Wishing you a good Chodesh.
Below are a few salient points about Rosh Chodesh Shevat.
On the first of the month, Moshe, inspired by prophecy from G-d, began to recite the words of the Book of Devarim to Israel.
..For thirty-seven days, Moshe spoke these words to all Israel. He began the first of Shevat and ended the seventh of Adar.
...The later Sages have, therefore, said that the first of Shevat is comparable to the day of the giving of the Torah.
...Because the period of transmission of the Book of Devarim was this thirty-seven day interval, all the days from the first of Shevat until the seventh of Adar are especially well suited for renewed inspiration in the study of Torah and the doing of Mitzvot.
Continue reading: http://www.ou.org/chagim/roshchodesh/shevat/default.htm
25 Jan 2012
24 Jan 2012
His last words
Jonathan S. Tobin has written an article titled “I Am Jewish” — Remembering Daniel Pearl as the 10th anniversary of the journalist's kidnapping approaches this week.
But though this anniversary is a sad one, his last words must also serve as a reassurance the Islamists who murdered him will not prevail. Though an Islamist winter has followed the Arab spring, the words “I am Jewish” resonate today as the cry of a Jewish people who will not perish.
Read full article: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/01/24/daniel-pearl-jewish-al-qaeda/#more-781851
In the video below, the menorah that belonged to Daniel Pearl's great-grandfather is kindled at a White House Chanukah lighting ceremony in 2007 with Geroge W. Bush and the Pearls in attendance.
But though this anniversary is a sad one, his last words must also serve as a reassurance the Islamists who murdered him will not prevail. Though an Islamist winter has followed the Arab spring, the words “I am Jewish” resonate today as the cry of a Jewish people who will not perish.
Read full article: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/01/24/daniel-pearl-jewish-al-qaeda/#more-781851
In the video below, the menorah that belonged to Daniel Pearl's great-grandfather is kindled at a White House Chanukah lighting ceremony in 2007 with Geroge W. Bush and the Pearls in attendance.
Interrupting ringtones
A number of days ago, it was reported that the New York Philharmonic's music director interrupted a performance due to a ringing cellphone.
It’s the dreaded sound at any live performance — a ringing cellphone.
That’s what happened Tuesday night at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall during the final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Ninth Symphony by the New York Philharmonic. Maestro Alan Gilbert was forced to stop the orchestra until the phone was silenced.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20120112/ENT/120119809
This morning, I caught an article in the Huffington Post about a Slovakian violist who incorporated a cell phone ringtone into his recital after he was interrupted while playing. The description section of the YouTube video states that the concert took place at the Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Presov Slovakia.
The following is an excerpt from the article.
"This video of Slovakian violist Lukas Kmit improvising around Nokia's signature ringtone is so good, many have thought it was a sly piece of advertising for the Finnish telecommunications giant. But, as it turns out, it's 100% the real deal, with the classical fiddler - our term - interrupted mid-performance by an inconsiderant mobile phone owner before taking the tune and playing it on the violin himself. "
Can someone kindly post a comment as to when 'inconsiderant' became part of the English language? Thanks, in advance.
UPDATE: Inconsiderant has been corrected to inconsiderate.
I will never forget how I attended a lecture given by a distinguished speaker who asked, at the onset of her lecture, for cellphones to be turned off. Sure enough, she was interrupted by a cellphone a few minutes into the lecture. Once again, she asked that cellphones be turned off. A few minutes later, there was another interruption.
So let's be more considerate and SHUT OFF our cellphones.
Hamodia recently had a letter from a reader aboout how his son came home from school saying how much the rebbe loved his cellphone as he was always on it during recess when his responsibility was to be watching over the boys playing in the yard.
It’s the dreaded sound at any live performance — a ringing cellphone.
That’s what happened Tuesday night at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall during the final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Ninth Symphony by the New York Philharmonic. Maestro Alan Gilbert was forced to stop the orchestra until the phone was silenced.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20120112/ENT/120119809
This morning, I caught an article in the Huffington Post about a Slovakian violist who incorporated a cell phone ringtone into his recital after he was interrupted while playing. The description section of the YouTube video states that the concert took place at the Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Presov Slovakia.
The following is an excerpt from the article.
"This video of Slovakian violist Lukas Kmit improvising around Nokia's signature ringtone is so good, many have thought it was a sly piece of advertising for the Finnish telecommunications giant. But, as it turns out, it's 100% the real deal, with the classical fiddler - our term - interrupted mid-performance by an inconsiderant mobile phone owner before taking the tune and playing it on the violin himself. "
Can someone kindly post a comment as to when 'inconsiderant' became part of the English language? Thanks, in advance.
UPDATE: Inconsiderant has been corrected to inconsiderate.
I will never forget how I attended a lecture given by a distinguished speaker who asked, at the onset of her lecture, for cellphones to be turned off. Sure enough, she was interrupted by a cellphone a few minutes into the lecture. Once again, she asked that cellphones be turned off. A few minutes later, there was another interruption.
So let's be more considerate and SHUT OFF our cellphones.
Hamodia recently had a letter from a reader aboout how his son came home from school saying how much the rebbe loved his cellphone as he was always on it during recess when his responsibility was to be watching over the boys playing in the yard.
23 Jan 2012
Thank you, CAMERA
Chadrei Charedim has published a list of venues for an atzeret tefilah for the eldest son of Rav Ovadia Yosef which will take place tomorrow, Erev Rosh Chodesh Shevat. May Rabbi Yaakov Yosef merit a refuah sheleima.
On another topic, I want to thank Camera for its tremendous work in trying to ensure honest reporting in the media.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter misrepresented a key Middle East issue yet again, this time in a Cable News Network (CNN) appearance. He has done this often in the past regarding Israel (examples – here and here). This time the ex-President erroneously blamed Israel for the flight of Palestinian Arab Christians from “Palestine.”
Read full article from Camera at: http://blog.camera.org/archives/2012/01/jimmy_carter_puts_foot_in_mout_1.html
Click here to read CAMERA Prompts LA Times Correction on Haredim.
Speaking of the L.A. Times; Lauri Regan has penned an article titled
A GOP Candidate's Bitter Ex-Wife Receives More Coverage Than a Video of Obama Dining with Terrorist-Supporters.
In April 2010, Roger L. Simon published an article on PajamasMedia entitled, "Why is the L.A. Times Burying the Obama/Khalidi Tape?" Of further consequence is why the media -- and Americans -- are not demanding that the L.A. Times immediately release the tape.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/01/a_gop_candidates_bitter_ex-wife_receives_more_coverage_than_a_video_of_obama_dining_with_terrorist_s.html#ixzz1kJjojT8M
The L.A. Times should have released the tape years ago and should certainly do so ASAP. Can you imagine what power a person can wield and what someone can do with a video in his possession which may reflect negatively on an elected official?
On another topic, I want to thank Camera for its tremendous work in trying to ensure honest reporting in the media.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter misrepresented a key Middle East issue yet again, this time in a Cable News Network (CNN) appearance. He has done this often in the past regarding Israel (examples – here and here). This time the ex-President erroneously blamed Israel for the flight of Palestinian Arab Christians from “Palestine.”
Read full article from Camera at: http://blog.camera.org/archives/2012/01/jimmy_carter_puts_foot_in_mout_1.html
Click here to read CAMERA Prompts LA Times Correction on Haredim.
Speaking of the L.A. Times; Lauri Regan has penned an article titled
A GOP Candidate's Bitter Ex-Wife Receives More Coverage Than a Video of Obama Dining with Terrorist-Supporters.
In April 2010, Roger L. Simon published an article on PajamasMedia entitled, "Why is the L.A. Times Burying the Obama/Khalidi Tape?" Of further consequence is why the media -- and Americans -- are not demanding that the L.A. Times immediately release the tape.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/01/a_gop_candidates_bitter_ex-wife_receives_more_coverage_than_a_video_of_obama_dining_with_terrorist_s.html#ixzz1kJjojT8M
The L.A. Times should have released the tape years ago and should certainly do so ASAP. Can you imagine what power a person can wield and what someone can do with a video in his possession which may reflect negatively on an elected official?
The siyum
Approximately one year ago, the members of the shul where my husband davens decided to take upon themselves to learn mishnayot leilui nishmat a rebbe who had passed away many years before. The idea was for the members to complete the entire mishnayot within the year and have a siyum dinner the day of the rebbe's yahrzheit.
Someone signed my husband up for one of the more difficult masekhet mishnayot. Since then, my husband assiduously reviewed the masekhet every Friday evening after our meal, as well as after the Sabbath noon meal. Two weeks ago, he finally completed the masekhet.
This evening, the shul will be marking the yarzheit with a siyum dinner. As I woke up this morning, I contemplated what made my husband follow through on the undertaking. Surely, he is a man of integrity and tries to fulfill what he promises. But, it is more than that. Even if no one in shul would be any the wiser if my husband hadn't completed the masekhet, the One Above would have known. We live with the knowledge that we are accountable to Hashem each and every day.
As the members of the shul joyfully celebrate accomplishing a momentous task, I hope they will undertake a new goal for the coming year.
Someone signed my husband up for one of the more difficult masekhet mishnayot. Since then, my husband assiduously reviewed the masekhet every Friday evening after our meal, as well as after the Sabbath noon meal. Two weeks ago, he finally completed the masekhet.
This evening, the shul will be marking the yarzheit with a siyum dinner. As I woke up this morning, I contemplated what made my husband follow through on the undertaking. Surely, he is a man of integrity and tries to fulfill what he promises. But, it is more than that. Even if no one in shul would be any the wiser if my husband hadn't completed the masekhet, the One Above would have known. We live with the knowledge that we are accountable to Hashem each and every day.
As the members of the shul joyfully celebrate accomplishing a momentous task, I hope they will undertake a new goal for the coming year.
22 Jan 2012
The first deed of the day
Rav Moshe Leib Sassov says that if a person wants to make sure his day is one filled with Avodas Hashem and avoid aveiros, he should try to make sure his first deed is a good one. Since Mitzva Goreres Mitzva, once you have the first mitzva under your belt, the law of this mishna says that it should continue, as you are already propelled in the right direction. This is Mirumaz in the pasuk (Bo 13:2), "Kadesh Li Kol Bichor", the first action should be designated for Hashem.
However a person may still worry that his first mitzva may not be done wholeheartedly and therefore this plan will not help. Therefore he says, have rachmanus on another Jew. Even if your intention is not pure, the mitzva will still stand tall as you have helped another Jew regardless. This is Mirumaz in the next words, "Peter Kol" to patur yourself from all worries, "Rechem" have rachmanus on a Jew.
Even with this a person may be concerned that the Jew he helped, is not worthy and therefore his mercy was misplaced and not considered a Mitzva. To this says Rav Moshe Leib, we only need to continue the next words of the Pasuk, "BaAdam U'Babiheima" whether he was a worthy man or an animal and not worthy of kindness, "Li", Hashem says, leave that to Me. You will get your S'char either way.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=4907
However a person may still worry that his first mitzva may not be done wholeheartedly and therefore this plan will not help. Therefore he says, have rachmanus on another Jew. Even if your intention is not pure, the mitzva will still stand tall as you have helped another Jew regardless. This is Mirumaz in the next words, "Peter Kol" to patur yourself from all worries, "Rechem" have rachmanus on a Jew.
Even with this a person may be concerned that the Jew he helped, is not worthy and therefore his mercy was misplaced and not considered a Mitzva. To this says Rav Moshe Leib, we only need to continue the next words of the Pasuk, "BaAdam U'Babiheima" whether he was a worthy man or an animal and not worthy of kindness, "Li", Hashem says, leave that to Me. You will get your S'char either way.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=4907
At the New York Times
David Gerstman has penned an article titled Helping the NY Times Become ‘Truth Vigilantes’ at PJMedia.
In general, when the Times reports on Israeli violence against Palestinians, it seems that any charge made by the Palestinians is worth reporting without skepticism. Similarly, the Times accepts nearly every claim made by Palestinian leadership at face value.
Read full article: http://pjmedia.com/blog/helping-the-ny-times-become-truth-vigilantes/#comments
Dov Linzer has wrote an op-ed a few days ago in the New York Times in which he attempts to define the term modesty according to the teachings of Jewish tradition.
Jewish tradition teaches men and women alike that they should be modest in their dress. But modesty is not defined by, or even primarily about, how much of one’s body is covered. It is about comportment and behavior. It is about recognizing that one need not be the center of attention. It is about embodying the prophet Micah’s call for modesty: learning “to walk humbly with your God.”
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/opinion/ultra-orthodox-jews-and-the-modesty-fight.html
I disagree. While modesty is also defined by comportment and behavior, how one dresses is also an integral part of the term.
In general, when the Times reports on Israeli violence against Palestinians, it seems that any charge made by the Palestinians is worth reporting without skepticism. Similarly, the Times accepts nearly every claim made by Palestinian leadership at face value.
Read full article: http://pjmedia.com/blog/helping-the-ny-times-become-truth-vigilantes/#comments
Dov Linzer has wrote an op-ed a few days ago in the New York Times in which he attempts to define the term modesty according to the teachings of Jewish tradition.
Jewish tradition teaches men and women alike that they should be modest in their dress. But modesty is not defined by, or even primarily about, how much of one’s body is covered. It is about comportment and behavior. It is about recognizing that one need not be the center of attention. It is about embodying the prophet Micah’s call for modesty: learning “to walk humbly with your God.”
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/opinion/ultra-orthodox-jews-and-the-modesty-fight.html
I disagree. While modesty is also defined by comportment and behavior, how one dresses is also an integral part of the term.
12 Jan 2012
Irresponsible words
Whether he made anti-Semitic remarks or not, I leave that to you to be the judge but it pays to heed his message of not using words irresponsibly.
A suburban Cleveland church where the father of pop star Katy Perry delivered a sermon that drew accusations of anti-Semitism has released an apology in which he says he regrets his "hurtful and ugly language."
...In his apology, Hudson says that with the help of God, he won't again make such comments.
"We can do lots of harm even to those we love simply by using words irresponsibly. ... I apologize for the hurt that I caused my Jewish friends," he said.
Read full article: http://news.yahoo.com/perrys-father-apologizes-remarks-jews-234138039.html
A suburban Cleveland church where the father of pop star Katy Perry delivered a sermon that drew accusations of anti-Semitism has released an apology in which he says he regrets his "hurtful and ugly language."
...In his apology, Hudson says that with the help of God, he won't again make such comments.
"We can do lots of harm even to those we love simply by using words irresponsibly. ... I apologize for the hurt that I caused my Jewish friends," he said.
Read full article: http://news.yahoo.com/perrys-father-apologizes-remarks-jews-234138039.html
11 Jan 2012
Good manners
Yesterday I made up to meet a friend in front of a house where an engagement party was taking place. As I arrived early, I prepared to wait. A woman in her seventies was standing outside, waiting for her husband to emerge from the house. She had already wished her mazal tov to the family and had expected her husband to be outside. We started conversing and she remarked about how impressed the chsson's family was with the unity in the town and how everyone had come out on a wintry night to give best wishes to the couple.
A few minutes later, my friend arrived and I excused myself. We stood outside, conversing, while the woman I had spoken to went to investigate her husband's whereabouts. When she emerged with her husband, she came over to me, a woman years her junior, and thanked me for the pleasure of my company.
I was flabbergasted by her wonderful manners and lamented how today's generation needs to learn from the one that preceded it.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband was asked by a young man to pass him a siddur. After he passed the man the siddur, he expected to be thanked. THe man didn't say a word. My husband berated him.
"Aren't you going to say thank you?"
"For what?" the man answered. "It wasn't your siddur."
My husband responded, "does it cost you anything to say thank you?"
The man turned to him angrily and said, "you should thank me."
That was the end of the discussion. But I can't help wondering if the man had grown up in the environment of the elderly lady and her husband, whether he would have had better manners.
A few minutes later, my friend arrived and I excused myself. We stood outside, conversing, while the woman I had spoken to went to investigate her husband's whereabouts. When she emerged with her husband, she came over to me, a woman years her junior, and thanked me for the pleasure of my company.
I was flabbergasted by her wonderful manners and lamented how today's generation needs to learn from the one that preceded it.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband was asked by a young man to pass him a siddur. After he passed the man the siddur, he expected to be thanked. THe man didn't say a word. My husband berated him.
"Aren't you going to say thank you?"
"For what?" the man answered. "It wasn't your siddur."
My husband responded, "does it cost you anything to say thank you?"
The man turned to him angrily and said, "you should thank me."
That was the end of the discussion. But I can't help wondering if the man had grown up in the environment of the elderly lady and her husband, whether he would have had better manners.
An insurance scam
Police have told community leaders that car firebombings that rattled a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn were probably an insurance scam, and not a hate crime, the Daily News has learned.
Vandals on Nov. 11 torched three cars in Midwood, tried to set a fourth afire and scrawled messages of hate — swastikas, KKK and “f--- the Jews” — on a nearby van and benches.
...But police sources said investigators now believe the graffiti was probably scrawled in a ruse to make the firebombings look like an act of hate.
“We’re investigating the possibility that some of the evidence was manufactured to make this look like a bias crime,’’ one source said.
Another source said investigators are “pretty certain” the cars were torched so someone could collect insurance money.
“We don’t think it’s about hating Jews,’’ the second source said.
Read full article: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hate-firebombings-insurance-scam-cops-article-1.1004283
And speaking about scams, here is one about a teacher who tried to scam the system.
Her spelling was so atrocious, it was downright criminal.
A veteran Manhattan educator was busted for allegedly forging a jury-duty letter with so many errors that it raised red flags when she used it to excuse more than a dozen school absences.
Mona Lisa Tello, 60, a bilingual-science teacher at the HS of Graphic Communication Arts in Hell’s Kitchen, was arrested this week on three felony counts of forgery related to her grade-A screw-up.
Tello channeled an errant third-grader rather than a 13-year teaching veteran when she misspelled “trial” as “trail,” “cited” as “sited,” and “manager” as “manger” in a careless note on fake letterhead from Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bad_spell_gets_teach_busted_bvwZ277lq6ERyPkCDFtXrJ#ixzz1j9E3HMkL
Vandals on Nov. 11 torched three cars in Midwood, tried to set a fourth afire and scrawled messages of hate — swastikas, KKK and “f--- the Jews” — on a nearby van and benches.
...But police sources said investigators now believe the graffiti was probably scrawled in a ruse to make the firebombings look like an act of hate.
“We’re investigating the possibility that some of the evidence was manufactured to make this look like a bias crime,’’ one source said.
Another source said investigators are “pretty certain” the cars were torched so someone could collect insurance money.
“We don’t think it’s about hating Jews,’’ the second source said.
Read full article: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hate-firebombings-insurance-scam-cops-article-1.1004283
And speaking about scams, here is one about a teacher who tried to scam the system.
Her spelling was so atrocious, it was downright criminal.
A veteran Manhattan educator was busted for allegedly forging a jury-duty letter with so many errors that it raised red flags when she used it to excuse more than a dozen school absences.
Mona Lisa Tello, 60, a bilingual-science teacher at the HS of Graphic Communication Arts in Hell’s Kitchen, was arrested this week on three felony counts of forgery related to her grade-A screw-up.
Tello channeled an errant third-grader rather than a 13-year teaching veteran when she misspelled “trial” as “trail,” “cited” as “sited,” and “manager” as “manger” in a careless note on fake letterhead from Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey City.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bad_spell_gets_teach_busted_bvwZ277lq6ERyPkCDFtXrJ#ixzz1j9E3HMkL
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