Manufacturing Gaffes

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

If you read the newspaper, watch the telly or turn the radio dial to something besides the greatest hits of the 70's and 80's, then you know that Romney's international trip was a disaster. How do you know that? Well, the same way that Soviet citizens knew that their economy was booming and it would only be a matter of time before the slaves of capitalism threw off their shackles and bowed their arrogant heads to the hammer and sickle. They read it in the paper.

The Siyum – Postscript

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

The highlight of the evening was a brief but inspiring video of the history of Daf Yomi from its inception at the first Agudah convention via until the present. Over all, The Siyum was a job well done I thought. At least here in Chicago.

Accidental Explosion in Gaza Car Terminates One Terrorist Career Prematurely, Puts Two More on Hold

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

Terrorists inside cars, frequently young men with explosives stuffed into their clothing, are a fixture in streets controlled by Hamas and other like-minded terrorist groups. There's an understandable reticence on the part of the Palestinian Arab terror organizations to own up to the way they place their own communities and neighbours at mortal risk, using them in effect as human shields.

Night of the Living Dead

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

And so it was, every 9th of Av, the men would enter the mass grave for the night and another 15,000 would perish by the morning. The night of the living zombies. 15,000 men for 40 years. In the 40th year, the remaining men entered the mass grave but nothing happened. They remained there through the 15th of Av, when they realized that nothing was going to happen. The decree of the plague had ended! So they climbed joyously out of the grave. This was on Tu B’Av.

Charedi Intolerance of Modern Orthodox

Posted on: August 1st, 2012

A few years ago, Rabbi Michael Broyde wrote an analysis of the Halacha requiring married women to cover their hair. Although he in no way said that a married woman may uncover her hair he suggested that it is possible to say that there were Halachic sources that may have permitted it in certain social circumstances.

An Analysis of the Presidential Candidates

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

I have come to the conclusion that where it matters the most to me – the security of the State of Israel and the overall welfare of the Jewish people, there is virtually no difference between them. Both President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney would be “good for the Jews.”

What a Fast Food Franchise Can Teach You About Managing Your Own Money

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

The best-selling book The E-Myth examines the success of McDonalds and what we can learn from it.

Olympic Committee Builds Barriers Between Nations

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

I am disgusted that after ordering all flags to fly at half-mast in 1972, the Olympics Committee rushed to raise the flags of 10 Arab nations who protested mourning the massacre of Jews/Israelis. And today, I am beyond sickened by the thought that complicity has turned to action; that the Lebanese could demand a wall be built - and the Olympics Committee complied.

Prayer to Come to the Land of Israel

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

In our previous blog, we mentioned that Moshe Rabainu offered 515 prayers to Hashem, at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, begging Hashem to let him enter the Land of Israel. Some people have trouble making up prayers if it isn’t written out for them in a siddur. So here’s a prayer I wrote for coming to the Land of Israel. Print it out and say it every day for the next 515 days. If it doesn’t work, crumple up the page, send it to me, and I’ll eat it.

Invaders from Outer Space

Posted on: July 30th, 2012

In the movie theater, we revisit that terrible knowledge that we are engaged in a war with no natural end under a hundred disguises. We recreate September 11 in our ten-dollar nickelodeons every summer and look to the sky. But it isn't aliens we are watching for. It's planes.

And From the Italians at the Olympics…

Posted on: July 30th, 2012

According to a report on Voice of Israel radio, the Italian Olympic team has paid their respects to the Munich 11 - again, more than the International Olympic Committee has managed to do.

Would Moses Make Aliyah Today?

Posted on: July 30th, 2012

Moshe Rabainu didn’t say any of the other 515 excuses you usually hear. Just the opposite. Moshe begged again and again and again, 515 prayers, to be granted the incomparable blessing of entering the Land. Today, there are people frummer than Moshe. The Land of Israel isn’t glatt enough for them. Or they don’t like the government. Or they’re worried about finding jobs, as if the hand of Hashem is too short to feed them. They prefer to rely on Uncle Sam instead.

9th of Av Message of Peace and Messianic Yearning from Turkish Muslim Leader

Posted on: July 29th, 2012

We long for the days that we will see the reestablishment of Solomon's Temple and hopefully we will pray there together in the near future. This will definitely happen as the days of Messiah—Yamot HaMashiach—are imminent.

The Games Have Begun but Over Here the Games are Continuing as Usual, and One of the Runners is Injured

Posted on: July 29th, 2012

How can people understand the defensive measures Israel's military takes if basic information about ongoing constant terrorist attacks goes unreported in the news media?

Homosexuality and Going OTD

Posted on: July 29th, 2012

We all sin. But not all of us sin the same way. By being so repulsed by people who have same sex attractions, we end up turning these people away - leaving them with a feeling of abandonment and being hated by their fellow Jews. Jews who are otherwise decent people. When decent society rejects you... how are you supposed to feel?!

1

Moment of Silence

Posted on: July 29th, 2012

It happened at the Olympics on London, despite all claims that it would not. Oh wait, it wasn't for the Munich 11. It was for the British victims of 7/7 and a tribute to British soldiers. Nothing for the Munich 11 - nothing.

The Great Muslim Cover Up

Posted on: July 29th, 2012

Over in Toronto, a Muslim cleric with the unwieldy name of Al-Hashim Kamena Atangana had a great idea. Al-Hashim's idea was for Toronto to pass laws forcing women to wear Burkas. "Cover up or get raped", was the implied message. Toronto only has an estimated 5.5 percent Muslim population so the Toronto Taliban probably won't be getting their way until they have higher double digit numbers, but they can wait.

Should You Sell Your Inheritance?

Posted on: July 27th, 2012

What did you do when you received a purple vase decorated with green stripes and gold roses as an inheritance from your late Aunt Minnie? Did you give it a place of honor in your breakfront, hide it away in the attic, or did you follow your spouse’s instructions and “sell that hideous thing because at least you might get some money for it”? Chances are that you wouldn’t dare sell the vase, simply because of its sentimental value.

Next Year in Jerusalem — Maybe

Posted on: July 27th, 2012

Rabbi Meir Kahane published this in The Jewish Press 40 years ago. Some things just don’t seem to change: A religion which develops a split personality is a religion in danger. A faith whose adherents begin to merely pay lip service to its tenets is in the first stages of atrophy. When individuals create a dichotomy between what they believe and what they practice, it calls for serious re-evaluation. The dream of settling in Israel is a basic part of the Jewish faith. It is an obligation, but it is more than that; it is a dream.

Yesh Din v’Yesh Dayan

Posted on: July 26th, 2012

One after the other, people associated with the Gush Katif expulsion are going down. What's the connection?