Volume 22 Number 90
Produced: Tue Jan 23 23:48:33 1996
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
10/611/613 commandments
[Art Kamlet]
7 Sivan
[Barry S. Bank]
Abuse
[Steve White]
Alcoholism
[Moshe Stern]
Blood Transfusions
[Ezra Dabbah]
Carrying without Eruv - popular practice
[Yishai Sered]
Does God care?
[Elizabeth M. Phillips]
European Chocolate
[Carl Sherer]
Judaism & Alcoholism
[Shimon Schwartz]
Looking for Books on Women in Jewish History
[Elie Rosenfeld]
Parat Moshe Rabbenu - Ladybug
[Zev Barr]
Rabin and G'daliah B' Achikam
[Y. Kasdan]
Searching a name
[Jack Stroh]
Seminaries in Israel
[Arthur J Einhorn]
Switching Chazanim midstream
[Shmuel Himelstein]
tehillim for the sick
[Eliyahu Teitz]
Toothpaste, Crest, Colgate etc
[Isaac Balbin]
UN-blech
[Leah S. Gordon]
York
[Micha Berger]
Yosef & Binyameen
[Warren Burstein]
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From: <kamlet@...> (Art Kamlet)
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 01:59:53 -0500 (EST)
Subject: 10/611/613 commandments
>As you know, the first two were spoken directly by Ha-Shem, but the
>others were relayed by Moshe. This is alluded to in the verse "Torah
>tziva lanu Moshe..." (Moses commanded us the Torah...). The numerical
>value of "Torah" is 611. Of the 613 commandments, two came directly to
>the people from Ha-Shem, but the other 611 we learned from Moshe.
The way I learned this is 611 commandments were given to Moses at Sinai,
and two (Be Fruitful; Do not eat the sciatic nerve) were given before
Moses & Sinai. (Brit Milah was given to Abraham, but was repeated at
Sinai so is one of the 611).
Art Kamlet Columbus, Ohio <kamlet@...>
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From: <bt492@...> (Barry S. Bank)
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 06:33:56 -0500
Subject: 7 Sivan
Since the Rabbanut Ha-Rasheet has designated Asarah be'Tevet as the date
for observing the Yahrtzeit of Shoah victims whose date of death is
unknown, can anyone provide information about the custom of observing 7
Sivan for this purpose? Origin and rationale of the custom? Why 7 Sivan
(obviously a day on which Yizkor is recited, but why not one of the
other Yizkor days)? Is this custom unique to certain communities? etc.
Thank you in advance.
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From: <StevenJ81@...> (Steve White)
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 17:03:14 -0500
Subject: Abuse
In #87, Jeanette Friedman writes:
>One note: If a husband is hitting and verbally abusing his wife, if the
>wife is verbally abusing and hitting her husband, what do YOU think is
>happening to the kids?
To add my support: abuse of any kind is an avera, pure and simple. Why
don't we feel about it at least as strongly, and address it at least as
strongly, as other averot?
Steve White
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From: Moshe Stern <MSTERN@...>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 96 08:53:00 CST
Subject: Alcoholism
David Brodsky seeks information on the prohibitions against alcoholism. How
could there be such a thing when alcoholism is a disease. Certain behaviours
which alcoholics do may well come under the rubric of forbidden acts. The
disease itself, however, is another thing entirely.
Professor M. S. Stern <204>474-8961 [voice]
Department of Religion <MStern@...>
University of Manitoba or
542 Fletcher Argue <MStern@...>
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From: <EDABBAH@...> (Ezra Dabbah)
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 20:37:14 -0500
Subject: Blood Transfusions
I recently read an artilce in the January 25th issue of The Jerusalem
Report. The article can be found on page 18 entitled "Real Torah
Judaism" by Ze'ev Chafets.
Then, just the other day, a dispute broke out between two of Israel's
former chief rabbis. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, universally considered one of
the great Torah scholars of the age, was quoted as ruling that the
faithful should refuse transfusions from gentiles and nonobservant Jews
because they have dangerously trief blood which might cause all manner
of un-Jewish behavior.
Can anyone out there confirm or deny this statement.
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From: Yishai Sered <ysered@...>
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 96 10:17:53
Subject: Carrying without Eruv - popular practice
I know that the first answer would be "ask a competent Posek". I am
interested in the Sociology of this issue - what real people actually do
- rather than the letter of the law.
The question: During Shabbat, where there is no Eruv, what do women do
about carrying spare tampons/pads when they need them? Do they stay
home/make sure they visit a friend? Do Shuls provide spares? Does
B'nei Akiva or other youth organization?
The question came up as an example for something that when you need, you
REALLY NEED. It cannot be made into Jewelry or hidden near the door,
like a key; it cannot be made part of clothing, and the asking persons
could not come up with an applicable creative solution.
Thanks for all replies,
Yishai Sered
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From: Elizabeth M. Phillips <ad302@...>
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 11:13:09 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Does God care?
IMHO it seems to me that God must have done much more than just created
everybody and everything and then stood off and watched.... Look how
much He has loved the Jewish people and helped them despite the terrible
things they have endured. Otherwise what good would it do to pray and
trust Him to answer those prayers or that He had an interest in us? He
loves Israel and the Jewish people.
I know there are many philosophical arguments and so forth, but perhaps
we are making it all too difficult IMHO. God knows that we are but
dust, but He cares for us anyways....
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From: <adina@...> (Carl Sherer)
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 96 8:03:15 IST
Subject: European Chocolate
Last night I was searching my local supermarket for mint-filled
chocolates and discovered a very tempting version of the same with a
Hashgacha from Switzerland. I am *not* asking about the reliability of
the Hashgacha (although if anyone knows about it they can contact me
privately).
I recall hearing some years ago that Americans should not eat some
chocolate or certain chocolate produced in Europe because the Western
European poskim accept certain kulas (leniencies) regarding chocolate
(lecithin? emulcifiers?) which American poskim do not accept. Can
someone enlighten me? Is this still a problem (assuming that one eats
chalav stam and therefore that the fact that Swiss chocolate is not
generally chalav yisroel would not be a problem)? Thanks.
--Carl Sherer
Adina and Carl Sherer
You can reach us both at:
<adina@...>
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From: Shimon Schwartz <shimmy@...>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 10:26:48 -0500
Subject: Re: Judaism & Alcoholism
>From: <DaveTrek@...> (David Brotsky)
>A friend asked me recently for materials that speak about Judaism and
>Alcoholism, especially items that deal with the strong prohibitions
>against alcoholism in Jewish sources.
"Alcoholism" is a disease, hardly qualified to be the object of an issur. I
think David mean to ask about "overdrinking."
Shimon Schwartz
http://www.access.digex.net/~shimmy/
With Rebecca, Forest Hills, NY: <shimmy@...>
NYNEX Science & Technology, Inc., White Plains, NY: <schwartz@...>
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From: <er@...> (Elie Rosenfeld)
Date: 18 Jan 1996 10:23 EST
Subject: Looking for Books on Women in Jewish History
My wife is doing a research paper, and is looking for books on the
role/status of women throughout Jewish history. The need is for factual
historical works and _not_ books with a feminist (or anti-feminist)
agenda.
Please reply to <er@...>
Thanks,
Elie Rosenfeld
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From: <zevbarr@...> (Zev Barr)
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 00:56:18 +1100 (EST)
Subject: Parat Moshe Rabbenu - Ladybug
May I ask if anyone can shed some light on the derivation of the Hebrew
for ladybug (ladybird), Parat Moshe Rabbenu.
The Parat part is semi-logical as Parpar is a butterfly or even parah as
in milking a flower. But whence Moshe Rabbenu?
It is a point that has been bugging me for a long time (pun intended),
Zev
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From: <IKasdan189@...> (Y. Kasdan)
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 01:50:51 -0500
Subject: Rabin and G'daliah B' Achikam
For those who found a parallel between Prime Minister Rabin's
assassination and that of G'daliah B' Achikam, the Hakdamah of the
"Yalkut Yehudah" (recently republished by Feldheim), to Sefer Sh'mot
(Chelek gemel) will be of interest.
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From: <jackst@...> (Jack Stroh)
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 11:35:48 -0500
Subject: Searching a name
My friend's mother recently passed away, and he would like to know if
anyone could translate the meaning of her name- Etta Maita. Any help would
be appreciated. Thanks!
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From: Arthur J Einhorn <0017801@...>
Date: 23 Jan 1996 16:16:16 GMT
Subject: Seminaries in Israel
I would like to hear from others who are familiar with the tradeoffs
between girls seminaries in Israel. I am specifically interested in BJJ
compared to others especially Hadar. I would especially like to hear
from alumni or their parents about there impressions of both
schools. Are there differences in the quality of the education? Are
there differences in the haskafa? How does the clientel differ? Are both
schools targeting the same population?
Thank You,
Ahron Einhorn
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From: Shmuel Himelstein <himelstein@...>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 11:37:37 +0200 (IST)
Subject: Switching Chazanim midstream
Today, purely by chance, I was Chazan at our morning Shacharit Minyan.
A question then occurred to me: when there is a change of Chazan, it is
always before the Yishtabach segment (on Shabbat and Yom Tov there is an
added segment that the second Chazan is responsible for). Now as the
section known as Pesukei D'zimra begins with the section of Baruch
She'amar and concludes with Yishtabach, why is it that that the change
takes place before the end of Pesukei D'zimra? Without checking out the
sources, I wonder if it might be because of the Kaddish following
Yishtabach, which might need to be said by the person who concludes
Pesukei D'zimra. Any replies would be welcomed.
Shmuel Himelstein
<himelstein@...>
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From: <EDTeitz@...> (Eliyahu Teitz)
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 12:05:44 -0500
Subject: Re: tehillim for the sick
A recent poster asked:
> In Shavuot 15: it says that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi states that
> "asur lehitrapot bidvar Torah (one is not allowed to heal using words
> of Torah)." How then can we pray or say tehillim for a sick person?
When saying t'hillim, the idea is NOT that the words heal, but rather
that we use the words to beseech Hashem to heal the ill.
Eliyahu
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From: Isaac Balbin <isaac@...>
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 16:12:06 +1100
Subject: Toothpaste, Crest, Colgate etc
There have been a number of articles on this topic of late. Originally
someone inquired as to the kashrus of Crest. Our moderator, Avi, quoted
Rav Blumenthal to the effect that Crest could be used. Note though that
Rav Blumenthal's words did not say (as quoted by Avi) that Crest was kosher.
There are opinions, and the interested reader can look in Sheilos UTshuvos
Har Tzvi for a Psak, that hold that one can use any toothpaste; let me
stress though that each person should ask their Rav since circumstances
may have changed from the arguments advanced by Rav Frank in Har Tzvi.
I haven't seen any evidence to suggest that Crest is more "kosher" than
Colgate for example. Is there any such evidence?
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From: Leah S. Gordon <lsgordon@...>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 08:16:21 -0800
Subject: UN-blech
In a fairly recent Mail.Jewish, someone commented that the UN-blech
keeps food at a temperature of 155 degrees (F). This seems to me
to risk growth of some food bacteria if the food is left for too long.
(And indeed the poster mentioned the possibility for the food being
left out all of shabbat.)
Would someone more knowledgable than me please speak to that issue?
Thanks,
Leah Gordon
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From: Micha Berger <aishdas@...>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 06:46:35 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: York
Immanuel O'Levy (<imo@...>) asks in v22n86:
> If there is a cherem (ban) on sleeping in York on account of the pogrom
> there, why isn't most of Russia or Europe similarly out of bounds?
I don't know one way of the other about the ban, but the situation at
York is different than most progroms for a number of reasons:
1- The victims committed suicide rather than be taken and abused,
including raped, by the crusaders, y"sh.
2- At least three of the Ba'alei Tosfos died in the fire. It effectively ended
the era of the Tosafists.
3- It was a major event at the begining of the entire crusader experience.
Tied into the tragedy of York are the tragedies that were to follow across
the rest of Xian Europe.
Micha Berger 201 916-0287 Help free Ron Arad, held by Syria 3255 days!
<AishDas@...> (16-Oct-86 - 5-Oct-95)
<a href=news:alt.religion.aishdas>Orthodox Judaism: Torah, Avodah, Chessed</a>
<a href=http://haven.ios.com/~aishdas>AishDas Society's Home Page</a>
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From: <warren@...> (Warren Burstein)
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 06:30:55 GMT
Subject: Re: Yosef & Binyameen
Robert Book writes:
>Answer (a) implicitly assumes that Yosef had a mirror (and a good
>memory). Does anyone know if mirrors existed at that time?
Mirrors are mentioned in Shmot 39:8, which takes place 200-something
years after Yosef and his brothers. The Midrash says that these mirrors
were used during the period of enslavement which takes it even closer to
the time of Yosef.
|warren@ an Anglo-Saxon." -- Stuart Schoffman
/ itex.jct.ac.IL
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End of Volume 22 Issue 90
