So, who is going to be the first to draw the connection beteween a German judge's ruling on circumcision and Germany's defeat to Italy in the European Chamionship football game last night?
I have just read an article by Jack Abramoff titled Romney: Tone-deaf on Israel. Whether you agree or disagree with what he has to say, it is worthwhile reading just to improve your vocabulary. Below are three new words I learned today after reading his article.
psephologist - a sociologist who studies election trends
myrmidon - a faithful follower who carries out orders without question
scelestious - wicked, evil
I hope Dick Morris is right that the 2012 presidential election will be a Romney landslide, but like most prognosticators and psephologists, I fear we’re in for a close call.
Continue reading: http://www.wnd.com/2012/06/romney-tone-deaf-on-israel/
29 Jun 2012
Give a little
In his career, Jon Bon Jovi has jammed with many fellow millionaire rockers, but Tuesday night, he found himself on stage rocking out with billionaire investor Warren Buffett — on ukelele.
The occasion was the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, a private event in New York City that brought together philanthropists from all walks of life to discuss charitable giving. Jon was there because of the work he does through his Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, while Buffett, whose worth is estimated at $44 billion, has plans to donate 99 percent of his money to charity.
Read more: http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/2012/06/27/jon-bon-jovi-performs-ukelele-duet-with-billionaire-investor-warren-buffett/
The occasion was the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, a private event in New York City that brought together philanthropists from all walks of life to discuss charitable giving. Jon was there because of the work he does through his Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, while Buffett, whose worth is estimated at $44 billion, has plans to donate 99 percent of his money to charity.
Read more: http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/2012/06/27/jon-bon-jovi-performs-ukelele-duet-with-billionaire-investor-warren-buffett/
28 Jun 2012
FTOs
The following is an excerpt from the State Department Daily Press briefing of June 26th.
QUESTION: Yesterday, as you will recall, we had a long back and forth about the visa issued to Mr. Al-Din, the self-proclaimed member of Gama’a al-Islamiyya, the U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
...Based on the background checks that were conducted as part of his visa application and other additional information that has come to light since that time, we neither had then nor do we have now any reason to believe that this particular individual, who at the time of his application was a member of parliament, would pose a threat to the United States. So after careful review, we concluded that the appropriate procedures were followed, including a review of the claimed affiliations. So --
QUESTION: Isn’t the membership in an FTO in and of itself by U.S. law grounds for their said person’s inadmissibility to the United States?
MS. NULAND: In and of itself it is grounds for inadmissibility. However, there are also waiver procedures when it is in the U.S. national interest. I’m not going to get into the specifics of how this case was handled for all the confidentiality reasons. But as a general matter, yes, if you are a member of an FTO, you are excluded unless your admission is waived.
Read full briefing: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2012/06/194095.htm
Ryan Mauro writes about The other Eric Holder scandal.
QUESTION: Yesterday, as you will recall, we had a long back and forth about the visa issued to Mr. Al-Din, the self-proclaimed member of Gama’a al-Islamiyya, the U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
...Based on the background checks that were conducted as part of his visa application and other additional information that has come to light since that time, we neither had then nor do we have now any reason to believe that this particular individual, who at the time of his application was a member of parliament, would pose a threat to the United States. So after careful review, we concluded that the appropriate procedures were followed, including a review of the claimed affiliations. So --
QUESTION: Isn’t the membership in an FTO in and of itself by U.S. law grounds for their said person’s inadmissibility to the United States?
MS. NULAND: In and of itself it is grounds for inadmissibility. However, there are also waiver procedures when it is in the U.S. national interest. I’m not going to get into the specifics of how this case was handled for all the confidentiality reasons. But as a general matter, yes, if you are a member of an FTO, you are excluded unless your admission is waived.
Read full briefing: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2012/06/194095.htm
Ryan Mauro writes about The other Eric Holder scandal.
Without His help
Jewishmom published an excerpt ftom an interview with Eva Sandler in the Mishpacha magazine in a post titled Eva Sandler, 3 months later.
“In the months before the shooting, as a teacher I placed much emphasis in my classroom on the blessing of asher yatzar, which thanks Hashem for the healthy functioning of the human body. I don’t know why I was so focused on this blessing. But when I stood there at the scene [of the terror attack], the words of the blessing went through my head: ‘Ee efshar l’hitkayem v’laamod lifanecha, afila sha’ah echat—without your help, Hashem, it is impossible to exist before You even for one hour.’ And I realized that it is not literally an hour, but even a single moment. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Continue reading: http://jewishmom.com/2012/06/27/eva-sandler-3-months-later/
This morning I read an article titled S.C. TV Reporter Loses Her Smile after a Bell's Palsy Attack in which Mary King details how she realized that "she couldn't move the right side of her face or blink her right eye." Thankfully, she had had a remarkable recovery from Bell's Palsy.
"Really, the prayers and keeping the hope and believing in your heart that this will get better was the key," King said. "Perspective is everything."
http://news.yahoo.com/c-tv-reporter-loses-her-smile-bells-palsy-164432652--abc-news-wellness.html
I am acquainted with a number of people who had Bell's Palsy. I am sure that they pay extra attention to the prayer of "pokeach ivrim" (the blessing associated with the eyes) when they are first diagnosed and as they make their way towards recovery. But, a couple of years down the line, I think that the blessing is recited by rote and little attention is given to thanking Hashem and being cognizant that without His help, it is impossible to exist even for one hour.
“In the months before the shooting, as a teacher I placed much emphasis in my classroom on the blessing of asher yatzar, which thanks Hashem for the healthy functioning of the human body. I don’t know why I was so focused on this blessing. But when I stood there at the scene [of the terror attack], the words of the blessing went through my head: ‘Ee efshar l’hitkayem v’laamod lifanecha, afila sha’ah echat—without your help, Hashem, it is impossible to exist before You even for one hour.’ And I realized that it is not literally an hour, but even a single moment. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Continue reading: http://jewishmom.com/2012/06/27/eva-sandler-3-months-later/
This morning I read an article titled S.C. TV Reporter Loses Her Smile after a Bell's Palsy Attack in which Mary King details how she realized that "she couldn't move the right side of her face or blink her right eye." Thankfully, she had had a remarkable recovery from Bell's Palsy.
"Really, the prayers and keeping the hope and believing in your heart that this will get better was the key," King said. "Perspective is everything."
http://news.yahoo.com/c-tv-reporter-loses-her-smile-bells-palsy-164432652--abc-news-wellness.html
I am acquainted with a number of people who had Bell's Palsy. I am sure that they pay extra attention to the prayer of "pokeach ivrim" (the blessing associated with the eyes) when they are first diagnosed and as they make their way towards recovery. But, a couple of years down the line, I think that the blessing is recited by rote and little attention is given to thanking Hashem and being cognizant that without His help, it is impossible to exist even for one hour.
21 Jun 2012
Israel and wrongdoing
The North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) is seriously considering passing a resolution that would criticize Israel for its “illegal occupation” of Palestine, the latest in a long line of controversial moves coming out of one of the major battleground states President Barack Obama’s team is banking on to win re-election.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/18/nc-dems-considering-resolution-attacking-israel-for-illegal-occupation-of-palestine/#ixzz1yPALZIgb
Will this move make more or less American Jews vote Democrat this fall?
During a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, a Jewish student was told by Islamic Waqf officials to take off his kippah. The 20-year-old from London, England, was in Israel as part of a student mission. He said he was told by three separate Waqf monitors to take off the Jewish head-covering because it was offensive to them.
More Israelnews: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157075
On a different topic, Todd Gaziano has penned an interesting article titled Fast And Furious: Executive Privilege Is Illegitimate to Shield Wrongdoing.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/18/nc-dems-considering-resolution-attacking-israel-for-illegal-occupation-of-palestine/#ixzz1yPALZIgb
Will this move make more or less American Jews vote Democrat this fall?
During a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, a Jewish student was told by Islamic Waqf officials to take off his kippah. The 20-year-old from London, England, was in Israel as part of a student mission. He said he was told by three separate Waqf monitors to take off the Jewish head-covering because it was offensive to them.
More Israelnews: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157075
On a different topic, Todd Gaziano has penned an interesting article titled Fast And Furious: Executive Privilege Is Illegitimate to Shield Wrongdoing.
20 Jun 2012
Disputes
This week's parsha focuses on the dispute between Moshe Rabbeinu and Korach.
This week another dispute is playing out between the attorney general and a member of Congress.
Rep. Darrell Issa pressed ahead with a committee vote Wednesday to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, despite an eleventh-hour move by President Obama to exert executive privilege over the Fast and Furious documents at the heart of the dispute.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/20/house-republicans-tee-up-imminent-contempt-vote-against-holder/#ixzz1yMUOwWxq
Breitbart has posted a video which shows that "in 2007, then-Senator Obama thought it was important for the Bush administration to come clean and not hide behind Executive Privilege."
Click here to watch the video.
This week another dispute is playing out between the attorney general and a member of Congress.
Rep. Darrell Issa pressed ahead with a committee vote Wednesday to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, despite an eleventh-hour move by President Obama to exert executive privilege over the Fast and Furious documents at the heart of the dispute.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/20/house-republicans-tee-up-imminent-contempt-vote-against-holder/#ixzz1yMUOwWxq
Breitbart has posted a video which shows that "in 2007, then-Senator Obama thought it was important for the Bush administration to come clean and not hide behind Executive Privilege."
Click here to watch the video.
Bearing witness
In an article titled Israel Weighs Response After Attacks by Hamas, the New York Times reported, "A Palestinian toddler, 2, was killed and her older brother was injured Tuesday evening in a blast at their house, witnesses and medical officials said. Residents said an Israeli plane had fired a missile at the house."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/world/middleeast/israel-weighs-response-after-attacks-by-hamas.html
Yesterday in an article titled Toddler killed in Gaza Explosion, MaanNews reported, "Wtnesses said she was killed when militants launched a rocket close by."
The following is an excerpt from an article at MaanNews titled A Palestinian plan to attract Muslims back to Al-Aqsa.
"This is also where Judaism's two Bible-era Temples once stood, the first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC and the second leveled by the Romans in 70 AD. The Western Wall, the last remnant of the second structure, is one of the most sacred sites in Judaism."
Wow! Mashiach must be coming with such truthful reporting at MaanNews. As for the New York Times,...
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/world/middleeast/israel-weighs-response-after-attacks-by-hamas.html
Yesterday in an article titled Toddler killed in Gaza Explosion, MaanNews reported, "Wtnesses said she was killed when militants launched a rocket close by."
The following is an excerpt from an article at MaanNews titled A Palestinian plan to attract Muslims back to Al-Aqsa.
"This is also where Judaism's two Bible-era Temples once stood, the first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC and the second leveled by the Romans in 70 AD. The Western Wall, the last remnant of the second structure, is one of the most sacred sites in Judaism."
Wow! Mashiach must be coming with such truthful reporting at MaanNews. As for the New York Times,...
19 Jun 2012
Acts of kindness
The State of Connecticut is joining Jewish communities around the world in commemorating the 18th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, by proclaiming June 22, 2012 as a “Day of Goodness and Kindness.”
The trademark of Chabad, based on the guidance of the Rebbe, is belief in the inherent goodness of the world and its inhabitants. Hence, every person is worthy of attention, love, and knowledge,” reads a proclamation signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“A central tenant of the Rebbe’s teaching is the idea that every single positive act, as minor as it may seem, contributes to a better, more perfect world.”
Read full article:
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=44799
Yeranen Yaakov has translated a must read article about an act of kindness here.
And, if this is true, what are you doing to prepare?
The trademark of Chabad, based on the guidance of the Rebbe, is belief in the inherent goodness of the world and its inhabitants. Hence, every person is worthy of attention, love, and knowledge,” reads a proclamation signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“A central tenant of the Rebbe’s teaching is the idea that every single positive act, as minor as it may seem, contributes to a better, more perfect world.”
Read full article:
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=44799
Yeranen Yaakov has translated a must read article about an act of kindness here.
And, if this is true, what are you doing to prepare?
Utilizing time
Debbie Schlussel penned a moving article about her dad the other day.
It’s been almost five years since I lost my father, H.L. Schlussel, MD, to pancreatic cancer. It seems like it was yesterday. And I miss him every single day. But even though he is gone, he is with me every day in the lessons he imparted to me as a loving, caring, concerned parent. I realize every day how lucky I was to have him in my life. How lucky I was that he was around and involved in my life and my development. Today, fewer and fewer Americans are so lucky. ...Give your father a hug today and tell him how much he’s meant to you in your life. I wish I could tell my father that again, today. I’m glad I got to tell him while he was still here. I love you, Dad.
After reading the article I immediately thanked Hashem for being fortunate enough to have two loving living parents.
Last night I was walking to a restaurant in theneighborhood when I bumped into a woman in her seventies who is a remarkable example of living life to the fullest. She suddenly became a widow many years ago, she has had two knee replacements during the past couple of years and I've never heard a word of complaint from her. She told me that she would see me the next day at the shiur that she and I attend every Wednesday. I told her that I would see her in two days as tomorrow was Tuesday, not Wednesday. She looked at me in surprise. She told me that she had accomplished so much that day, between visiting sick people in the hopital etc. that she thought she had put in two days and that it was Tuesday already. She is a woman that utilizes her time to the maximum.Let's follow her example and use our time right now to go over to our parents and thank them for all they have done for us. And to those who have lost touch, isn't it time to make amends?
It’s been almost five years since I lost my father, H.L. Schlussel, MD, to pancreatic cancer. It seems like it was yesterday. And I miss him every single day. But even though he is gone, he is with me every day in the lessons he imparted to me as a loving, caring, concerned parent. I realize every day how lucky I was to have him in my life. How lucky I was that he was around and involved in my life and my development. Today, fewer and fewer Americans are so lucky. ...Give your father a hug today and tell him how much he’s meant to you in your life. I wish I could tell my father that again, today. I’m glad I got to tell him while he was still here. I love you, Dad.
After reading the article I immediately thanked Hashem for being fortunate enough to have two loving living parents.
Last night I was walking to a restaurant in theneighborhood when I bumped into a woman in her seventies who is a remarkable example of living life to the fullest. She suddenly became a widow many years ago, she has had two knee replacements during the past couple of years and I've never heard a word of complaint from her. She told me that she would see me the next day at the shiur that she and I attend every Wednesday. I told her that I would see her in two days as tomorrow was Tuesday, not Wednesday. She looked at me in surprise. She told me that she had accomplished so much that day, between visiting sick people in the hopital etc. that she thought she had put in two days and that it was Tuesday already. She is a woman that utilizes her time to the maximum.Let's follow her example and use our time right now to go over to our parents and thank them for all they have done for us. And to those who have lost touch, isn't it time to make amends?
18 Jun 2012
Ten commandments
To many he is known as the "Ten Commandments" judge who was removed from office when he refused to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments he placed in the Alabama Supreme Court. courthouse. Now Judge Roy Moore is making news again for stating that secular governments enable Sharia law.
Read full article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/secularism-leads-to-sharia-law_n_1554106.html
Yitzchok Adlerstein has penned an article titled The Ten Commandments – The Sequel.
Here is a comment by David Aharon Lindzon posted under an article about the Tenth Commandment of "You shall not covet."
It seems to me that lo Tachmod is to be understood in a different way. To illustrate:
I want a wife that is like yours does NOT violate the law of Lo tachmod.
I want your wife does violate the law of Lo Tachmod.
In a deeper sense as was explained by PT Barnum, in The Art of Money Getting, the big sin is in 'the obsession to keep up with the 'Jonses'
Your neighbour buys a new leather sofa so you gotta buy one too. If you didn't see it in their home you would not consider buying it in the first place.
You get a raise. so you buy a new sofa, but that doesn't match so you gotta buy matching chairs ... then you gotta paint up the room to match... then you gotta redo the whole house or even move to a bigger house...ALL because of that first desire to copy your neighbours. She wears a mink stole. You gotta wear a Fur equal to her.
The Torah is reaching deep into your heart and thought to teach us how to live by not looking at everyone's else's things and letting it become an obsession.
Read full article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/secularism-leads-to-sharia-law_n_1554106.html
Yitzchok Adlerstein has penned an article titled The Ten Commandments – The Sequel.
Here is a comment by David Aharon Lindzon posted under an article about the Tenth Commandment of "You shall not covet."
It seems to me that lo Tachmod is to be understood in a different way. To illustrate:
I want a wife that is like yours does NOT violate the law of Lo tachmod.
I want your wife does violate the law of Lo Tachmod.
In a deeper sense as was explained by PT Barnum, in The Art of Money Getting, the big sin is in 'the obsession to keep up with the 'Jonses'
Your neighbour buys a new leather sofa so you gotta buy one too. If you didn't see it in their home you would not consider buying it in the first place.
You get a raise. so you buy a new sofa, but that doesn't match so you gotta buy matching chairs ... then you gotta paint up the room to match... then you gotta redo the whole house or even move to a bigger house...ALL because of that first desire to copy your neighbours. She wears a mink stole. You gotta wear a Fur equal to her.
The Torah is reaching deep into your heart and thought to teach us how to live by not looking at everyone's else's things and letting it become an obsession.
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