metrodriver

Poster: I’m glad to hear that you did have some catches. And, most importantly that you are calling in an exterminator, to deal with this problem.

As far as your neighbor (The one that squealed louder than the mouse) is concerned. The next time she will “need” a cup of sugar or an egg for an omelet, she’ll come running to your house.

Gaw: On the issue of “Amira l’akum, Sh’vus/d’rabanan”. In actual (as opposed to virtual) “Amira”, there’s a world of difference between Amira l’yisroel and Amira l’akum/ Conditioned on the status of the Yisrael. i.e.: Where one makes an early Shabbos (1 or 2 hours before it is actually Shabbos.). They are allowed to ask of another Jewish person who does not hold that Tosefes Shabbos to do a Melacha for them. (Lechatchila) But where the second party is under the same prohibition, the Amira is just as much forbidden as the actual melacha.(Task.).

But there are some people who are ehrliche Yidden at heart and are fulfilling all the Mitzvohs but do not interpret the belief in Hashem and His helping hand into their everyday life. Those individuals might reach a point where they no longer feel motivated to continue their religious observance. They are (Or should be) the target audience of seminars of Chizuk.

Little Froggie: Thanks for the compliments (As opposed to “Complement/s”/). The answer is, (For whatever it’s worth to you.) Yes. You can do it. But it’s not advisable. Because if you are having a load (Running an appliance. Even an alarm clock) on the other, –unprotected — side, the GFI breaker will not trip when you have a ground fault, or leakage current. In practical terms, all of the above is irrelevant because today we have 2-pole GFI breakers. My experience is from the “Olden Days”.(Circa 1977).

Little Froggie: My question was really addressed to Veltz Meshugener. But since you answered it, can you please elaborate. What does GFI or GFCI stand for?: What does it accomplish? When (Under what circumstances) does it/ does it not work?

Rebdoniel: I strongly object to the last paragraph in your post. Especially, the concluding words in the last two lines. It is not fair or proper to paint an entire community with a wide brush. Besides. Most of the people (Jews and non-Jews alike) who were ensnared in the trap of that infamous criminal Shlomo Dwek were completely innocent. Including the 93 year old rabbi of the community.

In my humble opinion, the entire premise of giving preference to so-called Hispanics is unfair. I personally consider myself to be Hispanic for two reasons. 1) I resided in a Spanish-speaking country for over Three years.: 2) I daven Nusach S’phard.

Shraga 18: I’m glad you inserted your caveat parenthetically (that some so-called Mekubalim are charlatans.) in your answer to Torah Rocks. Because they are out there, unfortunately. As a general rule, those so-called Mekubalim that toot their own horn are usually the phonies, and they do more harm than good. On the other hand, those Tzaddikim that are genuine Gedolei Yisroel, achieved their Madreigos only through Mesiras Nefesh and self-sacrifice. Just to name a few, of the recent past, like the Chofetz Chaim & the Ribnitzer Rebbe. Or, R. Samson Rafael Hirsch & the Rebbe of Lublin. And many other Rabbis. All of them had one thing in common. Their boundless Ahavas Yisrael and concern for every individual human being. And they all (each one of those enumerated)went through a period of self-sacrifice in their personal life.

@yehudayonah: Absolutely. And I understand the difference. But it sounded better. More poetic. There is an additional piece that I had typed, about the way to recognize who is truly a descendant of Avraham Avinu, according to the Gemara. But I deleted that part.

For a moderate fee, I can customize a “Viduy” for you in both Hebrew and English. Depending on your transgressions/aveiros/sins and other crimes.

Crisisoftheweek: (@sharp). The substance of what you’re saying is great. But your Spelling is horrible. If I may be so blunt. Please use “Spell Check”, or, better yet. Take a remedial course in English Spelling. Stat.

What are you gals/guys talking about?! Please enlighten the rest of us. Who is Wendy Runge, and what did she, or didn’t she do? And what did the rest of the “Innocent” Jews not do?!

IMHO: Theodor Herzl had his heart in the right place. Namely. The resurrection of Jewish national pride in their own homeland. But, since he was born and educated into an assimilated Jewish family he had no concept of a lifestyle that is in accordance with Torah and Halacha. To him Christianity was just as good as Judaism as a national religion for the Jews. His ultimate goal was of obtaining a national homeland for the Jewish people. And if the Jews would have to accept Christianity along the way didn’t stop him from attaining his goal.

It is a well documented fact that he (Herzl) was inspired to work towards achieving a Jewish homeland at the outcome of the Dreyfus trial. When Alfred Dreyfus, a high ranking officer in the French Army was found guilty of espionage and stripped of his rank, Theodor Herzl realized that the Jews will never achieve equality in the lands of Europe, where they tried so desperately to assimilate and be like the rest of the population.

Reply to Rebdoniel (Post #4) But most of the philanthropists that you enumerated, although being Jewish themselves contribute very little to specifically Jewish organizations –which the original poster (Playtime) had in mind.

One other famous quote by Yogi Berra is, “It ain’t over, till it’s over”. The simplicity –or the simple mindedness– in that quote is astounding. He originally coined this phrase about a ballgame. That you shouldn’t give up hope of winning until the game is over.

Soliek; (On exploring the reasons for the occurrence of (Angry) OTD people.)

There is a major distinction to be made between Perry Reich (who appeared on the Dr. Phil show) and Deborah Feldman. Where the former (religious person) is spouting hate and anger about “Chassidim” in general, she is primarily out for her own self-interest. She wants to have the proverbial cake and eat it, too. She wants to lead her promiscuous, Hollywood-oriented life and have custody of the children, too. The latter (Deb. Feldman), however, is an opportunist who takes jabs and soils the reputation of the individuals and groups that did the most for her. She tells the audience “What they like to hear”. Not even speaking about her own personality challenges.

Doswin; Correction #2; You wrote “There were “Neologin”, (Similar to Conservative)”. That statement is incorrect. The counterpart of the Conservatives were the “Status-Quo”. The Neolog’in were considered the equivalent of the Reform movement. Even though some contemporary Historians consider the “Neolog’in” the equivalent of the Conservative movement, in the level of their observance.

Guter Yid; I just read your comment (Among others.) Even though I did not read ALL the other posts. Just enhancing the points that you bring forward.

a) Your impression of “Zahavasdad”‘s depth of knowledge & connection to the way of Torah is the same as mine.

b) The general consensus, even among the vast majority of the OTD community (And there is a sizable one out there.) is, that the memoir by Deborah Feldman a/k/a Sarah’leh Berkovic is substantially untrue, and has done more harm than good, even to their cause.

c) It is not driven by anger or the perception of hurt feelings. Rather by opportunism.

The Great Bear of Creedmor; All the posters made some great points, but you summed it up best by pointing out the fact that those stories that weren’t complete fabrications or hallucinations, were greatly exaggerated by this obviously confused girl. I happen to know the family, and as such, I know that the portrayal of her father’s mental incapacity as the primary cause for leaving the religious life is greatly exaggerated. The primary cause of her family’s dysfunction came from the fact that her mother was unable to provide the basic elements of a stable home life. On the other hand, she received a great amount of love and understanding from her grandparents and other members of the family.

To sum up. She looked much more presentable in the picture of her previous (and possibly future) life; She got her 15 Minutes of fame; After the thrill is gone, she’ll find an empty life, with no friends to turn to or the support of a family; She is obviously in desperate need of Psychological counseling and grooming.

Yentingyenta; Maybe, “Potpourri” (Which is not a purely English term, either) would be a good translation for “Kugel”.

In any case “Pudding” is not an accurate translation for “Kugel” of any kind.

Sam2; Generally. If something happened to someone you don’t know personally, it’s anecdotal. When it happens to you or someone you know, it’s statistical. Jut like the argument whether an economic downturn is a recession or a depression. If someone else loses their job, it’s a recession. If you lose your job, it’s a depression.

Yehuda Tzvi; Your references are less than vague. Be more specific as to when, where.

Brightcolouredkettles; When I wrote about the Canadian/British way of Spelling “Cheque” I never intended to say that the other way of writing “Check” does not exist. Just that it has a different meaning.

p.s.: When you write “No pun intended-lol” you are expressing an “Oxymoron”, not to mention a “Parad-Ox”.

Both. PBA and Josh31; You misspelled the word. It is spelled thusly.????? . But Poppa Bar Abba cracked me up with his always pointed retorts, coming from “Left Field”. (A term used in baseball, ?”?.)

Skiaddict; My first reaction, when I saw the time line under your post “10 Hours” was. Wow. Ten hours ago was still Shabbos. But then I realized that you reside in Great Britain. Gut Voch. (Or, A Gitte Voch.) I don’t think you said anything meaningful in your post. So I have nothing else meaningful to say, either.

Minyan Gal; Do you spell “Colour”, “Centre”, “Cheque” and “Catalogue” the Canadian/British way or the American way?! I myself am a former Canadian.