On The Contrary: Judaism with Comments Enabled

Inferior Ministry

2008-07-25T17:04:00.000-04:00

I'm in the middle of a translation of several official documents relating to the Population Registry. I came across the following stamp: At least it wasn't the Foreign Ministry. That would be downright embarrassing. Incidentally, as far as the translation goes, I do not need to translate redundancies (i.e., when the same phrase appears in more than one language in sequence, as in this example).

Pinchas’ Spear

2008-07-15T18:54:00.000-04:00

NOTE: This Dvar Torah contains strong sexual imagery, may not be what you are used to from a Dvar Torah, and will certainly not be appropriate for the Shabbos table. I also apologize for the length. As I was reading a dvar Torah on Pinchas, the following thought occurred to me, which I promptly pushed out of my mind: The spear of Pinchas is a phallic symbol. However, I kept coming back to

Rabbi Bigman: Women can sing 'in innocence'

2008-07-14T22:20:00.001-04:00

Rabbi Bigman: Women can sing 'in innocence' - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews Interesting article. The actual responsum is here. Hat tip: Menachem Mendel I admire Rav Bigman. I agree with his principles - that if the cultural underpinnings of a particular halakha no longer apply, then minority positions can be sought out and exploited. I admire the fact that he is unafraid of slippery slopes.

ADDeRoundup

2008-07-06T17:57:00.000-04:00

I like interesting juxtapositions in real life. One will often, if on the lookout, come across things whose proximity paints an interesting picture or narrative. Last week, driving from Honesdale, PA to Monticello, NY, I saw a veterinary clinic right across the street from a taxidermist. I guess they’re much easier to stuff and pose before rigor mortis sets in. People think I’m pluralistic.

On Talking and Hitting

2008-07-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

The best-known episode of this week’s parsha introduces a lesson that Jewish leaders still have not been able to internalize: Some occasions call for talking, and some occasions call for hitting. Hitting when the situation calls for talking, and talking when the situation calls for hitting, are both very, very dangerous. The other lesson (which I just found out was noted by Reb Nachman of

Notes on 'Flipping Out'

2008-07-03T12:47:00.000-04:00

I haven’t written a review of “Flipping Out” because I haven’t read the book, though I know two of its authors personally. Perhaps I haven’t read it because I’ve already formulated my own opinions about the “Israel Year” and don’t want them disturbed by the research. From what I’ve heard, though, the book doesn’t run counter and to a large degree doesn’t address what I think are the most salient

Magid’s Review of ‘Flipping Out’

2008-07-02T13:30:00.000-04:00

I’m not sure what Shaul Magid is trying to do in his new review of Flipping Out, but it does not seem like he’s trying to actually review the book. He rather wants to locate it within a broader social context of American Orthodoxy, as part of an attempt by what he (and probably Samuel Heilman and a bunch of YCT donors) believes to be the evidence that some sort of idealized version of American

The Gedolei HaDor, Leftist Intellectuals, and Peace with Syria

2008-06-19T15:24:00.002-04:00

This week’s parsha affords people the opportunity to transpose the sin of the spies onto contemporary anti-Israel or anti-Zionist leaders. It can really be a lot of fun. Perhaps the two best-known expositions along these lines are those of the Sefat Emet and that of Emanuel Levinas. The former appears in his posthumous magnum opus on the Parsha. He basically calls the

My Politics

2008-06-16T13:08:00.000-04:00

After my recent post, a number of friends expressed surprise that I’m so “Republican” in my political thinking. I wanted to therefore clarify my basic political stance. Especially since, as I write these words, I contemplate running for a seat on the Modiin City Council (elections are in the fall). More on that later. My political starting point is libertarian. This does not mean that I advocate

The Municipality Plays Hardball with Torah Education

2008-06-08T09:02:00.000-04:00

I’ve written before about our choice of school for our first grader. All in all, we’ve been pleased with what she’s gotten there. Not thrilled, not head over heels, but pleased. It has met our expectations in terms of most of our important benchmarks: friends, curriculum, competence and responsiveness of teachers, accessibility and flexibility on the part of the administration.

Upcoming Posts

2008-05-16T03:05:00.000-04:00

Please don’t take my lack of posts on the subject of the current conversion issue for lack of interest. I’m terribly interested. I don’t think that I have much to add, though, except for a few observations. I hope to address them in some upcoming posts, all somewhat related to this issue, including: · Part 2 of my post on the differences between

Orioles Magic 2008

2008-05-15T15:04:00.000-04:00

Sweeping the Sox? Are you kidding? This is fun. It's not like the playoff teams from the mid-1990s which were basically hired guns. These guys are fun (as this great video demonstrates). I came up with some nicknames for current players: Freddy "One Ring To" Bynum Dave "Fear And" Trembley Jay "Make 'Em" Payton I also had to add this other one, for the LA Angels' third base coach: Dino "Evil

Jewish Commemorations on Specific Days of the Week

2008-05-09T06:16:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I proposed that Yom Haatzmaut should always be celebrated (but not observed) on the first Thursday after 1 Iyar (I formulated it a bit differently, but BZ streamlined it). I mentioned that I don't know of other instances where a Jewish commemoration takes place on a particular day of the week, coordinated with a date. In fact, there are several examples, though some are pretty

More General Thoughts

2008-05-08T12:59:00.000-04:00

I love it when Yom Haatzmaut is on Thursday, but it irks me a bit that we play with the dates of what ostensibly ought to be considered a Yom Tov. I think there should be a split between the "official" and "observed" holiday (like President's Day in the U. S., and, to a lesser degree, Purim Meshulash - as pointed out by BZ in this comment). 5 Iyar should remain the liturgical Yom Haatzmaut, even

Quick Roundup

2008-05-07T16:12:00.000-04:00

I haven't discussed the current giyur issue because I've been trying to get a copy of R' Sherman's psak din. In the meantime, I can't help but think that maybe THIS will be the crisis that finally precipitates a Religious-Zionist austritt.In honor of Yom Haatzma'ut, I taught a bit about R. Yehuda Halevi. I had to clarify certain things:He was from Toledo, Spain. He was not a Mud Hens fan.He

I'm in Israel, so I can't Say His Name

2008-05-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

But the New York Post CAN name the businessman may bring down the PM. (link)

Defending Bat-El's Right to Enter the Contest

2008-04-29T12:08:00.000-04:00

A number of commenters have already disagreed with my take on the Bible Contest controversy, so I decided to respond in a separate post. First off, I'd feel the same way if it was a state-sponsored Gemara contest. This is a government-funded event. It cannot and should not distinguish between citizens (and this girl IS a citizen) on the basis of religion, race, gender, etc. It would be different

Bible Thumping

2008-04-29T06:19:00.000-04:00

Several groups, spearheaded by the Yad L’Achim counter-missionary group, are trying to disqualify an 11th grade girl from the International Bible Quiz (Chidon TaNaCh) because, though Jewish by birth, she belongs to a Messianic congregation (link, link). I really don’t see the issue. Let a Christian or Moslem or Buddhist or whomever win. Besides, this sets a dangerous precedent; next year they

AddeRabbi’s Pesach FAQ

2008-04-16T03:44:00.001-04:00

[News: An article that I wrote, which originated as a shiur I gave on Shavu’ot 4 years ago, then adapted for this blog (link), was published in the most recent volume of the Journal of Halakha and Contemporary Society. I submitted it almost 2 years ago (back when I was still a rabbi ;)] Q. Why do we drink 4 cups of wine (i.e., not any other number)? A. Because there are 4 occasions during

Ki Matta le-Hatam: Community Rabbis in Israel and the United States – Part I

2008-04-11T10:43:00.002-04:00

[cross posted to The Muqata] In the wake of the 'buzz' generated by the impending aliyah of Rabbi Shalom Rosner (click on the 'breaking news' WebAd link above for the story, or just go here), his family, and several members of his kehilla Jameel asked me to guest post about the differences between community rabbis in Israel and the United States. First, though, a word about Rabbi Rosner’

My Dilemma - Take 2

2008-04-08T10:55:00.000-04:00

I actually called 'The Jewish Ethicist' when my issue came up last month. Ultimately, he confirmed what I already pretty much knew to be the case (though the documents were not 'forged', the dates were merely tampered with). I guess he liked the dilemma, though: link

Baseball Season

2008-04-06T16:39:00.000-04:00

This year, I sprung for MLB's GameDay Audio. For 15 bucks, I can listen to ball games while I work. I love listening to baseball on radio. That was my childhood. It's also nice that the Birds are playing well so far. I'd be shocked if it lasted, but it's been fun, and today's comeback was pretty thrilling. Here's my question, though. I've suspected for a while that Dennis Sarfate is Jewish. His

Karpas Menu

2008-04-04T10:55:00.000-04:00

I’ve been informed that the Gedolim in Eretz Yisrael consider quinoa to be kitniyot. No surprise there. I don’t really even care; I don’t eat the stuff year round. I’m seriously considering using quinoa for karpas, just to make a point (lehavdil, like the Gr”a was makpid to have kneidlach at his seder, just to show that gebrokts is mishugas). I have not gathered up the guts to have salsa

Great Story, Just Heard

2008-04-02T13:14:00.000-04:00

A Lubavitcher Shaliach has been working on a potential Ba'al Teshuva for months. Finally, the guy is ready to become frum. He goes to the Shaliach and tells him, "OK. I'm ready to commit myself to Yiddishkeit. I just need one thing in order to make the final commitment - a dollar from the Rebbe. That Bracha will give me the strength to succeed." The Shaliach answers him, "I'm

Ahhh, DST

2008-03-28T11:29:00.000-04:00

It’s 13 minutes before licht bentschen. The kids are bathed and playing nicely. The guests have settled in. Everyone’s showered and dressed. That content exhaustion that comes at the conclusion of a week of hard but productive (and, alas, sometimes hard but futile) work has begun to set in. And there was no mad rush, no forgotten lights or timers, no heading to shul with a 5 o’clock shadow.