Volume 47 Number 16
Produced: Tue Mar 8 6:49:42 EST 2005
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
12th Daf Yomi Calendar? (3)
[Chaim Tatel, Shimon Lebowitz, Perets Mett]
Is the US a Christian country?
[Binyomin Segal]
Kosher Food at Yankees Stadium (5)
[Joshua Hosseinof, Nathan Lamm, Samson Bechhofer, Shmuel
Himelstein, Janice Gelb]
Mechizah for a) Modesty b) Mood of loneliness
[Sholom Parnes]
Names of Rebbes and Chassidic Groups
[Nathan Lamm]
Purim in Yerushalayim
[Lawrence Myers]
Separate at Funerals
[Mark Steiner]
Separate Seating At Funerals (2)
[Yisrael & Batya Medad, Gershon Dubin]
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From: Chaim Tatel <chaimyt@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 11:24:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: 12th Daf Yomi Calendar?
>Shmuel Himelstein asked: Does anyone know of a URL with the 12th Daf
>Yomi cycle calendar?
No, but if you go to www.kaluach.org, you can download the luach. It has the
Daf Yomi schedule included.
Chaim
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From: Shimon Lebowitz <shimonl@...>
Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2005 00:37:53 +0200
Subject: Re: 12th Daf Yomi Calendar?
See: http://www.dafyomi.org/machzor.php
(it actually has cycles 11 through 15).
Shimon Lebowitz mailto:<shimonl@...>
Jerusalem, Israel PGP: http://www.poboxes.com/shimonpgp
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From: Perets Mett <p.mett@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 22:46:57 +0000
Subject: 12th Daf Yomi Calendar?
Try http://www.dafyomi.org/machzor.php
PM
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From: Binyomin Segal <bsegal@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 12:51:44 -0600
Subject: Is the US a Christian country?
The question of early religious freedom and the christian identity of
the US is complicated by the fact that there was no single
authoritative opinion binding on all Americans throughout history. The
facts are complex. Certainly there was great religious freedom here, and
those freedoms were established in law.
As Michael Kahn points out:
> 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,
>
> 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.
And Bernard Raab points to Thomas Jefferson:
> 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.
But the reality was not the same in every part of this country
throughout history. The principles of the 1st amendment have been
understood differently at different times, and the cultural pressure of
conformity have sometimes created political reality that were less than
Jefferson might have dreamed of.
It is these pressures that are referred to when people call the US a
Christian Country. And it should be pointed out that contrary to Bernard
Raab, the expression is NOT primarily a Jewish one. It is instead
primarily used by the Protestant Right, by way of justifying Christian
principles in American law and social practice. (do a google search on
the phrase "is a Christian country" and see how many Jewish sites you
find).
In fact Batya Medad and Bernard Raab circled around an important element
of this idea, it is not "Christian" in the broadest sense, but refers
really to a very specific group of Protestant faiths that were
considered "normal" in colonial America. And that is why
>> The Mormons had to go all the way west, isolated
>> for their freedom of religion.
The Jews, for the most part were a small enough group that they managed
to elicit very little real alarm here, and for the most part were
treated well. However, when Catholics started immigrating in large
numbers, there was a serious anti-papist flavor to much of the political
maneuvering in local politics. A close look at the fight over public
school funding in NYC in the 1840s is an important historical example of
how 1st amendment issues were ignored in favor of anti-religious
bias. (see for example, Vincent Lannie's Public Money and Parochial
Education)
Indeed, public schooling and its practices are probably the place where
this "Christian country" concept is most easily seen. It was not until
the 1960s that the US Supreme Court ruled prayers and Bible reading in
violation of the 1st Amendment. It wasn't until 1992 that the Court
extended that ban to prayers by clergy at graduation ceremonies. But as
the book Public School Law by McCarthy et.al. notes, this actually
INCREASED the amount of prayer (primarily Christian) at graduations. The
negative reactions to the decision meant that schools looked for ways to
circumvent the ruling. THIS is what people mean when they call the US a
Christian country.
Having said all that, I do agree with Bernard Raab when he says: > The
US is the world's leading example of a secular democracy.
Over the past 50 years or so, the idea of the melting pot has waned, and
with it the idea of cultural diversity. With the cultural openness to
that diversity has come a number of legal decisions which have
strengthened the first amendment.
Comments?
binyomin
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From: Joshua Hosseinof <JHosseinof@...>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 10:53:15 -0500
Subject: re: Kosher Food at Yankees Stadium
Indeed there is a kosher concession stand at Yankee stadium, with Hot
Dogs, Pretzels, and Knishes. It is on the Field level between Home
plate and 3rd base, not far from the Designated Driver stand (where you
can get a free soda if you pledge to be a designated driver and show
your driver's license). This area is not accessible to people sitting
in the bleachers. It's unfortunate that the Yankees don't list it on
their website at all, unlike the Mets who have it listed under their
Frequently Asked Questions.
Contact info is:
Strikly Kosher Main reserved Sec 8 845-356-5799 Under Vaad Harabonim
of Queens
They also run the kosher concession stand at Shea Stadium and Giants
Stadium. Ths information was correct as of last season. Since
concession contracts can change from season to season there is no
guarantee that it is still correct for 2005.
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From: Nathan Lamm <nelamm18@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 14:33:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Kosher Food at Yankees Stadium
I believe both Yankee and Shea stadiums established kosher concessions
at the same time. The fare was Jewish deli-type food, a cut above most
stadium offerings, and so proved popular even among non-Jews to an
extent. I'm not sure if it was popular enough to remain open until
today, though. The teams themselves should be able to help.
Nachum Lamm
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From: Samson Bechhofer <SBechhofer@...>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 09:44:51 -0500
Subject: Kosher Food at Yankees Stadium
As you will no doubt hear from the numerous Yankees fans that lurk on
MJ, there are in fact two kosher hot dog stands at Yankees Stadium or at
least there have been for the past 4 or 5 seasons. They carry only hot
dogs and potato knishes. One of them is just behind Section 8 in the
Upper Tier and the other is on the Loge level between home plate and
first base. In fact, one can also "chap" a Maariv minyan near the
kosher stands during the 7th inninng stretch.
Samson R. Bechhofer, Esq.
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From: Shmuel Himelstein <himels@...>
Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2005 19:38:26 +0200
Subject: Kosher Food at Yankees Stadium
Yankee Stadium has a kosher hot dog stand named "Strickly Kosher", which
is Glatt. The "Strickly" name comes from the fact that the owner, who is
a friend of mine, is named Jeffrey Striks, of Monsey. Of course they
only work at games where it is permissible halachically.
I understand this is also the meeting point for Minchah and Ma'ariv.
Shmuel Himelstein
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From: Janice Gelb <j_gelb@...>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 09:02:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject: re: Kosher Food at Yankees Stadium
Thanks to everyone who let me know about this. I am somewhat curious as
to how long this has been around as I know I did research several years
ago and could not find any information at all indicating that there was
kosher food at Yankee Stadium.
-- Janice
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From: Sholom Parnes <merbe@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 22:15:06 +0200
Subject: Re: Mechizah for a) Modesty b) Mood of loneliness
> From: Russell J Hendel <rjhendel@...> wrote:
> 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).
I would like to paraphrase a statement from Rabbi Ephraim Sturm who was
the Executive Director of the National Council of Young Israel. I am
sorry that I do not remember the name of the book that quoted Rabbi
Sturm.
When asked about the issue of separate seating and wouldn't ones prayers
be more sincere if one was surrounded by ones family, Rabbi Sturm said
something to this effect:
"Yes perhaps my prayers would be more sincere if I were sitting next to
my wife, but how sincere would they be if I sat next to your wife?"
Sholom Parnes
Efrat
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From: Nathan Lamm <nelamm18@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 14:28:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Names of Rebbes and Chassidic Groups
In response to Nachum Klafter, it should be pointed out that "Lubavitch"
was merely one of a number of Chabad groups (that is, descendants of the
Alter Rebbe) existing at the same time. It was the only one to survive
the Holocaust in any real numbers, however, and came to dominate the
whole Chabad movement.
In response to Ben Katz, there are, in fact, two Bostoner Rebbes. The
original Rebbe moved to Brooklyn; one of his sons moved back to
Boston. Thus, his eldest son became (after the original Rebbe's death)
the "Bostoner Rebbe of Boro Park," (this son has since passed away as
well, and *his* son now holds that title) while the son who moved back
(still alive, and uncle to the other rebbe) and who also established a
kehilla in Israel, is the "Bostoner Rebbe of Boston" (and Har Nof).
Nachum Lamm
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From: Lawrence Myers <lawrence@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 18:18:17 -0000
Subject: Re: Purim in Yerushalayim
Al haNissim and leyning VaYavo Amalek is on Shabbat.
Lawrence Myers
> From: <D26JJ@...> (J. Kaufman)
> 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.
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From: Mark Steiner <marksa@...>
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2005 22:22:42 +0200
Subject: RE: Separate at Funerals
On separate funerals (whether sitting or standing). The Talmud (Sukka
52a) understands Zecharia 12:12 as requiring separation at funerals, and
via an a fortiori argument explains why separation of the sexes was
necessary at the simhat beit ha-shoeva (Sukkot fesitivities) at the
Temple. R. Aharon Kotler uses an analogous argument in support of the
mehitza in the synagogue--even though there is not supposed to be levity
in the synagogue, we see that even at funerals separation is required,
so therefore... (Cf. Mishnat Rabbi Aharon)
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From: Yisrael & Batya Medad <ybmedad@...>
Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2005 23:39:30 +0200
Subject: Separate Seating At Funerals
Perets Mett <p.mett@...> writes
"...the whole idea of seating at funerals is novel. I have never seen it
anywhere in England or in Israel. The prevailing (universal?) custom in
these countries is to stand, and no seating is provided. Is sitting at
a funeral an Amecian custom?"
I guess seating is the custom if seats are provided at the chapel.
Truth tell, I've never seen seats in a cemetery.
In Jerusalem, I've been at several "batei va'ad" and there are benches
around along the walls. At the Eretz HaChayim chapel at Moshav Nacham
there are pews, just live in America. I've been to funeral services in
Yeshivot in the States held in the Bet Medrash and there was seating
there too.
Yisrael Medad
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From: Gershon Dubin <gershon.dubin@...>
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2005 00:06:55 -0500
Subject: Separate Seating At Funerals
From: Orrin Tilevitz <tilevitzo@...>
<<Must men and women sit separately at a funeral, and if so, is there
any source for the requirement? (In response to this question, my
rabbi showed me a zohar at the beginning of parshat Vayakhel.)>>
The Gemara Sukka 52a specifically mentions separation of men and women
at a funeral.
Gershon
<gershon.dubin@...>
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End of Volume 47 Issue 16