Opuscula Is everything We don’t like “Anti-Semitic?"

A NOTORIOUSLY ANTI-JEWISH NEW YORK rag recently published a blatantly anti-Israel and anti-Republican cartoon.

Then it apologized.

Like all such people, the fish-wrapper’s staff thought that would suffice to shut up the Jews and conservatives.

It did not.

 

Above: First offensive cartoon from the New York publication

 

A FEW DAYS LATER, the same rag published another cartoon, this time strictly “anti-Netanyahu.”

Again, a number of Jews, presumably Netanyahu supporters, took umbrage.

This cartoon, by Norwegian cartoonist Roar Hagen, depicts, according to Israel HaYom₁, Netanyahu with sinister eyes taking a picture of himself with a selfie-stick, carrying in what appears to be an empty desert with a tablet featuring the Israeli flag painted on it.

 

Above: Roar Hagen cartoon

 

Honest Reporting₁ contends that Whatever your interpretation of this particular image, we can only conclude that the New York Times is deliberately giving the Jewish community the proverbial finger while it apologies for the other cartoon.

 

Above: Image of “Honest Reporting” comment

 

I CONFESS, I am not a fan of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Because I do not support everything Netanyahu does, or doesn’t do, perhaps I don’t find the Hagen cartoon particularly offensive.

To MY MIND, the cartoon is simply editorial comment.

It is neither anti-Jewish nor anti-Israel.

Anti-Netanyahu, to be certain, but cartoonists do worse things to President Trump and many members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle.

 

Above: Political attacks on U.S. politicians and their plans

 

Politicians, even Israeli politicians, should not be above a cartoonist’s poison pen.

Politicians, even Jewish politicians — even ones who deny their Jewishness — should not be above a cartoonist’s poison pen.

Likewise liberals and conservatives.

But editorializing with a cartoonist’s pen is no different than editorializing with the printed, or spoken, word.

If the editorial lacks any grain of truth, then umbrage is appropriate. But when there IS that grain of truth, then the target of the editorial is fair game.

The Netanyahu cartoon could as appropriately been applied to Franklin Delano Roosevelt (and something similar may have been). I’m certain Democrats would have risen to the bait, just as, in my opinion, overly sensitive Jews took the bait for the Netanyahu cartoon.

There is no question, no debate, that the original cartoon in the New York fish-wrapper was — is — both anti-Israel and anti-Trump as well as being in poor taste, albeit not as bad as the New York Daily News’ front page attack on President Trump (not to mention an insult to Pastor Martin Niemöller and his poem, First they came.)²

It is true that the nazis slaughtered six million Jews, but the nazis ALSO murdered six million others, including almost all the Roma, Communists, Socialists, aged and infirm, and mentally deficient. Too many Jews tend to forget “the others” and claim the holocaust as their own.

We — Jews — are a people subject to the same abuse from cartoonists and editorial writers as any other people.

There are times to challenge others canards and there are times when we over-react.

I believe we over-reacted to the Hagen cartoon.

The reaction to the cartoon in the fish-wrapper and bird cage-liner is, in my opinion, wholly appropriate.

But then the rag in which it appeared only is being true to it’s anti-Jewish history.

---

Sources

1. http://tinyurl.com/yxtvmut4

2. http://tinyurl.com/yaj53q57

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Anti-Semitism

Opuscula Does the neck Count as face During the Omer?

OBVIOUSLY I HAVE FAR TOO MUCH TIME on my hands.

Here we are, on Day 8 of the Omer — why “Day 8” vs. “Eighth day”? — and I am pondering “May I remove the hair from my neck and still comply with the mourning rules of shaloshim?” which actually are 33 days, until lag (ל"ג) b’omer.

I am not a rabbi and I don’t play one on tv. (The world is grateful.)

 

R. Abraham Twerski, left, and Hakham Shalom Messas, right

 

In this day and age, when many Jewish males remain clean shaven — for work or shalom biet (beit?) or just because “it itches” — why am I concerned about neck hairs?

Perhaps because this is the season for Avot, commonly called “Ethics of the Fathers” or “Sayings of the Fathers” but in any case comments made by rabbis living between 250 BCE and 250 CE.

These luminaries considered the smallest details of Jewish jurisprudence. Delve into almost any other talmudic work and you may be engaged in nit-picking of the most minute nature.

As far as neck hair goes — from the chin to the clavicle (sorry about that) — I ended up thinking like Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof: On the other hand . . . circular logic.

I am retired, so I don’t have to worry (over much) about a public image or an employer’s frown.

I’ve been bearded longer than I’ve been married; my Spouse never has seen my naked face. My children and grandchildren would not recognize me sans my white beard.

On the other hand — and with Judaism, there ALWAYS is “an other hand” — the first 33 days of the omer are supposed to be like a mourner’s shloshim, the first 30 days after a close relative’s demise. (If you insist on knowing who is considered a “close relative” I commend to you R. Yamin Levy’s Journey Through Grief.¹)

Even for mourners there often are ways rabbis can discover to make beards “disappear.” (Here I am referring to traditional rabbis, “modern Orthodox” if you will. And if you won’t, what then?)

The rabbis of old — and maybe the rabbis of “new," too —, tell us that 2400 of R. Akiva ben Yosef’s students died during the omer because they lacked respect for one another. Imagine, R. Akiva ben Yosef, who began his studies some say at age 40, becomes the head of a yeshiva of at least 2400 students ! ²

There are tens, perhaps hundreds, of different editions of Avot. That is not counting the editions found in almost every sedur, traditional, Conservative, and maybe even Reform. They are like Passover hagadot — you cannot have too many.

One of my favorites is Judaica Press’ ©1964, but I’m enchanted with “The Artscroll Children's Pirkei Avos”³ While the latter is allegedly for children — mostly due to Chani Judowitz’ illustrations — Shmuel Blitz’ commentaries on the complete Avot (in mostly Hebrew and English; there is a smattering of Aramaic with English translation) make it suitable for “children” of all ages, even for those בן שבעים לשיבה. ⁴

My only complain with Avot is that Shamai is not quoted more often. On the other hand, when he IS quoted, he is succinct and his wisdom is plain for all to read.

Aside from almost parenthetical remarks, beards are almost never mentioned, but it is easy to imagine how the rabbis would debate my quandary: Is the neck included as part of the beard that is untouched by a mourner?

The talmuds seem to cover just about everything.

What would the rabbis tell me? Would there be a definitive answer?

Sources

1. Journey Through Grief, Ktav, ISBN 0-88125-802-4, ©2003

2. Masters of the Talmud, A.J. Kolatch, ISBN 0-8546-0434-2, ©2003

3. Artscroll Children's Pirkei Avos, Shmuel Blitz & Chani Judowitz, ISBN-10: 1422615790, ©2015

4. Avot, Chapter 5, Mishnah 21 (in some books, Mishnah 25).

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

Comments on Beards

Opuscula Elite candies K4P? Two certifications Two different opinions

HERE WE ARE, ALMOST AT THE END of Pesach (Passover) 5779 (2019).

Yesterday the 13 year-old neighbor came over to help trim a tree. To reward him for volunteering, the Spouse offered him some candy.

His reaction: I can’t, it’s Passover.

My wife’s response: We know, the candy is K4P (kosher for Passover).

But is it?

Heksure Wars: Chatam Sofer, left and b'datz Jerusalem, right

When she filled a resealable bag she noticed TWO certificates of kashrut on the bag in which the candies were packaged. (She bought them recently in Israel.)

On the FRONT of the package, the certificate (heksure) is from Chatam Sofer, a highly reliable heksure. Chatam Sofer clearly states that the contents are kosher for Pesach. Chatam Sofer’s image, on the right, is from a lithograph by Josef Kriehuber c 1830. Refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Sofer for the rabbi’s background.

On the BACK of the package is the seal of the b'datz (Bet Din Zadek) of Jerusalem.

This organization claims that the candies are NOT kosher for Pesach, or, more precisely, the heksure “does not include Pesach.”

Does that mean the Jerusalem group does NOT approve Elite’s candy for Pesach DESPITE Chatam Sofer’s approval? Both are Ashkenazi.

 

In the U.S., and probably elsewhere “b’hul” — outside of Israel — we have heksure competition. Sometimes it gets nasty with one label throwing aspersions at another; it is, after all, a business and the more products on which a specific label appears, the more money for the label’s owner.

A lot of Israeli companies know this and, in order to sell into the U.S. market, they buy — in addition to Israeli certifications — “name” heksures; in the U.S. that includes OU, cRc, Star-K, and Kaf-K. (A list of the more common agencies is given at http://www.crcweb.org/agency_list.php )

Unfortunately for my Spouse, she bought the candies in Israel produced for the Israeli market; ergo, no U.S. or any non-Israeli heksure.

 

So, Strauss Group, which is it? Chatam Sofer or a b'datz?

 

I could understand if there was a caveat to the b'datz label: “Not kosher for Pesach for Ashkenazim” (who don’t eat kitniyot), or alternatively, “Kosher for Passover for those who eat kitniyot”. This has become a common note to many certificates.

WHY did b'datz Jerusalem decide what was Kosher for Pesach for Chatam Sofer’s label but not sufficiently kosher for the b'datz? Maybe there is a valid reason, but in that case, Strauss should only have put one label on the package.

Having opposing decisions is not good for Strauss; it suggests the company doesn’t care about kashrut, only that it buys an acceptable label.

Is there no one at Strauss that looks at its products and their packaging?

OK, this is Israel and I remember a popular yogurt that was marketed to youngsters. At one time the package had a cartoon — a cartoon, not a likeness — of a dinosaur. The rabbis who sold their hecksure for the yogurt told the company, Tnuva if I recall correctly, that either change the packaging or lose the certification.

Reason? Dinosaurs are not mentioned in the Torah, therefore they did not, could not, exist.

Rabbinical logic — or lack thereof.

At least the yogurt only had one label; folks who bought it didn’t have to wonder “Kosher or not kosher,” although they might wonder about the people behind the kosher label.

 

THE REST OF THE STORY

I asked Strauss, the company that owns Elite, about the seemingly conflicting heksures (kosher certifications).

To my surprise, I received an explanation in response.

According to Strauss, the b’datz is a “year round except Pesach” certification.

The Chatam Sofer certification is strictly for Passover. Chatam Sofer certifies that the candy is K4P and does not contain kitniyot

And that, as the late Paul Harvey oft intoned, Is the rest of the story.”

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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Comments on Kosher Labels

Opuscula Kohanic blessing Is daily eventFor Sefardi Jews

EVERY YEAR AT PASSOVER THE Jewish web sites make a Big Deal of the mass kohanic blessings at the Kotel, the Wall.

While being at the kotel IS a “big deal,” the kohanic blessing is not, at least for Sefardim.

Kohanim in a Sefardi minyan bless the kahal (the congregation) every morning that the Amedah (the 18 or “standing prayer”) is repeated.

 

Above: Father and children (left) receiving blessing from kohan (priest), right

 

The kohan and the levim disscretely leave the room during the repetition of the Amedah so the levim can pour water over the kohans’ hands. (In the absence of a levy, an Israel can do this task.)

Then they all return to the minyan. The kohanim slide out of their shoes and take their place in front of the aron (ark).

I’m part of a minyan that has an Ashkenazi kohan — actually three: two brothers and one brother’s son. The minyan is mostly Sefardi and meets in the home of an Ashkenazi family. (Only in America.)

I’ve always wondered WHY Ashkenazim only dunken (perform the kohanic blessing) on special days.

The Torah specifically requires the kohanim to bless the congregation.

כה תברכו את בני ישראל

Numbers 6:23

The Torah does NOT say “on special occasions only”; it tells the kohanim to bless the children of Israel. Period, end of story.

According to R. Jack Abramowitz writing for the Orthodox Union (https://www.ou.org/torah/mitzvot/taryag/mitzvah378/) The kohanim (priests) were commanded to bless the nation every day. They do this with the three blessings that are familiar to us as “Birkas Kohanim,” AKA “The Priestly Blessings” or “duchening.”

The reason underlying this mitzvah is that the kohanim spend their lives ministering to God in the Temple. They thereby develop a special relationship with Him. This makes a blessing from them especially effective. Since God wants us to enjoy good things, He commanded the kohanim to bless the people as a step towards achieving that goal. (He doesn’t just “fork over” all good things automatically because our efforts are an integral part of the process.)

Having writtren that, he adds Our (Ashkenazi) practice nowadays is that the kohanim only bless the people on Yom Tov (Festivals), but in Israel, the kohanim continue to do so on a daily basis.

As with most things Jewish, from the basic commandment the rabbis have managed to make a belegan of the process.

One thing the Torah does specify: the kohanim are NOT to have a “mum,” a disfigurement.

Some rabbis declare only a married kohan is allowed to bless the kahal.

Why?

Because these rabbis decided, the kohan who is reciting the blessing must be happy, and a single person cannot be happy. Obviously these rabbis were not cognizant with divorce statistics. There are other opinions that allow a bachelor kohan to bless the kahal. (דברי שלום ואנת – עמוד 51)

For the same reason a minor (pre-bar mitzvah) does not bless the kahal, although many young boys go up with their fathers; it is a learning experience.

Some hasidim only bless the congregation once-a-year

Many in the kahal cover their heads to prevent looking at the kohanim (although every man has peeked at least once); the kohanim also cover their faces and hands.

Fathers usually share their tallit and cover their sons’ — and sometimes young daughters’ — heads, at last until the children grow so much taller than their fathers.

According to the rabbis, the kahal must stand in front of the kohanim to be included in the blessing. Since this not always is possible, the kohanim turn slightly to the left and the right during the blessing.

All of the foregoing apply only to observant, or for Ashkenazim, “Orthodox” congregations.

Some non-Orthodox congregations have different rules; it’s always a good idea to “ask your rabbi.”

Still, the Torah DOES require real kohanim, descendants of Mose’s brother Aaron, to bless the congregation.

The emphasis on the word “real,” above, is because thanks primarily to Ellis Island, many people named “Cohan/Cohen/Kahen/Kahan” are not descendants of Aaron; they “became” kohans because the immigration people either would not or could not pronounce the immigrant’s surname.

 

An aside: Until Napoleon conquered most of Europe, surnames were uncommon. The emperor, in order to manage a census, ordered all his subjects to assume surnames. Some took names related to geography (e.g., glen, forest, hill), some related to profession (e.g., goldsmith, tailor, smith), and some for a reason known only to the person taking the name. A descendant of Aaron might call himself Kohan (or a variation thereof, e.g., Cohane or Priestly) or Levy or a variation thereof, e.g., Levine). Asking “what’s in a name” can make for an interesting exercise.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

Comments on Birkat haKohanim

Opuscula Thorough cooking Of kosher meats Might avoid feces

I KNOW IT’S NOT IN GOOD TASTE to discuss feces (excrement) in your food, but it is a fact of life in the U.S.

Deborah Press, an attorney for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, tells CNN that USDA's current inspection policy isn't good enough because it only applies to fecal matter that's "visible" on the production line.

The article, headed Doctors' group warning about fecal matter in food^{1, 2, 3} opens with This product "may contain feces."

That's the label that one consumer rights advocacy group wants for the government to require meat distributors put on the food they send out to grocery stores.

According to an email from Arlene Mathes-Scharf of Kashrut.com, Kashrus agencies do not check bacteria levels. That is a USDA job.
All kosher meat is salted and soaked. The salting will kill bacteria.

 

Actually, some kosher meats are neither soaked nor salted; the purchaser is expected to kasher the meat.

 

While salting the meat may kill bacteria and the soaking may loosen and help remove any feces not seen by FDA inspectors, it still should be thoroughly cooked to prevent bacteria-related illness. Likewise, basic kitchen sanitation — washing hands, counter tops, and cutting tools (knives, cutting boards) is just good practice.

For all that, it IS disconcerting that consumers really don’t know what they are buying; the cleanliness of the meat is only skin deep.

Buying kosher may improve the chances of buying “clean” meat — at least beef will be free of “mad cow” disease.

While the doctors’ group pushing for an additional label on meat and poultry products has a problem with animal products on the dinner table, the group’s warning should give cooks pause to consider ways to mitigate the problem, e.g., soaking and salting and thoroughly cooking the meat.

Sources

1. https://www.fox4now.com/news/national/doctors-group-warning-about-fecal-matter-in-food

2. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/chicken-often-contains-fecal-bacteria-lawsuit-against-usda-claims/ar-BBW3sSH

3. https://www.drovers.com/article/activists-sue-usda-over-fecal-matter-meat

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

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Opuscula Cite your source: It is the Jewish Way for writers

AS A YOUNG REPORTER “back in the day,” it was impressed on me to “cite my sources.” Not mine to editorialize, only to report what was said, and done, and by whom.

Now I find that admonition came from a much earlier time.

I WAS READING JOS. TELUSKIN’S A Code of Jewish Ethics when I read in a chapter on humility that Always cite your sources and Teluskin’s reference to Avot 6.6.¹

 

Jos. Teluskin and his “Code of Jewish Ethics”

 

Teluskin wrote that Not only is this (citing sources) the fair thing to do — taking credit for someone else’s insight is a form of stealing — but it also serves as a reminder to each of us that our wisdom is built upon that of others.

It also constitutes plagiarism and that can lead to a costly civil suit. (See PLAGIARISM near bottom of file.)

The words of Avot Teluskin was citing are Whosoever quotes a thing in the name of him that said it, brings deliverance into the world, as it is said “And Esther told the king thereof in the name of Mordecai.”^{2, 3}.

 

Cover of “Ethics of the Fathers”

 

Unfortunately for the people who know me best, they learned that when they told me something I knew was outside their field of expertise, my instant, and often brusque response was “Who said; what’s your source.”

My Spouse is an educator — teacher and administrator — so when she tells me the best way to teach a subject is this way or that, I know she’s is basing her opinion on real world experience.

My daughter is an English language teacher who grew up with a father who considered English one of tools of his writing trade. She now is a grammar expert with whom I rarely disagree (even though she learned British English at university and that often is different from U.S. English.) I had a dear friend, another writer, who followed H.W. Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage (right) and we often disagreed, but she always cited her source.⁴

All my children react loudly when someone on tv says something is “most” or “very” unique. Unique, along with a few other words, cannot be modified; something is unique — one of a kind — or it isn’t.

I failed to recognize, until I was reading Teluskin’s work, that citing sources was “diRabinon” — a rabbinical requirement. Not quite on the level of a Torah mitzvah (commandment, positive or negative), but at least “semi-binding.” It's talmudic.

For all that, it also is — or at least was — a commandment for all reporters, ranking up there with “spell the person’s name correctly” and “keep the lead (initial) paragraph to 10 words or less.” Some commandments are easier to keep than others.

It is nice to know I have something on which to base my almost pathological need to cite my sources.

Sources

1. Chapter 21, Cultivating Humility, Page 218, #3.

2. Translation from Ethics of the Fathers, by Philip Blackman, Judaica Press, ISBN 0-910818-15-0, ©1985.

3. From Megelat Esther (the Purim story), Chap. 2, V 21

4. A Dictionary of Modern English Usage Oxford University Press; my inherited copy published in 1952 (I think)

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

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Opuscula Do we overlook Politicians' sins?

ALTERNATIVELY, DO WE MAKE HEROES OF Jews who tried to murder other Jews?

In Israel, the government does.

ISRAEL’S MAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, formerly known as Lod was renamed by fiat, much as Cape Canaveral was renamed Cape Kennedy by fiat. (Floridians loudly objected to renaming a cape that had been called “Canaveral” since explored by The Spanish a few hundred years ago and the name change was canceled.)

Lod is known to travel agents as “TLV” or Tel Aviv. OK, at least it’s in the same general area, albeit significantly closer to Lod.

 

Map showing distances of airport from Lod and from Tel Aviv

 

While I take issue with suggesting that the airport is in, or adjacent to, Tel Aviv, I heartily object to the airport’s renaming. (Yes, I know here is nothing I can do to restore its original name or to change the name.)

It was during a “national unity government” with Shimon Peres, of Oslo Accord fame, representing the left that in 1978 Lod was renamed after Israel’s first prime minister.

Wikipedia has a history of the airport’s several name changes at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Gurion_Airport.

 

So what is my problem with the name.

What Jew would want to name an internationally known facility and gateway to Israel for a Jew who was willing to murder other Jews because of greed and political philosophy?

The answer is clearly stated at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-altalena-affair

The man in charge on the beach was none other than another “hero” who managed to get his name on a plaza in Tel Aviv.

The man for whom the airport currently is named also referred to another prime minister’s mentor as “Vladimir Hitler.” See http://tinyurl.com/y43lpqld and http://tinyurl.com/y4k8hmkm

During his party’s 53 year reign (1948-1971 and 1977 to 2001) the leftists managed a peace agreement with a second Arab neighbor (Jordan); this followed a peace pact under right-wing Likud’s leadership with Egypt.

Until Menachem Begin and the right-wing Likud, Israel suffered war after war and — despite controlling the national union — strike after strike. Likewise, under leftest Labor, the Israeli currency was devalued again and again.

Yet one leader of the leftist government has an airport named for him and another, the commander on the beach (ibid.) and participant in the failed Oslo Accords, has a Tel Aviv square named in his honor; he was assassinated by a religious extremist.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

Comments on airport name

Opuscula Rabbis worked, Unlike today’s Yeshiva “boys”

IT’S PIRKEI AVOT SEASON for observant Jews around the world.

I have several different editions of Avot and I have another work, Masters of the Talmud, At least one of my Avot books includes mini-biographies of the personalities who have a place in Avot.

OF COURSE, most sedurim include Avot, but the avot books (a) have bigger print and (b) offer explanations, including Rashi’s and other’s comments

Collecting Avot is akin to collecting hagadot; you cannot have too many.

 

The Judaica Press book, originally published in England in 1985, includes biographies of all the luminaries (both 100 watt and 25 watt) in the talmuds. It also lists everywhere in the talmuds the person has commented or was cited.

Of more interest to me is to see which of the avot actually worked for a living — beyond, or in addition to, teaching.

Masters of the Talmud also provides biographies — more complete than the avot book.

The bottom line is that these bios, be they long or just a short paragraph, prove that you CAN work AND study, and in the case of the avot, make substantial contributions to Jewish jurisprudence.

As examples, from the Judaica Press avot book:

* Abba Saul, gravedigger

* Chuzpit, interpreter

* Ishmael ben R. Jose, merchant (famous for his 13 medot)

* Jeshevav, scribe

* Judah (a/k/a “Rabbi”), medicine and science

* Meir, scribe (and husband of Buruyah)

* Menachem ben Signai, a dyer

* Nehemia, potter

* Yohanon haSandler, sandal maker

 

If these men who played a part in forming Judaism as we know it today and still managed to work “real” jobs, why cannot the lesser men of the yeshivot put in a little time at an honest job.

Pity their wives who must raise a family and often work outside the home to being in some income.

These “yeshiva boys” get a stipend from the government while the yeshivas send out schnorers around the world to collect still more money so the “boys” can sit and pretend to study.

Might it not be a good idea to test the yeshiva “boys” periodically as we do children in grammar, middle, and high schools? See how much they learned and retained. Test after one, two, and three years. If the third test fails to show expected progress, after the fourth year in yeshiva the talmid lo hakham is sent packing.

An outstanding student could stay longer, but in reality, that student should study with a new teacher to expand his knowledge. That’s what the avot did.

There may be one student out of 1,000 who might become a great posek, but against 999 who simply are dodging responsibility by sitting in a yeshiva, those are poor odds.

Is there even one student in a yeshiva that can rise to the stature of an Abba Saul?

I am partial to Abba Saul since my Father-In-Law, עה"ש, used to dig graves for the haverat kadesha in Morocco .

Many of the masters of the talmuds were teachers or heads of yeshivot; a few worked at the Bet HaMikdash while it stood, either as cohenim or leveim (singers). Those jobs were “shift work” that allowed the laveim and cohenim time to study and still “hold down a real job.” (A cohan working at the Temple, handling sacrifices bought from all over, by Jews and non-Jews alike, earned whatever remuneration he received.)

There are yeshivot in Israel, hesder yeshivot, where the students study AND serve in the IDF. These students, in my opinion, deserve respect. Not so the ones who dodge responsibility and either force their wives to work (and raise children) or depend on professional beggars to finance their stay at a yeshiva.

 

Sources

1. Ethics of the Fathers, Judaica Press, ISBN 0-910818-15-0

2. Pirkei Avos, Mesorah Publications, ISBN 0-89906-206-72

3. Sayings of the Fathers, Behrman House, Pub. Date: 1945 (no ISBN)

4. Masters of the Talmud, Jon. David, ISBN 0-8246-0436-0434-2

 

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

 

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Opuscula Original Omer Is much better Than “new” Omar

FOR JEWS, THE “ORIGINAL” Omer is far superior to the ‘new” Omar.
Observant Jews will be counting the days of the original omer from the second night of Pesach, at the second seder for traditional Jew outside of Israel.


Observant Jews also may be counting the days until the new Omar, the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel bigot is turned out of office.

Of course we need to remember that for the first 33 days of the “good” omer things were not so good for 24,000 yeshiva boys studying with R. Akiva.

These religious youth died, allegedly for their behavior toward one another; not acting the way an observant Jew is expected to act (but certainly in line with the “new” Omar).

Torah.org (http://tinyurl.com/y4rvx2yg) comments that The Gemora in the tractate of Yevamos 62b, tells us that “Rabbi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of students…and all of them died in one period of time because they did not conduct themselves with respect towards one another…they all died between Pesach and Shavuot…and they all died a terrible death.

Rabbi Dani Schreiber, who teaches at Midreshet Torat Chesed in Netanya, Israel (http://tinyurl.com/y4n6yutk) notes that At first, this seems quite shocking. These were 24,000 Torah scholars who were the students of Rabbi Akiva , the teacher who taught that “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” ואהבת לרעך כמוך is the most important principle in Torah in his opinion! How could it be that his own students failed so gravely when it came to the interpersonal realm?

Looking closely at the Talmud we see that it says that they lacked kavod (respect), and we then need to understand how kavod differs from ahava (love). Maimonides (Hilchot Ishut [15:19]) says that a man has an obligation to love his wife as much as himself, but to respect her more than himself. Those sound like two different measuring sticks. What, then, is the difference?

R. Schreiber then answers his own question:
*  Love is the bond that is created between people based on what they have in common – we enjoy those aspects of someone else which we connect with and can relate to.
*  Respect is the bond created between two people when they tolerate and celebrate the differences between them. And it is respect that is often more important in relationships because it is those very differences which have the potential to pull us apart.

The Omar spouting anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rants from Washington certainly has no respect for anyone other than, maybe, Muslim females; at least that’s how her bigotry identifies her.

Of course, Ms. Omar offends people in one breath and apologies in the next. Her Democrat colleagues apparently cannot identify recidivism of the tongue; they search for excuses for her behavior. That she is not chastised by the party in power shouts that her colleagues in the House concur with her bigotry.

An interesting question: What do her constituents back home think of their representative now that they have seen the “real” Ilhan Omar.

The original omer is, for the first 33 days, a semi-mourning period in which many observant Jews forgo haircuts and the men allow their beards to sprout.

I think that behavior is appropriate when thinking about the “new” Omar; she is a disgrace to thinking people, both left and right.

We should mourn the lack of civility, of respect; we also should mourn the inability of some people to actually THINK, to LISTEN to opposing views.

What is amazing is the number of non-observant Jews who rally to her cause even as she denigrates them. Once and forever presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is in her camp even though to Rep. Omar, all Jews are reprehensible, regardless if they are “accident of birth Jews” and totally self-hating, Reform, or Conservative. (What she must think of the black hat Jews in Deal is beyond my ken. I suppose her attitude that “a Jew is a Jew is a Jew” is something with which I can agree; our reasoning for this is at opposite ends of the spectrum.)

 

One thing the original brings observant Jews is a revisiting of Perki Avot, a/k/a “Ethics of the Fathers” (no matter how it is transliterated from Hebrew).

Avot is something Rep. Omar should study and practice. I don’t expect that will happen; after all, the avot all are Jews of the worst sort: ethical.

I’m relatively certain she would like at least one of Hillel the Elder’s remarks: If I am not for me, who will be for me. It’s a “me-me” world in which the politician lives with many of her fellow Democrats . . ,  and perhaps a few left wing, “progressive” Republicans as well.

The original omer ends with a celebration — Shavuot — I am certain when her term in the House ends, assuming she’s not re-elected by her fellow bigots, will be noted with a celebration among people who think; who want to bring the country together rather than to expand the chasm that daily increases thanks to the new Omar and her ilk.

In my seven decades I have never seen such a division between parties and such animosity among people who once were civil and respectful to one another.

We have become like Akiva’s students — showing disrespect to one another, never LISTENING to one another — indeed, not waiting for another to finish a thought unless it agrees with the our opinion.

If two children squabble over a toy, an adult steps in to settle the dispute and bring harmony back to the tiny combatants.

Unfortunately, the two children are the political parties; the really sad thing is there are no adults — political leaders — to end the tantrums and bring us to a peaceful arrangement.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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Opuscula Be the first To offer A greeting

I READING A Code of Jewish Ethics Vol. 1 by Jos. Telushkin. I’ve had the book for some time and I probably opened it once or twice before.

This time I am reading it.

One thing that caught my eye relates to two of my favorite Jewish personalities: Yohanon (bar Nappacha, brother-in-law to Shimon ben Lekish a/k/a Resh Lakish) and Shamai.

Yohanon made a point, according to the book, of being the first to greet everyone, even non-Jews.

Shamai said to greet everyone with a pleasant disposition.

Rambam (Moses Ben Maimon, a/k/a Maimonides) said that “A scholar should greet all men before they greet him so that the spirits of others derive pleasure from him.

While I would not presume to be a Yohanon of the famous Yohanon of the talmud, we do share two things: the name Yohanon, and the desire to be the first to greet others.

Similar to Shamai, I try to greet others with a pleasant demeanor.

(Anyone who “puts down” Bet Shamai really doesn’t know about Shamai. In many respects he was more liberal, especially when it came to rulings dealing with women, than Hillel the Elder. Hillel’s reputation largely is based on one incident when a man came to Shamai and Hillel demanding to be taught everything about Judaism while he stood on one foot. Shamai chased the man way; Hillel told him one thing and said “the rest is commentary, go study.” Did the man “go study”? There is no evidence either way.)

Greeters must consider the person they are greeting.

This morning, Shabat, on the way back from minyan, I met a non-observant Jewish neighbor working on his car.

Pesach is next Shabat.

I greeted the man with “Are you ready for the holiday?” I didn’t ask if he was done cleaning for Pesach or did he sell his hametz. He told me he is going to visit family in another state for Passover.

Even if his house is not “K4P,” he is aware of the holiday and intends to spend it with family. The point of the matza and hagadah is to remember the exodus from Egypt and what led up to it. The Torah tells us not to have anything leavened in our possession, but the rabbis allow us to pretend to sell hametz while keeping possession of it.

Strictly speaking . . .

 

On the way to the minyan I met the neighbor across the street from the Jewish guy. The neighbor is not Jewish. With him we discussed neighborly things and his upcoming knee replacement surgery.

A third neighbor, an observant Jew, passed by with a Shabat shalom greeting as he made his way to a different minyan. (Where I live there is no shortage of minyanim, all within easy walking distance for the able bodied and a few within walking distance for geezers such as this scrivener.) This neighbor “beat me to the punch” by sneaking up behind me; had I seen him first . . .

I do not try to greet everyone downtown or even in the supermarket, although I do speak to many. I nod to strangers who make eye contact. Unfortunately, the current state of affairs makes many people suspicious of strangers who greet them; they respond like the Tar Baby in an Uncle Remus Br’r Rabbit story. (I do not respond as Br’r Rabbit responded.)

By the way, I don’t see that Uncle Remus stories are racist. On the contrary, I think it acknowledges the positive role some blacks had in developing ethics in children, regardless of the amount of melanin in their skin.)

Still, in my neighborhood, I try to be the first with a greeting.

I tried to instill that attitude in my children. (My spouse thinks I’m nuts.)

I’m glad I decided to read Telushkin’s book (one of many), finding out my habit is endorsed by some Big Names (Shamai, Yohanon, Rambam), I’m definitely in good company.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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Opuscula Jews must defend Themselves, don’t Depend on others

FROM ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS — a/k/a Arutz 7 —
Anti-Semitism again hits Argentina. A man broke into a synagogue during Shabbat evening services on Friday night and threatened worshipers in in Buenos Aires.

During the attack, the assailant threatened the worshipers with a sharp object and threw stones at the congregants and a security guard. He also threw oil on the floor, causing several worshipers fell on the synagogue's entrance floor. One of the guards prevented further violence by pepper spraying the attacker. (See http://tinyurl.com/y4vow8yd )

QUESTION: Were all the worshipers elderly or handicapped that they couldn’t overwhelm a single attacker?

Granted, there was a “security guard” — was he also elderly or handicapped? — he obviously was unable to act quickly enough to protect his charges.

Jews throughout the world MUST THROW OFF THEIR EUROPEAN HEAD-IN-THE-SAND MENTALITY.

Until they do, they will continue to suffer attacks — some resulting in injury or death.

Congregations need to

*   Carefully examine the areas in which people congregate
  *  The minyan area
  *  The kitchen
  *  Offices
to determine what “weapons” are available,weapons such as
  *  Chairs
  *  Standers
  *  Books
  *  Ornaments
  *  Fire extinguishers

that can be thrown at attackers, if only to distract the attackers.

*   Make certain all doors have “one-way” locks — locks such as push bars that allow people inside to escape, but are locked to people on the outside; fire safety must not be overlooked.

*   Have an alarm system that alerts personnel both inside the building and outside that there is an intruder

*   Have the local police number on speed dial

*   Encourage the younger members to learn self-defense measures.

Jews must stop being easy prey for anti-Semites and Israel haters.

WE WERE NOT ALWAYS THIS WAY

Jews have been warriors since at least Abraham’s day (when he took troops to rescue his cousin Lot).

Every Jew knows, or should know, about the Maccabees. Likewise all (should) know the history of the struggles for modern Israel — Lehi, Irgun, Palmach, Jabotinsky.

While I am not proposing that every able-bodied Jew (man and woman) learn krav maga¹ (this can be a painful learning experience) or that the elderly and handicapped carry concealed weapons (although I am not against this if the person carrying the weapon is trained to use it safely), nor am I suggesting that congregations dismiss professional security personnel (although I DO recommend that they thoroughly check each individual guard’s qualifications, I AM suggesting that we CAN do much to protect ourselves..

Some of the recommendations above, such as knowing the location of all exits and knowing the locations of all fire extinguishers are just good GENERAL advice. ! I once created a business continuity plan for Zim. When I asked personnel if they knew the location of the nearest two exits, most didn’t know. When I asked where was the nearest fire extinguisher, even a person sitting next to one could not tell me where there was a fire extinguisher ! The people were all Americans (although the Israelis were no better). These responses are typical.

Besides fighting fires (if the extinguisher user is trained), they also are handy weapons, both for spraying the chemicals in an attacker’s face and for throwing at an attacker. Aerosol cans containing any type material also may be used in the same way.

BOTTOM LINE

The “bottom line” for Jews is to be prepared to defend ourselves, regardless of location or time of day.

That requires knowledge of the environment (building), awareness of what is available for defense, and training to use whatever is at hand.

MOST anti-Semites, when outnumbered, are cowards. When we fight back, they will run. That’s good — we are safe — and bad — they are able to try again later; to look for less prepared victims.

Do not expect anyone other than yourself to defend you. There is too much Kitty Genovese mentality². That, coupled with the European Jews’ “head in the sand” mentality, means “don’t expect help from from anyone.”

You need not be a Charles Atlas³, Charles Bronson⁴, or Clint Eastwood, but you CAN be more than a victim IF you and your fellow Jews defend yourselves.

Hoping the crazies — for that is what anti-Semites are, crazy — will go away won’t make it happen.

---

Sources

1. Krav Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and its extreme efficiency. It was derived from the street-fighting experience of Hungarian-Israeli martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld, who made use of his training as a boxer and wrestler while defending the Jewish quarter against fascist groups in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, during the mid-to-late 1930's . (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga)

2. The incident prompted inquiries into what became known as the bystander effect or "Genovese syndrome", and the murder became a staple of American psychology textbooks for the next four decades. (See http://tinyurl.com/zsjwrs3 )

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Atlas

4. https://youtu.be/hyZgZ9cN4kQ

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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