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It shows the ability and competence of President Obama and the Democrats in general. They announce a crisis due to global warming (they’ve confused historical variance for meaning change), and are trying to enact massive taxes to reduce carbon emmissions (which tend to go up or down realted to weather though no one has proven a direct connection). So it snows.
Moderator-80: Actually the costumes developed in areas with very few Jews, and had to do with the avodah of their holiday. In all fairness, its no worse than hanging up a stocking or having a commemorative tree in the house for Dec. 25 (so if you don’t mind doing avodah zarah for Dec. 25, you probably won’t mind doing it on Oct. 31).
“Halloween” (a contraction for “hallowed eve”, the evening preceeding “all saints day”) is a Christian holiday. The fact the some of the observances are based on the European’s pre-christian religions (what one calls “pagan”) doesn’t help, since a pagan is still “avodah zarah”. Giving candy to wearing costumes is part of the avodah of this holiday, so it clearly is avodah zarah. Arguably, among many secular people the holiday has lost its religious meaning, and especially among “gay” community has become a celebration of an un-pious lifestyle, which hardly is a heter from our perspective.
The correct way to deal with vandalism is to call 911 as it is a property crime that in some cities leads to life threatening situations (such as arson). Most goyim know not to go “trick or treating” at frum houses, and one should turn off the porch light to show that they are unwelcome.
Most of the “aid” are credits to buy overpriced American equipment. This hurts Israel’s economy, and help’s America’s.
In any event, they are 100% NOT KOSHER so we can be sympathetic with those who want to protect them from hunters.
Coming up with gematrias isn’t much of a challenge now that we have computers that can crunch the numbers. It involves even less skill than punning, and isn’t even as funny.
My local library is controlled by Democrats so the book is banned.
In many families the women earn most of the parnassah and are most attuned to worldly matters, so the question should be asked as to whether men should vote. Originally it was argued that spouses would vote together, so you would be giving the husband too votes, but since single men evoke little sympathy that argument didn’t work.
Zoo, Aquarium and Science Center (all expensive)
Visit Washington (Smithsonian and Zoo, all free)
Eat (lots of restaurants, not expensive)
Daven and learn (lots of shuls and Beis Medrashes, free)
Meaning they only cheat a little bit – being a little bit Conservative is in the glass with phrases such as “a little bit pregnant” or “a little bit of cancer” (the latter probably being a better analogy than the former).
The differences between us and the Tzadukim (who some feel ended up as the Karites) are more analagous to the differences between us and the Conservative. Carrying this analogy further, the Mityavanim (Hellenists) are equivalent to the Reform. THe Modern Orthodox equivalent would be the supporters of the rabbanim who also learned enough Latin/Greek to hold jobs for the goyim, while still supporting Torah and staying Shomer Mitsvos. If someone accepts that there is a creator, and he told the Jews to hold by Torah and Mitsvos), and the person keeps Shabbos and Kashrus, etc., he’s one of us – which is why MOdern and Orthodox and Hareidim are “us”, and the Conservatives (who have trouble with the idea that Torah is min ha-shamayim) and the Reform (who have trouble even with the idea of a Creator) are “them”.
If it was, wouldn’t be a problem when a shul has the “in the middle of davening” kiddush in the sukkah on Simchas Torah (which in America is 100% not sukkos)? Or the leining when they set up additional leinings on Simchas Torah?
Many people have the minhag of making kiddush in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeres, just in case it actually is still sukkos (but without the bracha on sukkah, just in case it isn’t). There is a 50-50 chance that Shemini Atzeres is really Hoshana Rabbah. Once we have a Beis Din this won’t be an issue, but at present we’re using a calendar derived from calculations so it might be off a day.
1. Note that most “Modern Orthodox” (a.k.a. “Religious zionists”) are cousins of the Hareidim, especially the leading rabbanim of each movement.
2. They learn from the same sefarim.
3. Compared to the goyim, they dress alike (don’t believe: take the typical American/Israeli shiksa/hiloni and compare her to a Boro Park girl or a modern suburban orthodox girl or even a Williamsburg/Bnei Brak girl). It’s the shiksa/hiloni who stands out.
4. The underlying ideological differences pertain to events that happened 70+ years ago, and you need to be a historian to understand. In terms of modern issues, there isn’t much difference anymore (there are both Hareidi and modern doves, and a lot more hawks on both sides; they are support Keynesian stimulii with little concern for paying for it; opposition to abortion and support for large families is the rule among both).
The goyim have a phrase “making a mountain out of a molehill”. The Hareidi/modern differences may be colorful, but they are a molehill. The difference between the Shomer Mitsvos and the Hilonim is the mountain, which is rapidly growing.
IF it were life threatening, it would be allowed. For example, if a life threatening condition developed on Erev Shabbos you could arrange to see a doctor on Shabbos (though in practice, most people would go to an Emergency Room, though some life threatening conditions might be better treated in your neighborhood doctor’s office, and he can call the ambulance if needed).
It would be hard to have a life threatening cavity.
Confusing Simchas Torah with Purim is a well established minhag of the Am HaAretz. Bnei Torah don’t need ethanol to get high on Torah.
While it is illegal, medical schools tend to discriminate against older students. The fact that it take a long time (probably two years for basic undergraduate science courses assuming you have atg least some sort of undergraduate degreee, then four years of medical school, then residency) makes them reluctant for a new student who won’t start professional life until retirement age.
Consider fields other than a MD (RN is the professional that requires the least time). PA a bit more.
Herman Cain for President
Eric Cantor for Vice-President
serious Republican candidates for all Senate and House races, even in New York
Dr. Seuss:
There was always a Jewish community living in Ethiopia that was in always contact with the Jews in Yemen and Egypt. Occasionally there were issues whether their gittim were valid. Given that a large part of the Ethiopian population are descended from migrants from Yemen, it isn’t surprising some Jews were included since Yemen at the time has Jews. They may have picked up a fair number of gerim at an early date from Christians who realized their religion was a fraud, but there clearly was an initial Jewish core. That is why the gedolim with the most contact with them (Sefardi rabbanim, such as R. Yosef) have not had a problem with their Jewish origins.
Dear Twisted:
Virtually every Jew is probably descended from the Khazars. We know that while most of the Jews in Khazaria came from the Byzantine (Roman Empire, then centered in Turkey and Balkans), when it split up most of them probably went to Babel (Iraq) and Spain, but some ended up in other places in Europe. Of the course of 50 generations, given that we have a small population, everyone is a cousin to everyone else. It is highly likely that unless you are a recent convert, you are related to every Jew alive in the 9th century.
Linguistic and DNA evidence though, suggests, that the Khazar contribution to the Jewish gene pool was very slight. Jews are quite dissimilar from the Central Asian Turkish tribes, and languages such as Yiddish have very words of Turkish origin. The reason much fuss is made of the Khazars as some frei Jews desperately wanted to be of non-Jewish descent so they could: 1) tell the Czar they shouldn’t be persecuted for killing his diety; 2) tell Hitler they were really Aryans; 3) find a secular excuse for not supporting zionism
Stuck: An important element of a trophy wife is that the husband had a first wife who was the useful companion when building a career, who is “pensioned off” for someone who ornaments the man success story. It is a 100% goyish concept, and a Yid who dumped his wife under such conditions would be universally rejected in out community (even ignoring that what consider desirable in a wife are quite different than among the goyim).
I love exotic places. Olam HaZeh is quite exotic, albeit very menacing (that is why it is called the “world of lies” = “olam shel sheker”). What’s more exotic than that. Baruch ha-Shem we are only visiting here for a short while.
Unknown in the frum community. A middle aged man who divorced the wife (and mother of his children) for a “trophy wife” (younger, glamorous, etc.) would be seen as “off the derekh”. Furthermore the goyim’s idea of glamour involve many concepts the frum Jews regard as being inherently something you do not display in public (and more explicit and this post would get banned).
The various claims of exotic groups probably have nothing to do with the “ten tribes.” Some of them are people in primitive areas who were converted by Christian missionaries, studies the Bible, and decided some of their pagan tribal customs were similar to what they read about (e.g. circumcision, taharas ha-mishpacha). Unless a group has distinctly middle eastern female DNA they are unlikely to be Jewish, but often consider converting.
To likely be of Jewish descent, one should look for separation of meat from milk, Shabbos, knowledge of which animals are forbidden – and most importantly, a credible explanation of how they get to a strange place. Knowledge of Hebrew helps. The Ethiopians pass. THe Lemba probably are related. The Bnei Menashe are a stretch. Groups in the Americas (other than possible descendants of marranos) or places such as New Guinea are clearly not related. Except for the Ethiopians, who were never really lost since there were contacts with Yemenite and Egyptian Jews over the years, all the others are highly unlikely to be Jews according to halacha.
Conversion is controversial since the Israeli government isn’t thrilled about converts who are non-white, and are likely to become strictly Orthodox (as opposed to secular East Europeans, who if “converted” will be good hilonim).
Dave Hirsch:
Cain probably is the strongest candidate. Not having been a Wall Street banker (regional Fed banks don’t count -they’re mainstreet’s representative to the Fed, and have little clout), or a politician -he can’t be blamed. Cutting the budget means getting a lot of people to give up what they like (social security payments that exceed what the person paid into the system by a huge multiple, free medical care, and everyone’s pet project). Getting rid of payroll taxes might encourage employment, and taxing consumption might encourage people to cut back (and America is “exceptional” in spending much more than we earn – and forcing the Chinese to loan us the difference).
If you take off Hol ha-Moed does it mean you won’t be able to go on a vacation in the summer/winter or won’t be able to go the mountains? If so, probably there is a real question whether you are allowed to work on Hol ha-Moed?
Can you make up the work without penalty or difficulty? If so, then you probably should enjoy the holiday at home.
Would you be out money? Is your job one that can only be done at a certain time and can’t be made up? In your field, are vacations fixed by custom or law (e.g. teaching in a public school). Then you probably have a heter.
It refers to the ten northern tribes that were conquered and forced to migrate by the Assyrians. Most likely, there were survivors who rejoined the other Jews who eventually ended up in the same area, when a short time after the rest of Jews started getting forced out of Israel. It’s unlikely any ended up in exotic locations (regardless of assertions that some ended up in India or Ethiopia). Anyone claiming to have found a missing tribe is pulling your leg, and if he asks for money, he’s probably trying to rip you off.
Arguably, the difference is based on whether you would have supported establishing Israel because it was a mitzvah or whether you would have gone along with it since it benefitted the Jewish people. If you are under 80 years old (i.e. weren’t involved in politics in the 1940s), this discussion is moot.
In Israel, at one time you could say that a “Hareidi” was someone who held that the government of the State of Israel had no more halachic status than any non-Jewish government, and it was permitted to ignore any of its laws that were contrary to halacha. Modern Orthodox held the State had a special status under halacha and its laws were binding. After Gush Katif, it is arguable that anyone “modern” still holds that way.
The lines are totally vague and are based on distinctions that are largely historical, especially in America. Especially in America, many people with beard and pe’os, who dress “frum” hold college degrees and work as professionals. In both America and Israel, but especially in Israel, there are many people with a kippah serugah who say hallel on Israeli independence day, who also are strict in all mitsvos and learn Torah full time.
What’s the alternative to shidduchim? Single bars? The various “singles” events that those who participate in them sometimes refer to as a “meat market”?
Note to those complaining about some of the “liberal” Republicans – at this point, most Americans would be happy with any president who realizes that Weimar Germany is NOT an appropriate role model. All a candidate has to do is promise to to print us into ruin and he’ll be better than Obama.
The Evangelicals to the extent they existed in the middle ages were routinely burned at the stake as heretics. While some Protestants (e.g. the Episcopalians) started as “break aways” from the Catholic Church, ones such as the Baptists, Mormons, and most of the ones we find to be a bit “funny” started as independent groups. It’s not surprising that while we sometimes have problems with the Protestant establishment (not to mention the frei Jews), we rarely have any problems with the “holy rollers” types. America is “exceptional” in that the religious movements that developed are not only not especially anti-Jewish, but also have developed totally independent of, and sometimes with opposition from, the government.
Does it apply to use the telephone (for voice or fax) and the ATM machines (which are simply specialized internet connections)? What about using the government mail service which tracks certain packages with the internet? Will use of checking account be permitted (since all banks run their business via internet connections)?
So what are they objecting to? Probably something less than internet use.
Because the English didn’t like us. At the time, it was considered an act of piety to persecute Jews. Fortunately, most goyim weren’t all that pious. The fact that they could make money on the deal was part of it.
The country has too many bored politicians. Note that of the Republican candidates, most are currently unemployed. Perry, Bachmann and Paul all have jobs – the rest are “retired” with too much spare time on their hands – so they start running for President two or three years before the election. So much can happen between now and Novemver 2012, that any speculation is meaningless.
But since I’m already in a yuntufdik mood and don’t feel like doing any real work, I speculate:
1. Eric Cantor will be widely discussed as a Vice-Presidential candidate in 2012, and possible future Presidential nominee. This is based on his role as the Tea Party advocate in Congress, combined with being the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. Having a Jewish (“conservadox”, at least not an embarassment such as Weiner or Spitzer) Republican will encourage a large percentage of Orthodox Jews to switch from being moderate Democrats to Republicans, including in New York local and state politics.
2. Cain’s radical idea (eliminate the payroll tax, use of a consumption tax, paying for social security and medicare from general revenue) will be adopted by more and more Republicans. Cain will be a major candidate as the “Tea party” favorite, which will offer Black conservatives an opportunity to break with the Democrats and return (as they were until 60 years) to the Republicans.
3. Obama will seek a major foreign policy triumph (an Arab-Israeli peace treaty would be nice but improbable, but I’ld bet on Korean reunification or a revolution in Cuba) to beef up his disasterous resume.
Given that it involves cooking and complex ingredients (assuming they are preparing the pizza, not merely reheating frozen pizza in a kosher only microwave), I doubt anyone serious about kashrut will trust them. Duncan doughnuts involves much simpler ingredients and less complexity.
Don’t look at treff sites. It is 100% effective, costs nothing, and doesn’t affect the functioning of the computer.
Do you need an automated thingamajig to keep from buying treff in a supermarket?
Edited
It is broadly derived from “Sarah” but probably influenced by the greek and slavic names that gave rise to the English name “Cyril” (which refers to royalty, which is also related to the origin of the name Sarah). It is similar to names such as Gittel or Fruma in that it is a Yiddish name rather than a Hebrew name.
Don’t blame him – he’s a grandparent – over 60. It was unfair to criticize those kids who haven’t had time to learn that what you accomplish in life is a function of your own industry rather than convincing someone else (Dad, Gramps, the government, whatever) to bestow stuff on you. Especially for someone (unlike Mr. Cain, whose parents only had menial jobs) who was brought up comfortably middle class, it’s hard to realize that what you get in this world is largely a function of hard work. All schools, including the frum ones, worry more about the kids’ “self-esteem” than teaching them to work their behinds off.
If you are worried about impending troubles in Eretz Yisrael, you would never go there.
You might want to skip the US as well.
You might want to avoid Olah ha-Zeh – it’s full of troubles.
If texting were for good purposes (“Pick up milk and diapers on the way home from shul”) or (“Yes I’m free to babysit tonight”) – it wouldn’t be a problem, any more than telephones, or letters, or whatever. However many people ignore the cost of texting, and use it for inappropriate messages, often sent and received in inappropriate places (such as in class – when the device should be off).
Giving one’s children vaccinations seriously undermines the livlihood of doctors and hospitals. In the old days, family doctors got lots of parnassah from polio and measles. Even a round of mumps could pay their tuition bills. And diseases such as smallpox and typhus were a boon for hospitals. With greater demand, they could keep their rates down.
Indeed, some have suggested the vaccinations have led to the overcrowding, especially in schools. Where will they find room for the many children who were naturally culled before starting school – they take up classroom space now. Arguably, global warming is caused by more and more carbon producing little brats failing to expire in childhood and making the planet overcrowded.
And while we are on the subject, should we discuss the damages done by antibiotics….
When you find the kindergartens and hedorim closing due to lack of students, you’ll know there is truely a shidduch crisis.
Be Dan le-Kaf Zechus.
Contact them immediately and find out if they know about it. They may have been hacked (meaning someone else pretending to be them put the charge on and diverted the money to their own account).
It’s also possible there was an inputting error.
And of course one should notify the credit card company immediately since you waive rights by not doing so.
It was some Frenchmen in a balloon about 100 years ago. I read it in a history book by Jules Verne.
Styles constantly change. Right now black fedoras are “in”. Maybe in 100 years berets will be in (they are much more practical when davening), or Homburgs (better in the rain).
Fashion isn’t a matter of halacha. It’s a matter of anthopology.
If hats become “in” among the goyim, again, we’ll feel less self-conscious about wearing hats.
or maybe he is religious and is insane, since eating treff by a frum Jew could suggest insanity (just as wanting to eat worms by a “normal” American might suggest insanity) – of course to a secular shrink, wanting to eat treff might be seen as proof of sanity
It’s a lot cheaper than medical school, and you have a parnassah four years after starting. It also requires a lot less of an investment in time to meet entrance requirements. Especially since frum Jews don’t like being touched by members of the opposite sex, there is a high demand within our community for male nurses. The hours tend to be better than doctors (e.g. never “on call”, flexible shifts). Especially for a Ben Torah, the ease of entry to the career and the rules of employment are an attraction. It pays a lot better than teaching in a yeshiva, and you can still arrange shifts to learn.
Given the aging of the population in America, there’s a good long term demand, at least for fully trained nurses – meaning a B.S from an accredited university (excluding some “quickie” courses designed within the frum community).
What if they speak Lashon Hora? What if they discuss business on Shabbos? What about people who don’t spend all day doing Torah and Mitsvos.
How about a definition the covers anyone who always refuses a job on Shabbos, and keeps some standard of kashrus (at least on a level that they can’t go out to work with goysha coworkers). Being mesiras nefesh to be Jewish seems a good factor in being “frum”, and it leaves out virtually all non-orthodox Jews.
Probably well under 20% of Jewish adults (under a million), but perhaps almost half of children (suggeting big changes are coming).
Any sort of registration is only to make it easier to “prove” that the person is a clergy, which makes it easier to prove that the marriage took place. Some say that in practice, all they need is a letterhead.
American law has a rule called the “mock priest” rules going back to the middle ages that means that even if the wedding is conducted by a “fake” clergyman, it doesn’t affect validity of the marriage. But as with other unusual ways to get married (e.g. filing a marriage contract) there are reasons no one relies on it.
The easiest way to get married is by getting a license, and using a clergy whom the local government will readily recognize as such. While any other sort of wedding is valid under American law, it involves much extra effort and expense in order to get the wedding recognized by the government.
Assuming you are in the United States, Federal law requires “reasonable accomodation”. This means the company has to have a good reason for not insisting you work on Saturday but if they have a good reason, they can insist. For example, Saturday is the leading shopping day so most retailers would be able to insist that a saleman work on Saturday. If a company (or more likely, a labor union) has a rule under which working on Saturday goes to the least senior person, a company is allowed to follow seniority. Both state and federal (EEOC) take complaints, and there are various frum organization that can advise you. It is often best to look for a career in an area in which Saturday is not a normal business day, or where the company is open on Sunday and will let you trade off working Sunday (when the goyim want off) for Saturday.