1. dark chocolate ; )

2. apples

3. walnuts or almonds

4. salmon or sardines

5. water

Hi arwsf.

From what I know DH stands for designated hitter and is used in baseball where a player goes up to bat for a pitcher, who I guess has to rest instead of batting and running bases. It may have another meaning, I dont know.

Do you ALWAYS run fast with scissors? What are you cutting? lol

Okay, I was curious so I looked into it.

It seems the book is similar to parts of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s, The Real Messiah. R’ Boteach is pointing out where xtian ideology and slogans have their roots in Judaism.

He seems to be filling in the details of how xtianity took water from the well of Judaism and mutated basic concepts.

Further, it seem R’ Boteach has researched yushke from the perspective of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the writings of his brother “James” who basically portrays yushke not as the apocalyptical guy in the xtian view, but as someone who was more Jewish than xtians would like to admit.

This is not new stuff. The Israeli Antiquities or whatever Bureau has artifacts that show yushke was like a Jew who wanted to go for the messiah brass ring from the Jewish perspective and not from the view of how xtianity sees him.

That is what the book seems like. Would I write such a book? No. But I did research some of that stuff a long time ago when I wanted to know more about us versus them. For some Jews, they may benefit in finding there is nothing novel about that religion and it is not what it is cracked up to be.

I know many non-affiliated Jews who get sucked in. I, myself, helped to get a family to not go to Jews for yushke meetings and eventually they sent their kids to day school and yeshiva high school.

R’ Boteach may be writing the book for such a purpose. It shows the xtian their relationship to Judaism, while showing the unaffiliated, unlearned Jew, xtianity is not such a special thing to chas veshalom consider and get sucked into.

R’ Boteach may be more clever and doing more good than harm than we realize.

lol kfb. He must be cheating! lol

I had the same feeling about someone I was playing wordscraper (scrabble) with.

Hi Health.

But why in the world would you get blocked? : )

Do they ever explain to someone why they are blocked?

I know when I read threads, you and someone else can go back and forth for two whole

pages and I have to click “4” to get to the last few posts.. lol

You and all the other posting outlaws should be proud!

It really is not because I was not mentioned that I say this, although it was my thought when I was once mentioned, but unless you are going to bring enough candy for the whole class, you really shouldn’t give to just a few.

Our reactions to posters is purely subjective. Who each of us “like” can be due to a variety or reasons such as they are like us, they stimulate us even though they are not like us.

But if someone rubs us wrong because they dont think like us, why should they not be held, in the final analysis, with the same high regard?

I would even argue that a poster you go back and forth with in disagreement, is also a poster who you value and should say hello to.

If I were to post those names that I am drawn to, and ones that I am realizing I am drawn to as of late, but left you out, am I offsetting my kindness by being impolite to those I didnt mention?

Have any of you ever thought the same? It’s small potatoes, of course, but it is a potato.

And, again, if I were to post my list, and you were not on it, is that not like offering dessert to only a few people at my dinner table?

Hi arwsf.

I am very sorry for what you and your children are going through. I will daven for things to get better.

I could not read much past when you described the bump on your daughter’s head. I cannot read much into the responses, which I am sure are all supportive, so I apologize for any redundancy.

You must make your home situation known for the sake of your children and you and eventually your husband to get at what is eating him.

Firstly, secondly, and thirdly, you must protect your children and yourself.

It would probably be better to go within the Jewish community, right away.

If that does not help, then he needs to be removed and go to the appropriate counseling or whatever they do.

It is not an easy thing to do, as I know you know the good side to him too and hope that his most recent episode is his last.

The environment you described will erode on the children’s development if they continue to be part of such horrible scenes.

You need to feel your children are safe.

He needs to keep himself on being a human being and I am sure sulks even more after he does what he does. He needs help and to delve into why he is doing this, while the rest of the family is safe and secure.

If he is owning up to this problem, then demand you both go speak to someone. If he seems like a stranger and is not owning up to it, then you and the children need to speak to someone, and he has to stay somewhere until he chills out and gets help.

It’s bad now. Please dont wait to at least speak to a leader in your community.

Oy! I wish there was something I could do to help.

May Hashem restore the peacefulness to your family and home.

..rimshot

lol @ SG.

Hi aaym.

I agree with you and will up the ante.

The NK are evil to the enth degree!!

I say that for this reason:

If you are against a political Israel, then be so in a political/religious context.

BUT THERE IS NO EXCUSE to openly, warmly embrace the leader of a country responsible for deaths of Jewish men, women, children, and babies.

It is the same leader who supplies the munitions to so many terrorist groups, as we speak, creating the bloody headlines that break our hearts.

And what is this leaders thoughts behind his open statement to wipe Israel off the map?

nk embraces this leader??? They are Jews????? No, they are the satan playing another game to amuse itself.

Excuse me while I go throw up at the thought of giving nk even so much as a nano-speck of legitimacy!

Hi Jothar.

What you posted was a HUGE and SHINING example of the highest of character, and you did it on a public forum with no boundaries!

I just want to suggest you do not belabor the point and realize that you are an intelligent, learned, and very passionate person.

And like the rest of us, we have to temper the way we conduct ourselves and learn lessons. There is no way on earth to avoid that challenge for any of us.

I believe you are learning to harness your great passion and once you do, you are destined to make even greater contributions to the world.

I cannot speak for everyone, but I know you are an example for me to have the courage to elevate myself when it is called for. And sooner or later, all of us will have to meet and rise above that challenge. I hope I do so, just as you have done here. Many dont. But you did, and should be commended.

Have a great Shabbos!

lol WIY!

Hi gavra-at-work.

I know you didnt mean anything personal and I apologize if my tone came across harsh.

While you dont have to apologize, I will say I accept just so the slate is cleared, just in case. Otherwise, know I understand we are merely discussing a topic and our differences are in no way personal.

I commend you for keeping a grasp of this complex posting between us. It IS complex, and both of us are respecting the understanding we have from our respective rebbes.

Simply, I seriously did hear from a well-known rabbi that when we give tzedaka, regardless of the details of the person asking, you get the schar for giving. He went on to say that in many ways they are doing us a favor by collecting because giving a few dollars is a true life insurance policy. Of course, I am paraphrasing and he was not speaking lightly on the subject.

In fact, he went on to say even if a non-Jew asks you for tzedakaa, you should give for pretty much the same reason.

I dont know if you would chalk my understanding up to daas torah, but I will, b’lee neder, try to find a way to get a proof for his statement where I dont come across like I am challenging what he said just out of the blue.

Peace, and have a great Shabbos!

Jhank you for the heads up!

: D

That happens even more to Qkhadhaphffy

Hi yit.

I see your point and I apologize.

Sometimes, for me, only seeing the written word can be misunderstood. In fact, I wonder how many of any of our posts are really understood in their entire context and dont require further explanation?

: D

Hi gavra-at-work.

This is not personal, just a matter of discussion style.

You keep circumventing points to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Additionally, you cannot clarify when you are asked to clarify and you fall back on repeating the same, original statements.

I will leave you with this thought:

Suppose you give tzedaka to someone you never thought could be a fraud.

The person hands you a letter and looks as though he is weary from collecting, and you give money and never think twice. You never question his validity.

You would never know this, but suppose that person was a fraud. Again, you would never know this.

So, in such a case, in front of Heavenly eyes, your status in that situation is only as a guy who threw out a few bucks.

IF, you have no schar, did you, chas veshalom acquire an aveira of baal tachshis regarding money because you didnt investigate properly? (Remember those collecting for hunger, you cannot investigate, as per SA)

Your role in that event was solely that you threw away money, according to how you poskin.

Anyway, your implied suggestion of not giving when you “sense” someone may not be legit, was incorrect.

If I am wrong, then tell me what you would recommend if you and I were coming out of Maariv together, and someone approached us for money, and we “sensed” he may be a fraud since he didnt exactly look like he was from that shul or from the area. Would you tell me not to give to him? To put the few bucks back in my pocket?

Hi soliek.

I am glad you got a little laugh out of that. : D

I will continue to look forward to reading your posts with great interest.

Thank you, and have a great Shabbos!

Hi Health.

Whoever downplays animal rights? YOU DO! lol

Your little footnote of “But animal rights don’t trump our Torah,” is exactly why I said what I said.

I dont know why so many people in our community, like you, are conditioned to have to “remind” people of something they dont need to be reminded of. Really? It does not trump the Torah? Ya think? lol

You went on to give a typical, cliche reaction to my post, as expected.

I am not going to ask you where my alleged liberal, chas veshalom anti Torah views are in my post because are not there and I am not in the mood for your clay-like remolding of what you say in order to save yourself, which is more transparent than you realize.

Health, I didnt realize you were still smarting from our last “interaction”. I want to say clearly, any intellectual difference of view or opinion between us is sincere and not personal at all.

I am mochel you for whatever degree of aggression I sense from you.

Hi Give Me a Break.

I may be wrong and I apologize if I am, but why downplay animal rights, which is common in our circles?

We should be proud that the Creator was an animal rights activist and put into our Torah more concern for animals than the world has for humans in many cases.

Hi adams.

Great point.

Not only would it be good for the shadchen to know, I would also like to know why someone would call a shidduch off after six or seven dates. What profound deal killer was allegedly discovered? Six or seven dates tells me there is/was a connection.

Talk about waxing philosophical. This is no regular can of lemon Pledge you are using here. lol

Seriously, thank you for your inspiring posts; to be thoughtful and purposeful.

I am sure the people you are working with could not be in better hands.

Why Ban a magazine?

And, was it Ban roll-on, or spray?

Hi Dave.

Am I serious about Donald? Am I the only one? Yes, I am serious, although the level of seriousness is relative with the pack of politicians we see in our times.

I dont care if Trump is also an attention seeker. Obama is worse and he is inept in all areas.

For better or ill, cartoon character or not, Donald has a lot of real world experience, and being a known persona, is not necessarily an unhelpful thing. He can conduct himself on the world stage in a reasonable way, again, in comparison to the others.

Specifically, I like his idea of American nationalism in the economic realm. I believe he is not beholden to anything or anyone, but his sense of commerce, and his own experience, and he will do good things.

The others cannot come near Donald either in rhetoric, and especially contacts and experience.

Christie, I believe, has psychological issues due to his weight problem. Like I said, I believe he cant stick to a diet so he is projecting onto us.

It is horrible to live in NJ. Everything is sky high.

The tone of the Christie Administration is basically: “New Jerseyans, dont expect anything new, and what you already have, will be cut in half”.

Yet tax payers kick up more and more and more money to Trenton. Taxes go up, prices go up….everything gets more expensive and you get less for the dollars.

Nothing is filling up the cup?

Christie is horrible.

Back to Trump. I am not voting for personality. I suspect they all are obnoxious in their own way.

Frankly, if you wanted to start or build a business, sorta your own little economy…who would you want to sit down with and talk to???

And, please, I know Trump had problems, and to me, that is a plus that he has had that experience.

Shlomo HaMelech said: A wise man falls seven times and gets up seven times.

And the comment behind that is the fact that when one falls, they get up again, that is where the wisdom is.

Hi gavra-at-work.

Again…(for the last time) what do you mean by “Exactly” lol

You are being anything BUT exact by saying, “follow the SA”. I think that is officially called an over generalization and is in no way a proof or defense.

Since you failed to get anywhere near as detailed as the quotes and statements provided to you, I take it you are stuck and just holding to your opinion.

By the way, you do get Schar by giving to someone who ends up being a fraud. I know from whom I learned that from, and you probably heard of his name too.

I appreciate your tenacity, but it does not contain any proof or quote from where get the idea that one does not get schar by giving without investigating, should the collector be a fraud.

You also failed to say where YOU “draw the line” when you “sense” someone may be a fraud. I am interested in how you can tell from ten collectors at your door, who may be a fraud, and then hold back from giving them a few bucks.

Again, throwing us to the “SA” is not a response.

I do agree with one thing, to ask our LOR.

So please dont poskin, in the meantime, for anyone to hold back tzedaka from anyone asking unless they KNOW the person is a fraud, a per the SA. What you are telling us to consider and act upon, again, is not Jewish.

In fact, the SA says not to give ONLY if you are CERTAIN someone is a fraud, and it even says do NOT investigate when someone is asking because they or someone they know is hungry.

The tone of your posts implies to not give even outside those parameters, yet you have failed to give a basis for your view.

I hope you stand corrected.

Hi gavra-at-work.

Exactly what point?

You WOULD hire a private investigator to check on the person?

At this point I think you backed yourself into a corner, and on a topic that is not a light weight one.

As a reminder, the thread is discussing someone who “senses” the one seeking tzedaka does not have a genuine need.

In light of a rabbinic quote, statements from the Aruch HaShulchan, with all due respect, where exactly DO YOU draw the line when YOU “sense” someone is not genuinely needy? And, what makes you “sense” they are not needy?

You dont have to give a specific answer since most of us follow the Jewish perspective.