Volume 19 Number 33
Produced: Tue Apr 18 23:36:50 1995
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
G-D'S Name on Computer Screen
[Mark Kolber]
Kiddushin
[Zvi Weiss]
Life (literally) After Death
[Marc Joseph]
Mazal Tov
[Philip Ledereic]
Mazal Tov to Ayala Harris
[Hillel E. Markowitz]
Meforshim (commentaries) and biology
[Daniel Weiss]
Mehadrin
[Eli Turkel]
Purim and Shushan Purim in Bet Lehem/Efrat
["Hershler, Ariel"]
Shushan Purim
[Lon Eisenberg]
urgent- re Alisa Flatow
[Claude Schochet]
Vav DeGichon: A Flawed Numerology?
[Hayim Hendeles]
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From: Mark Kolber <MKOLBER@...>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 21:12:18 -0500 (EST)
Subject: G-D'S Name on Computer Screen
I would like to offer my views regarding G-d's name on a computer
screen.
1. The image on a computer screen is analogous to the
projection of the image from a micro film onto a glass. When one
turns the page, the projection of the image disappears from the
screen but the permanent record of the information remains on the
micro film. In a similar fashion, when one reads the word G-d
printed in a book, the image is projected onto our retinas but
then disappears when we read the next word, however the permanent
record of the information remains on the paper. Likewise when,
on a computer display, we page to the next page, the word may
disappear from the screen but the permanent record of the
information remains within the computer usually on a magnetic
disc or CD ROM. We can easily page back and the image will re-
appear. It is very similar to turning the page of a book. We
are merely viewing one portion or another of a permanent record
of information which resides within the computer. This brings up
a new question...
2. Can we erase the record of the word G-d on a computer disc?
In my opinion this is the destruction of information analogous to
erasing the word written on a paper. I feel it is
irrelevant whether the storage medium is a clay tablet, stone,
paper or magnetic disc and likewise it is irrelevant if the
language is Hebrew, English, Braille or Binary. I would suggest
that the rules regarding context and purpose might be
appropriate here and here I defer to the experts.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this interesting
discussion.
Mr. Mark Kolber
Northampton PA
<mkolber@...>
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From: Zvi Weiss <weissz@...>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 12:48:28 -0500
Subject: Kiddushin
It is simply improper to assert that there is *no* notion of the woman
being the man's property when Kiddushin takes place. A simple counter-
example is that the wife of a Kohen is allowed to eat Terumah because she
is called "Kinyan Kaspo"...
Of course, this does not mean that she is a "chattel" but it does mean
that the process of Kiddushin seems to do more than simply restrict the
wife (sexually) to her husband.
--Zvi.
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From: <mjoseph@...> (Marc Joseph)
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 06:24:06 -0700
Subject: Re: Life (literally) After Death
>I saw an interesting piece on "60 Minutes" last night. It was about how
>doctors sometimes "kill" a patient in order to perform tricky open-heart
>surgery. By kill, I mean that in every possible way of looking at it,
>the person is dead. The patient's blood and body temperature is lowered
>until his heart stops beating, he stops breathing and his brain stops
>brain-waving (I'm sure there's a better term), i.e. his EEG is
>completely flat.
>
>No matter what your definition of halachik death is, this patient is
>dead.
>(Deleted material)
>
> I've got a real stumper for you: Let's say the
>doctors could not revive him, and someone was in the room while he was
>"dead," but left before the doctors gave up on reviving him. Is that
>person tameh? The relevent question being, when did he die?
>
>Lou Rayman
A good question. It is something I have always wondered about as a
Cardiovascular Perfusionist (the technician that operates the heart-lung
machine during such procedures) who is also a Kohen. I've never really
gotten a clear answer from anyone that I have asked.
Marc
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From: Philip Ledereic <ledereic@...>
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 95 18:21:26 EDT
Subject: Mazal Tov
Happy Pesach (Passover) to all,
My wife & I would like to announce the birth a baby boy.
He was born on Wednesday, 4-12-95 at 4:20PM, 6lbs+6.5oz.
For those of you in the Pittsburgh area on Wednesday, 4-19-95,
we should, G-d willing, be making a Bris (ritual circumcision)
at the Young Israel of Squirrel Hill after the morning minyan.
May we all share in each others simchas & happy occasions,
Pesach (Philip) & Chani Ledereich
<ledereic@...>
412-422-3618
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From: Hillel E. Markowitz <hem@...>
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 23:43:44 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Mazal Tov to Ayala Harris
I want to wish a mazal tov to Ayala Shprintze Harris daughter of Michael
and Rachel (Markowitz) Harris on the occassion of her receiving her name
this Shabbos Hagadol. She was born Thusday 6 Nisan (April 6) shortly
after midnight. May she grow to Torah, Chupah, and Maasim Tovim.
| Hillel (Saba) Markowitz | Im ain ani li, mi li? |
| <H.E.Markowitz@...> | V'ahavta L'raiecha kamocha |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Daniel Weiss <deb-dan@...>
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 1995 22:33:16 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Meforshim (commentaries) and biology
As I was looking over the Ramban on this week's parsha (Tazria), I noted
that the first Ramban on the first pasuk (verse) discusses the biology
of conception and fetal formation. The proposed physiology that he
cites, and states that the physicians at his time held to be true,
appears to be completely wrong (the exact statements are not
important). He then quotes "chachmei yavan" (the Greek "wise men," or
philosopher/scientists of the classical era) - upon whom scientists and
physicians relied upon throughout much of the middle ages, but who were
quite incorrect regarding much of science (e.g. the renowned Galen had
some quite bizarre beliefs regarding human anatomy, by today's
standards). The science that he quotes from them appears to be no less
incorrect.
I recall a similar dilemma with a Radak (but not it's location) on
Isaiah that stated that the pasuk was consistent with, or proved, the
"fact" that the sun revolved around the earth.
Note that I have been careful to say "appears to be" and not "is"
incorrect. Therein lies the problem. How are we supposed to deal with
drashot that include information that we hold to be incorrect
(scientific, not halachic, obviously :) )? Especially when the drash is
trying to show the correctness of the Torah by saying "and look, see how
the Torah us correct; it is consistent with what we 'know' to be true
scientifically..." and the "fact" that the Torah is supposedly
consistent with is, in fact, incorrect. An unsatisfying answer is simply
that the drash is wrong. Another is that our science is wrong. A
slightly less unsatisfying answer is that we are misinterpreting the
drash, and that looking at in in another (perhaps allegorical) way is
what is required.
I humbly solicit your opinions.
Danny Weiss, M.D.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
<deb-dan@...>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Eli Turkel <turkel@...>
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 23:21:32 +0300
Subject: Mehadrin
Eisenberg writes:
> "Mehadrin" implies certain standard, not including every stringency
> in the book. It basically means that only products with "bedaz"
> supervision (from any of the various different "bedaz" organizations)
> are used, not just plain "rabbanuth" products
This is a very strange defintion of mehadrin. The Jerusalem
rabbinate, chief rabbinate, and also Tel Aviv and Rechovot (and probably
more) offer a mehadrin hechsher in addition to the "regular" one. I
assume that their mehadrin doesn't mean only badatz and not rabbanut. In
fact Rav Eliyahu has spoken on several occasions why he considers the
chief rabbinate hechsher better than badatz supervision.
<turkel@...>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Hershler, Ariel" <ahershle@...>
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 95 10:52:46
Subject: Purim and Shushan Purim in Bet Lehem/Efrat
In MJ V19#5 Meshulam Laks asked at what date(s) Purim is celebrated in
Bet Lehem. He also asked whether there are any Jews out there except for
Rahel Imenu.
The answer to the second question is definitely yes! In Efrat, which
according to Tenach (Bible) is Bet Lehem, there is a young, thriving,
mostly religious community led by Rav Riskin (formerly of New
York). Efrat is considered to be part of Gush Etzion, the area which was
settled by Jews back in the beginning of the century. Gush Etzion is
well known for its heroic battle in the War of Independence in 1948.
Sitting strategically on the Hebron-Jerusalem road, it fell in the hands
of the Jordanian Legion after a long battle. Some consider the delay
caused to the Jordanians by this battle one of the prime reasons why
they didn't succeed in capturing all of Jerusalem.
Living myself in Efrat, I can see Jerusalem from my house on clear days
(the distance is only about 8 kilometers in a straight line, but Efrat
is much higher than Jerusalem). Notwithstanding this fact, Purim is
celebrated in Efrat on the 14th. I'm not sure as to the origin of this
decision; if you're really interested I could ask Rav Riskin.
There is also at least one other city which was definitely walled in
Joshua's days, which wasn't mentioned in your post, maybe because it is
too obvious. I am referring to Jericho, which as we know from Tenach,
was walled until Joshua and the Bne Israel (the People of Israel) went
around it for seven times and blew a shofar. Then the walls tumbled
down. There is still a shul (synagogue) in Jericho, where Jews continue
to learn even though they are now part of the Palestinian Autonomy. I
don't know whether they were there on Purim and on what date they would
celebrate.
Ariel
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From: Lon Eisenberg <eisenbrg@...>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 18:11:26 +0000
Subject: Shushan Purim
The Rav of Mevasereth Zion ruled that the 15th is the correct day (it is
contiguous with Jerusalem, either in the same eruv or adjoining eruvim).
The yehivah people there keep 2 days (but they may even say the
blessings on the 15th, I'm not sure).
BTW, in Har Nof (where I live) the Gr"a shul keeps 2 days (I'm almost
certain that they make the blessings on the 15th).
Lon Eisenberg Motorola Israel, Ltd. Phone:+972 3 5659578 Fax:+972 3 5658205
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From: Claude Schochet <claude@...>
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 16:13:23 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: urgent- re Alisa Flatow
I enclose a statement from her family. She was a close friend of my son
Elie.
Claude Schochet
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Rosenthal <ST911128@...>
Subject: Statement from Steven Flatow, father
Statement from Steven Flatow, Father of Alisa M. Flatow, on behalf of
the Flatow family.
Alisa loved the Jewish People, the Torah and the land of Israel.
She believed in the good inherent in all people. She believed she was
safe in Israel and no one could dissuade her from that belief.
Her family extends condolences to the families of the other victims of
Sunday's attacks.
Her family wishes to thank the physicians and staff of Soroka Hospital
for their care, their concern and support. Also to President Weizman,
Prime Minister Rabin, and the representatives of the U.S. Embassy in
Israel for their aid and comfort, and to the countless people offering
their prayers for Alisa in Israel and the United States
Her lasting contribution to the people of Israel is that her organs
were donated for the savings of lives in need.
-----------------
The funeral will be at 10:00 am Wednesday, April 12 at Congregation
Ahavat Achim Bnei Jacob and David in West Orange, NJ. (700 Pleasant
Valley Way).
Transportation will be leaving from Brandeis that morning. If you
would like to go contact Brandeis Hillel 617-736-3580. If you plan to
drive then please let us know if you have space in your car. If you
need transportation then let us know. We are deciding on what kind
of transportation we need in order to accomodate everyone. Please call
Hillel (if no one answers then leave a message) to let us know if you
plan to go to the funeral.
------------
A memorial service will be organized on campus after Passover.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <hayim@...> (Hayim Hendeles)
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 10:12:23 -0700
Subject: Vav DeGichon: A Flawed Numerology?
>So there you have it. I'm stuck. Any good references or ideas?
Rabbi Menachem Kasher, in an appendix to his Torah Shlema (on the posuk
"vav d'gichon") has an extensive discussion of the entire problem with
numerous references.
After all is said and done, however, there still is plenty of room for
more work on the subject.
Hayim Hendeles
P.S. Just to muddy the waters up somewhat,
regarding the number of pesukim in the Torah which you had trouble
with, I have been told - WARNING: WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ IS HEARSAY
- that Rabbi Feinstein zt"l has (supposedly) said that if one reads 2
long pesukim for an aliya (which is supposed to be a minimum of 3
pesukim) you *may* be OK anyway, because in reality these may have been
3 pesukim originally. (Can anyone verify this psak?)
Now *IF* this is true, what this means I do not know. But it certainly
doesn't make things any easier to understand.
I do know that the pesukim count at the end of the parshas do not always
jive with our chumash. Furthermore, even the grand totals at the end of
the Chumash are inconsistent with the individual totals.
I have never been able to find out who wrote those totals, nor do I have
any idea where to research this issue.
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End of Volume 19 Issue 33
