Below is an excerpt from an article published on December 19, 2011.
Last Thursday, the White House honored Brooklyn activist, Linda Sarsour, and nine others with the Champion for Change Award for their advocacy work in their communities.
...The Champion of Change Award, which is part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative, is one of number of awards that Sarsour has received which includes the Brooklyn Do-Gooder Award from the Brooklyn Community Foundation.
http://www.illumemagazine.com/zine/articleDetail.php?White-House-Honors-Arab-American-Activist-Linda-Sarsour-13890
Today IPT reported that Ms. Sansour tweeted, "Nothing is creepier than Zionism. Challenge racism."
Click here to read full article.
Seems to be a depressing news day. I just finished watching a video on CoolJew about a rabbi's house which was destroyed in Long Beach. May he and all the others who were hit hard by the storm get help in a speedy manner.
18 people busted for looting at Key Food in Coney Island
A St. Albans, Queens man has been charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon after he attempted to cut a line at a gas station and pointed a pistol at another motorist who complained.
Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/19980450/arrests-made-in-post-storm-incidents#ixzz2B1R4zyiu
2 Nov 2012
1 Nov 2012
The rainbow
Con Ed said today it’ll take until the weekend of Nov. 10 to restore power to a “vast majority” of its customers.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/power_restored_to_con_ed_customers_VVVuQ58feKcmiXaPo6w1dO
What about electronic voting in those areas on November 6?????
Double Rainbow Over Manhattan After Sunday Storm (PHOTOS)
A question posed about a rainbow brought about an interesting discussion at judaism.stackexchange. Below is an excerpt.
There is a popular idea that seeing a rainbow is a bad sign, as if the world is deserving of a deluge (c"v) and the only reason Hashem does not do so is because of His promise. Is there any source for this? And if so, how does that square with the fact that rainbows are a natural occurrence caused by the refraction of light (as noted by Ramban in Parshas Noach 9:12)?
•The Midrash (Bereshit Rabba 35:2) tells us that there were two generations that did not see a rainbow. Rashi (Ketuvot 77B) explains that when the generation has leaders who are perfectly righteous, the generation does not need a rainbow so that G-d can remind himself not to destroy the world.
http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/10065/rainbow-as-a-bad-omen
R' Pinchas Eliyahu Horowitz of Vilna z"l (19th cent.) writes: There is no reason why parties who wish to make a sign between themselves cannot choose an existing natural object to be that sign. Something is a "sign" because people decide to treat it as such. There are three reasons why a rainbow is a fitting sign that G-d will not bring another flood:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/power_restored_to_con_ed_customers_VVVuQ58feKcmiXaPo6w1dO
What about electronic voting in those areas on November 6?????
Double Rainbow Over Manhattan After Sunday Storm (PHOTOS)
A question posed about a rainbow brought about an interesting discussion at judaism.stackexchange. Below is an excerpt.
There is a popular idea that seeing a rainbow is a bad sign, as if the world is deserving of a deluge (c"v) and the only reason Hashem does not do so is because of His promise. Is there any source for this? And if so, how does that square with the fact that rainbows are a natural occurrence caused by the refraction of light (as noted by Ramban in Parshas Noach 9:12)?
•The Midrash (Bereshit Rabba 35:2) tells us that there were two generations that did not see a rainbow. Rashi (Ketuvot 77B) explains that when the generation has leaders who are perfectly righteous, the generation does not need a rainbow so that G-d can remind himself not to destroy the world.
http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/10065/rainbow-as-a-bad-omen
R' Pinchas Eliyahu Horowitz of Vilna z"l (19th cent.) writes: There is no reason why parties who wish to make a sign between themselves cannot choose an existing natural object to be that sign. Something is a "sign" because people decide to treat it as such. There are three reasons why a rainbow is a fitting sign that G-d will not bring another flood:
- Since the rainbow appears near the end of the rain, it reminds us that G-d will soon stop the rain because of His kindness, even if we are not deserving.
- The rainbow represents G-d's glory, as it is written (Yechezkel 1:28), "Like the appearance of a bow that would be in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of brilliance all around. That was the appearance of the glory of Hashem." A king does not show his glory when he is angry.
- The rainbow represents a warrior's (G-d's) bow turned away from the enemy (man), showing that the battle is over. (Sefer Haberit, Part I, Essay 10, Ch. 12)
Suffering
Those living in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, please check whether the eruv in your neighborhood will be operational on Shabbat.
Yesterday I spent some time with a friend of mine who is on a high spiritual level. There is no internet in her home and I happened to bring up an article I had read on the internet by a rabbi who had written about the hurricane. I told her that I didn't agree with something that he wrote and she asked me why I bothered to read his articles. She told me that just as Guardian readers get a skewed view on Israel after they read article upon article containing anti-Israel bias, so too, will I be affected by reading articles which contain distorted views.
Later that evening I was quite upset to read another article by the same individual in which he wrote about the hurricane and where personal responsibility was dismissed in terms of why bad things happen.
So, for those who read the article, click here to listen to Rabbi Eliezer Lerner's lecture which is titled Yisurim Shel Ahava: A Glimpse into the Meaning of Suffering in order to get an additional view.
Yesterday I spent some time with a friend of mine who is on a high spiritual level. There is no internet in her home and I happened to bring up an article I had read on the internet by a rabbi who had written about the hurricane. I told her that I didn't agree with something that he wrote and she asked me why I bothered to read his articles. She told me that just as Guardian readers get a skewed view on Israel after they read article upon article containing anti-Israel bias, so too, will I be affected by reading articles which contain distorted views.
Later that evening I was quite upset to read another article by the same individual in which he wrote about the hurricane and where personal responsibility was dismissed in terms of why bad things happen.
So, for those who read the article, click here to listen to Rabbi Eliezer Lerner's lecture which is titled Yisurim Shel Ahava: A Glimpse into the Meaning of Suffering in order to get an additional view.
25 Oct 2012
The monarch's accountability
Samuel 1 15
26 And Samuel said unto Saul: 'I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.'
Samuel II 12
13 And David said unto Nathan: 'I have sinned against the LORD.'
Two Spanish courts have rejected demands that King Juan Carlos take a paternity test to prove that he is the father of two extramarital children, according to two rulings seen by AFP.
26 And Samuel said unto Saul: 'I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.'
Samuel II 12
13 And David said unto Nathan: 'I have sinned against the LORD.'
Two Spanish courts have rejected demands that King Juan Carlos take a paternity test to prove that he is the father of two extramarital children, according to two rulings seen by AFP.
The courts said that under article 56 of the constitution the monarch cannot be held accountable.
Avoiding Sabbath desecration
AnashNews reports about a letter to Israelis written by Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger requesting people to avoid desecration of the Sabbath this coming Saturday which is Rachel Imenu's Yahrzheit. Thursday has been designated as the "yom hilula" but people may still want to visit the kever on Saturday evening.
Since Rachel's Tomb is in a sensitive area and requires coordination with military and police forces, security must be arranged several hours before visitors are to arrive. Therefore, Rabbi Metzger appeals to Israelis not to arrive at the tomb till at least 8:30 on Saturday evening so that the security forces will not have to desecrate the Sabbath by arriving before the end of the holy day in order to secure the area.
Since Rachel's Tomb is in a sensitive area and requires coordination with military and police forces, security must be arranged several hours before visitors are to arrive. Therefore, Rabbi Metzger appeals to Israelis not to arrive at the tomb till at least 8:30 on Saturday evening so that the security forces will not have to desecrate the Sabbath by arriving before the end of the holy day in order to secure the area.
Parsimonious visa issuance talk
To describe Yaakov's departure from Be'er Sheva the Torah uses the word VaYetzei. Rashi famously comments that a tzaddik's departure makes an impact as he takes with him the beauty, glory, and luster of the place. When Avrohom left his father's house it says, "Lech Licha," why did it not say, VaYeitzei?
The Chassam Sofer answers that Yaakov left a city steeped in Torah and Yiras Shamayim, that were the hallmarks of all those that came far and wide to be under the influence of Avrohom and Yitzchok. These good people appreciated Yaakov, and therefore, his departure was a blow to the entire atmosphere of the city. However, when Avrohom left his city, it was almost entirely under the influence of Nimrod and his heretical beliefs. Avrohom was a pariah. Therefore, his leaving did not impact anyone in the city. In fact, they were quite happy to see him go.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=1151
In this week's parsha we read about Avrohom Avinu departing to the land of Canaan. I doubt he had to apply for a visa to enter the country. Today a question was posed at the State Department briefing about a certain individual as to whether he obtained a visa to the U.S.
QUESTION: Are you familiar with a guy named Khader Adnan, a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in the West Bank? He was in an Israeli jail, went on a hunger strike, the Israelis released him. But now, he apparently has gotten a visa to come to the United States to speak at American University next week. I’m wondering if, in fact, this is correct. Did he get a visa? And if he did, considering he’s the leader of a designated – or a branch of a designated terrorist organization, how he managed to get this visa.
MS. NULAND: Matt, I don’t have anything on it today. You know how parsimonious we are about talking about visa issuance, but let me see if there’s anything we have to share on that. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2012/10/199595.htm
The Chassam Sofer answers that Yaakov left a city steeped in Torah and Yiras Shamayim, that were the hallmarks of all those that came far and wide to be under the influence of Avrohom and Yitzchok. These good people appreciated Yaakov, and therefore, his departure was a blow to the entire atmosphere of the city. However, when Avrohom left his city, it was almost entirely under the influence of Nimrod and his heretical beliefs. Avrohom was a pariah. Therefore, his leaving did not impact anyone in the city. In fact, they were quite happy to see him go.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=1151
In this week's parsha we read about Avrohom Avinu departing to the land of Canaan. I doubt he had to apply for a visa to enter the country. Today a question was posed at the State Department briefing about a certain individual as to whether he obtained a visa to the U.S.
QUESTION: Are you familiar with a guy named Khader Adnan, a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in the West Bank? He was in an Israeli jail, went on a hunger strike, the Israelis released him. But now, he apparently has gotten a visa to come to the United States to speak at American University next week. I’m wondering if, in fact, this is correct. Did he get a visa? And if he did, considering he’s the leader of a designated – or a branch of a designated terrorist organization, how he managed to get this visa.
MS. NULAND: Matt, I don’t have anything on it today. You know how parsimonious we are about talking about visa issuance, but let me see if there’s anything we have to share on that. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2012/10/199595.htm
24 Oct 2012
Serving time
French authorities unveiled a scathing report of the country’s domestic intelligence agency on Tuesday, which describes its investigation into Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah as an operation flawed from beginning to end.
The damning report mainly highlighted a lack of coordination and communication within France’s domestic intelligence agency, the DCRI, in its handling of Merah. A young man with a turbulent past, Merah had at least 15 previous criminal convictions,...
Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20121023-french-intelligence-botched-toulouse-gunman-investigation-merah-valls-investigation
An ex-convict was arrested on Tuesday on charges he fatally shot a Long Island police officer in broad daylight Tuesday near the Belmont Park racetrack and then killed another driver not far away during a carjacking, authorities said.
The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Darrell Fuller, who was on parole after serving time for attempted murder, authorities said.
http://thetandd.com/news/national/officer-motorist-dead-in-ny-gunfire-man-arrested/article_f3421c1b-95db-51c0-8755-9ce153b1506b.html
The damning report mainly highlighted a lack of coordination and communication within France’s domestic intelligence agency, the DCRI, in its handling of Merah. A young man with a turbulent past, Merah had at least 15 previous criminal convictions,...
Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20121023-french-intelligence-botched-toulouse-gunman-investigation-merah-valls-investigation
An ex-convict was arrested on Tuesday on charges he fatally shot a Long Island police officer in broad daylight Tuesday near the Belmont Park racetrack and then killed another driver not far away during a carjacking, authorities said.
The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Darrell Fuller, who was on parole after serving time for attempted murder, authorities said.
http://thetandd.com/news/national/officer-motorist-dead-in-ny-gunfire-man-arrested/article_f3421c1b-95db-51c0-8755-9ce153b1506b.html
23 Oct 2012
Saying the Sh’ma out loud
Should Anat Hoffman, the head of the group, “Women of the Wall”, have been arrested for wearing a tallit and saying the Sh’ma out loud at the Kotel?
Click here to read an answer supplied by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple.
Click here to read an answer supplied by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple.
Gratitude to parents
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach writes a fitting tribute to his mother on the occasion of her 70th birthday.
I have often wondered why the Bible includes ‘Honor your father and mother’ among the ten most important moral commandments, right up there with not murdering or stealing. Perhaps the reason is this. Gratitude is the mother of all virtues, without which humanity is fundamentally underdeveloped and wholly incomplete.
Read more: http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/10/22/a-tribute-to-my-mother-on-her-70th-birthday/
I have often wondered why the Bible includes ‘Honor your father and mother’ among the ten most important moral commandments, right up there with not murdering or stealing. Perhaps the reason is this. Gratitude is the mother of all virtues, without which humanity is fundamentally underdeveloped and wholly incomplete.
Read more: http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/10/22/a-tribute-to-my-mother-on-her-70th-birthday/
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