GeshmakMan

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Viewing 50 posts - 1 through 50 (of 106 total)
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  • in reply to: Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yuhsb #1188005
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    It’s a top Modern Orthodox boys HS, with the built advantage of having YU Smicha guys as well as their Rebbeim on campus.

    I went to MTA & YU and I can assure you will have at least 10 guys like you in your grade.

    Also, you are dealing with kids there whose trajectory has been going up their whole lives as opposed to these “heimishe” High Schools that add on English, where lots of the boys are there to escape the Yeshivishe places.

    Feel free to ask away, huge fan here! I also am involved with HS guys for many years and speak from experience with them.

    Hatzlacha, MTA ia a great place!

    in reply to: Should More Mamzerim Be Created? #1117998
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    My question is, how are we “sure” that person A is a Mamzer? Do we know for sure who/what his parents did? Can we make someone a mamzer based on assumptions?

    in reply to: dating near edison #1049483
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Hi, what are you looking to do?

    in reply to: Double standards in Jewish media #977890
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Jwashing – another solution is not to buy or support such “Jewish” Media.

    in reply to: Cruise for $600? #969096
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Most dinners are $600/COUPLE not per person – plus this cruise is for Men Only!

    Had it been $600/couple and was for men and women (maybe only married couples), it would be more inline with the regular fundraisers.

    in reply to: Blame the shadchanim #963518
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    I think the “leaders” and “system” that let Shadchanim be in charge are to blame.

    I also think that if we eliminated the “professional” Shadchan and just let friends set each other up, or meet naturally, etc without the reliance and safety net of a “shadchan”, the Shidduch scene would look better.

    in reply to: Progressing in Shidduchim #948409
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    No, the people that give such vague “answers” need to look in the mirror and figure out what he/she want and why they are dating.

    They need to help themselves before an outsider can help them

    in reply to: What does YACHAD do? #933432
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Their Mission is to include/integrate people with disabilities into mainstream society.

    Their Shabbatons are geared to have the Yachad Members socialize and mingle with their Shabbaton hosts both in the home and at the activities in the shul.

    They also have programs to have inclusive bunks in many Modern Orthodox Summer camps.

    I believe one can find out more about their amazing work on OU.org

    in reply to: Should i be called Miss/Mrs? #922462
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Please don’t call her a Troll, she prefers to be called Miss/Mrs Troll!

    in reply to: Should i be called Miss/Mrs? #922458
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Very simple – if you want to keep the Shtetl mihnagim, then stay home and don’t involve yourself with the “outside world” (and its higher paying jobs).

    If you want to work in the real world, then you need to “deal” with some circumstances you might not feel comfortable with or used to.

    I am not telling you to shake men’s hands or to eat treif Chas v Shalom, but being referred to by your first name is something that HAS to happen. This is not a Seminary Shabbaton where you are referred to as Miss/Mrs in front of your students.

    At my job in BH a nice sized firm, everyone knows that that we Yidden eat Kosher, leave early for Yuntif/Shabbot and do not shake the hands of the opposite gender.

    Please enlighten me as to what else we need to be makpid on?

    in reply to: Girls in Shidduchim wearing sweatshirts ? #922937
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Trying to decide between crying and laughing at this post – BH for Frum Websites, where we can discuss such important pressing matters!!

    in reply to: Tax Increase #920360
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Akuperma – yes I am aware of that, my point was that there is no “blame” here as this whole SS tax issue was a reversal of a prior tax break, regardless of who actually signed off on it.

    For many years until Jan 2011, employees paid 6.2% of their salary to SS Tax, for 2011 and 2012, employees paid 4.2% of their salary to SS Tax. In 2013 it reverted back to the 6.2%.

    Thank you though for the crash course in how Washington works – much appreciated!!

    in reply to: Tax Increase #920356
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    There is NO ONE to blame!

    You were paying 6.2% towards SS for YEARS! in 2011, Obama lowered that to 4.2% for TWO YEARS.

    The two years are now up and the SS tax reverted back to 6.2% like it was for the past 10 years before!

    This is not even a political issue, just an expiration of a recent tax break.

    in reply to: Assur to Review Frum Establishment on Yelp #918976
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Ask you LOR if you can even go to non-frum websites such as Yelp.

    in reply to: A bit bothered by some advertisements in frum publications #1009266
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    If “frum” websites allows non-stop bashing and Loshon Hora on their websites, why shouldn’t a “frum” magazine be allowed to advertise a $40,000 watch???

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913547
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    No, I am not taking a “benign” response, I just think that this whole case is being blown out of proportion. Again, I do not defend what happened, nor do I defend the covering up.

    That being said, there is really nothing left to investigate, other than Rabbi Lamm. No one else is left. Most investigations are geared to ensure that the predators are removed and dealt with. These “predators” have been gone for 20 years!

    To go backwards 20 years, might satisfy the media and those who want YU blood, but really what will it achieve?

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913543
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Yes, I am aware, but responses to what? He was comparing responses to the YU case to a different case. Or at least he was attempting to compare something!

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913541
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    “possibly a similar case”? are you referring to a hypothetical case? Are you conjecturing a what if scenario?

    If you are referring to the Weberman case and want to compare the two, so let us first see if the “modern” crowd will start to harrass, bribe and scare the victims into keeping quiet. Let us see if the “MOs” will throw bleach at a fellow Jew’s face. Let us see if the modern world will host a fund raiser to help an alleged child molester?

    To be fair, if you want to compare the two cases, then compare the IMPORTANT things, not just the reaction on some “frum” blog.

    Second, who knows the Hashkafa and background of each poster here?

    Do the two reactions even matter? People got abused and you worry about some bloggers? Maybe let’s focus on the victims? Or I forget, in your world, the victim is the abuser, sorry!

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913538
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    What dual standard? What is your comparison?

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913536
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Ok, so fire him and move on – he is the only left at the University from that era who was involved.

    But there is no need for investigations and to implicate others who currently work there who weren’t anywhere near the campus then is a little much.

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913534
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Again, what was done was terrible, but one also needs to consider what would be investigated?

    This happened around 20 years ago, both men are no longer in the USA. The HS is on its 4th administration since 1995.

    Rabbi Lamm is in his 80s, there is a new YU President as well since this happened.

    Speaking/blogging in hindsight it is very easy to point fingers and start assigning blame, but to expect the reactions/measures that we are accustomed to now to have been in place and adhered to 20 years ago is impractical and almost imposssible to ask.

    In addition? who is there to hold responsible and punish?? To drag an entire HS/College Campus into this mess via collateral damage just doesn’t make any sense. Are the walls guilty?? The elevator??

    Everyone is trying to connect this to Penn State and the other similar crimes done, these circumstances could not be more different!

    Also, the person who “revealed” this to the press is doing so 12 years after he blackmailed Rabbi Lamm for an apology/compensation. This seems to be uncovering an old witchhunt just to spite YU.

    If these crimes were so heinous as he claims, why did he wait 12 years?? If they would have paid him off 12 years ago, would he have remained quiet and sold all the other victims down the river b/c his personal agenda was satisfied?

    Would love to hear some intelligent responses!

    (disclaimer, I went to MTA/YU and know one of the “wrestlers”)

    in reply to: Y.U. Abuse Scandal and Cover-Up #913512
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    I might be wrong but MORE Loshon Hora, Rechilus and Sinaas Chinam that will generated from such a topic/blog will not remedy what was done and will certainly not help the situation.

    I am NOT condoning/defending what was done AT ALL. If someone in the CR has anything constructive to add about this horrific story (or similar stories), then please report the information you have to the proper authorities.

    Discussing it and analyzing he said/she said/Joseph said will not help this matter, only will make it worse.

    We as a Klal have enough issues, we don’t need to add useless “fuel” to the fire.

    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    I could be wrong but I would think that it’s Assur to deliberately act w/o Derech Eretz.

    There is a reason Chazal made these Takanos, it is not becoming of a person to have his hands full of oil and dirt like some sort of animal.

    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    There are numerous Issurim related to eating foods (especially the size of the Avg Latke) with your hands.

    A Ben Torah should always eat with utensils as it is more Mechubedike than eating with ones barehands.

    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    A fork

    in reply to: Thursday night dinner #994856
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    It’s the same reason that people have Chinese food for Monday lunch!

    in reply to: $1,000,000 winner in BP #908218
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    How is it off the books when they issue the winner a W-2G and withhold 25% Federal Taxes and State as well?

    You think they hand you $1Mil under the table??

    in reply to: Inviting friends' spouse to wedding #919114
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Wow, I would think it’s unheard of to only invite one “part” of a couple!

    On the flip side, MOST married couples are makpid to give a gift b/c they don’t have the built in excuse/understanding of being single and not being able to afford it, etc.

    Then again if only my wife got invited to her friend’s wedding and they ignored me, I’d be very happy! I would also think the couple is rude as anything but i’d be very happy to stay home 🙂

    Ha – Hatzlacha and Mazal Tov!!

    in reply to: Shocking Study of Modern Orthodox OTD Rate #941443
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Health – it’s not the “frum” world’s job to speak the “truth”. Even if it was, there are ways to do so.

    Just imagine if a Jew regardless of affiliation came on this website and read the CR, he’d probably run to the nearest church and baptize himself.

    Now you might tell me that posting here is “different” but in the “True Frum” world you speak of, we are supposed to act the same way in private as we do in public. Hashem is always watching us, whether it’s via blogging or anywhere else.

    A) Why don’t you start for us and define the word “Frum”

    B) Your “truth” is most probably your opinion

    C) The Modern Orthodoxy this article is discussing, clearly isn’t the Modern Orthodoxy that was drawn up and envisioned by Rav Soloveitchik z’tl many years ago. The people off the Derech in this article are simply “modern”, they have very little Orthodoxy in their life.

    The fact that they buy Challas for Shabbos or sit in the back of Shul on Shabbos and talk does not make them Orthodox nor does it reflect on the “Torah U Madda” Values that many Modern Orthodox Jews take very seriously and live by.

    For some clown to come here and blog that MO is apikorsus,takes a lot of nerve, reflects complete ignorance and is probably violating a few Issurim on the way as well.

    I can say this much for sure – a Modern Orthodox person is not wasting his time with pure Batala in the CR!

    in reply to: Shocking Study of Modern Orthodox OTD Rate #941417
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Yes it was a brilliant and revealing article, very scary as well!

    However as Sam2 said, the number is extremely high because they are including ALL members of “Yeshiva High Schools” regardless of how that school defines Orthodoxy. Some of these “Orthodox” schools have a school sponsored prom, and many of the kids come from homes that are not keep Shabbos at all anyway. In that case the kids are not “off the derech”, rather simply following the “Derech” of their parents!

    That being said, the real number is high enough his article was spot on about the issues and how to solve them

    in reply to: SawYouAtSinai Issues #934449
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    It’s a very good site, with many single of all areas and across the Jewish spectrum. Yes, those who pay do get better service and better benefits. If that weren’t the case, than why charge membership at all?

    Please realize that although it does a “Chesed”, it still has costs to maintain the site and the like.

    I would recommend paying on a trial basis for 1-3 months and then see how your feel about these issues.

    Worse comes to worse view your trial payment as Tzedaka (someone does benefit) and in the zchus you pay and help someone else, you should find your bashert iyH.

    Hope this helped!

    in reply to: Separate seating at Weddings #1037940
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Yes, even the “frum” halls, will allow a few mixed tables. We had that at our wedding. Regarding the men seeing the ladies dance, there is usually a “natural” Mechitza of ladies standing around the outer circle anyway so that it is very hard to see anything anyway. And yes, as mentioned before, if men want to look in, they will look in, even if they are in separate halls.

    You also have those “frum” couples, who will only bring their spouses IF it is davka mixed seating, since they will enjoy a night out together (yes, a novel idea in the frum world!).

    All in all, this topic can be discussed for days/weeks – it started out as a nice Chumra and now evolved into something larger than the Simcha itself unfortunately.

    Mazal Tov!

    in reply to: Shiduchim, what else? #947450
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Just a guess, but I don’t think that getting 37 random opinions/answers from the CR will be that helpful!

    in reply to: World Trade Center A'H #1183755
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    I was in YU at the time, I to get very emotional every year on 9/11 reliving the experience and memories. By chance I had happened to be at the Towers the Friday before and to think that they had collapsed four days later was mind numbing.

    I will never forget one of the Rabbeim stopping morning seder to announce what had just happened and hearing the word “terror attack on US Soil” come out of his mouth. It was like being in a movie, only unfortunately this movie was real life. Going to bed that night was one of the scariest, uncertain moments of my life. No one knew what tomorrow would bring.

    I very much appreciate the relevant stories/articles that YWN reposts every year on 9/11, I sit at my desk at work every year and just cry reading them.

    May we all have a meaningful 9/11 and learn/daven/do a Chesed LeZecher the Neshamos that perished Al Kidush Hashem that day.

    in reply to: public service announcement #895219
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Why is this being discussed publicly? especially a week before Rosh HaShana? So that we can all get a good laugh at someone that appears to have a social disorder?

    What if the guy is reading this post?

    Since when did this CR become Facebook with everyone just thinking aloud w/o regards for Halacha, feelings, any Yiddishkeit?

    in reply to: Dr. Phil, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, mom from LKWD #901068
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    PuhLease, I wish you Hatzlacha and condone you for not going public with your life issues.

    My question though is the following:

    Which lifestyle/religion is perfect? Every system in any area/walk of life will have unhappy people and “flaws”. We are humans and by definition are imperfect.

    If you tell me that a majority of people in this circle are unhappy that would be one thing, but for some unhappy bitter people to paint the entire religion as oppressive, abusive, in such a negative light is just embarrassing and falsehood.

    It would be comparable to having a bad experience at a dentist and then going on TV and accusing all dentists as being evil/awful.

    I don’t want to belittle her issues or yours G-d Forbid, but as you stated before, the Religion was not meant to be lived this way, the fact that some lunatics do shouldn’t be relective of the entire religion.

    in reply to: What do women Upstate do all day? #892225
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    They are Bidshacher all day.

    in reply to: Assur to HOLD a smart phone ??? #1197616
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Lifi Shitascha, Smart phones must be ok and muttar, b/c there are “frum” Apps for them!

    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    There are many ways to show Hakaras HaTov to America w/o singing a song. According to your logic, every workplace and workday should start with a song?? Do your childrens’ school say this every day?

    The various speakers (even Rabbonim) mentioned America and thanked the state and all local enforcement on hand many times for this event.

    Instead of having HaTikvah, they had Rav Lau speak to recognize Israel. Or better to sing a song?

    Or maybe they should have served Turkey at the Siyum HaShas? That’s the national food of thanks!

    How much nonsense can people spew and then darshan over and over?? What, we ran out of ways to solve the shidduch crisis? 🙂

    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    I am still waiting for someone to mention the Israeli Flag hung by Ponovezh on Yom Haatzmaut!

    The fact that other similar events happen is not a proof for anything. Yes, they are all heartwarming and nice to see/hear but one cannot derive Halachik Psak from it.

    Also, I would think there is a SMALL difference between singing the National Anthem at a 500-1,000 person audience at a private graduation as opposed to singing in front of 100,000 people!

    Besides – it was a beautiful event – why are we always looking for the worst and to criticize??

    Is life that good that this is all we have to worry about??

    in reply to: Inviting Singles for Shabbos #889785
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Hi, who is assuming you live at home? Wouldn’t the people that you are addressing (fiends of yours) know where you live?

    I 100% agree, I remember living alone and hoping the phone would ring! The worst “invite” is “oh, you’re always invited, call anytime”, b/c that is an empty invitation!

    But back to your posting, can you please clarify?

    Thank you!

    in reply to: American "Dream" minutes from Kotel?? #888726
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    I guess no one reads the Banner Ads on YWN 🙂

    in reply to: is it wrong to go to sports games #888540
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Is better to go to a FEW ballgames a year OR waste your WHOLE year in the YWN Cofferoom dicussing this silly topic and 78 other variations of solving the Shidduch Crisis?

    Whats “muttar”/good about the CR?

    in reply to: is it wrong to go to sports games #888524
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    The questions isn’t about a game, it’s really how you define “wrong”. Going to a game isn’t wrong per say, however it’s not exactly the “best” thing either”. It’s one of those “gray areas” that we put on the “there’s nothing wrong with it, or whats wrong with going to a game” list.

    That being said, the fact that there is Kosher food, “minyanim”, etc etc at games does NOT make it a Jewish event or “muttar”. I have davened at these “minyanim” and it’s a complete joke. Try davening while people walk past you half dressed, drunk and yelling. Or try davening while a great play happens and the crowd erupts cheering.

    Again – everyone has to do what he/she feel is right, including to define the word “wrong”.

    in reply to: Tailgating by the Siyum HaShas #886509
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Cooking out of the back of your car (the tailgate). Nowadays, people have fancy grills, tents and can make a very nice meal at the parking lot. It’s done a lot by football games.

    in reply to: BBQ on July 4th?? #963077
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Do I bomb maniacs??

    in reply to: Do You Put Out A Flag On American Holidays? #1023076
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Why is there an apostrophe in Holidays????

    in reply to: McDonalds Coffee #880770
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Zahavasdad – just b/c other do things, does not make them correct/muttar. Plenty of “frum” people talk in shul, does that make it ok?

    Sidepoint – are you going to Yeshivat Citi Field Sunday night for Mets Yankees? Kosher food, minyan and a baseball game – does it get any better?

    in reply to: Olympics Sized Pritzus #877209
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    As long as you “need” the internet for work and the advertisement is on a “Frum” website, there’s “nothing wrong with it”. 🙂

    in reply to: Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg & Baseball #867055
    GeshmakMan
    Participant

    Czar – can you please enlighten us and tell us who the Yankees beat in the World Series in 2001 and 2003?

    Its probably not important to the story/topic, but at least get your facts right!

Viewing 50 posts - 1 through 50 (of 106 total)