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Joseph-
I’ve davened there, but not often.
The reason I asked him was because of his stature as a talmid chacham and posek.
(please understand that I prefer not to give personal info in a public forum)
zimby-
“What is the chest and what is the treasure?”
An egg? (the shell and yolk)
A person? (heart of gold)
Here’s one for the kids:
What has pains but doesn’t ache
is very hard but easy to break?
dont have internet-
“The Big One” had cut-and-pasted something I posted.
To answer your questions:
I don’t use the eiruv because the rabonim I rely upon say that it is problematic.
My friend’s Rabbi holds that the eruv is OK and can be relied upon.
I honestly didn’t know if in this case I should say that since he is somech on his rav it’s not at all a problem, or if since he would be carrying on my account (because of my invitation) I should ask him not to.
I therefore asked Rav Feivel Cohen what I should do.
If a friend is doing something that me/my family would not do because of chumra I probably wouldn’t say anything regardless of the situation.
If a friend is doing something clearly asur due to lack of knowledge (such as adjusting the heat of an electric oven on yom tov) I would speak up.
If a friend is doing something that me/my family would not do because because my rabonim say it shouldn’t be done, but his Rabbi says it’s OK I probably wouldn’t say anything normally, but would ask him not to do it on my account – the same way I wouldn’t ask him to take my garbage out on Shabbos.
Ashrecha Yisroel-
Correct!
(I am not the author of any of the puzzles I posted, and for the most part don’t know if they’re oldies).
zimby-
The robber one:
a: true, true
b: false, false
c: false, true
gut voch
squeak-
“Math? Yuck.”
-I’m with you there.
In school I enjoyed history, english and science, but math? not my slice of pi.
Rest assured the “Nines” puzzle does not use any complex equations.
Heres a great, big hint-
The first three characters of the equation are “99+”
I think the answer to your puzzle is about 34.3 MPH.
The logic I used is:
Since he traveled the same distance at the two different speeds, we calculate 2/3 * x = .5 * y with x+y = 60. The closest I can come is about x=25.7, y=34.3 (time) and 17.13 (distance). 2*17.13 is about 34.3
(I may not know what I’m talking about – math majors, please help).
zimby-
The answer to your second is “a river”
yoshi-
“Who’s words do you respect more, anonymous internet posters, or your Rabbi?”
-Please take this reply from whom it’s coming, stam a baal habos, and certainly not a talmud chochom.
Of course your Rabbi deserves your respect.
I would not use anything anyone says here as a psak or a definitive answer to a halacha question.
What I would do is look in halocha sforim and references brought up, especially when the precise location is listed, and possibly ask a question to someone who is more knowledgeable than myself – i.e. is this halocha limaseh, are there cholkim or alternative interpretations and so on.
Any info posted here is nothing more than a starting point.
I am not sure this is something you are comfortable doing, but would you consider printing out the various places others have listed here and asking your Rabbi (assuming he does not agree with them) how he interprets them and what the basis of his opinion is?
I am not being sarcastic at all, or suggesting it be done in a disrespectful manner – once again I believe your Rabbi should be respected.
Gut Shabbos.
jewishfeminist02-
“I think Reuven and Chaim might feel out of place at a U2 concert”
-Since this is a riddle/puzzle thread, lets treat this as a puzzle and try to figure out the circumstances:
1) How can Reuven and Chaim attend the concert? Besides the music itself, can’t there be a problem of “kol isha” with an opening act? (I think U2 itself is all men)
2) Why did they leave themselves so little time to get there?
3) Why is it so important that they get there on time that they are crossing a dark, unsafe bridge to do so?
The answer is clearly as follows:
Reuven and Chaim are electricians, hired to ensure that the sound system and lighting are up to par and safe thruoughout the concert.
They carefully checked beforehand to ensure there were no woman singers or performers before the concert.
They received a heter iska to be present in the building while the concert was being held.
The concert was scheduled to begin motzei Shabbos, shortly after havdala, which is why they were under such time constraints.
Gut Shabbos.
gawker-
That’s exactly what I would’ve said, before seeing azi’s explanation re:
a) avoiding forbidden sights
b) avoiding maris ayin
This is really a perfect example of why we should be dan lekaf zchus.
?”? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? – ??? ???:?
Dr. Pepper-
I take it back…
Yes, they must be at the same place and the same time at one point, just like two cars going in opposite directions on the highway that depart and arrive at the same times.
Thisis a puzzle from a book:
Here are six nines-
999999
Can you use them in an equation that totals 100?
Ashrecha Yisroel-
First rashi on the amud, let’s not deprive someone else a chance to look it up.
Dr. Pepper-
Maybe, but not necessarily.
If he finishes more than an average of 50% of the journey before 50% of the time is up, he won’t ever be in the same place at the same time.
squeak-
Correct!
I remembered the puzzle from about 5 – 10 years ago, but figured it was popular enough that it could be cut-and-pasted from someone else’s site if I googled it. The site I got it from called it a “U2” concert, but I changed it to MBD since we all know that airplanes can’t sing 😉
Microsoft Puzzle:
(supposedly asked by Microsoft during interviews)
MBD has a concert that starts in 17 minutes and four people must all cross a bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flashlight. A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flashlight with them.
The flashlight must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc.
Each person walks at a different speed. A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man’s pace:
* Chaim: – 1 minute to cross
* Yankel: – 2 minutes to cross
* Ruven: – 5 minutes to cross
* Shimon: – 10 minutes to cross
Notes: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this problem. This is based on a question that Microsoft gives to all prospective employees.
Source: http://puzzleszone.blogspot.com/2008/08/microsoft-puzzle.html
“squeak-
It could be 27 or 28, depending on if he could climb over the lip once it was reached.”
Correction: 28 or 29
squeak-
It could be 27 or 28, depending on if he could climb over the lip once it was reached.
MommyOfTwo-
Prospect Park is academically oriented both in lemudei kodesh and lemudei chol. They have pre-1a (maybe pre-k – I don’t know) thru high school and beyond (seminary). The curriculum is demanding, especially in high school but the school is very accomodating for girls who need a modified curriculum.
Bais Yakov D’Rav Meir has a similar academic reputation.
Hatzlocha raba.
Amen.
The name has been posted.
Thank you.
P.S. you can also make a commitment via email at:
Rav Mordechai Rennert, shlita, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Chaim is ill and in need of a refuah.
The name for tehilim is Rav Mordechai ben Yenta.
The yeshiva is aranging to have the entire sefer tehilim every day in his zchus.
If you can commit to a couple of kapitlach daily, please call the yeshiva at 718-438-5476.
If you can’t make a comitment, any tehilim you say on your own are of course appreciated and IY”H helpful.
Moderator – if possible please post this request on the main board, since many more people will then see it.
feivel-
Oranges.
If the “mix” was in the apple box, then the oranges would have been in the correct one.
yoshi-
a) it loses its memory.
b) it loses its drive.
c) it cashes in its chips.
Feif Un-
“dixie”, not “dizie”
Feif Un-
Correct! (die fiefst nischt nur dizie)
Feivel-
“which way will the guy tomorrow tell me is liarsville if i were to ask him?”
I don’t fully understand this, but I don’t think so.
The Queen of Persia-
Very good. That’s not an answer I thought of, and assumes the father is from the same town. (You can change “father” to “neighbor” or “you” in third person).
Feivel-
Take one from the “mixed” box.
iluvchulent-
Amon, Moav
(told by my niece)
Yankel the carpenter had a job to do at Truthtown.
When he arrived at a fork in the road where it split to Truthtown on one side and Liarville on the other, he saw to his dismay that someone had stolen the road sign indicating which was which.
Fortunately, there was a man at the fork who had clearly come from one of the towns.
Unfortunately, cruel King Xerxes had passed a couple of decrees that would make it a bit difficult:
1) Truthtown residents may only tell the truth.
2) Liarville residents may only tell lies.
3) Travelers may only ask one question a day (no compound questions).
Under these constraints, what question should Yankel ask to determine the road to take?
SJSinNYC-
Now I understand what you were saying – thanks for elucidating.
If someone is makil in on certain halachos in ways that I was taught or learned are wrong, but is following their orthodox Rav I will not disrespect them or their Rav.
I was told by my Rosh Yeshiva that doing so is wrong and potentially harmful.
I do request that Shabbos guests and people attending family simchos follow certain standards, hopefully in a non-insulting way.
All rabonim issuing opinions are not equal (any more than secular professionals are), but I will agree that if you follow yours (whether he is makil or machmir) you are doing what’s right.
feivel-
I totally missed that – you got me!
I just got back from the hardware store with a new box of brain-fuses, to replace the ones I’ve blown.
A question about your halacha riddles – I never would have gotten the first one – Are the nachri barber and mirror halochos agreed upon by rabonim nowadays? I know people use barbers of all stripes (pun intentional) nowadays, and mirrors are necessary for shaving, brushing hair, straightening ties, etc.
LAer-
Correct!
Find the missing letter-
15,8 S
9,6 T
2,1 O
7,5 T
11,3 ?
no hints! – (except this one – each letter starts a word you can find in the dictionary. No word [including the “missing letter” word] is longer than five letters. If you figure out even one word, you will easily figure out the rest.)
Feif Un-
Correct!
C=5 L=6 I=1 N=4 T=8 O=7 A=3 R=0 E=9
The other question:
“Will you weigh more at the equator or at the north pole?
Give two reasons why.”
More at the north pole.
Squeak gave one answer – the earth is slightly flattened at the poles, and bulging at the equator, making the poles closer to the center of the earth.
The second answer is the centrifugal force at the equator (@25,000 mile circumference performing a full rotation in slightly under 24 hours = over 1,000 MPH at the equator).
oomis1105-
feivel-
I thought I remembered that question, with the answer being “a pound of feathers” since a pound of gold is only 12 ounces (not 16).
Feivel’s answer was very authoratative, so I “cheated” and went to Wikipedia for the following info:
Q: Are there 12 ounces in one pound of gold?
A: Gold and other precious metals are measured using tht Troy Measurement System instead of the Avoirdupois Weight System common in the US. A troy pound is equal to 12 Troy ounces. There are 16 ounces in a pound (avdp). The common point where one Troy something equals one Avoirdupois something and one Apothecary something is the grain. One pound (avdp) equals 14.583400600306332 Ounces (troy). So when speaking of gold silver or platinum a distinction should always be made on which weight system is in use.
So, it seems either answer can be correct.
Feivel-
“Mission Accomplished” – I’m stumped.
I tried figuring gematrios, remazim from the words, Bobby Kennedy – nothing doing.
Is the answer a real number?
The only thing I can think of is a trick answer like “private”, “a secret” or “not your business”.
squeak-
“1) You would be wearing a lot more clothing”
– That’s very funny, but not the answer I had in mind.
“2) The Earth is flattened at the poles so you are closer to the center of the Earth, hence more affected by gravity.”
– Correct!
Feivel-
I must ‘fess up – I had an almost identical puzzle many years ago, with 25 bags of gold coins.
I should have left your puzzle for someone who didn’t already know the answer.
B”N I will not be a “chapper” again for one I already heard.
Please don’t give up.
havesomeseichel-
Another hint- since we know R is zero (see hint 1) and the result of R + N (fourth digit from right) is C we know that N + 1 = C, and T > 4 (since T + T forces the carry from the third position from the right).
havesomeseichel-
The dimes. Although circles of a different diameter will fill an equal area in a square, the thickness of the dimes is less than the nickels.
Additional hint coming up forthwith.
Feivel-
Thank you.
Weigh 1 from stack 1, 2 from 2 and three from 3 together, then see if you are short 1,2 or 3.
Feivel-
Split them into groups of three.
The first measurement will determine which group is heaviest.
The second measurement will determine which coin is heaviest (left, right, or excluded).
Attention dieters:
Will you weigh more at the equator or at the north pole?
Give two reasons why.
From the Mensa Puzzle Calendar, Nov. 15, 2007:
Find the missing letter-
15,8 S
9,6 T
2,1 O
7,5 T
11,3 ?
no hints!
Determine what number (single-digit) the letters correspond to:
CARTER + CLINTON = LINCOLN
Hints to get you started:
Since the leading digit in LINCOLN is not the same as the leading digit in CARTER, L + C > ?
There are a couple letters that can be switched value-wise.
SJSinNYC-
“Where does it say that women are inferior?”
-Not at all what I meant. I am referring to being pro-abortion, and one or two other things.
“The WOMEN are the ones supporting the family.”
-I have the utmost respect for women who are willing to do so. The phrase “nashim tzidkaniyos” applies to them, IMHO.
“pants are halachically ok”
-When I was much younger I asked a rebbe why women’s pants have a “beged ish” problem, since they are not the same style at all as men’s trousers. He replied that there is a second problem, in that they are also untzniusdik. I haven’t done any research on the “pants” issue and am certainly not a baki in this.
“her halachic psak is just as valid as yours”
-I agree, but not for the reason you think. My “psak” would be totally meaningless and invalid since without smicha I have no authority to pasken.
One misconception I think is being made here is confusing “merit” on a personal level with “opinion” and “halacha”. None of has has any idea as to who is more meritous in the eyes of H-shem. We don’t know the nisyanos that we each have faced, and the yetzer horas we have overcome. As a matter of fact, the concept of “kono oilomoi bisha achas” can apply to someone who has not been shomer Torah umitzvos his entire life. In my opinion Chaim Smadar z’l would be considered on a tremendous madreiga for his heroism and self-sacrifice.
When it comes to actual halacha, we don’t believe “all opinions are equal” and “who’s to say who’s right”. There are sforim (Shulchan Orech, etc.) that contain the halachos, and rabonim whose opinions and psakim we must follow. That doesn’t mean that if I know a Mishna Berura I am “better” than you, but the Mishna Berura vs. a well-meaning and seemingly logical opinion really is no contest.
jewishfeminist02-
One more thing:
My earlier statement of “She (in all likelihood) doesn’t yet know all that ‘feminism’ entails and how many of its core beliefs are kineged haTorah”
was based on this comment of yours from the “Peta” thread”
“I would like to be in a place where I can be more consistent in my observance of halacha, and this is something that I am working on, but I am simply not there yet”
“Respectfully, I take offense at this.” ah, well at least we’re being respectful 🙂
The Big One-
A large part of the achrayos I am referring to is that certain posts shouldn’t even see the light of day.
There have been many times that inappropriate or inaccurate posts have appeared,and then the question is: what is the proper way to respond? (Or as jent1150 put it in another thread “V’da ma shetashiv”)
jewishfeminist02-
I was afraid that some of what I said might come across as patronizing, especially since you told another poster in a different thread not to patronize you.
That is not my intent, and I apologize for giving that impression.
I do not say or imply that you are “going thru a phase” or have “backward ideals” – you took offense where none was intended.
Your profile says “student” which I assume means college – late teens, early twenties was my guesstimate, hence my comparison to my kids’ age(s).
“I am not looking to corrupt people” – if I thought you were I would not call you “a sincere and earnest person”.
“Patronizing” means talking down to someone in the belief that you are better and/or smarter than they are.
I don’t believe either of those to be the case.
I am quite a bit older, and from a more “Black Hat” background and I inferred several things from your postings that I believed put you in a “better” light with some of our fellow posters.
You took offense where (once again) none was intended – I felt bad for the way some threads were going, especially based on your comments of “leave my mother out of this” and “you truly hurt me” as well as “I am a Jew”.
If your reaction to this is “I still think your patronizing me”, “I don’t need your sympathy”, or “stay out of my business” I will do so.
feivel-
Thank you.
On your account additional learning was done.
The Big One-
Yes, absolutely.
As a matter of fact that was a concern I had reading one person’s posts about the “maalos” of not being shomer Torah umitzvos r’l.
When an incorrect or lo kihalocha opinion is posted, a correction, backed by mekor(os) is definitely in order.
The method of correction is what I try to be extremely careful with.
It struck me erev Rosh Hashana that I don’t know who reads my postings and potentially what harm we can do with a harsh word, mockery, or insults.
A shogeg should be corrected with kindness.
A mechutzuf/maizid/lehachisnik – some mechutzafim need the (verbal) potch, but I have seen rabeim and kiruv professionals “warm up” a cynical person as well with kind words and understanding.
Honestly, I appreciate this web site tremendously, but I don’t envy the achrayos the moderators have.
The Big One-
It seems we had the same idea about “continuing elsewhere”, but our posts crossed in the mail as to where that “elsewhere” would be.
The Big One-
“jewishabortionist02” would be an inflamatory screen name, no two ways about it. It would be extremely difficult to be melamed zchus for such a name.
I have friends (some balei tshuva, some not) who believe abortion is OK.
I certainly let them know that that is lo kihalocha, but I do not cut off my association with them.
I have one friend who relies on an eiruv that I do not, and at my request he does not carry when he comes to us on Shabbos.
The bottom line is I don’t have all the answers as to how to deal with different people (I asked Rav Feivel Cohen a shaila how to approach the Shabbos guest).
The “abortion” question you posed is a lot more black-and-white than the “red clothing” question, and an aborted child is much more of a tragedy than the wearing of red clothing.
To answer “What would the appropriate response be in your view?” – the first time, I would reply that is was kneged halacha, and show where.
If the person kept insisting that they were right, then there are a few choices: 1) Continue to argue, and try to bring additional rayos. 2) Decide that continued discussion won’t change the person’s mind and end the topic. 3) Tell the person that they are a <>. 4) Etc.
Part of chanoch lenar al pi darko is taking the best approach – factoring in the kavono and hashkofo of the other person, and in public (such as these threads) how your statements will affect and be percieved by others.
There have been people here who identified themselves as baalei tshuva, geirim and yesomim. We also don’t know who may be “teetering” and turned off by a blast of what they perceive as harsh, intolerant rhetoric.
One other factor is that unlike spoken conversation, these threads are close to ksav asher lo yimachek. Once something is posted it can’t be untyped.
This is not the concise answer you probably requested, but this is my philosophy when answering others.
The Big One-
That’s a good question.
To avoid hijacking this thread, let’s continue this discussion in the “Respect for other posters comments” thread – I’ll reply there.