Volume 11 Number 30
Produced: Wed Jan 19 8:11:02 1994
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Administrivia - relayed from Daniel Faigin
[Andrea Frankel]
Burial of non-Jewish Soldier
[Tsiel Ohayon]
Chivas Regal Has No Wine in it whatsoever
[Avi Weinstein]
Demonstration for Eretz-Yisrael
[Yisrael Medad]
DIFFERENCES?-CULOM-B'NAI-YISRA'EL?
[Bob Werman]
Gematria
[Yacov Barber]
Jewish Book News
[Ben Pashkoff]
Length of Services
[Robert A. Book]
OT in Israel
[David A Rier]
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From: Andrea Frankel <andrea@...>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 94 22:00:50 -0500
Subject: Administrivia - relayed from Daniel Faigin
News from 3.5 miles from the epicenter of the LA quake:
I'm posting this for Daniel Faigin and Karen - they called me last
night on his company's 800 number, the only way they could get a long
distance call through.
They started out by wanting to reassure everyone that the casualties
are "not as bad as they look", but later said there are many, many
injured, and parts of the San Fernando valley are completely leveled.
They, themselves, are OK - they're in shock, which is understandable,
and Karen was describing her kitchen as knee-deep in glass, much of
which was miraculously not broken. Dan's laptop had a full backup
of all their personal files, which is good since it looks like the PC
will need a new hard disk (apparently they're not earthquake proof).
Naturally, it will be a while until Dan's Liberal Judaism mailing list
is up and running again.
The real need, they stressed, is for blood donations and money, the
latter to either Salvation Army or Red Cross. The scene at the hospitals
is horrendous - emergency triage in the parking lots, since many of the
hospitals themselves were rendered inoperable or unsafe to go into by the
quake.
Please remember them in your prayers, and if you can, make a donation
of blood or money (or both).
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From: <ohayon@...> (Tsiel Ohayon)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 94 05:01:03 -0500
Subject: Re: Burial of non-Jewish Soldier
Warren Burstein wrote:
> Recently in Israel there was an issue concerning an Beduin army officer
> (a general, I think, I didn't pay much attention to the story) who was
> buried in a military cemetery, and there was a controversy about in
> which part of the cemetery he ought to be buried
Actually, it was the case of a Russian immigrant born to a Jewish father
and non-Jewish mother. The soldier had been killed in Lebanon by
terrorists and was buried in the non-jewish section of the cemetery. A
polemic on whether the soldier should be buried in the Jewish section or
not started until Rav Goren poskin that the soldier should be buried in
the JEWISH section. The soldier's body was then moved from the
non-jewish to the jewish section of the cemetery.
The Rav (who was in Tokyo a few weeks after the incident) explained that
the soldier had given the biggest possible sacrifice in the name of
Kedushat Hashem and Kedushat Haaretz, and therefore there should not be
any distinction (whether he was Jewish or not) made in his case.
Tsiel
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From: Avi Weinstein <0003396650@...>
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 94 11:57:38 -0500
Subject: Chivas Regal Has No Wine in it whatsoever
Chivas Regal which is a Seagram product is a pure grain distillate which
has absolutely no wine content. It is BLENDED from OTHER WHISKYS made
on the premises which are also pure grain distillates. So, says the one
in charge of the distilling. Seagram also sells it's Chametz through
the OU before Pesach. It is distressing that unsubstantiated rumors
which are then transmitted to literally hundreds and maybe thousands of
people are so cavalierly and I presume innocently related. Ezra
Tennenbaum would do a big mitzvah if he would clear up this falsehood
with his Lakewood contacts and everyone on the list would do well not to
transmit every rumor they hear. It so happens I work for the Jewish
philanthropic arm of the Bronfman Foundation and so I did some research
since my holiday gift packet always includes a bottle of Chivas, and as
as an observant Jew I am careful about "stam yaynam" (generic wine of
the gentiles). If not for this personal interest, I may have believed
the rumor with everyone else, after all when someone comes up with a
figure like 16%, it sounds like they know what they are talking about
which is why they relate the rumor in the first place. We must remember
that every comment we make on the network has a huge audience even
though they are invisible to us at the time of writing.
The people at Seagram were very concerned not only because they believe
their product to be kosher, but because mixing wine in with scotch
adulterates the flavor and produces an inferior product. They are very
proud of their twelve year old whisky.
Kol Tuv,
Avi
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From: MEDAD%<ILNCRD@...> (Yisrael Medad)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 94 14:40:04 -0500
Subject: Demonstration for Eretz-Yisrael
For all of those on the list that are wondering what they can do
about the argument over whether the policies of the current Israel
government are perhaps going against (interpretations of) Halacha,
can attend a rally being planned in New York at Cong. Ohav Tzedek
with Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and others on January 23.
Those who know Rabbi Riskin are aware that until the Declaration of
Principles he had been one of the more moderates on the issue of
the integrity of Eretz Yisrael. Obviously, a sea-change has taken place.
Come and listen.
In addition, anyone in the LA area who is interested in hearing about
the Yesha (Yehuda, Shomron and Aza) residents and the charity needs at
this time is invited to listen to Eve Harow who will be there in the
two weeks following the Shabbat of Parshat Bo and can reach her at her
parents' home: 213-934-5323. She'll be appearing on behalf of the
Israel Community Development Foundation - (ICDF).
Yisrael Medad
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From: <RWERMAN@...> (Bob Werman)
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 94 17:43:14 -0500
Subject: DIFFERENCES?-CULOM-B'NAI-YISRA'EL?
Yankee Raichik, <raichik@...> writes on Gedolim &
Achdus:
I am a bit hesistant to throw my 2 cents worth into the issue of
Gedolim primarily because I am a born & bred Lubavitcher and have my
own strong opinions on Rav Shach and the entire controversy. It is
interesting that the Litvish world has basically grafted onto their
Roshei Yeshiva the Chassidish outlook on a Rebbe (the main
flash-point of the Vilna Gaon's attacks on Chassidim).
[And later he adds:]
...we have to remember whom we really are - Bnei Yisrael - the
Mamleches Kohanim and Goi Kadosh.
***************************
I am not and have never been a Lubavitcher and I find it interesting
that differences in background are even reflected in our learning of
history.
I learned that the Gra's attack on Hassidim was based not on their
outlook on the Rebbe, but that one of his informants [from Slusky]
told him that the avoda of the Hassidim was avoda zara, without going
into details. Since this report coincided with the Gra's
preconceived notions, he had no difficulty believing this report.
This, as I learned, was the basis of his rejection of Hassidism and
nothing to do with the position of the Rebbe in Hassidut. I will not
comment on the correctness of this report, but one generation later,
R' Hayim of Volozhin has already noted that this view of Hassidut is
incorrect.
And, yes, it is important to remember that we are all b'nei Yisra'el.
But sometimes the [what should I call it?] the vigorous, insistent
position of one group that theirs is the way, that theirs is the ONLY
right way makes it difficult for those who disagree to believe that
this one group is not willing to destroy all of us in its pursuit of
the leadership role.
But what if they were right, and their candidate was really the
MeshiaH? I claim that the others, that me and my associates, those
who are less than sure that that one group is right, will find out
our error soon enough and not too late to join in the welcome of the
MeshiaH.
Sincerely and in the hope of AHvat Yisra'el. And with the belief
that all sides in these arguments should remember the importance of
AHvat Yisra'el, I am
__Bob Werman
<rwerman@...>
Jerusalem
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From: <barbery@...> (Yacov Barber)
Date: Sun, Jan 09 21:18:32 1994
Subject: Gematria
Recently there has been some discussion concerning gematria. I would like
to mention the following Radvaz. The Rambam in Hil. Noziros perek gimel
hal. aleph writes that if someone says that they are a Nozir without
stating for how long, then they become bound by the laws of a nozir for 30
days. Now, this halocho is based on the Mishnah in Mas. Nozir 5., the
Gemorah asks from where do we know that it is 30 days and the Gemorah
answers, since it says in relationship to the Nozir KODOISH YIHYEH and
yihyeh has the gematria of 30. It would seem then that the basis of 30 is
known only from the fact that we have this gematria. However the Radvaz on
the above mentioned Rambam writes, That we have a kaboloh (a tradition) for
30 days and that the posuk (i.e. the gematria) is simply an indication for
that tradition, and that we could not rely on the gematria (alone) without
the kaboloh.
Yacov Barber
<barbery@...>
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From: <ben@...> (Ben Pashkoff)
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 94 05:00:47 -0500
Subject: Jewish Book News
I once received a copy of a brochure for this service (Jewish Book News)
that offered very attractive discounts for books. Isent in the post card,
but heard nothing.
Does anyone else know of them, or if it really exists? If so, does someone
have an address or better a fax number for them?
Ben Pashkoff <BEN@...>
Head Systems Engineer VMS, PC, MAC systems
Computer Center Phone:(972)-4-292177
Haifa, Israel 32000 Fax : (972)-4-236212
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From: <rbook@...> (Robert A. Book)
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 94 04:50:00 -0500
Subject: Re: Length of Services
Freda Birnbaum <FBBIRNBA@...> writes:
> My hunch is that these clubs appear in Orthodox and not Reform or
> Conservative settings because the Orthodox services are so
> loooooooong... C and R services are much shorter AND the folks are more
> in awe of Western "manners" which think it rude to leave before the end
> except for an emergency.
Well, I hate to pick a nit here ... but without going into the
details of circumstances, in general I have found Conservative
services to be *longer* than Orthodox services, especially on Shabbat.
In some cases, as much as a whole hour longer!
In fact, one thing which has perpetually perplexed me is the amazing
frequency with which I hear people in (Orthodox) services on Shabbat
morning complain about how long the services are, about the davening
going to slowly, and so on. I really don't understand this -- I mean,
why is everybody in such a hurry? It's not like they all have to go
to work ... at least, I sure hope not! :-)
It would seem to me that the desire to "hurry up" and finish services
quickly is almost as disrespectful as leaving early; perhaps even more
so, since insisting that the service go faster would have a negative
effect on the kavannah [intention/concentration] of those who wish to
pray at a more reasonable speed.
--Robert Book
<rbook@...>
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From: David A Rier <dar6@...>
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 94 23:13:19 EST
Subject: OT in Israel
My family is planning to make aliya, hopefully by the summer of '95.
My wife, an OT with an MA from NYU and 6 yrs' work experience, asks the
following: 1)What is the procedure for getting a job? (e.g., does
everyone apply through a central govt. office, do you call around on
your own, etc.); 2)What type of documentation do you need to apply for
a job?; 3)What types of places to work are there? (e.g., schools,
organizations, hospitals); 4)Does Israel have OT for 0-1 yr olds?
Through what type of organization?; 5)To have a private practice, do
you need any special licenses, insurance, etc.? How hard is it to see
patients privately?; 6)Any suggested preparation/coursework? What
specialties are hottest now? Any others that e "up and coming"? Any
useful information, including the names or e-mail addresses of Israeli
OT's, woul be welcome. Thanks (Private responses are fine) David
Rier <dar6@...> dar6@columbia.bitnet 212/781-9370
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End of Volume 11 Issue 30
