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Every time you don’t do something simply because others don’t.”
Or vice versa.
While you all are busy forgiving all the people you may have wronged, don’t for get to forgive yourself as well. S’shteit “b’tzedek tishpote amisecha.” you are also “amisecha” so judge yourself favorably as well.
Have any of you guys ever watched or participated in a Purim Shpiel?
Joey, peaceful picketing is, of course, legal. However, If patrons are aggressively accosted and harassed, not to mention if the establishment is vandalized, the action rises to the level of criminal activity. This is what the the owners wanted to avert by reaching an agreement with the Kanoim. The point is that a simple boycott by people who wouldn’t have gone to place anyway would not have been intimidating enough to the owners to force a concession from them.
Boycott wasn’t exactly what was threatened. Heck, there are plenty of businesses in Monsey that I refuse to patronize for one reason or another. What was being threatened was aggressive picketing and (perhaps) vandalism. The “accommodation” that was reached was a pay off. The protection racket is still alive and well.
You know, I sometimes think that, rather than offering chizuk and mussar to the CR, MA is really subtly mocking the feelings and ideas he offers with such seeming sincerity and, by extension, the other members of the CR that do, in fact, actually hold those views and attitudes.
Hey, MA! Maybe we should just vote for the Satan. Why settle for the lesser evil?
The fact is that Hillary getting sick on the campaign trail is not much of an issue. Nu, folks get sick once in a while and it’s not such a big deal. The big deal is Hillary’s propensity for obfuscation and her obsession with privacy that verges on paranoia. In any situation, it appears that her first instinct is to lie. She lies automatically. She lies when the truth would be to her advantage…
I’m sorry but I can’t continue. I’m feeling overheated and dehydrated.
Joey, with regard to the Titanic and similar situations, “Women and children first” makes good. biologic sense. Women and children, after all, represent the continuation of the (human) race. Men on the other hand, are expendable as one man can have many wives. Incidentally, that’s where Pharaoh messed up. If he wanted to destroy Klal Yisroel, he should have been goizer on the daughters.
RE: horseback riding. What ever happened to women’s riding skirts? They were actually pants with very full pleated legs so when a woman was standing it looked like she was wearing a full, mid-calf length skirt but since they were actually trousers it allowed her to ride astride. Actually, in some circles it was considered immodest for a woman to ride astride even in a modest riding skirt. A woman’s side saddle allowed a woman to ride while dressed in modest feminine attire.
Here’s a question for you, Joey. What constitutes Golus? Is it the lack of the Beis Hamiqdash? Were the Jews who returned to E’Y from Bavel still in golus until the B’H was built? Or is is it the in gathering of the Jewish People to E’Y? Note that Bayis Sheini did not require overt Divine intervention to build and that during the entire period of Bayis Sheini, the majority of Jews still lived in Ch’L. Is it Jewish independent rule? After centuries of vassalege successively to the New Babylonian, Persian and Selucid empires, the successful Maccabean revolt left Israel an Independent, self-governing nation. Were the Jews still in Golus? Even though the Hasmoneans were not the halachic rulers of Israel and weren’t exactly “frum” either (Alexander Yanai, arguably the most successful Hasmonian king, was famously opposed to rabbinic tradition)?
I submit that a case can be made that, even though the B’H is yet to be built, and even though the current government of the Medina is no more halachic than the Hasmoneans, the rise of an independent Jewish State on the historical, G-d given, land of Israel constitutes, at least, the prerequisites for the end of golus, may it be complete bemeirah beyameinu.
Wrong again, Joey!
The problem I see is so much halachic. It’s more a metaphysical issue. Can a person bless him (or her) self? The purpose of saying the sheva berachos is for the mevorchim to invoke berachah on the choson/kalah. By doing themselves, the choson/kalah in this case are losing the benefit of birchas hedyot (and not so hedyot).
Learning with an audio tape or CD still requires one to follow along inside. Audiobooks, novels or non-fiction, are great for long drives. I much prefer them to music CDs or listening to the radio.
Mazel Tov, CT! The untereste shura (bottom line) is that it’s your money, your daughter’s simcha, your plan is just fine and some people are gonna be offended no matter what you do.
This is what politics in the U.S. has come to: A bloviating bully or a female Richard Nixon. The evil of two lessers. I have voted in every general election since 1964, either in person of by absentee ballot, but I think I may sit this one out.
Google “Gefilte Fish Line”
My guess is that the OP’s concern is based on his (or her) belief in what the Messianic Age will be like. There are, of course, many opinions on that issue. I, myself, think that the RAMBAM’s description is the most mistabra but I’d bet that I and everyone else, whatever shita we hold, will be surprised when the Day comes, b’meheirah b’yomeinu.
Not all Yogi-isms are really from Yogi.
Not all Yogi-isms are really from Yogi.
Not all Yogi-isms are really from Yogi.
Joe, I think that’s true. Of course in 1949 I wasn’t paying much attention (I was only 6) but in the early sixties I worked for a guy who wholesaled milk and dairy products for J&J, Mehadrin and Kahal. I had occasion to be in the Kahal dairy on Flatlands Ave. Those cows never saw a pasture.
DY, Yeah, that’s about it. I expect that I’m a good deal older than you so this may not compute for you. They are the literary equivalent of Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey. The bad guys are bad and the good guys always win in the end. Good triumphs over evil, etc.
P.S. In those old TV westerns, you could always tell the good guys from the bad guys because the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys always wore black. A few summers ago I was walking to shul one Shabbos and, as is my custom in the summer, I was wearing a light colored straw hat. One of the little kids along the way asked, “Mr. Redleg, why are you wearing a white hat?” My instant response was,”because I’m a good guy.” Went right over his head.
In my youth I read a lot of Louis Lamour western books. Now, no one will ever mistake them for great literature, but the recurrent themes in the books were loyalty, honesty, protecting the poor and weak, knowing the right thing and having the courage to do it. What’s wrong with that “world view”?
Ubie, Opposing Israel on the Sinai issue or any other single issue does not constitute abandonment. Yes, the U.S. did threaten sanctions against Israel if they did not withdraw. So? that’s what I was calling ‘tough love”in my original post. The U.S. also opposes a unilateral strike on Iran by Israel and threatened to shoot down any Israeli aircraft that violated U.S. controlled airspace in Iraq while at the same time supplying Israel with the latest weapons and training, not to mention billions in aid,valuable defense contracts and having Israel’s back in the U.N. against almost the whole rest of the world. Does that also constitute abandonment?
Just because you occasionally have to punish your child does’t mean that you’re abandoning him. In many respects the modern State of Israel a child of the U.S. Tough love is still love.
You know, I wonder why a woman is considered to have the knowledge,wisdom and insight that qualifies her to council other women’s most difficult issues simply because she’s married to a Rav. It calls to mind, l’havdil, Michelle Obama being able to tell America what to feed its children by virtue of being married to the President. I’m sure that there are sensitive issues that need to be discussed between women but what makes the Rebitzen better qualified than, say, a friend for example? I guess, given enough years of OJT, the Rebitzen has seen enough problems and lived long enough to be able to give good eitze, but how could a 30 or 40 something Rebitzen possibly give eitze to a 60 year old woman in crisis?
Ubiquitin, The point of seemingly taking the arab side was specifically to show them that they needn’t rely on the Russkis. Also, Ike saw first hand the devastation in Europe qnd didn’t want to put the Russkis in a position that might precipitate global conflict. Two world wars was two too many. Just because the U.S. disagrees with an Israeli position or considers an Israeli action inimical to the U.S. interest that doesn’t constitute abandonment. Any President who put the interests of a foreign country or entity before the interests of the U.S. would justly be called a traitor.
There really isn’t that much of a problem with distributing assets among your children al pi halacha. the real difficulty is is how halacha and the laws of the State of New York deal with your wife. According to law, you cannot disinherit your wife. she is entitled to half of your estate. This is in contradistinction of what halacha allows which is only the amount stipulated in her cesubah (including any tosefta thereto.). It would be an exceptionally wise and thoughtful choson who makes some stipulation in the tosefta to hte cesubah dealing with this issue. Maybe mesadrim Kidushin ought to think about this in addition to what they usually think about .
Charlie, “pretty good” doesn’t mean perfect. Yes, his middle east policies leaned more toward the Arabs to Israel’s detriment. But Ike was elected President of the U.S, not President of Israel. His, and every other President’s job is to protect and advance the national interest of the U.S. Remember that was the hight of the Cold War. The object was to mitigate and minimize Soviet influence in the Middle East. If that meant a little tough love for Israel, that’s what had to happen.
American support for Israel has always been a problem for U.S. diplomacy. Any administration has had to walk a tight rope between support of Israel, which is not only popular in the U.S. and has some commercial and strategic value but seems to be a moral imperative to the U.S., and alienating an Arab world that holds 70% of the world’s proven oil reserves and has the spiritual leadership of a billion Muslims. It is to the everlasting credit of the U.S. that, while they may have had differences over the years, America has never abandoned Israel.
Mod, I frankly don’t recall what the edited portion contained, but that’s okay. You’re doing your job. I’m a big boy. having a post of mine edited or deleted won’t send me to rehab. But sometimes I wonder…
I think it was something about the poor quality of chicken in certain stores, can’t remember as it was way back…before our other conversations…
Yeah, I had to take the Red Cross course in CPR and the use of the AED for my work. I have to take it every year.
P.S I’m 72 years old so I don’t think I’ll be able to do that stuff on myself
There is a certain attraction to the idea of having someone from the real world as President instead of a career politician. The last non-politician President we had was Eisenhower and he did a pretty good job. During his tenure the country was prosperous, at peace and committed to social justice. I Don’t know if Trump is the same kind of guy. Even a non-politician has to know when practice politics. It’s true that he’s a successful businessman but the difference is that the boss can tell his subordinates what to do what he wants them to do and that’s that. A politician has to convince his constituents to do the same thing. A President has to rule by consensus, not by fiat (something that the current occupant of the White House is still having trouble with). My feeling that is that Trump is not the guy we need.
NB. By non-politician I mean someone who held no other elective office before being elected President. Reagan was from the real world and also did a pretty good job. Carter was from the real world and did an execrable job. Both, however, held elective office before becoming President.
C’mon, indeed. The questioner didn’t ask for the the NY Times review, he/she asked YOUR opinion.
If someone asks you for for your opinion on, say, Sam’s Grocery Store, and you answer to the effect that, “It’s OK but his produce isn’t often as fresh as it might be” that is 1) certainly l’toeles. and 2)unless you know Sam personally and have an issue with him, your only reason for commenting is to give good advice, not to stick it to Sam. That’s purity of purpose.
Note. If, in the example cited above, you had answered “…but the produce isn’t as fresh as Joe’s grocery.” that might have been a problem. Guarding your tongue doesn’t mean that you cannot be honest and objective. It means choosing your words carefully so no one can read into your words anything but what you intended and one recognize his or her motivations and act accordingly.
Like the rest of world literature, the quality of frum literature varies from as good as any to awful. Is one constrained to recommend a book just because the author, the publisher are frum, no matter what? Why can I nor, if asked, honestly say that such and such a book is poorly plotted, has characters that are one dimensional stereotypes, and is written in barely literate English?
Mod, two things. Using a pseudonym is not the same as posting anonymously and, clearly, recommending a book or advising that the content of a book might be offensive to some is not only l’toeles, it also meets the Chofetz Chaim’s requirement for purity of purpose, unless, of course, the commenter personally knows the author or the publisher. Blanket condemnations of classes of literature may be offensive but repeating common knowledge does not, in itself, constitute lashon harah. For instance, saying that Bernie Madoff is a thief cannot be l’toeles because he can’t steal anyone’s money any more, but it is common knowledge and therefore not lashon harah.
Look, I have no personal axe to grind here and I will not add my voice to the chorus making snide comments. But one must recognize that just because a comment is rude doesn’t make it assur. IYou mods have absolute authority to edit or delete anything you want but I think the edit of my post was unwarranted
DY The takana on gvinas akum is, as ypu say, separate from the takana on chalav akum. The reasoning for the takana is a six way machlokes. Only Rashi connects the the two takanas. The remaining reasons range from rennet shel Hekdash to gilui (Rabanu Tam’s shita.) The general consensus is the takana is against animal rennet from a non kosher (nevailah) animal. This is problematic as rennet form anywhere isn’t a food and is quite inedible. Nevertheless, the general practice is to follow the takana and only eat gvinas Yisroel. The existence of donkey cheese just reinforces my determination to obey the takana. Oddly, the fact that cheese made from donkey milk doesn’t have much bearing on C’Y. While other animals are milked for milk, horse milk or camel milk is even less available than donkey cheese 9except maybe camels milk in Dearborn)
The OP was asking for recommendations. Certainly recommending any particular book or author does not have any negative implications for books and authors not recommended. Also, a comment to the effect that such and such a book may have questionable content is, without question, l’toeles.
EDITED – seriously? Did you read what the Chofetz Chaim says about the criterion for considering something l’toeles? Do you think speaking anonymously in a public forum would be included?
You know, I’ve always been told that cheese can only be made from the milk of kosher animals (not “processed cheese food”). Now I read that there is a special Serbian cheese made from the milk of Balkan donkeys. At about $1000/lb, I doubt that you’ll find it in the dairy case at Shoprite but it does give added reason to be makpid on cholov and givinas Yisroel
When you speak of young people dying, how young are you talking about? 20 somethings ofr40 somethings?
Every shil and mossad should have and AED and some people trained to use it. Now, most souls have Hatzolo members and the device itslf actually tells (I.E. speaks) how to use it, but note that just having one on the wall is only part of the drill. Please remember to check the battery regularly as recommended in the I.L. that came with the machine.
I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I drink Dos XX
P.S. I’m not that interesting, really.
DM, that was the point of my post. Some folks who shall remain nameless have a rather inflated view of their place in the Cosmos. Such a view is unwarranted and they may be in for a surprise when the Bill is presented. The believe that being makpid on cholov Yisroel gives them honors points at the Heavenly Hilton. They’d better be careful that they don’t end up in the Room next to the ice machine.
Wolfie, You’re an example to us all. Folks, that’s the difference between a ba’al nefesh and a “ba’al nefesh”. May you mother’s neshama have an aliyah and may the Almighty dry the tears on every face.
Hey, Old Man! Speaking Previously Heavy Smokers, I was one. I quit 40 years ago and haven’t touched tobacco since, but I’m not bothered by other people smoking. In fact, I’m thinking of taking it up again. What’s it gonna do, kill me in thirty years?
Syag, I think Old Man is right and you are wrong. I’m even older than Old Man and my date with the Beis Din shel Ma’alah isn’t that far off. until 120 you will have the same appointment. Then we’ll find out who was right and who was wrong.
To answer your original question, there is a kiosk in Term 1, just past security that sells phones. One time I was on my way overseas and realized that I forgot to take my phone (Told you I was old). I bought a flip phone and SIM card from him for $100. The phone even had capacity for two SIM cards. Just a plain flip phone, no internet, not even email (which was a problem). You might try that.
P.S. Do you really mean racism? aren’t you Jewish like the rest of us? We didn’t even know you’re a woman. Also, You were the one who first responded angrily, not OM.
Most the responses on this thread indicate true phobia (irrational fear or loathing). Roaches are relatively clean, don’t carry any disgusting diseases and don’t bite. Why would you be afraid of them or have them gross you out? I wouldn’t want one as a pet although some folks do (if you really want to be grossed out, go to the pet shop and take a look at an Indonesian hissing cockroach. The thing is as big as your hand). If you don’y want them in your house, (and who does?) put out baits, pick ’em up and flush them.
“Just because it’s ???? doesn’t mean it’s right”. Would the opposite also be true? “Just because it’s assur doesn’t mean it’s wrong”?
Firstly, I ate squab in a kosher restaurant years ago. secondly, those off-the-street New York pigeons are probably a lot cleaner that the chickens you buy.
edited for specificity.
I often get stuck with some of your posts – should I edit, or should I just delete? Sometimes the “shtuch” is your point, sometimes you may just have a general point to make. Perhaps if you could do me a favor and leave out the “shtuch”; your strong feelings may or may not have basis, but I’m not posting them. -29
Shloimy, Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who compares 21st Century America to Sodom doesn’t know what America is like and doesn’t know what Sodom was like. Every generation since Noach has claimed that it’s generation is the worst in history. While it’s true that American society has gotten looser over the last, say, 50 years, we’re still pikers compared some earlier eras. for instance, we’re nowhere near as libertine as Elizabethan England or Classical Greece or Rome, or even present day Europe.
Every dor has temptations and challenges to deal with and overcome. America is still, by far, the most religious of all the developed nations. I’m not talking about media sensations, I’m talking about average every day Americans. Our job in this, or any other society, is not concern ourselves with what the Kardashians are up to but to simply do the Ratzon HaShem as described in Tanach, Sha’as and poskim.
Yes life may be more than three cars and vacations, but they’re okay too as long as one remembers where they come from. There is nothing wrong with taking hana’ah from Olam Hazeh, the point is to recognize and to use one’s good fortune to the service of the One from Whom all blessings flow.
P.S. I do have three cars but I don’t take vacations.