Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
An important chapter in our history has come to an end
"Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time." Mr. Obama
Ben-Gurion's Speech Before the Knesset on Dec. 5, 1949
A nation which, for two thousand and five hundred years, has faithfully adhered to the vow made by the first exiles by the waters of Babylon not to forget Jerusalem, will never agree to be separated from Jerusalem. Jewish Jerusalem will never accept alien rule after thousands of its youngsters liberated their historic homeland for the third time, redeeming Jerusalem from destruction and vandalism.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
My rebound girl!
Chances are going into this relationship with me, she won't even know that I'm on the rebound. I know it sucks ass being the Rebound Girl. But I'll try to give the relationship the full attention and affection that it deserves. I still have emotions invested in that other relationship, and I'm going to take things really slow with my new gal. I'll try to be emotionally available and not use her to only to fill my physical and companionship needs. If you think that being the Rebound Girl sucks bigtime, try being heart broken me that sucks even more.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
ex-girlfriend is engaged Mazal Tov?
I must admit that I've never had this happen before. I've never had an ex-girlfriend with whom I had a long relationship get engaged. It brings a lot of mixed feelings. I am happy for her. Really I am, and I wish her and her fiance the best and happiest of lives. (I actually met her fiance on her second visit here-- he was married at the time and came to pick her up from my place and drive her somewhere, and we sat and talked in my kitchen while she got her bags ready. Amazingly-- or maybe not-- I barely remember him. Then again, it was 2 years ago and we met for 20 minutes.) But it's always somewhat jarring to hear that people you shared something special with have moved on. Her life is going to change. She's no longer "one of us", the divorced, the partnerless. Perhaps I'm slightly envious. And a bit sad, still, that it didn't work out for us. But she deserves it. She had a horrible first marriage, and a long divorce-- there was probably eight years between her get and her engagement.
But I guess people move on. We're all out here after the same thing- trying to make it better, trying to find love, to attain peace and happiness. And some people actually do. It gives hope to the rest of us-- us who stand and wait.
Mazal tov?
Sanhedrin demand expulsion of women
The self-appointed Supreme Judicial Court of the Jewish People, also known as the Sanhedrin, passed down on Thursday a halachic ruling which calls to exempt women from army service and expel those who have already been recruited.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
DailyKosWatch
DailyKosWatch"I am a lifelong member of the Democratic Party. I consider myself a strong supporter of Israel and back a two-state solution that will result in the creation of a Palestinian State. I created this blog because of my fears about the future of Middle Eastern Policy in the Democratic Party. Specifically, I am concerned with what I perceive to be the growing anti-Israel sentiment among Democrats as demonstrated by the commenters (and at least one representative) of Daily Kos. I plan on continuing to be an active member of Daily Kos, and my hope is that by exposing some of the anti-Israel comments that are tolerated every day at that website, we can combat it and the Middle East policy of the Democratic Party can more reflect the Party's Platform and not Cynthia McKinney's Platform. If you see something, say something to me: dailykoswatch@gmail.com"
Sunday, August 23, 2009
From Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburgs blog http://jewhumor.blogspot.com/
BLUFFER’S GUIDE TO GOING TO SHUL
Worried about looking like a lemon in shul?
Finding the shul service impossible to follow?
Many people suffer from what is known in religious circles as “Mainstream Judaism”. No need to worry, however. Our team of spiritual healers have devised a cure and we are making it available to you exclusively today. Please pass it on to anyone you know who may be suffering in silence.
Shul Rules” is your ten step guide to synagogue confidence:
1. If you arrive after the start don’t sit down right away, but instead open the book near the beginning and spend 2 or 3 minutes turning slowly through the pages while mumbling under your breath. If you recognize any of the Hebrew words, say one or two of them a little louder so those around you can hear.
2. Find a seat just behind someone who looks like they know what’s going on. (You can tell this person because they are likely to be mumbling to themselves under their breath). Make sure this person is using the same prayer book as you. Keep a note of what page they are on by glancing casually over their shoulder every now and again. A pair of strong magnification glasses may help here.
3. When putting on the tallit, wrap it around your head for a few seconds while mumbling under your breath.
4. Liberally sprinkle your time in shul with more barely audible mumbles as you look intently at the pages of your siddur. Again, the odd word, phrase or line spoken accurately and a little louder than the rest goes down very well.
5. Don’t jump up whenever the person in front does so. They may be stretching their legs. Instead, wait a moment until a significant proportion of the congregation are standing. In this way, even if they are all stretching their legs you won’t look conspicuous.
6. See those guys near the front that are wandering around with an air of assurance? These are the shammosim. AVOID EYE CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE or you may find yourself being asked to do something strange like opening the doors of the Aron Kodesh or, heaven forbid, saying something in Hebrew out loud to everyone.
7. The easiest way to look the part is to shuckel. I have met people who have won international shuckling competitions without having a clue about where in the service they were. Advanced shucklers will even shuckel when everyone else is sitting. (Of course, sometimes this may be a disguised leg-stretch).
Shuckling is an entire lesson in itself but there are two basic forms. The “lateral swing” is usually seen in ultra-orthodox congregations. Here the practitioner is perfectly still from the waist down (feet together, naturally), while the top half of the body repeatedly twists at speed.
The “Hammerhead” is more prevalent in mainstream orthodox shuls and, as the name suggests, the congregant looks as if they are trying to bang a nail into the floor with his head. (I say “his” because women prefer to use this time for kibitzing or kvelling over the way their grandson shuckels.).
Shuckling mainly takes place during the silent Amidah. This is about 10 pages during which you have no idea where everyone else is. All you do know is that if the others were really reading all the prayers involved they would be contenders for the world speed-reading record. You know when it starts because everyone takes three steps back, and then three steps forward, then they bow. This is your cue to start shockelling while turning the pages of your prayer book approximately every 15 seconds. The end of the silent Amidah is signalled by everyone taking three short steps back, bowing to the left, the right and the centre and then looking round to see if they won.
8. Is the Rabbi speaking in English and yet you can’t understand what he’s on about? If so, this is the sermon and it’s your job to look alive. Paying attention to the sermon is a skill that may take many years to master rather in the way that one learns how to complete cryptic crosswords. The formula for this particular puzzle is fairly simple: The narrative of Torah portion you have just heard plus something from local or national news equals “you should go to shul more regularly” or “your home isn’t kosher enough”.
9. Feel free to talk to people near you at any time. Business and football are particularly appropriate topics of conversation. Seeking kavanah and listening to the sermon will be regarded with suspicion in most communities.
10. If you can keep your cool until the end of the service you will be rewarded. At last something that is familiar, and a chance to clear your throat and give it some as you bash out Ein Kelohaynu and Adon Olam just like you did at cheder all those years ago.
One final word of warning. If it goes well and you feel confident enough to go back for a second week running, you will be classified as a regular. This means there is a very good chance you will be asked to be the next synagogue chairman.
Michael Jackson has no place in the Jewish home
Frum girls are hot. But according to the Committee for Jewish Music they can't get too hot. Headed by Rabbi Ephraim Luft of Bnei Brak, the Committee for Jewish Music has undertaken to place a hechsher on permitted music, and more importantly, ban music not deemed suitable for the frum world.
Rabbi Luft and others feel the goyish music is having too strong an influence in what is being heard in frum homes and he aims to bring this to an end. The influence of rock, reggae and other styles will not be acceptable in Jewish music and composers and artists will have to find alternative sources of artistic influence.
According to Rav Mordechai Blau of Bnei Brak, the likes of “Michael Jackson” have no place in the Jewish home and his influence on music cannot be reflected in what the community listens to.
Rabbi Luft is working with Rabbi Blau and his Guardians of Jewish of Sanctity & Education organization to formulate guidelines for acceptable Jewish music.
Last year’s letter prohibiting concerts, even with separate seating, was signed by a number of gedolei yisrael, including the Gerrer Rebbe, Rav Elyashiv and Rav Ovadia Yosef.
Perhaps the most well-known case in which a chareidi performer was compelled to cancel a performance was Lipa’s cancellation of the concert which was to have taken place in Madison Square Garden.
On the other hand, a concert held this summer in Netanya featuring Avraham Fried was officially banned, but the concert was a success and hundreds of chareidim did attend.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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