העיקר

 

The congregation where I make minyan consists of folks from many traditions. The chief rabbi is of Egyptian descent. The other rabbi is Ashkenazi.

The two guys who sit behind me have North African traditions - one Moroccan, the other Algerian. We have a couple more who follow North African traditions.

We also have some Mizrachim - Iraqis, Iranians, and Syrians. We even have, I think. a Yemeni from time to time.

What we don't have is a cohen. We have a levi, but no cohen. If you are a cohen and in the neighborhood, please drop in; our levi needs an aliyah.

Because I've "been around" and "slapped leather" in many different congregations, I enjoy watching, and sometimes learning about, other folks' traditions.

There are some who, when donning the tallit, roll up the tallit before putting it over their heads. There are others who throw it over their shoulders and back, then gather up the four corners.

Some take the four corners and enwrap themselves being very careful NOT to cover their faces while other cover their faces to one degree or another.

העיקר It is enough that they put on the tallit.

The Ashkenazim in the congregation stand to put on hand and head tefillin.

Sefardim and Mizrachim sit to wrap the hand tefillin and stand for the head tefillin.

Some are "makped" not to let the straps hit the floor, others are less concerned.

העיקר It is enough that the men wear tefillin.

Some of the ladies cover their heads with a wig, others with a hat, and still others with a scarf.

Hakham Ovadia Yosef has a problem with wigs so Mizrachi women generally wear a hat or a scarf. North African women, whose husbands follow North African rabbis such as Messas, Abuhatzeira. Berdugo, Azulai, and ibn Susan to name a few, have no problem with the wig, although most Moroccan women I know wear a hat or scarf.

העיקר Their hair is covered, at least in synagogue, with "something.

Back in the 60s there was a song by - I think- "Sly & the Family Stone" titled "Different Strikes for Different Folks." That's Judaism.

What we need to do is learn to respect each others' traditions, minhagim.

And for those who are less observant, help them find a way to increase their mitzvah count little by little.

העיקר A Jew is a Jew is a Jew.

הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי

And G-d said "Please"

 

I read it every morning.

Have for years.

It took on new meaning when my first son was born.

But, as they say, take the Torah and turn it and turn it and you always will find something "new."

"It" is the akedah, the "binding of Isaac."

It's near the front of every sidur I have ever seen, in the תפילות השחר (Morning Prayers) section. Or go the source, the Torah (Gen. 22 V1; Vayyera).

My Hertz humash's English translation is pretty good, but the English misses "the word."

In Hebrew, G-d get's Abraham's attention and tells him

ויומר קח - נא את בנך

And He said "PLEASE (נא) take your son..."

Now HaShem may have said "please" to Moses, but I can't off hand think of any occasions.

So why "please" to Abraham and not to others?

Abraham was worthy to be the progenitor of a "goy gadol" but apparently he wasn't good enough - he lacked something - to receive the Torah (although midrashim claim he knew the Torah and that Isaac studied the Torah at a yeshiva, but again this is midrash, not Torah).

Did HaShem have a special relation with Abraham that he had with no one else?

And if he did, why?

I raised the question with The Spouse when I got back from the morning minyan.

"Maybe," she opined, "Abraham had a simple, complete faith in HaShem; he accepted HaShem without conditions."

Both he and Moses witnessed "unnatural events" - for Abraham Sara's becoming a m other in her old age.

Both he and Moses challenged G-d - Abraham trying to save Sodom. Neither one won his challenge.

Having written that Abraham had a simple and complete faith in HaShem, I find that faith may have dwindled somewhere along the way.

I'm thinking of Abraham's run in with Abemalik where he told his half-sister wife to say she was his sister rather than his wife - a "half lie?" for fear that Abemalik would kill him to claim Sara. Still, at the time of the akedah, the trust was there.

I wonder that Rashi has to say about נא.

Modern Pharaoh

 

Listening to the rabbi's drasha about G-d hardening Pharaoh's heart yesterday I started wondering if perhaps Pharaoh has been reincarnated as an ayatollah.

Pharaoh in the beginning simply wanted to keep his slaves, and, after all, his magicians matched Aaron's staff-into-snake trick. According to biktav, after the snakes, Pharaoh hardened his heart ( וחיק לב פרעה); after the bloody waters, which his magicians also matched, Pharaoh's heart was hardened and we read the same expression ( וחיק לב פרעה ).

The frogs got Pharaoh's attention and even though his magicians were able to duplicate the feat, Pharaoh for the first time acknowledges that HaShem is behind all his woes, telling Moses and Aaron to "entreat HaShem that he take away the frogs from me (Hertz humash) ( העתירו אל '' ויסר הצפרדעים ממני ). As an aside, it's interesting to note that Pharaoh only thinks about himself - take the frogs away from "me."

OK.

We see that it took HaShem several attempts to get Pharaoh's attention.

And still Pharaoh only thinks of himself and not his people. Biktav never mentions - at least to this point - that "the natives are getting restless."

Now, lets jump ahead to today - a mighty leap to be sure, but then some things never change.

Pharaoh's garb may be a little less flashing today, the man's absolute rule is the same; only the name has been changed to protect the - in this case - guilty.

Modern Pharaoh's nom de jour is Ayatollah.

Like his predecessor, the ayatollahs enslave their own people - believe as I believe or else - and while they acknowledge HaShem (Allah), they want an end to the Jewish people. Pharaoh wanted to either integrate them into Egyptian society or, like the Germans centuries later, wanted to eliminate them from the case of the earth.

The ayatollahs follow the German mold.

Despite some set backs in the ayatollahs' plans to nuke Israel - and, given prevailing winds and fall out, some of Israel's neighbors as well - to wipe Israel off the map.

Granted, so far the set backs appear to be man made, but consider the success ratio.

The ayatollahs are blaming everyone - the Great Satan (US), the Little Satan (Israel) and now I read the UN - an "apprentice Satan" perhaps.

In the "good ol' days" of the so-called Cold War between the then superpowers - the USA and USSR - the underlying reason nuclear war was avoided was a theory called MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction.

With the ayatollahs' mentality, death is desired, leaving MAD with no balance on the non-Moslem side.

Like Pharaoh, the ayatollahs apparently care nothing for the people who might not be quite so willing to die for a religious-political idea - Moslem world domination even if domination is only of the dead and dying.

Like the Chinese and Koreans, death is not a deterrent. A few million sacrificed for the benefit of the thought rulers is small price to pay, providing, of course, that said thought rulers survive.

Assume for a moment that Israel has "The Bomb" and means to deliver it. Does anyone - even the most fanatical ayatollah, really believe Israel won't use the weapon if any attack is launched from Iran - or an Iranian ship?

Blowing a missile out of the air may be a half-measure . . . if the warhead's contents are released . . . you do the math based on prevailing winds.

HaShem has caused or allowed natural events to occur at "convenient" times. There are several fault lines (notably Carmel and Dead Sea) that might have influenced events such as the walls of Jericho fell as Joshua and thousands of people marched around the city. (Most of HaShem's "miracles" are natural events - the "miracle" is the timing.)

According to Iran Daily, "Close to 90 percent of Iranians are living near major fault lines. Mohammad Reza Qasemi, the deputy head of Iran’s Geological and Mining Organization, also told Iran Daily that the Iranian plateau is one of the seismically active areas of the world and frequently suffers destructive and catastrophic earthquakes that cause heavy loss of human life and widespread damage"

Perhaps, G-d will see fit to allow a quake to eliminate the nuclear facilities and smash the ayatollahs' dreams of a new, Iranian-dominated caliphate. Since most of the facilities are hidden underground, radiation might be sufficiently restricted to the sites, spearing the Iranian population. The problem, however, remains. Remember that even after Pharaoh allowed the Israelites - and not a few others as well - leave Egypt, he had a change of heart and with chariots and horsemen chased after us until all but one was drowned in Yam Suf. I would expect that the ayatollahs would act similarly until they, too, were eliminated "all but one."

It's unfortunate that earthquakes and other natural events can't discriminate between those who promote evil and those people who simply lack the will to rise up against it.

OU not kosher enough for Israeli rabbinute

 

The following is from Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf 's excellent Kashrut.com web site. The original source is from the Chief Rabbinute of Israel.

The Israeli Chief Rabbinate is enforcing their policy of not allowing cholov stam products to be sold as kosher on Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream which is made from cholov stam and certified as kosher by the OU has been allowed to be sold in kosher establishments in Israel for many years.

An article on the Voz Iz Neias? web site titled Jerusalem - Rabbis Take On Häagen-Dazs provides more information.

As both Kashrut.com and the Voz Iz Neias? point out, OU-certified Haagen-Dazs has been acceptable in kosher markets and restaurtants for years. Suddenly, "halav stam" - non-halav Israel - products are banned.

While I have no objection to people preferring halav Israel or electing to only consume halav Israel, given the additional costs it will substantially reduce Haagan-Dazs and other halav stam companies' taxable income - taxes that help support the haredim who don't work, don't do national service, or join the IDF.

The Chief Rabbinute's stand suggests to me that the political body has been taken over by the same people who throw stones on Shabat at non-observant Jews and who would prefer to live under Jordanian - or PA - rule than any Israeli government.

AND THEN THERE is another "anti-haredi" rant.

Today at the morning minyan a gentleman came and asked for financial assistance.

The gentleman came from Israel to collect money in south Florida - after all, it was 16 degrees up north compared to our nearly 70 degrees.

He told the rabbi that he was schnoring for his kollel (I never found out which kollel or where) and for himself since he has 14 children.

As usual, I asked myself:

(a) Where did he get the money for round trip air fare - might that money be better spent feeding this wife and 14 children?

(b) Why did he have 14 children if he cannot support them?

(c) Since he's not young, are any of his children working to help support the family?

(d) Why can't the kollel be self-supporting with donations from the people who study at the kollel?

(e) Why isn't he home with his wife, assisting her with managing 14 children; he helped create them and now he runs away to America for "peace and quiet." I wonder what he would say if SHE took a couple of thousand dollars to tour south Florida

In my tiny congregation everybody either works - including the rabbi - or is on pension.

I know people who provide financial support to scholars are considered "b'shamyim" as if they are studying, but the gentleman who visited us this morning - visited but did not join us in the prayers - certainly is not a scholar hard at his work.

Sometimes it's difficult, but,

הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי

Bark Mitzvah in New Jersey

 

Just sharing this. Don't shoot the messenger.

The Associated Press reported this week on the latest mishegas -- a "Bark Mitzvah" for a Pomeranian dog named Nicky. The ceremony was performed by Lee Day, whose web site lists her as a celebrity pet hair stylist and pet entertainer, in Stanhope, New Jersey, where the pooch turned two years old, or thirteen in dog years.

There was champagne, cake, and a yarmulke for the guest of honor. The reporter covering the event asked "But with all the wacky chutzpah involved in a Bark Mitzvah, It's hard not to ask: Is there a line being crossed?"

Matzav.com reported the story on Friday as follows:

The latest development in dubious “religious” trends: the rise of bar mitzvahs for dogs. While not exactly mainstream, the ceremonies, known as “bark mitzvahs,” are apparently now a rite of passage for some Jewish dog owners and their pets, part of what the Associated Press describes as a “booming multimillion-dollar industry.”

The AP yesterday released footage of a ceremony honoring a New Jersey canine named Nicky, who celebrated reaching age 13 - in dog years - by donning a kippah for a ceremony attended by his owner and friends. “I really believe that the animals have a right to have a party and a religion,” said Lee Day, a talis-wearing woman described by the news service as a “bark mitzvah performer.”

Predictably, not everyone is thrilled with the trend. “It’s really part of a sacred tradition,” said Rabbi Daniel Satlow, referring to the human version of the ceremony. “To imagine that a dog could do anything like this is degrading.”

“This is nothing less than a desecration of a cherished Jewish tradition and degrades some of the central principles of Jewish life. I urge readers to reject such practices,” wrote Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff. “I enjoy a good time as much as the next person. But not at the expense of religious traditions that need strengthening, not desecrating.”

This isn't the first Bark Mitzvah. In October 2007, the Schneider family celebrated the Bark Mitzvah of Bumpy Schneider, their "first bred son." The party was complete, with specially printed kippot, Hava Nagila and limbo dancing with disco lighting, a photo sign-in board, and a fire hydrant centerpiece.

That same year, a group of Jewish doctors including Dr. Ruth Westheimer celebrated the Bark Mitzvah of a dog named Elvis, an event that included the dog reading the "Arf Torah."

I wonder, did the dog have a brit at 8 days? Is it - or its owner - shomer Shabat, shomer kashrut, and shomer mitzvoth? How about pre-bark mitzvah training? How many hours did the pooch study Torah - biktav or ba'al pei? Was the rabbi that performed the ceremony another dog or was it perhaps a rabbiT?

I confess I find nothing humorous about the blurb that appeared on Jewish Humor Central. It makes a mockery of a major life event.

I know people love their pets, but this is a bit "much."

Sometimes it is difficult, but

הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי

Why I found a new congregation If anyone wanted to know

 

I sent the following letter to my former synagogue's administrator when I decided it was time to move on.

בע"ה

December 21, 2011/26 כסלו 5772

(Synagogue administrator),

Although we moved to this specific area because of the rabbi and the synagogue, I find that conditions force me to make minyan elsewhere.

There are a number of reasons including

• arrogance of several Board members
• decorum, actually lack of it during services, often by Board members
• disrespect for congregants by some Board members *
• extended bidding for Torah honors; there are ways to reduce the time spent selling the Torah and some of these ways have been suggested to the Board.
• Kol Nidre after dark - not once but at least twice at the synagogue (I don't know about the hotel) **
• lack of aliyah for roughly six months - I had to insist on getting an aliyah; someone should keep records (they do where I go now)
• lack of concern for members - when a person is absent for several days from a minyan the person normally attends it seems appropriate for someone at the congregation (a Board member, the rabbi, hazan, administrator) to try to contact the person to see if the person is in town, ill, or dead
• lack of concern for the congregations' welfare by the Board, including
  • the movie issue (no script review, no contract, no monitoring of filming)
  • the loss of members issue (Board refuses to poll former members for reasons they went elsewhere)
• lack of respect shown by Board members to the congregation's rabbi

I complained about the decorum on several occasions but was told "this is the Sefardi mentality."

That's nonsense.

It may be a South American mentality; it is NOT the "Sefardi" mentality.

I have been in Sefardi and Mizrachi synagogues in the US and in Israel, and I have NEVER seen such disrespect for the Torah, the rabbi, and fellow congregants. This disrespect seems unique to this congregation.

There are at least two (2) other Sefardi/Mizrachi congregations in the neighborhood. In both cases, people come to pray as a minyan; they don't come to socialize (during prayers). The rabbis are, as they should be, the congregations' CEO; the boss. No one would dare treat the rabbi as some Board members treat the congregation's rabbi.

Again, we moved here specifically for the rabbi and congregation. Fortunately, there now are alternatives to this congregation.

You are free to share this with the rabbi and Board if you wish.

Yohanon Glenn

NOTES:

* When a Board member covers his face with his tallit to avoid shaking hands with a member returning to his seat following an aliyah, it's time to find a new congregation.

**
יש להתחיל באמירת "כל נדרי" מספר דקות קודם הלילה, ולכן יש לומר את הפיוטים "לך אלי" ו"שמע קולי" מבעוד יום. ספר ילקוט שמ"ש קעב, עמוד 130

סדר התפילות של יום הכיפורים מתחיל באמירת "כל נדרי" וזמנה לפני שקית החמה,מכיון שהיא כעין התרת נדרים ואיןמתירים נדרים השבת ויום-טוב. ספר החג והמועד, עמוד 45

Two thoughts Casey Anthony, Ron Paul

Casey Anthony

For good or bad, justice or not, Casey Anthony was found innocent of murdering her child, Caylee Marie Anthony, by a Florida jury.

From a Jewish perspective, that ends it.

Once a judge has ruled - in this case, once a judge accepts a jury's decision - the case is closed. Once a convicted person has served his or her time, that person is as before.

No matter what the media frenzy.

Casey Anthony is innocent, at least of murder.

She was guilty of a check charge and was sentenced to a year's probation. Fair enough.

Here's a woman who us hiding from the media and from people who refuse to accept the court's decision. Since she's hiding out, I would expect her income to be zero.

How can she survive?

There was a woman on tv who seems to have taken it upon herself to find a video clip Anthony made and, because the woman thinks (and I find that questionable) that Anthony might have wanted to sell the clip, she posted the clip on YouTube so everyone could watch it gratis.

First, this seems an invasion of Anthony's privacy.

Second, the poster may have hacked into whatever server Anthony used to share her clip with whomever and for whatever reason.

Third, if Anthony DID intend to share her thoughts for recompense, the woman deprived Anthony of earned income - in other words, the poster committed theft.

Bottom line: Casey Anthony was found innocent. The world should leave her alone; get off her case.

Ron Paul

Despite allegations that Ron Paul is an anti-Semite, racist, anti-Israel, and pro-neonazi (listen to http://lunaticoutpost.com/Topic-CNN-EXPOSES-Ron-Paul-s- anti-Semitic-remarks-and-links-to-NEO-NAZIS) that will have me voting for almost anyone else, Paul does promote some things with which I agree.

I agree with Paul that we should keep our troops within our borders. I still believe in the Monroe Doctrine.

I agree we should, while not being isolationists, think "America First."

Let us realize we cannot buy "friends" and replace a good portion of foreign aid with domestic aid. While not being a fan of JFK, his Peace Corps is one of the country's best foreign aid programs - it helps people help themselves and generally allows local folks to drive the programs; not the U.S. and not local potentates. The domestic VISTA program, another JFK innovation, also is a keeper and should be expended.

I am in favor sending in the troops to end genocide.

I am in favor of sending in the troops for humanitarian missions.

I am in favor of a robust, albeit not bloated, military budget; we must be able to defend ourselves and, when necessary, carry the battle to the enemy. (And, if we must "carry the battle to the enemy," fight to win using all means available and without concern for "collateral damage.")

There are ways that American can "show the flag" around the world. We need to combine Teddy Roosevelt's Big Stick Great White Fleet with "Made in America" humanitarian aid - which means Americans will be in place to prevent high jackers from stealing Americans' largesse and relabeling or reselling it for their own gain (as happened with CARE supplies in Africa).

Paul has some good ideas; unfortunately, Paul the person is - in my opinion - not worthy of the nation's highest office or, for that matter, any national office.