Volume 47 Number 14
Produced: Sun Mar 6 12:09:30 EST 2005
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Debating Daf Yomi
[Jeffrey Saks]
Kosher Food at Yankee Stadium?
[Janice Gelb]
Mechizah for a) Modesty b) Mood of loneliness c) Symbolic of
[Russell J Hendel]
Names of Hassidic Dynasties in Israel
[Nachum Klafter]
Purim in Yerushalayim
[J. Kaufman]
Rebbes' Place Names
[Ben Katz]
Religious freedom
[Michael Kahn]
Religious Freedom in Early US Colonies
[Bernard Raab]
Testing a mohel for herpes
[Ben Katz]
Uva l'Tziyon
[Israel Caspi]
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From: Jeffrey Saks <atid@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 22:08:47 +0200
Subject: Debating Daf Yomi
While the upcoming completion of the 11th cycle of Daf Yomi will
generally generate praise and admiration for the accomplishments of
thousands of Jews worldwide and their commitment to daily Talmud study,
is it possible that--as an educational campaign--these efforts are
misplaced? Two thoughtful educators, Rabbis Gidon Rothstein and Yoel
Domb, debate the merits and pitfalls of Daf Yomi study on the ATID
website in our "Op-Jed" (Opinions for Jewish Education) Column.
Click on following link to read the exchange, or participate in the
bulletin board discussion: http://www.atid.org/resources/op-jed.asp
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From: Janice Gelb <j_gelb@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 09:40:11 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Kosher Food at Yankee Stadium?
<mjcalabrese@...> (Monica Calabrese) wrote:
>
> We are planning to bring a group of teens from Columbus, OH to NY for a
> long weekend/shabbaton, including a Yankees game. I've heard that there
> is kosher food available at the stadium. Does anyone have details or
> contact information? Thanks.
As far as I have ever been able to determine, there is no kosher food at
Yankee Stadium. As of a couple of years ago, though, there was a
separate hot dog cooker and pareve buns available at the Pizza Hut stand
at Shea Stadium, the home of the NY Mets. (And, for future reference,
there is a completely kosher food stall at Camden Yards in Baltimore.)
-- Janice
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From: Russell J Hendel <rjhendel@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 21:21:57 -0500
Subject: RE: Mechizah for a) Modesty b) Mood of loneliness c) Symbolic of
Thanks to Josh Sharf for citing Norman Lamm who confirmed my
interpretation of the "other reason" for Mechitza as letting man be
alone before God.
I should add that modesty doesnt really work here. E.g. A man comes to
synagogue with his wife on his right and daughter on his left. How is
THIS a violation of modesty (Jewish law explicitly allows a man to kiss
his daughter because there is no breach of immodesty--how can sitting
with her then be a breach).
We have to be careful about using "modesty" as a catch all.
In passing there are many supportive arguments for my contention that
the Mechitza is a symbolic reminder of the separation from wives prior
to the revelation of the decalogue (Exodus 18). Many items in the
synagogue are symbolic of the Temple and prophecy: a) The Kerubim/lions
b) The elevate Bimah like the elevated altar symbolic of Mount Sinai
(See Rav Hirsch on Nu28 which explicitly calls the altar "the mount
sinai" justifying Rav Hirschs conclusion that the Bimah/altar is
reminiscent of the revelation c) The Ark Veil which resembled the Temple
Veil which of course is symbolic that prophecy happens in a veiled
manner ("Lv16-01:03...for I will reveal myself thru a cloud"). There is
more but this will do to point the direction of the argument
Russell Jay Hendel; http://www.Rashiyomi.com/
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From: Nachum Klafter <doctorklafter@...>
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 08:33:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Names of Hassidic Dynasties in Israel
>> I saw this caption of a picture and just couldn't avoid a smile:
>> "The Translator together with his Rebbe, the Clevelander Rebbe Shlit"a
>> of Raanana, Israel"
>>
>> Since we already have a Bostoner and a Pittsburgherer, why not a
>> Clevelander.
>>
>> But if he's "of Raanana", why not the Ra'ananer?
Hassidic dynasties are identified with the towns where a group of
Hassidim clustered around their spiritual leader. They are not
identified by where that leader happens to be living at that moment. In
some cases, e.g. Lubavitch, the dynasty starts somewhere else and moves
to a new location, and the new location takes over as the new locality
of identity because important institutions are established there, like a
large yeshiva, a large synagogue, etc. Also, in the case of Lubavitch,
none of the previous locations ever became a permanent home.
Finally, obviously you are familiar with the fact that so many yeshivot
(Ponovitch, Mir, etc.) and Hassidic dynasties (Ger, Vishnetz, etc.) who
have relocated to Eretz Yisrael have retained their European names. I
think you should see this desire to retain one's name an example of
being proud of one's spiritual identity and should not see it as a
"Galut" mentality. Changing one's name from Rabinovich to Rabin does
not, in itself, make someone a greater Zionist or Jew. The idea of
eradicating one's galut identity is an artifact of the intensely
secular, anti-Torah element of modern Zionism, with which all Torah Jews
certainly cannot identify.
-nachum klafter
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From: <D26JJ@...> (J. Kaufman)
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 14:48:23 -0500
Subject: Purim in Yerushalayim
I hope IY"H to be in Yerushalayim for Purim with a return flight to the
US on Motzaei Shabbos .
The way I understand Purim Meshulash in Yerushalayim is the following;
Megillah is on Thursday night and Friday like the rest of the
Country. Meshloach Manos and Matanos Leevyonim is either on Friday or
Sunday. (Different Opinions) Seudas Purim can be done on Shabbos if you
add something special to the meal, but preferably done on Sunday.
If the above is correct, then I can accomplish all my Mitzvos Hayom (at
least according to some) before I leave.
Can anybody confirm the above or enlighten me further?
Much Appreciated,
J. Kaufman
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From: Ben Katz <bkatz@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:59:41 -0600
Subject: Re: Rebbes' Place Names
>From: Yisrael Medad <ybmedad@...>
>I checked out the site of the new translation of the Noam Elimelech
>(whose grave I visited last year).
>I saw this caption of a picture and just couldn't avoid a smile:
>"The Translator together with his Rebbe, the Clevelander Rebbe Shlit"a
>of Raanana, Israel"
>Since we already have a Bostoner and a Pittsburgherer, why not a
>Clevelander.
My favorite, along these lines, was many years ago, when the
Rav of the shul I used to daven in announced that the "Bostoner Rebbi
from Boston" was to be the guest of the community the following shabat.
Aside from the usual ("Where else would you expect the Bostoner rebbi to
be from?"), I assummed that when the Bostoner rebbi had to relocate to
the US, that he figured Boston was the city he should pick!
Happy Purim!
Ben Z. Katz, M.D.
Children's Memorial Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases
2300 Children's Plaza, Box # 20, Chicago, IL 60614
e-mail: <bkatz@...>
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From: Michael Kahn <mi_kahn@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 21:37:45 -0600
Subject: Re: Religious freedom
>Religious freedom in "the colonies" meant for various Christian sects,
>not for all religions. The Mormons had to go all the way west, isolated
>for their freedom of religion.
The founder of Mormonism was born after "the colonies" had become the
United Stes.
>When "the founding fathers" discussed religious freedom, they weren't
>thinking of Jews, Moslems, Hindus, etc.
I don't agree. John Adams wrote that, "As the government of the United
States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion
-it has in itself no . enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility
of Musselmen,(It is clear from the context that this means Muslims.) -
.. (Charles I. Bevans, ed. Treaties and Other International Agreements
of the United States of America 1776-1949. Vol. 11: Philippines-United
Arab Republic. Washington D.C.: Department of State Publications, 1974,
p. 1072). http://www.theology.edu/journal/volume2/ushistor.htm
Roger Williams (although he lived before the Founding Fathers)
explicitly said that Jews had a right to religious freedom.
Washington famously wrote pro Jewish things when visiting Touro
synogouge.
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From: Bernard Raab <beraab@...>
Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:33:15 -0500
Subject: Religious Freedom in Early US Colonies
>From: Batya Medad:
>Religious freedom in "the colonies" meant for various Christian sects,
>not for all religions. The Mormons had to go all the way west, isolated
>for their freedom of religion. Traditionally (maybe not by
>constitution) the US is a Cristian country. That's why their holidays
>are official vacations. In areas with many Jews, for economic reasons,
>schools sometimes close for Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur. When "the
>founding fathers" discussed religious freedom, they weren't thinking of
>Jews, Moslems, Hindus, etc.
Your premise is contradicted by the first example you bring. the Mormons
ARE a Christian sect! They were persecuted mostly for their attachment
to polygamy.
I am sorry but one of my pet peeves is the statement that "the US is a
Christian country". What is the agenda here? Is it to convince Jews in
America that we are forever destined to be foreigners here and should be
planning aliyah? Maybe we should be planning aliyah, but I deny the
premise. The US is the world's leading example of a secular democracy.
You say "maybe not (Christian) by constitution" as if the constitution
is some inter-office memo instead of the governing document of the
country, both legally and philosophically. The First Amendment takes the
government out of the religion business. For many years Jews worked to
strengthen the power of the "establishment clause" and keep the
government from meddling in religious life, to our lasting benefit.
After WW2 European refugees arrived on these shores with an incomplete
appreciation of this history. They misinterpreted the widespread
celebration of Christian holidays and the establishment of Christmas as
a national holiday as evidence that this is a "Christian country",
rather than a country with a large Christian majority. Just as "In areas
with many Jews, ... schools sometimes close for Rosh Hashannah and Yom
Kippur" does not make these areas "Jewish cities".
You say: "When "the founding fathers" discussed religious freedom, they
weren't thinking of Jews, Moslems, Hindus, etc." That is undoubtedly
true. They (specifically Jefferson and Madison) weren't thinking of any
particular religion; they were thinking of all religions, or rather
religion in general. Jefferson drafted THE VIRGINIA STATUTE FOR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, which predated and was a precursor of the First
Amendment.
The American Revolution had disestablished the Anglican church, but many
believed that the new goverment should support all recognized churches
with tax money, as is common in Europe. This is what Jefferson and
Madison were determined to oppose.
The key paragraph of this statute reads:
"Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That no man shall be compelled
to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry
whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in
his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his
religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess,
and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and
that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil
capacities." Jefferson feared that this would be repealed by future
legislatures, but it is still a part of the Virginia Commonwealth
constitution and has been copied by many states.
Jefferson wanted his tombstone to commemorate three accomplishments:
Author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for
Religious Freedom, and as the founder of the University of Virginia. No
mention of his being the third President of the United States!
b'shalom--Bernie R.
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From: Ben Katz <bkatz@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 12:14:32 -0600
Subject: Re: Testing a mohel for herpes
>From: Carl Singer <casinger@...>
>Would any of the medical folks on the list venture a bit of science re:
>the transmittal / latency of herpes. It would seem (again) that testing
>a mohel is nearly pointless if even a "clean" mohel doing metziza ba'al
>peh could spread this from one child to another (while, of course,
>infecting himself in the process.)
This is a complicated topic epidemiologically, but the
following statements are true to the best of our knowledge at the
present: Anyone who is seropositive for herpes (ie has antibodies to
herpes) will intermittently shed the virus throughout his/her life; thus
testing for virus at any given time is essentially
pointless. Seropositivity increases with age, even without clinical
evidence of disease. Many adults are seropositive having never had a
known case of herpes (oral or genital). In addition, as Dr. Singer
points out, even a mohel who was seronegative could acquire the disease
(or others, such as hepatitis B or HIV) from the baby.
Ben Z. Katz, M.D.
Children's Memorial Hospital, Division of Infectious Diseases
2300 Children's Plaza, Box # 20, Chicago, IL 60614
e-mail: <bkatz@...>
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From: Israel Caspi <icaspi@...>
Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 08:55:09 -0500
Subject: Uva l'Tziyon
First of all, thanks to David and Martin who so eruditely answered my
question about the formulation "...Avraham, Yitzchak v'Yisrael..." in
Uva l'Tziyon. I have 2 follow-up questions: a little further on in Uva
l'Tziyon we say: "Titen emet l'Ya'akov, chesed l'Avraham." Why is
Yitzchak not included? And why is the order reversed (Ya'akov before
Avraham)?
--Israel Caspi
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End of Volume 47 Issue 14
