Letters of Thought: October 2006

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

New Music Video from Matisyahu

Thank you THE LIFE-OF-RUBIN BLOG for the screenshots . . .

Here are some screenshots.

Notice the picture of the Rebbe on the right (of the left screenshot) . . . it can be seen at the 2:39 mark.

Jerusalem is nice, though at this point most of Matisyahu's stuff all sounds rather repetitious to me -perhaps I'm just not a reggae buff . . . I dunno.

In regards to the visuals, the idea of making the Kosel (Western Wall) out of people's own experiences and personal 'Jerusalems' in the form of photos is touching, in a cheesy sort of way . . .
I noticed that among the dozens of people who can be seen walking around (as opposed to those in the photos) only two of them appeared to be men . . .
Though I don't think that there is a Halachik problem with this -per se- it does seem a little odd . . .

Technorati Tags: Matisyahu, Reviews

Monday, October 30, 2006

Moment Magazine features in its Ask The Rabbis section an article on 'Jewish' involvement in trick-or-treating . . .
It Includes:
Sephardic, Modern Orthodox

Through its prohibition of “foreign” customs, the Torah draws attention to its own uniqueness . . . In order to emphasize these crucial distinctions, the Torah prohibits us from adopting customs that have roots in idolatrous religions. Rather than sending Jewish children out to trick-or-treat, we should use Halloween as an opportunity to teach them about the features of their heritage that make it truly unique.

Modern Orthodox

This is not so much a halachic question; it is a public policy question. Do we want to prohibit or permit this activity? . . . My wife and I discouraged our children from trick-or-treating—partly out of fear of religious syncretism, but mostly because we did not want them to internalize American consumerist psychology and because eating a lot of candy is unhealthy. But I confess, trick-or-treating is popular in our neighborhood. In order to be good neighbors, we leave boxes of fruits, treats and candy goodies in front of the house with a sign inviting kids to help themselves to one item out of each box. We don’t check if any of the kids are Jewish. Conclusion: If a Jewish child wants to go trick-or-treating for social reasons, it’s not a big deal.

Conservative

There is a halachic prohibition against a belief in sorcerers and magic. Some of this begins with the biblical tale of Saul, who consulted a fortune teller instead of God about his future. His misjudgment resulted in Saul losing both his throne and his mind.
As long as parents discuss with their children the difference between believing in sorcery and reality, I see no significant objection here. Most of my objections are related to the conflicts that can arise between celebrating Halloween and doing the right thing, Jewishly. For example, for the family that keeps kashrut, there is surely the issue of whether some of the candy and food that their kids will “bag” will meet the Jewish edible standards. But this could be addressed by carefully “sifting” through the candy, and donating all unacceptable items to a food bank for other children who can partake without religious restrictions. . .Can Jewish kids live without these ghosts, goblins and candy? I certainly think so. Will it do irreparable damage to their Jewish identities if they participate? Probably not. But as parents, we should think about the values, priorities and commitments we want our children to develop.

Reform

To be completely true to our tradition, the answer is, “No. Jewish children should not go trick-or-treating on Halloween.” Inasmuch as this is a Christian/ pagan holiday—no matter how secularized it has become—it is inappropriate for Jews to observe it in any manner. . . . However, the matter is more complicated. Are there moments when Jews have taken an essentially foreign idea and co-opted it and changed into an authentic Jewish tradition? Of course! And the most obvious example is the Passover seder. So many of our traditions were lifted directly from Roman influences. . . [T]he holiday has evolved into a secular celebration.
herefore, it would seem to be as innocent an activity as celebrating New Year’s Eve or Thanksgiving (both of which once had Christian connotations).

Reconstructionist

We could boycott All Hallow’s Eve for its ghoulish associations—and, in medieval Christendom, Jews received more trick than treat. We might avoid this holiday of “pagan” origin, lest we “do as the other nations.” Ghosts of Halloweens past may still haunt us. Or Halloween could be just a harmless diversion. We might accompany our Power Rangers and Doras around the neighborhood to say that “America is different,” that we feel safe(r) on these shores. Since it usually falls in Mar-Cheshvan, the only holiday-less Hebrew month, we might even make it our own. . .
It’s a tightrope act: Avoiding Halloween may feel like the Jewish thing to do, yet a simmering feeling of “I missed the funnest thing ever” can subtly undermine future Jewish identity. So rather than decree or surrender, we should decide with our kids and engage them in discussion of the values at hand.

Renewal

In the American melting pot of shared cultures, trick-or-treating is as religious as a bagel. Dressing in costume for occasions other than Purim is Jewishly acceptable. It makes sense that Jewish schools don’t celebrate Halloween, but it’s normal for Jewish students to want to take part in it.
Halloween is a time to teach piku’ah nefesh—protecting or saving a life. A few examples: When trick-or-treating children should be accompanied by an adult. . . Products that are unsealed shouldn’t be eaten. Large amounts of candy can be dangerous to our health.
. . . Invite your child’s Jewish and non-Jewish friends and serve delicious, kid-friendly food. More harm is done to Jewish continuity by forbidding youth from observing holidays like Halloween than by supporting the celebration in safe and healthy ways.

Independent

Still, it is far better for a Jewish child to go trick-or-treating than to celebrate an iota of Christmas and Easter.
Why? Because Halloween is probably a whole lot closer to Jewish tradition than Christmas or Easter. After all, Jewish tradition also held annual rituals of warding off evil spirits, or winds, with the approach of major seasonal changes. As the Midrash teaches, “What is the ritual of the barley offering? One waves the barley shoots in its season, first inward and outward to ward off harsh winds that are harmful to the crops, then upward and downward to ward off harsh rains that are harmful to the crops. Others say, first inward and outward to the One to whom belongs all of the universe, then upward and downward to the One to whom belongs both the Upper Realms and Lower Realms.” Even the shofar that we blow so glibly these days on Rosh Hashanah was to our ancestors an implement to ward off evil forces. So if you must take your kids trick-or-treating, employ it as an opportunity to introduce them to the richness of their own tradition.

Humanist

For secular Jews and the Humanistic Jews among them the question isn’t, “to trick or not to trick” but what kind of treats to hand out and how to regulate all that sugar intake. We’re also concerned about which costumes are acceptable and which are not, generally preferring a benign Bob the Builder over a blood-curdling goblin. . . Halloween’s attraction, I think, is to be found in its pagan origins. Despite all our vaunted modern and rational ideas, we have permission, even if briefly, to think about dead spirits, demonic forces and the uncertainty of winter closing in on us. Thankfully, those very goblins subverted the Church’s efforts to turn it into a holiday for saints, and it remains accessible for all of us to enjoy.

The opinions almost seem to play out like a joke -"At an Orthodox wedding, the Mother in law is pregnant. At Conservative wedding, the Bride is pregnant. At a Reform wedding the Rabbi is pregnant . . ."
The only person who expressed any true akshonus, who stands true to what Jew believes in full force, is the Sephardic rabbi . . . Everyone becomes wishy-washy -making Judaism into religion of dentists and antiquated pagans (r"l) . . .
It seems funny that due to the secularization of the day, it is considered permissible by most . . . Should now X-mas be permitted? Why not? It is nothing more then a marketing move, part of the Holiday season that includes 15 cent coupons for eggnog, and a special parades in Disney Land . . .
Why can't we stand strong? Show that Jews don't bend to every wind of the times, that we take pride in our own unique history . . . that are greatest concerns are not giving out unhealthy snacks!

Technorati Tags: Judaism, Halloween, Links

Sunday, October 29, 2006

On Passing

I was just told of my Grandmother's Aunt's passing.
(That means she was my Great-Great Aunt)
Below is the letter that I sent to my family. As I said to my cousin, "Take what you want from them, what you find
useful share to others."

We find a dualism in a person's passing, both in terms of Jewish Law and philosophy . . .

From one side we see that the Talmud exhorts us to properly keep the
times of mourning -seven days for shiva, one month, one
year etc. Yet at the same time, we are told that one who extends the
mourning beyond the Halachicaly prescribed bounds commits a sin.

The seemingly above contradiction is in fact an expression of the two perspectives in a persons passing.

From our side, we experience a loss -a loved one has left this world and all those who hold her dear.

We realize, however, that from the other side the soul is now 'close'
to G-d as it were, (for though in truth, the soul is always 'close' to
G-d, who has no limits of time or space, it is now) no longer hampered
by the physical concealment of G-dliness.

While the former arouses in us grief and mourning, the latter arouses joy.

There is a way to reconcile these two emotions.

The Torah states about the passing of Sarah, our Mother, "And the life of Sarah was . . ."

Why does the Torah speak of the life of Sarah on the occasion of her passing?

The answer lies in the continuation of that Torah Portion -the taking of a bride of Isaac.

When we live according to the hopes and desires of the one who passed,
when the children and descendants, family and friends, lead lives in
line with the principles set up by their forebears, then the life of
the one who has passed away remains physically manifest in this world.

May we merit that through living up to the principles of our dear Basha
bas Tzvi Hirsh and Dina Golda Leah, that we merit to see her once
again, not only in spirit, but in physical form, with the coming of
Moshiach now!

Technorati Tags: Mourning, Letters

Living in my head

As a child I lived almost exclusively in my head.
Though possessing of friends, I was slightly unathletic and relatively well suited to spending time in thought . . .
By and large I lost interest in my 'thinking' upon entering middle
school . . . These were the years that I had to start thinking about
college (yes, that's what I had been told at the age of 10) and new
interests in the real world and it's peoples began to grow,

Until that time though, besides normal school yard games and reading, I would spend
my days 'producing' my own Television network, complete with commercials and all (in
truth they were jokes -'Funny Jokes', not commercials, that would play
during the 'breaks' -times when I would be busy with the real world and
not be able to attend to the needs of broadcasting my various programs).

I knew it was all fantasy, yet the world took on a type of magic . . .
Walking around no longer was just walking around, but rather flying a
spaceship over an alien world or creeping through some ancient jungle
in search of Mayan ruins . . .

In some way those thoughts live on with in me . . . Perhaps not the
'shows' themselves, but the introspective nature has not fled entirely
to the nether regions of my mind -I often play out an innumerable
number of scenarios in my head . . .

At times it serves as an advantage; on mivtzoyim I've thought up most possible conversations and responses.
At times it is a weakness . . . I go mad over how some wild machination
of mine will be worked out -only to find that G-d's plans for me lie in
some other horizon . . .

But what can I tell you?
After these Funny Jokes, we'll be right back.

Technorati Tags: Imagination, Memories, Childhood

Saturday, October 28, 2006

COL - Chabad On Line

COL is glad to announce that Rabbi Menachem Zeev Greenglass has overcome the initial stages of his recent surgery and he is currently recovering. Family members say that the veteran mashpia who is one of the nine initial shluchim of the Rebbe Rayatz to the city, was urgently operated on due to a recommendation of a physician and despite the danger this entailed danger at such an advanced age, the Rabbi has survived. Family members would like to thank all of his pupils and students of Chabad institutes around the world for praying for his recovery.

I know all I've had is a lot of links . . . G-d willing I some good posts lined up for this week.
In other news, I just downloaded Firefox 2.0 . . . I still have yet to check it out.

Technorati Tags: Rabbi Greenglass

Friday, October 27, 2006

CNET Prizefight: Internet Explorer 7 vs. Firefox 2

CNET Prizefight: Internet Explorer 7 vs. Firefox 2 - CNET reviews
Three guesses who one, and the first two don't count.

Technorati Tags: Links, Firefox

Another Dose of the B-day Blessings.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2
11:39:PM Thursday, Oct 26, 2006

Mordechai Lightstone - E-MAIL

I'd like to thank all those that wished me well via commenting on the Blog or e-mailing through Shmais.
A Good Shabbos

Technorati Tags: Links, Birthdays

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Rav Haroshi L'yisroel, speaks to Yeshivah Ohr Elchonon Chabad

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Please Note . . .

I will be interrupting my
regularly scheduled blogging for Tomorrow in honor of my Birthday.

May we all be blessed.

Technorati Tags: Birthday

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

'Hey, I was there!' and other photos

Sunset in Los Angeles

Urban Sun rays in refraction

I noticed that the old Aurch Hasulchan in yeshivah was printed in Warsaw, Poland on Miła 2 street (Ulica Miła 18 of Warsaw Ghetto fame is just down the block . . .)

Technorati Tags: Photography, Los Angeles, Warsaw

Online, the shadow of Auschwitz - International Herald Tribune

Online, the shadow of Auschwitz - - International Herald Tribune

Human rights experts from around the world gathered in Poland recently in a bid to counter the misuse of the Internet by hate groups. Sitting in a Warsaw conference room, the group viewed the latest online content produced by neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic hate groups, all reminiscent of the Nazi propaganda seen in that city more than 60 years ago.

Gone are the days when hate groups met in dingy rooms. Now, the Internet is the platform of choice for fringe groups that want to look mainstream. And as the promoters of intolerance and hate well know, on the Internet, video is king.

Why they needed to fly to Warsaw in order to discuss Anti-Semitism is beyond me, but . . .

Technorati Tags: Links, Anti-Semitism

Monday, October 23, 2006

A Post About Nothing on a Blog About Nothing

cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Some blogs are about something -about Current Events, about this and about that . . .
Some blogs are about nothing.
The advantage of a blog about something is that there is always something to blog about . . .
The advantage of a blog about nothing is that it comes from the mind and soul of the author . . .
I tend to blog about nothing, true at times I comment on current events and the like, yet by and large this is a blog about nothing.
As such, I must scrounge my brain for ideas or scour the internet for others.
There is a limit, however, to what I can come up with at times, and though a flash of insperation is surely found on other blogs, reading to write is no longer worthy reading.
I am therefore blogging about nothing on a blog about nothing.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Nothing

Sunday, October 22, 2006

PLEASE SAY TEHILLIM FOR RABBI GREENGLASS (Shmais)

Menachem Zev Halevi Ben Yuta Chava

Technorati Tags: Tehillim

Obsession: A review -Expanded

Last night I saw Obsession:Radical Islam's War Against the West -I'm sure most who read this Blog have already seen it or heard of it . . .
I didn't much of the information new, per say, but to see it all synthesized together, and the particular emphasis on the Nazi-Arab connection, is rather interesting.
But what to me may not be new, is an eye opener for the American and European Public . . .

A few notes:

The film's expansion the Jihadist threat by not focusing on the Jewish aspect of the 'war' was a good call . . . too often people look to blame this global issue on Israel. In fact, I think they drew out the Nazi-Arab connection more then it needed to be.
In the introduction they make note of Chechen rebels, however, I am not sure if they fit so perfectly into the Global Islamo-fundamentalist Jihad -since their fight is over a far more legitimate claim to their land (Though I by no means condone their Terrorist actions etc.)
Online there have been the expected condemnations of the documentary by various Muslim groups . . . Besides the obvious fallacy of their statements, by trying to shift blame onto other parties and the like, I find it almost humorous that they claim the video depicts all Muslims in a bad light. Besides the introduction and end which clearly point out the minority aspect of the Islamic Jihadists (though a minority of 1.5 Billion is no small number), the entire length of the documentary refers to Islamo-fundamentalists, Jihadists and the like who spread they're message through propaganda and violence . . . Apparently our friends fail to grasp the English language, for by referring to these parties as Islamic Fundamentalists, it is implicit that there are non Fundamentalists as well . . .
That is, of course, unless they feel that all Muslims could be described as Islamo-fundamentalists, Jihadists and the like who spread they're message through propaganda and violence -but then what room is there to complain that we're giving them a bad image?

Technorati Tags: Terrorism, Reviews

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Happy birthday, iPod - CNET.com

Happy birthday, iPod - CNET.com

Do you remember where you were when you first saw the iPod, with its smooth, white exterior and that mesmerizing scrollwheel? Maybe not, but few can deny that since the MP3 player first fell from the Apple tree five years ago, modern design--and the way we listen to music--have radically changed. Relive the music industry sea change through our retrospective

MP3 Insider: Me and my iPod(s) - CNET reviews:

Five years ago, the iPod was launched, offering 'a breakthrough MP3 music player that packs up to 1,000 CD-quality songs into an ultraportable, 6.5-ounce design that fits in your pocket.' It wasn't the first MP3 player by a long shot, but it was definitely the first to penetrate the mainstream psyche. It is the Walkman of the early 21st century . . .

I know one thing about the iPod . . . It's changed the way I, and almost every other bochur, goes to sleep.
I think that of the the 7 Smicha dorm rooms, every single one has at least one bochur sleeping with his MP3 player . . . most have more.

Technorati Tags: MP3, Technology, Links

Friday, October 20, 2006

Shabbos Bereishis

In honor of Shabbos Bereishis, I've compiled some amazing photos from around the world . . .
They are taken from here. There are many more, so enjoy . . .

Technorati Tags: Nature, Photography

Celebrating One Year of Polish Cleaning Ladies and Kurczaki!

It's hard to believe that it's been one year since my fateful trip to Poland . . . (In truth, Shabbos is the anniversary, but since I can't post on Shabbos . . .)
To think, a blog built on Polish jokes and photos has grown to be . . . a blog that, uh . . . well . . . Celebrates the anniversary of telling Polish jokes . . .
In honor of this gala event, I've found a delightlul article by Dorota (The most common ladies name in Poland, at least four of our cleaning ladies were Dorota) Brzozowska (Pronounced Bshozovska -don't ask) concerning Polish Jokes about Americans.
It has such classics as:

The head shepherd came to America and robbed a bank. He hides in a roadside ditch, takes
of the sack and starts counting. Suddenly he sees a uniformed official who shows him a badge
"POLICE".
And the head shepherd says: - No, thanks for your help, mister. I can count it myself.
untranslatable wordplay: "POLICE" in the Polish mountain dialect means "I will count".]

But I don't want to spoil the fun . . .

Better yet, I've gone ahead and collected my ALL TIME BEST Polish Joke Posts!
Yes, the very best of the Blog that put such terms as "Dzein Dobry", "Kurczaki", and "Why am I in Poland again?" in the J-Blogosphere's lexicon!
That's right, for the limited time that I'm able to keep your attention, and your finger away from the Go Back button on your browser, you'll get pięć classic Polish jokes . . . yes that's p-i-ę-ć 'Pinch', five, Classic Jokes.
So act now!
Take a trip down memory lane with

Welcome to Ulica Slominskiego 19

or
POLISH HAIR (and I don't mean a Polski version of the famous play about hippies)

Welcome to Warszawa . . . Oh, you thought that you were in Warsaw . . . Nope . . . here we like adding lots of letters to make things hard to pronounce (as opposed to Quebec, where they put in lots of letters that they DON'T pronounce like Mo-re-al (spelled Montreal for some strange raison (that's French for reason))

Here an Ł is a W, a W is a V, and V altogether doesn’t exist . . .

And people wonder why they make Pollack jokes . . . HA!
>> Continue Polish Hair

How to tell a Joke in Polish

In America we make Polak jokes. I think that in Poland, they must make Cleaning Lady jokes.

Joke in America

A blind man walks into a bar. He sits down, buys a drink, then leans over to a person near him and says,
"Would you like to hear a joke? There once was a Polak . . . ."

"One second," interrupts the bar tender. "My name is Renik Papke -I'm 6 foot, 9. I have a black belt in Karate. To your left is sitting Jana Pawła Ulicowski, and to your right is Vładisłav Warszawski . . . The three of us are Polish -are you sure you want to continue that joke?"
"Nah," says the blind man, "I don't feel like explaining it three times."

Here's the same joke in Poland

A blind man walks into a bar. He sits down, buys a drink, then leans over to a person near him and says,
"Would you like to hear a joke? There once was a Cleaning Lady . . ."
"One second," interrupts the bar tender. "My name is Renik Papke -I'm 6 foot, 9. I have a black belt in Karate. To your left is sitting Jana Pawła Ulicowski, and to your right is Vładisłav Warszawski . . . the three of us have sisters who are cleaning ladies -are you sure you want to continue that joke?"
"Hah," says the blind man, "You think that's bad, I married one!"
>> Continue Polish Cleaning Lady Jokes

On the Polish Side of Things

My experience ordering a taxi . . .

Time: 3:00 A.M.
Place: Słomenskiego 17

Our hero, Mottel, picks up the phone a precedes to dial . . .
Dispatcher: Dzein Dobry! (Good day!)
Mottel (to himself): Isn't it still night . . .?
Dispatcher: Co? (What?)
Mottel: Nothing . . . Do you speak English?
Dispatcher: No, I'm sorry, but I am not proficient in the English language . . . please wait while I transfer you to an English speaking colleague.
Bad Polish rock music plays for a few minutes while on hold . . .
>> To Continue on the Polish Side of Things

Yes, there is more my dear Kurczaki . . .
Don't forget:

Technorati Tags: Poland, Humor, Collection

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

It Runs in the Family

Sunset off of the lake in S. Agathe, Quebec.

Taken by my sister.

Technorati Tags: Photography

On Kashrus, the Amish, and Zhebin

A Simple Jew deals with "A Chassid In The Workplace Asks For Advice"

Received today via e-mail:

I know you deal with this often, so I wonder what works for you:

Where I work, my coworkers often bring food to work for everyone (when they have a child, or when someone is leaving for greener pastures, etc). Out of consideration for the frum people, they often go to the trouble to get kosher food.... however, the usually get cholov stam or food from a "kosher" place that hasn't got a hashgocha that I ever heard of.

Some of the more modern guys might eat it, but there are a couple of us that won't.

What do you say in these situations? I don't want them to be insulted, so I make light of it - and they don't get outwardly upset at all... but I dunno what they're really thinking. What I cant understand is why they don't ask beforehand, but in any case what do you usually say?

Amongst the many good ideas that have already been given there, I'd like to add my own two Grosze and perhaps synthesize some of the ideas already brought here . . .

I would first follow PsychoToddler's approach by speaking to the other religious workers and working out some common standards for future events.
When speaking to colleagues, however, about one's level of kashrus, be frank.
A Persian Jews once complained about his past experiences with Ashkenazim -in an event for Beit Hachayim Persian Jewish school (Don't ask me why a school is called Beit Hachayim -lit. House of life, but used euphemistically to refer to a cemetery) the Ashkenazim there wouldn't eat the kosher food though it was even Glatt.

I told him that the case may not have been indicative of Ashkenazim, but in any case kosher food effects one's spiritual sensitivity and since it was there desire to remain at the highest, most refined level possible, they were extra scrupulous in their standards -just like an athlete needs special diet to stay fit.

I've always found it ironic how people are willing to except any wild excuse for one's actions outside that of Jewish law.
Dr. Abraham Twerski tells a story that he once ran into an elderly Jewish man. This man began to berate Twerski for his antiquated Jewish customs and dress, how his visible Judaism sparked anti-Semitism.
Dr. Twerski then responded that he was not Jewish, but rather Amish.
The old man was taken aback, "Oh, you're Amish? Let me tell you how much I respect your tenacity to hang on to your traditions . . ."

Amish vs. Jewish

A Simple Jew also features a review of the new CD The Chabad Sessions . . .

After listening to the samplings from the CD, I must say that I'm quite disappointed . . . While the music itself is nice, the songs, are for the most part, rather unoriginal.
Yes, Keli Ato and Rachamana are great niggunim, but they seem to be on almost every Lubavitcher CD out there . . .
With so many hundreds of Lubavitcher Niggunim (560 of them can be found on 770live), gems waiting to be given a new life, why must we just rehash the same ones, even if they are classics?
I'm waiting to hear such wonders as Der Pilpul, Der Pastuch, Zhebiner Kup, or one of R' Hilel Particher's nigunim.
Not to mention, their Russian seems to be all wrong.

Technorati Tags: Kosher, Music

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Updates

I've added expandable posts . . .

As well as Del.ico.us tags, a cookie blocking my computer on the blog's hit counter (Not that there are so many hits from me -but when I do work on the layout, they do add up), and I've taken away word verification from my comments for now -let's see if it stays spam free . . .
In general, if anyone has questions or comments about how to better the layout of this blog (or the content) let me know . . .

Technorati Tags: updates, blogging

End of the Circle

Picture from Lubavitch Archives

Through out Sukkos I spent time helping other Jews say the blessing on the Lulav and Esrog . . . Nothing out of the ordinary for a Lubavitcher.
Amongst those I met was an Israeli lady who shook Lulav for the first time in her life . . . One between dozens of others that day.
Last night when eating at a local falafel restaurant I realized that this lady was working there.
When I asked her if she had made the blessing on the Lulav and Esrog with me the last week, she realized that she had and let me know how touched she had was that she had a chance to do a mitzva . . . She thanked me again before I left.
At times we forget how our actions effect others . . .
A few short seconds of my time have butterflied into an indelible mark in her life.

I often wonder to what extent what I do is felt through out the world.
From a spiritual perspective -in the higher spheres- I have no doubt.
When it comes, however, to what can be noticed in this world . . .
Several years ago, also during Sukkos, I helped man the Sukkah on Bruin Walk in UCLA.
A group of Japanese tourists stopped and watched us with rapt fascination.
After a few minutes I turned to them and, considering myself to be a Japan-buff due to a Seventh grade term paper I wrote on the country, said
"こんにちは"
(Or at least that's how Babel Fish says to write Konichiwa -hello)

They became quite exuberant and, in fitting with the stereotype, all produced digital cameras.
Mistakenly, I thought that they wanted me to take their picture in front of the Sukkah, however it was soon made clear that instead they wanted there pictures to be taken with me.
One at a time they lined up next to me and posed, all making the v-sign . . .
I wonder what happened to those pictures, who will see them and the like.

Technorati Tags: Mivtzoyim, Sukkos, Butterfly effect

Monday, October 16, 2006

An Eltere Chossid Zingt

Reb Volf Greenglass of Montreal sings . . .

From my Blogroll

Am I a Bloggatician has a nice post on Simchas Torah
Tzemach Atlas has some great pics of the Jerusalem hats and heads
With my birthday coming up (*hint* *hint*) there's the Ma'amar I plan to repeat.

Friday, October 13, 2006

A Good Yom Tov to All!

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Children's Propaganda

Circus Tent pointed this out . . . I still can't believe that it's real!

Why Mommy Is A Democrat

The Review is even nuttier!

Should you happen to be a Democrat, you’re going to like this book. I liked it a lot. Mommy is a tufted-ear squirrel who embodies and makes visual all the good things Democrats like to think they do, like playing by the rules, treating everyone fairly, and sharing their toys. The picture book starts out, “Some Mommies are called Democrats,” and follows a “Democrats do such-and-such… “just as Mommy does” pattern. Little lovable animals inhabit the very finely done colored-pencil illustrations, exemplifying abstract beliefs like tolerance and accessible health care. They are all smiles and benevolence, and Mommy beams upon them.
As a running contrast to the positive scenes in the foreground of the detailed 2-page drawings are background scenes juxtaposing the heartlessness of non-Mommylike people and the woe of the poor. The elite characters are never named “Republican” but they’re identifiable. Items like the newspaper the headline of which reads: “Tax Refund,” carried by the cigar-smoking escort of a snooty woman totting a poodle, are dead giveaways. So is the representative multicultural-looking down-and-out young man who is barred from an expensive school, sleeps under a tree in the park, or looks in trash cans for dinner. Every Democrats’ heartstrings will vibrate with joy as Zilbert picks all the acupuncture points for our pain and pleasure—like the reference to the 2000 election.
A very smart, enjoyable collaboration and highly recommended.

A. Allison

Deja vu?

I think what we need is a sequel:

Why Daddy is A Republican

-Republicans fight terror, just like Daddy does.

-Republicans teach us not to give up when things get hard, just like Daddy does.

-Republicans are proud to be Americans, just like Daddy is.

Still No Words

In regards to yesterday's post about Peretz ben Masha (may he and his mother, Masha bas Sonia have a speedy and complete recovery!)
I've collected a few other posts . . .

From Am I a Bloggatician:

I can't anymore!

I'm too scared to even put the feelings I have into words. One of the dearest friends I've ever had. One of the few people who I actually looked up to and respected for his endless devotion to the proper cause... Was just in an extremely serious accident.
To say that I'm shocked is wrong. To say that I'm sad is a horrible understatement. I cannot even describe the black cloud that came over me last night, when I read that Habochur Hatomim Peretz Golding Sheyichye was in an accident with his entire family.
A week after Peretz read "Mi Yichye Umi Yomus" and asked Hashem to grant him a healthy and happy year ahead, his dear father and his only sister were killed in the car instantly. He only has his mother to mourn with him. Yet, they cannot mourn. That's because they are both lying in beds in the intensive care unit of the Houston Hospital.
Why... why... WHY G-D WHY!!!!!!!
Peretz is a Bochur who spent his last five summers in Yeka. He went for the thrill the first time. Was put through immense pressure. Running around with a bunk, while simultaneously following every American Pisher counselor around and translating for them into Russian. The next three years he came back a counselor... For the kids.
I've seen him get into debt over Yeka. I've seen him cry for his campers in Yeka. CRY! I've seen him push when nobody else was pushing.
He came to Yeka as a head counselor this year. I came to help him out with the little bit that I can do... What can I say. Devotion to the fullest! I have no idea what else to write about this. Anything I write just limits the emotions I have inside.

I'm now in NY.

Please, PLEASE! say Tehillim for Peretz Ben Masha and his mother Masha Bas Sonia.

From INSPIRATION:

Rug jerked out from beneath us...
I’m laying here trying to imagine what that phone call must have sounded like… and felt like, both on his end and on the recipient’s.
“My father. My sister... We got into an accident. My mother needs help immediately… My father… My sister… There’s nothing I can do…”

I can’t really imagine it at all, though I try, because my brain instinctively shuts it out. When I see him (please, G-d, he should have a complete and speedy recovery) my heart will feel so heavy, I’ll automatically cast my eyes to my feet, the floor between us, his shoes. Then slowly bring my eyes up to meet his, my eyes brimmed with tears. A kid needs his father. And his only sibling…
I only hope that he will find the strength to continue living his life, that he will experience joys that will lift his spirits and his heart. I hope he will bear many beautiful children for his mother. Only then, might they feel a sense of solace and comfort.

Hashem, You test us time and again. You place such a tremendous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of Your Nation – by having the heaps of trust in us that You do. Each time You expect us to be strong, to rise above the incidents that through “ Providence” have shattered our lives. You trust that when You pull the rug out from under us, we will remain upright, with a jump in place our only change in stature. You trust that we will not permit ourselves be swept off the board, whisked away with that rug You so daringly tugged from beneath us…

Well, we will not lose our balance. We will exceed Your greatest expectations and will thrive with an appreciation for life like never before. G-d, may You only see this and be satisfied with it, affecting You in ways only You can see… And grant us the final, and long overdue Redemption.

Our place is no longer in this mad world, where black and white are laced in grey and no one can see the straight path ahead.

Take us to a place where we will be able to see the beauty in Your Will. Where appreciation will be our everlasting emotion, holiness and purity our reality in our thoughts and actions, and “Baruch Dayan HaEmet” our only words.

Take us there, Hashem. Now.
See there for more

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Things Change in a Moment

I was scanning the news on Crownheights.info
. . . and learned of another tragedy -a family on vacation had been in
serious car accident. The father and daughter were killed in an
instant . . . the son and mother were in critical but stable condition.
How sad . . .

Then I stopped to think for a moment -I know the Houston community, who is this Masha bas Sonia and Peretz ben Masha?

Peretz ben Masha . . .

Peretz . . .

Peretz . . . Golding?

A chill ran down my spine.

Suddenly it was no longer a name on the Internet -it was a good friend of mine suffering monumental loss.

What's sad is beyond the tragedy -what's sad is that at times we only
nod our heads and say how sad -we say the occasional chapter of psalms
. . . but when there's that moment of recognition -things go cold.

Ay Ay Ay . . . I don't have words.
It's too much.

Yosef Simcha halevi Ben Esther - at one time, a room mate of mine, is fighting leukemia.

-Another passes away after only a few months of marriage.

And now this . . .

Isn't it enough already?
May all those who need a Refuah Shleima -a complete recovery- have so now with the coming of Moshiach.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

What I read: Gulag -A History

I finished Anne Applebaum's monumental Gulag: a History today . . .
Amongst Lubavitchers, the gulag is famous . . .
Yet to the world at large, Soviet atrocities remain -to a larger extent- unknown.
From a Chabad perspective, while the book on glosses over the Jewish aspect -the ЕвСекция,Yevsektsiya, Jewish division of the Soviet Party is, much the chagrin of the average
Yeshivah student, not mentioned . . . yet when seen in the light of the 20
million or so people processed through the Gulag system the omission is
understandable.
-As a note, the truth is that Beis Reishis . . . that everything that happens is for Am Yisroel and there were taka kitrugim -the fact that Soviets would set up a division to hound and murder
Religious Jews is proof to such . . . this besides the fact that
Communism was admittedly anti-Semitic (Something the book does discuss).

What is interesting, however, is the new light it sheds on existing Gulag memoirs from amongst our numbers . . .

The history of the Gulag is brought vividly to life by Applebaum (who
avoids becoming lost in the forest of facts and number crunching, and
instead brings to life the soul of the system and those who lived
through it) and provides the perspective and back history in which
to view our own works.

Pictures of Thought from the Gulag:

Friday, October 06, 2006

My Lemon and other Sukkos Images.

The Sukkah encompasses every aspect of the person, his entire essence is surrounded by g-dliness . . .

The holidays of the month of Tishrei are general holidays -they give us
the power to properly take on any encounter from the new year.

The Sukkah gives us the power to permeate every aspect of our lives,
drawing down the divine transcendent energy into the mundane reality of
our existence.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Report: Czech jihadis plotted to kidnap, incinerate “dozens of Jews”

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Report: Czech jihadis plotted to kidnap, incinerate “dozens of Jews”:

Report: Czech jihadis plotted to kidnap, incinerate “dozens of Jews”
"The Czech Republic’s leading newspaper quoted unidentified sources close to intelligence agencies as saying the captives would have been held in a Prague synagogue while the captors made broad demands that they knew could not be fulfilled.

When those demands — which were not specified by the sources — were not met, the extremists would blow up the building, killing all who were inside, the paper added."

Tip off: My Father

Jews in Space


THE LIFE-OF-RUBIN BLOG has a clip of Mel Brook's "Jews in Space" . . . Here's a cute version of it . . .

On Dog Treats

Anon. pointed out on my post "It's that time of the year again . . ."
Anonymous said...

what do you like then?! I don't understand, you don't like anything, cell phones, smoking, buying esrogim,

I would like to add to that list . . .
When shopping last night I had an epiphany while standing in line at the
check out counter, waiting for them to fix the broken register . . . I
fail to understand Doggy Treats
-I'm sure you now have a better understanding of what type a person I
am . . . I'm the kind that has an epiphany at 11:54 P.M. about doggy
treats while standing in a Pavilion's -Yes, I'm one of those . . .

Any how . . . I can understand why someone would own a pet,
I can understand that if someone owns a pet, there would be a need and
desire to 'treat' that pet . . . No, what I can not understand is the
concept of different types of treats for pets.
"What do you want Fido? The Fillet Mignon treat or the Philly Cheese steak Sandwich? How about the Pizza ones?"
I don't understand . . . does the dog know the difference between a
Fillet Mignon or a Philly Cheese steak? If he does, does he even care?
My dog for one seems to eat brisket and veal with the same zeal and
appetite as he does garbage and semi-rotten vegetable matter . . .

Even more so, is there a difference between the Sizzlin' Bacon and Taco flavor? If they were the same thing, how would we know? I doubt the dog would complain about getting Chinese flavored treats and not Italian . . . and would anyone out there taste it to find out?

BBC NEWS | Technology | Geekspeak still baffles web users

BBC NEWS | Technology | Geekspeak still baffles web users

Britons are increasingly tech-savvy but are still bamboozled by tech jargon.
According to research from Nielsen/NetRatings, people are buying cutting-edge technology but often don't understand the terms that describe what their device actually does.
So while 40% of online Britons receive news feeds, 67% did not know that the official term for this service was Really Simple Syndication . . . .

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

It's that time of the year again . . .

I hate buying esrogim . . .
I always feel as if I'm missing out on something, as if there's some secret in buying the perfect esrog that I just don't know.
I know a nice esrog looks nice, a not nice one doesn't.
I know that I'm not getting either, because the nice esrog will run me well into the triple digits and the not nice one's aren't worth buying . . .
It's the ones that I have to buy that I find so . . . so . . . maddening.
Upon entering a room packed with esrogim, filled with people picking them up, squinting at them, poking them, smelling them, whispering one to the other, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
. . . I just can't figure out which one I want to buy.
It should be yellow like wax, but like bees wax . . . or was that ear wax?
It should be bumpy, but not too bumpy . . . or was it supposed to be very bumpy?
With a gartel, how big of a gartel?
Every year I stand there, lost, confused . . .
So it's that time of the year again . . . Here we go . . .

Yiddish Dialectal Map

I've been having some fun with this Yiddish Dialectal map . . .
Eydes

The Gwozdziec Wooden Synagogue,
built in early 17th Century.

Photo from the Lost Wooden Synagogues of Europe

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

My Persian Yom Kippur

The Dome of Chabakuk in Iran

I spent Yom Kippur helping J.E.M. (formally Persian Chabad) . . .
I'm not quite sure why, but between ma'ariv last night, and my posting today . . . some how I've just lost an interest in writing about it.
I feel in general that my posts as of late have been rather dull . . .

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