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AVD: Thanks for a very informative post. For years,
“I think halacha allows that as long as you are aware of the pricing..”
Obviously, if you signed a fixed price contract for X dollars, and the caterer arbitrarily tried to add a $400 surcharge after the fact, you could just ignore such a request. However, its obvious from your question you were aware of the “premium” in advance and in such cases, either halacha or civil law, its your choice whether to pay up or go find another caterer. Again, a caterer, simcha hall, Badchen, etc. can charge whatever he or she wants and there is no halacha that dictates pricing for services offered for sale. The price is whatever the parties to a transaction agree to.
Do you guys get some sick satisfaction by trying to make a joke about pressuring young men and women to marry when they are either not ready or might not have good options at a particular age?? I’m certain the solution to your non-existent crisis is to create more stress. Somehow, I get the feeling that those who post this nareshkeit are themselves incapable of sustaining a positive relationship.
Is giving gifts on Chanukah considered “minhag hagoyim? Is putting a big illuminated menorah out on the front lawn (common practice at many Chabad houses) being mehader mitzvah or just adopting a goyieshe tradition with our own symbolism?
Romain: Please define what you (or your source”) mean by the term “poverty line”??? As Apukerma noted, there is no established metric for poverty. Are you using the Bituach Leumi definition or some other metric.
Lets get back to really important issues facing klal yisroel like the end of the Shiduch crisis, Trump’s cognitive decline or was techeles really purple….the new topics over the past several weeks have been really bizarre
yaakovdoe: peak load pricing, congestion pricing etc. all work off the basic dynamics of supply demand imbalances and increasing prices until the market clears. The concept has been around since the time of Moishe Rabainu.
Reb E: Yes…..you take the first letter of each line, find the Hebrew letter equivalent and add them up (as in Gematria) which results in ???
We have spent countless election cycles in the U.S. (and a lesser degree in EY) debating the pros/cons of a higher level government control of health care systems (aka socialized medicine), single payer systems, alternative forms of “universal coverage”, hybrid public/private systems etc. and still there is no consensus because each variant has benefits for certain demographics.
“I dare you to rewrite this into a sentence that can be comprehended by CR readers”.
Be careful what you wish for!! We may have to read it again.
Aside from coherence, there are virtually no really good ways of comparing public health systems on objective metrics such as access to and quality of care, availability of cutting edge drugs and protocols, net out of pocket costs to the patient and both short and long-term mortality/morbidity outcomes.They are charging a premium price because they anticipate (correctly or not) that the demand will be greater during the Chanukah period and perhaps a few days before and after. Peak demand pricing is a standard market practice whether on the bridge/highway tolls during rush hour, airfares to EY around yom tovim, hotel rooms in Florida for Pesach etc.
I’m glad some smaller merchants, who have been squeezed out during two years of Covid lockdowns and restrictions are using variable pricing to capture additional margins where they have some pricing power. They don’t have to cost-justify the surcharge. Its a free market and a caterer or simcha hall is not a public utility.
Pay the extra charge and enjoy you simcha.“Not allowing nivul peh, loshan hara and degradation of other posters is a respectable assignment deserving praise”
And also screening out and deleting countless bad jokes about Ungarishe fish, which I’m sure has a special place in your heart
AVDR: Agreed, quite “eclectic”.
BTW: I read this evening that several Jewish Progressive Groups on college campuses have adopted R’ Belsky’s shitah on not celebrating Thanksgiving unless it is explicitly done in a narrow way of showing patriotism or loyalty for America. The more politically woke campus yidden have said it is ganz assur to celebrate Thanksgiving in ANY way since this yom tov is synonymous with the “genocide” committed against America’s native tribes. Most of them were probably not TvD alumni.
AVDR: Are you a musmach of Torah Vadaas?? That may explain a lot.
UJM: All the big law firms and most investment banks use a combination of personal interviews at law schools, referrals legal headhunters etc. to screen their potential hires. Very few actually come through emailed resumes. Students are hired as “summer associates” after first and second year of law school and the large percentage of 1Ls and 2Ls are offered permanent positions contingent on their passing the bar exam. The upper tier of investment and commercial banks use similar referral and interview techniques and are increasingly bypassing MBAs and instead looking for really smart young men and women with diverse backgrounds and good quant skills and train them internally. I suspect, given your background, you are more familiar with hiring in the tech sector but I’m told that they increasingly use AI and headhunters to screen job candidates but DO verify both academic and prior employment resume claims before extending an offer.
I agree with you entirely that most resumes “inflate’ prior job experience but I very much doubt that many applicants would lie about where they have earned a degree or knowingly list “Yenavelt University” with the expectation of a job offer from a top firm. I have seen instances where a lateral hire conflates one of the many “executive study programs” offered by top business schools with a “graduate degree” from those schools, but not aware where we ever extended an offer to such an applicant.
I’m most impressed by some of the newest very new high tech and social media firms that could care less about pedigrees, graduate school reputation and seem to have the ability to identify really talented individuals, some with just high school diplomas, and they turn out to be rock stars in their respective fields.CT Lawyer: I assume Eversource offers net metering in your area. I have some friends who installed solar but were surprised when they received a 1099 from the utility for their cash-out balance.
“That’s akin to arguing that since Christianity has the “Old Testament”, therefore Christianity has a Jewish connection….”
I hate to break this to you BUT Christianity DOES have a “Jewish Connection”……Indeed, some of them believe their “moishiach” was a Yid who went OTD.
“Employers rarely verify if the claimed higher education/degree on a resume is real, before hiring”
Perhaps if you are applying for a job where academic credentials are marginal to the skills-set need to perform effectively. However, just about all the firms I have worked with in the legal and financial sectors DO take academic yichus seriously and verify both resume claims of degrees, honors etc. Those listing a degree on their resume purchased from some online diploma mill or lying about a degree from a respected university are unlikely to even get to the interview phase of employment screening.
Its a totally separate question whether some positions list totally unnecessary academic requirements relative to an objective assessment of what is needed for the actual job functions or whether some employers continue to focus on graduates of certain Ivy League schools while ignoring really qualified candidates from really good universities w/o the “reputation”.
Abba S: Don’t let the facts influence your rather simplistic view of energy sector economics.
The Keystone XL pipeline, whose border crossing permit was rescinded by Biden, would have had little, if any, affect on near-term gasoline prices. Those prices follow current crude oil prices, and other factors such as crude inventories and refining capacity. If Biden were to reverse course tomorrow, it would years 3-5 years or longer to complete construction and for Alberta Tar Sands crude oil (carried by the pipeline) to reach refineries in TX. Even then because tar sands oil is heavy and sour requiring specific refinery capabilities, even its sponsors acknowledged that it would be used almost entirely to replace Venezuelan imports, a similar kind of petroleum. Could the Keystone cancellation have increased inflationary expectations–perhaps. But the American Petroleum Institute agrees that would not have any material affect on the prices you pay at the pump for the next several years.
The post-Covid demand spike in global gasoline demand accounts for the major portion of recent price spikes.As usual, Charlie H. provides a great historical context regarding Yidden embracing Thanksgiving at the time of the founding fathers. That “mesorah” continued through the early 19th century and beyond. it was not uncommon for some shuls to hold services on Thanksgiving (as was the custom for a time among American churches)
Prof. Jonathan Sarna, (not frum but nonetheless a highly regarded Jewish historian) asserts that Thanksgiving was one of four annual holidays — Pesach, Chanukah and 4th of July–that together promoted what he called a “cult of synthesis,” (his inyan that Yiddeshkeit and Americanism reinforced one another in a non-assimilation context). According to Sarna’s research, there were dozens of “Thanksgiving sermons” published in newspapers in the early 1900s, some from rabbonim at frum shuls, evoking the idea that Jews could participate in the Thanksgiving holiday. This was at least 50 years before R’ Soloveitchik and R’ Feinstein (both keenly aware of the historical context) provided limited heterim for participation by frum yidden.“[to become a CR Mod]you need to be able to give PSAK HALACHA on every poast…”
You don’t really have to be a chashuvah posek or even an incipient talmiid chacham….just have to know how to spell “poast” and push the “Delete” button on the keyboard.
Very few CR posters opt for the new “X’ or “Q” categories on government or travel documents. Judging by the frequency of posts reminding women that they belong in the kitchen with the children, not to learn gemorah, and blaming their lack of tzinius for every tragedy that befalls klal yisroel, I would infer that the majority of participants are men, albeit not necessarily “mentschen”.
Since Thanksgiving ALWAYS comes out on Thursday AND our meshorah includes cholent on Thursday night, chazal bring down that a “Thanksgiving Dinner” is mutar if one substitutes Turkey (dark meat) in the cholent
Huju: Thanks for noting my unforgivable mis-attribution. How could I ever confuse Willie from BP (seriously) with Jessie from Rednecksville, Missouri. Willie was definitely a more complex and creative figure than Jessie James. He was a master of disguises, escaped from two federal high security prisons, and after his final release from prison, actually did a TV commercial for the Connecticut bank which he was convicted of robbing 18 years earlier.
Avram in Maryland: “I’ve never had someone try to kiss me in shul, nor have I seen anyone kiss anyone else”
Consider taking the Baltimore Beltway to I-95, then head south about 30 miles the Washington Beltway (I-495) west towards Silver Spring/ Virginia. As you cross the Potomac River over the American Legion Bridge you will see a big “Virginia is for Lovers” sign on your right. Find a heimeshe shul and then you might have a different perspective than in Maryland.
P.S. Take your mask and sanitizer.Why are we fortunate enough to be confronted at dinner time each evening during the network evening news program with a flood of ads addressing every medical and physiological malfunction that is known to medical science and the new miracle drug that will have you “dancing”, “hiking”, playing with the grandkids, or doing other stuff the Mods prefer I not mention. Jessie James, when asked why he robbed banks, responded “because thats where the money is”. Same for Ad placement. The network evening news has that older demographic dealing with all the medical issues the Ads claim to cure or mitigate. YWN has a demographic of frum yids who are baalei tzadakah.
Given that most of the “social distancing’ and capacity limit rules have been lifted, even in the more medically “conservative”/politicall progressive jurisdictions, and we have probably vaccinated most of those willing to be vaccinated, a high quality N95 mask may provide YOU with a small level of incremental protection when you are in a crowded venue or you have a compromised immune system, even if you are vaccinated. No guarantees, and difficult to quantify benefits but certainly will provide some small measure of protection.
AAQ: Do the “computers” organize and attend asifahs where you and other computer rebbeim scream about the evils and dangers of c’v interacting with “people” and the pritzus they might inject into their neshamas (aka hard drives”)??
Organize and facilitate support groups for those suffering from TDS
With or without a white beardel and funny looking red stocking shtreimlach?
Aside from evaporation, potash production on both the Israeli and Jordanian sides are biggest water users. A three-way agreement among EY, Jordan and Egypt on regional water use that included a program for replenishing flows in to the Dead Sea would likely be the quickest way to move the ball forward since any unilateral efforts would trigger significant opposition.
AAQ: IDF has some experience with flooding these tunnels, albeit not for hydroelectric purposes.
“..so why haven’t they pumped water yet If its such an easy solution??”
First of all, its NOT “easy” beyond the simplistic notion of digging a 125 KM ditch and letting the water flow downhill from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. Huge cost, some significant engineering issues, even greater environmental issues and MEGA geopolitical problems with neighboring countries.
Akuperma is correct. A great deal of study and analysis has been dedicated to various formulations of a project that would essentially consist of of a 100-125 km conduit diverting sea water from the Mediterranean (with an intake somewhere near the Gaza Strip) flowing down to the Dead Sea with hydroelectric turbines producing roughly 800-1000 MW of peak capacity. Aside from the enormous capital cost , there have also been strong protests by neighboring Arab countries and Israeli environmentalists opposing the project (even though more recent efforts have considered if/how Jordan and Egypt could partner in the effort). The idea has been around for over 50 years. In 1981, the UN General Assembly actually passed a resolution (surprise??) opposing any such project.
If the sheitel fits, vote to acquit, except if the sheitel is an AR-15.
“….or expect to live at someone else’s expense (hopefully freely giving in-laws and donors rather than unwitting taxpayers)…”
I’m not sure there is a reliable statistical source, but I would expect that the numbers of young frum families that rely primarily on government subsidies to get buy are much greater than the number of those fortunate enough to have wealthy in-laws writing the rent and tuition checks each month. Most ikely that many families rely on both sources of “income” but obviously would be better off if at least one is able to earn a parnassah and provide forat least a portion of their financial needs. Taxpayers providing a subsidy are NOT ‘unwitting” since the issue of high welfare dependency in certain communities are well known and politicians have refused to limit those payments or impose a “work” requirement or limit numbers of eligible dependents.
Syag: Sorry you are having a bad day…..I found you post quite confusing, even for satire so I have no clue on what point you were trying to make. Just so there is no confusion on your end, I totally agree the Rittenhouse verdict was legally correct under the relevant Wisconsin statute and the Judge’s rulings and instructions to the jurors. Conversely, I think the statute is indicative of the “stand your ground” type statutes prevalent in half the states which fail to take account of the assailant’s contribution to the circumstances nor require any effort to stand down/mitigate.
From what I’ve heard in the Georgia case, I take the opposite perspective and believe these guys had no business acting as vigilantes and running down a black man using “citizens arrest” as a basis for shooting him when he attempted to defend himself.
P.S. Vus is a “Kardashian”Not exactly. Just a bunch of self-appointed redneck vigilantes who decided to chase down a young black guy jogging down the street in an attempt to make a “citizens arrest” because they suspected he “might” have been checking out a nearby construction site (where he had been seen 2 weeks earlier) for a burglary. They ran him down with their pickup truck and then chased him armed with a shotgun and handgun and ultimately executed him at nearly point blank range when he turned to defend himself. Clearly a case of “self defense” (for the vigilantes) under Georgia law.
“I’m not a journalist…
Azoy. And we thought you were on the staff of The Forward.While I’ve not come close to “celebrity status”, as long as I’m on my TDS meds, its certainly a long-term aspirational goal.
The real “rock stars” are those who are able to consistently articulate their beliefs and positions in a respectful way without engaging in hateful, racist or otherwise hyperbolic commentary regarding those with whom they disagree.
Most recent educational studies, albeit from secular schools, have failed to show significant performance improvements among students routinely assigned “homework” compared to those in schools that have adopted a “no homework” policy. Not sure these studies are definitive, but they certain raise some important questions as to whether “homework” really is beneficial, and if so, the specific types of home assignments that have the most benefit.
When you add the “visible” caveat to frum, relatively few outside the NY/NJ metro area. Very small numbers of elected/appointed officials in Maryland, Illinois, Florida, Colorado and Florida and in those cases just one or two, unless you get down the very local board levels where you may have several more.
Even among those of us who generally support vaccination, the confusing, inconsistent and poorly communicated public health directives by the CDC, FDA and state/local agencies has diluted the message and in some cases created unnecessary pushback and resistance. This failure has implications well-beyond Covid and has long-term negative implications for public response and compliance to future public health emergencies.
“can everyone please stop writing so long replies”
No. If you are have time constraints Down Under, consider scrolling down to the next post. As noted above, it take many posters a while to rationalize the pervasive racism that has existed in the world for generations, sometimes cloaked in religious and historical context.
In the case of Noach’s curse of Chom’s progeny, the four or five lines in Bereishis were used to justify the subordination of the Canaanim to Bnai Yisroel. However, later centuries, the narrative was interpreted at varying times by some Christians, Muslims and Yidden as an explanation for black skin, as well as a generic justification for enslavement of black people. For Southern slave owners in the mid- 1800s who were faced with the abolitionist movement to end slavery, the curse of Cham was one of the most frequently justifications upon which Southerners relied as an ideological and moral defense of slavery.The rationalization for discrimination evolved among other religious groups over times such as the LDS (Mormon) church in the U.S. for decades invoking the curse of Cham to prevent the ordination of black men into its priesthood. Even among our own meforshim, there is a wide range of understanding of both the literal and implied meaning of the story.” If I were to think about that all the time, I’d go nuts, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true…”
But if its NOT true, which I believe to be the case, than you have a special problem if you are are still fixated on it. Yes, there are goyim who are closet-antisemitim but I don’t think its the large percentage you make it out to be, much less “ALL”.