Volume 22 Number 58
Produced: Wed Dec 27 21:22:53 1995
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
AIDS and Niddah
[Anthony Fiorino]
Chanukah trivia
[David Ofsevit and Several More]
Death of Innocents
[Yeshaya Halevi]
Kanaim Pogim Bo
[Avi Weinstein]
Kol Isha (girl's choir) (2)
[Andy Levy-Stevenson, Freda B Birnbaum]
My Bar-Mitzvah
[Joshua Schainker]
Rashi wrong?
[Elie Farkas]
Rav Hamachsher Question
[Pete Hopcroft]
Shabbas Carrying Question
[Yossi Wetstein]
Shabos Rosh Chodesh Musaf
[CP]
Smoking and Charedim
[Yosef Branse]
Sridei Aish
[Binyomin Segal]
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From: Anthony Fiorino <fiorino@...>
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1995 23:51:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: AIDS and Niddah
> I am a student at Yale School of Nursing seeking information
> about the awareness level of niddah poskim and the need to use universal
> precautions (and possibly to be vaccinated against hepatitis B).
> If I am able to determine that there truly is a risk to these
> rebbeim of contracting a blood-borne disease (God-forbid), I am
> considering designing and implementing a posek-education project.
A related observation is that almost every mohel I have seen in the
recent past has used latex gloves, etc. and has observed precautions
against blood-borne diseases. There's no reason to think that niddah
poskim would not be equally receptive to the idea, although getting in
touch with every rav who poskins niddah shailos would be quite a task
(perhaps best undertaken by the O-U, Natl Council of Young Israel, RCA,
Agudah, etc.)
Eitan Fiorino
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From: David Ofsevit and Several More <ofsevit@...>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 08:54:23
Subject: re: Chanukah trivia
In M.J 22.57, Tova Taragin proposed:
> Chanukah trivia (a little late)
> This Chanukah trivia question is thanks to my son-in-law Meyer Shields
> who heard it from Jay Rosenblum in Philadelphia. I'll supply the answer
> in a day or two...Why was there no Shabbos Chanukah in the year 1948?
Before looking it up, I guessed that Chanukah came very late that
year and Shabbat came after 1948 ended. I checked the calendar in the
E.J., and indeed that was the case. Chanukah didn't start until Dec. 27
and Shabbat landed on Jan. 1, 1949.
It takes a rare combination of a leap year with a very late Rosh
Hashanah and Chanukah starting early in the week for this to occur. My
calendar only goes to 2020, and there are a couple of near misses in 2005
and 2016 (both Dec. 31). Someone else will have to rev up their perpetual
calendar to find the next time this happens.
David Ofsevit
[ Similar responses/answers from:
<iir@...> (Israel Rosenfeld)
Perry Dane <dane@...>
Zvi Weiss <weissz@...>
<David_Hollander@...> (David Hollander)
who also notes:
By the way, in December '49 Shabbos Chanuka was also not Parshas
Miketz.
Larry Rosler <lr@...>
who also clarifies that the previous Chanuka was not in 1948:
In 1947, the first day of Hanukkah (5708) was December 8, and Shabbat
Hanukkah was December 13. Because 5709 was a leap year, in 1948 the
first day of Hanukkah (5709) was December 27, and Shabbat Hanukkah was
January 1, 1949.
In each of these years, Shabbat Hanukkah was 30 Kislev (the first day
of Rosh Hodesh), making for an extraordinarily long davening, like this
year! (Also, by the way, the longest possible Birkat Ha-Mazon.)
Mod.]
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From: <CHIHAL@...> (Yeshaya Halevi)
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 11:28:38 -0500
Subject: Re: Death of Innocents
Shalom, All:
Regarding my question of the death of innocents, such as children
and especially babies, Mordechai Perlman responded that <<Chazal have already
stated that children who die young are granted the special privilege of
Hashem teaching Torah to them personally. Exactly what that's supposed to
mean, I haven't the faintest but it sounds pretty good. That's as far as the
child's account goes. As far as the parents' account goes, the Sifri states
that children below the age of maturity may die because of their parents'
sins.>>
While I grant that being taught Torah straight from God is
quite awesome, this explanation leaves me unsatisfied. No disrespect,
but it sounds like a cop-out.
As for the statement attributed to the Sifri, that <<children
below the age of maturity may die because of their parents' sins>>, how
does that reconcile with the Torah's declaration that children shall not
die for the sins of their fathers, nor vice versa?
<Chihal@...> (Yeshaya Halevi)
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From: Avi Weinstein <0003396650@...>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 95 07:51 EST
Subject: Kanaim Pogim Bo
Regarding Kanaim Pogim Bo one detail which didn't get expressed is the
fact that the conjugal act with a gentile had to be done in front of
"ten from Israel" which is stated in the Gemara and quoted by the
Rambam. The Ra'vd requires that while the act is being committed the
perpetrator must be warned by two witnesses otherwise the Kana'i
(zealot) is not considered praiseworthy.
The Rama in the Shulchan Aruch clearly picks up on the Rav'd and
interprets "not considered praiseworthy" as not being permitted to act
unless there are witnesses who give warning.
Even though the mishnah boldly states "Anyone who has sexual relations
with a gentile zealots attack him" The gemara requires it be done in
public. Thereby viewing it primarily as an act of rebellion and
contempt acted out in a sexual manner.
There are many other conditions the Gemara adds to the Mishnah which
serve to make it virtually unimagineable that the perpetrator would
persist in his actions. Then, the Ra'vd and the Rema add more
conditions: He has to do it in public, two witnesses have to warn what
may befall him etc...This demonstrates the clear discomfort the Gemara,
the Rambam, the Ravd and the Rema had with the implications of the
boldly stated comment by the Mishnah that was originally quoted by
Mordecai Pearlman.
In fact there is a Yerushalmi which says that the Sages wanted to put a
ban on Pinchas [put him in "Nidui"] for his action against Zimri, but
the Holy Spirit as revealed to Moshe prevented him from doing so. So, we
have a Talmudic statement that demonstrates their unease at legitimating
extra-judicial justice even in the case of Pinchas which is the
prooftext for seeing that this is an oral tradition of Moses from Sinai.
If people are interested in these sources, I have them at my office, but
I'm writing from home today.
SO, in answer to Mordecai's question if KPB is possible. Technically,
yes, but practically no.
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From: Andy Levy-Stevenson <andyls@...>
Date: 27 Dec 1995 09:03:19 -0600
Subject: Kol Isha (girl's choir)
Sam Gamoran wrote:
>A few weeks ago the Chashmonaim girl's choir was invited to perform (I
>think this was the 'older' girls choir so they were over Bat Mitzvah).
>For 'technical' reasons and to avoid questions of Kol Isha (woman
>singing) their numbers were pre-recorded and they were instructed to
>stand and silently lip-synch with the recording.
>
>The evening of the performance, they were told that at the request of
>someone who was present (I don't know who) that to avoid 'marit ayin'
>(appearance) of singing, they would be required to sit on the stage
>without any lip-synching while the tape was played.
Every time I hear what I believe to be the ultimate in frum silliness,
someone comes along and tops it! Did nobody involved in this performance
ever take a step back and ask "What's going on here?"
Whoever the "someone" was should probably not have attended if their
level of observance demands such strictures.
In utter bewilderment,
Andy Levy-Stevenson Email: <andyls@...>
Tea for Two Communications Voice & Fax: 612-920-6217
2901 Salem Avenue South
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
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From: Freda B Birnbaum <fbb6@...>
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1995 23:36:16 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Kol Isha (girl's choir)
In V22N55, Sam Gamoran described the following incident [quoted above -
Mod.] and asked for comments:
Wouldn't it have made more sense for the person who objected to ask for
his money back and remove himself, than to insist on the entire
performance being re-engineered to his (I'm assuming the objector was a
he, correct me if I'm wrong) specifications?
Freda Birnbaum, <fbb6@...>
(Thought I'd seen it all, but I guess not...)
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From: Joshua Schainker <Sheryl.Schainker@...>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 16:35:38 EST
Subject: My Bar-Mitzvah
Dear Mail-Jewish friends,
In February I will be celebrating my becoming of a Bar- Mitzvah. I
need to write a speach, but I need some ideas. My parsha in Parashas
Yitro. If you don't mind, could you please email me information
about my parsha (I would reallly love something on the 10
commandments.) Thank-you.
Joshua Schainker
Sheryl Schainker
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From: <RocketP@...> (Elie Farkas)
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 19:39:14 -0500
Subject: Rashi wrong?
In Pasha Shemos,( Perek Bet, Posuk YudGimmel,) Rashi says that the
two men fighting were, Datan and Avirum. Later on in the Parsha some
Meforshim say, that everyone who wanted Moshe killed, Hashem had
killed. But we know in Parsha Korach, that Datan, and Avirum were still
alive. Was Rashi, therefore incorrect that everyone who wanted Moshe
killed, was in fact killed?
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From: <DSS@...> (Pete Hopcroft)
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 00:35:52 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Rav Hamachsher Question
I was invited to a wedding at a hotel in Livingston NJ, and the
Rav Hamachsher is a Reb Benjamin Weinbach (spelling?) from NY.
Does anyone know of him? I want to have some idea about the kashrus
before I go...
Pete Hopcroft
[I would request that anyone who has direct information on Rav Weinbach
contact Pete directly. Mod.]
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From: Yossi Wetstein <jpw@...>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 20:00:26 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Shabbas Carrying Question
Shabbas carrying question:
Can a man wear a chain with a charm in the place of a tie-pin on shabbas?
Thanks,
Yossi
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From: CP <chips@...>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 15:01:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Shabos Rosh Chodesh Musaf
> From: <twerskyd@...> (David Twersky)
> ...In the Mussaf Shmoneh Esrei for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh (Ata Yatzarta) we
> say "...but because we sinned before You -- we and our forefathers -- ...
> against your Sanctuary...". This is of course reminiscent of the
> paragraph beginning "Mipnei Chateynu" in the Mussaf for the Sholosh
> Regalim (Festivals).
> The observation/question is that we don't mention this theme in the
> regular Shabbos Mussaf OR in the regular Rosh Chodesh Mussaf. Why all
> of a sudden in the combination of the two, is this theme evoked.
I'm not sure about this, but how about ...
Just like on the 'Rigolim' there was work done in the Beis HaMikdosh
that normally would not have been done, on Shabos - Rosh Chodesh there
was some work done for Rosh Chodesh (whether of sofek or not) that would
not have been allowed to be done otherwise on Shabos.
-CP
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From: Yosef Branse <JODY@...>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 8:16:12 +0200 (EET)
Subject: Re: Smoking and Charedim
I question Dr. Backon's broad characterization of Charedim (in Vol. 22,
Number 39):
>the Charedim violate every rule in the book: they eat junk, zero
>exercise (no, shuckling isn't exercise :-) ) chain smoke, and are type
>A (nervous) behavior.
I admit that I am handicapped by not living in the great metropolis of
Jerusalem, where I might view the evidence first-hand. But there are
also Charedim in the North of Israel, and I don't see this stereotype
borne out among my acquaintances.
I would appreciate Dr. Backon's providing us with references to the careful
scientific research that served as a basis for his generalization, and that
these attributes are more common among Charedim than other sectors of society.
* Yosef (Jody) Branse University of Haifa Library *
* Systems Librarian Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel *
* Internet/ILAN: <JODY@...> *
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From: <bsegal@...> (Binyomin Segal)
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 11:25:27 -0600
Subject: Sridei Aish
there's been a lot of talk recently about his tshuva re singing.
I've been involved in NCSY for a long time and therefore have heard
about his tshuva over & over again, but have never SEEN it.
Id REALLY like to purchase a shut sridei aish - so if anyone knows where
its available please let me know...
but barring that does anyone own a copy that they might xerox a few
pages from for me?
tia
binyomin
<bsegal@...>
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End of Volume 22 Issue 58
