Remember Atlanta?

 

On July 27, 1996 a bomb exploded in Atlanta Georgia's Centennial Olympic Park. Two people were murdered by the bomber; 111 more were injured. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Olympic_Park_bombing )

The Atlanta police quickly arrested security guard Richard Jewell. Jewell discovered the bomb and reported it to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He then, with other security forces began clearing the area of bystanders.

The bomb exploded before the area was cleared.

Because the FBI considered Jewell a "person of interest" his name and photo were splashed across papers across the country and he was on every tv news and talk show on all the networks - he became the chief - and in many minds, the only - suspect. The FBI and GBI looked no farther than Jewell.

Everyone "knew" Jewell was the bomber.

Trouble was, Jewell was NOT the bomber.

All the while that Jewell was being defamed, the real bomber, Eric Robert Rudolph, was free and hiding in the hills.

When the Feds finally realized their mistake, the manhunt was on for another suspect.

This time it was Rudolph.

It took 5 years to find Rudolph. The man allegedly admitted to placing the bomb and was sentenced to life in prison.

For the last several days I have heard the talking heads and Liberal Leaders such as Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton rail at the Sanford Police Department for failing to arrest "the murderer of little Trayvon Martin ."

The national media has crucified George Zimmerman, and most of the local media have fallen into line.

Never mind that Zimmerman's attorney said there is evidence that Zimmerman shot Martin in self defense. Zimmerman is white, Martin is black, therefore Zimmerman must have murdered Martin in a deliberate act of racism - a hate crime so that the Feds - who, please remember, got it wrong with Jewell - can get involved.

I used to be a reporter. I often covered the courts.

I learned then that not everything the government claims really is what the government claimed. Very often, it is not what the government claimed.

I don't know if Zimmerman is guilty or not.

I don't know if Martin attacked Zimmerman, as Zimmerman claims.

I haven't seen the evidence. Neither have the so-called reporters. All the evidence probably has not been collected and sorted.

Unlike the media, I am waiting for a verdict following a trial.

I don't CARE what the media thinks. I really don't care what the cops - local, state, and federal - think.

I will when a jury returns a verdict.

It seems to me that following his exoneration Jewell successfully sued some of the media that rushed to condemn him. Apparently the media moguls have forgotten that it can be expensive to slander someone. If Zimmerman is innocent - and I'm not making any bets either way - I hope he sues for all he can get.

The only question about this incident that continues to nag me is:"Why does a Neighborhood Watcher carry a gun?"

Neighborhood watchers should carry two-way radios and cell phones; perhaps - only perhaps - a Taser-like weapon for self defense.

Apparently Zimmerman called for police assistance before any altercation with Martin; the police failed to respond in time. (I'm not privy to how much time elapsed between Zimmerman's call and the time the police arrived.)

The U.S. is based on a system that is supposed to mete out justice.

People, let the system have a chance to work.

Cut it short

 

Pesach 5722 starts on Friday night - erev Shabat -which means that in homes that follw a North African tradition - and others, too - Shabat will be welcomed with a difference.

While everyone, albeit mostly the ladies, have been making sure our homes are hametz-free zones, men have a special task to complete before Shabat.

The task - get a haircut.

Sefardi, Mizrachi, and Ashkenazi traditions hold that men don't get haircuts from the beginning of the Omer (Pesach's second night) until the 33 (ל''ג) day of the Omer (עומר). Some delay the shearing until just before Shavuot (שבועות).

None of my sources said anything about women cutting their hair during the omer.

See April 27 addition at the bottom for a ruling on haircuts for women and children>

Hakham Shalom Messas (ע''ה) writes in ילקוט שמ''ש on the laws of counting the omer (Page 109, Paragraph קמג) that "many hasidim and observant Jew{ish men} (חסידים ואנשי מעשי) don't cut their beards (מגלחים זקנם) during the days of the omer.

He explains that according to Maran (Yosef Caro) it is a tradition not to get haircuts until the 33rd day of the omer (ל''ג בעומר), adding that the tradition is not among "all the people" (כל העם).

He explains that among the hasidim and observant Jew{ish men} -see Hebrew, above - who follow Maran's decision do not shave (מגלחים זקנם) until the 33rd day. Some, however, follow the Arizal (אריז''ל) and refrain from cutting hair until erev Shavuot.

Hakham Mordekhai Eliahu (ע''ה) in his comments to the Kitzur Shulhan Aruk (Page 399), writes that we (Sefardim and Mizrachim) have a tradition not to get haircuts (להסתפר) until the 33rd day of the omer. Additionally, we don't listen to live music or music played on the radio until the 33rd day.

If the 33rd day falls on Shabat, we get haircuts Friday before Shabat; howeveer, if the 33rd falls on Sunday, we wait until after Shabat for our first post-Pesach haircut.

How short a haircut? Short enough so that it won't look to shaggy before the 33rd day of the omer.

What about men who must look neat "no matter what"?

Remembering my constant caveat that "I am not a rabbi and I don't play one on tv," I would think that, based on other rulings, if income depends upon appearance, men probably could get a trim, BUT ASK YOUR RABBI.

(Rabbis are invited to comment. I will append your comments to this file.)

Sources: While I normally cite only North African sources and Hakham Eliah, there is one other source that rates a special place in my personal library and I commend that source to all Jews: the book is יהדות הלכה למעשה by the former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel (and current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo), R. Israel Meir Lau. R. Lau is a special person, a rabbi who recognizes and appreciates others' customs and traditions and documents them in this book. The book is in relatively simple Hebrew and generally eschews abbreviations, roshi tabot (ראשי תיבות) that, frankly, give me a headache. His book was given to me by the son of a Syrian rabbi who feels the same way about R. Lau. If ever Israel was to have just one "Chief Rabbi," I would happily nominate R. Israel Meir Lau.

April 27 2012

In R. Rabbi Eli J. Mansour's Daily Halacha, he writes that "Women and young children may take haircuts during the period of Sefirat Ha’omer. Children who have reached the age of Misva training (five or six) should not take haircuts, but they may in situations of need."

R. Mansour cites his scources in the full article on his Web site:
http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=&ClipID=2313

No K4P Coke in California?

 

The following information from Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf 's excellent Kashrut.com. See
http://www.kashrut.com/Passover/PAlerts/ for this and other Passover-specific alerts.

Cocoa Cola will not be avaiable in California this year due to a quirk in the law that would make the ingredients unacceptable. In Chicago, products produced by Pepsi Cola had two different kosher certifications, the Kof-K and US Kosher, based in California. US Kosher certified products were distributed by independent wholesalers while the company itself distributed the Kof-K products.

Even in states where Coca Cola is available with an OU-P for Pesach, it will only be available in Regular and Diet flavors (not even a Caffeine-Free version). Aside from the New York metropolitan area, Coke will be available in Boston, Baltimore-Washington, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, and Philadelphia. This year, in New York, Coca Cola items will be made with an OU-P in 2 liter bottles.

Pepsi on the other hand is offering Kof-K kosher Passover beverages that included a Caffeine-Free version of regular and diet Pepsi. In addition Pepsi was also producing Passover versions of Seven-Up, Sierra Mist, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Lemon-Lime Seltzer, Mandarin Orange Seltzer and regular seltzer. It was also offering a variety of Dr. Brown’s flavors.

Ed. All brand names are registered trademarks of the respective companies.

According to an article carried by Arutz Sheva headlined The 11th Plague: No Kosher for Passover Coca-Cola in California (see http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154218#.T3IFm2H5A1k, "The company explained, 'The new alternative process caramel required to meet the State of California’s guidelines related to Proposition 65 does not meet the Kosher for Passover requirements.  We believe it will in 2013.' ”

The move to modify the ingredient follows on the heels of a threat that bottlers would have to include a "MAY CAUSE CANCER" warning label on "old caramel" drinks sold in California.

ABC News reports that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contends that "A person would have to drink 1,000 cans of soda every single day to hit the threshold risk of animals.""

Dr. Richard Besser, chief health and medical editor for ABC News claims that “You’re more likely to die from diabetes that’s linked to obesity that’s linked to all these sweetened beverages than you ever have to worry about the caramel,” he continued.

If you happen to live in California, you'll now know why "this night is different from all other nights" - no Coca Cola.

חג פסח כשר ושמח

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

When Wickedness Parades as Justice Thoughts for Parashat Tsav/Shabbat haGadol

 

By Rabbi Marc D. Angel
Used with permission

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson took leave from the Court to serve as the U.S’s chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals. He wrote that “the most odious of all oppressions are those which mask as justice.” He sharply criticized the role of judges and legal systems to legitimize tyranny and oppression.

Judge Jackson understood that the atrocities of the Nazis were all purported to be “legal”. Laws were passed depriving Jews of all rights. Laws were passed to round up, imprison, and murder Jews. All those who participated in these heinous actions were following the law of the land!

The problem, though, was that the law itself was starkly immoral; the government that promulgated murderous laws was itself evil; the “legal system” which allowed such “laws” to be passed and implemented was the epitome of injustice, cruelty, and wickedness. Moral people should have denounced such “laws” and should have resisted the “legal system.” If enough good people had risen against the tyrannical laws and the murderous Nazi regime, millions of lives would have been saved.

In our times, we also witness tendencies to legitimize wicked and immoral behavior by means of declaring such evil to be “legal”. The United Nations is perhaps the world’s most nefarious example of this tendency. The UN routinely passes resolutions condemning Israel--not because these condemnations relate to moral and sound judgment, but because a malicious cabal of Israel-hating nations muster the majority to pass anti-Israel resolutions. There isn’t even the faintest element of fairness to these resolutions, not the slightest effort to understand Israel’s position, not a word of condemnation of groups and nations who attack Israel in every way they can. The UN espouses resolutions and policies that are dressed in the garb of “international law” when in fact these resolutions and policies are classic examples of immorality, injustice and corruption of the value of law.

It’s not just the UN that tends to cloak immorality in the dress of justice. There are groups of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic people who seek to undermine Israel; they insidiously pose as being interested in human rights, as guardians of international law. Yet, they operate with malice toward Israel and perpetrate the vilest propaganda against her; they support boycotts of Israel; they constantly rebuke Israel for any real or imagined shortcoming. For these people, justice is not just at all; rather they pervert justice to further their own unjust and immoral goals.

Many seemingly good-hearted people get swept up in the “politically correct” anti-Israel bashing. They are gullible in the extreme, and don’t have the time or moral courage to try to find out actual facts. These people will condemn Israel for causing pain to Arabs in Gaza, but will never raise a word of protest when thousands of missiles are fired into Israel from Gaza. They will condemn Israel’s intransigence, but will never call to account Arab and Muslim leaders who unashamedly call for the destruction of Israel. Thinking that they are standing for “human rights” and for “international law”, these people are in fact accomplices in immorally seeking to deprive Jews of their rights. They foster “laws” and “resolutions” and “policies” that are in essence criminal, unjust, immoral.

In Psalm 81, we read: “lo yihye bekha el zar,”

,

(לא יהיה בך אל זר (ולא תשתחוה לאל נכר

let there be no strange god among you.

The Talmud (Shabbat 105b) offers a more literal and more profound interpretation of this phrase--you shall not have within yourself a strange god. According to this interpretation, the verse is not warning us against worshiping external idols. Rather, it is telling us to look within ourselves for strange gods, for evil inclinations, for false divinities. It is demanding that we introspect, that we maintain truth, that we reject the false gods that mislead us into false beliefs and corrupt behaviors.

This is a message of utmost importance for all people. None of us should allow “false gods” to fester within us, to blind our eyes to our moral responsibilities. All humans must strive to root out the evil inclination that leads to discriminatory attitudes, to corrupt laws and resolutions, to following along with the “politically correct” but morally bankrupt anti-Israel chorus. We must remember the words of Justice Jackson that “the most odious of all oppressions are those which mask as justice.”

This coming Shabbat is known as Shabbat haGadol—the great Shabbat recalling the Israelites’ preparation for their redemption from Egypt. Just as the ancient Israelites were redeemed from their cruel oppressors, so we pray that today’s Israelites will be redeemed from their oppressors. We pray that all humans will strive honestly and sincerely to remove the “strange gods” of hatred, hypocrisy and malice from within themselves.

Our rabbis taught: in the month of Nissan our ancestors were redeemed, and in the month of Nissan we will be redeemed in the future.

________________________________________

The Angel for Shabbat column is presented as a service of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Please visit our website jewishideas.org for a wide array of articles of special interest to those who wish to foster an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism.

When matzah is forbidden and some other traditions

 

I was reading an email from R. Eli J. Mansour, the Syrian rabbi of Cong. Bet Yaakob, who writes - citing his sources - that it is permitted to drink wine or grape juice on erev Pesach.

R. Mansour writes that the authorities rule that the amount to be consumed must be either (a) less than 1.7 oz or (b) more than 3.2 oz. (See http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=&ClipID=2296 for the entire article.)

No matzah?

The email reminds me that there is one day during the year when matzah (מצה) is prohibited.

That day? The day before Passover; in 2012, that is from sundown Wednesday, 4 April until sundown Thursday, 5 April (just before bedikat hametz [בדיקת חמץ] ).

It is amazing how great the desire for "just one piece" of matzah can become on the day before Pesach. It's similar to putting a heavy smoker into a No Smoking area (so I'm told).

The problem is aggravated by the fact that after around 10 a.m. (depends on location, check at a local observant congregation) of the day before Pesach, right after the hametz is burned (העור חמץ), all hametz is forbidden as well.

Here the diet is potatoes and eggs until the seder.

Home from synagogue

Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe's daily email (see http://www.atorahminute.com/2012-03-21) from Midrash Ben Ish Hai notes that "When returning from Synagogue on the first night of Pesah, one should come home happy and radiant and should greet the members of one's household with (for Sephardim) "Tizkoo LeShaneem Rabboth", or (for Ashkenazim) "Hagh Kasher WeSameah. After that one should start singing, "Qaddesh Urhas."

"When the first night of Pesah falls on Friday night, Shabbath takes precedence and one should greet the members of one's household with, "Shabbath Shalom" and then afterwards the greeting for the Yom Tob."

The email notes that "According to Rab Mordekhai Eliyahu, 'a"h, the Sephardi custom is to recite all the portions of Shabbath, but not to lengthen the tune."

חג פסח כשר ושמח

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

The Search for hametz And some words about words

Rabbi Eli J. Mansour of New York's Syrian Congregation Bet Yaakob and DailyHalacha.com, writes about bedikat hametz (בדיקת חמץ) in his daily email.

He cites the Hid”a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1807), in his work Mahazik Beracha (Se’if Katan 7), and the Sha’areh Teshuba (Se’if Katan 1), who observed the widespread practice not to make a thorough search of one’s home for Bedikat Hametz since the residence is thoroughly cleaned before the search would take place.

R. Mansour adds that "Places in the home that were thoroughly cleaned and kept free of Hametz have the status of places where Hametz is not used at all, and thus do not, technically speaking, require Bedikat Hametz. Thus, although one is certainly required to conduct a search on the night of the 14th of Nissan, there is room to justify the prevalent practice not to search thoroughly in all areas of the home." He also notes that "According to some authorities, this is allowed as long as the house was cleaned three days before Pesah."

In our house, we start cleaning well before three days before Pesach. With 17 days to go, the only rooms remains to be "hametz free" are the kitchen and combined dining/living room. All the bedrooms are hametz free as is the garage - including the freezer and "spare" compact refrigerator.

In the past, I cleared all hametz from the house with carefully planned shopping and menus; anything left went to non-Jewish acquaintances. Now, like most folks, we go along with the fiction of "selling" the hametz to a noker (non-Jew).

And then, at the end of the holiday (מוצאי חג) I race to the local supermarket - not Jewish owned - to buy flour for Moroccan mufleta to prepare for an invasion of our Sefardi and Mizrachi friends - and maybe an Ashkenazi or two, too.

So now we have "hametz-free" areas. It's not enough that no hametz ever entered the rooms; the wife worries that an invisible crumb clung to us and dropped off in the room. (It could be worse. Her mother used to whitewash the walls!)

The rabbis tell us we must search our buildings for leven, hametz.

The house is hametz free and we know it's hametz free.

What to do?

Here, the wife lays out 10 good sized pieces of aluminum foil.

Into each piece of foil she puts a small piece of bread - saved especially for the occasion.

She    C A R E F U L L Y    wraps the small piece of bread inside the foil and seals it almost hermetically.

Finally, after chasing me outside, she places the 10 carefully wrapped bits of hametz around the house - in all the rooms in which we "live."

Invited back into the house, I read the blessing before the hunt, then arm myself with a hurricane lamp - safer than a candle, especially in my hands - and begin a room-by-room search for hametz, with the wife close behind.

She says nothing unless I start to leave an area where I missed a package. Then she lets me know that I need to be more diligent and I go back until all the foil is found. This continues until all 10 pieces of hametz-in-foil are in a bowl in her hand.

Once the pieces have been counted, by each of us, the after-the-hunt blessing is read and the 10 pieces put into a baggie not to be touched until the time arrives to burn them.

When the kids were small, they went with me On The Great Hametz Hunt, but they liked the burning part of the event more. Kids and fire. Some things never change.

Judaism is truly family oriented.

The hunt for - and burning of - hametz.

The building and decorating of the sukkah (and the hauling of food to and from the sukkah)

Walking as a family to synagogue on Shabat.

Knowing everyone would be at the table at all Shabat meals.

The only "Pesach thing" that ever bothered me was one line in biktav that reads in relation to the seder: "there shall be no alien eat thereof" כח-בן נכר לא-יאכל בו. We had for many years a dear friend who wanted to join us at the seder. Unlike Thanksgiving, unlike sitting in a sukkah, this was the one time she was excluded.

I understand the reasons for the exclusion, including שפך חמתך אל-הגוים אשר לא-ידעוך meaning non Jews.

Still.

A few words on words.

R. Mansour, of a Syrian background, and R. Ya'aqob Menashe, who I suspect is Iraqi all write transliterations as they speak the words in their version of Hebrew. R. Sender Haber, an Ashkenazi, also write as he talks. As do I.

Variety is nice, but comprehension - understanding - is better.

Which is why I recommend to anyone struggling with transliterations to follow their best effort with the actual Hebrew (as I frequently do on this blog site). Most word processors have Hebrew capability, and most blog hosts can accommodate the Hebrew characters.

So whether it is massa or matzah or maseh, whether is it massos or matzehs it all comes back to מצה and מצות.

חג פסח כשר ושמח

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

Kosher for Passover lists

 

Looking for K4P lists?

My favoriute "kosher" site, Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf's Kashrut.com, has links to most of the more popular lists, including:

Chicago Rabbincal Council

Vaad Hakashrus of Denver

Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis

Rabbi Eidlitz

Jersey Shore Orthrodox Rabbinate (JSOR) - Sefardi

Orthodox Union (OU)

Kashruth Council of Canada

OK

Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle (Ashkenazi and Sefardi)

Star-K

Maguen David Mexico (KMD) - Spanish

Arlene's Misc. Passover Product Information

Kosher l'Yom Tov?

 

I received an interesting email this morning that tells me, basically, that I should NOT buy "Kosher l'Pesach."

According to the email:

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 469) rules that one should not verbally declare regarding any animal or meat, “This is for Pesah.” If one verbally designates an animal or meat for Pesah, it may appear as though he formally consecrates the animal as a Korban Pesah, and thus when he eats the meat, he will appear as eating sacrificial meat outside Jerusalem. Therefore, when one orders meat at the butcher, for example, he should say he is ordering meat “for Yom Tov,” rather than saying “for Pesah.” The Mishna Berura (commentary by Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) writes that this applies as well to one who instructs somebody to purchase meat for him for the holiday. He should instruct the person to purchase meat “for Yom Tov,” and not “for Pesah.” Likewise, one should not instruct somebody to roast meat for him “for Pesah,” and should say instead “for Yom Tov.”

This Halacha applies even to animals that are not suitable for the Korban Pesah, such as chicken. Even though a chicken cannot be offered as the paschal sacrifice, designating a chicken for Pesah may sound as though one designates its value for the Korban Pesah, and he intends to sell it and use the funds to purchase an animal for the sacrifice. Furthermore, according to some authorities, this applies even to fish. In short, one should avoid referring to any meat, poultry or fish as designated especially “for Pesah,” and should instead refer to it as designated “for Yom Tov.”

If I understand Maran correctly, I cannot buy KforP meat - or even chicken or fish. The "for Pesach" designation makes it appear as if the food was for a sacrifice.

Maran lived in Tzfat; in his time the city may have been considered holier than Jerusalem. Certainly it had greater minds than Jerusalem. But, Maran could go to Jerusalem to eat his Pesah meals. Not all Jews have that privilege today.

But even in Maran's time, there was no place to sacrifice the animals. Until the abomination is removed and the Temple rebuilt, there will be no sacrifices in Jerusalem. (Jews in ancient Alexandra built a temple and offered sacrifices in it.)

If we are to follow Maran, perhaps instead of "kosher for Passover" the labels should read "kosher for Yom Tov" - but then it might be considered special for all of the Shalosh Ragelim. It would be kosher for all three, and food vendors could extend their too-high prices over a longer time.

By the way, to some degree I emphasize with the food vendors. It's only the week before Passover that many Jews discover "kashrut" and buy kosher products. It would be nice, however, if the markets would give coupons or chits to those of us who keep kosher all year round, redeemable as discounts on KforP purchases.

Maybe there's a way to compromise the times when the Temple stood and our time.

Since we cannot sacrifice animals except on the Temple's alters, and since we cannot even go onto the Temple mount (according to renewed decrees from leading Sephardi and Ashkenazi rabbis in Israel), we can't offer sacrifices.

Since many of us cannot make it to Jerusalem to eat the Passover meals (one night for Israelis, two nights for all others, even those visiting Israel), perhaps we should donate the price of the meat bought for the seder - or perhaps the cost of one complete dinner. "whichever is greater," to a Jewish cause. Perhaps invite someone who cannot afford all the "kosher for Passover" labels to the seder(s).

Of course all the above comes with the usual caveat: I am not a rabbi and I do not play one on tv.

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

Pesach פסח

 

>Very few haggim have as many "unique-to-the-holiday" laws as Passover.

Law vs. traditions, minhagim מנחגים.

The following are a few minhagim of North African Jews. As with all things Jewish, there is the ubiquitous caveat: "Ask your rabbi."

As usual, the sources are

הוד יוסף חי של הרה''ג יובף משאש, ע''ה

ילקוט שמ''ש של הרה''ג שלום משאש, ע''ה

דברי שלום ואמת של הרב מאיר אביטבול-מייסדת, עורך

קצורשלחן ערוך בשלם של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו, ע''ה

Fast of the first born סיום בתענית הכורות

According to Hakham Yosef Messas in his work Waters of Life
(מים חיים) a syium can be on even one portion (perek) and that portion can be completed again and again so that all can enjoy the simha of the syium. (דברי שלום ואמת)

Eating rice on Pesach אכילת אורז בפסח

Rice is permitted providing (a) it has not been shipped in a sack that once contained any of the five species and (b) that it is carefully inspected to assure there are no other grains mixed in. (Rice K for P is acceptable without additional inspection. See http://kashrut.com for Passover guides and lists of acceptable products.) (דברי שלום ואמת)

All manner of kitniyot are permitted during Pesach, except that rice must be checked as above to assure no grain from any of the 5 species is mixed with the rice. (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Personal; aside: Rice was introduced to my Moroccan family when a Syrian son of a rabbi married into the family, already settlrf in Bet Shean. Before Shlomo's arrival, rice was absent from the Pesach menu.

Counting the omer ספירת העמר>

The North African custom is to count the omer after the last Borahu ברכו and before Alenu עלינו.

(דברי שלום ואמת)

Kashering an oven כשר תנור האפיה

If you don't have a self-cleaning oven, the procedure is to theroughly clean the stove, even cleaning out all the accessible screws, then turning on the oven to a temperature higher than normally used to cook food (bake, broil) for 3 hours. Once the oven cools, wash it with very hot water. Ideally change the racks, but if this is not possible, wash them in very hot water. (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Kashering glassware כשר כלי זכוכית

If necessary, glassware may be used sans any kashering process other than to thoroughly clean the items. (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Measuring an olive and egg כזית וכביצה

We measure quantity of food not by weight (משקל) as normally is done, but by volume (נפח). (ילקוט שמ''ש)

Microwave ovens מקרוגל

Rabbi Mordekhai Eliyahu, ע''ה, describes a four step process to make it kosher.

1. It should be cleaned thoroughly with a damp cloth.

2. It should not be used for 24 hours.

3. A bowl of water should be boiled in it till the water evaporates. (A word of caution is in order here, there have been isolated reports of the bowl exploding when the door is opened

Extreme care must be taken if a person wishes to kasher a microwave oven).

4. When used during Pesah, the food should only be heated in a closed container.

Maamar Mordekha - Hilkhoth Haggim, 5:77

As with all things, your rabbi should be the "final authority."

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

Passover- Koshering the kitchen

 

The Rabbi Jacob S. Kassin Memorial Halacha Series

Authored by Rabbi Eli J. Mansour (3/15/2012)

We present here a practical guide for preparing the various parts of one's kitchen for Pesach:

1) Dishwashers: One prepares a dishwasher for use on Pesach by running a complete cycle before Pesach with the dishwasher empty. Detergent should be poured on the racks before the cycle is run.

2) Ovens: An oven with a self-clean feature is prepared for Pesach by running a complete self-cleaning cycle. If an oven does not have such a feature, then one should thoroughly clean the oven's exterior and interior with "Easy Off" or some other chemical-based cleaning agent, and then run the oven for an hour on its highest setting.

According to ילקוט שמ''ש by Hakham Sholom Messas (ISBN 965-7139*70-8), If you don't have a self-cleaning oven, the procedure is to theroughly clean the stove, even cleaning out all the accessible screws, then turning on the oven to a temprature higher than normally used to cook food (bake, broil) for THREE (3) hours. Once the oven cools, wash it with very hot water. Ideally change the racks, but if this is not possible, wash them in very hot water. Many self-cleaning ovens take about 3 hours for a full cleaning.

3) Tables: A table that has been used with Hametz should be cleaned and then covered with a tablecloth. One should pour hot water over the table first. One may then eat on the tablecloth throughout the festival of Pesach. When cleaning the table, one must ensure to remove all residue dirt and substances from the surface and from any cracks or holes in the table. (See Chazon Ovadya page 159.)

4) Countertops: Formica, stone and marble countertops can be prepared for Pesach by pouring boiling water over them. One should boil a kettle of water, wait for it to whistle, and then immediately pour the kettle's water over the countertops. Some have the custom to then cover the countertops after pouring boiling water over them. (See Chazon Ovadya page 160.)

5) Microwaves: The question of whether and how a microwave oven can be prepared for use on Pesach is a complex one. It is therefore advisable to cover all foods one places in the microwave on Pesach with plastic wrap. Ideally, one should cover all foods placed in the microwave during the year, as well. According to some authorities, one can prepare a microwave oven for use on Pesach by adding some soap to a bowl of water and then heating the water in the microwave until it reaches a boil. The steam then expunges the Hametz from the walls of the microwave. Still, it is proper to cover all food placed in the microwave during Pesach, even if one followed the aforementioned procedure.

6) Stovetops: To prepare a stovetop for Pesach, one should, after thoroughly cleaning the grates, make Hag’ala on them or pour hot water over them. Furthermore, one should pour hot water over the stovetop after thoroughly cleaning it. (See Chazon Ovadya page 137.)

7) Sinks: One should prepare his sink for Pesach by pouring boiling water over it from a kettle three times. Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Chazon Ovadia (Laws of Pesach, p. 151), rules that this is effective even for porcelain sinks, despite the fact that porcelain utensils generally cannot be "Koshered" for Pesach. The exception made for sinks stems from a number of different factors. Firstly, it is uncertain whether the sink had been used with water hot enough to allow the sink to absorb particles of Hametz. And even if this did occur, soap is normally used when utensils are washed in the sink, thus rendering any absorbed particles "Pagum" (foul-tasting), which Halacha treats with greater leniency. Finally, any Hametz absorbed in the sink was absorbed when Hametz was still permissible for consumption, which allows us to remove the absorbed particles through the process of Hag'ala (immersion in boiling water). Some people have the admirable practice to place a grating on the bottom of the sink so that the utensils do not come in direct contact with the surface of the sink, even after boiling water has been poured over the sink.

The foregoing can be found linked from http://www.dailyhalacha.com and is used with permission.

Passover tzdeka

Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe

The Rambam writes that it is a Miswah (Mitzvah) to be happy and to gladden his wife and children on the holidays. While he is eating and drinking he must feed the convert, the orphan, the widow and the other poor unfortunate ones.
One who locks his doors and gates and sits and eats with his family without feeding the poor is not fulfilling the Miswah of happiness but only the happiness of his belly. About such people it is said, "Their sacrifices are like stolen bread, all who eat it become impure...".

There is an age old custom to take wheat and distribute it to the poor, in order to assist them with the substantial expenses during the holiday of Pesah (Passover). Nowadays, it is not customary to give wheat but to give charity to the poor, which they use for their holiday needs. This is often done by giving money to institutions who take care of the distribution.

(See Maamar Mordekhai - Hilkhoth Haggim, 2:)

http://www.atorahminute.com/

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

Purim pacifist

 

The other day at a seudat Purim (Purim meal) one of the guests, an orthodox, Mizrahi boy from Israel who is married to one of the host's daughters, said that - in context of Iran today - we - Jews - should prefer to sit in yeshivot and pray that HaShem will protect us than to go out to defend ourselves.

Given that the host is Moroccan and his wife a Yemenite and that the only other guests were Moroccan, this opinion was not greeted enthusiastically.

Granted, this lad had taken to heart the admonishment to drink until he no longer could tell the difference between "bless Mordachi" and "curse H*man."

People who have visited this blog before know where I stand on people who spend their life in yeshiva and give nothing back.

It is one thing if the person truly is a hakham and will someday be a "gadol b'dor" (a rabbinical giant of the generation), but the majority of the long-term denizens of yeshivot, especially in Israel where they are government subsidized, are just "professional students."

But to suggest that HaShem will take care of us while to do nothing flies in the face of Jewish history.

The Purim holiday reminds us that Jews took up arms and defeated determined anti-Semites across the world from Cush to Hodu - all of Ashasvarosh's world.

We took up arms on numerous occasions between the time we left Egypt until we could live in relative peace in Greater Israel.

Without a doubt, HaShem played a major role in all of our military adventures. When He turned his back on us, we suffered defeats. במדבר, שלח לך, י''ד מ''

When He was with us, we prevailed.

But each time, WE armed ourselves and went into combat.

We didn't sit in yeshivot and pray that HaShem will protect us.

We also did not sit in yeshiva and expect to survive on handouts.

Almost all of the luminaries of the Talmuds had some way to generate an income. Some were into retail and wholesale - Meir sold beer, for example. One of the many Yohanons made shoes, ergo he was known as Yohanon the Sandler. Some were teachers; most attempted to earn an "honest" living to support themselves and their families.

For an Israeli-born Mizrahi to say, even in his drunkenness, that all Jews should head for the yeshivot and pray that HaShem will defeat our enemies seems totally out of place. This lad has spent time in yeshivot, but he apparently failed to learn anything about Torah or about the scholars and religious leaders of the Talmudic period, the period on which most yeshivot spend all their study time.

It was an interesting afternoon.

Although sometimes it is difficult,

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

Standing Tall and Strong for Israel and the Jewish People

Thoughts on Parashat Ki Tissa, March 10, 2012

 

By Rabbi Marc D. Angel
Used with permission

Some years ago, I read about a German Jew who established a "Jewish Nazi Society" during the 1930s. While Jews throughout Germany (and Europe in general) were facing horrible anti-Jewish persecutions, this Jewish man internalized the vicious anti-Semitic propaganda to such an extent that he also became a Jew-hater. Perhaps he thought that by identifying as a Nazi, he would be spared personally from the anti-Jewish persecutions. He wanted to be considered as "a good Jew" in the eyes of the Nazis, rather than be accounted among the "bad" Jews whom the Nazis were tormenting.

I don't know what ultimately happened to the members of the "Jewish Nazi Society", but I doubt that they were spared by the Nazi hate machine. The Nazis hated Jews for having Jewish blood, regardless of their beliefs or political leanings. Jewish Nazis were just as despicable to Nazis as any other Jews. The Jewish Nazis were despised by Jews for their treachery; and despised by Nazis for their Jewishness.

These thoughts came to mind as I contemplated the phenomenon of Jews in our time who struggle to undermine Israel, and who identify themselves with those who strive to destroy the Jewish State. These individuals seem to suffer from the same psychological problems as members of the "Jewish Nazi Society" in Germany.

Israel is constantly barraged by its enemies--through terrorism, economic boycotts, political isolation, anti-Israel propaganda, threats of war and nuclear destruction. To the enemies of Israel, the Jewish State is the object of blind, unmitigated hatred. The enemies use every possible forum to malign Israel and deny its legitimacy.

This unceasing war against Israel is resisted courageously by the Jewish State, by Jewish supporters of Israel, by millions of non-Jewish supporters of Israel. It is bizarre and morally repugnant that the one tiny Jewish country in the world has to suffer so much abuse. It is a matter of honor to stand up for Israel and to remind the world of the right of the Jews to their own homeland. We need to counter the attacks against Israel in every forum. We need to speak truth to combat the unceasing stream of lies heaped up against Israel.

Does this mean that we must agree with and condone everything that Israel does? Of course not. Israelis themselves are vocal in their criticisms of aspects of Israeli life and government policies. As long as criticisms are voiced with love, they should be welcome. They help shake the status quo and move things in a better direction. But criticism must be balanced with an appreciation of the amazingly impressive positive aspects of the Jewish State.

While fair and loving critics are vital to Israel's welfare, haters are destructive. Haters do not seek to improve Israel--they seek to destroy it. Their goal is not to encourage a vibrant, flourishing Jewish State--their goal is to eliminate the Jewish State. The hatred is so blind and so intense, that it is oblivious to facts and figures. For haters, Israel is guilty just by existing. It is particularly regrettable when people of Jewish ancestry align themselves with the haters. In some perverse way, they may think this separates them from the fate of Israel and the Jewish people--they think they will be viewed as "the good Jews" in contrast with the Zionists who are viewed as "the bad Jews". But such Jews are despised by Jews as traitors, and are despised (or mocked) by the haters of Israel--because after all, these hating Jews are still Jews!

The enemies are happy to use such people for propaganda purposes; but if they were ever to succeed in their wicked designs, these hating Jews would not fare well. Their treachery to Israel and their fellow Jews would not make them beloved by the enemies of Jews and Israel.

We have read recently of Jewish haters/self-haters who have participated in-- and even spearheaded-- anti-Israel boycotts. We have read of Israeli professors/left wing intellectuals who have participated in anti-Israel programs on college campuses throughout the world. We have read columns by Jewish journalists that are so blatantly unfair to Israel that it makes us shudder.

The great 16th century kabbalist and biblical commentator, Rabbi Moshe Alsheikh, offered a homiletic interpretation of the first verse in this week’s Torah portion. When the Israelites are to choose a leader (בי תשה את-ראש הני-יראל ), they should choose one who is totally devoted to Israel, who is willing to give his life on behalf of the Lord and on behalf of the people (איש כפר מפשו ). It is destructive to have half-hearted or self-serving people in positions of authority. Total commitment is an essential component of leadership.

Note: This translation does not match the Hertz/Soncino. yg

But this interpretation applies not only to the officially designated leadership; it applies to each Jew. Each of us is an ambassador of our people; each of us represents the history, culture and traditions of the millennial Jewish experience; each of us is part of the Jewish destiny. To play our roles as proud and courageous Jews, we need to overcome inferiority complexes and reject “politically correct” pressures; we need to stand tall and stand strong, with the wholeness of our being, on behalf of the God of Israel, the Torah of Israel and the People of Israel.

________________________________________

The Angel for Shabbat column is presented as a service of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. Please visit our website jewishideas.org for a wide array of articles of special interest to those who wish to foster an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism.

The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals

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New York, NY 10023

Nero returns

Will Israel burn?

 

According to the New York Times (http://tinyurl.com/78bceqk), the incumbent at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, that he "would not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran and would act — with military force, if necessary — to prevent that from happening.

But he made it clear that he did not believe that a strike on Iran would serve the interests of either the United States or Israel. And he chided his Republican critics for, as he described it, putting politics ahead of American national security interests.

The Times also reported that "there is too much loose talk of war,” which I find strange when much of that talk comes out of mouths of his sycophants.

The denizen of D.C., nee' Chicago, has me wondering - is he more like Nero, the Roman cesar who allegedly fiddled while Rome burned or is he more like Neville Chamberlain who, upon his return to England from a visit to the ayatollah's ideological predecessor stated "There will be peace in our time." Lest anyone has forgotten their history of the world, Chamberlain's remark was made shortly after Britain reneged on its promises and World War II got underway in earnest.

Frankly, I don't know why AIPAC invited the man to speak. According to some polls, he already has the Jewish vote - at least the liberal, Hollywood vote.

In truth, Israel, and "net-an-ya-hoo" - for some reason the talking heads cannot or will not correctly pronounce the man's name (Neh-ten-ya-hu) - would be wise to plan to "go it alone."

I am a U.S. citizen and mostly proud of it. But I know that America sometimes promises things and then - like England before the war came to the island - reneges on the promise.

Ask the folks in Hungary.

Ask the folks in Czechoslovakia.

The U.S. State Department has never been a friend of Israel.

The executive branch is at best a "fair weather" friend of Israel - else why is the embassy still in Tel Aviv and not in Israel's capital as most other embassies? Congress voted to make the move, but the White House stymies the effort. In this case, it makes no difference who resides in the mansion, Republican or Democrat.

Sometimes it is difficult, but

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

Price before pride

 

A few years ago, back when Sam Wahl was alive, his Walmart stores bragged in the advertisements that they "bought American."

Then the founder died and "Made in America" seemed to just "fade away."

I'd like to blame it on the bean counters - and to a degree I do - but the blame lies with the people who shop at Walmart for low prices. I'm one of the guilty.

Perhaps I was one of the guilty.

This "awareness" came to mind today as I tipped over a 42 cup "GE" coffee urn we use on Shabat and haggim. It's about 3 years old.

I noted a leak after filling the container early on Friday - my jobs include setting the table, filling the urn, and making sure all the timers are set and the refrigerator light switch is taped down (light is off). I also get to sweep and mop the floor. (When we lived in Holon, I also got to do the end-of-week shopping that included parve chocolate and carnations for the Spouse - and a falafel for me.)

Since the discovery was made well before I left for a very late minhah, the water was transferred from the urn into a kettle. The water was boiled just before candle lighting and the kettle was put into the over - along with the hamin ("cholent" for Sefardim).

Sunday, with the urn fully dry, it was tipped over and we read that while "GE" was printed on the front, "Walmart" was boldly stamped on the bottom - along with the discouraging words" Made in China.

So much for Sam Wahl's legacy.

This particular urn replaced one we had for perhaps 7 or 8 years that bore the brand name "Sunbeam" on it. Granted, I had to replace the spigot assembly after four years, but since I found the owner's manual on line and was able to order parts, I managed to "do the deed." Maybe that urn also was made in China. Unlike the Sunbeam urn, I failed to find any repair information from either GE or Walmart. I can, I suppose, go to a third party and buy a repair manual and maybe fix the unit.

Cost cutting.

Blame the Chinese? We all know that there are far, far too many shoddy - and often dangerous - Chinese products.

But as a risk management practitioner, I contend - and the courts usually agree with me - that the importer and the retailed have some responsibility for quality control.

I have several Lasko devices in the house - space heaters and fans. Lasko products, like the GE-Walmart urn, are made in China. Given that (a) we've had the products for many years and (b) they continue to work as advertised, I suspect that the Lasko people perform a farily rigid incoming inspection on its Made in China products. Likewise, I suspect that the GE-Walmart QC people may have blinked when the urn came into the country. Certainly U>someone blinked when it was decided not to put a manual on line. "Sell it and forget it."

Many, many years ago, when I was a young reporter, I bought my first 35 mm camera (with a loan from my newspaper employer). It was a "Honeywell" Pentax H3v, a simple, no-nonsense, interchangeable lens, TTL camera. I don't think it even had a light meter which was OK, I only used Tri-X and every box included a light meter (chart).

The camera was made in Japan by Pentax, a company with a good reputation even then. (Americans still were suspicious of anything Japanese in those day.) Honeywell, the importer, put all the cameras - even the lowly H3v - through its own QC before it put its name on the equipment.

Walmart put its name - and reputation - on the coffee urn. It only was used to keep water hot for Shabat and haggim (and granted, than in some cases means 75 hours). GE also put its name on the urn.

We - Americans - apparently are willing to sacrifice QC for a few cents in savings.

We buy Chinese products knowing we are (a) taking a risk and (b) that the products may be made under conditions no American worker would tolerate (even in this economy).

I might buy Chinese again - but know that I will make every effort to "Buy American" before I put down cash for a replacement urn.

Recently there have been tv shows and articles that if someone buys smartly, Buying American can be less expensive than buying foreign-made goods.

With the Internet putting the America's manufacturers at our fingertips, Buying American is well worth the effort.