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Tisha B'Av Quotes
2007-07-22 10:54:00
These two quotes speak for themselves. They were written many decades ago, but apparently we have not learnt from them.The Netziv writes in Ha'amek Davar in the introduction to Bereishis:The praise ?straight? (yashar) is said about the justice of G-d?s judgment in the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdosh because the generation were perverse and twisted. We have explained that even though they were tzadikim and chasidim and toiled in Torah, nevertheless they were not straight in their dealings with the world. Because of their hatred for each other, anyone who didn?t serve G-d according to their opinion was suspected of being a Saducee or an apikoros. Through this they came to murder through their arguments, which led to all the bad things in the world, until the Beis Hamikdosh was destroyed.In other words, baseless hatred means invalidating someone else's worldview or hashkafa! Let's both be right, and agree that there is more than one correct Jewish path to serving G-d!This i...
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Peres was right!
2007-07-22 10:32:00
I must congratulate our new president on his foresight. Martin Sherman has written an excellent essay for ynet showing how Shimon Peres got it exactly right in 1978 with his dire predictions of what would happen if the Palestinians ever got their own state. The only question is why he changed his mind, to declare last week that Israel must get rid of the territories (and thus showed exactly what he meant when he said that he would be an unbiased impartial president!). Is this a sign of senility in an 84 year old man? Or has the world changed as much as his mind?This is another clear sign that Mashiach is on his way!!The establishment of such (a Palestinian) state means the inflow of combat-ready Palestinian forces (more than 25,000 men under arms) Advertisement into Judea and Samaria; this force, together with the local youth, will double itself in a short time. It will not be short of weapons or other (military) equipment, and in a short space of time, an infrastructure for wag...
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9 Av Message from R' Yaakov Kaminetsky
2007-07-21 21:05:00
This extract is from Emes L'Yaakov (R' Yaakov Kami netsky) on Shulchan Aruch in the section of the Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av. It seems to me to be a very important and relevant message for today.Emet L?Ya?akov on Shulchan Aruch OC 551 s.v. ShamThis is what the Torah means when it says ?You shall teach them, and guard them to keep them?. In other words a person is obligated to learn the Mitzvot and to know well which are Torah prohibitions, which are Rabbinic, which are fences and which are customs. In other words the ?guarding to keep? is only possible through ?teaching them?. It is not sufficient for a person to watch and copy every action and movement that his father does, even if his father is completely righteous. In such a case a person will not know whether his father is doing the action because it is a Halacha, or just a custom. Through this he will then come to transgress Torah prohibitions, such as causeless hatred and machloket. For this person sees others who are not d...
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Good Shabbos Kiwi
2007-07-20 13:08:00
This clip - Good night Kiwi - reminds me of my childhood. In the olden days TVNZ (the New Zealand broadcasting corporation) used to close down (both chanels) at about midnight (occasionally at motzei shabbat they would go a little bit later).For little kids it was very exciting to stay up late enough to see 'Goodnight Kiwi'. It was a sign of manhood to stay up that late.I remember once on an afternoon children's TV show they broadcast this clip, just so the little kids could see what it was. That was very exciting.Nowadays when there are 30 billion channels and the TV never sleeps this is just a meaningless piece of history. There is no more excitement left in TV because everything is available to everyone at every time. Even though TV was dangerous even in the 70s and 80s (and I dare say I lost many braincells from staring at the 'box'), the dangers and threats were of an altogether different order. The most salacious thing on TV was Coronation Street (and we couldn't understa...

5th Av - Arizal
2007-07-20 12:00:00
Today is also the Yarzheit of the AriZal, R' Yitzchak Luria, who literally changed the world with his Torah. All of the kabbalah that we have today is through him, and the only real understanding of the Zohar is based on his teachings. There have been changes to halachah, minhagim, Torah learning, and even the siddur, based on the teachings and ideas of the Ari.He said that any kabbalah before his time was from tohu (chaos). He introduced concepts and terminology that changed the way kabbalah was understood.It is amazing how little is known of him as a person. He only lived to the age of 38, and only in the last couple of years of his life did he move to Tzfat and begin to teach kabbalah. Everything we have from him is based on the transcriptions and books written by his main student R' Chaim Vital.He was a younger contemporary of the Shulchan Aruch, who also changed the world, yet in very different ways.Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534 ? July 25, 1572) was a Jewish mystic in Safed. His na...

R' Chaim Ozer - 5th Av
2007-07-20 08:16:00
Today is the yarzheit of one of the greatest European Rabbis of the last century - Rabbi Chai m Ozer Grodzinski. R' Chaim Ozer was known not only for his leadership skills, and his brilliance in Torah, but most famously for having a compartmentalised brain. He was able to do several things at the same time (how many things at once depends on which version of the stories you hear). He could write two separate letters using both hands simultaneously, while at the same time answering a halachic sheila and speaking to his secretary (and perhaps also speaking on the phone).They say about him that when he would daven the veins on his temples would pop out from the exertion of concentrating on one one thing!His Achiezer responsa is well known for allowing the use of gelatin, but his halachic expertise was in all areas of contemporary life. They say that the Chofetz Chaim would always discuss political issues with R' Chaim Ozer before making a decision.Chaim Ozer GrodzinskiFrom Wikipedia, ...

Tisha B'Av song
2007-07-19 06:57:00
To put you in the mood for Tisha B'Av (and while I was waiting for the scanner to scan)With thanks to Billy Joel:When we left Egypt, we were triumphantBut out of Israel, we were despondentWe'd got the lawOn Mount SinaiBut we were quick to give it up for sinning and liesWe saw the Shechina, and built the TempleWe had korbanos, it was all so simpleBut then they burnedOur holy homeAnd they killed thousands and thousands of folkOld Jeremiah, said we were mistakenWe never thought that, we'd be forsakenWe cried so hardThat ninth of AvAnd prayed for G-d to once more show us His loveWe lost our homeland, we made an errorWe went to Bavel, with NebuchadnezzarAnd we were blindWe lost our mindsBut we never stopped prayingand hoping and sayingThat we'd come back home to Israel once moreWe said we'll all return togetherYes we will all return togetherOh we will all return togetherRemember David, Remember ShlomoHe built the city, He built the TempleBut we were wrongWe lost our wayFor no reason...
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Menahem Azariah me-Pano - 4th Av
2007-07-19 06:25:00
Today is the yarzheit of R' Menachem Azar iah me-Pano (the Rema me-Pano) who was a great 16th century kabbalist and halachicist (or in other words, a Rabbi who knew all areas of Torah).Apart from his brilliance, and authority in halacha for later generations, one of the interesting things about the Rema me-Pano is that he learned his kabbala from R' Yisrael Serug, who himself was a talmid of the Arizal. (I know it says that R' Menachem Azariah learned from R' Moshe Cordovero, but I'm not convinced that he learned from him directly). Virtually all of the Arizal's writings that we have come from R' Chaim Vital, and this has become the standard in studying kabbalah. However, R' Yisrael Serug also learned directly from the Arizal, then came to Europe and taught there. His understanding of what the Arizal said, and his description of spiritual worlds, (and the well known statement that in the time of Mashiach the halacha will be like Beit Shammai) are different than that found in ...

Addicted to Blog
2007-07-18 06:16:00
(With thanks to Robert Palmer)Computer's on, 'coz I'm at homeMy mind is not, its turned to stoneMy friends don't want, to talk to meI used to have a familyI can't sleep, I can't sitI need to get, another hitMy blog has had, 10,000 viewsI'll post once more, before I snoo-ooozeWhoa,I used to think that I was immune to adsenseoh YeahBut now I've made, another 29 cents!I Know I'mGonna have to face it, I'm addicted to blogI've got the widgets, h-t-m-lI've got the ads, for stuff to sellI've got paypal, for you to payAll I need, is stuff to sayAnother post and I'll be fine, a one track mindIts 3 AM, I'm nearly doneI'll stop quite soon, I'm having funThe world can read, what's in my headThe problem is, my brain is deadWhoa,I used to think that I was immune to adsenseoh YeahBut now I've made, another 29 cents!I Know I'mGonna have to face it, I'm addicted to blogMight as well face it, I'm addicted to blogMight as well face it, I'm addicted to blogMight as well face it, ...
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Babel Fish
2007-07-18 04:43:00
Nimrod would have loved it. Most of the world can now speak the same language - and the language is the internet (thanks to google). The next Tower of Babel has google at its heart.Apparently I can speak Spanish! I didn't realise how brilliant google actually is. (I also have no idea whether this makes any sense in translation).I was looking at my 'recent came from' links, and found this:http://translate.google.com/translat e?hl=es&sl=en&u=http://rabbisedley.blogsp ot.com/2007/07/torah-temima-bargain.html& sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=rewhich is me speaking Spanish. I say: Soy seguro que todo sabes quiénes es el Torah Temimah, y lo que escribieron otros libros maravillosos R Baruch HaLevi Epstein. Qué no puedes saber es que él escribió un comentario en los 5 Gishmei llamado Megillas Bracha (o más adelante, Torah Temimah en 5 Megillahs). Soy un ventilador grande del Torah Temimah, y he estado intentando traducir otros de sus comentarios en el chumash - Tosefet Bracha en mi Web site....
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Top Ten Reasons
2007-07-16 11:11:00
Two posts that really changed my day yesterday (well, what I mean is that I quoted them several times during the course of the day).Juggling Frogs has written probably the best blog article I have ever read about how to sell vacuum cleaners and how (not) to do kiruv. She writes so well and has an extremely important message. Judaism doesn't need to be sold. Torah and Judaism can speak for themselves. Experiencing, seeing, learning about Judaism are all great ways for someone to become more interested. But please don't try to 'sell' Judaism, or 'mekarev' people to a Torah lifestyle. Just try to be the right person at the right time in the right place. Let G-d do the rest. (sorry, that is my rant - juggling frogs writes much better than me, and has a better message - read what she wrote!!!!)And then for some light relief in these 9 sad days -From Bangitout.com Jewish HumorTop Ten Reasons Why the Nine Days were Made for Hippies10. No haircuts/shaving - We started that look, dude....

Ezra's return
2007-07-16 10:46:00
Cross-post from www.torahlab.org1st of AvToday, the 1st of Av, is the day that Ezra arrived in Yerushalayim from Bavel. The Israelites had been exiled in Babylon for many decades, had seen the Temple destroyed and lost many of their family members. The kingdom of Israel had been destroyed and Yehuda was in tatters. The few remaining Jews in Israel were leaderless, directionless and scattered across the country.There had already been at least two attempts to rebuild the Temple, and by the time Ezra arrived Nechemiah had managed to complete the building (with the support of the Persian kings). However they lacked the charismatic leader who would be the focal point for world Jewry.Ezra refused to leave Babylon as long has his teacher, Baruch ben Neriah, was alive. After Baruch passed away, Ezra realized where he was needed and organized the first ?nefesh b?nefesh? trip to Israel.1,496 men chose to come with him (this was in the days before subsidies), and Ezra had to persuade 38 Levi?i...
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Rambam Yomi
2007-07-15 07:05:00
Another one of the 'yomi' cycles was started by the late Lubavitcher Rebbe - Ramba m Yomi. There are three cycles, learning one mitzvah daily, learning one chapter of Mishna Torah daily, and learning three chapters of Mishna Torah daily.The latest cycle of three chapters began on Friday with the introduction.I went through the Rambam once, many years ago, using this schedule. At this pace it is hard to really learn anything well, or in depth, but it was a great overview of both the world of halacha and the Rambam. Since Mishna Torah includes many sections of halacha which are not in the Shulchan Aruch (things that don't apply nowadays, mostly connected to the Temple) it is a much broader work, giving an understanding of more of the Torah.If you have a spare half an hour a day (and who does) I would definitely recommend it (if you have more time to do it more in depth that would be even better).This is the schedule in HebrewFor the written texts and/ or audio shiur click here:Audio...

Yarzhreit - R' Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)
2007-07-15 06:49:00
Today (28th Tamuz) is the yarzheit of probably the most famous and most influential of all Ashkenazi Rabbis - Rashi. Arguably he is still the most influential Jewish author since the time of the Talmud. It is virtually impossible to move in the world of Chumash (and Nach) or Talmud without Rashi's commentary.He wrote on almost all areas of Torah, and was one of the first to write a linear commentary on the Torah and Talmud.This is a small part of the wikipedia entry for Rashi (there is much more there which is recommended reading:Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaqi (Hebrew: ??? ???? ?????), better known by the acronym Rashi (Hebrew: ???"??), (February 22, 1040 ? July 13, 1105), was a rabbi from France, famed as the author of the first comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud, Torah and Tanakh. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise yet lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginning students, and his works remain a centerpiece of conte...
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Yarzhreit - R' Shlomo Ganzfried
2007-07-15 06:38:00
Yesterday (Shabbat, 27th Tamuz) was the Yarzheit of the author of the kitzur shulchan Aruch - Rabbi Shlomo Ganz fried.He was born in Uzhhorod (Ungvar) in the Carpathian region of the Habsburg Empire (now Ukraine). His father Joseph died when he was eight. Rabbi Ganzfried was considered to be a child prodigy and Ungvar's chief rabbi and Rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Heller assumed legal guardianship; Heller was known as "Hershele the Sharp-witted" for his piercing insights into the Talmud. Heller later moved to the city of Bonyhád, and Ganzfried, then fifteen, followed him. He remained in Heller's yeshiva for almost a decade until his ordination and marriage. After his marriage he worked briefly as a wine-merchant.In 1843 he abandoned commerce and accepted the position of rabbi of Brezevitz. In 1849, he returned to Ungvar as a dayan, a judge in the religious court.Rabbi Ganzfried realised that in order to remain committed to Orthodoxy, "the average Jew required an underpinning of a ...
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Power (and danger) of the blog
2007-07-10 09:32:00
This is an excellent article that someone just sent me, which reminds me of the benefits and dangers of writing on a blog.Has anyone read the book that this article is based on? How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything...in Business (and in Life) Please give me your thoughts on it.OP-ED COLUMNIST; The Whole World Is WatchingThomas Friedman -- CommentaryThree years ago, I was catching a plane at Boston?s Logan airport and went to buy some magazines for the flight. As I approached the cash register, a woman coming from another direction got there just behind me ? I thought. But when I put my money down to pay, the woman said in a very loud voice: ?Excuse me, I was here first!? And then she fixed me with a piercing stare that said: ?I know who you are.? I said I was very sorry, but I was clearly there first.If that happened today, I would have had a very different reaction. I would have said: ?Miss, I?m so sorry. I am entirely in the wrong. Please, go ahead. And can I buy y...
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R' Moshe Cordovero Yarzheit
2007-07-09 04:52:00
Today is the anniversary of the death of one of the greatest kabbalists before the Arizal. R' Mosh e Cord overo (RaMaK) wrote extensively on the Zohar attempting to resolve apparent contradictions in this text.After the Arizal brought his new methodology and kabbalistic insights, the RaMaK's writings became less popular (apparently the Arizal said of his writings that they were 'olam he tohu' - 'world of confusion'). However Tomer Devorah (Palm Tree of Devorah) is still learnt today, as one of the basic mussar seforim, and the pardes is still studied by those trying to come to a deeper understanding of the Zohar and kabbalistic worlds.This biography is from ascent.orgAmong the great luminaries of Kabbalah, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero holds a particularly important place as one of the most prolific and systematic exponents of the teachings of the Zohar as well as the writings of almost all the early Kabbalists.Moshe Cordovero - or Ramak (an acronym taken from the first letters of his t...
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Torah Temima bargain
2007-07-08 13:03:00
I'm sure you all know who the Torah Temimah is, and what other wonderful books R' Baruch HaLevi Epstein wrote. What you may not know is that he wrote a commentary on the 5 Megillas called Gishmei Bracha (or later, Torah Temimah on 5 Megillahs). I am a big fan of the Torah Temimah, and have been trying to translate another of his commentaries on chumash - Tosefet Bracha on my website. You can see a few pieces on most of the parshas there.Anyway, here's the scoop. Torahlab are selling a pocket sized version (with clear print) of the original Hebrew version of his commentary on Megillat Eicha for a silly price. But it is for this week only. Click on the link and get yourself a copy to make your tisha b'av more meaningful.http://torahlab.org/store/inde x.php?act=viewProd&productId=484(This is what they write about the book:)Rabbi Boruch HaLevi Epstien (1860-1941) cites Talmudic and Midrashic souces verbatim, merging the Written and Oral Torah. In addition, his unique style of comment...
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Guns 'n' Portfolios
2007-07-06 08:40:00
There are several pieces of Talmud that talk about people turning their lives around, earning olam haba in an instant, or other inspiring teshuva messages. This story caught my eye because it is kind of the same message, but instead of 'an instant' it was 'a exploded pancreas' and instead of 'olam haba' is is 'olam hazeh'. But still.I don't know if any of you still remember Guns 'n' Roses (I feel so old writing those words), and if you have never heard of them - I'm not recommending that you start now. It is hard for me to listen to their offensive language, even if their music is still fantastic.Anyway, their bass player has transformed himself from a tattooed long haired drug addict, to a tattooed, long haired investment advisor. There is something very charming about the thought of Mr and Mrs Duff sitting and playing monopoly with the two little Duffettes.This article is from the New Zealand news site 'stuff'With his ragged mane and heavily tattooed wiry frame, form...
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15th Tamuz - Shaagas Aryeh
2007-07-02 07:14:00
Yesterday (15th Tamuz ) was also the yarzheit of the Shaagas Aryeh, one of the most fiery and brilliant Rabbis of his time. He was also fiery in his temperament. Unfortunately I couldn't find very much about him using google, and don't have time just now to do the proper research.I seem to remember a story about him putting a curse on Prague, and the city being destroyed by fire. (But I may have got it confused with another city and another Rabbi). If anyone can add details about his life I would appreciate it.Here are the wikipedia article and a couple of stories I found on the web.Rabbi Aryeh Leib ben Asher Gunzberg (aka Shaagat Aryeh) (Hebrew: ???? ??? ????????) was born in Lithuania, c. 1700, and died at Metz, France June 23, 1785. He was a Rabbinical casuist often referred to by the name of his most famous book, Shaagat Aryeh (Hebrew, ???? ????, for 'Roar of the Lion').At one time Gunzberg was Rabbi in Pinsk, and then later founded a yeshivah in Minsk. Here however he engage...

Kiddush for Girls
2007-07-01 13:06:00
My neighbours made a kiddush for their newborn daughter this past Shabbos (mazel tov) and also for their older daughter for whom they never made a kiddush. This led to a discussion about the need for making a kiddush at the birth of a daughter. It seems that this 'mitzvah' comes from an apocryphal statement my the Steipler, Rav Yisrael Yaakov Kanievski. People were taking this obligation very seriously. However, being the skeptic that I am, I wanted to check the authenticity of the statement and the importance of the minhag.It seems that there is very little evidence that the Steipler ever said this. However, the incident is quoted (from an unnamed source) in a Rabbi Frand d'var Torah.Someone quoted an amazing story from the Steipler Gaon, related to this exact point. A person came to the Steipler and told him that he needed a blessing for his daughter. She was 27 years old and in need of a shidduch [marriage partner].The Steipler asked him if it was his first daughter. The man r...
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Women and Hair Covering
2007-07-01 09:08:00
I have been asked by someone about the sources for women's hair covering. Why do they have to cover their hair? Who has to cover her hair? When does the hair need to be covered? How much? and where does it say so in the Torah.The truth is that there is no simple verse in the Torah to point to with all the answers. Like all the laws of Judaism, we don't learn the halachot from the verses in the Torah (there are very few verses that actually give us laws, and even those are limited or expanded (or both) by the Oral tradition. In other words, it is always an unfair question to ask 'where does it say so in the Torah' because almost all of the Torah laws (and absoutely all of the Rabbinic laws) are from the Mishna, Talmud, Tosefta, Gaonim, Rishonim or Acharonim.There are explicit rules in the Shulchan Aruch, but for a proper overview and understanding of the laws (from the sources) the best book (by far) on the topic is: The Modest Way (Women and Mitzvot Series)He brings all the rele...
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15th Tamuz - Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh
2007-07-01 06:58:00
Today is the Yarzheit of the Ohr HaChai m HaKadosh, best known for his commentary on Chumash.This is what Wikipedia has to say about the Ohr ha-ChaimChaim ben Moses ibn Attar was a Talmudist and kabbalist; born at Mequenez, Morocco, in 1696; died in Jerusalem July 31, 1743. He was one of the most prominent rabbis in Morocco.In 1733 he decided to leave his native country and settle in Palestine. En route he was detained in Livorno by the rich members of the Jewish community who established a yeshiva for him. Many of his pupils later became prominent and furnished him with funds to print his Ohr ha-Chaim.He was received with great honour wherever he travelled. This was due to his extensive knowledge, keen intellect and extraordinary piety. In the middle of 1742 he arrived in Jerusalem where he presided at the Beit Midrash Keneset Yisrael.One of his disciples there was Chaim Joseph David Azulai, who seems to have been completely overwhelmed by the excellence of his master. He wrote of h...
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BBC on Hamas TV
2007-07-01 05:21:00
The BBC happily write about Hamas 's very own version of Mickey Mouse as though there is nothing wrong with it. No comment on the fact that the character was killed off by being beaten to death by an Israeli agent! No discussion about what kind of programmes they are making way for! The only thing discussed is that they managed to find one politician (Barghouti) who wanted the show stopped (and he has become "some Palestinian ministers")We don't expect any better from either the Hamas or the BBC, but it also isn't surprising that the other lead story today on the BBC is that UK terror threat now 'critical'.G-d save the Queen (as Johnny Rotten once said!)Hamas 'Mickey Mouse' killed offA Palestinian TV station has killed off a controversial Mickey Mouse lookalike that critics said was spreading anti-US and anti-Israeli messages to children.The Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa channel aired the last episode on Friday, showing the character, Farfur, being beaten to death by an "Israeli ag...

I'm a 2000 man
2007-07-01 05:01:00
Six weeks ago I wrote that it had taken me almost exactly 6 months to get 1000 clicks on my website.rabbisedley: England tripToday I looked at my counter - it is exactly 2000 (though my the time you read this it will be more), which means that I have increased my readership 4 fold (I think - there are 4 weeks in a month - is that right?).I know there is still a long way to go before I make the big time, and my technocrati rating is still only 12, which means that not many people have linked to me (but thank you to those who have). But 2000 reads is still a lot of people.Thanks to Jacob da Jew for telling me that the best way to get hits is to leave comments on other people's blogs. You are right.Thank you to jblogthank you for reading.and jrants.com for providing both hits and very interesting reading material.And most of all thank you to you for reading.(and thank you to the Rolling Stones for a great song that provided the title of this post and which was about the future once u...

New Bog Standard
2007-06-28 09:45:00
Language Warning. The blog you are about to read may be unintelligible to non-English speakers (i.e. Americans). See end of blog, or use internet, for glossary.Subject Warning. This has nothing to do with Judaism or Israel. It refers to the place that Americans charmingly refer to as 'restroom' though I would probably not choose to rest there if I had any alternative. AKA bathroom, though you won't find any bath there. AKA washroom, but please use soap (because - 'where there's lice - there's soap!' - Rabbi Shraga Silverstein)Breaking news: (from 25 April 2007) - "New toilet designs to help combat bullying in BSF schools"!!This doesn't even require any further comment. My only question is how will it prevent dehydration? (that is always my question in this heat).New guidance published today governing the specification of toilet blocks in schools will help tackle bullying in secondary schools. New designs to be used in all BSF schools will make toilets more attractive, cleane...
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12th Tamuz - Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman
2007-06-27 06:41:00
Rabbi Elchonon Wass erman was recognised by everyone as one of the most brilliant Talmudic scholars of his time. Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman (1875-1941) was a prominent Rabbi and Rosh Yeshiva in pre-World War II Europe. He was one of the Chofetz Chaim's closest disciples and a Torah scholar of note.His seforim on Talmud are learn in all the major Yeshivot today - 'Kovetz Maamarim' and 'Kovetz He'aros' are the most famous. You can read some exerpts of an article of his on faith here: Reb ElchononHe was in the USA at the outbreak of WWII (and the holocaust). Although he had many offers to stay in the USA which would have been safer, he knew that his place was with his Yeshiva. A captain always stays with his ship. (In this sense he was the 'frum' version of Janos Korcak). He was arested by the Nazisin 1941 with 20 of his students.(Quote from Wikipedia)Rabbi Elchonon was taken and murdered by the Lithuanians on the 12th of Tammuz, 1941. Before he was taken he gave this statement: "...
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Pray for Learning
2007-06-25 23:02:00
I have just come home from my son's end of year performance (and what a performance it was - don't ask. Just let me tell you that I love him a lot).The principle spoke told a story about R' Shimon Shkop, who said that once, while learning in Volozhin, he was unable to understand a certain Rashbam on Bava Basra. He broke down crying at the frustration of not being able to understand it. The Netziv walked in, saw him crying, and came over to find out what the matter was. When he realised that he was crying because he didn't understand a piece of Talmud he asked R' Shimon to show him what the problem was. When he saw it, the Netziv said to R' Shimon - "Do you know how many heartfelt tefillos I said at HaRav Chaim's grave to understand this Rashbam?"The message of the story was that a person has to pray for success in their learning.Now I love this principle to bits (he reminds me of the principle of my primary school, who knew every student by name, as well as their parents, si...
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So you wanna be a Rabbi??
2007-06-24 11:19:00
(also posted on Torahlab.org)Jack?s Shackposted a question about what it takes to be a Rabbi .I suspect that if you conducted a survey of traits required to become a rabbi piety and devotion might not even make the top of the list. Right up there at the top would be stories and story telling.The following day I was asked to give a talk about what skills a Rabbi needs and what training or learning would be most effective to prepare people to go into the field of Rabbanus.So I decided that I?d better put down some thoughts.The first thing is to ask why someone would want to be a Rabbi? Rabbi Zeira fasted 100 times to pray that nothing happen to Rabbi Eliezer, who was the Gadol hador, Rabbi Zeira was concerned that if the yoke of leadership fell upon him he would not be able to learn Torah properly.Similarly, Yosef HaTzadik died before all his brothers (though he was second to youngest) because he ruled over them.The Mishna in Avos is explicit ? ?hate Rabbonus? (I know it means leadersh...

The Good L-rd Made Them All
2007-06-24 10:04:00
The BBC reported on the 'World's Ugliest Dog Competition'. You can see a video of the winner here: World's ugliest dog crowned.If you just want to see a photo - here is the winner.Of course he doesn't hold a candle to the 3 times winner Sam (who only didn't win because he died - if he were alive there is no question that he would have been the winner paws down).Sam World's Ugliest DogYou can see all the entrants over here (I think it is too late to actually vote, but you can look at the photos)The World's Ugliest Dog competition voting pageThere is an important message here (apart from yet further evidence that Americans are from a different planet than everyone else - a competition for ugly dogs???). Lovable and cute are not necessarily seen from the outside. It is what is inside that counts. In the words of Frank-n-Furter "Don't judge a book by its cover".Labels and other externals are only what we see. What a person, or a dog really is, we have to discover for ourselves...
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