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Nevuchadnezzar was a shrimp!
2007-10-28 22:16:00
My son came home from school today and proudly announced that he had learned in school that Nevuchadnezzar, King of Babylon and the entire known world, was in fact very short. "Did I know how short?" he asked. "No", said I, fearing the worst."Nevuchadnezzar was exactly 1 tefach tall!" came the answer.Well of course he was. 1 tefach is about 2 inches (5 cms) in modern terminology. Of course people are that big. Perhaps he was the original inspiration for Tom Thumb (or tinkerbell for that matter).Apparently (again, according to my son), the Chazon Ish, or perhaps it was the Chatam Sofer, or maybe the Chofetz Chaim, once comforted a short person by telling them to imagine how powerful and evil Nevuchadnezzar was, yet he was only 1 tefach. This person was taller than that so imagine how much good they could do! Inspiring stuff.I know Napoleon was short, as were many world leaders (particularly evil dictators for some reason - just ask Austin Powers. hmmm) but would I be accused of heres...
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D.I.V.O.R.C.E. F.A.I.R.
2007-10-28 12:09:00
Gone are the days when people would be so embarrassed they would only spell the word D.I.V.O.R.C.E. Nowadays everyone is doing it. Marriages are considered successful if they last longer than the leftovers from Shabbos. But perhaps this is going a bit too far:You can't fault the organisers of this fair - after all they are only seeing the economic opportunity in a socialogical phenomenon. But there is something very disagreeable about the idea of a 'divorce fair'. 'Want to get divorced but not sure how?', 'looking for a new future?' etc.Unfortunately divorce is a fact of life, and sometimes is the best thing that a person can do for themselves, their kids or their sanity. I am proud to know that Judaism was one of the first organised religions to legislate for divorce and allow a couple to part ways.But read some of the quotes here: "I just wanted to get some information ahead of time, just to be prepared for the eventuality that such a terrible thing could happen again," sai...

National Anthem
2007-10-25 22:13:00
I was feeling nostalgic today, and found a clip of the New Zealand national anthem - "God Defend New Zealand) on youtube.You can watch it here if you don't remember how it goes.My co-worker pointed out to me how negative the title of the anthem is. New Zealanders just ask G-d to defend them. Whereas the Australians are singing "Advance Australia Fair" - they are charging ahead, NZers are just blocking the shots. (Of coures nobody would accuse the Ozzies of being 'fair' after the 1981 underarm bowling incident, but that is amother matter).So I am going to start a petition to rename the New Zealand national anthem "God pre-emptively strike all our enemies (especially those with weapons of mass destruction) and strike them and smite them with bubonic plague and may they all stub their toes, before they even get close to thinking about coming anywhere near attacking New Zealand - and when the next rugby world cup comes along may New Zealand advance fair to the finals (where they shou...
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Amnesty Interntational DOESN'T condemn Israel
2007-10-24 05:49:00
Mashiach must definitely be on the way. A report from Amnesty International which accuses the Palestinians (both the good ones and the bad ones) of human rights violations! And even the BBC manages to write 8 paragraphs before it mentions that everything is Israel 's fault.It is interesting to see that both the BBC and Amnesty are putting this report out just before Israel sit down with their 'moderate' peace partner to give away the coutry. Apparently even the 'moderates' are not all that nice really.If we have too much more reporting like this I'll know that they have all done teshuvah. Or I'll be sure that Mashiach is here. (Or perhaps, since the Israeli politicians are clearly unable to say anything bad against our 'peace partners' or anything good about Israel, G-d has found other shelichim who can do it instead).Make sure you are sitting down when you read this.Feud 'hurting Palestinian rights'Fighting between the two main factions in the Palestinian territories is f...
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Grumpy Old Man vs the Racist
2007-10-23 02:47:00
OK, I'm not very happy. It is 2:30am and I have been woken up AND kicked out of bed by two of my daughters (independently). So I am tired and grumpy.I came to check what is going on in blogland (I know - blogosphere, right?). For some reason this blog caught my eye (on the 'new post' or whatever it is called section of blogger) The World Can't Wait who was posting as 'Zionism is Terrorism' caught my eye. (Actually I am going back now to remove the link because I don't want him to get any traffic from me, and I don't want to show up on his back links.)He has several sites comparing 'Zionists' (of course that means Jews) to Nazis, blaming Jews for the World Trade Center, and accusing Jews of being Satanists.The complete list of his blogs reads as follows: (from his profile which I don't mind linking to)If you are afraid to speak against tyranny, then you are already a slave Facts not Fairies Revelations Arm Yourself With The Weapons of Mass Education Zionism is Terr...
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demotivation
2007-10-22 13:06:00
Woop-de-do! I have been blogging for almost exactly a year, and have had almost 5000 hits on my blog. Not setting any world records here am I! But it has been mostly fun (except when I blogged about something that upset some people, and they tried to get me fired from two jobs, as well as maligning me to my friends - that wasn't fun. I won't do it again unless I really want a fight). It has certainly been addicting. And I think I have become (slightly) more educated as I read what else is out there in the blogosphere. I now look at the world in a different way (what is the blog angle on that?) and have made several new virtual friends (including someone who sent me a Black Sabbath cd and dvd (I know - Heaven and Hell, but it is the same thing really). Thank you very much.It is always exciting getting comments from people, especially those I don't know. It is amazing to think that other people read what I write and care enough to leave a comment about it.But at the end of the day...

Yarzheit - the Rosh
2007-10-21 22:50:00
The Rosh is one of the most crucial Rishonim on the Talmud. He is printed in the back of almost every Talmud, and is useful both as a halachacist, and also as one of the last tosafists he often clarifies and explains their position.He is the bridge between Talmudic commentary and Halachic works. His son, the Tur (Yaakov ben Asher) is the author of the Arba Turim, which is the predecessor of the Shulchan Aruch. The Tur also wrote 'piskei harosh' which is a summary of the halacha derived from the Rosh's Talmudic commentary and is also printed in the back of most editions of the Talmud.The Rosh was also the bridge between the Ashkenazi and Sefardi worlds, forced as he was to resettle and move from Northern Europe to Spain. His commentary is therefore an interesting commentary on the different customs of East and West at the time. R' Yosef Karo uses him as the 'Ashkenazi' amonst his three main sources (the other two being the Rif and Rambam).This is from the OU:Rabbi Asher ben Yec...

Yarzheit - R' Shimon Shkop
2007-10-21 22:43:00
Known to all as simply R' Shimon , R' Shimon Shkop is one of the 'Roshei Yeshiva' who has become part of the staple diet of all yeshiva students. His chidushim in Shaarei Yosher with new and unique ways of looking at talmudic topics, revolutionised Torah study, and created a new foundation on which later novellae were built.Today, 9th Cheshvan is the Yarzheit of this genius who refused to stay in America and returned to Europe before WWII at the request of the Chofetz Chaim and R' Chaim Ozer. He died during the war (though not in the holocaust).Here is his biography from wikipediaRabbi Shimon Shkop (1860-1940) was a rosh yeshiva ("dean") in the Telshe yeshiva and a renowned Talmudic sholar. He was born in Tortz in 1860. At the age of twelve he went to study in the Mir yeshiva, and at fifteen he went to Volozhin yeshiva where he studied six years. His teachers were the Netziv and Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, with whom he was very close.TelzRabbi Shkop married a niece of Rabbi Elieze...

Harry Potter - a rant
2007-10-20 20:31:00
For years Jews have been laughing at the Christian fundamentalists who thought that Harry Potter was dangerous and full of forbidden witchcraft and the like. But look whose laughing now...At the beginning Harry Potter was harmless entertainment, and the worst that could be said was that it was bitul Torah.Then as the series progresesd, and Harry got older and grew hormones, there were some pages that I didn't really want my kids to be reading. Unfortunatly by that time it was too late to stop him reading the last books in the series. (I know it is nothing compared to all sorts of things that kids watch on tv and movies and stuff, but he goes to a very frum school where nothing goes at all)OK, then we got to the end of the series. Breathed a sigh of relief and bade farewell to Harry and the team. Or so we thought.Today's news comes to make me question why we started with Harry in the first place. JK announced that Dumbledore is gay!WHY? Isn't that just lashon hara for no good reas...
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Rabeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos
2007-10-20 18:46:00
TorahLab has just published the first ever translation of Rabeinu Yonah?s classic commentary on Avos. The TorahLab team, headed by Rabbi David Sedley, has done a remarkable job at adding a significant contribution to Jewish literature and understanding.A little about the book and its history.?There were many great Torah authors and many styles of mussar. Not every author can speak to every soul; there are after all so many different types of souls. The exception to this is Rabbeinu Yonah Girondi (and specifically his book on teshuvah). His writings are appropriate to every Jew in every time.? (Rabbi Chaim of Velozhin as quoted by the Chofetz Chaim])Rabbeinu Yonah came from Girona, in Catalonia. He lived in the thirteenth century, was a grandson and student of the Ramban and the teacher of the Rashba. He is mentioned several times in the commentary of the Tosafos on the Talmud, referred to there as Rabbi Yonah.He was also considered the most prominent pupil of Rabbi Shlomoh Min HaH...

Yarzheit - R' Meir Shapira
2007-10-19 08:21:00
Today is the yarzheit of the founder of 'daf yomi', Rav Meir Shapira. Although the idea of daf yomi met with some opposition, with hindsight we can see the tremendous amount of Torah learning by people of all stripes that R' Shapira brought into the world. Although a simple idea, it needed the right person at the right time (and probably needed Artscroll to come out with the English translation before it really took off) to implement such a program.from jafi.orgRabbi Meir Shapira of Lublin, the founding Rosh Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin and an esteemed luminary of his generation across the world of Jewish study, proposed a universal calendar for studying the entire Talmud Bavli (Babylonian Talmud) on the basis of a double page a day, for 2711 days, thus completing the cycle in about 7 years. He did so to foster Jewish learning, commitment and unity, and he launched the project at the First World Congress of Agudath Yisrael, in Vienna, on 11th September 1923 (5683), from where it spre...

Pocket 'davar acher'
2007-10-17 09:55:00
The good news about these pigs is that not only are they cute, but they probably won't be appearing on any menu any time soon ('pigs in blankets' takes on a whole new meaning).They aren't kosher, but they are small and easy to house train! No piggy messy surprises awaiting you when you get home.Perhaps Noach spent the 120 years while building the Ark figuring out how to breed mini-animals. That would explain how he managed to fit them all into such a small ark. (Doesn't explain how the kangaroos got to Australia though, unless he took a detour on the way to Ararat and let all the animals with pockets jump off there.)Before you know it they'll have invented a gefilte fish that can go straight from your fish bowl into your pocket as a school snack!"I want one I want one I want one. I can take it to school and feed it maccabeans (tm) and put it on a leash and knit little clothes for it and ... and ... and..."From the BBCA Devon fun farm is reaping the rewards of a nine-year breed...
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Yarzheit - Kalonymus Kalman Shapira
2007-10-17 08:00:00
Yesterday was the yarzheit of one of my favourite chasidic Rebbes, the Aish Kodesh - Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira (just the name is enough to inspire awe!).Apart from being one of the true heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto and inspiring countless others during the darkest days of the Holocaust, the Aish Kodesh wrote books which are understandable, practical, inspiring and relevant. There are English translations of several of his books, but if you can read a little bit of Hebrew you might want to try in the original.My 12 year old son is learning Chovas HaTalmidim at school this year as his mussar sefer. It is a shame really, because people come to think of it as a kids' book. It is even more relevant for adults.Here are the bios from the web:From WikipediaKalonymus Kalman Shapira was born in Grodzisk, Poland to his father, the Imrei Elimelech of Grodzhisk. Named after his maternal great-grandfather, the renowned Maor VaShemesh, he was a scion of a distinguished family, which included ...

Religious (in)tolerance
2007-10-14 11:05:00
I'm not personally a big fan of Jesus posters - if you have ever walked through the Arab Shuk in the Old City you will know that those ones with the eyes that follow you as you walk are creepy (not religious intolerance on my part - just anti-creepiness).On the other hand, I would never have the gall to ask someone to remove a poster from a public area. I don't particularly want to look at a poster of a bloody heart and hands with nail wounds in them while I am trying to eat my sandwiches, but there are worse things in some staff cafeterias.Can you imagine the religious intolerance that would lead a member of staff to complain about such a poster, and (even worse) can you imagine an employer suspending someone for putting up such a poster?To make it worse, it was a Muslim who complained, despite the fact that Jesus was a prophet according to the Koran:the Quran not only discusses Jesus many times but also gives him a role of high honor, though only as a prophet.... Jesus is one in...
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Dylan's message
2007-10-12 09:28:00
Not only is he one of the greatest musical personalities of the 20th century, but Bob Dylan has managed to go back in time to find my 'to do' list from the late 60s (I think I had hair like that then too - well, a few years later, since I wasn't actually born then). I know this is cheap commercialism on the part of Bob and his team, but I think it is cute, so I'm inflicting it on you anyway.Thanks to Jewish Pride for the idea.Have a great Shabbat everyone!!!!This blog is from Rabbi Sedley. You can see more divrei Torah, halacha and shiurim at my new website RabbiSedley.com.
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Do we exist?
2007-10-11 07:46:00
Any discussion of how the world and the people in it relate and connect to G-d HAS to begin with an understanding of the two main views of how to understand the Arizal's concept of tzimtzum (contraction). Unfortunately, very rarely does anyone talk about this topic at all. It is too kabbalistic, so the Rabbis giving shiurim leave it for the likes of Madonna to learn about.It is impossible to understand the difference between Chasidim and Misnagdim without knowing this concept (and learning the Nefesh HaChaim is not enough, because he presents a third, hybrid opinion). One also has a better understanding of what is going on in the religious world today, the Slifkin argument, the kollel lifestyle and almost everything else once you understand whether the world is real or not.In my opinion it is impossible to understand G-d or our relationship with Him without an understanding of this basic arguement. It is also impossible to understand the world and our role in it.From Hamlet to Desc...
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Essential Jewish Library
2007-10-07 10:38:00
I had a phone call a couple of days ago from someone who was in a bookshop, trying to decide what to buy (thanks Vivi). Which led me to think about which books would make a basic Jewish library, and which every Jewish home should have. Of course, for me now Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos is top of the list. But what else should every home have?I'm thinking only of English books at the moment. Here is my list. What else would you add?Essential Jewish Libra ry Basic Introductory Books about Judaism:To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life by Hayim Halevy DoninNine Questions People Ask About Judaism by Dennis PragerThis Is My God by Herman WoukBasic Jewish (Synagogue) SurvivalSiddur. Every Jewish home should have at least one siddur (prayerbook). There are many good English/Hebrew siddurim around. The first thing you have to know is which ?nusach? you need. The three main choices are Ashkenaz (Jews of European origin), Sefard (Used by Chasidim ? not to be confused w...

Happiness without relief
2007-10-03 10:45:00
Rabbeinu Yonah comments on the Mishna 'No one ever said to his friend, "There is no room for me to sleep in Jerusalem" as follows:When the people came to Jerusalem for the Festivals, no one ever said, "The place is too crowded for me; move aside for me that I may dwell" (Yeshayahu 49: 2). As David HaMelech said, "The build city of Jerusalem. it is like a city united." (Tehillim 122: 3). In other words, the city was built to accommodate the enitre nation. The word "it" means "for its sake"; Jerusalem waas built for the sake of the Jewish nation, so that they could all gather there.My in-laws certainly put this into practice this Succot. Not only did they manage to find place to sleep the two of them and the seven of us, but for the first days they also had two other guests sleeping over! Not bad in a two bedroom apartment!! (Succot is easier than Pesach, because some of us were sleeping outside).Unfortunately the Mishna doesn't mention anything about bathrooms. There is no verse sa...
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Rabbeinu Yonah on Pirkei Avos - Its HERE!
2007-09-26 08:38:00
IT IS HERE! What a great way to prepare for Yom Tov - to go to the printer and collect THE BOOK!I have translated Rabbeinu Yonah's commentary on Pirkei Avos, which is an essential commentary on Avos, which until now has not been available to the English speaking public. R' Wolbe writes that this is one of the half a dozen classic mussar seforim that everyone should learn.It is not being released until after the Chag, and at the moment will not be available in stores. But it will be sold through torahlab.org at a special introductory price of $16 (+p&p). If you are interested in purchasing a copy send me an e-mail and I'll make sure to let you know when it is released and help you to get one of the first copies - I'll even sign it for you if you want ;)If you have ever tried learning the original, you will know that it is not easy to learn, both because there are many different versions of the text (none of which are free of errors) and because his language style is not simple (l...

Archeology - not an exact science
2007-09-24 14:12:00
This is cross posted from www.torahlab.orgIt has bothered me for some time that we have virtually no archeological evidence for any of the stories in the Torah or Nach.Many years ago I remember a cover article in Time magazine which used this lack of evidence to 'prove' whether or not the Exodus ever happened.Why can't we find any of the altars that Avraham built? Where are the wells dug by Yitzchak? Why can't we find the rock that Yaakov slept on, or the gal-ed that he set up to mark the border between himself and Lavan? Where is the evidence that the Israelites lived in Egypt for a few hundred years? etc. etc.Today's news put this in context for me. For years people have tried to figure out where the stones that were used to build the Temple were hewn from. I remember each tour guide had a different theory as to how far these rocks must have traveled to come to Jerusalem.Now we know the answer. This just in from Israel National News.The Antiquities Authority announced today t...
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Hair Covering for Married Women
2007-09-23 23:25:00
A couple of months ago I posted about women and hair covering without going into the details.Drew Kaplan wasn't happy that I didn't answer the question that I began with.So, in answer to him, and to the original person who asked me the question, and for anyone else who is interested, I am cross posting an article I just wrote for torahlab.org on the topic.Please leave comments on the torahlab site (or here) to share your views or correct my mistakes.Hair Covering for Married Women The Mishnah (Kesuvos chapter 7: 6) states that a woman can be divorced and forfeits her Kesuba (divorce settlement) if she violates either Das Moshe (religion of Moshe) or Das Yehudis (religion of Yehudis ? it is not clear whether Yehudis here refers to a specific woman or the conduct of Jewish (Yehudi) women in general).Das Moshe refers to Torah commandments, and includes such things as if a wife feeds her husband or children non kosher food, not keeping the laws of family purity, or making vows and not...
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Happy post Yom Kippur post
2007-09-23 23:13:00
I hope everyone had a great Yom Kippur. I had meant to post before the big day asking forgiveness for all those I have offended or upset through this blog (and there are many of them - mostly unintentional on my part, and I hope they have forgiven me already before now, but if not...). But of course, like every year, I ran out of time.So, please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. This blog was supposed to be fun and educational, not insulting or offensive.juggling frogs has an excellent 'blogger's vidui' which is clever (and I wish I'd thought of it).I was speaking to my brother who said that since they have moved house they don't have so many bikes on Yom Kippur. I remember the wikipedia entry for Yom Kippur included the following:Over the last few decades, bicycle-riding on the empty streets has become a new "tradition" among non-secular youngsters, especially on the eve of Yom Kippur.[3] In the non-religious sector, Yom Kippur has thus become the "Festival of Bicy...
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Rambam and Teshuva
2007-09-18 07:35:00
In preparation for Yom Kippur and doing Teshuva I have translated chapter 2 of Ramba m's Hilchot Teshuva and compiled a source book of commentaries and sources on and about it. If I say so myself there is some excellent stuff in there (it changed my understanding of teshuva).You can download it for free from torahlab (there are 2 pdfs).One of the most interesting sources I found was this Mabit who makes Yom Kippur much easier to deal with (at least in terms of doing teshuva).Beis Elokim Shaar Hateshuva chapter 12After we have explained the concept of repentance, which is regret and abandoning the sin, we must clarify that this is not like other mitzvos. Someone who only does part of a mitzvah doesn?t have the reward for that mitzvah, for example someone who only puts tzitzis on three corners of his garment doesn?t have three quarters of a mitzvah, since all four are required, and so it is as if he didn?t do anything at all. However with repentance, even though the mitzvah would not ...

Yarzheit - Chay Adam
2007-09-16 19:23:00
Today is not only Tzom Gedaliah (delayed by a day because of Shabbat, which makes some of the piyutim we said this morning in selichot somewhat ironic), but also the Yarzheit of R' Avraham Danzig - the Chay Adam (also the Chochmas Adam and many other names).There were many books written in the 18-19th century which provided practical halachic guidance for the layperson. The Shulchan Aruch had become so covered with commentaries that it was no longer easy to actually know what to do and what not. So in Europe we find books such as Shulchan Aruch Harav, Aruch HaShulchan, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and the most famous the Mishna Brura. In the Sefardi world there was the Ben Ish Chai and the Kaf HaChaim and Makor Chaim.The standard 'text book' for Lithuanian Jewry was the Chay Adam on daily living (Orech Chaim things) and Chochmas Adam on other issues (Yoreh Deah things - Chochma/ Deah). His rulings even today carry more weight for real 'Litvaks' than the Mishna Brura (at least some tim...

Yarzheit - Noson Adler
2007-09-10 11:42:00
Today is the Yarzheit of R' Noson Adler, Rav of Frankfurt and teacher of the Chasam Sofer. Until I researched this post, that was all I knew about him (and the fact that he didn't have any children, yet the Chasam Sofer didn't name any of his sons after his Rebbe because he held that children should only be named after people in the family).So here is what I found. Much more interesting than your average Rabbi! ADLER, NATHAN: By : Gotthard Deutsch German cabalist; born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Dec. 16, 1741; died there Sept. 17, 1800. As a precocious child he won the admiration of ?ayyim Joseph David Azulai, who, in 1752, came to Frankfort to solicit contributions for the poor of Palestine. Adler attended the rabbinical school of Jacob Joshua, author of "Pene Yehoshua'," who was at that time rabbi at Frankfort; but his principal teacher was David Tebele Schiff, afterward rabbi in London. In 1761 he established a yeshibah himself, in which several prominent rabbis received ...
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Chumra of the Week Club
2007-09-10 08:34:00
Sorry if this has done the rounds already - I thought it was hysterical.Yonaty and Mehadrin Min Hamehadrin Min Hamehadrin are pleased to introduce:The Chumra of the Week Club ? Are you concerned that people don't notice and appreciate your yirasshomayim?? Do you sometimes get the feeling that your neighbor is observingmore chumras than you?? Have you ever noticed someone looking at your tefillin duringshacharis as though there were something wrong with them?? Do people occasionally hesitate when you extend them an invitationto eat at your home, or ask what hashgachos you rely on?? Has anyone ever said to you in surprise: "Oh, are you maikel?"If you have ever been faced by any of these mortifying scenarios, TheChumra of the Week Club (CWC) is for you!CWC is a new concept in real, authentic, ostentatous Yiddishkeit.Never again will you be upstaged! Never again will you be at a lossfor a chumra! We supply you weekly with the very best in conspicuousyiras shomayim! (Please note that due...

Best Article for Ages
2007-09-07 08:35:00
I am putting this on my blog for those who don't read Yeshiva World, who may have missed this fantastic article. Nothing else needs to be said (which didn't stop 123 people writing comments on yeshiva world with plenty to say).Read this if it is the only article you read this week!Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum: A Kosher AlternativeMany people are in total shock at some of the goings on in the Catskills this summer. I will not go into the details. Suffice it to say that hundreds of our teenagers - boys and girls - were enticed to engage in activities that are far from what their parents and teachers consider acceptable, and far from what we have a right to expect from Yeshiva and Bais Yaakov products. While there are many reasons for it and no easy or simple solutions, we must be very careful not to add to the problem by forbidding everything without providing a satisfactory kosher replacement. The Yetzer Hora of today is not the one of yesterday or the one our grandparents had to deal with...
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The World Cares!
2007-09-06 12:24:00
This may be the first time I can remember when the Red Cross and European Nations cared more about a Jewish than the Israeli Government seems to do!May it be G-d's Will that he be brought home safely today!Red Cross builds Shalit pressureThe head of the International Committee of the Red Cross has met the Hamas leader to try to gain access to the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.The Director General of the ICRC, Angelo Gnaedinger, met Ismail Haniya in Gaza on Wednesday.Afterwards, Mr Gnaedinger said he was told a visit to Corporal Shalit was "under consideration and that everybody is working on a positive solution".Cpl Shalit was seized in Israel by Palestinian militants in June 2006.Prisoner swapTwo other Israeli soldiers died in the raid carried out by militants from Hamas and other Palestinian groups from Gaza.The militant groups want Israel to release several hundred Palestinian prisoners in return for Cpl Shalit's release.ICRC officials say they have raised the issue of...
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Virtual Shmita?
2007-09-06 12:03:00
You may be concerned this shmita about whether to rely on 'heter mechira' where the land is sold to non-Jews for the year. There are many problems with this in practice, politics and philosophy (though nobody questions that it does 'work' and the produce may be eaten).Shomrei Shvi'it have come up with a brilliant idea. (They thought of it last Shavuos night in the wee small hours while learning).Instead of selling the land to non-Jews and working it, how about selling it to Jews and not working it!Shomrei Shvi?it is an innovative new project that allows Jews in Israel, and throughout the Diaspora, to properly fulfill the mitzvot of shmitta. The Torah's commandments to allow agricultural land to lie fallow every seventh year, can now be observed in a simple, powerful and inexpensive way.For the first time for many people, shmitta can become an actual, practical mitzvah, rather than a theoretical commandment for discussion and learning.As shmitta approaches this coming Rosh Hash...
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Is it kosher?
2007-09-05 00:45:00
Nowadays the consumer has to rely very heavily on the mashgichim (supervisors) to ensure the food they eat is kosher. It is impossible for the average person to know all the ingredients in products s/he buys, and extremely difficult for them to check on the kashrus of each one.In restaurants the diner has to trust that the mashgiach is doing his job, and not off 'davening mincha' when he is supposed to be superivsing. It would be virtually impossible to know whether the food you are eating is kosher or not by the time it lands on your plate.Nowadays the consumer is reliant on supervisors even for plain meat. Gone are the days when you would take your chicken to the shochet and then the Rabbi and you could see yourself whether it is kosher or not.So stories like these are very disturbing to me. I have no idea whether they ever sold non kosher meat, or whether they were only storing it in the fridge (and I think we should be 'dan l'kaf z'chus):On Monday at 5:30 p.m., an official ...
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