Chestnut Street, Liberty Photo by Richard Cunningham Changing-of-the-Guard Alert: A few months back I asked if Congregation Ahavas Yisroel could be revitalized? Today, the answer is “yes.” The congregation recently voted and a new rabbi has been hired. Rabbi Y. Read More »
by Joel Rich Space/Time Continuum Questions: A gzeirah (promulgation) is made on the assumption that the community will accept it. 1) Do those being gozer have to expect 100% will accept it? 90%…(you got the idea) 2) As the gzeirah is enacted (let’s assume the answer to question 1 is 90%), initial acceptance is 92.76%. Are the other 7. Read More »
Desire, to a large extent, runs the world. Absent a conscious free-will decision to the contrary, the drive for human needs, perceived needs and explicit wants determines a person’s behavior. Many of these desires are biologically and psychologically understandable but some seem counterintuitive. Read More »
The Jerusalem Post September 3, 2010 In its basic form, the Ground Zero mosque debate boils down to a conflict between two competing values – American freedom of religion versus the sensitivities of the families of the victims of 9/11. Read More »
It can support an action in two ways: either you support directly – or you delegitimizes the defense. Since haGalil still trying, is the false appearance, one would like to Jewish and safeguard against anti-working project to be – especially since we Read More »
Automatically translated from German »
Inciteful Rabbi R. Ovadiah Yosef was in the news again, quoted as having wished death on Palestinian leadership and militants. He was roundly criticized by the media and the White House. The issue, as I see it, is this: Such speech is appropriate in a time of war. It is not appropriate during peace. Read More »
DEBKA . They Set up Joint Command for Coordinated War against Israel DEBKA-Net-Weekly #460 September 2, 2010 Bashar Assad and Hassan Nasrallah Expectations among seasoned Middle East hands of anything coming out the first direct talks Thursday, Sept. Read More »
“You don’t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs,” he said. “When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the world should start worrying, and that’s what is happening in Iran.” Israel, Netanyahu told me, is worried about an entire complex of problems, not [… Read More »
Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, visits the Satmar Rebbe Rav Zalman Leib (Yekusiel Yehuda) Teitelbaum in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. Read More »
Gruntig! »
This is the latest segment of the new weekly video series from Rabbi Stulberger – You’ve Been Called to the Dean’s Office. It’s a short (four minute) message on a timely Torah topic. This week’s message: “Going Beyond the Limits. Read More »
I regret having to return soon to the wretched Northern Ireland analogy but the persistence with which people appeal to it is really amazing. They seem to be unable to accept Hamas on its own terms and driven by a desire to wish it into being something that it is not. In this column in the [… Read More »
659 – GREENFIELD – fellow traveler-Islamist THE LIBERAL ALLIANCE (SPANISH) LA ALIANZA LIBERAL-Islam 639 – GREENFIELD – TERROR AS A METHOD AND THE BANK ROBBERS Mosque PARISLAS OF MOSQUES AND THE BANK OF PARIS THIEVES 633 – GREENFIELD – REASON AND THE Read More »
Automatically translated from Spanish »
All, I have not yet received bids for all the alliyos. I have heard from only one Cohen and no Levi’im and I have not received bids for six of the other alliyos. There is great merit in having one of these alliyos so I encourage you to make your bid. The bidding ends Tuesday at midnight and I get to assign any unbid alliyos. Read More »
My memory is of the general flurry of activity that took place before every Rosh Hashana. The purchase of new clothing and shoes for the New Year. The smell of chicken soup cooking on the stove, and round challas baking in the oven of my mother’s kitchen. Read More »
In this paragraph Rav Wolbe introduces an important concept to which he returns a number of times through out his work – the importance of individuality. Every human being must understand their own place in the world – that the world was created for me. He works off the very important Mishna in Sanhedrin 4: 5 (link ). Read More »
The violence happened at about 7: 45 p.m. near the intersection of 49th Street and Tenth Avenue in Borough Park The members of the Shomrim Patrol were following a car they considered suspicious. Zev Brenner interviewed the head of Borough Park’s… Read More »
Leo RennertAmerican Thinker02 September ‘10When it comes to differentiating between Israeli settlers and Hamas terrorists, the New York Times displays more sympathy for the latter than for the former — as is quite apparent from its Sept. Read More »
Quote: BBC had “massive bias to left: ” director general (AFP) 15 hours ago LONDON The director general of the BBC admitted Thursday that his organisation had been guilty of a “massive bias to the left” but said “a completely different generation” of journalists now works at the broadcaster. Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice led by Attorney General Stedman Graham Eric Holder filed suit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio today alleging that his department was refusing to cooperate with an investigation into whether it discriminated against Latinos while trying to enforce immigration laws. Read More »
Ija Maternity Sideshot Photo by: SHOfrE3zE F or the purposes of an upcoming article I will need the following table of fertility rates for 220 countries. Read More »
JERUSALEM — I was going to write an analysis of the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations occurring right now in Washington, D.C., but I could not think of anything interesting to say since the present talks are nothing more than political theater. So, here some interesting articles after which I will provide further commentary. Read More »
From Maan News : Attacks by Hamas’ armed wing will continue “in any form and in any place,” including inside Israel and in Gaza, a spokesman said Thursday. Read More »
Hebrew-English Text I. Summary God enumerates the people’s many sins and promises to punish them accordingly. II. Read More »
Edward Filene, the founder of Filene’s department stores and one of the more progressive capitalists in American history, was born on this date in Salem, Massacusetts in 1860. Filene’s innovations included profit-sharing , a 40-hour work week, and paid vacations, as well as a minimum wage for women. Read More »
מ. וּלְקַחְתֶּם לָכֶם בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים וַעֲנַף עֵץ עָבֹת וְעַרְבֵי נָחַל וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם שִׁבְעַת יָמִים: 40. Read More »
This was the first post that was ever put onto this blog. I wanted to share it with you again for all those people who never got to read it because you can take such an incredible lesson from it!!! I want to share an incident that happened the other day. Read More »
This post is very “un-Jamie.” I may not talk about sex, boobs, masturbating, etc. I want to talk to you about something girly, but it’s for men too. Read More »
HOUSES OF WORSHIP SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 A Stirring New Prayer Book for the High Holidays By DIANE COLE http: //online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703618504575459992110462242.html?mod=googlenews wsj When services for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begin on Wednesday evening, Sept. Read More »
The sign reads “Leader (or Exalted) of the Generation Rabbi Ovadya Yosef, Shlita: ‘FORBIDDEN to continue the freeze – we must build in the whole country.’” Two points to whoever can dig up this old article – but around 13 years ago I spent a year here in Israel is Yeshiva. Bibi was Prime Minister then just like today. Read More »
Kumah »
As we get close to the New Year I would like to thank once again everybody who reads and those who verbally or via email encourage me and contribute their own input. It really adds! I value the connections I have made and thank those who have taken of their time to connect. Read More »
The debate on the Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan has really exemplified how easily some Americans will throw away our core values for some semblance of reactionary comfort. Read More »
Rav Chaim Vital the student of the Arizal is quoted in the sefarim as saying that in Shomayim one is judged first and foremost on how he treated his spouse. If he is derelict in this area all of his other interpersonal mitzvos are discarded!A story that may or may not be true. A man I know of is mamesh, mamesh a tzaddik. Read More »
When I turned to read this week’s Forward, I found a banner advertising the current issue of the journal Kerem. I used to receive Kerem in the 1990’s because my name was on some mailing list, but I was glad that it came because I always found it thoughtful and well edited. The journal sought to capture how people experience their Judaism. Read More »
The Book of Doctrines and Opinions: notes on Jewish theology and spirituality »
Who is God? JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND MUSLIMS IN DIALOGUE Dialogue partners will be Rabbi Menachem Creditor, His Eminence Nikitas, and Imam Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiq. Date: Sunday, September 26 Time: 7: 00 – 10: 00 pm Place: International House, 2299 Piedmont, Berkeley Free event. For info, contact John Grose at john@greatmorning. Read More »
The scandal surrounding Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) is getting bigger. Earlier this week we reported that Johnson violated Congressional Black Caucus Foundation rules by awarding scholarship money to four relatives and a top aide’s two children, according to an attorney for the Foundation. Read More »
Winners of the ‘Teacher of the State’ award spent a day preparing for their upcoming visits to North America at the Jewish Agency offices. From Left are: Ruth Raveh, Yehudit Lewkowicz and Kidusha Roitman-Bamnolker. Read More »
Last meeting as J Street NYC Co-Chair , originally uploaded by Kung Fu Jew 18 . Tonight was my last steering meeting as Local Co-Chair in New York City. After four years as the head of the Brit Tzedek (then) and J Street (now) grassroots team, I’m so proud of our growth and my team. I leave it in such capable hands. For that I am so thankful. Read More »
It’s not that I don’t know Hebrew, but I choose to work in English. This morning youtube started setting me up in Hebrew, because Israel is my location. Of course the instructions on how to cancel it are in Hebrew, so someone with much worse Hebrew than mine has a major problem. Read More »
me-ander »
Looking to take a couple of folks to Brunch on Sunday in midtown Manhattan or on the East Side. Someplace to eat comfortably and have a conversation. Doesn’t have to be Chalav Yisrael. Read More »
Judaism is a study in contrasts. We are meant to see that for every calamity, there is redemption. For every curse, there is a blessing. For everyone in despair, there is hope. Recall that last week, in Ki Tavo , we were cursed for fifty-four verses of the tochecha and then reminded of God’s salvation in the Haftarah from Isaiah. Read More »
In an interview with Radio Jovem Pan, this evening, the presidential candidate José Serra (PSDB) suggested that in future names appear involved in the breach of confidentiality of toucans and their daughter, Veronica, on the "payroll" of the PT. Read More »
Automatically translated from Portuguese »
The High Holidays are very early this year. Just as I’m thinking about trying to fit in one more day at the beach, I have to start mailing my Rosh HaShana cards. I don’t send a lot of cards, so I would like each one to be special. It’s my personal opinion that even the simplest hand-made card is more personal than a store-bought card. Read More »
Great article on the life of fellow undercover kofers, titled Living In a Haredi Closet (from ynetnews.com ). Hat tip: FailedMessiah. Read More »
I live in Vegas and Remi has a restaurant out here named Sababa. We LOVE his hot sauce. Seriously can’t get enough. Everytime we eat there, we leave with lbs of yummy food – he always hooks us up with extra hot sauce. He is a great guy – love everything about him and his restaurant here. Definitely check it out if you visit. Read More »
http: //abcnews.go.com/print?id=11544098 Offshore Oil Platform Explodes in Gulf of Mexico, but No Leak Found Sept. 2, 2010 — An explosion on an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico early today ignited a fire that caused workers to evacuate into the water, but the U.S. Read More »
Parshiyot Netzavim and Vayelekh 5770 Rabbi Ari Kahn Gather the People As Moshe’s speech draws to an end, he addresses some of the practical, pragmatic issues at hand; one such item is the issue of succession: דברים לא: ז-ח וַיִּקְרָא מֹשֶׁה Read More »
Jon HaberDivest This! 02 September ‘10Now and then (usually in response to comments) I’ve posed the question: what if the world is NOT as the BDSers perceive it? What if there’s even a one-percent chance that the suffering in the region is NOT fueled Read More »
No, the famous scientist Stephen Hawking is not a Jew. He attended St. Albans, an independent Christian school, as a child.Hawking is a noted British theoretical physicist and cosmologist. He has written a new book in which he challenges the notion that God created the universe. Read More »
The recent Emmanuel litigation revealed a major flaw in Israel’s judicial system. In most suits against governmental authorities, the Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice (BaGaTZ), is a court of original jurisdiction. Read More »
If there’s anything I’ve learned from recovering from birth, its Accept Help . I have an acquaintance who was kind enough to accompany me to the grocery store yesterday, to be an extra set of hands and feet. Read More »
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFHsy5Q-rQM In keeping with the fact that it’s Labor Day Weekend and everyone is ditching shul to go to the beach, let’s keep this week’s d’var brief and to-the-point. A double portion of Torah lovin’… Nitzavim: do good stuff and G-d will reward you. Do bad stuff, and G-d will curse you. The end. Read More »
Everyone has their go-to holiday recipes that they make year after year. This is one of those recipes in my house. I can’t even imagine what would happen if I chose to make another chicken recipe for the first night of Rosh Hashana. Read More »
By Yossi Beilin Bloomberg. The peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas taking place in Washington, will not succeed in finding a permanent solution to the conflict. These talks sponsored by U.S. Read More »
Automatically translated from Galician »
(Ynet).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in private Thursday, as part of the newly, Washington launched direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.The two reportedly agreed to meet once every two weeks, with the first meeting set to take place at Sharm el-Sheik. Read More »
