Sunday, March 28, 2010

Reporter or inciter?

I was listening to a BBC interview with Jerusalem's mayor on (US) PBS this morning.

If we thought the US president was biased against Israel (and that is becoming increasingly clear to even the most liberal Jew), I will tell you the Brits are worse.

This reporter-with-an-agenda basically told the mayor Jews have no right to Jerusalem. Never mind that Jews have been the dominant population in Jerusalem since BEFORE it was Jerusalem (before David moved in). Never mind that all the powers that controlled Jerusalem - with one exception - either are known only as entries in history books (e.g., Babylon, Rome) or are has beens on the international playing field (e.g., England and Greece). The only country that can claim to have ruled Jerusalem and still have a measure of influence is Jordan, that that country is a figment of British chutzpah.

The reporter suggested that Israel some how grabbed the land from - who? Jordan? This "journalist" perhaps forgot that Jordan repeatedly attacked Israel and repeatedly lost the wars it commenced. Israel did NOT invade Jordan and did NOT exterminate or enslave the indigenous population as Britain did in its effort to dominate the world.

The Brits, at least this insult to journalism, would have Jerusalem be a divided capital. OK; let's make London be a shared city with the French and Germans; both countries have a claim on English real estate. Let's open up Rome and make it an international city state. Likewise Geneva, for all it's claims of international flavor, remains Swiss and only Swiss.

How about making Mecca and Medina cities with synagogues, churches, temples, and other non-Moslem places of worship?

But Jerusalem is different. The Moslems want it.

But aren't they satisfied getting France and Germany?

When Jordan, with its army under a British officer's command, controlled Jerusalem, Jews were prohibited from certain parts of Jerusalem. Today, all religions have access to all parts of Jerusalem. That doesn't mean a Jew won't be attacked in the Arab quarter or in Mea Sharim (to our shame), but it does mean that Jews - and Moslems and other non-Jews - have access to all parts of the city - except of course for the Temple Mount where the Moslems built a mosque on top of Judaism's most holy site. (Why there? To prove they once conquered Jerusalem? If that's the case, then Jews should raze the mosque since the Temple Mount is part of the "Jewish" state. Did Mohammed have a Jerusalem connection? There's certainly no mention of Jerusalem in the Ouran, although there are well over 100 Jerusalem entries in the Bible. Even one non-Jewish sect mentions Jerusalem in its religious texts; but not Islam.)

My argument is not against Moslems; they have a long history in Israel (but NOT a long history as rulers of Israel; like the Jews who have been there for centuries, they were subjects of foreign powers since the second temple was destroyed by the Romans).

My complaint is with the Brit "reporter" - and, having been an honest newspaper reporter and later editor, I have a hard time applying that title to the interlocutor - who either is ignorant of, or chose to ignore, history.

True, not all Americans are like the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and not all Brits are like the so-called reporter, but both give a hint at what the majority of the populace is willing to accept or at least tolerate.

That the majority of Jews in both countries remain silent in the face of all this - and knowing the majority of the liberal Jews will again vote for an anti-Israel leader - boggles my mind.

Yohanon Glenn
Yohanon.Glenn at gmail dot com

Sunday, March 7, 2010

25 days before Pesach

By Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe
http://www.atorahminute.com/2010-03-01

Thirty days before Pesah, one should inquire about the halakhoth (laws) of Pesah. We learn this from the fact that Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, explained the laws pertaining to Pesah Sheni (which takes place one month after Passover) on Pesah (Passover) itself.

From this, there are those who learn that the laws of all Holidays must be learnt a month before the Holiday, whereas others say that this only applies to Pesah. Pesah has an additional reason as to why one must study one month in advance, and that is because its laws are complex and numerous.

Even though the Gemara (Talmud) also mentions that one must give Derashoth (homilies) from a month before Pesah, the Shulhan 'Arukh (Code of Jewish Law) does not mention this aspect. The custom nowadays is that the Derashoth are given on Shabbath Haggadol (usually the Shabbath before Pesah) when the Rabbis of the communities expound on the Holiday and then give Halakhoth (laws) pertaining to Pesah.

Bediqah (search for leaven) in multiple homes and with others' help

The Berakha (blessing) that one recites before the Bediqath Hamess (Hametz - search for the leaven) can cover his search in multiple houses. The physical going from one house to another is not considered to be a Hefseq (interruption). Despite different opinions, the custom is that even if they are far away from each other, the same blessing covers the other houses or stores or places of business.

If the head of the household wishes, he may have other members of the household stand next to him when he recites the Berakha and they then disperse to different parts of the house to check their own area. They do not recite a separate Berakha but rely on the one made by the householder. The same rule applies if he hires someone not from his household to assist with the Bediqah (checking).

The head of the household must also check at least a portion of the house since his obligation is greater than that of his Shaliyah (agent). There is also an opinion that he is not permitted to recite the blessing if he does not check at all. As such, he should first check a portion of the house after reciting the blessing and then let his Shaliyah continue.

חג פסח כשר ושמח

Thursday, March 4, 2010

27 days before Pesach

By Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe
http://www.atorahminute.com/2010-03-01

Thirty days before Pesah, one should inquire about the halakhoth (laws) of Pesah. We learn this from the fact that Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, explained the laws pertaining to Pesah Sheni (which takes place one month after Passover) on Pesah (Passover) itself.

From this, there are those who learn that the laws of all Holidays must be learnt a month before the Holiday, whereas others say that this only applies to Pesah. Pesah has an additional reason as to why one must study one month in advance, and that is because its laws are complex and numerous.

Even though the Gemara (Talmud) also mentions that one must give Derashoth (homilies) from a month before Pesah, the Shulhan 'Arukh (Code of Jewish Law) does not mention this aspect. The custom nowadays is that the Derashoth are given on Shabbath Haggadol (usually the Shabbath before Pesah) when the Rabbis of the communities expound on the Holiday and then give Halakhoth (laws) pertaining to Pesah.

Selling chometz

On the 29th day the issue was what to do if you have multiple residences and you will be spending Pesach only in one.

The rule is that you kasher the house in which Pesach will be celebrated and sell the chometz in the other houses.

Simple enough, however, there's a catch that we learn about from R. Yosef Shusterman of Chabad of Beverly Hills (http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/9266/jewish/Shusterman-Yosef.htm).

According to R. Shusterman, you need to sell the chometz in the community in which the house is located.

For example, let's say you have a house in Manhattan New York but you'll be spending Pesach in Manhattan Beach California. The chometz must be sold - or a Manhattan NY rabbi must be authorized to sell chometz - on New York time since Pesach comes in earlier there than in California.

The rabbi has a number of other interesting comments on Pesach preparations; the audio is worth hearing.

חג פסח כשר ושמח

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

28 days before Pesach

By Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe
http://www.atorahminute.com/2010-03-01

Thirty days before Pesah, one should inquire about the halakhoth (laws) of Pesah. We learn this from the fact that Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, explained the laws pertaining to Pesah Sheni (which takes place one month after Passover) on Pesah (Passover) itself.

From this, there are those who learn that the laws of all Holidays must be learnt a month before the Holiday, whereas others say that this only applies to Pesah. Pesah has an additional reason as to why one must study one month in advance, and that is because its laws are complex and numerous.

Even though the Gemara (Talmud) also mentions that one must give Derashoth (homilies) from a month before Pesah, the Shulhan 'Arukh (Code of Jewish Law) does not mention this aspect. The custom nowadays is that the Derashoth are given on Shabbath Haggadol (usually the Shabbath before Pesah) when the Rabbis of the communities expound on the Holiday and then give Halakhoth (laws) pertaining to Pesah.

Some of us, like my sister-in-law Rahel, love matzah; they could eat it every day of the year.

Some of us hate it; it's all we can do to eat "k'zeit" (an olive's bulk) of the stuff on the first night.

Matzah lovers can eat it 364 days of the year, but on one day they must abstain.

What day? The 13th of Nissan, the day before Pesach.

Why?

If we at it every day without exception, it would not be special on the first night of the holiday.

חג פסח כשר ושמח

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

29 days before Pesach

By Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe
http://www.atorahminute.com/2010-03-01

Thirty days before Pesah, one should inquire about the halakhoth (laws) of Pesah. We learn this from the fact that Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, explained the laws pertaining to Pesah Sheni (which takes place one month after Passover) on Pesah (Passover) itself.

From this, there are those who learn that the laws of all Holidays must be learnt a month before the Holiday, whereas others say that this only applies to Pesah. Pesah has an additional reason as to why one must study one month in advance, and that is because its laws are complex and numerous.

Even though the Gemara (Talmud) also mentions that one must give Derashoth (homilies) from a month before Pesah, the Shulhan 'Arukh (Code of Jewish Law) does not mention this aspect. The custom nowadays is that the Derashoth are given on Shabbath Haggadol (usually the Shabbath before Pesah) when the Rabbis of the communities expound on the Holiday and then give Halakhoth (laws) pertaining to Pesah.

From the rabbi's wife:

If a person owns a home in City A and another in City B, do both homes have to be cleaned for Pesach?

According to Yael Kassorla, wife of Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla of Congregation Or VeShalom in Atlanta GA, only the home in which the person resides needs to be cleaned for Pesach; however, the chametz in the other houses must be sold so that you aren’t in possession of any chametz over Pesach.

This also would apply to a vacant rental property owned by a Jew.

חג פסח כשר ושמח

Monday, March 1, 2010

30 days before Pesach

By Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe
http://www.atorahminute.com/2010-03-01

Thirty days before Pesah, one should inquire about the halakhoth (laws) of Pesah. We learn this from the fact that Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, explained the laws pertaining to Pesah Sheni (which takes place one month after Passover) on Pesah (Passover) itself.

From this, there are those who learn that the laws of all Holidays must be learnt a month before the Holiday, whereas others say that this only applies to Pesah. Pesah has an additional reason as to why one must study one month in advance, and that is because its laws are complex and numerous.

Even though the Gemara (Talmud) also mentions that one must give Derashoth (homilies) from a month before Pesah, the Shulhan 'Arukh (Code of Jewish Law) does not mention this aspect. The custom nowadays is that the Derashoth are given on Shabbath Haggadol (usually the Shabbath before Pesah) when the Rabbis of the communities expound on the Holiday and then give Halakhoth (laws) pertaining to Pesah.

From the morning service (korbanote/offerings):

The Pesach offering is eaten only at night and it may only be eaten until midnight; it may be eaten only by those "registered" for it; and may be eaten only roasted. (Translation from The Complete Artscroll Siddur.)

חג פסח כשר ושמח