A positive score goes to the FBI and the DEA for disrupting a terror plot.
A negative score goes to Attorney General Holder as a congressional subpoena is imminent.
A negative score goes to Tony Bennett after his interview with Piers Morgan. - outrageous.
11 Oct 2011
Who to trust
Popping vitamins may do more harm than good, according to a new study that adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting some supplements may have health risks.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/vitamins-may-increase-womens-risk-dying-research-finds-212402256.html
There's an interesting article at Yahoo about the placebo effect and how people fool themselves into believing that certain things such as walk signal buttons work, when they actually don't.
We hate to break it to you, but big companies aren't just going to let a chilly employee crank the heat up whenever he or she pleases. But if they simply locked the thermostat or put the controls out of reach, the employees would constantly complain.
The solution: A thermostat that doesn't actually do anything but placate the chilly masses.
"In many offices the controls on the wall don't do anything," says McRaney. "Some bosses and landlords feel like they can't trust people not to fiddle with the temperature all day and thus cost them money, so they install dummy thermostats which give people the illusion of control. They work really well, as most people fool themselves into believing they feel the change."
Read full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/113610/things-you-think-work-but-actually-dont-mainst
Elevator "close doors" buttons don't actually work? Vitamins are not good for you? What should a person believe in? Hashem and the words of the Torah.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/vitamins-may-increase-womens-risk-dying-research-finds-212402256.html
There's an interesting article at Yahoo about the placebo effect and how people fool themselves into believing that certain things such as walk signal buttons work, when they actually don't.
We hate to break it to you, but big companies aren't just going to let a chilly employee crank the heat up whenever he or she pleases. But if they simply locked the thermostat or put the controls out of reach, the employees would constantly complain.
The solution: A thermostat that doesn't actually do anything but placate the chilly masses.
"In many offices the controls on the wall don't do anything," says McRaney. "Some bosses and landlords feel like they can't trust people not to fiddle with the temperature all day and thus cost them money, so they install dummy thermostats which give people the illusion of control. They work really well, as most people fool themselves into believing they feel the change."
Read full article: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/113610/things-you-think-work-but-actually-dont-mainst
Elevator "close doors" buttons don't actually work? Vitamins are not good for you? What should a person believe in? Hashem and the words of the Torah.
10 Oct 2011
Lulavim available
Israeli technological prowess went head to head against the Arab Spring, and won.
As a result, there is no shortage of date palm fronds (lulavim), one of the so-called four species observant Jews require in a ritual celebrating the holiday of Succot, or Tabernacles, that begins at sundown on Wednesday.
Read full article: http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=241201
Israel Matzav wrote about the ability to obtain lulavim.
...But the United States only needs 200,000 lulavim each year. Here in Israel, we need 700,000...
The Jewish virtual library estimates that as of 2010 there were 5,703,700 Jews living in Israel and 5,275,000 Jews living in America.
One can see that the percentage of Jews who are planning to use a lulav is much higher in Israel than in America. It's time to make aliyah.
As a result, there is no shortage of date palm fronds (lulavim), one of the so-called four species observant Jews require in a ritual celebrating the holiday of Succot, or Tabernacles, that begins at sundown on Wednesday.
Read full article: http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=241201
Israel Matzav wrote about the ability to obtain lulavim.
...But the United States only needs 200,000 lulavim each year. Here in Israel, we need 700,000...
The Jewish virtual library estimates that as of 2010 there were 5,703,700 Jews living in Israel and 5,275,000 Jews living in America.
One can see that the percentage of Jews who are planning to use a lulav is much higher in Israel than in America. It's time to make aliyah.
The power to change
JanSuzanne Krasner writes about a three day training program by "Students for Justice in Palestine" (SJP) which is to be held on Columbia University's campus from Octover 14-16.
She writes that the National Conference on Jewish Affairs is "asking for individuals to contact the Office of the President Lee Bollinger in NYC by calling (212) 854-9970, by sending a fax to (212) 854-9973, or by sending an e-mail to officeofthepresident@columbia.edu. You can also call the university's chapter of Hillel at (202) 449-6500 and voice your anger that they are not protecting Columbia's Jewish and non-Muslim students. If people make their disapproval known, they will have the power to change the situation."
Read full article: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/stealth_jihad_invades_columbia_university_again.html
Let me know if the article got you riled up enough to do something by posting a comment on my blog. Somehow, I expect that, by the end of the day, comments for this post will have remained at 0.
Yesterday, I read that Mahmoud Zahhar, a member of Hamas, "said that Palestinians in Gaza under siege and constant attacks are living much better than the refugees in Lebanon."
Where is the concern for the Palestinians in Lebanon? Are there any flotillas being organized to provide aid? Is there any action being taken on campus to highlight their plight?
She writes that the National Conference on Jewish Affairs is "asking for individuals to contact the Office of the President Lee Bollinger in NYC by calling (212) 854-9970, by sending a fax to (212) 854-9973, or by sending an e-mail to officeofthepresident@columbia.edu. You can also call the university's chapter of Hillel at (202) 449-6500 and voice your anger that they are not protecting Columbia's Jewish and non-Muslim students. If people make their disapproval known, they will have the power to change the situation."
Read full article: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/stealth_jihad_invades_columbia_university_again.html
Let me know if the article got you riled up enough to do something by posting a comment on my blog. Somehow, I expect that, by the end of the day, comments for this post will have remained at 0.
Yesterday, I read that Mahmoud Zahhar, a member of Hamas, "said that Palestinians in Gaza under siege and constant attacks are living much better than the refugees in Lebanon."
Where is the concern for the Palestinians in Lebanon? Are there any flotillas being organized to provide aid? Is there any action being taken on campus to highlight their plight?
3 Oct 2011
Off the map
Sharona Schwartz has an elucidating article at the Blaze titled In Words and on Paper, Palestinian Officials Are Wiping Israel Off the Map.
One of the comments posted begins with the words, "what this country needs is Allen West and Marco Rubio on the ticket." Click here to listen to Mr. Rubio discussing the Palestinian state a number of weeks ago.
Here's a post about the latest Nobel Prize winners.
And here's the latest press release about Ralph Steinman, who, unfortunately passed away quite recently.
One of the comments posted begins with the words, "what this country needs is Allen West and Marco Rubio on the ticket." Click here to listen to Mr. Rubio discussing the Palestinian state a number of weeks ago.
Here's a post about the latest Nobel Prize winners.
And here's the latest press release about Ralph Steinman, who, unfortunately passed away quite recently.
Between man and his fellow man
For those of you who missed this post on Yid with Lid, click here to read about an Arab massacre on a group of Jews in Tiberias 73 years ago and how the British acted by appeasing the terrorists. Note, this was before any division of Palestine.
For those of you who understand Hebrew, Chadrei Chadarim has an amazing interview with the father-in-law of Asher Plamer, the 25-year-old man who was killed with his 1-year-old son, Yonatan, when their car overturned near Hebron, after being struck by stones. Click here to read the article in Hebrew and to listen to the interview.
For those who don't understand Hebrew, in my limited time, I will try to relate some of the salient points.
Every half hour on the Sabbath my daughter turned to G-d and asked, 'Why take both? Why did not you leave me one? Why both husband and son?"
... I thank G-d that my daughter has been spared. Had she been there, she would have had no chance.
Every evening I merit to go to an evening kollel at the Cave of Machpelah. Every night I say there: our problem is between man and his fellow man.
... The wife, husband, the boss is not so forgiving. I can say the most important thing is between man and his fellow man. If we improve this thing, I'm sure that whatever happened would not have happened....There is also the matter of racism. I consider it a great thing to break down the barriers between Ashkenazim and Sephardim. My wife is Ashkenazi. My in-laws are Ashkenazi. Each one completes the other. Everybody should see the good in one another. Each community has good in it and it is necessary that one should complete the other.
The year is תשע"ב "Ayin Bet" is the numerical equivalent of the word חסד (chesed-kindness,mercy). It is also the numerical equivalent to one of the names of G-d. This year should be one of mercy for the nation of Israel. According to what is happening, this will not be simple but G-d is with us.
For those of you who understand Hebrew, Chadrei Chadarim has an amazing interview with the father-in-law of Asher Plamer, the 25-year-old man who was killed with his 1-year-old son, Yonatan, when their car overturned near Hebron, after being struck by stones. Click here to read the article in Hebrew and to listen to the interview.
For those who don't understand Hebrew, in my limited time, I will try to relate some of the salient points.
Every half hour on the Sabbath my daughter turned to G-d and asked, 'Why take both? Why did not you leave me one? Why both husband and son?"
... I thank G-d that my daughter has been spared. Had she been there, she would have had no chance.
Every evening I merit to go to an evening kollel at the Cave of Machpelah. Every night I say there: our problem is between man and his fellow man.
... The wife, husband, the boss is not so forgiving. I can say the most important thing is between man and his fellow man. If we improve this thing, I'm sure that whatever happened would not have happened....There is also the matter of racism. I consider it a great thing to break down the barriers between Ashkenazim and Sephardim. My wife is Ashkenazi. My in-laws are Ashkenazi. Each one completes the other. Everybody should see the good in one another. Each community has good in it and it is necessary that one should complete the other.
The year is תשע"ב "Ayin Bet" is the numerical equivalent of the word חסד (chesed-kindness,mercy). It is also the numerical equivalent to one of the names of G-d. This year should be one of mercy for the nation of Israel. According to what is happening, this will not be simple but G-d is with us.
2 Oct 2011
Disconnect to connect
The following is an email I received from the Jewish woman's project for Ahavas Yisrael. The first suggestion on the list is to disconnect from our cell phones, particularly apt as Rabbi Wallerstein has designated today as a day to disconnect.
The Aseres Ymei Tshuva is a special time for closeness with Hashem and truly focusing on connecting to our Creator. We all know the good feeling we have when we experience a powerful davening or have moments when we feel a deep connection with Hashem through a life's challenge, an impactful hashgacha moment or just plain emuna pshuta. We are most open to this experience when our eyes are open and we are looking for the connection. When we are distracted and too busy to see Hashem in our lives, we are more challenged in seeing how He plays a part in the framework of our lives's and often end up frustrated and confused. When we can stop ourselves before davening and remember that we are about to have a conversation with Hashem and need to block out distraction, our focus and kavana is taken to a new level and we reap true closeness and satisfaction from the relationship. The same is true with our relationships with others. When we focus on the fact that in order to establish connection and respect with others, we need to pay attention. To be able to pick up on cues and notice facial expressions such as pain, fear, or relief, we must work on eye contact which gives others the feeling that you have time for them. This is a message which conveys true caring. This week, as we focus on teshuva, let's try to disconnect from the distractions in our lives which will allow us to have better connections with Hashem and those around us.
1. Disconnect to Connect – let’s shut our cell phones for an hour and spend uninterrupted quality time with family members or friends.
2. Let’s shut our cell phone when walking in public streets and entering stores to heighten our awareness of those around us. We can now greet each other whole heartedly. We can also give our full attention and respect to cashiers and others.
3. Let’s look up from our book/newspaper/computer/blackberry/cell phone to acknowledge HUMANITY BEFORE TECHNOLOGY! Smile and greet.
4. Be the FIRST to say hello and genuinely ask that person about their well being. Patiently with sincere interest wait for their reply.
5. Introduce yourself to someone you do not know in shul, at meetings and at social gatherings. Make introductions among friends by asking “do you know each other”.
6. When you are in a conversation with someone in a public area- shul, social gatherings or Central Avenue and another acquaintance walks by- look up, acknowledge them and invite them to join your conversation and say: for example, we were just talking about….
7. Smile, greet and start a friendly conversation with a person from a different background. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much you have in common.
The Aseres Ymei Tshuva is a special time for closeness with Hashem and truly focusing on connecting to our Creator. We all know the good feeling we have when we experience a powerful davening or have moments when we feel a deep connection with Hashem through a life's challenge, an impactful hashgacha moment or just plain emuna pshuta. We are most open to this experience when our eyes are open and we are looking for the connection. When we are distracted and too busy to see Hashem in our lives, we are more challenged in seeing how He plays a part in the framework of our lives's and often end up frustrated and confused. When we can stop ourselves before davening and remember that we are about to have a conversation with Hashem and need to block out distraction, our focus and kavana is taken to a new level and we reap true closeness and satisfaction from the relationship. The same is true with our relationships with others. When we focus on the fact that in order to establish connection and respect with others, we need to pay attention. To be able to pick up on cues and notice facial expressions such as pain, fear, or relief, we must work on eye contact which gives others the feeling that you have time for them. This is a message which conveys true caring. This week, as we focus on teshuva, let's try to disconnect from the distractions in our lives which will allow us to have better connections with Hashem and those around us.
1. Disconnect to Connect – let’s shut our cell phones for an hour and spend uninterrupted quality time with family members or friends.
2. Let’s shut our cell phone when walking in public streets and entering stores to heighten our awareness of those around us. We can now greet each other whole heartedly. We can also give our full attention and respect to cashiers and others.
3. Let’s look up from our book/newspaper/computer/blackberry/cell phone to acknowledge HUMANITY BEFORE TECHNOLOGY! Smile and greet.
4. Be the FIRST to say hello and genuinely ask that person about their well being. Patiently with sincere interest wait for their reply.
5. Introduce yourself to someone you do not know in shul, at meetings and at social gatherings. Make introductions among friends by asking “do you know each other”.
6. When you are in a conversation with someone in a public area- shul, social gatherings or Central Avenue and another acquaintance walks by- look up, acknowledge them and invite them to join your conversation and say: for example, we were just talking about….
7. Smile, greet and start a friendly conversation with a person from a different background. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much you have in common.
"The" thief
In May of 2010, it was reported that, "six Torah scrolls were stolen Friday night from a synagogue in Antwerp, Belgium."
On June 17th 2010, it was reported that the Torah scrolls were on their way back, with reports of a partial ranson being paid.
Today, Chadrei Chadarim reports that one of the scrolls was sent for repairs after it had been stolen. It was returned to the synagogue recently and the shul members were planning to read from the sefer Torah during the High Holidays. In preparation, the Torah was sent to be proofread and one letter in the Torah was found to be missing.
The site reports that the letter missing in the Torah was the letter "heh" from the word "the thief".
האות החסרה בחומש שמות פרק כב' פסוק ו': "אם לא ימצא הגנב".. האות ה' במילה הגנב, לא נכתבה מעולם
A comment posted pointed out that
פסוק ו : אם יימצא הגנב ישלם שניים
The verse that was quoted in the article is actually verse 7.
Regardless, it makes for a fascinating story. I'll try to get an update of which verse it was.
UPDATE: It seems that the verse was verse 7 - "אם לא ימצא הגנב" If the thief is not found - which turned out to be the case in this story.
On June 17th 2010, it was reported that the Torah scrolls were on their way back, with reports of a partial ranson being paid.
Today, Chadrei Chadarim reports that one of the scrolls was sent for repairs after it had been stolen. It was returned to the synagogue recently and the shul members were planning to read from the sefer Torah during the High Holidays. In preparation, the Torah was sent to be proofread and one letter in the Torah was found to be missing.
The site reports that the letter missing in the Torah was the letter "heh" from the word "the thief".
האות החסרה בחומש שמות פרק כב' פסוק ו': "אם לא ימצא הגנב".. האות ה' במילה הגנב, לא נכתבה מעולם
A comment posted pointed out that
פסוק ו : אם יימצא הגנב ישלם שניים
The verse that was quoted in the article is actually verse 7.
Regardless, it makes for a fascinating story. I'll try to get an update of which verse it was.
UPDATE: It seems that the verse was verse 7 - "אם לא ימצא הגנב" If the thief is not found - which turned out to be the case in this story.
Tzom Gedaliah
Tzom Gedaliah (Fast of Gedaliah) is an annual fast day instituted by the Jewish Sages to commemorate the assassination of Gedaliah Ben Achikam, the Governor of Israel during the days of Nebuchadnetzar King of Babylonia. As a result of Gedaliah's death the final vestiges of Judean autonomy after the Babylonian conquest were destroyed, many thousands of Jews were slain, and the remaining Jews were driven into final exile.
The fast is observed on the day immediately following Rosh Hashanah, the third of Tishrei. In the Prophetic Writings this fast is called 'The Fast of the Seventh' in allusion to Tishrei, the seventh month.
Read full article: http://www.ou.org/chagim/tzomgedaliah/Default.htm
The fast is observed on the day immediately following Rosh Hashanah, the third of Tishrei. In the Prophetic Writings this fast is called 'The Fast of the Seventh' in allusion to Tishrei, the seventh month.
Read full article: http://www.ou.org/chagim/tzomgedaliah/Default.htm
1 Oct 2011
Times two
Dear New York Times editors,
I have a confession to make. I have been blogging for a couple of years and I have to admit that the financial renmuneration hasn't been good, to say the least. I would, therefore, like to apply for a postiton as a columnist at your paper. With columnists such as Thomas Friedman, Roger Cohen and Nicholas Kristof in your employ, it really behooves you to employ a Devorah, lest you be accused of being an unequal opportunity employer. If you hire me, I know the drill down pat. I would write a weekly column lamenting the deteriorating Middle East peace process, blame Israel and Netanyahu, and throw in a suitable quote from Haaretz. Of couse, I would also throw in an equivalence regarding the extremists on both sides - those who paint and those who shoot. An example would be one Thomas Friedman used in his latest editorial where he wrote about the "many unstable characters roaming around — like extremist Israeli settlers given to occasionally daubing “Muhammad is a Pig” on Muslim buildings in the West Bank and extremist Palestinians from groups like Islamic Jihad given to shooting Israeli civilians or lobbing mortars from Gaza onto Israeli towns."
On second thought, I would prefer to quote from INN and not draw equivalence between both sides of extremists. If you allow me to do so, and wish to contact me, just leave a comment on my blog.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Speaking of the New York Times, an article titled Obama Turns to Biden to Reassure Jewish Voters, and Get Them to Contribute, Too describes an incident in which a rabbi asked Vice President Joe Biden why Jonathan Pollard was still in prison.
“President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, ‘Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time,’ ” Mr. Biden said. “If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life.”
What is it about Mr. Pollard that stirs up such strong feelings?
I have a confession to make. I have been blogging for a couple of years and I have to admit that the financial renmuneration hasn't been good, to say the least. I would, therefore, like to apply for a postiton as a columnist at your paper. With columnists such as Thomas Friedman, Roger Cohen and Nicholas Kristof in your employ, it really behooves you to employ a Devorah, lest you be accused of being an unequal opportunity employer. If you hire me, I know the drill down pat. I would write a weekly column lamenting the deteriorating Middle East peace process, blame Israel and Netanyahu, and throw in a suitable quote from Haaretz. Of couse, I would also throw in an equivalence regarding the extremists on both sides - those who paint and those who shoot. An example would be one Thomas Friedman used in his latest editorial where he wrote about the "many unstable characters roaming around — like extremist Israeli settlers given to occasionally daubing “Muhammad is a Pig” on Muslim buildings in the West Bank and extremist Palestinians from groups like Islamic Jihad given to shooting Israeli civilians or lobbing mortars from Gaza onto Israeli towns."
On second thought, I would prefer to quote from INN and not draw equivalence between both sides of extremists. If you allow me to do so, and wish to contact me, just leave a comment on my blog.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Speaking of the New York Times, an article titled Obama Turns to Biden to Reassure Jewish Voters, and Get Them to Contribute, Too describes an incident in which a rabbi asked Vice President Joe Biden why Jonathan Pollard was still in prison.
“President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, ‘Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time,’ ” Mr. Biden said. “If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life.”
What is it about Mr. Pollard that stirs up such strong feelings?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)