they need i-phone, man responded that he can use the compass feature to show Mizrach...

9. Wondered aloud how one can be Mechanech a Bochur who has 150 movies on his i-phone.

10. Bemoaned the LH that is so prevalent in TXTing.

11. Related Moshol from Chofetz Chayim that a rich landowner once told his workers to only use filtered water in the house...one day they had a fire and the house burned down because they filtered it before they would throw in on the fire...said that everyone nowadays is worthy of fighting the technology war...even dirty water can help put out this fire.

Personally, I think the Rav has made some very important observations, yet I wonder if it can really work here in the USA. Furthermore, I wonder if people would be willing to give up the convenience of having the internet in their homes. Imagine telling women that they can use washing machines, but must only do so at the laundromat. I realize that the 2 cases are not exactly similar, just food for thought.

On the other hand, if this is really war, then perhaps this is the price we must pay for maintaining the purity and Kedusha of our people.

Please keep comments respectful.

Fiftythousand Free Folios Featured

2011-12-05T19:52:00.004-05:00

Mazel Tov to Hebrewbooks.org on reaching the 50,000 plateau!

50,000

Top Ten Things to Thank (Artscroll)

2011-11-24T09:07:00.030-05:00

Back in 1976, While America was celebrating her bicentennial, a new publishing phenomenon was born. Artscroll released a Shloshim commemoration volume on the Purim Megillah, a conglomeration of short commentaries and insights, culled from the classic Jewish commentators. Due to the unusual enthusiastic response, AS embarked on more and more exciting projects, as they realized there was a void in the market for classic Jewish literature, translated and annotated using the aforementioned Meforshim.

Emboldened by the early successes, AS took on other projects, building themselves a reputation for producing top quality books, both on the inside and the outside.

Recently, I've seen some AS bashing on other Jblogs, so I felt that on this day of Thanksgiving, I should express my appreciation towards the AS revolution. Below are 10 things that we owe AS, not in any particular order.

1. Aesthetics:

AS has raised the level of Jewish book publishing to a new plateau. There was a time when the term "Seforim Store" conjured up images in one's mind of dilapidated quarters on the Lower East Side, where the proprietor would wait for his disheveled customers to choose a Sefer from the overladen, decrepit bookshelves. Eichler's of Flatbush changed that image, in the early 80's, expanding from a one-storefront to a three-storefront superstore; clean and immaculate, with music playing in the background. In my opinion, much of Eichler's success was due to the new AS market, as the customer was now the typical Flatbush Baal Haabos, not the nerdy bespectacled scholar. AS's Seforim, in addition to the content, were produced to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, in addition to being well bound by their SeferCraft Inc. bookbinder.

2. The Shul Siddur:

In 1984, AS produced their first Siddur. It was a weekday/shabbos Siddur, yet it came with English translation, commentary on the bottom, contained every possible Tefilah one could ever need, and had easy instructions. In addition, they ensured that there would be minimal "flipping" around. They even produced an RCA edition, to satisfy the MO community that preferred the Prayer for the State of Israel and some other minor changes. Shortly thereafter they published the Siddur with a Russian translation, to ease the transition of Russian emigrants during the Glasnost and Perestroika era. AS also produced a children's edition, and finally an all Hebrew edition which has gradually taken over the Shul market, being cheap and sporting a superior binding. Additionally, their linear Siddurim, with bi-directional flow, have become favorites of many.

3. The Shul Chumash:

In 1993, they offered a Shul Chumash. This was a fantastic work, culling insights from a myriad of scholars over the centuries. Much thought went into it's production, even the height was altered so as to fit the average Shul shelf. A classic. In 2004, they initiated the all-Hebrew version, which is also slowly cornering the "Shul Chumash" market, being of long lasting quality binding and cheap in price.

4. Rashi/Ramban on Chumash:

Pure classics. Monumental works which required much research which clearly shows in the end-product. The old blue linear Rashi translations have been totally replaced by the AS Rashi (1995-1998). The notes are superior, explaining much of the French/Laaz and just about any question one could have on Rashi will be explained in those notes. The Ramban (2004-2010) is similarly a fabulous work, easily usable by the scholar and layman alike. Sure to become the definitive Ramban translation for anyone studying this work.

5. Machzorim:

Following on the successes of the Siddur, AS published the full set of Machzorim. RH, YK, Pesach, Shavuous and Sukkos. True to the AS tradition, these Machzorim provided easy instruction, simple translation, no flipping, and interesting footnotes. Also they complemented the works with a short summary of Halachos in the back. Upper end leatherbound editions were also marketed. In 2003 and 2004, they also introduced the bi-linear versions of the RH and YK Machzorim, to make it easier to know the meaning of what one is saying as one is saying it. Similar bi-linear versions of Tehillim, Selichos and Kinnos were also published.

Notable though, was an unheard of recall for the Sukkos Machzor. Due to a minor error, AS recalled the entire shipment of Machzorim, and replaced them with a brand new version. [Recently I've read how there are mistakes in the new Koren Machzorim, yet I have not heard of any such unprecedented recall as was done by AS.]

6. Font:

AS has ~~produced their own font~~popularized a font , which is easy on the eye and has become easily recognizable world-wide as the AS font. My only complaint about this font, which is fine for adults, is that children who are learning to read would do better with a fuller version of the letters.

7. Daf Yomi:

A good portion of the Daf Yomi success can be claimed by AS. Their Shas project, begun in 1991 with the publication of Mesechta Megillah, and recently completed (2005), made learning the Daf something that anyone could do. While many may argue that it is a crutch, no one can deny that thousands have been added to the Daf Yomi rosters since the advent of the AS translation. Going from the Felt Forum to Madison Square Garden to dual arenas and now a stadium, AS can be proud to have had a hand in this Kiddush Hashem. Additionally, AS has produced a Hebrew version, French, and now they embark on the Yerushalmi. Heroic!

8. Halacha:

Classics have been produced in many areas, inclusing Kashrus, Shabbos, Niddah and Aveilus. Their "Mourning in Halacha" is certainly a classic, enabling one to know what to do in the time of need. Rabbi Forst's Seforim are excellent references for one to be guided by.

9. Biographies:

Great for the youth to have role models. Reb Yaakov, Reb Moshe etc.and many of the Gedolim of yesteryear come to life in these well written books.

10. Shaar Press:

A new Label created primarily for Rabbi Berel Wein and now includes any publication that does not fit 100% Hashkafically under the AS umbrella. Notable is the History Trilogy begun by RBW in 1990 and completed in 1995. Shaar Press has a picture of a "gate", as their monogram, but sometimes I wonder if Shaar Press was named for the other meaning of Shaar...as in remainder, left-over.

Heimishe Habilitate Hemorrhaging Hospital (Revival of Peninsula)

2011-11-16T15:44:00.018-05:00

In January of this year, Mishpacha Magazine printed an article which featured Rabbi Yaakov Spitzer, Holocaust survivor and founder of Revival Home Care.

Jewish people have long been involved in Healthcare. Many doctors, pharmacists, medical supply providers, EMT's, ambulance services...all prominently feature Jewish "blood".

Perhaps this is an outgrowth of our forefather, Avraham Avinu. Hospitality, Health, Hatzaloh, Humanities, Helping etc. are all part of the Jewish psyche.

Noteworthy is the news item that it was Orthodox investors, primarily comprised of Revival Home Care, who stepped in to save the Hospital from closure, saving many jobs. I wish them much Hatzlocho.

(Reb) NossonTzvi's Normalcy, Niceness Noted

2011-11-10T22:31:00.011-05:00

This past week saw the unfortunate passing of many of Klal Yisrael's best. Notable atop the list was the Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, Reb Nosson Tzvi Finkel ZTL.

What is most gratifying is that this was a rare occasion where even the most acrimonious blogs had positive things to say.

RNTF had humble origins, growing up as an all-American boy in Chicago. Nevertheless, with perseverance he was able to rise to the prominent position of Rosh Yeshiva of the Yerushalayim Mirrer Yeshiva.

I only met RNTF several times, yet all times his perennial smile adorned his face.

Considering that he suffered constantly from many illnesses during his life, this is remarkable. Yet what I find even more amazing is that he built the Mir Yeshiva into one of the largest, if not the largest Yeshiva in the world. The Yeshiva debt has been estimated in the millions of dollars. This must have weighed heavily on him, as the burden for raising the necessary funds lay squarely on his shoulders. Yet his trademark smile never left his face.

I am reminded of a little known story regarding R' Meir Shapiro and his Yeshiva, Chachmei Lublin. RMS, in addition to creating Daf Yomi had grand ideas to found a Yeshiva which would attract the best Bochurim from all over the world. The entrance fee was to know several hundred Blatt by heart. The Yeshiva rivaled the amenities of the Yeshivos of our day. There was a huge library, dormitory and dining room all housed on the Yeshiva's premises.

Yet while it was difficult to find funds to erect the beautiful edifice, maintaining it proved to be a monumental task. Similar to the Roshei Yeshiva of our day, RMS was frequently forced to travel overseas to collect money for his institution. Perhaps it was the burden of maintaining YCL that eventually led to his demise, at 46 years of age.

In the biography on RMS, titled "A Blaze in the Darkening Gloom", a most fascinating story is told. It seems that the Prudential Insurance Company opened an office in Poland and the local representative figured it would make good business sense to offer a cheap policy to RMS as a publicity stunt. RMS named the Yeshiva as the beneficiary in the event of his death. It was this 50,000 dollars that staved off bankruptcy.

Similarly, RNTF may have been literaly Moser Nefesh for his Yeshiva. Perhaps his demise will be the catalyst for a successful emergency campaign to return the Mir to financial stability.

Prisoner's Pidyon Price Prohibitive (Gilad Shalit)

2011-11-07T14:44:00.021-05:00

Several weeks ago, Samuel Freedman offered up this essay in the NYT.

The story of Abraham saving Lot represents the earliest of a series of examples of the concept of “pidyon shvuyim” — redeeming the captives, invariably at a cost — in Jewish Scripture, rabbinic commentaries and legal codes. That concept, absorbed into the secular culture of the Israeli state and the Zionist movement, helped validate the steep, indeed controversial, price of Sergeant Shalit’s liberation.

Interestingly, he makes note of the juxtaposition between the deal to free Gilad Shalit and Avrohom Avinu's pursuit to secure Lot's release during the War of the 4 vs.5 Kings.

Yet I heard in the name of Rabbi JD Bleich that surprisingly enough, the fact that AA engaged in this act of "Pidyon Shevuyim" still is not sourced anywhere as this being the Makor for the Mitzvah of PS, and is in fact incorrect. The source for PS is the Talmud BB 8a/b, codified in the Shulchan Aruch in Siman 252 of Yoreh Deah that deals with Tzedakah. It seems that the entire Mitzvah is predicated on the idea of altruism.

רבה רמא צדקה איתמי דבי בר מריון א"ל אביי והתני רב שמואל בר יהודה אין פוסקין צדקה על היתומים אפילו לפדיון שבוים א"ל אנא לאחשובינהו קא עבידנא איפרא הורמיז אימיה דשבור מלכא שדרה ארנקא דדינרי לקמיה דרב יוסף אמרה ליהוי למצוה רבה יתיב רב יוסף וקא מעיין בה מאי מצוה רבה א"ל אביי מדתני רב שמואל בר יהודה אין פוסקין צדקה על היתומים אפילו לפדיון שבוים שמע מינה פדיון
פדיון שבוים מצוה רבה היא אמר ליה רבא לרבה בר מרי מנא הא מילתא דאמור רבנן דפדיון שבוים מצוה רבה היא א"ל דכתיב והיה כי יאמרו אליך אנה נצא ואמרת אליהם כה אמר ה' אשר למות למות ואשר לחרב לחרב ואשר לרעב לרעב ואשר לשבי לשבי

So the question is: Why is the rescue of Lot not listed as the source, being that the Talmud endeavors to bring a source and only does so somewhat from the Navi Yermiyahu?

Answered RJDB, with a Medrash. The Medrash says that the "318" people that AA took with him, was really only his trusted servant Eliezer (which adds up to the Gematria of 318). What happened to all of AA's entourage? It seems that when they realized the danger of rescue, they slipped away one by one until only Eliezer remained. They reasoned correctly, that they were not obligated to rescue Lot by putting their own lives in danger.

Which could be why AA/Lot is not the source for PS. PS is perhaps using one's assets to secure release of another, but one needn't endanger his/her own well-being!

{Having an extra 1,000 terrorists on the streets is definitely, based on statistics, dangerous to one's population. Hence freeing GS is not necessarily PS, and is probably prohibited. I imagine that AA was able to rely on his Zechusim, but I don't think that Netanyahu is on the same Madrega.}

Disclaimer: This is only 2nd hand, so it is quite possible that the person who shared this thought with me heard/understood incorrectly.

Composer Carlebach Creates Chiddushim

2011-11-03T17:16:00.004-04:00

I have posted several times on R' Shlomo Carlebach, one of the great pioneers of true Jewish music. This coming week will be the Yahrtzeit, consequently a new post is in order.

Recently, one of RSC's Talmidim has published some of his Chiddushim. I have not seen the Sefer, so I can't comment on it, although based on past experience I would imagine it will probably be of the Chassidic genre.

The best book I ever read about RSC is Holy Brother, by Yitti Halberstam. The stories are remarkable. It is in my opinion, one of the best books written in English for the Jewish public. What I find notable about the book, is that there are so many stories which portray his innate drive to help the unfortunate. It was typical of him to give away all his money, and when he passed away, it is said that all he had left were his daughters and 20,000 Seforim.

For some vintage RSC, see this.

Kad Yasvin composed by the Chazon Ish?

2011-10-26T00:27:00.030-04:00

One of the most beautiful and haunting Jewish melodies is Kad Yasvin Yisroel. I recall this song from the David Werdyger album pictured above. The jacket claims that the song was composed by the Chazon Ish, and the words are from the Zohar, yet both claims seem to be incorrect. Also making that claim is the following website:

There is a beautiful phrase recorded in the Zohar about the
greatness of Torah learning. When the Chazon Ish (Rabbi Avrohom Yeshayah
Karelitz zt'l) read the words, he went into a secluded room and composed
a song out of it: "Kad yasvin Yisroel v'askin b'simchas haTorah Kudsha
Brich Hu omer l'famalya dilay: chazu chazu banay chaveevay d'mishatkchin
b'tzarah dilan v'askin b'chedvasah dili- When Klal Yisroel are sitting
and engaging in Torah study, the Holy One, blessed is He, says to his
heavenly army: 'See! See! My beloved children who forget about their
personal problems and engage in My delight'."

In October of last year, Gruntig posted the song along with the following...

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Oldie of the Week ~ Kad Yasvin - 1969

The ninth song in this series features the song "Kad Yasvin" from the album "Cantor David Werdyger sings Melodies of Camp Kol-Ree-Nah" accompanied by the orchestra and the camp choir. Musical director, Yaakov Goldstein. The album was released in 1969.

Soloists are, Mordechi Werdyger AKA MBD (pictured left, early 1970's), his brother child soloist Mendy Werdyger and their father David Werdyger, Tzum Langer Yuhren.

Popular belief is that these words are from the Zohar and the Tune is from the Chazon Ish.

In the words written on the album cover:

"Words of the Zohar Hakodosh set to the music by the sainted Chazon Ish, who fittingly portrayed its deep meaning."

However I've heard that many have failed to find these exact words written in the Zohar. Some are adamant that it is in the Zohar, perhaps in the Hahsmatos, while others says only its concept is form the Zohar (זהר במדבר דף קיח ע"א).

Also regarding the composition of the song, some say that it actually was not composed by the Chazon Ish himself but rather by someone else and the Chazon Ish liked it very much so it became known as his song. Similar to some Negunim of Rebbes.

They sang this song at the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Farbrengen in Tishrei, (i think Simchas Torah) 5722 (1961) and i heard from someone who was there that the Rebbe was very serious and Fardveikut.

Lyrics:
כד יתבון ישראל ועוסקין בשמחת התורה
קודשא ברוך הוא אומר לפמליא דיליה
חזו בני חביבי
דמשתכחין בצערא דילהון ועוסקין בחדותא דילי
[Zohar Hakodosh (see above)]

English Translation:
When the Jewish people immerse themselves in the joy of stydying Torah , the the Holy One Blessed is He, Says to all His heavenly hosts: Look! look at at my beloved children as they forget their own sufferings and immerse themselvs in my loving Torah.

This past week, Mishpacha magazine published the following:

Lyrics and Legends

Kad Yasvin

1980. The lecture hall was filled to capacity, as a varied group of scholars gathered for the Jerusalem Yarchei Kallah. An esteemed rosh yeshivah from Yerushalayim took his place at the speaker’s podium and introduced his topic — the analysis of an ancient song, sung by Jews across the globe, whose source is hazy: “Kad Yasvin Yisrael.”

The stirring song is sung at several occasions on the Jewish calendar, most prominently on Shavuos and Simchas Torah. It’s famous not only because of its potent lyrics, but also because of its emotive melody. But its history is filled with question marks. Who composed its famed lyrics and melody? When was it first shared with the public?

During that Yarchei Kallah conference three decades ago, the rosh yeshivah quoted the words of this exceptional niggun. At the end of his speech, he challenged his audience to uncover the roots of this song. “Whoever manages to do so, I’ll address with the title of ‘Mori v’Rabi,’” he added.

Sitting in the audience was Jerusalemite researcher Yisrael Gellis, who resolved to accept the challenge. Following five years of research, Gellis finally unearthed an ancient machzor called “Machzor Vilna HaRishon — The First Vilna Machzor.” Beneath the text of hakafos for Simchas Torah, he discovered the words of this famous song: “Kad yasvin Yisrael — When Yisrael engages in the joy of the Torah, HaKadosh Baruch Hu tells His heavenly court, ‘Look and see My dear children who forget their tribulations and engage in my beloved [Torah].’” The inscription was followed by a comment that the lyrics had been created by none other than the Vilna Gaon. According to the notes in the machzor, the Vilna Gaon sang these words each and every year during the third hakafah on Simchas Torah.

Throughout the course of his research, Gellis also encountered a Yerushalmi talmid chacham named Rav Kalman Landau, a rosh yeshivah in Tchebin, who had heard the same song sung by the Chazon Ish ztz”l. The Chazon Ish recalled this song from his small hometown of Karelitz, located between Vilna and Eishyshok on the border of Belarus and Lithuania.

It has been reported that Kad Yasvin was a favorite of Rav Yitzchak Hutner. Also, according to Lubavitch sources, it seems like the Chabad Rebbe also enjoyed this Nigun. Lubavitch

שיחות קודש תשכ"ב - מנחם מנדל שניאורסאהן

בם״ד. כ״ט תשרי היתשכ״ב. צאתכם לשלום להאורחים שהגיעו מארץ ישראל.
הנחה פרסית בלתי מוגה
(ניגנו אידה ניגון ואח״כ אמר כ״ק אדמו״ר שלים״א: דא איז דא לידר מסתמא,
גערעדט וועגו א נייעם ניגוו, האסם עפעס אויסגעלעדגט דא? נו, איז קלייב צו־זאמען
די תלמידים און זינגס מיט אלעמען פון זיי. וניגן את הניגון "כד יתבון" עם כל הקהל,
וכשסיימו אמר כ״ק אדמו״ר שליט״א: ...וועסטו זאגן דעם הושיעה איצטער. וניגן עם כל
הקהל ניגון "הושיעה את עמר״).

בס״ד. שיחת יום ב׳ פ׳ נח, כ״ט תשרי, ה׳תשכ״ב.
— התוועדות ״צאתכם לשלום״ להאורחים שיחיו —
בלתי מוגה
[כ״ק אדמו״ר שליט״א צוה לא׳ האורחים שלימד ניגון חדש, לחזור
ולנגנו, וניגן את הניגון ״כד יתבון ישראל כו׳״. ואח״כ צוה כ״ק אדמו״ר
שליט״א שינגן הניגון ״הושיעה את עמך״].

Perhaps Mississippi Fred can dig up the above mentioned Machzor.

You can listen to the song on the Gruntig link above or it can be found along with 58 other Aderet compositions at Florida Atlantic University Music.

CholHamoed CommonSense: Canoeing, Camping.

2011-10-23T20:15:00.003-04:00

When I began writing this blog two years ago, I wasn't sure which direction the blog would take me. This is somewhat reminiscent of a book I read when I was a child titled "Little Bunny Follows His Nose". Sometimes you just need to follow your instincts wherever they may lead.

Many posts have focused on how technology has changed the Jewish world - for better or worse.

Another topic that frequently arises is the huge gap in generations...particularly this one and the one that preceded it. It is mind boggling to me how some of today's children never saw a phone with a cord, never saw a vinyl record, never had their hat get ruined in the Shabbos rain, never had to call a librarian for information - and never experienced a quiet walk in the woods without a connection to the outside world.

What pains me even more, and what prompted this post, was the new downloadable pdf's that announce all the available Chol HaMoed trips. Hershey Park, Dorney Park, concerts, trips to Florida, Canada, Eretz Yisroel...the list is endless.

Whatever happened to some good old fashioned fun? What is wrong with a father taking his sons to play baseball in the park? What about mothers taking their daughters rowing?. What is wrong with a family picnic in the park, or better yet camping and building a makeshift Sukkah?

I often wonder whether our generation had it better than the current one. I suppose our parents felt the same way. Their parents kashered chickens and lived in tenements without washing machines...their parents lived without television...their parents lived without horseless carriages etc. etc.

What is all boils down to is that everyone loves his own environment the best. People often prefer to live where they spent their childhood. Those who grew up without potato peelers prefer the knife, and those who grew up prior to the i-revolution prefer those old 33's, 45's and even 78's!

Jobs, Jibs, Jabs, Jubs

2011-10-09T12:08:00.011-04:00

Jobs: Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc.; tasks.
Jibs: refuse to comply.
Jabs: pokes.
Jubs: vessels.

A world pioneer in the computer revolution passed away prior to Yom Kippur. Another notable news story from the Aseres Yemei Teshuva is that the New York Yankees lost their playoff series.

Although I am not a Navi nor the son of one, one can speculate that the juxtaposition of these events to the AYT is one of divine intent.

The common denominator being that the Yankees are a billion dollar enterprise, yet all the money in the world does not automatically create a winner. Steve Jobs may have been one of the richest self-made men in the world; but all his money could not thwart the pancreatic disease that was visited upon him.

Steve Jobs (jobs) was an amazing entrepeneur. He built many companies (jobs), filed many patents and made the world a better place for many. We can learn perseverance (jabs) from him, as he was fired from the very company he created. Yet he went on to found other companies and eventually returned to Apple Inc. to lead the iRevolution. He refused to concede (jibs) when others saw defeat, instead creating vessels (jubs) to contain the world's apps and songs.

Although the Yankees pale in comparison, they still do offer a modicum of entertainment and keep many a youngster busy and out of trouble while they are in session. They also don't wither after being beaten, as they will be back again in the spring.

The lesson of Yom Kippur is that we seek Teshuva, we try our hardest, and in the event we fail, for most of us, there will always be next year.

TeXTing Targets Tardy Transports

2011-10-06T12:44:00.005-04:00

As with all new technology, there are pros and cons.

Whereas teenagers have flocked to the powers of SMS from the outset, it seems that their parents are now catching up and implementing the power of texting.

Often I wonder if I could have survived Yeshiva had the cell phone been invented in my day. I don't see how it is possible to properly learn while being attached to a leash.

Amar Abaye...PLS PU SHTS FRM CLNRS. TX XXX...Yiush Shelo Midas...SHIUR TONITE 9PM...Yaal Kigam...WASSUP. LNCH @ MENDY?...

Yet slowly we are all forced into the technology rat race. Who can survive today without a mobile phone? A decade ago they were only for the rich and famous.

So I was quite amused yesterday to see two news stories. The first announced that BMG has institued a new policy that for the new Zman, Bachurim will not be allowed to have internet or Texting capacity on their phones. The second story announced that several Mosdos in Boro Park have enabled parents to be notified via TXT MSG that their children's bus is X minutes away, or X stops away.

Imaginge not having to wait 30 minutes in the cold weather if the bus is late. You can now know exactly when it will arrive. You can know if it is stuck somewhere via the GPS signal.

So technology is a mixed blessing. As much as we are against the internet, we are for it. All I can say is that I am glad that I am not a teenager anymore.

related

Klal "Kindles" Kosher Kaleidoscope

2011-10-04T11:52:00.013-04:00

I am gratified to see another new Kosher journal. Klal Perspectives has been launched via electronic media.

I believe this is a first in several regards.

First Orthodox journal that is entirely electronic. First kosher journal that is entirely focused on how to envision and preempt the challenges of the future. First to join a broad range of writer's perspectives to fulfill this endeavor.

Many current journals focus on how to follow Halacha in today's modern era. Klal serves more as a "think tank" in identifying the current issues and finding solutions for the future.

It is a pleasure to read the articles, as all the writer's are tops in their fields. Additionally, they are all writer's of eloquence.

Rabbi Zwiebel shares a profound thought of Rabbi Chaim Kohn regarding "Roeh Es HaNolad". Rabbi Bane points out an interesting insight regarding how the "father" job has been replaced by the Yeshiva Rebbe. Rabbi Adlerstein laments the "stifled individual creative thinking" that has become part and parcel of our Yeshiva system. Rabbi Hauer points our how principals used to beg for children to come to Yeshiva, whereas now you need to beg them. Rabbi Y. Rosenblum is concerned with role-reversal, in that the father used to be responsible for Parnassah, not the mother. He is also concerned with fitting all boys into the same mold.

Tuition, paying for Mehadrin Mitzvos, Setting Takanos to save the Klall money, how the internet has bettered and worsened our lives, Kosher LePesach Cheerios, book bannings and child abuse. It is all in the premier issue of Klal.

Available here.

Google Giant 's Global Growth

2011-09-27T18:15:00.008-04:00

Can one imagine a world without Google? It is astoundingly amazing to think that a mere 13 years ago they did not exist!

Yet this month Google celebrates their Bar Mitzvah. Our world has changed so much in these past few years that it is worthy of note.

Web searches were primitive. There were no Google Earth satellite images. People used maps from the AAA before MapQuest was launched. If you wanted an image for your document, you needed the primitive ClipArt. Now we have Google Images. How-to videos abound on YouTube. There are non-stop news feeds. There is Gmail. There is Google Translate. Google has it's own Toolbar. Google has it's own browser (Chrome). There is Google Scholar for academics. There is Picasa for pictures. There are Google Groups. Google Docs. Droid. Code snippets. Google Books. Of course there is Blogger...and much, much more.

What boggles the mind is that each of these applications would require resources of a giant corporation (in fact many of them were), yet Google incorporates all these aspects and continues to monopolize and grow.

Yet 99% of their revenue comes from advertisements!

It is worth noting that storing and locating information is what drives the internet. I've mentioned in the past how technology has enhanced our Emunah, making it easy to believe that all our actions are recorded in an everlasting book. Computers and the internet have made it easy. It is perhaps no strange coincidence that the first 2 letter of God and Google coincide.

Kesiva V'Chasima Tova!

Marvelous Musical Memories Megasite

2011-09-25T22:10:00.010-04:00

The electronic age has brought us the fabulous Hebrewbooks.org website, where close to 50,000 Seforim are now available for free download, or simply to look up a source. No longer does one need to visit a brick-and-mortar Shul, Yeshiva, Seforim store or library to find a necessary Sefer.

The good folks at Florida Atlantic University have now brought us the beginnings of a musical equivalent. One may search for old phonograph recordings which are no longer available.

There are over 1,000 albums to choose from. One may choose from either Cantorial, Chassidic, Children, Comedy, Holiday, Israeli, Sephardic or Yiddish. Several albums/performers that I was familiar with were: Neginah, David Werdyger, Safam, Rosenblatt, Jo Amar, Ben Zion Shenker, Ben Zion Miller, The Rabbis Sons and Kol Salonika.

One can listen to the entire recording in order, or one can skip around. One can view the back and front covers of the albums, to see who composed the songs and who sang them. It is a fantastic trip down memory lane to view the names in Jewish music of yesteryear.

We are moving closer and closer to the day when every possible bit of information will be at our fingertips. What was once lacking due to funds or resources is now only lacking due to time. So many records. So little time. As mentioned before on this blog, this should cause us to reflect, especially in these days of Tishrei, on how we can better make use of our time.

Hat Tip: RYGB

Jaded Jokes Jar Judgement

2011-09-20T17:58:00.011-04:00

In my youth I heard the following joke:

Q: What are the names of the three cowboys featured in Adon Olam?
A: Billy Raishis, Billy Sachlis and ................................... Kid Ruchie.

Some years later one of the Jewish parody recordings saw fit to make fun of the Silent Prayer (Hinneni Heani) offered by the Chazan on the High Holidays before Musaf.

It took a while for me to shake these funny thoughts of cowboys, when Davening every morning. It took some time for me to appreciate the somberness of the Chazan's Tefilah prior to Musaf, without conjuring up images of cows lowing in the fields.

My feeling is that there are certain parts of Judaism, particularly the liturgy that should remain off-limits to parody.

What prompted me to write this is the now viral post of Aish's Rosh HaShana break-dancers. While it may succeed in showing that Jews can be hip and religious, I feel that it is sacreligious to portray Judgement Day in such light.

Have a meaningful New Year!

Bob Beats Barack's Buddy

2011-09-14T07:55:00.006-04:00

The election for Anthony Weiner's seat in the NY 9th congressional district has been decided in favor of Bob Turner.

I believe that the electorate of this district made a huge Kiddush Hashem by defying the Democrat machine and voted in conservative Republican Bob Turner.

Several months ago it had been unthinkable that a Republican would be able to win in this heavily Democratic district, considering that the Dems hold a 3 to 1 margin over Republicans in registered voters. This is the district that voted in Chuck Schumer and his protege, Anthony Weiner. Not since the 1920's has a Republican taken this seat in Congress.

Yet in the interim, David Weprin, a self-declared Orthodox Jew, voted in favor of same-gender marriage, and proudly marched in the parade which promoted this agenda.

While many Jews typically vote Democratic because of their concern for social ills, and also because they are often the recipient of social programs, I was proud to see that many voted their conscience even though it may conflict with their pocketbooks.

In an election that was seen by many nationally as a referendum on Barack Obama's policies, the way he is handling the economy and foreign policy regarding Israel, I was doubly proud to see this clear message sent to Washington that we will not be silent regarding the above mentioned issues.

Kudos to the many Rabbonim, Askonim, Bloggers and Websites who supported the Bob Turner candidacy.

Update: I would also like to mention that we have a Mesorah that Morality protects from destruction. Sodom was done in for breaches in morality. Many have noted that Vermont, which bore the brunt of the recent hurricane Irene was the first state to legislate in favor of same-gender marriage. Let us hope that the rejection of candidates who support SSM will serve as a protection for our great state of NY.

Twin Towers Three Thousand

2011-09-09T01:13:00.012-04:00

TRIBAL. TALIBAN. TENTACLES. TERRAIN. TYRANNY. TERRORISTS. TURBAN. TROJAN. TREACHERY. TRAUMATIZE. THREAT. TORMENT. TORTURE. TERRIBLE. TERRIFY. TREMOR. TWISTED. TREMBLE. TUNGSTEN. TRAVEL. TARMAC. TAKEOFF. TARGET. TURBOJET. TUMBLE. TUMULT. TURBINE. TURBULENT. THERMOBLAST. THRUST. THUNDER. TRAJECTORY. TOPPLE. TSA. TRIAGE. TATTERED. TEARS. TRAGEDY.

TOMBSTONES.

TANKS. TROOPS.

TISHREI. TESHUVA. TEFILLA. TZEDAKAH. TEKIAH. TERUAH.

TRIUMPH!

Hurricane "Hype" Hits Hard

2011-09-04T18:57:00.007-04:00

In the not so recent past, meteorologists left much to be desired. Weather reports were usually 50/50, and one wondered why even pay these scientists when the layman could also produce such a round-robin score. It was not far from reality to find someone shoveling several inches of "the partly cloudy".

Yet this age of computer directed weather models has been strikingly accurate in recent years. They will tell you a blizzard is coming, they will tell you which hour it will start falling, and they will even tell you the final inch count, depending on which part of the city you live in.

It was noteworthy that the recent hurricane Irene was predicted with great accuracy. The weathermen were able to tell you when the rain would start to fall, the path of the storm, and the rate at which the hurricane would move on.

The irksome part was the incessant warnings of the newscasters. No other news story even had a chance. Harping and Hyping the Hurricane was deemed a necessity of the media.

For most of us, the hurricane caused little damage and we might have wondered why all the hype was necessary. Yet in reality, over 40 people lost their lives, and that is even though thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. Many lost power, many roads were washed away in Vermont and upstate New York. Travel back from camps was difficult to impossible for some.

Yet all in all, most of us emerged unscathed. Even so, we should heed the recent earthquake in the Northeast and the recent Hurricane as a wakeup call to do Teshuva. Elul time is always a time to reflect on world events as a reminder to us that Hashem runs the world. It is probably no accident that the 2 lives lost in NY unfortunately were members of the tribe.

Rebbe Restores Rustic Relic - (Woodbourne Shul Revived by Rabbi Mordechai Jungreis)

2011-08-30T00:57:00.013-04:00

A century ago, Jews flocked to the Catskill Mountains, not merely for the summer months, but to live year-round.

One of the primary reasons for the move, was the farming profession, which allowed Jews to keep the Shabbos. Corporate jobs in the city, required working six days a week, with Sunday as the only day of rest.

Monticello, Liberty, Hurleyville, Glen Wild, Woodridge, South Fallsburg, Ellenville, Livingston Manor and Woodbourne, to name a few, built beautiful town Shuls which remain standing to this day.

One of the pleasures of Davening in one of these rustic relics of the past is to admire the artwork on the walls, the high domed ceilings, the stained glass windows, the ancient radiators, the musty basements and the simplistic, yet endearing architecture of the Aronei Kodesh.

Although a few of these Shuls still operate year round, others gather dust until they are revived by their summer guests.

Several years ago, the Nikolsberger Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Jungreis, embarked on a plan to restore the Woodbourne Shul to it's former glory. Although Woodbourne hosted a Seforim store, the city was more famous for it's pizza, ice cream and pool tables, not to mention as serving as a meeting place for teenagers.

Rabbi Jungreis instituted round the clock Davening, provides hot food, cake and drinks as well as a listening ear for countless youngsters looking for guidance. The 93 year old Shul now serves as a bustling meeting place for Ruchniyus.

Kol HaKavod to the Rebbe.

Borscht Belt Bungalow Bygones - I Remember When II - Catskills Edition

2011-08-26T00:02:00.008-04:00

Some of my best memories occurred during various summers spent in the Catskill Mountains. As the summer draws to a close, I compiled a list of memories that will take the reader down memory lane - and hopefully inspire some nostalgic comments.

I remember when

Jamesway, Ames, Shopright, Sullivan's, Great American.
Mom's famous Woodbourne Pizza Knish.
4 corners waterfall and hitch-hiking.
Browns, Pines, Nevele, Raleigh, Homowack, Grossingers.
Kiamesha, Ellenville and Liberty bowling.
GL1-2121 Billboards.
Lucky Dip, Pizza, pool at Woodbourne.
Tomsco Falls.
Moped renting.
Produce and hayride at Taivail Farm, Woodbourne.
Ice Caves Mountain.

Orange County Fair.
Catskill Game Farm.
Apollo Mall.
Farmers Market.
Mountain Fruit.
MBD, Fried, Shlomo Carlebach concerts.
Bears, deer, skunk, raccoons.
Washing machine shortage after the 9 days.
Blueberry picking.
Candle in the bottle for Eicha.

Arts and Crafts.
Shabbos Nachamu.
Mountaindale Lions.
Hakol B'Sefer Schlep it sale.
Cocoa Club.
Mosquito bites.
Color War.
Camp Munk circus.
Canoeing at Morning Side, Liberty, Loch Sheldrake, White Lake.
Old Town Shuls.
Neversink river and reservoir.
Yeshiva South Fallsburgh.

Route 17, 42, 52.
Harris and Ellenville hospitals.
Peddlers.
Frogs, toads, salamanders.
Hiking.
Camp Fires Kumzitz.

Senator Sings Shabbos Songs - Joe Lieberman: The Gift of Rest

2011-08-18T22:26:00.013-04:00

Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman has recently published a book which describes the beauty and serenity of Shabbos, and his attempt to follow it's laws while serving as a public servant.

I think that it is very notable that such a high ranking official of the United States saw fit to write a book, geared to all Americans, that promotes the idea of a Day of Rest.

Joe serves as an important role model in asking that people turn off their electronic gadgets for one day a week. If a US senator is able to shut off his blackberry for 24 hours, certainly teenagers can be persuaded to give up TXTing for a day.

Aside from the Shabbos lessons that Joe is teaching fellow Americans, I especially appreciated the personal vignettes. His meeting with Sarah Palin, his Shabbos spent with Al and Tipper Gore, his conversation with George Bush II; these stories add a historic flair to a topic that I and most of my readers are fluently familiar with.

Notable is his explanation for publicly criticizing Bill Clinton in the Lewinsky matter, while still voting against impeachment. Also remarkable is his recounting of a Brocha his mother received from a Chassidic Rebbe, that he would grow up to be a "leader of people". Also noteworthy are his mentions of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchick, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson and Rabbi Johnathan Sacks.

The language is surprisingly simple. I would expect a Senator to use a rich vocabulary, yet I imagine that the simplicity is due to his genuine regard to teach the reader what Shabbos is, and why it is important.

As often mentioned on this blog, the messianic era is dawning. As our rabbis have taught us, if we all would keep 2 Shabbosos in a row, Moshiach would arrive. Perhaps having a high ranking official author such a book is a necessary step in reaching this goal.

Blood Bares Biblical Belief

2011-08-16T15:57:00.010-04:00

It has been in the news recently that a simple blood test can now determine whether an embryo is male or female. What is interesting, though, is that the determination can be made at a mere six weeks into pregnancy with 99% accuracy.

I find this interesting, because precisely 40 days into pregnancy is a significant milestone in the Talmud. The Talmud states in Berachos 54A

היתה אשתו מעוברת ואומר יהי רצון שתלד אשתי זכר הרי זו תפלת שוא

"If one's wife is pregnant and he says let it be thy will that my wife bears a son, this is a prayer in vain.”

Yet this is qualified by the codifiers that one may pray up until the 40th day after conception: See the Tur in Orach Chaim 230.

The Mishna Berurah (Orach Chaim 230:1) explains that this is because until 40 days, the embryo is not “formed” yet.

The source for this observation might be the Talmud in Menachos 99B

ר' יוחנן ור' אלעזר דאמרי תרוייהו תורה ניתנה בארבעים ונשמה נוצרה בארבעים

“Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Elazar both say that Torah is given at 'forty', and the soul is formed at 'forty'.”

All in all, I find this more than coincidental.

Project Inspire II

2011-08-09T20:11:00.001-04:00

See this post first

Reminiscing Remembering Reminding Reflecting

2011-08-05T14:12:00.015-04:00

These dog days of summer invariably lead one to reflect on the destruction of the Beis HaMikdosh. These are the days when tragedy crouches around the corner, waiting to rear it's ugly head.

Unfortunately, this year the beast was unleashed early. Chazal say that when destruction is visited upon us, we need to reflect on our deeds. While no one really knows what cause effects which affect, we can certainly speculate.

In my popular I remember when post, readers and I lamented on how simple life was years ago. One could drink orange juice made from concentrate, one could drive a yeshivishe car and one could attend Yeshiva Gedolah outside of Lakewood and still get married. One could even dwell in a bungalow with no telephone for 10 weeks.

Children did not get debilitating diseases and die, Jews did not molest and kill and no one felt the need to install security cameras. Meeting a Jew with a Yarmulka meant you were doing business with someone trustworthy.

Yet, as if to fulfill some macabre [deleted] dream, we have sadly tried to become a nation like all others. Perhaps we need to do a little more Avodas HaLev and make ourselves aware of our innate-difference so that our beacon once more shines on the other nations of the world and subsequently - ourselves.

Frum Fear Facebook Fraternizing

2011-07-31T12:20:00.020-04:00

Elsewhere on the internet it is being debated whether Rabbis should maintain a Facebook presence. I see both sides of this debate. On the one hand, a rabbi should be on a different plateau than his congregants, yet on the other hand, perhaps having the rabbi on FB makes him more hip and approachable by the younger generation.

As noted previously on this blog, all technology takes a certain amount of time to get used to. Most rabbis were not the first to carry cell phones and buy computers. Yet in just a few short years the cell phone and computer has become a vitual necessity.

Although we live amidst a secular culture and deem these gadgets necessities, it is commendable, though, for those who can manage without them. I recently heard the following thought conceived by Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz.

The midrash tells us that when Ya'akob's family took his coffin to the Me'arat Hamachpelah to bury him, Esav appeared and protested that the last spot in the cave belongs to him, Esav, and not to Ya'akob. The sons of Ya'akob began to argue with Esav, trying to prove that the right to burial in that cave was sold to their father with the birthright. Esav argues that this was not included, so they decided to send Naftali, who was as swift as a deer, to Egypt to bring the original document. Ya'akob had a grandson named Hushim (the son of Dan) who was deaf, and didn't hear all the give and take. When Hushim saw that Ya'akob was not being buried he asked (in some form of sign language), "Why is there a delay?" When he was told that Esav was blocking the burial, he took a weapon and chopped Esav's head off, saying, "How could we leave our grandfather, Ya'akob, lying in disgrace while we wait for a document?"

The Rabbis ask why only Hushim, the grandson of Ya'akob, had the inspiration to do such a courageous act. Where were all the sons of Ya'akob themselves? Surely they loved and respected their father at least as much as Hushim ben Dan!

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz says that we see from here what happens when we get used to something. The brothers were already involved in the negotiations with Esav so they didn't perceive it as such a disgrace for Ya'akob to be lying around since they were already somewhat accustomed to the situation. Hushim, however, was deaf, and didn't hear all that was going on. He therefore saw the situation in all of its stark reality, and reacted by killing Esav.

The lesson to be derived from this is that we all too often get accustomed to situations. Many times this is beneficial, so that we wouldn't always be shocked by things. Sometimes, however, being used to certain situations, we don't react the way we are supposed to. We become too accepting of things which should be corrected or spoken about. We should try to talk things over with an outsider who will see the situation from a fresh point of view, thereby getting an objective opinion. Sometimes, our spouse can be objective enough when he or she is not involved too deeply in whatever is bothering us. One way or another we should try to look at situations from a new, fresh perspective, which will help us in doing the right thing.

from here

So for those who can keep their Neshomos FB free, Kol HaKavod to them.

Little Leiby's Lesson Learned

2011-07-25T13:35:00.016-04:00

The beat towards Moshiach is growing louder and louder.

In my first-ever post, I discussed how technology is making the era of Moshiach that much more believeable. In a bygone era, those with Emunah Peshutah believed that there is an eye that sees, an ear that hears, a scribe that writes and that all our actions are recorded for infinity. Yet those with little Emunah, or none at all were puzzled how this is at all possible.

So along comes the telegraph, the phone, the radio, the television and the internet. Security cameras record our every move, TXT messages record our every word, CHAT records our instant message conversations. Big Brother is here.

For those who are skeptical of the arrival of the messianic era, this is all an invasion of privacy. But for those of us who have predicted his coming for several millenia, each new advance in technology brings him one step closer. One who truly fears God does not fear Big Brother, as a Yarei Shamayim is already cognizant of the fact that all his actions are scrutinized above.

I think that this is the lesson that we must learn from Leiby Kletzky HYD. It is not just by chance that security cameras caught the killer with him on tape. God is reinforcing this idea that "The King is Watching".

FBI agents will now be able to trace every web site the killer ever visited, every phone call he made in the last 10 years, every toll booth that he ever passed, and every aspect of his social life, as they comb his facebook account.

It is unfortunate that so great a lesson must be reinforced in such a tragic manner, but we should not squander the opportunity to do so.

Seers State Slaying's Source

2011-07-21T00:56:00.007-04:00

As members of the Chosen People, we believe that we were put on this earth to be a light unto the nations. That light burned brightly this past week as all segments of Jewry combined to assist in locating the missing child, and subsequently, the perpetrator.

What puzzles me is how various Rabbis are privy to the cause of such tragic events. Of course we know that there is a master running the world, with a master plan that eludes us, yet how does one pinpoint the cause unless he has a direct hotline to the heavens?

Is it because of Tzniyus? Is it because of same-gender marriage approval? Is it because of cell phones and TXTing? Or perhaps the Internet caused it. I guess we'll never know until we meet Leiby HY"D.

In any case, let me don my Seer's hat and look into my crystal ball.

Aha! I see it! It is because we have become news junkies. Up until a decade ago, we perhaps purchased a newspaper once in a while, or turned on the radio here and there. Nowadays, we insist on having news alerts and email all forwarded to our I-devices. We don't check in "two, three, four times a day". We check in constantly. We have a panic attack if we leave our I-device at home.

This sickness might be what brought about such a punishment. We were thrown into the limelight; our community made page one headlines around the country and the world. Every few hours were new updates and yet it was all for naught. We did not emerge unscathed.

I sometimes wonder how Beis Medrash Bochurim are able to learn nowadays in the TXTing age.

Community Could Create Cops

2011-07-15T17:49:00.013-04:00

Many years ago, when someone needed emergency medical assistance, they would need to call 911. Unfortunately, the response time of EMS all too often was not timely enough. One Williamsburg Jew cared enough to change all that, and Hatzoloh was born.

Some years ago, a new organization was formed, called Chaveirim. This group will come and unlock your house, your car and assist in many other non life-threatening situations.

Another organization that has burst onto the scene is Misaskim. In just a few short years they have gone from an obscure group to being THE people to call for any death related issues. Accident scenes, Shiva houses, loudspeakers for a Levaya, preventing autopsies, and many other related issues are all handled by this wonderful organization.

Which brings to mind that it may be time for another one. Ever since the Jblogosphere has been in infancy, there has been an ongoing battle between the Rabbonim and many Jbloggers regarding reporting potential molesters. Rabbonim are mindful of Halachos of Mesirah and possibly ruining a man's good reputation based on false rumors, and the Jbloggers are quick to say "Go to the Police!"

Recent events have shown that it was some good old fashioned detective work that solved the tragic murder in our community. It was some simple Jewish people who cared and doggedly pursued video footage and others who subsequently located the perpetrator's car.

If we have such dedicated and analytical people in our community, why not form a group trained by the NYPD who can be mindful of the laws of Loshon Hora and yet can pursue any and all leads regarding possible molestors in our midst?

Amidst all the sadness in this tragic epic is the Achdus which was once again shown by hundreds of volunteers. So many community leaders and lay persons put aside their summer plans and stayed up for hours on end to assist in a hunt for someone who most of them didn't even know.

May Hashem comfort the Kletzky family.

Mekimi Meets Mayor Mike

2011-07-13T17:57:00.015-04:00

There are many organizations that serve the Jewish community. One of the lesser known is Mekimi. Mekimi's mission is to provide happiness to sick children and their families. To raise one up from the deepest depths of sadness is the epitome of selflessness and to what the organization aspires.

I have seen some of their fabulous work in past press releases, yet this past July 4th one of my neighbors shared with me the family's experience, and since I could not find any mention of this in the media, I will share it with my readers.

I received a call from Mekimi that they had a viewing area for the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks display, was I interested? Sure, I said. I figured that my chances of getting a viewing area suitable to see the show were greater with a group than had I simply taken the train and fought the crowds on my own.

I arrived at Mekimi headquarters in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn and was astounded to see a coach bus waiting to ferry us to our location. I was somewhat concerned that we would miss the entire show, because the fireworks were designated to begin at darkness, 9:20 PM, and I was fearful of NYC traffic which is notorious for slowing to a crawl, even on highways during past fireworks shows.

What I hadn't known is that the Mayor/NYPD's office had provided a squad car with two officers who were to be our escort! The bus navigated the Boro Park streets until Ocean Parkway where we then zipped into the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. We emerged on the West Side Highway where I had never seen so many policemen in one area. Yet as if the Parting of the Sea was being reenacted, police barriers were removed to allow access solely for our escort and our bus.

We proceeded until 24th street. There we were amazed to be situated in an area reserved for the dignitaries and all the major television and cable channels. We were escorted out on the 24th street pier, where Mekimi had prepared sushi and deli sandwiches and drinks. The view was amazing on this picture-perfect, weather-perfect evening.

The grandstand was situated directly behind us. Soon we noticed a caravan of 6 SUV's with their cherries flashing stopping at 24th street. The Mayor emerged and proceeded past us, briefly stopping to shake hands with some and wishing well to others.

All in all, it was a wonderful sight. I had never seen fireworks so close. They were shot into the air from six barges sitting on the Hudson river. The coordination was stupendous. The colors were electrifying. This experience will stay with me and my children for a lifetime.

Thank you Mekimi.

Addiction Alters Appropriate Appreciation

2011-07-11T11:44:00.012-04:00

Reb Yaakov Kamenetzky said that he forgave everyone except the Bochur who introduced him to cigarettes. Everyone who was familiar with RYK knows that he was of the softest demeanor, yet he still felt strongly and was not Mochel the person who he believed was responsible for hooking him on smoke (prior to his quitting).

Whereas nowadays we know how evil smoking is, and how it is the root cause of so many diseases, surprisingly RYK harbored ill will against someone who may not have realized the seriousness of his action.

Today many innocent Yeshiva Bochurim are being ensnared by friends via the ills of the Ipod. The average black-hat Yeshiva Bochur is not familiar with the current shows on television, the music videos of MTV and the decadent movies in the theaters. Yet many a "friend" feel the need to ensnare them into the current secular viewing culture.

I would venture to say that RYK would be more upset about a friend that introduces another to decadent culture, even more so than smoking - for the simple reason that as Jews we should be careful not to sully our Neshomo even more than our bodies.

I recall the powerful story shared by Rav Matisyahu Salomon at one of the first gatherings to alert parents to the dangers of the Internet. A parent complained to RMS that his son was ensnared by the world wide web and was uninterested in learning anymore. The father was afraid that when his time came to leave the world, he would not be reunited with his son, as the father assumed that he would ascend to Heaven while the son was doomed for elsewhere. RMS thundered at him "What makes you think that you will go to Olam Habaah if you were the one who gave him access to the internet?"

Recent articles about Half-Shabbos are what prompted this post. Studies show that teens are sending on average hundreds of TXT messages a day! TXTing has become second nature to most teens, to be viewed almost as talking, walking and eating. It is no wonder then that some are unable to remove the addiction for the 25 hours of Shabbos. Added to that one can easily rationalize that there are those who permitted electricity on Shabbos before the consensus to prohibit carried the day.

It is not easy for those of us who grew up in a generation without Ipods to understand how difficult it may be to forego TXTing for a day. Yet we must show our children the beauty and serenity of Shabbos, as many a businessman has realized that unplugging themselves from their leash is the proven way to regain their sanity. Let us follow their lead to regain our sanctity.

Solomon Serves Sumptuous Smells

2011-07-03T19:48:00.015-04:00

Way back in the days when kosher food was scarcely available outside the home, I went to the circus. I remember the excitement, the fun, the flying trapeze, the lions and tigers and the elephants, but what is most memorable is the smell of all the non-kosher food. The cotton-candy, the buttered popcorn, the snow-cones and the hot-dogs.

Years later I went with day camp to the Orange County Fair. The smashing car derby, the rides, the animals, the races - all remain seared in my memory. But perhaps the most powerful memory that lingers is the smell of the shish-ke-bob as it barbecued on the grill.

Fast forward to this past week, and those aromas were once again filling my nostrils. I had taken the opportunity of the mini-vacation that avails itself during when school ends and camp begins. Central Park was the destination, and those olfactory senses were reawakened as I passed the Victorian Gardens amusement park, which doubles as the Wollman Skating Rink during the winter.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the entire park had been rented out by some Chai Lifeline philanthropists to mark the Yahrtzeit of one of their donors, Shlomo (Solomon) Obstfeld ZTL.

Instead of tragically marking the year since his passing in a doleful way, the family and business of Shlomo paid for the entire park to be reserved for families of sick children. All the rides were free, snow cones were distributed, cotton candy was available, an entire array of barbecued food was provided, a Dee-Jay played all the current Jewish tunes, drinks flowed freely, popcorn popped, street vendor salted pretzels were available with all the amenities and hundreds of children forgot for a day that they were sick.

As I viewed this spectacle from a distance, I couldn't help but think Mi KiAmcha Yisrael! - How great are the People of Israel!

HoChiMinh, Hagiography, Humor, Heroics

2011-06-27T11:56:00.018-04:00

The new Artscroll biography on Rav Mordechai Gifter is now available and I am impressed. Whereas most other biographies unfortunately are similar in nature, this book is refreshingly different. Many Gedolim knew Chumash by heart when they were five years old, knew Seder Nezikin before their Bar Mitzvah and finished Shas by the time they were 16. Yet what is so remarkable about Rav Gifter is that he knew only one Blatt Gemoro by the time of his Bar Mitzvah.

Yet through hard work, dedication and perseverance, Rav Gifter was able to make something of himself. He further decided that the prime location for persuing a Talmudic education lay across the ocean, and that is where he journeyed to. Ultimately he married into the family of the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva and went on to become Rosh Yeshiva himself.

Yet Rav Gifter did not lose sight of his humble origins. He understood that American Bochurim need to play ball; Americans needed the Artscroll Shas. Rav Gifter was not afraid to support his views, even when they opposed those of some of the leading rabbis of his generation.

Another Artscroll biography of note is that of Reb Shlomo Freifeld. Reb Shlomo also did not fit the mold of most AS biographies, also strongly advocated for his Bochurim and did not cower in the face of opposition.

I recently heard a vignette that Reb Shlomo was present at a meeting of the Yeshiva when they were discussing who to honor at their forthcoming dinner. Reb Shlomo puzzlingly suggested Ho Chi Minh. When asked why he responded something to the effect of ... "He has done more than anyone else in this generation to get Bochurim to come to Yeshiva!" [This blog even has visitors from Ho Chi Minh City.]

This reminds me of the difficult Vietnam War era when Rabbi Avigdor Miller scolded latecomers to the Yeshiva "You'll wear Tefillin at 8 AM here, or Khaki's at 6 AM at Fort Dix!"

Gainful Gathering Galvanizes Graduates

2011-06-21T09:01:00.005-04:00

It is not my habit to attend High School graduations, but familial obligations found me last night in the heart of Midwood, at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin to attend commencement exercises for my nephew.

I was in for somewhat of a surprise. There were no rows of chairs, no organ playing Pomp and Circumstance, and no processional of the graduates. Rather, there were tables set up Chasunah style, and participants were treated to a complementary full course dinner. The entire festive occasion was re-titled Siyum HaChaburah, as many of the boys completed the Masechta Baba Metzia during the course of the year.

The Yeshiva building is worthy of a post of its own. No longer is the stereotypical picture of dilapidated quarters a true picture of the modern day Yeshiva. The beautiful, spacious and immaculate edifice is truly worthy of accolade. If I had to relive my Yeshiva career, this would be my choice. Now I understand why Artscroll mentions Yeshiva’s president Avrohom Fruchthandler for placing learning on a higher plateau.

The Menahel spoke about Gadlus HaAdam. This is a legacy that the former Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yitzchak Hutner ZTL learned from the Alter of Slabodka, and instilled in his students. The Menahel explained that out of the sixty plus graduates, some will be attending Beis HaMedrash in institutions other than Chaim Berlin. As long as they go for the correct reason, that is fine. Yet if they are going to another Yeshiva just to conform, to be like everyone else – in “cookie-cutter” fashion, that would be incorrect. Rav Hutner was a master in finding the unique qualities of each person, and nurturing their potential to the fullest. This helped me understand why so many graduates of this Yeshiva have gone on to become famous in their own right.

The highlight of the evening was when Avrohom Fruchthandler, who had been invited up to the stage to bestow the awards (several of his relatives were graduating), gave a brief, off-the-cuff, highly inspiring speech. He championed the time that one spends in Yeshiva. He mentioned that he spends “seven days a week” in Yeshiva. He cautioned the graduates not to leave the hallowed halls of the Yeshiva until they are absolutely forced to. I find this very notable. Imagine Donald Trump telling graduates to pursue higher education rather that jump into the business world.

I imagine this is why Chaim Berlin is so successful, where the lay leadership is so strongly subservient to the Roshei Yeshiva. AF described himself as a “Junior Partner” in the Yeshiva. I am proud of my nephew, proud of his choice of Yeshiva and proud as a member of the People of the Book.

Idyllic Innocence Is "IN"

2011-06-15T15:36:00.016-04:00

Serendipity led me to yeshivaguy.com, a now defunct blog that so eloquently describes the day to day vignettes of living life as an American Yeshiva Bochur, learning in Eretz Yisroel.

It is the rare occasion when one encounters a heretofore little known blog that has merit, and one begins to engorge the mind on reams and realms of precious thought. It is as if one had discovered a new vein of gold that can’t be mined fast enough. I hope you don’t mind if I indulge in some mined treasures therein.

One particular post that caught my attention was titled Seclusion and discussed the innate beauty of children who grow up in a secluded environment. Although one can argue that these children will never receive the life-tools they need to navigate the world as adults, there is much to be appreciated in those who can prolong the age of innocence as long as possible. I recall the first time I set eyes on Boro Park. I was amazed to find hundreds of children, peyos flying playing on stoops with Spaldine balls, playing tag and other street games, noshing on some new-fangled Kosher treats. The cherubic faces made me yearn for such an idyllic childhood. A vision of seclusion and beauty and innocence. In the eloquent words of the Baal HaBlog…

Beautifully so, I think. Have you ever taken a walk in peaceful Meah Shearim on a Friday night? Watched the boys and girls of eight or nine play in the streets? The poetic innocence on the faces of the Yerushalmi kids twinkles in the twilit alleyways. Freshly scrubbed and bathed, they play with joyful, carefree abandon. Abandoning the yokes of a society gone insane on them, they are, in a word,
children. When was the last time you met up with a nine year old who was only
nine years old? We say, “oh, what a smart child you are”, chap a knip, and move
on, subconsciously silencing the screams of our own childhood… itself so much
more innocent. Children are meant to be children, not adults. In frightening
irony, however, adults behave childishly and attempt to shortcut their
children’s most vital experience- their youth. They nuke their progenies’ time
growing up, and nuclear is nothing short of the result.

This came to mind recently as I was disturbed by news coming out of New Square. Of course there are problems with insulation, as so vividly depicted by the must-read article by Rabbi AHARON HERSH FRIED. But one must not throw out the baby with the bath water. One must try to find the middle ground in all of life’s challenges. As Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky said...

I’ll tell you. I’m often asked here in Monsey and especially
regarding girls, “How much should we or can we shut
them off to protect them from the culture at large?” I
always tell them, “You can’t! Unless, that is, you live in
Squaretown.” Now especially; I understand they have their
own hospital and their own cemetery, one can be born
there, live ones life there, and be buried there. To those
who can do that, ‘Tavo aleihem brachah’ (may they be
blessed). Most of us, however, do not live in Squaretown
and cannot live in Squaretown. So what will you do? Not
tell a young boy about evolution and then wait until at age
16 or 17 he reads in the New York Times, which he ‘knows’
prints only ‘verified facts,’ that the bones of a person 2 or
3 million years old were found!?? And the Times will print
this without any mention of detracting opinions or
controversy. What will this young man do? He’ll be
completely lost! This would not happen if he had been
taught at an earlier time in school by his rabbei’im and
teachers that there are people who believe such and such,
what their mistaken beliefs are based on, where their error is, what it is we believe about such events, and how we believers deal with these
issues.

Living Torah Museum

2011-06-06T11:17:00.013-04:00

Much has been written about the concept that men steeped in Torah knowledge should be referred to as "Living Torahs". If one gives honor to letters on parchment, certainly one should extend the same courtesy to those who embody the essence of Torah, by studying it night and day and living by it's precepts.

At one time, the masthead of this blog read: "Blogging about ideas - not people". A LH free blog can easily fall short of it's goal by blogging about individuals. Everyone has detractors, and the CC cautions about giving praise, which invariably leads others to find fault with your subject.

In any event, as discussed on this blog previously, some people are in reality institutions. Some people, do so much good in their brief sojourn on this earth, that it behooves us to broadcast their message so that others are prodded to do likewise. Creating Migdal Ohr and Hebrewbooks.org and The Living Torah Museum, certainly inspires me to make the world a better place for others. Hopefully this blog is at least an minimal attempt in that endeavor.

This past week, Mishpacha magazine featured an article about Rabbi Shimon Shaul Deutch, the founder and curator of The Living Torah Museum. The museum, housed in a residential area of Boro Park, contains countless artifacts from Biblical times. Many of the relics may be touched by the visitors, and RSSD gives fascinating tours which explain in detail the relevance each piece has on Tanach and Chazal.

What fascinates me is that he was able to learn ancient languages, including Egyptian hieroglyphics, Phoenician, Persian Cuneiform and Assyrian. In addition to mastering 11 languages, he is an accomplished author, heads 2 Chessed organizations, worked in Corporate America for many years, yet still finds the time to fundraise for his museum and lead the tours.

In addition to the relics of the past, other parts of the museum house a menagerie of taxidermy, as the fully stuffed animals allow one to view close up the animals of the Torah, particularly what constitutes Mafris Parsah and what does not.

Another section hosts relics from Europe, correspondence and other documents from the pre-war era. Chasam Sofer, Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Malbim and others have their works grace this exhibit.

Yet RSSD is not one to rest on his accomplishments. He is looking to create an almost full size replica of the Mishkan. He is also building a replica of an ancient marketplace to depict how ancient commerce was performed. He is also planning on building another museum in Lakewood, NJ, in addition to the flagship Boro Park site and the satellite site open in the summer time in South Fallsburg, NY.

Personally, I was awed by the museum in South Fallsburg, and I hope to one day visit the Boro Park location. As RSSD says "You have to cover a lot of ground before the ground covers you."

The Disco Rabbi

2011-06-02T12:52:00.011-04:00

What really boggles the mind is how certain insignificant videos go viral, while the inspirational variety are relegated to flail in Kansas-land as mere Dust in the Wind.

Recently, HaMavdil posted a video of a modern day miracle performed by Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, or as more popularly known, The Disco Rabbi.

I was privileged to meet him once, and I can testify to the fact that he is the real Mccoy. His love for all people shines through, as one need not subscribe to his brand or level of religiosity to be on the receiving end of his kindness.

Seven Hundred Paratroopers came under his spell in 2006 en-route to battle in Lebanon. All 700 returned home, complete. Not one casualty. Remarkable.

There is a famous story where he was engaging a wayward youth in conversation and he asked him what it would take to get him to become religious. The young man replied "a porsche". Indeed, The rabbi showed up at his house several days later with the car! See more stories here.

One thing that disturbs me is that when a person of importance passes on, the eulogies praise them to such an extent that one begins to wonder - If there are such amazing people on this earth, why do we only find out about them after they are gone? So please take the opportunity to watch the embedded video, and when in Israel, make it your business to visit Migdal HaEmek.

Lag BaOmer, Shavuos and Music

2011-05-31T10:32:00.007-04:00

Something I noticed the past few years is the increasing stringency in playing 'Acapella music only' until Shavuos.

It was only a few short years ago when most new music recordings were scheduled for release on Lag BaOmer. Lag BaOmer was a great day for going to the park, playing baseball and listening to the latest and greatest tracks.

Yet now that Acapella is in vogue, this "Heter" causes a "Chumrah" because these same stores delay the playing of real music until the 2nd wave of Sefirah participants have completed their tour of duty.

Whether Acapella should be considered music or not, I'll leave that to the Halacha blogs. In any event, the real focus should be on Kabbalos HaTorah and committing one's self to it's study.

Agudah and the Internet II

2011-05-25T09:22:00.016-04:00

Almost a year ago, I posted on the Agudah and the Internet. Although in theory one should perhaps oppose the internet, in practice this is becoming less feasible.

I have stumbled upon a new blog which is promoting the Agudah agenda. In the past, Agudath Israel has had their news releases posted on websites such as Matzav and YWN. Cross-Currents also carries their press releases.

Following the ban on VIN, there has been a stronger effort on behalf of the other news blogs to police their websites/comments more efficiently. The creation of the Agudah blog may be a precursor to a possible future ban on all news blogs. Or, it is more probable just an outgrowth of the old dictum "If you can't fight them, join them".

The recent publication of Dialogue shows that there is a market for intellectual literature produced by Yeshiva graduates. Like it or not, more and more Yeshiva people are joining the online blogvolution. Just this past week, I have added several more blogs to my blogroll that are authored by "Youngerlight".

While it may be worthwhile for those who can learn to spend their time in the BM, perhaps we can look at Jblogging as an exercise in Kiruv, permitting those on the "right" to express their thougts to combat the misinformation of the internet. So to my dear blogging pal Hamavdil, I say, keep up the good work. Even if you are just a voice, in the wilderness, your message is being heard.

Update: Agudah has shut down the blog pending further notice.

HebrewBooks.org Continues to Amaze

2011-05-23T17:48:00.011-04:00

I am in awe of the good folks at hebrewbooks.org. They recently added 683 more books bringing the grand total to close to 47,000 Seforim, all freely available online for learning and/or download.

What is most gratifying, is that recently there has been a major shift by HB, in that they are adding many of the contemporary Seforim to their database. This is a huge money saver, as entire sets of Seforim, entire sets of the variety that are used seldomly, no longer need to be purchased.

The most recent update includes: Ohr Gedaliahu by Rav Gedalia Shorr. Dibros Moshe by Rav Moshe Feinstein. Minchas Shlomo by Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Peirush Chai on various Masechtos, Chazon Yechezkel (including Tosefta) by Rav Yechezkel Abramsky and many of the Emes L'Yaakov series by Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky.

I envy the share of the World to Come earned by Rabbi Chaim Rosenberg.

See also this earlier post.

Update May 25:

I didn't notice this at first, but also included in this list are two volumes on Yevamos entitled Nesivos Mordechai by Rav Mordechai Gifter. This is especially relevant, as these are new brand new Seforim and yet are already being posted on HB. I hope this trend continues that authors immediately post their works - upon, or shortly after publication.

Dialogue: Review

2011-05-20T11:33:00.015-04:00

See this post first.

Having read the new Dialogue journal, these are my impressions:

Rabbi Eytan Kobre's article was written in classic JO style. Upshot of the essay is that one who engages in unorthodox practice should not label themselves Orthodox.

Rabbi Meiselman states that we will not change our views despite evidence shown by science. Science got it wrong regarding the origins of the universe, originally claiming that it was always here, now claiming the "Big Bang". Furthermore, RMM claims there IS Psak when it comes to Hashkofo, and we need to follow the majority. Finally, he rejects the famous Shitta popularized by Rav Aryeh Kaplan at the Feb 18, 1979 AOJS convention that R' Yitzchok M'Acco supports a 15 billion year old universe. He notes that the Big Three Kabbalists of the 16th century, the Ari, Rav Chaim Vital and the RaMaK rejected this opinion.

Rav Jeremy Kagan's article deals with repercussions of mass media on today's generation. He claims that the constant electronic bombardment, in addition to being an intrusion, keeps us so busy that we have no time to examine ourselves and grow spiritually. Showing youth the sweet side of Torah, the Ahava as opposed to Yirah will hopefully combat this problem.

Rav Wiener and Rav Ifrah's well researched article refuting Rabbi M. Broyde's recent Limud Zechut is convincing. These 2 Kollel fellows of the Ner Yisroel Yeshiva did a thorough job.

The issue is rounded out by the article on which gentiles are deserving of Olam Haboh and, to quote the editor, an enriching, lyrical elucidation of various dicta of the Sages regarding the study of Torah at night.

My only criticism is that the journal is thinner than I would prefer. I am assuming that with more exposure many others will vie to submit their articles for future issues.

Jewish Observer Rebirth? Dialogue!

2011-05-18T14:53:00.011-04:00

I was pleasantly surprised to see a new brick and mortar journal born despite the fact that we are in the electronic era of publishing. It seems that the Jewish market for printed matter still thrives, primarily because of Shabbos. Considering that academic literature is not always Torah friendly, it is refreshing to find a journal with a mission statement that will only consider publishing articles by authors who "...consider the truths of the Torah and the interpretations given by its teachers throughout the ages until our day to be immutable and fully binding."

The rabbinical board is comprised of: Rabbi Shlomo Miller (Toronto/Lakewood), Rabbi Aharon Feldman (Baltimore) and Rabbi Moshe Meiselman (Toras Moshe).

Editorial Board: Rabbi Moshe Einstadter, Rabbi Yisroel Mayer Kirzner and Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman.

Executive Editor is Rabbi Yitzchok Lowenbraun.

The articles seem to be timely and thorough. Rabbi Eytan Kobre writes on Orthodox Feminism. Rabbi Moshe Meiselman on Science and Torah. Rabbi Jeremy Kagan on The Media. Rabbi Ze'ev Kraines on Who are the Chasidey Umos HaOlam, Rabbi Moshe Einstadter on The Nocturnal Sound of Torah Study, and Rabbis Yosef Wiener and Yosef Ifrah on The attempted justification for uncovered married women's hair (in response to the recent articles by Rabbi M. Broyde).

Anyone interested can contact them for subscription information at editor@dialoguemagazine.org, or:
Dialogue Inc.
5906 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 10
Baltimore, MD 21215

New Age of Psak

2011-05-18T11:08:00.006-04:00

One of the casualties of the electronic age is the disappearance of the written Teshuva. Back in the old country, and even until recently here in America, when one had a difficult question it was sent via horse, and later horseless carriage, to a Posek. Tricky questions were sent to the Posek of the generation. There are countless SHU”T Seforim published with the questions of old, that many a Posek and thesis has mined for the treasure trove of information contained therein.

Yet in our day and age, the telephone has curtailed much of this activity. Very few Rabbonim still write up their Teshuvos, with Maareh Mekomos etc. I’ve heard of people who even TXT their Rav when they have a Shaaleh. Unfortunately, most TXTS and most phone calls do not get saved for prosperity. There will be no “precedents” for future generations of Poskim to rely on.

Additionally, we have photoshop and other tools that can be used by disreputable individuals to further their own agenda and say that Rav Ploni signed this or Rav Almoni signed that. But as always, even in this age of information, Hashem has sent the Refuah before the Maakah. Perhaps Youtube was created so that we can video record Psak, and then retrieve it when necessary.

Of Circuses and Kosher Food

2011-05-15T17:29:00.012-04:00

Just a few short decades ago, travel was difficult for the Kosher keeping Jew. It was hard to find a Kosher restaurant, even in some of the large Jewish cities.

Aside from the dearth of dining establishments, there was very little choice of Kosher packaged food, even in the supermarkets.

Yet the saving grace, before saying grace, was the abundance of life's simple staples: bread, water, milk, vegetables, fruit and fish.

Yet in one of the ironies of life, the once taken-for-granted kosher products have all been questioned in recent years. The water has crustaceans embedded within. The fruits and vegetables harbor worms and bugs. The milk isn't kosher because Traif cows are the majority in the herds. The flour with which bread is made is wormy. And finally, in the last few months we have rediscovered that fish also contain worms.

Although we have made great strides in rebuilding Yiddishkeit in America, I long for the days of yore when fewer things were Kosher, but Kashrus was more simple.

As mentioned on this blog before, and paraphrased from an essay in the Jewish Observer:

"I remember the day when the CIRCUS was Kosher, and the COTTON CANDY was Treif."

Chadesh Yameinu KiKedem!

One Mishpacha - or Two?

2011-05-10T10:34:00.008-04:00

The Israeli Yated last week carried a proclamation that the weekly Jewish Magazines should not be brought into a Jewish home. This was accompanied by some prestigious signatures.

letter 1
letter 2

Some say that this ban has been rescinded, although I have not seen any concrete evidence of such.

This is a somewhat surprising development, considering that Rav Nissim Karelitz, one of the prime signatores, has been the subject of a recent cover story by Mishpacha.

In any event, what is mystifying, is that the primary target of these English speaking weeklies, the Jews of the diaspora, who in the U.S. look to the Agudah/Moetzes for direction, have not been issued any direction on this matter.

Yet there seems to be an underlying difference between the Rabbonim from Eretz Yisrael and those outside. Primarily, the leaders of EY follow Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, where total devotion to learning is praised and working is frowned upon. Whereas the Rabbonim in the diaspora follow Rav Yishmael:

Talmud Berachos 35B

ת"ר ואספת דגנך מה ת"ל לפי שנא' לא ימוש ספר התורה הזה מפיך יכול דברים ככתבן ת"ל ואספת דגנך הנהג בהן מנהג דרך ארץ דברי ר' ישמעאל ר"ש בן יוחי אומר אפשר אדם חורש בשעת חרישה וזורע בשעת זריעה וקוצר בשעת קצירה ודש בשעת דישה וזורה בשעת הרוח תורה מה תהא עליה אלא בזמן שישראל עושין רצונו של מקום מלאכתן נעשית ע"י אחרים שנא' ועמדו זרים ורעו צאנכם וגו' ובזמן שאין ישראל עושין רצונו של מקום מלאכתן נעשית ע"י עצמן שנא' ואספת דגנך ולא עוד אלא שמלאכת אחרים נעשית על ידן שנא' ועבדת את אויביך וגו' אמר אביי הרבה עשו כרבי ישמעאל ועלתה בידן כר' שמעון בן יוחי ולא עלתה בידן

While searching for reasons as to what is Hashkafically problematic with Mishpacha etc. all I was able to find is the claim that they promote Avreichim leaving Yeshiva and getting a job.

I once mentioned that Rav Gifter ZTL was chastised by Rabbonim from EY when they saw that his Yeshiva promoted ball playing. Yet Rav Gifter politely explained that America is different, what works in one part of the world might be detrimental in another. On the other hand, since the Petirah of Rav Moshe ZTL and Rav Yaakov ZTL, it seems that the Rabbonim outside EY have been looking to EY for guidance. כי מציון תצא תורה

So if this is true, then a ban is EY makes sense, contrary to the U.S. Yet if there are other Hashkafic discrepancies, we can then expect a ban also on our shores.

In event that the ban does reach our shores, I suppose some good that will come out of it may be the resurrection of the Jewish Observer.

Reb Sefer and the Internet

2011-05-05T00:23:00.014-04:00

Elsewhere in the Jblogosphere I came across a statement in the name of the Steipler Gaon that {paraphrased} nowadays, due to the fact that we learn from Seforim and not necessarily from a Rebbe, there is no obligation to visit and welcome a Rebbe on YomTov, as the concept of a Rebbe Muvhak no longer exists.

In addition to the fact that today we get much of our learning from the written (as opposed to oral) word, the current Yeshiva system which graduates students every year to a new Rebbe, further distances us from the concept of a Rebbe Muvhak.

Furthermore, many Yeshiva graduates find themselves mentor-less even after leaving the hallowed halls of Yeshiva. I recall an article some years ago in the now defunct Jewish Observer bemoaning the fact that people Daven in one Shul during the week, another for Friday night and a 3rd for Shabbos day. This leaves the family without a Moreh Horaah.

There was a time when acquiring a Rebbe was primarily the only way to learn. But now with the proliferation of Seforim via the online databases, selfhelp tutorials via the world wide web, and thousands of audio and video Shiurim available at the click of a mouse, the Rebbe of yesteryear is well on his way to extinction.

Perhaps the current tuition crisis will eventually take it's toll on the brick and mortar Yeshivos, and replace them with the Virtual Beis HaMedrash. There is also the possibility that terrorism will one day force the Yeshivos underground. But the Almighty, in his infinite wisdom and kindness who always sends the cure before the disease, will see to it .שלא תמוש התורה מפי ומפי זרעי וזרע זרעי עד עולם

The LEArNing SHABBOS

2011-04-29T18:12:00.013-04:00

I have dubbed this Shabbos Parashas Kedoshim the "Lean Shabbos", because there was a dearth of reading material.

Over Pesach break, I have perused the Mishpacha, Ami, Binah, Zman, Hamodiah (Inyan) and Yated. I don't know how these publications keep finding new material each week with which to tantalize their readers.

The Pesach editions typically sport expanded coverage, many with additional inserts to tide one over the long Yom Tov. Also, I presume that part of the reason for the extra pages is to make up for the week after the holiday, when many publications do not publish due to the restrictions of working and preparing the new edition on Chol HaMoed.

So whereas Yated, Ami and Binah were not on newsstands this week, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Mishpacha (must have prepared in advance) and Hamodiah did publish. I imagine that this might be an outgrowth of the new competition in the Jewish Magazine industry.

Some of the articles that impressed me: An article in Inyan magazine about the history of Jewish newspaper publishing, Zman had an interesting article on the Three Mile Island nuclear fiasco, Mishpacha wrote about the rise and fall of MK Deri, Binah had a write-up on a person who spent 6 years in prison, and Ami had a really nice essay by R. Kamenetzky about Bedikas Chametz and baseball cards.

All in all, it was hundreds of pages of reading material which kept me out of the Beis Hamedrash for too long. Thank goodness for this LEAN Shabbos, where there was plenty of time to catch up on my LEArNing.

Emunah and Proofs

2011-04-17T07:30:00.012-04:00

First we had the Orthoprax layman, then the Orthoprax Rabbi and now Ami has delivered to us the Orthoprax Posek. I remain unconvinced; It is possible that this fellow is pulling their leg or doesn't exist at all. There is also the possibility that someone is trying to create a "buzz" to sell more magazines.

Emunah is a very difficult topic. Faith is the very opposite of proof. If there would be a proof that Judaism is the one authentic religion, then why wouldn't it follow that everyone would be Jewish!

Elsewhere on the Jblogosphere the "proof" of the 4 species is being discussed. Some see this statement in Talmud Chulin 60B as proof of a divine authorship of the Torah:

אמר רב חנן בר רבא השסועה בריה בפני עצמה היא שיש לה שני גבין ושני שדראות וכי משה רבינו קניגי היה או בליסטרי היה מכאן תשובה לאומר אין תורה מן השמים

Yet if you analyze this statement, you might notice that it doesn't say that there is a proof. All it says is that there is a Teshuva; an answer. What the Talmud may be telling us here is this: Nobody has any proof that their religion is correct. Yet everyone needs, aside from the fact that they were born into it, an answer, a Teshuva, as to the logic of why they follow a particular religion. It needs to make sense.

As to whether this "proof" is actually referring to the Shesuah, the 4 single Simaned animals, or something else entirely, may be the topic of another post someday.

Man's Best Friends (Food and Dogs)

2011-04-01T14:57:00.014-04:00

Competition in the Super Market for Kosher groceries has advanced to the next level. Full page glossy ads now adorn all the Jewish owned publications. Pesach time especially is a time for huge food purchases, especially nowadays when we can't go for eight days without our favorite foods.

Today's generation is not satisfied with borscht and potatoes, they must have imitation cereal and bagels to go with their Matzoh. And so I was Oleh LeRegel to one such store. Aside from the huge assortment of exotic Pesach foods, I was puzzled by their tasting tables that were available for their patrons. There was a cheese sampling table set up in one area, and a chulent tasting area in another.

I wondered whether there should have been a warning posted that one should not eat meat shortly after eating hard cheese, and certainly vice versa. Another thing that puzzled me was how eating in the store was altogether permissible. The Talmud in Kiddushin 40B states: ת"ר האוכל בשוק הרי זה דומה לכלב ויש אומרים פסול לעדות אמר רב אידי בר אבין הלכה כיש אומרים. It seems that after looking up the halachik sources, it does not seem to be such an issue...yet it is something to ask your LOR.

This reminded me of a famous story regarding a Mashgiach of yesteryear who encountered one of his students eating in the street. When the above saying was quoted verbatim to the student he countered that he was merely eating something small. The Mashgiach responded: Nu, so you are only a puppy!

Rise and Fall of the Sefer

2011-03-22T15:47:00.018-04:00

In the mid-1970s, we began to hear about the paperless office. Even prior to the PC revolution, it was already predicted that in the near future all documents would be stored digitally, hence negating the necessity for keeping physical copies.

Yet as the PC market ballooned during the 80s and 90s, printers, faxes and home copiers followed suit, causing a doubling of the amount of paper that consumers needed.

The last few decades have seen a remarkable increase in the proliferation of Seforim. Contributing factors for this include: the sheer number of Yeshiva Bachurim and Kollel fellows, the ease in which technology enables thought to be brought to paper due to word processing programs, and a strong economy.

Yet the last few decades has also brought us the online Seforim databases. This has been a spectacular boon to scholars, but the negative side effect may be that less physical Seforim will now be printed.

There are certain Seforim that are used on a constant basis, for example the Gemara that you will be learning for the Zman, and the Rishonim that accompany that text. Yet the obscure Shu”t Seforim, that are used infrequently will certainly become victim to the online explosion. Why buy something that I only need to look something up on occasion, when I can just as easily and more cheaply accomplish the same goal via hebrewbooks.org and the like?

Not so long ago I predicted the advent of the digital Beis HaMedrash. I believe that such a reality is coming sooner than I thought. The Ipad has shown us that it is as much a lifetool as a plaything. I assume that some young businessman will soon be marketing a large size Ipad prototype which will house all the major tomes of learning in PDF or text format, in addition to a large enough hard drive which will hold all Seforim currently known to man. This will satisfy the directive of those Roshei Yeshiva who do not wish to be connected to the Internet.

P.S. I wrote this a few days ago before I saw this.

Da Ma Sha Ta shav La Cha mar

2011-03-13T13:54:00.019-04:00

It’s been well nigh 3,300 years since the world has encountered a talking donkey, yet in the Jblogosphere, there roams a beast who carries the burden of defending Torah values.

While many from the Torah world are afraid to enter the Jblog dens of iniquity, this brave soul, with the outside shell of a cowardly donkey, but the innards of a brave lion, battles fearlessly for Kavod HaTorah.

On his resurrected blog, he champions the innate difference between Good and Evil, Jews and non-Jews, Holy and the unHoly.

Whereas one might expect the bray of a donkey to be fundamentally incoherent, I find his good cheer and good humor along with his brilliant command of the English, Hebrew and Yiddish languages to be refreshing.

He is the very antithesis of this witty poem composed by Rabbi Avigdor Miller:

In a lion’s skin, an ass did hide
And no one knew, who was inside
Until himself, he did betray
By opening up his mouth to bray

And so I felt it was my sacred duty to answer a difficult question posed recently on his blog. To paraphrase:

There is a well known Segulah that one who lost something can give Tzedakah to Rav Meir Baal Haness and utter a magic incantation to discover the lost item. A lesser known Segulah for answering difficult questions in “learning” is to recite Parashas HaMenorah. Since there exists a well known the saying in the Talmud (Niddah 30b) that we learn the entire Torah in-Utero,

ואין לך ימים שאדם שרוי בטובה יותר מאותן הימים שנאמר מי יתנני כירחי קדם כימי אלוה ישמרני ואיזהו ימים שיש בהם ירחים ואין בהם שנים הוי אומר אלו ירחי לידה ומלמדין אותו כל התורה כולה שנאמר ויורני ויאמר לי יתמך דברי לבך שמור מצותי וחיה ואומר בסוד אלוה עלי אהלי מאי ואומר וכי תימא נביא הוא דקאמר ת"ש בסוד אלוה עלי אהלי וכיון שבא לאויר העולם בא מלאך וסטרו על פיו ומשכחו כל התורה כולה שנאמר לפתח חטאת רובץ

why can’t we use the first Segulah mentioned above and give charity and utter the incantation when we are stumped in our learning?

A noble question indeed. So I gave Tzedakah, Lained the Parashas HaMenorah, and this is what I came up with:

There is a little known Medrash which poses the following query: Suppose you have a fellow from long ago who is strolling along until he encounters a telephone-pole-like structure 200 feet tall. Perched perfectly on top is a huge diamond. Although ladders had not yet been invented , this man thinks of the concept, builds a ladder and secures the treasure. A similar story finds a second man from long ago, unbeknownst to the first, who peers down a deep 200 foot pit and discovers a diamond at the bottom. He also thinks of the concept of a ladder, builds one, and descends and ascends with the gem. The question is: Which one is the bigger genius?

According to the Medrash, the latter is wiser. For the first person knew that there had to be a method in which the stone was placed atop the pole, hence it was just a matter of figuring out how; whereas the latter person who discovered the gem in the pit wasn’t sure that there even was a way to get it back, as it simply may have fallen there. Even so, without knowing that there EXISTED a solution, he was able to figure it out.

Sometimes someone poses a riddle and asks for the answer. Knowing that there IS an answer, is half the battle. Yet sometimes we seek a solution to a complex question and we are not ever sure that one exists.

So perhaps that can answer our conundrum. If one loses his keys, he knows that he left them somewhere, it is just a matter of time and energy to locate them. Whereas a difficult Ketzos – maybe there is no logical answer. In this case, the only solution is Parashas Hamenorah. Perhaps the light of the Menorah will cast it’s beacon and direct us to places and answers that we’ve never been to, seen of, or thought of before.

ITalmud for Ipad

2011-03-08T12:30:00.005-05:00

Having Shas at one's fingertips used to be an expression. Now it is reality.

The fine folks at crowdedroad.com have released a beautiful app which enables remote learning of the Gemara. I am wondering how soon it will be until these devices make their way to the Beis HaMedrash.

From their website:

✔ HD GRAPHICS - Use the power of the iPad to touch browse, pan and zoom through full, high-definition pages of the Talmud in both the original "Tzuras Hadaf" and in English or Hebrew text view mode.

✔ ENGLISH TRANSLATION - Fully integrated English translation for the entire Talmud, with thousands of footnotes, references and insights.

✔ AUDIO LECTURES - Daf Yomi lectures are integrated and free. You can listen to a English shiur/lecture on any daf and simultaneously follow along inside with the text or image page view. Lectures are given by Rabbi Dovid Grossman of Los Angeles, a founder of the Yeshiva Gedola of Los Angeles.

✔ COMMENTARIES - The classic "Daf View" includes all the classic commentaries on the Daf. In addition, the Hebrew text view includes, one-touch, hyperlinked commentaries of Rashi, Tosfos and other medieval commentators.

✔ KEYWORD SEARCH - iTalmud features a text search for the entire Talmud. You can then view the page in either a text or image-based format.

✔ CONTENT DOWNLOAD MANGER - Due to the large size of the Talmud images and audio lectures, all pages are downloadable on-demand and then stored locally your device. You can download by daf/page or by masechta. Please note that the update engine will work even if the phone goes into sleep mode. (Please also note that Daf View images are made available according to the “Daf Yomi” schedule.)

✔ BOOKMARKS - Create bookmarks so that you can easily return to the page you were studying at a later time.

✔ “DAF YOMI” CALCULATOR – Integrated “Daf Yomi” calculator allows you to jump to the day’s “Daf” with a single touch.

✔ NAVIGATION – Browse by Seder (Order), Masechta (Tractate) and/or jump to any page (daf) in the entire Talmud in an instant. You can jump from one page to the next within a Masechta with the tap of an arrow. The app will even remember the last page you were studying and load that by by default when you next launch the app.

Plethora of Jewish Organizations Abound

2011-02-27T12:47:00.007-05:00

It seems that my recent post on Reminiscing struck a cord with several people. While it is quite enjoyable to relive the glory days of yesteryear, one must still realize that we must live in the present and look toward the future.

One topic that was noticeably absent from the prior post and comments, were the advances made in the medical arena. This past week, Ami Magazine had a short story with the theme of a Shidduch that broke up when the couple found out that they were genetically both carriers of a dangerous disease.

Recently Mishpacha Magazine did a cover story on Dor Yeshorim, the Jewish gene screening system. Rabbi Ekstein has saved countless families, such as the one above, from experiencing the tragic Downs Syndrome, and other genetic diseases via a simple blood test.

Another organization which was unknown years ago is Chai Lifeline/Camp Simcha. Inyan Magazine, the pullout from the weekend edition of Hamodiah, did a full length article on Drs. Steinherz, a rare couple who founded Camp Simcha and who assist pediatric patients with debilitating disease.

There is HASC and P'TACH and RCCS and Misaskim and so many other organizations founded in the last few decades. Too many to mention.

It is sad that there are so many, but it is a real Kiddush Hashem to see so many people give of their time and effort to assist those who are more unfortunate than they are.

I Remember When...

2011-02-20T12:11:00.017-05:00

I remember when...

There was a column on the back page of the Jewish Press titled "I remember when..."

The Jewish Press was the Orthodox Jewish newspaper of choice...
There was no Yated, Hamodiah, Ami, Mishpacha, Binah, etc.
Newspapers printed pictues of women.
The Jewish Observer still published.

There were no Jewish super-groceries.
Most candy was non-kosher.
There were no bar codes on products.
Storekeepers tallied up your purchases manually.
Milk was delivered by a milk-man - in glass bottles!
Soda came in 64 oz. bottles, not 2 liters.
There were no snack bags. No boxed drinks.
Thermoses were made of glass.
Shabbos "dips" were made in your own kitchen.
There was no velcro.
No Kosher Lamps.

Yeshivishe car meant an old decrepit station wagon.
There was no EZPass.
No GPS. Maps were used to figure out travel plans.
No remote gimmicks to open/start cars.
Tokens only for subways. No MetroCard.
Subway wheels made a racket!
Hotels, hospitals and stores did not have automatic doors.
Metal keys opened doors, not plastic security strips.
Vending machines took only coins.
Toilets were flushed using elbow grease.
Towel dispensers and faucets were operated manually.

No calculators.
Taxes were prepared with pencil and paper.
Watches had faces. No digital.
Phones were rotary. No answering machines.
Pay phones were 10 cents.
No call waiting. Remember busy signals?
No fax. Long distance was expensive.
Car phones followed by cell phones.

Phonograph, Cassette, Compact Disc.
VCR's, No online movie service.
No satellite, cable TV.
No YouTube.
Typewriters were the word processors.
White out was used for corrections.
No personal computers!!!
Librarians knew the answer - not Google.
No Ipads, Iphones, or Ipods.
No keyboards, only piano and accordian.
No online seforim databases.
No internet.

People read physical books. Not kindles.
Seforim were printed using rashi script.
No summer homes, only bungalows.
Entire bungalow colonies shared one public phone.
Strollers had small wheels.
Succahs were made out of old doors. No prefab.
Choirs sang. No choreography.
English Gemora meant Soncino.
Artscroll was not born yet.
Stamps were licked.

Mowers were manual.
No lawsuits if you tripped over your own feet.
Singers sang their own songs.
You needed to be crazy to see a psychologist.
There were no BANS!!!
There were no BLOGS!!!

Ban Bonds Bullied Blogs

2011-02-16T22:36:00.005-05:00

One of the ironies of this whole internet thing is how the "BAN", which fueled the Jblogosphere in its infancy, is now coming full circle.

The first BAN that I recall was that of The Making of a Gadol. Rabbi N. Kamenetzky's historical account of his father, Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky Ztl, and his era, was banned for various reasons. Primarily, because it depicted the greats of yesteryear as mere mortals, with all the shortcomings and foibles of such. Unfortunately, as bans are wont to do, this academic work which may have been read by a relative few was catapulted into the limelight and read by thousands. Copies of the book were selling for over 1000 dollars, and a second revised edition was subsequently published.

Shortly thereafter, Rabbi N. Slifkin's works were banned. Apparently, his books which targeted the Yeshiva crowd were more in synch with a Modern Orthodox world-view. This ban that was bandied about banded the Jbloggers together, and they began to fight back. The Yeshiva world had not yet comes to terms with blogging, and the primary Jbloggers were primarily of Modern Orthodox persuasion. This led to a strong backlash against the ban, and the birth of the anti-Yeshiva blogs.

Then came the ban of The Big Event. Some felt that Orthodox concerts were getting out of hand, and gathered signatures to ban the Lipa Schmeltzer "band" concert in Madison Square Garden. This only further eroded confidence in the rabbis, especially because of the methods employed in obtaining the signatures.

Finally, the ban came on the very blogs themselves, as VIN, a Jewish news site was banned. What had begun as somewhat of a police-blotter site had morphed into a full blown news service, culling articles of Jewish interest from a variety of newspapers and periodicals. I'm not sure what fueled the actual ban, but one could have seen it coming. If someone shops in a Jewish supermarket, they are not as careful to check for rabbinic supervision of the products; so too when one visits a Jewish news website, there is a certain assumption that the content and comments should be family friendly.

Unfortunately, I think that many of the comments on the Jblogs do not make us shine. Some have asked why similar Jewish news websites have not been banned. In all likelihood, they probably will be at some point in the future. Either that, or they will feel the shot across the bow and tighten up their commenting policy. Eventually, the comments section may need to be eliminated altogether, such as on the Drudge copycat Yiddishreport.com.

Yet even if blogs are banned, most Jbloggers do not follow the rabbis who have issued the bans and hence blogging looks like it is here to stay. Hopefully the Jbloggers will police themselves so that no more bans will be necessary.

The Egypt Post - "Faithful and Fortified" via Gruntig!

2011-02-07T14:02:00.014-05:00

Well, Egypt has certainly been in the news these days. Below are some video links courtesy of Gruntig!

First we have Yehuda Avner's recounting of the historical meeting between Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, ZTL. Then we have journalist Yisroel Katzover describe his meeting with Mubarack, Diaspora Yeshiva Band plays their Beatles remake "I get by with a little help from Hashem". Lekavod Adar we have Reb Benzion Shenker singing his famous Shoshanas Yaakov, Chai Lifeline's Trip to the Wall visits with R' Chaim Kanievsky Shlita in Benei Brak and finally R' Moshe Yess tells us his personal story and plays his "Prayer Book Blues". Fabulous mix. Thanks Gruntig!

Migdal Bavel and the Internet II

2011-02-03T16:33:00.011-05:00

One of my first blog posts dealt with the "Migdal Bavel" or "Tower of Babel" aspect of the internet. At that time I discussed the tremendous scientific advances that the internet affords, in that one no longer needs to reinvent the wheel. Once a technological breakthrough is discovered, even in the most remote corner of the world, the entire scientific community can immediately and geometrically build on that discovery.

Yet what is now playing out in geo-political world, particularly the Middle East, depicts the power of the Internet. The "Internet Revolution", has sparked it's own revolutions. Without Facebook and Twitter, the current revolts in the Arab World would probably not have taken root. Egypt's attempt to shut down the internet has been thwarted by users availing themselves of various, albeit limited proxy servers. Even in the USA there is a motion underway to grant the government control to shut down the internet in times of crisis.

The fact that English has become the "international language" and the primary tongue of most world wide web pages, looms ominously that we are amidst a possible modern day electronic Tower of Babel. It is just quite possible that in the End of Time, G-d will unleash on us a Stuxnet of sorts that will disable heretical sites.

K9 IProtection for IPad, IPod and IPhone

2011-02-01T11:29:00.010-05:00

If you have a child with an I-Device, this news may be comforting to you. Please share with others and install.

Bluecoat K9 and Agudah

***********************************************************
K9 Web Protection Browser for iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad™

We want to let you know that Blue Coat has extended our K9 Web Protection technology to protect families browsing the Internet on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
The K9 Web Protection Browser app is a safe web browser available for free from the App Store℠. The browser automatically blocks adult content and malicious sites.
Installing K9 on Your Apple Mobile Device
Do the following to install K9 Web Protection Browser:

Go to the App Store and search for "K9".

Install the K9 Web Protection Browser app.

Disable the built-in web browser by following the steps here.

Here's the link to the app page: and our main web site.

SuperBowl or SuperFicial?

2011-01-30T12:27:00.009-05:00

There once was a time when television programming sought out advertisers to compensate them for their efforts in bringing remote happenings to one’s living room. Political events, moon landings and general news items were felt to be important enough to warrant the expense of filming, production and broadcasting.

However, (in the pre CNN era) there were not that many newsworthy events to support 24x7 analysis, and television conglomerates quickly realized that they would need to “create” news. Not necessarily would it be newsworthy, but skits, comedies and other routines were created for the sole purpose of selling advertising .

This continues to our time where the bulk of television broadcasting is created for the sole purpose to sell advertising time.

Which brings us to the Super Bowl. In an ironic twist of fate, this most Super of all the Bowl games is watched by many people who have no interest in sports whatsoever. Companies vie for the honor to spend several million dollars on advertisements, and it is the ingenuity, cleverness and not wanting to miss the latest and greatest commercials that drive many to watch the contest.

Over one hundred million people watched the game last year. Yet my faith in humanity is restored as I noted that over one billion people watched the Chilean mine rescue. As we move closer and closer to the era when everyone will wear a Dick Tracy screen on their wrist, as we move closer and closer to Day of all Days, as we move closer and closer to most super event of all time, let us all pause to realize what has true meaning in life and what is merely a pastime.

Shabbos is the Antidote to Modern Technology

2011-01-19T00:11:00.011-05:00

The pace of technological advance is mind-boggling. In the span of a few decades we have gone from the phonograph to 8-Track and cassette, to CD’s, DVD’s and finally the I-pod. We’ve gone from the telephone to beepers to cell phones and texting, from pinball machines to handheld I-pads, from television to YouTube, from VCR’s to On Demand, from physical libraries to online digital book/Seforim collections, from calculators to PC’s; culminating in the connectivity of the World Wide Web.

While such advances are for the most part welcome, certain aspects cause me to pause, and wonder if we really are better off now or then. Gone are the days when the family gathered around the record-player to share the latest music together, gone are the days when the office did not have their personnel on a "leash", gone are the days of leafing through the rare books room in the library, and gone are the days when you called a librarian for information.

What aroused my lament was my recent stroll down a crowded Manhattan avenue. I passed several Starbucks style coffee shops. There were singles and couples sipping lattes and espressos and all eyes were focused on their electronic devices. The sad part was that the couples were not interacting with each other – unless they were texting.

Modern technology has killed the “Hobby”. Stamp collecting, coin collecting, playing a musical instrument, all this is going the way of the dodo. Children no longer play outside, no longer go the park to shoot hoops or the breeze, as they are totally ensnared by their personal electronic devices.

Not too long ago the Jblogosphere was abuzz as to whether the halachic ruling forbidding electricity on Shabbos would need to be revisited. Automatic bathrooms, hotel locks, automatic lights and doors abound. Kindles are replacing books which seem to be disappearing at a rapid pace.

While we do not frown on technology as do the Amish, we should be thankful for the Shabbos gift that we received thousands of years ago. Learning in Shul with physical Seforim with a humanoid as a Chavrusa will reJewvenate us on a weekly basis; allowing us to remove the leash and keep our sanity in the frenetic reality of the new world.

Baruch Dayan HaEmes - Zaidy is Gone

2011-01-10T15:23:00.007-05:00

Moshe Yess, the inspiration for a generation of Jews, among them Abie Rottenberg of Journeys fame, has passed away. BDE.

From the forward to the Journeys songbook, 2004, by Abie Rottenberg:

... Later that year I was made aware of and purchased an album entitled "Megama" that was produced and recorded in Israel by two very talented musicians named Moshe Yess and Shalom Levine. What a revelation! Intelligent, thought provoking, tear inducing English lyrics about Torah and Jewish identity - delivered in a delightful blend of folk, country and Jewish music styles. When I first heard "My Zaidy" (the Moshe Yess classic on Jewish continuity) I was awestruck and deeply moved! "It can be done!" I marveled, and duly inspired, resolved to try my hand at the craft. Now, more than two decades and four albums later, it is high time I acknowledge their role. I am forever in their debt...

My Zaide

My Zaide lived with us in my parents’ home,
He used to laugh, he put me on his knee.
And he spoke about his life in Poland,
He spoke, but with a bitter memory.

And he spoke about the soldiers who would beat him;
They laughed at him, they tore his long black coat.
And he spoke about a synagogue that they burned down,
And the crying that was heard beneath the smoke.

Chorus:
But Zaide made us laugh,
Zeide made us sing,
And Zeide made a kiddush Friday night;
And Zeide, oh, my Zeide,
How I love him so,
And Zeide used to teach me wrong from right.

His eyes lit up when he would teach me Torah,
He taught me every line so carefully.
He spoke about our slavery in Egypt,
And how G-d took us out to make us free.

But winter went by,
Summer came along,
I went to camp to run and play.
And when I came back home, They said, “Zaide’s gone,”
And all his books were packed And stored away.

I don’t know how or why it came to be,
It happened slowly over so many years,
We just stopped being Jewish
like my Zeide was,
And no one cared enough to shed a tear.

Chorus

And many winters went by,
Many summers came along,
And now my children sit in front of me.
And who will be the Zeide of my children,
Who will be their Zeide, if not me?
Who will be the Zaides of our children,
Who will be their Zaides, if not we?

Flatbush Jewish Journal

2011-01-07T11:36:00.006-05:00

Whenever I visit Flatbush, I come away impressed with the Yeshiva community that resides there. Torah Vodaas, Chaim Berlin, Mir and many other Yeshivos comprise a middle-ground that is not too extreme in either direction in terms of religiousity.

I love the many Seforim stores, such as Eichler's and Zundel Berman's. There are more bakeries, pizza shops and restuarants than one can imagine. Not to mention a "shul on every block".

In this age of proliferation of electronic media, the death of printed media is to be expected. Most cling to life by offerning online versions also. So it is quite surprising that Flatbush is now home to it's own newspaper, reaching many thousands each week.

The Flatbush Jewish Journal is up and coming, particularly it's letters to the editor section. Recently, one of the readers complained to the editor that the FJJ should not post pictures of women, as don't the Yated, Hamodiah etc.

Although I am a strong advocate of Tzeniyus, I am not Tali-ban about it. The Jewish Observer and Artscroll have featured pictures of women for many years. I was therefore quite gratified to see Rav and Rebbitzen Pam's ZTL picture prominently displayed on the cover of this week's issue. Give me more of that old-time religion!

Why Not Me? - Rav Gifter ZTL

2011-01-02T08:09:00.014-05:00

If you are an avid Jreader, you couldn't help but notice that this week marks Rav Mordechai Gifter's ZTL 10th Yahrtzeit. There were articles in the Yated, Ami, Mishpacha and Hamodiah, to name a few.

Rav Gifter, one of the first American born Gedolim, traversed the ocean in his thirst to find authentic Torah study. He learned in Telz, ultimately marrying into the Rosh Yeshiva's family and becoming Rosh Yeshiva himself in Cleveland.

Rav Gifter was known for his strong views, but many vignettes reveal how much he understood American yeshiva bochurim. When some visitors from Eretz Yisrael protested the ball playing on his sprawling campus, Rav Gifter backed his boys one hundred percent, explaining that America is different. When Rav Schach ZTL was not enthralled with the new Artscroll Gemoroh English translation, it was Rav Gifter who averted his negation of the project.

But the most interesting story in my opionion was the "why not me"? It is said that as a youngster, he had framed photographs of the Gedolim on his wall accompanied by one blank frame with the message inside reading "Why not me"? Rav Gifter did not hang pop icons on his walls, in the false hope that some publicity would rub off on himself - rather he set goals to remind himself that the framed individuals reached high levels of learning because they constantly applied themselves. If I apply myself, he said to himself, I can also reach such heights.

Lehavdil, it can be said that many Jbloggers are driven by the same need to make a difference. Most make a positive difference, and unfortunately some exist primarily to "wikileak" all the bad that exists in the community. In any event, everyone is capable of making a difference. Why not YOU???

Maccabeats, Purity and Persumei Nisah

2010-12-21T16:35:00.008-05:00

By now I'm sure most of my viewers have seen the Maccabeats YouTube video. I was delighted to see that Orthodox boys can compete with the best of them, particularly in the YouTube realm.

It is very appropos that the video that went viral was produced Lekovod Chanukah, where Pirsumei Nisah is the ideal. Quite ironic that the group is named Maccabeats, with strong Chanukah connotations.

Beating the "Greeks" at their own game makes me feel proud as a Jew.

As for ferreting out the "add ons" that accompany a YouTube screening, I was made aware of a website viewpure which enables one to view only the requested video without the adjoining distractions. Again, this is most relevant to Chanukah, where the oil rises to the top and the dregs are removed from the equation.

Maccabeats pure link

Dan Lekaf Zechus II

2010-12-10T11:15:00.007-05:00

The People Speak/Kid Speak series is part of the more interesting literature that has been published over the past decade. Author Rabbi Chaim Walder has a popular radio program in Israel where callers can discuss notable events in their personal lives. Additionally, many write to Rabbi Walder and share various personal anecdotes. Stories which share a beneficial message are then shared with the public.

In the most recent volume, People Speak IV, there is a very poignant story which is appropos to Jbloggers. Someone in the blogging/news arena is about to publish a story which would implicate some Yeshiva Bochurim who foolishly endangered themselves and others. At the last minute, he gets a call from a frantic editor who realizes that he is related to the perpetrators and wants to kill the story.

Our protaganist is then faced with the difficult decision as to whether to publish or retract. He sadly realizes that if it were HIS relatives, he would not want to publish the story.

This brings to mind Hillel's great dictum, built on the "Love your neighbor" principle from the Torah: "What is hateful to you, don't do to others."

This then should be the criteria to ask ones self before posting on the internet. If it were about my relatives, would I still publish the story? Unfortunately, many just fire off the story and then ask questions later.

Dan Lekaf Zechus I

Jewish Observer {JO} Revivication Redux

2010-12-02T14:48:00.015-05:00

I've blogged several times in the past regarding reviving the Jewish Observer.

I was gratified to see page 22 of this week's Yated (December 23 - Mikeitz) where Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum dedicated a full page to this noble endeavor. It seems like this topic has resurfaced during one of the sessions at the recent Agudah convention. Perhaps now the movement to bring back the JO will gain some steam. See excerpts from the article below:

That is why the closing of the JO has been such a tragic mistake, both for Klal Yisroel and Agudas Yisroel. For lack of a better moshol, I am reminded of a story that is told about a person on a boat in a stormy sea…the captain determines that the first thing that must be done is to lighten the load. He asks passengers to throw overboard anything expendable. One Jew rises, takes his tefillin and throws it over. A pious Jew observes him and says, “How can you throw over your tefillin?! Your tefillin is perhaps the only thing that can save you now!”… How then can it [Agudah] throw overboard its “tefillin,” its ideological tool, the entire zechus kiyum of Agudas Yisroel? Even if it means that the JO will never be financially successful, is it not warranted to take funds from other programs that are not critical to what they are and redirect them to ideology? After all, today’s young people are starving to find meaning, to find ideology, and be shown that there is something more important than the bottom line.

Ami, Mishpacha, Binah, Zman, Olomeinu and the JO

2010-11-26T00:49:00.015-05:00

Another new Jewish magazine has launched. Ami will join Mishpacha, Binah and Zman and many others which have sprouted up in recent memory.

I recall the days of yesteryear when the Yeshiva community didn’t have Jewish weeklies. There was Olomeinu for children and the Jewish Observer O"H for adults, both of which were published monthly.

While the proliferation of Jewish content periodicals is remarkable, there is a sad aspect to this glut of reading material.

Each edition of Olomeinu and JO was fought over and devoured until it was dog-eared , committed to memory and then saved. Today’s reading material is read and then discarded. One can pick up the same issue several weeks later and scarcely remember reading the articles.

The reason why the Talmudic greats of the previous era were able to memorize the Rashba, Ketzos and Nesivos etc. was primarily because there was a shortage of Seforim, hence each Sefer was precious. You committed the Sefer to memory because you never knew if you would have access to it the next time you needed it.

With the advent of Bar-Ilan, Otzar HaSeforim and Hebrewbooks.org databases, more and more source material will be available, but less and less of it will stick in our minds. The psychological idea that the text is always available whenever we need it, coupled by the fact that we don’t need to remember where anything is – the search engines will find it for us – is my lament.

Yet the bright side is that hopefully one day the JO and Olomeinu will be added to these digital libraries. Then I will be in bookworm Heaven.

Hebrew Manuscripts Dot Org

2010-11-18T10:40:00.010-05:00

The fine people at Hebrewbooks.org have now started sharing Hebrew Manuscripts online. Available over here.

Diaspora Yeshiva Band Mechayeh HaMeisim

2010-11-15T18:36:00.003-05:00

Jewish Music Radio Comes of Age

2010-11-14T09:53:00.008-05:00

In my early years, I recall once hearing a Yiddish song on the radio as I flipped through the various stations. I was quite surprised to discover that the Jewish minority was large enough to procure programming time on the public airwaves. As I matured, I was able to enjoy Jewish music on Art Raymond of WEVD and also Dov Shurin. Eventually Nachum Segal became King of Jewish music radio and became the standard EmCee at Jewish concerts.

Yet as large as these audiences grew, there still was no full-time Jewish music radio option. One could listen a few hours in the morning, sometimes a few hours at night, but there was nothing in between. I once entertained the notion to solicit sponsorship for 24x6 Jewish music programming. I thought that perhaps this would sway the youth not to get hooked onto rock-n-roll. One of the arguments I would encounter when I asked friends why they listened to R-n-R was that there wasn’t anything Jewish readily available.

But as JM proliferated in the 80’s and 90’s, there was now plenty of source material to support a full-time radio station. As the great Abie Rotenberg once noted…”a new tape comes out every week”. Even though other radio personalities, such as Country Yossi and others found their niche, even in our day there is not a dedicated Jewish music station.

Yet the age of the internet has enabled the world of “Internet Radio”. Almost all music stations now boast a presence on the world wide web; where their music is now available 24x7. The cost to maintain such a site is now totally within reason, and several websites have appeared with Jewish themed music being streamed to one’s computer.

However, for the Yeshivishe consumer, most programming was still wanting, as several of these sites play songs sung by women, or other content that the Yeshiva World finds offensive. This issue has now been rectified by several websites now offering streaming Jewish music 24x6. One can now play the radio at work or at home and enjoy the wide variety of "oldies" along with the new talented singers. Kudos to the pioneers who have brought us this service.

Redacted 5:42 PM November 14

It Takes a Village

2010-11-08T12:37:00.018-05:00

One of the more informative blogs I have been privileged to read over the years is the Michtavim blog, hosted by Menachem Butler, one of the pioneers of Jewish blogging. This blog reads like a “Tzafnas Paneach” – in that Menachem’s writing reminds me of the Seforim written by the Rogatchover Gaon, where every word (or Roshei Taivos) is a virtual treatise unto itself.

Menachem is a Jewish History buff, and a walking library of all theses relating to Jewish themes. But perhaps what I appreciate the most is that I don’t recall ever seeing any Loshon Hora therein.

His most recent post highlights a fabulous online museum hosted by Professor Shnayer Leiman. An intriguing Stamp Collection featuring noted rabbis is a philatelist’s delight. Take the online tour available here.

Discovering Design High Above

2010-11-04T23:22:00.005-04:00

In a previous post Discovering Design Deep Down, we discussed several scientific "proofs" which have gone "poof". Scientists believed that life could not exist without the sun's energy, yet recently life was discovered on the ocean floor. Science believed in a Static/Steady State world, yet now they believe in the Big Bang.

In a recent post on the Seforim Blog, I was amazed to see following words penned by an academic:

Later, in Gen. 22:17, he is told that his descendants will be as numerous as the sand and as the stars in the heaven. Centuries ago I think many people must have wondered about this verse. They could understand the promise that his descendants would be like the sand since the sand is so numerous it can’t be counted. Yet how is this comparable to the stars, since anyone can look up at the sky and see that there aren’t that many stars at all? Thus, pre-modern man should have been troubled since the two parts of the verse don’t correspond, even though they are supposed to. It is only with the invention of telescopes that people could see that the two parts of this verse, the sand and the stars, are really saying the same thing. Scientists now believe that the amount of stars runs into the sextillions and that there are more stars than grains of sand on the earth!

What amazes me is that the rationalists of yesteryear would look at the traditionalists as being overly fundamentalist in insisting that there are a myriad of stars because of the implication from the scriptures. Yet today everyone would agree that the stars are too numerous to count.

This gives me pause every time I see an academic insist that Chazal were mistaken about one thing or another.

Chilean Miners Herald Moshiach

2010-10-29T15:16:00.009-04:00

A recent article by Rabbi Avi Shafran pointed out that one of the lessons we should learn from the Chilean Mine incident is how appreciative we should be every morning, as each of us emerges from our death-like slumber. In fact, this is the reason why we say Modeh Ani.

I once descended into the bowels of the earth, in the abandoned Lackawanna Mine, which now functions as a tourist destination. There is a certain amount of nervousness as the mine car slowly descends. One can really appreciate the daylight and warmth of the sun as one emerges several hours later. Two months of this treatment is almost unimaginable.

What awed me was the super human intervention of peoples from all over the world in the race against time to save the miners. I was amazed that there were over 1 billion people who actually watched the proceedings simultaneously. My faith in humanity was restored, as previously the only time 1 billion ever gather to watch the same event is unfortunately found in insignificant sports matches.

This figure is even more astounding, considering that there are only 2 billion people in the world that are wired to the internet. Assuming that there are approximately 7 billion humans on the planet, that means that one out of seven people were tuned in.

I’ve posted elsewhere about the advent of Moshiach. This is just one more omen that the days of Moshiach are creeping up on us. Years ago, our rabbis told us that when Moshiach arrives, his coming will be a worldwide event, with everyone knowing about it simultaneously. In my opinion, we are at least 1/7th of the way there.

County Yossi and the Shteeble Hoppers Ride Again

2010-10-26T10:52:00.007-04:00

I wanted to write a review of the new album from Country Yossi immediately after the release, but common sense cautioned me to hold off until I listened many times, making for a more accurate assessment.

The album opens with “Oh Yankel”, a parody of Oh Carol. It is very amusing, and boasts a catchy tune; yet it gives strong Mussar to those who Plopple in Shul. Certainly worthy of becoming a classic.

“I am a Flower” is a beautiful melody with meaningful lyrics. One of my favorite songs on this album.

“Bashert” is timely.

“Boro Park” is a remake of the pop classic “Kokomo”. Hilarious lyrics ( which Country Yossi has become famous for) accompanied with a lively beat are sure to make this song a hit.

The “Myrtle Twig” and “Ilan, Ilan” are bound to popularize these famous stories from Talmudic lore.

“Seven Little Angels” is a powerful, haunting tune that depicts the beauty of Shabbos candles. Another song describes the serenity of fathers and their children as they go to Shul at the onset of Shabbos.

“Pessy Dena” is sure to be a hit among fans who can relate to the shortage of good cleaning help come Pesach time.

Other songs describe Klall Yisrael, Am Yisrael and Olam Haba. The entire album is much heavier on Jewish themes than previous albums, which perhaps shows a maturity of it’s songwriter.

My favorite composition is the riveting song about Moshiach. This haunting melody is one that can be listened to over and over, then continues to play over and over in one’s mind. Fabulous.

The album concludes with the powerful “Poseach”, sung by Yehuda Turner.

As usual, all new albums must grow on the listener, but this particular recording needs no growing pains, as the seedlings have been festering for 20 years. A most welcome addition to any music collection.

Happy Birthday!

2010-10-20T08:41:00.052-04:00

Today is my blog's birthday. One year ago, I embarked on a mission to test the idea that a LH free blog was possible. As I look back on the past year, I am happy to report that it was a success. One of the positive outgrowths of maintaining this blog was the constant feeling for the need to be creative, to post on interesting topics that will either help the reader or engage their intellect. I feel success in this endeavor.

One topic that has been visited frequently on this blog is the concept of the "YouTube Generation". When I was younger, going to musical concerts and watching television was something that was experienced infrequently in my household. I never watched Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan lecture on national television, never saw the Megama Duo perform their hit song "Zaidy", and never saw super-human feats performed outside of the circus. Yet nowadays, all this and a whole lot more are available by a simple click of the mouse. The lesson we must learn from this is how valuable our time is, now that so much content is available.

My first post discussed how technology had enlightened us as to how some time-honored traditional beliefs are being strengthened. In the era before computers, it was unimaginable as to how all of our actions will be recorded for posterity, to be watched and judged after our time on this earth is up. We could not understand how Moshiach's arrival could be viewed world-wide simultaneously. Yet for the new generation, these concepts are as simple as pie, perhaps heralding his arrival.

Another topic we discussed was the power of the bloggers. Ironically enough, some abused individuals now have a voice, a cheap way of making themselves heard, but unfortunately some are using that voice to abuse others.

I've posted many times regarding the wonderful Hebrewbooks.org website. Several years ago one individual set out to save some Seforim from obscurity, and has parlayed his idea that all Seforim should be freely available to the public into a 43,000 and growing daily virtual library. My hat is off to him and his sponsors.

We've discussed the future of learning, how technology has made huge advances and how it will ease future study habits. Having all Seforim available literally on one's virtual Shtender will allow more time for study and let time invested in finding the source material.

We've discussed harnessing the power of the blog as a cheap alternative to expensive school/camp info-lines. We've discussed using small placards (akin to the Do Not Call Registry) to ward off unwanted solicitations during Davening. At this point I'd like to expand that idea to supporting a new initiative to have drivers affix an anti-flyer decal on their automobiles to prevent unwanted advertisements being placed on their windshields.

We've discussed some books of the past and the present. Among them, The Prime Ministers, Rabbi Moshe Sherer, Terror in Black September, The Precious Pears/The Call of the Shofar, All for the Boss, Tales out of Shul and Vintage Wein. We've discussed some singers of yesteryear along with their songs. Primarily Carlebach, Country Yossi, Diaspora Yeshiva Band, Safam and the Megama Duo, amongst others.

Several videos have been shared, among them Rabbi Avigdor Miller discussing the miracle of the apple, old films of Eretz Yisrael, caution films on the danger of drinking, smoking and hanging out with bad company. We even posted on the national anthem of the Jewish People and reviewed the Yankel film.

We've discussed Hat Tips twice and Wisdom of the Rabbis twice. We even eulogized some former Jbloggers.

I am proud of my commenters and my failed attempt to rejuvenate the Jewish Observer. I am proud of my 11,000 plus hits, my "Alphabet Series" and my over 100 posts. I am gratified to see that other blogs have sprouted up which also strive to be LH free. Wishing a worthwhile year of Jblogging to all my readers.

Hebrew Books in the Digital Age II

2010-10-07T23:46:00.022-04:00

Readers of this blog know that I am enthusiastic about the Hebrewbooks.org website. I’ve written about the Internet and the future of learning, when one day the printed book will be a relic of the past.

One concern I’ve been worried about is how we can avoid forgeries that are bound to proliferate. To print a sefer, one must extend a significant amount of cost and effort, thus forgeries are not so prevalent in our time, but in the digital age, Photoshop and some good editing skills will make forgeries easier to accomplish and harder to identify, allowing anyone with an agenda to immediately find company in the Sefer of his choosing.

This has been demonstrated quite vividly by Mississippi Fred’s Robinson Crusoe post.

With relative ease, OTML has cleverly displayed a true

and not-so-true

version of a Sefer. I suppose that just as we have seen the proliferation of computer crime and consequently computer fraud detection detectives, so too, as online learning expands, hopefully we will find foolproof ways of ensuring that our Seforim have not been tampered with. In the mean time, hold on to your hard copies.

.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ!!!!

2010-10-06T13:44:00.015-04:00

Aish Admonishes America’s Addiction
Brooklyn’s Best Build Bridges
Checkmate Challenges Chess Champions
Discovering Design Deep Down
Eruv Envelops Entire Environment
Frum Fear Flag Flying
Google Gleans Global Gossip
Help Heal Homework Hazards
Internet Information Is Inconclusive
Join JO Jewishobserver Journal
Kindly Keep Kollel Kosher
Legitimate Links Labeled LoshoHora
Mouring Missed Meaningful Memories
Newyear Noise Noticeably Negligible
Obedient Orthodox Official Orates
Personal Placard Placing Policy
Quick Query/Question Quest
Restoring Rabbis’ Ruined Reputations
Safam Songs Suddenly Surface
Touched Ten Thousand Times
Unique Unknown Utube Unveiled
Venemous Vitriol Vaporates Veterans
Wise Wizards Weave Worlds
Xtraordinary Xuberant Xtravaganza Xtended
Yippee! Yossi Yields Yarns!
Zissin Zogger Zingt Zmiros

חזק חזק ונתחזק

Quick Query/Question Quest

2010-10-04T12:22:00.017-04:00

The Post Hoshana Rabba post.

I've often wondered why everyone feels the need to purchase their own set of five Aravos for the Hoshana Rabba rite. Why can't one simply Qlap his neighbor's Aravos five times on the floor? An Esrog/Lulav set is somewhat different in that one gets much more use out of them during Hallel, Hoshanas etc.

I've come across a recent Feldheim publication by Chayim Adess The Four Minim: A Pictorial Illustrated Guide, which contains some Quotes that may shed some light on this Quonnundrum.

According to Tanya Rabbasi [#86] "After Davening, each person carries home his Aravos and places them at the head of his bed to show his great love of the Mitzvah. This is the appropriate practice."

The Rama in Shulchan Aruch [664:9] writes: "The Qustom is to keep Aravos from HR until Erev Pesach and then use them for firewood for baking Matzos. Thus what was once used for a Mitzvah, will again be used for a Mitzvah."

HaGahos Maimoneous states that "the Rivak followed the Qustom of reusing the Aravos from SuQQos as Quills for writing a Sefer Torah, or as firewood for burning Qometz on Erev Pesach."

Finally, the Menoras HaMaor [3rd Candle 4:6:7] writes "The Aravos used on HR are a Segulah for protection during one's travels. Their effectiveness depends upon the righteousness of one's deeds and the purity of his intentions, He who trusts in Hashem will rest in his shade."

So my thoughts are that in order that one have Aravos to place at bedside, or use as firewood for baking Matzoh, or use a Quill to write a Sefer Torah, or use as firewood for burning Qometz or take on his travels, he should purchase his own set. Yet my thoughts wandered further that since most people don't follow any of these practices, one can simply gather the remains of another's Hoshanas for all these purposes. Of course, there is more sentimental value to use one's own object for these various Mitzvah's/Sequlos. And since the cost is relatively cheap, I suppose one should continue to purchase their own Quota of Aravos.

Xtraordinary Xuberant Xtravaganza Xtended

2010-09-20T13:34:00.008-04:00

The post Yom Kippur post

The September 15 Family First edition of the Mishpacha Magazine featured a poignant story written by Michal Eisikowitz about Rebbetzen Zehava Braunstein’s (A”H) first Yom Kippur Davening in a Yeshiva setting.

It’s remarkable how her first Xperience mirrored my own. Coming from a small Shul to a Yeshiva is quite a culture shock. She finished her Xtended Shmona Esrei, thinking she was the last one to finish, when in reality she was one of the first.

But what really Xasperated her was the fact that the time for fasting had Xpired, yet the Xplosive Neilah continued on for quite some time. And when the Tefilah finally completed, the Yeshiva burst out in song, led by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yitzchak Hutner. Later, her husband Xplained to her that all the while the gates of Heaven are open, we beseech and plea, as we can yet Xcel, but once the gates close, we must have Bitachon that HaKadosh Baruch Hu has Xcepted our entreaties.

And if that’s the case, who wouldn’t sing? Who wouldn’t Xult?

Unique Unknown Utube Unveiled

2010-09-14T10:28:00.007-04:00

Yerushalayim 1918.

Hat Tip
Life in Israel

Zissin Zogger Zingt Zmiros

2010-09-13T14:19:00.007-04:00

Why did I title this Zingt and Zogt? Primarily because the song here is more or less chanted, not particularly "sung". [Also, I needed to post on the letter "Z" for my alphabet series]

One of the pleasures of older age is the joy of reminiscing on the music you were raised with. If one views my sidebar, there are quite a few Jewish music blogs linked - primarily for that reason.

As I went through elementary school, and was not yet conversant in Hebrew, the highlight of Davening was recognizing the various Pesukim that had been rendered to song. Rosh Chodesh was particularly appreciated, as much of Hallel's prose has been set to music by various singers, most noticeably, Shlomo Carlebach.

Anyone who has had to memorize portions of Tanach, such as Birkas Yaakov, Shiras Devorah and the like, knows that setting the text to song will alleviate much of the difficulty in memorization.

This past Shabbos, known as Shabbos Shuva, I heard one Rav extoll the virtue of a national anthem. Yes, the Jewish People have a national anthem, it is HAAZINU! This is the song that G-d told Moshe to teach to the nation.

Interestingly enough, I chanced upon this music video which aims to put the words of Haazinu to song. As mentioned above, it may not be so catchy, but it is a start. Anyone out there who can put the entire text to a popular tune will merit much Zechus.

Lawless Lyncher Lemrick Limerick

2010-09-13T11:17:00.013-04:00

Pictured above Yankel Rosenbaum HYD

Nineteen years after he knifed a Hasidic student to death in the notorious Crown Heights race riots, Lemrick Nelson was stabbed in the head with an ice pick in Manhattan on Sunday...

Lemrick Nelson

There was a young man from Crown Heights
Who gravitated naturally to fights
Acquitted by Man
G-d had a different plan
and now others have violated HIS civil rights

NewYear Noise Noticeably Negligible

2010-09-07T18:58:00.011-04:00

I once overheard some nurses marveling at the Jewish People, how on Rosh HaShana they are all in their synagogues praying, whereas the secular New Year is marked by drunkenness and gunshot wounds.

Whereas this post is more worthy of the Havdalah Blog, I dedicate this post to him and wish him a full Techiyas HaMeisim and A Kesiva VaChasima Tova to all my loyal readers.

Obedient Orthodox Official Orates (Yehuda Avner - The Prime Ministers)

2010-09-06T14:16:00.016-04:00

One of the most fascinating epics in our time is the story of the rebirth of the State of Israel. Few are aware of the various competing Jewish armies that sprouted in Palestine prior to 1948, with the goal of removing the British Empire from ruling; thereby establishing the Modern Israel.

Most noteworthy in that long list of Freedom Fighters was Menachem Begin. In his books White Nights (about his time spent in Soviet Labor Camp) and The Revolt, he discusses his ideology and the narrative that led to that momentous event in 1948.

Fast forward to 2010, when one of Israel’s long-time statesmen has finally published his memoirs. Yehuda Avner moved to Palestine in 1947 and has had the ear of 4 of Israel’s Prime Ministers. His 700 page book is an eye opener as he takes us behind the scenes and sheds light on many of the most intimate decisions that have been made. The additional fact that Yehuda is a religious Jew makes the narrative all the more compelling. Mishpacha has featured a fine interview this past week. Also see his publisher and hear Yehuda on the radioNachum Segal Interview.

Venomous Vitriol Vaporates Veterans

2010-09-02T11:23:00.007-04:00

VOOM!

Some of you may have noticed that my blogroll changes from time to time with newcomers added and veterans vaporized.

This past few weeks was a sad time in the J-Blogosphere as several character assassinations were perpetrated. While in the past I was more liberal in my selection of who graced that list, In these days of reflection I have decided to be vigilant and remove some virtual LH violators.

Touched Ten Thousand Times

2010-08-30T12:51:00.001-04:00

THANKS!!!