"The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment." -- Bertrand Russel

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Why I Don't Identify As Gay

A GUEST POST BY 'BARRY' (posted by E. Fink)

(An old friend of mine)

With great shock, many have asked me—a man who experiences homosexual attractions—why I don't identify as "gay." To so many people, being gay is “who you are,” and “who I’m meant to be.” To them, it’s a simple truth as plain as day. But my reason for not identifying as gay is also simple: a gay identity is a social construction.

Allow me to explain: When I was younger, one was a "homosexual" if one engaged in homosexual activity, but there was no such identity as "gay." Gay people weren't referred to as "kinds" of people, in the way we refer to men and women as the different sexes. Rather, homosexuals were seen simply as men or women who have or experience a specific kind of desire — the sexual and emotional desire for members of the same sex. We don't identify short people and tall people as different kinds of people, just people, some of whom happen to be short and others who happen to be tall. They are not distinct versions of human beings.

Homosexuality is a non-behavioral trait. And like all non-behavioral traits, like desires, emotions, thoughts (apart from those being acted upon), it is amoral and private, and cannot be identified like race or biological sex, beyond the statement of the individual that he or she has such feelings.

Nowadays, though, a “gay person” is a kind of person, independent of sexual conduct. Yet the latest document on homosexuality by the American Psychological Association says that most scientists believe homosexual attractions are developed through a complex mixture of both nature and nurture, so not only are homosexual attractions not a physical trait like race or biological sex, but they are also not purely innate.

It's interesting, however, that many Orthodox Rabbis don't see this distinction, however. That is certainly no fault of theirs, and I don't judge those who don't see this difference. The mood of the culture has really caught on and, as a result, many have adopted these labels, seemingly, with little thought or criticism. But as an orthodox Jew who experiences homosexual attractions, I believe the thoughtful approach is one that relies not upon cultural shifts, but on the enduring Word of G-d.

So, what does the Torah have to say about this issue to those who, like me, are halacha-abiding Orthodox Jews?

As far as I know, the Torah has no word for someone with these desires; it simply refers to sexual acts. Of course, we all know that the Torah expressly forbids homosexual acts (along with certain other illicit sexual acts). But does it say nothing beyond that? Certainly, the Torah has very strict rules concerning sexual conduct, which by divine design and intent is geared towards men and women in marriage and procreation. Sexuality is specifically for married men and women, and the mitzvah to procreate can only be understood in that context. In fact, all the rules about sexuality exclude all but married men and women in the sexual bond, united and coming to bear children (in the case where childbearing is not possible, sexual activity is still allowed within male-female marital bounds alone). Much of the Jewish Orthodox life revolves around family, too.

The family provides a good illustration for my point. The young child who doesn’t get what he wants can hit or scream, but the responsible parent reacts accordingly to teach or demonstrate to the child there are certain ways to act and not act. No matter how angry we get, we must not hit people. There is responsible behavior, and irresponsible behavior. Some things we can engage in, and some we cannot engage in. Some feelings we can indulge, and some we cannot indulge.

It is much the same with homosexuality. Feelings are just feelings, but the Torah teaches us that same-sex sexual behavior is forbidden according to the biblical sexual ethic. We have the power to do and not to do. We feel what we feel, but when it comes to action, we look to the infinite wisdom of the Torah for guidance.

So if we are dealing with mere feelings, rather than an identity, what are we to do with them? Feelings or desires are just that: feelings and desires, and one isn’t held accountable for having them. The Torah lays out a moral code by which we are to live. And it’s precisely because G-d knows some people will experience homosexual attractions that He found it necessary to state that acting on those desires is forbidden. As we’re brought up in the ways of the Torah, we’re taught that some actions are good, some bad, some destructive, some neutral and so on. We are to decide what a desire is and its corresponding action — if it is halachically forbidden and perhaps harmful or halachically positive and perhaps helpful. G-d gives us guidance through halacha and the Torah outlook on life.

To me, this certainly gives good reason to not only reject any identity that revolves around my homosexual attractions, but to limit to the fullest extent possible how I view and identify myself and my homosexual attractions. I see no reason to claim a "gay" identity anymore than I see a reason to claim a identity around my desire to wear blue shirts or to drive fast cars. Some say that liking blue shirts is hardly the equivalent to being homosexual, something which separates you from the entire heterosexual world, something that makes normal, married life very difficult if not impossible, and something that the Torah addresses directly (as opposed to wearing blue shirts). This is true indeed, and certainly, marriage is no cure or answer. But my life and sexual attractions are not defined by cultural standards, and this is precisely my point. Culturally, one may boil red at the comparison, but coming from the Torah perspective, I exclusively define myself through the Torah’s wisdom and guidance, not the culture’s. If I don’t define myself as “gay,” and if I remain single, as far as I’m concerned, I am just like every other single man out there, both heterosexual and homosexual.

Further, a gay identity more often than not is a socio-political label with socio-political connotations, meaning that it has much wrapped up in it apart from one’s sexual desires. I do not say that to condemn those who do accept a “gay” identity, but I see no fundamental truth that warrants my ascribing to it. I know of no standard Orthodox Torah view that could accommodate such an identity. In addition, this means I don’t ascribe to poorly defined terms like “homosexual” and “sexual orientation,” too, terms that science has difficulty defining in a universal and scientifically rigorous manner. I choose merely to describe the actual experience of one who feels sexual attractions to the same sex, and certainly nothing more. This is after all the principal commonality between gay people; they all experience homosexual attractions, though there are many other homosexual things homosexual people identify with that not all homosexual people share. So to identify as “a gay man” means to potentially to set myself up to adopt a whole set of ideas that seem contrary to the Torah true life.

The Torah seems to limit homosexual acts to just that--sexual acts--and sexuality to the sexual bond between the married man and woman, especially with regard to the procreative dimension. I choose to leave it at just that and let G-d in His infinite wisdom be my guide, also believing that through Torah principles, every wrongful desire – including homosexual attractions – can be resisted and perhaps overcome.


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Did I win or did I lose?

A Guest Post by Rafi G

As mentioned previously, I no longer give donations to organizations via credit card over the telephone. The only exceptions will be for a couple specific organizations I am personally familiar with and have a relationship with.

Last night an organization called for a donation. Two, actually.

the first called and after going through her spiel, she asked how I could help them. I asked her to send me an envelope as donating over the phone is not possible for me. She graciously said thank you, took my details and hung up, despite knowing that most of the time asking for an envelope means they will not be getting much, if anything at all.

The second organization called shortly after. After going through her spiel, I told her she should send me an envelope, as I could not donate over the phone. She started arguing with me about it, how it is better if I donate over the phone. I didn't want to listen to her argue, and I did not see the point in arguing about how I should donate to an organization I have nothing to do with.

So I said to her "Ok, so don't send me an envelope. Up to you. Good bye." and I hung up the phone while she was still screaming at me. A minute later she called back and asked for my details to send me an envelope.

I am still not sure if I "won" or if I lost the argument.

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Rabbi Riskin Jumps the Shark



Who exactly is Rabbi Riskin attempting to flatter with this twaddle? The history is bad, the message banal, and the theology appears to be something of his own invention. Also, this video post seems suspiciously like a blog and his rabbinical superiors are emphatically opposed to all religious and social commentary which takes that form. Shame, shame.

The rabbi's video was brought to my attention on Twitter by good old Rafi: "Rabbi Jesus? Has Rabbi Riskin lost his mind?" he asked.

"Yes," I had to reply. At that time, and in that place, a Rabbi was something specific, something Jesus assuredly was not. Being a Rabbi in those days was something like being a Jedi Master. You had to be formally ordained by the Council of Sages, and the title gave you the authority to judge certain types of cases. The idea that Jesus had earned this certification and become a Rabbi in that original sense is suggested by the New Testament. In three books, he is called by that title, but the New Testament is fallible history, written decades after the events it describes, by men who had no first hand knowledge of those events, and a clear interest in embellishing the details, and aggrandizing their subject. To the best of my knowledge, there's no other evidence that Jesus was a qualified Rabbi.

Rabbi Riskin's uncritical willingness to accept the New Testament's history blemishes his commentary in other places, but the worst sin he commits is the claim that between Jews and Christians there is but one significant difference (paraphrased): We say messiah hasn't yet come; they say he has already arrived; the rest is commentary. This is worse than false, and an insult to both faiths.  [here too]

One ironic concluding note: Listening to Rabbi Riskin preach about how the two religions share a common view of history, the view the history is moving toward the perfection of society, toward a time in the future when there will be peace, redemption and good will,  I found myself thinking, you Sir, are not an Orthodox Rabbi. You are a liberal. You don't say that things were better once; that civilization is decaying; that morals have become corrupt; and that we humans have become coarser and stupider as we move further from Sinai. Instead you say that we are an improvement on what came before us; that each generation brings us closer to a time of ultimate good; that a better future lies ahead. When r. Riskin  said, "the idea of the perfectibility of human nature and human society is one of the important links that we Jews and Christians share in common," I laughed out loud. This was originally a Jewish view, certainly, that was taken and deisseminated by Christians, but today the view that our best days lie ahead, and that the world can be perfected and improved is most often associated with Liberals.

Were Rabbi Riskin interested in making friends with progressives, too, he might have spoken of a link that is shared with Liberals as well. But he didn't. Why? Perhaps we'll talk about it some other time.

Related:
(1) What happened nearly 100 years ago when Rabbi Stephen Wise said Jews should accept Jesus as a teacher? Find out here.
(2) According to some Haredi Rabbis blogging is a horrible awful thing, especially when the posts attack Rabbis; other Haredi Rabbis (e.g. Yakov Menken! Here too!) on the other hand think its perfectly appropriate to bash the hell out of liberal Rabbis. So is this post kosher or treif?
(3) Et maasai ani mazkir hayom: In 2006 I, too, said a nice word about Jesus. I regret none of it.
(4) Finally, something smart about Jesus and the Talmud from TNR


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Monday, December 28, 2009

Is it ok to lie to our kids?

A guest post from Lakewood Leah

I have a set in stone policy not to lie to my kids. It's extremely important to me, and I will go to great lengths to avoid lying. However, after this evening, I wonder if sometimes perhaps it's ok to embellish the truth.

My preschool age son was watching Bambi and asked me what happened to Bambi's mother. In my defense, he loves watching scary movies (age appropriate of course) that involve fighting and killing. I happen to hate when he watches those movies, and it bothers me how much violence and innuendo are in Disney movies and the like, but that's for another discussion. I've pretty much banned most Disney movies, but I figured Bambi was clean enough and I let him watch it. When he asked me why someone told Bambi that his mother can't be there anymore, I told him that she was killed. I know, sue me. What a terrible thing to tell a 4 year old. But like I said, these things never seemed to bother him before. However, he starting obsessing over it and asking a lot of questions. I discussed it with my husband, and we realized that in most of the other movies, it's always the bad guy who ends up dead.

I want to tell him that I made a mistake and she really just fell and hurt herself, but he's sleeping now. I feel like a horrible mother. But it also really bothers me to lie to him even if he has no way of knowing the truth. Am I taking this too far? Is lying to your kids ok when necessary?


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Ok, what the hell happened in New Square last night?

From the Journal News:

NEW SQUARE — Ramapo police Sunday night responded a call reporting a mob of about 500 people at the intersection of Bush Lane and Clinton Lane.

At about 9:30 p.m., the crowd gathered as an unorganized protest about a conflict within the community, police said

The Clarkstown and Spring Valley police departments as well as Rockland County Sheriff's Department also responded to the scene to assist with crowd and traffic control.

The crowd eventually dispersed. No property damage or injuries was reported.

No arrests were made as a result of the incident.

Police did not release further information about the nature of the protest and community members could not be reached.

Video of a mob of New Square Hasidim screaming things in Yiddish, and, in English: STOP THE TERROR NOW and GO BACK TO KJ @ about 5:30 someone tells a woman (perhaps a cop?) that the demonstration has something to do with someone who "didn't follow the rules, and is now being "bullied" out of New Square. He adds that it will be peaceful until "maybe tonight they'll come back and slash some tires."

According to the titles on the video and the YouTube side matter, rank and file New Square Hasidim rose up to object to the bullying, and to defend the right of their neighbor to remain in New Square. Way to go rank and file New Square Hasidim!!




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Am I Expecting Too Much?

A Guest Post By Henoch (posted by E. Fink)

BACKGROUND: This was submitted to me via email. The author lives in a "black-hat" community, sends his children to top tier Yeshivos, before entering the workforce worked in Chinuch as a Rebbe in a Yeshiva and is a supporter of Torah and Chesed organizations.

We have gone almost 2 weeks since the news of the EJF scandal broke. It is alleged along with solid evidence that a Rosh Yeshiva who was the gatekeeper for geirus to Klal Yisroel was personally involved with prostituting and inappropriate behavior with a potential giores. In addition there are many unanswered questions regarding Rabbonim and others who enabled him and continue to enable this organization to bully geirim, potential geirim, and batei din.

A very frequently mentioned theme in both the Torah and Tanach is the horrible idea of the powerful and privileged taking advantage of the weak and helpless (ger, yasom, v’almanah.) This scandal typifies the elite (or leaders by their silence condoning) extorting the underprivileged.

The Gemara Sanhedrin 19a,b tells of the wicked King Yannai who was summoned to trial by Shimon ben Shetach. When the trial began Shimon ben Shetach told Yannai to stand so the trial could begin. Yannai responded by saying that he wanted to see which other judges demanded that he be brought to trial. At that point all the other judges started looking at the ground and pretended that they hadn’t summoned him. Their punishment was severe, and Yannai went on to kill numerous Rabbonim. Ironically Yannai spared Shimon ben Shetach because he respected him and his courage.

I have yet to hear one single Yeshivish Rov or Rosh Yeshiva who has condemned any of this. Am I asking too much by expecting to hear some outcry that these activities are out of bounds or unacceptable? I asked these exact questions to a Rov in my community and was given a strange array of answers:

"Everyone knows already so what’s the point"
"Since he is finished anyway, why bother"
"We’ve known about him for years"
"Yes, probably something should be said"

The organization itself released a statement which merely says something like “Rabbi X is leaving, we thank him for his good work, we now welcome in Rabbi Y.” All is well, life goes on….. I have asked many people about this incident and about a third of them had no idea about the story. Another third said that if no Rabbonim have come out forcefully, it probably isn’t true and is just lashon hara. The others felt that it is an outrage but differed as to how to react.

I believe that the silence creates the impression that our community can tolerate anything and evil won’t be condemned especially when it involves people who are in “the club.” This is our community. Do we have any standards? Where are our leaders? Who are they protecting? Am I the only outraged person regarding this silence? Am I expecting too much?


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Does the Gerrer Rebbe read my blog?

Does the Gerrer Rebbe read my blog? The no-coincidence school of Jewish thought would have to say he does. Last week, I publicly called on Hasidic Rabbis to order their flocks to vaccinate. Today, Your Worst Nightmare reports that the Gerrer Rebbe has heeded my request.

Attention ADMoRs from Vishnitz, Belz and Satmar: You're next.


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Another anti-Blogging Message from an anti-Blogging Rabbi

One of the local Jewish newspapers printed an ill-advised and unoriginal jeremiad against Jewish bloggers. All the familiar and poorly reasoned complaints were included: We're anonymous, we're too critical, we slay sacred cows by criticizing people and issues that can't or shouldn't be criticized, etc. These discontents and others are aptly addressed and defeated in the following guest post, submitted by THE DARK KNIGHT

A quick fisk of this: http://www.5tjt.com/news/read.asp?Id=5401#comments by "The Dark Knight".

“There are a minority of Yidden who live for others, whether it’s delivery for Tomchei Shabbos, giving up their Shabbos and yom tov menuchah to go on Hatzalah calls, or even dedicating the little free time that they have to work for their shul or local yeshiva.”
I'm glad we can begin with a point of agreement. Like you, I deeply appreciate those Jews who work to improve the world. (A quibble: Wouldn't it be nice if  living“for others” weren’t implicitly restricted to the less than 1% of  humanity who are Jewish (or was he only including Orthodox Jews?))
“There are people who do care about the general community and are indeed passionate about their beliefs and feelings, but rather than becoming “doers,” they are satisfied to just become “bloggers.” “
This is something of a point. Bloggers share opinions, make arguments and raise awareness, but we don’t take to the streets. No J-blogger led hafganos have occurred. Generally, I believe this is for the best, although there may be exceptions. It is indeed to our shame that while the great Jewish doers mustered thousands of people to burn dumpsters in protest of a parking lot, we simply sat at our computers typing to protest the rabbinic child molesters in our community.

But, is this really what troubles R’ Ginzberg? Is he really sad that bloggers blog instead of doing something more concrete? Of course not. On the contrary, if we were more forceful in translating our beliefs into action, it would only upset him further. It’s isn't our inaction that motivates him to lift his pen in protest (like... um.. a blogger, ironically). It is the beliefs themselves which trouble him. If a mashgiach were to give a blogger-like schmooze criticizing popular culture, no doubt R’ Ginzberg would have a positive response. He knows he can’t defend rabbis who fornicate with their charges, abet child molesters, cheat the government, or insist all life on the planet was destroyed five thousand years ago. So instead he acts out with baseless ad hominem attacks on "bloggers" as whole. (Gil Student and Josh Waxman are bloggers, too, btw. Do they deserve to be tarred this way?)
“Now we have the new group of bloggers, who have spent valuable time with hundreds of blogs and comments on whether [Rubashkin] deserves or doesn’t deserve this terrible fate.
How terrible! People are actually beginning to think for themselves! People are asking and arguing the following excellent question: Should we reflexively protect someone committing bank fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering just because he’s an Orthodox Jew. Such a travesty!
“Several years ago, I tried to convince [a close friend] to join me at that year’s Agudah convention, where I felt his acumen and concern for the community at large would make him a perfect candidate to benefit from and provide guidance to the convention."
Interesting change of direction, R' Greenberg!  Speaking to people on a blog = unholy blogger. Speaking to people at an Agudah convention = holy doer. It seems the distinction has nothing to do with action versus inaction, rather it has to do with agreeing with R’ Ginzberg versus disagreeing with him.
 “[At the convention] Difficult and painful subjects were discussed publicly”
Yes, they were and thanks to the bloggers. Without bloggers your painful subjects would still be “swept under the carpet.” which is where they were kept for dozens of years. It was bloggers, not your so-called "doers" who alerted the Jewish community about these difficult and painful subjects.
“…and important solutions and ideas were presented and implemented.”
Really? Or perhaps, since it was a convention, the solutions were just presented and not yet implemented. Kind of like a blog.


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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Atheist greetings



This sign, which appears at the Illinois State Capital, alongside various  Christian displays, reads as follows: "At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." It made the news last week after an especially unreflective Republican candidate for state office attempted to remove the sign. His concern?
"The fact that sign was immediately in front of the tree, I found that to be disturbing because any family and any child would run up to that tree with a smile on their face, and they would immediately see that sign."
I can relate. I don't like it when my kids see nativity scenes with their implicit message that we Jews are damned. I'd prefer to have nothing religious displayed on public land, but so long as trees and creches are ok, counter statements like this are ok, too.


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Shir L'Shalom



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Friday, December 25, 2009

Update on the Fee-Low

Bobby, proud as punch, brought his fee-low home today. It was a paper cut out, illustrated in classic almost-three year old style. He came home wearing it around his neck/shoulder like a guitar.


The strap - really, a ribbon - broke within minutes. He didn't mind a bit.

Shabbotshalom

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R. Malkiel and the MO Jews: Follow up

Received by email

This morning I spoke with the fellow who forwarded to me the email from R. Aharon Kotler in which R. Aharon wrote that R. Malkiel never lumped reform, conservative and MO Jews together as being people whom we have to fight. This person told me that he is on the Board of BMG and that he wrote to R. Aharon Kotler about what R. Malkiel Kotler said. This is how he received the reply that I distributed recently which denied that R. Malkiel Kotler had said negative things about MO Jews.

I told this member of the Board who the fellow was who had told me that R. Malkiel did indeed lump MO Jews with reform and conservative Jews. Shortly after davening I put the two of them together. The person who had heard R. Malkiel speak said that he had attended a small private gathering in someone's home on Shabbos. There were very few people there. Then he told us that he heard R. Malkiel not only lump MO with reform and conservative but that he added YU to the mix.

The person who heard R. Malkiel speak at this small gathering was infuriated to learn about the email message that R. Aharon Kotler sent out denying the entire thing. He told us that he was going to contact R. Aharon Kotler about this.

The person who is a member of the Board of BMG was taken aback by what he heard.

Very Important Note: The person who wrote these words is NOT (to the best of my knowledge) the person who sent me the message. The message was originally posted on one of the super-secret public bulletin board, where people too cool for blogs gather to do what we lower life forms do on blogs.

I am not a member of this board, and I am not bound by its no-sharing rule. I post this for information purposes only and make no claims as to its accuracy. Ceaveat emptor. Take it with a grain of salt. Ignore it if you choose. Its probably not true, anyway.


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Lakewood Gets it Right (Mumps)



The clarity is not great, but you can see this notice, which is on BMG bulletin boards, clearly instructs unvaccinated students to get the anti-mumps shot.

Provided by bootsy thorton


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What it means to be Jewish on Christmas pretty much everywhere in the world aside from, you know, NY, Miami, Israel, etc.




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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Slate tells the world about nittle nacht

From here:

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, Jews were playing dreidel, being celibate, and tearing toilet paper. Allow me to explain. Please. More
My own previous post on this hysterical subject here

CA Writes:

I have read the summary of the Toledot Yeshu in the Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledot_Yeshu
http://www.essene.com/History&Essenes/toled.htm

(The Toldedot Yeshi is some sort of Jewish anti-Christian polemic of unknown origin, traditionally studied on Nittel Nacht.)

The storyline is kind of interesting. It claims that the conceptions of Jesus (Yeshu) was the result of Mary (Miriam) being raped by Joseph. (Now there's a Christmas story for you.) Also, Mary was betrothed to someone else and a niddah at the time she was raped, so not only is Jesus a mamzer, he's a ben-niddah. This might be worth discussing -- After all, it wasn't Jesus' fault that he was the product of a rape or that his motherwas niddah, so why should that make hom the evil character that he was portrayed in this book? (This has some personal interest to me, becuase I suspect that I am a ben-niddah, as are neasrly all non-Orthodox Jews. Does that mean the frummers think folks like us are evil? Or is this plotline developed just becuase of what Jesus' follwers became?)

Enquiring minds want to know!

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Actual Conversation with My Almost Three Year Old Son

Him: DAH-DEE

Me: Hey Bobby [not his real name] [duh]

Him: I make a FEE-LOW at my school

Me: A what?

Him (louder) a FEE-LOW

Me: A pillow?

Him:  No I make a (louder still) a FEE-LOW

Me: (to the household) What's he saying?

Oldest daughter: Well, we think he made a fee-low.

Him:  DAH-DEE I MAKE A FEE-LOW AT MY SCHOOL! (slowly) A FEEEEEE LOW

Me: Okay! Yay! You made a Fee-Low!

Him: NO NO A FEE LOW. I MADE A FEE LOW

Me: Right. Um... a pillow?

Him: NO A FEE LOW

Me: (thinking to myself) Ok, his weekly projects are always connected to the parsha. Let's see... vayigash.... vayigash.... what could it be?

And suddenly it hit me.

Me: A FIDDLE?

Him: YEAH! DAH-DEE I MADE A FEE-LOW

Oy

PART 2 OF THE STORY Later that evening, or, actually early this morning, Bobby was in my wife's bed, still babbling about his fee-low, when suddenly he gave that distinctive cough which means some vomit is on the way. And sure enough, the vomit came, and when it did my wife cupped her hands and caught it.

Why did you do that, I said, as I ran for a container.

I just washed the sheets she replied. (!)

Disgusting or heroic? I still can't decide.


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Curious: Did the Popes ever distribute matza to us?



This is another of those well intentioned, but historically obtuse and completely unnecessary things people sometimes do. Really, why does the city of Jerusalem have to help people celebrate Christmas? Leaving aside the whole Jewish state thing, what civic purpose does it serve for a municipality to hand out trees? And going back to the whole Jewish state thing... are these people nuts?

I hope this is a hoax. Maybe I'm being pranked - or better yet, maybe when the Christians showed up at the Jaffa gate there was nothing there.


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Another Halacha Question

A guest post by blogging legend MoChassid

This morning, I was a few minutes early for my train. It was bitter cold outside so I ducked into the Dunkin’ Donuts which is across the street from the train station. (The geniuses who designed the Hewlett Station put the indoor waiting room on the wrong side of the tracks (inbound rather than outbound) so waiting there was not an option).

But, rather than purchase coffee there, I drank from the coffee I had purchased earlier that morning (together with a muffin) at one of the kosher establishments in town. As it turned out, my train was cancelled and I ended up staying at the Dunkin’ Donuts for 40 minutes.

(Had I not already purchased a coffee, I would have bought one from Dunkin’ Donuts, but because I had one already, all I did was enjoy their tables and heat without paying.)

Was this g’neivas ha’da’as?


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Tropper is teflon?

A reader and friend has some news about Tropper the Pimp.

Horizons is an organization Tropper essentially owns, but their website still touts him as Judaism's gift to the nations. See here: "R’ Leib Tropper’s passion for the importance of character development is contagious, and the centrality of "being a mensch" to the Torah worldview is his leitmotif. His delivery, which blends a lucid and jargon-free elucidation of traditional sources with his expansive reading in modern psychology and philosophy, has captivated the minds and hearts of three generations of American youth. "

http://www.horizons.edu/retreat/index.htm

Just to be sure, I called Horizons a minute ago and they confirmed that this info is accurate.

Can one of you mega bloggers encourage your readers to express their outrage with Horizons?

Horizons' contact info:

phone 1.845.425.3863
fax 1.845.425.3571
email info@horizons.edu

Mailing Address:
Horizons
29 West Maple Avenue
Monsey, NY 10952

Web Address:
www.horizons.edu