Judaism

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  • Jews And Booze - Becoming American in the Age of Prohibition - By Marni Davis - Book Review

    NYT > Jews and Judaism
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Marni Davis explores how Jews balanced assimilation with historical continuity during America’s failed “noble experiment.”

  • Jewish World War I Hero May Receive Medal of Honor

    Judaism
    10 Jan 2012 | 9:25 am
    William Shemin may finally get the award thanks to the tireless efforts of his daughter.

  • The forgotten story of Zambia's Jewish settlers

    Judaism: News & Videos about Judaism - CNN.com
    19 Jan 2012 | 9:58 am
    The city of Livingstone, in Zambia, is located just 10 kilometers from the spectacular Victoria Falls. Its proximity to the falls makes it a tourist destination, but it also boasts an almost-forgotten past as the home of one of the oldest Jewish settlements in Africa.

  • Seeking Kin: Tracing a group of refugees, from Europe to Cyprus to Palestine to East Africa

    JTA -
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:03 pm
    An Australian retiree is working to shed light on the unusual story of a group of Jewish refugees from Nazi Europe who were transported by the British from Cyprus to Palestine and then later to East Africa.

  • Rosh Chodesh - the Power of Renewal

    rabbisedley
    rabbi sedley
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:46 am
    This shiur is also based on the writings of Rav Tzadok HaCohen.The shiur is sponsored in memory of Irena bat Ilia Brezner. May her soul be bound in the bonds of Eternal Life.This week is a new beginning for my Tuesday night women's shiur - we have moved to a new home in Armon HaNetziv. Contact me for details if you would like to come.This parsha is also a new beginning - it contains the first mitzvah that was given to the Jewish people - kiddush hachodesh (sanctifying the new month).This shiur was also given on Rosh Chodesh (new month) of Shevat, which (according to Beit Shammai) is the New…
 
 
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    rabbisedley

  • Rosh Chodesh - the Power of Renewal

    rabbi sedley
    25 Jan 2012 | 9:46 am
    This shiur is also based on the writings of Rav Tzadok HaCohen.The shiur is sponsored in memory of Irena bat Ilia Brezner. May her soul be bound in the bonds of Eternal Life.This week is a new beginning for my Tuesday night women's shiur - we have moved to a new home in Armon HaNetziv. Contact me for details if you would like to come.This parsha is also a new beginning - it contains the first mitzvah that was given to the Jewish people - kiddush hachodesh (sanctifying the new month).This shiur was also given on Rosh Chodesh (new month) of Shevat, which (according to Beit Shammai) is the New…

  • VaEra - Derech Eretz

    rabbi sedley
    17 Jan 2012 | 3:27 pm
    This week (and hopefully in coming weeks) I'm using Rav Tzadok HaCohen as the basis for the shiur.The parsha begins with G-d telling Moshe that He only appeared to the Avot as E-l Shaddai, but He will appear to Moshe as YHVH.The problem is that G-d appeared many times to the Avot with the name YHVH. Furthermore, He only appeared twice with the name E-l Shaddai (and never to Yitzchak).Rav Tzadok explains that it refers to the fundamentally different relationship with G-d that the Avot had - based on Derech Eretz, compared to Moshe Rabbeinu's - based on Torah.He discusses the meanings of the…

  • Project on Aging

    rabbi sedley
    11 Jan 2012 | 1:42 am
    I have been working for TAG-Institute for the past couple of months. Tag is an organisation dedicated to promoting the broadest possible contribution of Jews and Judaism to the improvement of the world. It does this in two ways - the dissemination of knowledge of Jewish social values through Tag Institute for Jewish Social Values, and humanitarian activities through Tag International Development.The basic goal of what I have been doing is to present Jewish ideas to the non-Jewish world, to allow the 'Jewish' voice of Social Science to be heard. With over 2000 years of written history, Judaism…

  • Ninth of Tevet

    rabbi sedley
    3 Jan 2012 | 11:14 pm
    Today is the 9th of Tevet. Rabbi Dr. Shnayer Leiman has given one of the best shiurim I have ever heard on reason for the fast on this day (which nobody fasts on).You can hear the shiur (or download it) on the Yeshiva University website:http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/715371/Dr_Shnayer_Leiman/Jewish_Perspectives_on_Early_Christianity_-_Nittel,_the_Ninth_of_Teves_and_Pope_Simon_PeterThe shiur begins with a cryptic Rashi in Avoda Zara which says that the Romans have no langugage or books of their own. He then looks at the Shulchan Aruch who says that 9th Tevet is a Fast Day, but we…

  • Parshat Vayeshev - The Poor Person

    rabbi sedley
    18 Dec 2011 | 6:49 am
    I'm sorry - I forgot to put this shiur on the web last week. So you will either have to listen to last week's parsha now (I think it is still kosher if you listen before Tuesday) or you will have to wait until next year to listen to it.This shiur is fairly simple, but gives a different view of the parsha. I look at Rabbeinu Bachaye's introduction to the parsha, where he describes four categories of poor people. Then with some help from the audience (audience participation is always a good thing) we try to read these four categories of poor people back into the whole parsha, and come out with…
 
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    Rabbi Arthur Segal

  • RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: BASELESS HATRED DESTROYS TEMPLES

    24 Jan 2012 | 5:37 pm
      RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH  SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: BASELESS HATRED DESTROYS TEMPLES   Jewish  Spiritual  Renewal:      Derek  Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:     Shabbat  2/04/12     (aka  Derech  Eretz )         Shalom  my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis:     An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all.       We continue with our exploration into the Talmudic Tractates of Derek Eretz Zuta…

  • RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :BESHALACH: BLESS, DON'T KVETCH

    24 Jan 2012 | 5:36 pm
      RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :BESHALACH: BLESS, DON'T KVETCH    RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE PARASHA BESHALACH EXODUS 13:17 TO 17:16/ Tu B'Shevat CHUMASH CANDESCENCEPARASHA BESHALACHEXODUS 13:17 TO 17:16SHABBAT SHIRAH (SABBATH OF SONG)and the Holiday of Tu B'Shevat RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL   www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ )  Jewish Renewal_  www.jewishrenewal.infohttp://www.jewishrenewal.info/ )  Jewish Spiritual Renewal Jewish Spirituality Eco Judaism Hilton Head Island, SC, …

  • RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:DEREK ERETZ: EVIL EYE: AYIN HA RA

    24 Jan 2012 | 5:36 pm
      RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:DEREK ERETZ: EVIL EYE: AYIN HA RA   Jewish  Spiritual  Renewal:      Derek  Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:     Shabbat  2/04/12     (aka  Derech  Eretz )         Shalom  my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis:     An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all.       We continue with our exploration into the Talmudic Tractates of Derek Eretz Zuta and…

  • RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :TIME FOR PRAYER-TIME FOR ACTION

    24 Jan 2012 | 5:33 pm
      RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :TIME FOR PRAYER-TIME FOR ACTION    RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE PARASHA BESHALACH EXODUS 13:17 TO 17:16/ Tu B'Shevat CHUMASH CANDESCENCEPARASHA BESHALACHEXODUS 13:17 TO 17:16SHABBAT SHIRAH (SABBATH OF SONG)and the Holiday of Tu B'Shevat RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL   www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ )  Jewish Renewal_  www.jewishrenewal.infohttp://www.jewishrenewal.info/ )  Jewish Spiritual Renewal Jewish Spirituality Eco Judaism Hilton Head Island, SC, …

  • RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :JAEL TENT PEGS SISERA'S HEAD

    24 Jan 2012 | 5:31 pm
     RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :JAEL TENT PEGS SISERA'S HEAD    RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE PARASHA BESHALACH EXODUS 13:17 TO 17:16/ Tu B'Shevat CHUMASH CANDESCENCEPARASHA BESHALACHEXODUS 13:17 TO 17:16SHABBAT SHIRAH (SABBATH OF SONG)and the Holiday of Tu B'Shevat RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL   www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ )  Jewish Renewal_  www.jewishrenewal.infohttp://www.jewishrenewal.info/ )  Jewish Spiritual Renewal Jewish Spirituality Eco Judaism Hilton Head Island, SC, …
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    Cross-Currents

  • Testing Anti-Charedi Sentiment

    Yitzchok Adlerstein
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:03 am
    What happens when two very secular Israeli journalists don charedi garb, and show up in chiloni redoubts? Not very much, and it proves even less. The television journalists decide to test the contention that charedim face as much hostility from chilonim as eight year old girls in Beit Shemesh face from Sikrikim and company. They manage to elicit some bemused stares, but no violence. If anything, they are dealt with politely – but then again, they speak politely themselves. The greatest hostility evidenced is in their own mocking of charedim. Nonetheless, it is fun to watch – especially…

  • It’s a Strange World

    Yitzchok Adlerstein
    26 Jan 2012 | 1:28 am
    In more ways than one. I somehow missed this item in November when the story was first reported in the press, only to receive it today from a Muslim source. Jews and Muslims here and in Europe are part of a joint listserv monitoring threats to shechita and halal slaughter. I told you it was a strange world. In any event, it seems that changing the feed of geese to some kind of organic mixture, plus refraining from the customary practice of forced-feed fattening produces birds whose livers taste exactly like pork. Ashkenzic Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger has already given his kashrus OK to the…

  • Praying for Contemporary Captives

    Avi Shafran
    24 Jan 2012 | 8:25 am
    It was over a decade ago, in the wake of a spate of terrible terrorist attacks on Jews in Eretz Yisrael, that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah called upon Jews to recite chapters of Tehillim (they suggested chapters 83, 130, and 142) in shul after davening, followed by the short prayer “Acheinu,” a supplication to G-d to show mercy to His people. Many shuls, to their great credit, to this day still dutifully seize that special merit at the end of their services. None of us can know what dangers that collective credit may have averted, may be averting still. It occurred to me, though, that…

  • Welcome Words From a Spiritual Giant

    Yitzchok Adlerstein
    24 Jan 2012 | 1:39 am
    It has been over thirty years since I met Yaakov Katz, and I’ve regretted ever since that I have not had an opportunity to stay in touch with him. Ketzalah, as everyone calls him, is a larger-than-life figure that one can never forget. The cane he hobbled on even back then was dwarfed by his warm, engaging, constant smile. It was a reminder of his hip taking a direct hit from an Egyptian RPG in the Yom Kippur War. His elite officers-only unit of twelve men killed all seventy of the enemy in that battle. Hanging on to life by a thread, he pledged to the Ribbono Shel Olam that if He let him…

  • Shark Feeding Frenzy

    Shira Schmidt
    23 Jan 2012 | 11:56 am
    When my husband was a flight surgeon on the US Air Force base in Guam, he witnessed a feeding frenzy by sharks. Daily, a huge garbage truck would gingerly back up to the edge of a cliff, and dump the waste into the Pacific. In 40 seconds sharks made mincemeat of the garbage, leaving disposable dishes floating. In another 20 seconds those were also disposed of by sharks. If you can’t go to Guam, you can see a shark feeding frenzy on the Discovery Channel. Or you can follow the current media frenzy against haredim in Israel. Perhaps this is what Rabbi Chanina had in mind when he…
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    DOVBEAR

  • Shocking: Newt lied when he reprimanded that hapless moderator

    26 Jan 2012 | 12:58 pm
    What follows was taken from Slate and written by Josh Voorhees This story is false. Every personal friend I had in that period says the story was false. We offered several of them to ABC to prove it was false. They weren’t interested because they would like to attack any Republican. They’re attacking the governor, they’re attacking me, I’m sure they’ll get around to Sen. Santorum, and Congressman Paul. I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans." That was Newt Gingrich's memorable response last week to moderator John King after he opened the CNN…

  • The super-star of sanctimony

    26 Jan 2012 | 11:27 am
    The Daily Show with Jon StewartGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook The super-star of sanctimony is his excellence Newt Gingrich, as Jon Stewart aptly points out. (picks up at around 3.00) Curious: Is there anyone in the real, non-South Carolina world who thinks this guy is to be taken seriously? Search for more information about Newt at 4torah.com Support the pathetic annual telethon by making a donation toward the upkeep of this blog Buy one of the books that changed the way I think

  • No one could move during darkness?

    25 Jan 2012 | 11:19 am
    We famously interpret the plague of darkness as something that prevented the Egyptians from moving. "During the last three days, one who sat could not stand up, one who stood could not sit down, and one who was lying down could not rise upright."(Exodus Raba 14:3) and " It was the most complete, the most comprehensive literal suffering. It meant each man being held, chained and fasting, to the spot in which he happened to be." (Samson Raphael Hirsch)  My hunch is that this all based on a misunderstanding.  A purpose of the plagues as per God's own words was to embarrass the Egyptian…

  • Demolishing Dumb Arguments: Bray's Appeal to Authority

    24 Jan 2012 | 9:38 am
    I don't mean to pick on Bray, but his post yesterday does provide us with the opportunity to say a few things about logical reasoning. He wrote: ...the fact that the [Hasidic] movement captured the hearts and minds of such intellectual and spiritual giants as the Alteh Rebbe, the Hafloah, the Kotzker, the Rim, the Divrei Chaim, the Sfas Emes, the Bnei Yissoskhor, the Lubliner Kohen, the Khelkas Yoav, the Kozhiklover, Rav Meir Shapiro and Rav Menachem Ziemba to name but a few, belies the conventional wisdom that Besh"tian Khasidus was a grass roots movement meant to serve the…

  • Rise of the Mega-Yeshivos-

    23 Jan 2012 | 12:55 pm
    By the BRAY of FUNDIE I have never been really comfortable with the academic historical narrative about the origins of the Khasidic movement. Received wisdom always talks about the voids being addressed by the movement. The Rabbis grew remote and out-of-touch from the people. Common folk felt disenfranchised and hopeless etc. etc. Yet the fact that the movement captured the hearts and minds of such intellectual and spiritual giants as the Alteh Rebbe, the Hafloah, the Kotzker, the Rim, the Divrei Chaim, the Sfas Emes, the Bnei Yissoskhor, the Lubliner Kohen, the Khelkas Yoav, the Kozhiklover,…
 
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    Cosmic X in Jerusalem

  • Japanese Holocaust Rescuer: Sugihara 'Sempo' Chiune

    26 Jan 2012 | 10:20 am

  • Videos From the "Yerushalmi Institute" Convention

    16 Jan 2012 | 10:02 am
    I blogged about this not too long ago. Now you can be there:

  • The False Prophets

    12 Jan 2012 | 9:50 am
    Who remembers the diplomatic tsunami that we were promised last September? Nostalgia:

  • Palestinian Talmud Enthusiasts Convene

    1 Jan 2012 | 10:23 am
    Last Thursday the "Yerushalmi Institute" presented an evening of lectures devoted to the redeeming of captives. I cannot claim to be a Yerushalmi enthusiast, since I think that the only Yerushalmi tractate I ever learned was Sheqalim. However, I am a wannabe. The evening was quite interesting and I regret that I did not take notes. The first speaker was Rabbi David Bar Chaim: Rabbi Bar

  • Sexual Harassment?

    29 Dec 2011 | 10:04 am
    Things have gotten way out of hand. They really have!:An indictment was filed Thursday against Jerusalem resident Shlomo Fuchs, 44, an ultra-Orthodox man who hurled sexist slurs at a female soldier on a public bus in the capital. Police officials said Fuchs' behavior was unruly, and that he sexually harassed the soldier, Doron Matalon, by humiliating her and making sexual remarks. What did he
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    WordPress.com News

  • Chrome Users: Try the WordPress.com Extension

    Christopher Finke
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:54 pm
    Want to receive WordPress.com notifications instantly, even when you’re not on WordPress.com? Add the new WordPress.com extension for Chrome and as soon as you get a new follower or a new like on one of your posts, a notification will appear in your browser: Simply click the icon to view your latest WordPress.com notifications: Start following new blogs without visiting WordPress.com The Chrome extension also makes it easy to follow sites from your WordPress.com account by displaying a Follow button whenever you’re browsing a site that has an RSS feed. Clicking the Follow button…

  • Your Stats Have a New Home

    Andy Skelton
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:46 am
    Are you addicted to checking your site stats? You are not alone. The stats dashboard has always been one of the most popular admin screens. It’s gratifying to know that people are visiting your place online. With the WordPress.com front page evolving into a one-stop shop for posting, exploring, following and reading blogs, it seemed natural to put your blog stats there, too.  Stats are becoming more and more about interacting with your readers and other bloggers. You’ll still see your summary stats and chart on your main dashboard, and the full stats page in your dashboard will…

  • Reblogging is Back!

    Erica Johnson
    22 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pm
    As we mentioned last week, you can like and reblog posts directly from your reader, which displays a stream of all the updates published on all the blogs you follow from your WordPress.com account. We’ve also brought the reblog button back to the toolbar that appears at the top of the screen when you’re logged into WordPress.com. Note that you’ll only see the like and reblog options while you’re looking at individual posts. For example, you’ll see this on the left side of your toolbar while viewing http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/read-blogs: And your…

  • New Theme: Newsy

    Philip Arthur Moore
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:18 pm
    It’s been an extra big week in the news ’round these parts, so much so that the launch announcement of our latest premium theme seems like an extra extra good way to headline our Friday. Newsy is a versatile business and news-friendly theme that offers up to ten different layouts, four footer columns, custom link and accent colors, and a custom site header. Brand and content-focused editorial teams will love publishing with this theme. Newsy: Home Page Designed by Themify, Newsy comes with an impressive set of Theme Options that afford you a great deal of flexibility with how you…

  • Read All Your Favorite Blogs in One Place

    Erica Johnson
    19 Jan 2012 | 6:04 pm
    If you feel like it’s a chore to keep up with all your favorite blogs, you can now read posts from all the blogs you follow (even the ones that aren’t on WordPress.com!) in one convenient place on the WordPress.com home page: Your reader displays all the posts across all the blogs you follow in the order they were published, with the most recent content appearing at the top. You’ll see an excerpt of the introduction to each post, the first image in the post, and thumbnails of any other images that the post contains. You can even like and reblog WordPress.com content directly…
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    A Simple Jew

  • Identity: A Year Later

    A Simple Jew
    19 Jan 2012 | 6:39 am
    Answering the question I posed a year ago, I would now say,"I am not a chassid, but my Rebbe says that I am. That said, my Rebbe also says that he is not a chassid."

  • Do you really believe He hears you?

    A Simple Jew
    13 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm
    I have been taking a break from regular posting for the last two years in order to devote time to my book project, yet I have still been receiving numerous requests to post something over the past few months - both while I was in Uman and also during my annual visit last month to Boro Park to meet with the Sudilkover Rebbe.In response to all of these requests, I would like to share the contents of a letter I received from the Rebbe:Before Rosh Hashanah, the Sudilkover Rebbe sent out a letter containing his blessing for the new year along with a request that each person resist the urge to talk…

  • אמרי פי והגיון לבי

    A Simple Jew
    24 Jun 2011 | 5:53 am
    Hisbodedus – a practice simple to perform but difficult for me sustain for any significant period of time. Time after time, I renew my efforts to make time to incorporate it into my schedule, and time after time I end up back where I began; and the years pass with much the same result.I have read and re-read numerous books on the topic and understood that there was indeed great value in just sitting and saying the words “Ribbono shel Olam”, yet I still found it difficult to devote any significant amount of time to hisbodedus.Earlier this year, I read the following words in Shevachay…

  • First Ever Pathways Weekly Newsletter – Parshat Korach

    A Simple Jew
    24 Jun 2011 | 5:50 am
    Received via e-mail from Breslov Research Institute:The Breslov Research Institute has decided to go in a whole new direction with our weekly emails. For the first time this week we have published the new Pathways Weekly Newsletter - a weekly publication for print! This will allow you to take it along with you wherever you may be. Please feel free to place it in shuls and all other public places. We hope you enjoy.Download it here.

  • אַשְׂכִּילָה בְּדֶרֶךְ תָּמִים

    A Simple Jew
    6 Apr 2011 | 7:09 am
    I don’t know where I am in the world. All I know is how distant I feel from You, and how much damage I have done. From the time I was young until today, I’ve not had a single day I could call perfect and flawless. Even on those occasions when You helped me arose myself and start trying to serve You, I was never able to persist and keep following the path of holiness for more than a short while. Even when You have helped me, I’ve not had pity on myself. I’ve not tried to stand firm for even a single day. (Likutey Tefillos #13)
 
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    Jewish Blogmeister

  • How to Lose Weight: The Right Way

    AS
    18 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am
    Everyone has a different story when it comes to losing weight but many sound the same. You tried fad diets and just gained it all back or you exercise but nothing happens. The problem is people forget the basic science when it comes to weight loss. There is no magic to losing weight and for some it's a real challenge. The truth is when done right, it can be a lot easier. I thought if I bought a

  • Jewish Music Video: Shlock Rock

    AS
    10 Jan 2012 | 1:33 pm
    Shlock Rock's Latest Music Video filmed at Butterflake in Teaneck, New Jersey. Kosher Cake is the title cut of the new Shlock Rock album by the same name and will be released on January 30th in honor of the 25th anniversary year of the band!

  • Jewish Music Video: Shwekey Kumzits

    AS
    10 Jan 2012 | 11:58 am
    Amazing kumzits in Israel with yaakov shwekey singing one of his top songs named rachem composed by Pinky Weber took place in a yeshiva in Jerusalem choel hamoed sukkas 2011. Enjoy!  

  • IZOD COUPON: TODAY ONLY

    AS
    10 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am
    This deal was good enough to be post worthy but it's a one day sale: Click on this coupon and print it out for an extra 45% off. Not Bad!

  • Houston and the Flood: Pictures

    AS
    10 Jan 2012 | 6:45 am
    Well for those of you who aren't aware, we Housontians (that's them term for residents of Houston) got a taste of what Noah went through. There was a flash flood and it did some damage no doubt. Unlike the east coast we don't have any basements (exactly for this reason) thankfully. This picture is a view from the front of my home. In the 3 years I have lived here, this is the worst I have seen.
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    Jacob Da Jew

  • Sonograms are the new Frum Porn!

    15 Jan 2012 | 9:31 pm
    This is so messed up! I'll paste the post here as the lakewood scoop page loads really slow. Schools Ask Parents To Dispose Of Magazine Featuring Inappropriate Content This WeekJan 13 2012 11:43 am PHOTO: Schools are asking parents to dispose of a magazine they feel is inappropriate for children to be reading this week. The Magazine, Jewish World of Wonders, ‘Exploring the universe through insights of Torah’ features this week pictures of sonograms and more, which schools feel should not be available to children.At least one school today sent out an automated message asking parents to…

  • VaYigash Yehudah

    29 Dec 2011 | 9:41 pm
    As is my custom in the last 4 years, I'll be read Revii and HaMishi in this week's Parasha at my shul. Its my bar-mitzvah parasha.....I find it so appropriate on a personal level- this parasha is about confronting and overcoming challenges in life, something I've had my fair share of. VaYigash Yehudah. Take a stand. Been there, done that and it does pay off.-----------------------------------------------------------------------Its been a while since I posted. Things have changed for me, mainly that my growing family and workdemand more of my atention.Still read the various blogging…

  • Wanted: Small Fridge

    18 Jul 2011 | 6:50 pm
    Anyone have a small fridge, 33" tall or so for sale or free? I'll pick it up anywhere in Brooklyn or NYC.

  • R.I.P. Spirit

    5 Jun 2011 | 3:48 pm
    Snoopy has the scoopy. Spirit, intrepid rover on Mars,  has officially kicked the bucket.This, along with the news that NASA is wrapping up their space shuttle program, saddens me immensely. It looks likely that private industry will now be responsible for further flights into space. Its not as if NASA did a good job till now but still.I'm a huge fan of science fiction and the way things are going, looks like Ben Bova had the right idea. He posited that the major advaces into space will be from private industry. The problem with that is it becomes a 100% profit driven venture and safety…

  • Flatbush Takeout Closes!

    1 Apr 2011 | 7:36 am
    Flatbush Takeout on Coney Island Ave has closed!Such terrible news. It will sorely be missed.Many solid pieces of kugel have been enjoyed there. I will also miss Nicky, the none-Jew worker, who spoke better Yiddish than many of us and knew all the important Yortzeits. We always had a good shmooze. I have no firm details why it closed. Oy. Pomegranate got nothing on these guys.
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    Yo, Yenta!

  • No. Just…No.

    Head Yenta
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pm

  • Twelve Months of Mensch

    Head Yenta
    25 Jan 2012 | 2:35 pm
    Oh, the boys are back and they’re nicer than ever: The 2012 Nice Jewish Guys Calendar is out and ready for you to take it home, pin it up and knit it some socks. You can spend a whole year with these mensches who love their mothers and always wipe down the toilet seat. Of course all the important (and not-so-important) Jewish holidays are marked—so sweet to be reminded of Tu B’av by a smiling hipster wielding a spatula! As an added bonus, you can bring in the first three months of 2013 with some Nice Jewish Girls, either for your single brother or maybe you swing both ways;…

  • So, like, do you guys really have horns?

    Head Yenta
    19 Jan 2012 | 10:58 am
    I suppose it’s inevitable that the “Sh*t Girls Say” meme infected the Jewish world. It is not, kinehora, in the form of a wince-worthy Jersey girl spouting stereotypes in something tagged “Sh*t Jewish Girls Say” (though I’m sure it’s being produced somewhere as I write.) No, it’s in the form of “Sh*t Christians Say to Jews,” and it’s wince-worthy nonetheless: While I think the actress’ delivery is perfectly dopey, it’s obviously cribbed from “Sh*t White Girls Say to Black Girls“, but not quite as funny.

  • Imposed Yawn of the Slacker Mother

    Head Yenta
    17 Jan 2012 | 10:56 am
    Well, lookee here, it’s halfway through January and I just cleaned the menorahs. I count this is as healthy, as I tend to be rather OCD about undone chores (El Yenta Man calls it “naggy freak syndrome.”) So far in 2012, I have been experimenting with defying my natural neuroses in order to live a more relaxed, enjoyable life. So if you happen to stop by, please know that it is this honorable attempt at self-improvement and not laziness as to why there is a pile of dirty towels threatening to sprout mushrooms in the hallway. But I’ve got another source of…

  • Beit Shemesh Booty Shake

    Head Yenta
    9 Jan 2012 | 9:57 am
    As promised, the women of the beleaguered Jerusalem suburb responded to the issue of gender segregation by gettin’ all footloose on Friday to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”: Of course, a bunch of Orthodox women dancing together isn’t exactly provocative, as many bloggers have already pointed out (including 972’s Roee Ruttenberg , who called the effusive performance “antagonistic and counterproductive.” Dude needs to relax—tefillin too tight, bro?) Still, it made a statement heard ‘round the world that not all observant Jews are…
 
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    Rabbi Rachamim Pauli Drasha

  • Parsha Bo, Halacha, Gail Winston, 3 Good Shabbos Stories

    27 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am
    I reconfirmed that Dora bas Dorit still needs our prayers. Shmuel ben Esther passed away. Having trouble viewing any Hebrew then please go to www.rabbipauli.blogspot.com Barbara M. sent me this cute piece: According to the Jewish calendar, the year is 5772. According to the Chinese calendar, the year is 4708. This means that the Jews went without Chinese food for 1,064 years. This period was known as the Dark Ages!! (Courtesy of the Organization of Organized Yentas) Today is Yom HaShoah from the UN. Nobody can explain why one family member lived and the parents and siblings died or one…

  • Parsha Bo, Halacha, Gail Winston, 3 Good Shabbos Stories

    27 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am
    I reconfirmed that Dora bas Dorit still needs our prayers. Shmuel ben Esther passed away. Having trouble viewing any Hebrew then please go to www.rabbipauli.blogspot.com Barbara M. sent me this cute piece: According to the Jewish calendar, the year is 5772. According to the Chinese calendar, the year is 4708. This means that the Jews went without Chinese food for 1,064 years. This period was known as the Dark Ages!! (Courtesy of the Organization of Organized Yentas) Today is Yom HaShoah from the UN. Nobody can explain why one family member lived and the parents and siblings died or one…

  • Parsha Va'era, healing through music, halacha

    19 Jan 2012 | 2:13 pm
    Revised Prayer List: MEN: Eliezer David HaCohain ben Naomi, Asher ben Malka, Avraham ben Devorah, Zvi Yechezkel ben Leah, Aharon ben Rishol, Chaim Zev ben Faige Tova, Naphtali Moshe ben Tziporah, Shmuel ben Esther, Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Yoel ben Esther, Zev ben Rachel, Binum Benyamin Tuvia ben Chana Friedel, David Zvi ben Sara Leah, Mordechai Menachem ben Mindel, Yishai ben Leah Gizel I am asking reader’s help for information if I still need to pray for Yehonatan Pollard or Adin Steinsaltz , Adin Yisrael ben Sarah, Yehonatan ben Malka, also I have a name on my list and I am uncertain…

  • Parsha Shemos and a lot of interesting reading material or sites

    12 Jan 2012 | 2:31 pm
    As we start off a new Sefer, I would like to remind you that this Parsha can be read also on www.rabbipauli.blogspot.com From last week’s Parsha Rabbi Pinchas Winston Shlita repeated himself about the end of days and the resurrection of the dead with some new added clarification: According to the Zohar, the entire period of time allotted for Techiyas HaMeisim is between 210-214 years in advance of 6000. These are not the opinions of obscure rabbis, but of Rebbe Yehuda HaNassi, the author of the Mishnah, and Rebbe Yitzchak, a central figure of the same time period. They are, therefore,…

  • Parsha Vayehi, Halacha and Stories

    5 Jan 2012 | 1:33 pm
    Yehudis bas Sarah Rivka needs healing prayers. A big miracle for a big bunch of fools Back in my High School days my friend Bob Costa and I would philosophize and talk for hours (sorry that I did not learn Talmud and Halacha instead). One thing he told me quoting somebody else is that nobody can make a fool-proof machine or system because fools are so clever that they will figure a way to get around all fool-proof and fail-safe devices. Such was the case here. Here is what was supposed to happen and what really happened and the miracle: The engineers and technicians designing the Iron Dome…
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    Rabbi Haber's Blog

  • Kiddush Hashem in Bet Shemesh

    yhaber@torahlab.org
    16 Jan 2012 | 10:09 am
    Rabbi Haber hosted a town hall meeting on January 5th 2012 regarding the chilul hashem in Bet Shemesh. These are the ideas that came out of the meeting.In light of the recent troubling events and tensions in Beit Shemesh, and the terrible Chillul Hashem that has resulted, Rabbi Yaacov Haber, Rav of Kehillas Shivtei Yeshurun in RBS-A, invites all concerned parties, men and women, to a town hall meeting. The meeting is intended to produce constructive and positive strategies to deal with the situation. Thursday 5th January at 19:00 at Kehillas Shivtei Yeshurun (KSY) Nachal Dolev 2/1 (corner of…
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    Beyond BT - The Baal Teshuva / Baal Teshuvah site for Baalei Teshuva / Baalei Teshuvah and Other Growth Oriented Jews

  • Shushing or Talking – Which is Worse?

    Administrator
    26 Jan 2012 | 5:09 pm
    Is shushing worse than talking in Shul. Tell us what you think at ShulPolitics.com. Related items Beyond Prayer – A Fountain of Chesed Understanding Your Shul President Why You Need Shul Bylaws You’re in My Seat; BTs on the Big Bang; The BT Handbook Mini Series: On Becoming a Baal Teshuva

  • The Most Famous Ramban in Chumash – The End of Parshas Bo

    Administrator
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    The Ramban at the end of Bo is a classic work on Jewish philosophy and probably the most quoted Ramban in Chumash. It’s well worth seeing inside. Art Scroll has come out with the Ramban on Bereishis and Shemos, Bamidbar and Devarim, so if you won’t (or can’t) read it in Hebrew, consider picking up the English translation. Here is a summary: Reason for the Plagues The Ramban says that from the time of Enosh there were three types of heretics: 1) Those that didn’t believe in G-d at all; 2) Those that believed in a G-d, but didn’t believe He knew what was happening…

  • What are the Keys to Being Happy in A Community?

    Administrator
    24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Although no one is claiming their community is perfect, many BTs seem very happy in their communities. What are the keys to being happy in a community? a) Focusing on the strengths of the people and institutions b) Being involved in the community c) Understanding the communal norms d) Keeping under the radar e) Finding a good shul and/or Rabbi f) Other People who looked at this item also looked at… When the Faucet is Turned Off Too Soon Where is The Place for that Old Time Rock and Roll? Teshuva, Kiruv and BTs Advice For a BT Returning From Israel Simplicity is Wonderful but it’s…

  • Hallel’s Excellent Adventure

    Guest Contributor
    23 Jan 2012 | 9:31 pm
    Reprinted from JewishMom.com. “Umm, well, you see Morah Achinoam…” “Hallel needs to take two weeks off from school in January in order to travel to Canada to ‘discover her roots’…” A “Masa Shorashim.” That was the embarrassingly lame white lie I invented in order to justify Hallel’s upcoming two-week absence from 6th grade. But “discovering her roots,” a phrase that evokes images of Eastern European graveyards and forgotten synagogues being used as Hungarian city halls, was infinitely loftier than the true purpose of Hallel’s upcoming trip to my husband’s…

  • The Teshuva Journey: Blame the Amish!

    Michael Gros
    22 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    If you want to know Beth Rubin’s role models to becoming religious, it was the Amish. Beth* grew up in a very Jewish neighborhood of Philadelphia. Everyone that she knew was Jewish, and they all went to afternoon Hebrew school and had lavish Bar and Bar Mitzvah parties. In such a uniform community people took their Jewish identity for granted and felt no need for religious activities. However even as a young girl something gnawed at Beth’s insides. She felt that she was missing something. Beth had a deep desire for purity, truth and a meaningful life. When her Nursery School teachers in…
 
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    Jewish Wedding Info

  • Monica’s Bridal Sample Sale

    Naomi
    25 Jan 2012 | 11:47 pm
    Brooklyn’s Monica’s Bridal will hold its annual sample sale on February 14th and 15th. Up to 80% off on many dresses, shoes, veils, headpieces, and accessories. Only sale items will be shown on the sale dates. When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 11 AM – 7 PM Wednesday, February 15,... Please visit JewishWedding.Info for the full article.

  • The Wedding of Marina Leykina and Alex Braverman

    Naomi
    11 Dec 2011 | 2:19 pm
    Photos and article by Glatt & Art Photography, Brooklyn, NY. The November 6th wedding of Marina and Alex at the Jewish Center of Manhattan Beach may have seemed like an ordinary Orthodox wedding, but in truth was anything but that. The two met in February of this year at a Shabbaton for... Please visit JewishWedding.Info for the full article.

  • The Wedding Dress | Part 1

    Hannah
    8 Nov 2011 | 11:21 pm
    The feeling of amusement that accompanies flipping through old photo albums and glimpsing old styles of fashion and hair is familiar to most of us, whether the photos are of younger versions of ourselves or of our parents and grandparents. But some photos are more important than others, and every... Please visit JewishWedding.Info for the full article.

  • Wedding Woes or How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

    Esther
    11 Aug 2011 | 1:24 pm
    Guest Post by Esther K Flowers die, and food spoils, invitations are thrown away and sometimes used as a great substitute dustpan, but pictures can last forever. I didn’t care much about the minute details of my wedding. All I wanted was gorgeous pictures, because pictures would be all I... Please visit JewishWedding.Info for the full article.

  • Elements of Royalty

    Naomi
    7 Aug 2011 | 4:50 pm
    Luxurious, extravagant, and for most over the top, these multi-purpose stands created by a company based in Canada – Meravo Events, are certainly striking. The design is definitely imaginative and inventive, and for the couple that is attracted to opulence, these extraordinary, multi-function... Please visit JewishWedding.Info for the full article.
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    A Mother in Israel

  • Misdiagnosed Miscarriage: Side Effect of Good Israeli Healthcare?

    mother in israel
    21 Jan 2012 | 4:35 pm
    Please welcome Maya from How to Be Israeli for today’s guest post. About a year ago, I left an anonymous comment on this blog. In response to the disturbing story about feticide at 40 weeks, I shared myown fears about prenatal testing here in Israel. When should I call my doctor to get his confirmation of the news I’d only discovered two days before, via two faint (and very welcome!) lines on a home pregnancy test? I didn’t want to go through the roller coaster of inconclusive early ultrasounds I’d experienced during my first pregnancy, the summer before. Back then,…

  • Were the Nachalaot Parents Negligent?

    mother in israel
    18 Jan 2012 | 5:25 am
    Chana Jenny Weisberg of JewishMom.Com wrote this guest post in response to comments on this site and elsewhere criticizing the parents affected by the Nachalaot pedophilia tragedy as negligent.  When parents hear that someone else’s child has been hurt, often their first response is to blame that injured child’s parents. In fact, that is probably the most natural response when tragedy strikes, since finding someone to blame is the most effective way for us to ease our own fears. Blaming other parents allows us to tell ourselves: “This could never happen to MY child,…

  • Nachalaot Pedophilia: Yisrael Hayom Report

    mother in israel
    17 Jan 2012 | 3:18 am
    Yisrael Hayom published this article about the children of Nachlaot. The residents of Nachlaot are anxious for it to be translated into English and published, and I have done so below. See the previous article from Jerusalem Net: Nachlaot Pedophile Crisis: At Least 100 Victims When I published the first article last week, a few readers felt that the parents should be taking better care of their children. While there may have been neglect—the article mentions parents who left smaller children alone—there is simply no way for parents to prevent sexual abuse completely. Also see Chana…

  • Unusual Israeli Baby Names

    mother in israel
    8 Jan 2012 | 5:03 am
    Readers from overseas come here to find out whether a Hebrew or Israeli name they have chosen “fits” here in Israel. I think that the parents who chose the following names would have been discouraged by readers. Some of the “weird” names suggestedby readers (via Facebook) are actually common, like Nehorai, Keshet or Maytav (my daughter has 3 in her third-grade class). That’s because my readers are English speakers and tend not to connect with the trendy Israeli names. My all-time favorite unusual girl’s name is Kefira. The parents saw the feminine form of…

  • Nachlaot Pedophile Crisis: At Least 100 Victims

    mother in israel
    4 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am
    Update: The Yisrael Hayom report has additional information on the Nachalaot case. Dear readers, I was planning to write a light post today, about unusual Israeli baby names, but unfortunately that post will wait. If you are looking for inspiring, humorous posts I ask for your patience–they will come. Instead I have translated an article that is difficult to read. First, I want to let you know that Rachel of Ima2Seven published a long post about the horrifying pedophile case that rocked the neighborhood of Nachlaot in Jerusalem. Residents Jewish Mom and Mekubal have been reporting on…
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    The Nahmias Cipher Report

  • Aboriginal Anger on Australia Day

    Ayanna Nahmias
    26 Jan 2012 | 10:25 pm
    26 January 2012 – Today is Australia Day which commemorates the establishment of the first settlement at Port Jackson, now part of Sydney, in 1788. Originally, instituted for the exclusive enjoyment of the white settlers, the country has more recently tried to promote the holiday as an opportunity for Australians to come together to celebrate [...]

  • Nollywood | Bollywood

    Ayanna Nahmias
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:14 pm
    Lagos, Nigeria is one of the most populace cities in Africa. It is also the seat of the Nigerian film industry which began in 1992 and is known as Nollywood. It is the third largest film industry in the world after India‘s Bollywood and Hollywood in the U.S. Nollywood produces 2,500 films a year most [...]

  • Population Me

    Ayanna Nahmias
    21 Jan 2012 | 9:40 pm
    I first heard this song as I was driving home the day I lost my job. My position was abolished due to a ‘reduction in work force.’ I was comfortably numb as I packed the detritus of an eight year tenure into the boxes maintenance provided. I hastily bid adieu to the people with whom [...]

  • Yu Jie, Chinese Dissident | U.S. Asylum?

    Ayanna Nahmias
    16 Jan 2012 | 9:43 pm
    Yu Jie, age 38,  is a writer and Chinese dissident who was born in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Yu has been a strong proponent of freedom of speech and an active participant in China’s human rights movement. In 2006 as vice-president of the Independent Chinese PEN Center he and two other dissidents met with President George [...]

  • Inspiration for Compassionate Living

    Ayanna Nahmias
    15 Jan 2012 | 2:15 pm
    "There is only one way in which one can endure man's inhumanity to man and that is to try, in one's own life, to exemplify man's humanity to man." Alan Paton. In an effort to bring balance to our reporting for every post that we write about bad behavior, we will post another story about the good that man possesses and the manifestation of this kindness. These inspirational posts will hopefully help us to own ourselves and our actions.
 
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    Life in Israel

  • Brand New Song from MBD "Omdos Hayu Ragleinu" (video)

    Rafi G.
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:10 am
    Brand New Song from MBD "Omdos Hayu Ragleinu"

  • Quote Of The Day

    Rafi G.
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:36 am
    Quote Of The Day Our family wants to make this demonstration as a big hug to all the Chareidim who have to suffer living amongst these criminals. I hope we can help provide them with the strength to deal with the suffering which they must cause them and also empower them to fight against it by joining our cry.    --- Omri Mashiach, brother of Natalie Mashiach The family will not let the demonstration be political - nothing against the iriyah, no local politicians speaking. The title of the demonstration is "Don't let extremism kill" Tuesday - 6:00 PM - at the plaza of the Rontal and…

  • Sending Flowers From RBS To Natalie Mashiach

    Rafi G.
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:12 am
    The following message was sent to the local email list and I encourage people to participate. -- Natali Mashiach experienced the darker side of RBS a few days ago.. It's now our chance to show her we abhor this radical behaviour and we Do have a Heart! Your last opportunity to put a few Shekels in the box at Gals Flower Shop (next to Yaaleh bakery on Nahal Kishon) is Friday 11.30am. Thee bouquets will be sent to Natali in Bet Shemesh at Noon. She will be pleasantly surprised when we convey the True Loving side of our exceptionally warm community!! Dont miss out! Let's fill the…

  • The smash glass that wouldn't (video)

    Rafi G.
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:22 am
    The smash glass that wouldn't

  • Nokia ringtone during concert of classical music (video)

    Rafi G.
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:17 am
    Nokia ringtone during concert of classical music The violinist performing in the video below is clearly very talented, as well as a quick thinker.. Maybe when someone's cellphone goes off in shul the chazzan should start singing the services to the same tune...
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    Chai Life

  • Why you should support SOPA / PIPA

    Evan
    19 Jan 2012 | 9:03 am
    Source: Why you should support SOPA / PIPA

  • TGIF!

    Evan
    17 Jan 2012 | 8:00 am
    Source: TGIF!

  • SOPA / PIPA Infographic & The January 18th Blackout

    Evan
    16 Jan 2012 | 1:35 pm
    For those of you unaware of the January 18th blackout, reddit is leading the charge against SOPA/PIPA by completely blacking out the site from 8AM through 8PM on January 18th, 2012. Although Chai Life has no where near the clout and some tiny insignificant fraction of the traffic that reddit gets, I will be blacking out this site in protest during that time as well. When you visit Chai Life on this coming Wednesday, you can expect a blank page with no content and a simple link explaining why. Note: The latest news on this front is that SOPA has been indefinitely shelved in the Congress, but…

  • 2012 US Terrorist Identification Chart

    Evan
    12 Jan 2012 | 10:17 am
    Source: 2012 US Terrorist Identification Chart

  • Lawrence O’Donnell On Being A Liberal

    Evan
    6 Jan 2012 | 8:44 am
    What did liberals do that was so offensive to the Republican Party? I’ll tell you what they did. Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. What did Conservatives do? They opposed them on every one of those things, every one. So when you try to hurl that label at my feet,…
 
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    Jewish Contemplatives

  • Crying to God in the Winter- January 2012

    Jewish Hermit
    20 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am
    (photo by Sorelle White)“But they did not listen to Moses because their spirits were broken and because of the hard labour”Exodus 6:9My mother often used to say that “we should not cry to God only in the winter”. She had no patience with the idea that people might call on God only when they wanted something, nor did she approve of people turning to God only during difficult times. Perhaps God shares something of her perspective?The quoted verse from Parashat Va’eira might remind us that it is possible for hard times to be the cause of us not turning to God in prayer—and also of…

  • Poem: At the End of Bereishit - (January 2012)

    Jewish Hermit
    7 Jan 2012 | 1:28 pm
    “I wait for your salvation, O Lord”(Genesis 49:18) Sometimes we have to just get out there and do things.To be the Hand of God ourselves and make things happen.Other times we know we are just being asked to wait:-For the right moment,-For the missing piece of a jigsaw,-For the help of another human-being.At all times,-Whether we are engaged in actionor in incubation-Whether we are trying to fight our own battlesor despairing that we might never be able to enter the battle-field on account of our fear;-Whether we are doing our best to help someone we love,or just feeling frustrated that we…

  • Jacob's Angels and the House of Prayer - (December 2011)

    Jewish Hermit
    1 Dec 2011 | 4:05 pm
    Parshat Vayeitzei  opens with the story of Jacob’s dream of a ladder and its angels. It describes Jacob’s encounter with the Divine at the Place which Jacob then called the “gate” of Heaven. (Genesis 28:17). He named the place of revelation Beit El, the House of God.In one sense, this “place” is the future Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But it is also the “part” of God we might call “the Temple in Heaven”- a place of encounter and revelation which may be found in the hearts of all who seek God in humility and awe. We “go” there when we daven the liturgy, when we…

  • Treasuring the Concealed (Nov 2011)

    Jewish Hermit
    14 Nov 2011 | 1:56 pm
    Contemplatives and practical students of the Jewish mystical tradition are sometimes described as being engaged in a “spiritual-search”,the implication being that they are seekers who are engaged in a continuous process of discovery and not an elite who have somehow "arrived". A Jewish contemplative is ever engaged on a journey towards God and yet, as a Jew, he or she realises that the journey can never end. How could it when it leads to the One who is “eternally ever-present”? Such infinity is not something we can ever grasp or possess.The Jewish contemplative hopes to be granted an…

  • Clouds of Glory - Shelters of Joy (October 2011)

    Jewish Hermit
    11 Oct 2011 | 3:19 pm
    According to the text of Leviticus 23:43, the commandment to dwell in sukkot (booths/shelters) is observed:“In order that future generations will know that I made the children of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.”In the Exodus narrative itself, these booths are not mentioned. This gave rise to a Talmudic dispute in which R.Akiva’s claim (that the festival of Sukkoth refers to physical booths built in the desert) is contested by R. Eliezar, who suggests that the shelter referred to is none other than that of the “annanei kavod”…the Divine clouds of…
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    My Journey to Judaism

  • “Analysis” Part II of Hinneni Published!

    Jeisyn Murphy
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:49 pm
    “Analysis” the second vignette in Hinneni has been posted! This segment shows my interest in psychology, my secular education and shares a little about my motivation to help people. Analysis Filed under: Conversion, Documentary Tagged: Conversion, Hinneni, Judaism, Psychology, Social Sciences, Transactional analysis

  • Small Steps And Giant Leaps

    Jeisyn Murphy
    23 Jan 2012 | 11:26 pm
    There is nothing as comforting as getting information and having your questions answered. Well, nothing as comforting unless it also comes from two loving, righteous Rabbis like the ones we met with today. We felt heard and cared for. We received direction and have a clearer path to the next steps towards conversion. At least for the next foreseeable future, we’ll be traveling back and forth for classes in order to get to know the rabbi who will hopefully become our sponsoring Rabbi. We were told to continue in our observances but with some exceptions like making sure to not keep…

  • A Huge Next Step

    Jeisyn Murphy
    22 Jan 2012 | 9:56 pm
    Well, we’re on our way out of town to speak to a couple of Orthodox Rabbis about our conversion. We’re excited and a little nervous. We spoke to some friends on Skype today before we left and they were a tremendous help. Thanx guys!!! We hope that this trip will lead us to the next step in the process. My wife and I are aligned in our goals, beliefs and purpose. What we want is to get the green light to go ahead and prepare to move. My friend said it best today: waiting and not being productive is very difficult! I just want to know that we’ve been accepted as conversion…

  • Check Out “Origins” On Hinneni

    Jeisyn Murphy
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pm
    The first installment of Hinneni, a short documentary about my journey, is on the Hinneni page. Please check it out! Filed under: Documentary

  • I find your lack of faith disturbing. Darth Vader

    Jeisyn Murphy
    18 Jan 2012 | 11:32 pm
    Today I read a mashal (parable) from Rebbe Nachman. He says like this: Once, an important trader was traveling with a consignment of fine Hungarian wine. During the journey his assistant and the carriage driver said to him, “Here we are, traveling with all this wine. It’s a very hard journey – give us a little taste of the wine.” He agreed to let them have a small taste. A few days later, the assistant happened to be in a small town with some people who were drinking wine and praising it extravagantly. They said it was Hungarian. “Let me have a taste,”…
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