UAE will allow Israel's Ram to play in Dubai
Posted using ShareThis
What a joke. The UAB has shown their true colors and are not as they want to portray themselves "as a moderate Arab nation". They are your typical, racist, Jew hating nation as the other Arab nations. As always, actiosn speak louder than words.
The real loser here is the ATP. If they had any cajones, they would have pulled all tournaments and events after Shahar Peer was not allowed a Visa to enter the UAB to play in her scheduled Womans ATP event.
What would the PGA tour have done if the UAB didn't allow Happy Gilmore into the country to play in an event?
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Monday, December 1, 2008
Moving on from Mumbai- Why we should really be thankful
When we heard of the news in Mumbai over the weekend we all were disgusted, scared and at least until Friday afternoon, hopeful the Holtzberg's would somehow, someway, find their way to safety.
Unfortunately, we now know that wasn't the case. We have all read reports of the suffering the Holtzberg's endured prior to their executions at the hands of the Perah Adom- Bnei Yishmoel. We have read that they were amongst the first executed and the torture they endured prior to their deaths. We know they were first because they were Jews and the Jews are the ultimate enemy of the Perah Adom-Bnei Yishmoel.
So what do we do now? We moved on from 9-11 and from all the suicide bombings in the Holy Land of Israel. We move on because we have to, because as the Chovos Halevovos taught us, the gift of memory and lack thereof is one that G-d has given us so we can endure and move on from these and other likewise situations. But what do we move on to? Where are we moving on from?
You read about the Holtzberg's and their unbelievable Mesiras Nefesh to try and make this a better world for us all. We read about a family who picks up and moves to some G-d forsaken city on the other side of the world, with no one but themselves to just try and pick up and spark up the small bits of holiness that might exist in that place. They do it just because maybe some Yid needs a place to eat while on a business trip or maybe some lost Soul, in trying to discover the religions of the East has one last hope to come back to his Father in Heaven. The Holtzberg's aren't the only ones doing this. There are many, many, many different people in different places, some as far away as Mumbai and some just around the corner or perhaps even your next door neighbor doing similar great acts.
And that is the whole point of all this. The Jewish religion is one that preaches love, peace, harmony and Kavod Habriyos (respect and love for all of G-d's creations). This is the direct opposite of the Islamic Fundamentalists, who's lives center around destruction, murder, hatred and the mutilation of all that is beautiful in this world. They raise their children to await the day that they can cause such tremendous pain and suffering to the world, so that they can murder innocent women and children, destroying any fabric of a productive and healthy society (the images of the murderous Perah Adom dancing in the streets as the Towers burned still prevail in mine and many minds).
I'm sure most of you have heard your local Rabbi's this week preach of doing better, doing one extra mitzvah, helping one more person, saying one more tefillah, etc in the Zchus and Memory of the Holy Holtzberg's. That's typical of what we hear during these times. Do one more act of Chesed in memory of the Holtzberg's. Give a little more charity in their memory. While all that is good and should be done, we need to do something a lot more simple. We need to just recognize who we are and how different we are than the destructive vermin that cause this suffering. We need to just look at what our lives and communities are surrounded around (minus all the usual nonsense). How we sacrifice (not with our lives but with our LIVES) for our children, how we support so many institutions that center around people who can't afford either schooling, food, rent, etc. How we suffer when our friends and neighbors suffer. How we hurt when we her of some stranger going through a difficult time. We need to reflect that yes maybe everything isn't perfect in how we conduct our lives and maybe we should compromise more, but more importantly the fact that we can think that way and act that way is reason enough to be thankful. Thankful that we dream of watching our children learn and grow and hope that one day they will raise a beautiful family of their own, and not hoping our children grow up to be the cause and destruction and mutilation to someone elses family and dreams. We need to remember we live in a world filled with beauty and hope and all we need to do is focus on that and realize how far we are from the Perah Adom who has caused all this pain.
We can then wake up every morning screaming "Modeh Ani Lefanetha, MELECH CHAI V'KAYOM!" knowing that we may not know why, or we may not like what is happening, but still, we love who we are and we know from how we live, we were created in the Image of G-d.
It's not much, but it's everything. It's the easiest thing to do, yet the hardest thing to remember.
Then, and only then will we truly realize how great the Holtzberg's and many like them really are.
Unfortunately, we now know that wasn't the case. We have all read reports of the suffering the Holtzberg's endured prior to their executions at the hands of the Perah Adom- Bnei Yishmoel. We have read that they were amongst the first executed and the torture they endured prior to their deaths. We know they were first because they were Jews and the Jews are the ultimate enemy of the Perah Adom-Bnei Yishmoel.
So what do we do now? We moved on from 9-11 and from all the suicide bombings in the Holy Land of Israel. We move on because we have to, because as the Chovos Halevovos taught us, the gift of memory and lack thereof is one that G-d has given us so we can endure and move on from these and other likewise situations. But what do we move on to? Where are we moving on from?
You read about the Holtzberg's and their unbelievable Mesiras Nefesh to try and make this a better world for us all. We read about a family who picks up and moves to some G-d forsaken city on the other side of the world, with no one but themselves to just try and pick up and spark up the small bits of holiness that might exist in that place. They do it just because maybe some Yid needs a place to eat while on a business trip or maybe some lost Soul, in trying to discover the religions of the East has one last hope to come back to his Father in Heaven. The Holtzberg's aren't the only ones doing this. There are many, many, many different people in different places, some as far away as Mumbai and some just around the corner or perhaps even your next door neighbor doing similar great acts.
And that is the whole point of all this. The Jewish religion is one that preaches love, peace, harmony and Kavod Habriyos (respect and love for all of G-d's creations). This is the direct opposite of the Islamic Fundamentalists, who's lives center around destruction, murder, hatred and the mutilation of all that is beautiful in this world. They raise their children to await the day that they can cause such tremendous pain and suffering to the world, so that they can murder innocent women and children, destroying any fabric of a productive and healthy society (the images of the murderous Perah Adom dancing in the streets as the Towers burned still prevail in mine and many minds).
I'm sure most of you have heard your local Rabbi's this week preach of doing better, doing one extra mitzvah, helping one more person, saying one more tefillah, etc in the Zchus and Memory of the Holy Holtzberg's. That's typical of what we hear during these times. Do one more act of Chesed in memory of the Holtzberg's. Give a little more charity in their memory. While all that is good and should be done, we need to do something a lot more simple. We need to just recognize who we are and how different we are than the destructive vermin that cause this suffering. We need to just look at what our lives and communities are surrounded around (minus all the usual nonsense). How we sacrifice (not with our lives but with our LIVES) for our children, how we support so many institutions that center around people who can't afford either schooling, food, rent, etc. How we suffer when our friends and neighbors suffer. How we hurt when we her of some stranger going through a difficult time. We need to reflect that yes maybe everything isn't perfect in how we conduct our lives and maybe we should compromise more, but more importantly the fact that we can think that way and act that way is reason enough to be thankful. Thankful that we dream of watching our children learn and grow and hope that one day they will raise a beautiful family of their own, and not hoping our children grow up to be the cause and destruction and mutilation to someone elses family and dreams. We need to remember we live in a world filled with beauty and hope and all we need to do is focus on that and realize how far we are from the Perah Adom who has caused all this pain.
We can then wake up every morning screaming "Modeh Ani Lefanetha, MELECH CHAI V'KAYOM!" knowing that we may not know why, or we may not like what is happening, but still, we love who we are and we know from how we live, we were created in the Image of G-d.
It's not much, but it's everything. It's the easiest thing to do, yet the hardest thing to remember.
Then, and only then will we truly realize how great the Holtzberg's and many like them really are.
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Five Towns Vaad, Bagel Boss and messing with the fressin'
This weekend reinvigorated a major debate/fight that took place in the Five Towns over the last few years (which included the now SuperStore Gourmet Glatt). To quickly review, Bagel Boss Cafe in Hewlett is currently not under the supervision of the Five Towns Vaad. Almost unanimously, all Orthodox Synagogues in the area have advised their congregants to not RELY on any Hashgachah for anyone outside the Vaad. Very simply, if you want to come into the area as a food establishment and you want the endorsement of the local Orthodox Rabbi's, use the Vaad. In other world, don't go to Bagle Boss.
In a perfect world (or even the imperfect world we live in) this means, no matter how Chassidish, Mizrachi, Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish, etc you are (or pretend to be), you can trust the food anywhere. For anyone who lives in areas where this isn't the case, knows this is an incredible Chiddush. People who live in per say Brooklyn need a GPS to navigate through which of the butchers, restaurants, food stores, etc where they can shop.
Now, recently Rabbi Billet, Head Rabbi of the Young Israel of Woodmere, the largest YI in the world sent out the following email:
This created an uproar amongst the various factions (those pro the Vaad and those anti). Those pro use the solid arguments of not going against the klal and listening to you're Rav as their basis. Plus, the Vaad is a respected organization and respected by ALL sides of the Orthodox spectrum. The sides against use the basic argument of free enterprise and competition and keeping checks and balances in the system. They also use the argument of cost and how small establishments should be able to use other reliable and cheaper option. In the case of Bagel Boss, since they have many stores and they use the same certification on all (which from all I've heard is extremely reliable) why pay a double tax.
Either way, I have heard extremely valid arguments on both sides of the fence. I am not here to argue either side. I'm just a simple yid who doesn't qualify to argue on extremely sensitive and important halachac issues. I trust my Rav enough to do this for me and make these judgments. If i didn't, I would go someplace where I could.
What I'm here to do is expose the underlying issue here:. It's what people are failing to notice; it is also at the core of the major problem in Orthodox Jewry today. The problem isnt whether or not people care about some poor guy who cant afford a Hashgachah (although there are some altruistic people that do, in general most couldn't care less). It's not about whether or not they really could give a rats toochas if the Vaad had a check and balance. Believe me, if Bagle Boss weren't that good we wouldn't have heard a peep (for the record I have eaten at many Bagel Boss's but never at the one in Hewlett and wont until it is approved by my Rav). It's simply about someone telling someone else, what he can and can not do when it comes to his Taaivadick (new word perhaps), narcissistic, gluttonous lifestyle. For G-d's sake, no one is going to tell Mr. Schwartz where he can or cant eat a bagel. No sir. When these guys are discussing the Vaad and the controls of their local Orthodox Rabbi's at some fancy (treif) sushi bar in the city or some local Italian Restaurant treif- but they only eat the pasta, or even the local diner over eggs and coffee, it has nothing to do with the poor guys ability to pay the Vaad. It's about his narcissistic urges being fulfilled. You see that is what this is about and that is the root of many if not all our problems.
Sure, it's great to have a friendly Rabbi who will say a nice speech at little Tyler's Bar Mitzvah or Kimberly's Shalom Bat, or even give you a Gut Shabbos (or Shabbat Shalom) after you strolled in during Mussaf, but heaven forbid he should give you religious advise or direction (unless of course it's to help poor Tyler with his drug problem in 10th grade and trying to figure out which Yeshiva will still take the poor soul).
The problem is we live in a "me first" society and that includes G-d. Sure, I'll pray to G-d during the times that I choose to and when I need him (you know, like so I can have more money to fill my selfish life). That means, Shacharis starts when I show up. It means davening 3 times a day is optional and only if doesn't interfere with real things-like work or kiddush club. It means, if I want to talk in shul, the nagging Gabbai/ Shammash- who is trying so hard to keep the Bais Medrash a Makom Kedushah- should mind his own business. It means if the restaurant I want to go is the "in place", I'll go and eat (only of course if it's Sushi or Dairy, I would never eat meat out, heaven forbid).
It also means why we have so many kids these days who are apathetic to Yiddishkeit. In my day, the kids that were apathetic were the kids smoking weed, drinking and engaging in other various forms of questionable halachic activities. The "good" kids were frum. Today, not so. Why? Very simply, when you get picked up for Yeshiva at 7:30 AM and don't come home until two-three hours after your the kid next door who goes to the local #6 school, and all you learn about is how important learning, davening, middos (or Midot) and Avodos Hashem is, and then as soon as you go home and ask your dad why he only wears a kippah while eating and going to shul (if that much) and why it takes him 6 minutes to daven in the morning (it at all) and that includes putting on and off his tallis and tefilin, and why when he went to Moishe's house he found out that there actually is Shacharis on Shabbos and not just Mussaf, etc. etc.
Kids are extremely smart and perceptive. If they see the whole thing as some hypocritical game, they treat it as such. They understand their parents pray to G-d when they need things, like a new Lexus or an additional floor to our house. But they don't really need to serve G-d. That's old fashioned.
The bottom line is when we argue to eat in these places and argue against our Rabbincal leaders (by the way, I believe 100% that if you do have an issue with a ruling or Psak you should talk to your Rav. But do it in a nice, discreet, private fashion that allows for the kavod of the situation and the Rav. Don't just blab it to your friends while during mussaf) are we doing eat because we just want to fill our own gluttonous needs or not?
In a perfect world (or even the imperfect world we live in) this means, no matter how Chassidish, Mizrachi, Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish, etc you are (or pretend to be), you can trust the food anywhere. For anyone who lives in areas where this isn't the case, knows this is an incredible Chiddush. People who live in per say Brooklyn need a GPS to navigate through which of the butchers, restaurants, food stores, etc where they can shop.
Now, recently Rabbi Billet, Head Rabbi of the Young Israel of Woodmere, the largest YI in the world sent out the following email:
Dear MembersThere are several stores (Bagel Boss and Dunkin Donuts near the Hewlett Station) that display Kashrut certificates from a Rabbi Asher Schechter. The only stores in our neighborhood that serve baked or cooked items made in house or by a company like Dunkin Donuts (which is a mostly non kosher chain) whose Kashrut standards are recommended are stores under the Vaad HaKashrut of the Five Towns.Local non Vaad supermarkets who bake in house (like Costco) can be relied upon if their products carry a recognized national hechsher like the OU, KOF K, OK, STAR K etc.RHB
Either way, I have heard extremely valid arguments on both sides of the fence. I am not here to argue either side. I'm just a simple yid who doesn't qualify to argue on extremely sensitive and important halachac issues. I trust my Rav enough to do this for me and make these judgments. If i didn't, I would go someplace where I could.
What I'm here to do is expose the underlying issue here:. It's what people are failing to notice; it is also at the core of the major problem in Orthodox Jewry today. The problem isnt whether or not people care about some poor guy who cant afford a Hashgachah (although there are some altruistic people that do, in general most couldn't care less). It's not about whether or not they really could give a rats toochas if the Vaad had a check and balance. Believe me, if Bagle Boss weren't that good we wouldn't have heard a peep (for the record I have eaten at many Bagel Boss's but never at the one in Hewlett and wont until it is approved by my Rav). It's simply about someone telling someone else, what he can and can not do when it comes to his Taaivadick (new word perhaps), narcissistic, gluttonous lifestyle. For G-d's sake, no one is going to tell Mr. Schwartz where he can or cant eat a bagel. No sir. When these guys are discussing the Vaad and the controls of their local Orthodox Rabbi's at some fancy (treif) sushi bar in the city or some local Italian Restaurant treif- but they only eat the pasta, or even the local diner over eggs and coffee, it has nothing to do with the poor guys ability to pay the Vaad. It's about his narcissistic urges being fulfilled. You see that is what this is about and that is the root of many if not all our problems.
Sure, it's great to have a friendly Rabbi who will say a nice speech at little Tyler's Bar Mitzvah or Kimberly's Shalom Bat, or even give you a Gut Shabbos (or Shabbat Shalom) after you strolled in during Mussaf, but heaven forbid he should give you religious advise or direction (unless of course it's to help poor Tyler with his drug problem in 10th grade and trying to figure out which Yeshiva will still take the poor soul).
The problem is we live in a "me first" society and that includes G-d. Sure, I'll pray to G-d during the times that I choose to and when I need him (you know, like so I can have more money to fill my selfish life). That means, Shacharis starts when I show up. It means davening 3 times a day is optional and only if doesn't interfere with real things-like work or kiddush club. It means, if I want to talk in shul, the nagging Gabbai/ Shammash- who is trying so hard to keep the Bais Medrash a Makom Kedushah- should mind his own business. It means if the restaurant I want to go is the "in place", I'll go and eat (only of course if it's Sushi or Dairy, I would never eat meat out, heaven forbid).
It also means why we have so many kids these days who are apathetic to Yiddishkeit. In my day, the kids that were apathetic were the kids smoking weed, drinking and engaging in other various forms of questionable halachic activities. The "good" kids were frum. Today, not so. Why? Very simply, when you get picked up for Yeshiva at 7:30 AM and don't come home until two-three hours after your the kid next door who goes to the local #6 school, and all you learn about is how important learning, davening, middos (or Midot) and Avodos Hashem is, and then as soon as you go home and ask your dad why he only wears a kippah while eating and going to shul (if that much) and why it takes him 6 minutes to daven in the morning (it at all) and that includes putting on and off his tallis and tefilin, and why when he went to Moishe's house he found out that there actually is Shacharis on Shabbos and not just Mussaf, etc. etc.
Kids are extremely smart and perceptive. If they see the whole thing as some hypocritical game, they treat it as such. They understand their parents pray to G-d when they need things, like a new Lexus or an additional floor to our house. But they don't really need to serve G-d. That's old fashioned.
The bottom line is when we argue to eat in these places and argue against our Rabbincal leaders (by the way, I believe 100% that if you do have an issue with a ruling or Psak you should talk to your Rav. But do it in a nice, discreet, private fashion that allows for the kavod of the situation and the Rav. Don't just blab it to your friends while during mussaf) are we doing eat because we just want to fill our own gluttonous needs or not?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
New Giants Stadium Sponsor- Nazi connection
The new Giants and Jets Stadium are currently negotiating a deal with Allianz for their Stadium rights.
So, what's the big deal? Most major stadiums have sponsor deals for their stadium rights and the amount of revenue the stadiums receive is staggering. In fact, the current rumor is the New Stadium will receive between $20M and $30M a year from Allianz.
As Repoted by Richard Sandimor of the New York Times, the big deal is Allianz financed facilities and personnel at concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. Kurt Schmitt, its chief executive in the 1930s, served as Hitler's second economics minister and can be seen in a photograph from a rally wearing an SS-Oberführer’s uniform and delivering the Nazi salute with Hitler standing in front of him.
They also insured valuables taken from Jews by Nazi's and they refused to pay life insurance policies of Jews and sent the funds that was due to Jewish beneficiaries to the Nazi's (as most German insurance companies did at the time).
What the hell is Woody Johnson and the Tisch families thinking? THIS IS NYC, the Jewish Capital of the USA, not to mention it's 2008.
As the great Max Kellerman quipped on his ESPN show this AM, "I guess Klu Klux Klan Stadium was already taken".
So, what's the big deal? Most major stadiums have sponsor deals for their stadium rights and the amount of revenue the stadiums receive is staggering. In fact, the current rumor is the New Stadium will receive between $20M and $30M a year from Allianz.
As Repoted by Richard Sandimor of the New York Times, the big deal is Allianz financed facilities and personnel at concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. Kurt Schmitt, its chief executive in the 1930s, served as Hitler's second economics minister and can be seen in a photograph from a rally wearing an SS-Oberführer’s uniform and delivering the Nazi salute with Hitler standing in front of him.
They also insured valuables taken from Jews by Nazi's and they refused to pay life insurance policies of Jews and sent the funds that was due to Jewish beneficiaries to the Nazi's (as most German insurance companies did at the time).
What the hell is Woody Johnson and the Tisch families thinking? THIS IS NYC, the Jewish Capital of the USA, not to mention it's 2008.
As the great Max Kellerman quipped on his ESPN show this AM, "I guess Klu Klux Klan Stadium was already taken".
Monday, September 8, 2008
The G.O.A.T. of all Kiddush Clubs
Three years ago this Simchas Torah, our Fearless Founder, the great visionary "Bald Guy" from our fantasy football leagues, had a revelation.
After and awe inspiring High Holiday season, capped off by a leibidich Simchas Torah, Bald Guy wanted more. He needed more. Like Maverick, Bald Guy felt the need for speed.
He sequestered his friends and together they formed the Holy Kiddush Club. Unlike the Kiddush Club many of this group had frequented in the past, this one would not draw the ire and wrath from the local Rabbi's and general community. No, this Kiddush Club would be a source or Pride and Nachas to the same Rabbi and community. There would be no pre Rabbi's sermon exodus and the inevitable mid mussaf inebriated return.
What is this Kiddush Club? Post shul, every Shabbos since inception, The Holy Group would gather together (as of this writing, 9 members- although one is really a member Emeritus as he shows up as often as Arod in the clutch, about 18% of the time) and learn Mishnayos. Each member prepares and recites one Mishnah, for a total of 8 Mishnayos a week. If there are less than 8 members, one lucky individual prepares two and so forth. If Arod shows up, one member has a"bye week" and listens to the Holy Ramblings of the chevrah.
Usually, this gathering takes place at one of the members houses with the Breakfast of Champions. However, even when there is no "sponsor" or house, the show must go on and we learn in shul. Many obstalces have been overcome but never has a Shabbos gone by that The Holy Kiddush Club (THKC) did not meet.
This past week the THKC earned a well deserved Mazel Tov as we finished Masechet Rosh Hashanah AND Arod showed up all in one week (even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while). Not to mention some seriously spicey chulent from Plain Dans (yet another FF member) most generous bride (currently second in the standings to most hostings trailing only The Chiropractor).
With tremendous Hakoras Hatov to Bald Guy, who not only founded THKC but also manages the weekly schedule, onward to Masechet Taanis and many more of our sages Holy Writings for THKC...............
After and awe inspiring High Holiday season, capped off by a leibidich Simchas Torah, Bald Guy wanted more. He needed more. Like Maverick, Bald Guy felt the need for speed.
He sequestered his friends and together they formed the Holy Kiddush Club. Unlike the Kiddush Club many of this group had frequented in the past, this one would not draw the ire and wrath from the local Rabbi's and general community. No, this Kiddush Club would be a source or Pride and Nachas to the same Rabbi and community. There would be no pre Rabbi's sermon exodus and the inevitable mid mussaf inebriated return.
What is this Kiddush Club? Post shul, every Shabbos since inception, The Holy Group would gather together (as of this writing, 9 members- although one is really a member Emeritus as he shows up as often as Arod in the clutch, about 18% of the time) and learn Mishnayos. Each member prepares and recites one Mishnah, for a total of 8 Mishnayos a week. If there are less than 8 members, one lucky individual prepares two and so forth. If Arod shows up, one member has a"bye week" and listens to the Holy Ramblings of the chevrah.
Usually, this gathering takes place at one of the members houses with the Breakfast of Champions. However, even when there is no "sponsor" or house, the show must go on and we learn in shul. Many obstalces have been overcome but never has a Shabbos gone by that The Holy Kiddush Club (THKC) did not meet.
This past week the THKC earned a well deserved Mazel Tov as we finished Masechet Rosh Hashanah AND Arod showed up all in one week (even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while). Not to mention some seriously spicey chulent from Plain Dans (yet another FF member) most generous bride (currently second in the standings to most hostings trailing only The Chiropractor).
With tremendous Hakoras Hatov to Bald Guy, who not only founded THKC but also manages the weekly schedule, onward to Masechet Taanis and many more of our sages Holy Writings for THKC...............
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A light in the Darkness of War
This is an incredible story about an incredible person. A lesson for all of us to learn. No matter where you're from or how you look or how you practice (if at all), Kol Yisroel Areivim Zah Lazeh. Rabbi Grossman is the life embodyment of that statement.
A year has passed – but First Lieutenant M. has not forgotten his unexpected visit to Migdal Ohr and his eye-opening experiences there. Here are his (translated) words:
I remember the two weeks of near face-to-face combat, the confused orders and insufficient combat gear, the intense hunger, physical and emotional exhaustion and toughest of all, the self-imposed silence and disassociation with our surroundings. “Now is not the right time to complain, but when it is over,” we thought to ourselves, “when the air raid sirens stop and we are out of these fatigues, we can talk and the truth will be known.”
When the news came that we were receiving a day off, our hearts soared. We suffered so much stress and hardship. Where would we go? How should we take full advantage of this gift?
Rumors begin to circulate that we were going to some school in Migdal HaEmek. “This must be a joke! Who ordered 10 buses to bring us to some yeshiva with some rabbi who is just going to try and brainwash us?”
Then, a few of the guys remembered. “Rabbi Grossman, that’s ‘the Disco Rabbi,’ right? The guys all give him great respect.” But what do they know? He is still some rabbi.
Tired and emotionally drained, we got off the buses and stood face to face with an old-world looking Jew, complete with a white beard, side locks and long jacket. “So here it comes,” I thought, “the push to put on tefillin or to say prayers together. Some day ‘off.’ ”
“Boys,” the rabbi’s words thundered, “I suggest that first thing you do is take a dip in the pool and freshen up. In the meantime, we will make you something to eat.”
Rabbi Grossman had heard in passing that the brigade was looking for a home for a day, and he immediately volunteered his campus. “What’s the problem – 600 soldiers? They should all come, of course we have room!”
With the echoes of war from the battlefield still in our ears, it seemed like a mirage or hallucination. Soft music came from everywhere and flowing water and greenery surrounded us. Within minutes, the tables were set with cold, refreshing watermelon, cakes and beverages, followed by cheeses, fresh vegetables and soft rolls.
Then we heard, “Out of the pool, get dressed and eat something.” We saw piles of new undergarments. Six hundred new undershirts and underwear appeared as if out of nowhere, laid out on tables for our choosing.
Rabbi Grossman sat with us and laughed, “Have a good time, boys! Have a great time! This evening, I will put on the most spectacular performance you have ever seen.”
I am not a religious person by any means, but I couldn’t help but envision the first Jew, Avraham, standing and personally serving his guests perfectly naturally and without the slightest hint of condescension. He respected each individual and cared for all his needs. Like Avraham, Rabbi Grossman saw in us a mitzvah that had fallen into his hands.
As the evening continued, we learned quickly that this was the essence of who Rabbi Grossman is and what he is all about. He loves everyone and accepts everyone as they are with all his heart and soul.
“Tell me, friends,” Rabbi Grossman said, “I heard you are lacking different pieces of equipment. Do me a favor. Here is a pencil and paper, just write down everything you are missing and leave the paper on the table.” That night, we enjoyed the entertainment and afterwards, slept in soft beds and air-conditioned rooms.
Like in a fairytale, we awoke in the morning and could not believe our eyes. Mounds of gear that we so desperately needed had arrived at Migdal Ohr. Attached was a small note from Rabbi Grossman, “To my dear solders, from all my heart!”
Rabbi Grossman personally had obtained over $60,000 worth of equipment literally overnight! The essential equipment included bulletproof vests, helmets, canteens, kneepads, night vision goggles, toothbrushes, socks and more.
Interestingly, a few months before the war broke out, a special friend of Rabbi Grossman from France had been interested in donating a new Torah scroll to the main Migdal Ohr beit midrash (study hall). For some reason, Rabbi Grossman requested to postpone the event until an unspecified later date.
“Now is the right time!” Rabbi Grossman realized. He immediately made arrangements and in an early evening ceremony, we participated in the completion of writing the Torah. While the scroll was carefully laid on the table next to a special pen and ink, Rabbi Grossman addressed the soldiers.
“My holy ones! I am going to bestow upon you the merit of a holy mitzvah that can be considered a once in a lifetime opportunity. Each one of you will complete a letter in the Torah scroll. While you are executing this holy task, each one of you should pray the prayer of his heart and request from G‑d that the merit of the letter should protect you in battle. Holy sparks will emanate from these sacred letters and disperse around you, creating a protective shield which will keep you safe and bring you home safely.”
Those moments were the most exciting and emotional ones in my life. Shaking from the intensity of the immeasurable experience, still not believing, we held the edges of the Torah scroll while our hearts beat rapidly. There was complete silence all around. One after the other, we dipped the quill in the ink and completed a letter in the Torah scroll.
A bystander would have seen a breathtaking scene of incredible elation and spiritual exuberance. The world seemed as if shrouded in silence. The strings of our heart felt strummed and the tears flowed freely down our cheeks.
“Mother!” cried one of the soldiers into his cell phone, “you won’t believe what I have done! I have written a letter in a Torah scroll! Mother, are you there? Can you hear?! Me, a Shmutznik (a member of a non-religious kibbutz), who can’t differentiate between Shabbat and the rest of the week, who has not seen tzitzit (ritual garment) in my life. Me, I wrote a letter in a Torah scroll! I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.”
After the completion of the Torah, the ceremony continued. Leading the procession was a decorated car with multi-colored lights strung all over it and with a crown of lights spinning around on its roof. Following the car, bearers of a decorated canopy marched while people danced around it. Under the canopy, others held the Torah scroll, which was clothed in white and crimson with a silver crown at its top.
Six hundred soldiers and thousands of the town residents marched and danced in the procession, a loud speaker accompanying them, playing traditional Jewish music.
As the ceremony came to a close, Rabbi Grossman approached every soldier and kissed him while placing a half-shekel coin in his hand and said, “Shliach mitzvah aino nezok – messengers of a mitzvah are not harmed.” Rabbi Grossman concluded, “When you return, G‑d willing, healthy and unharmed, you will fulfill this mission I am placing upon you, and you will donate this money to charity.”
The night came. Twelve buses made their way atop the Galilee Mountains. Heavy darkness engulfed us, yet behind, in the growing distance, a bright flame pierced the night sky. In the midst of war and violence, we found love and unending human compassion at Migdal Ohr, the educational center established in Migdal HaEmek by Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman.
* * * * * *
“This was an immense Kiddush Hashem. For a long period of time, I cried and was very emotional.” Thus Rabbi Grossman recalled the moment when he first read the words above written by First Lieutenant M.
Rabbi Grossman had much to add to the end of this exciting memoir. “Before they returned to Lebanon, I told the soldiers, ‘In the merit that you said Shema and put on tefillin, wrote a letter in the Torah and are messengers of a mitzvah, I promise you that you will all return safe and sound. None of you will be wounded or killed.’”
When asked if he wasn’t scared to commit to 600 soldiers that they would return home safe and sound, he said, “That is what came out of my mouth word for word. This was a moment of exuberance.”
“I continued and told them,” Rabbi Grossman relates, “if this does actually happen that you come back safely, the first place you must come back to – before you go home – is Migdal Ohr. We will thank G‑d together and from there we will say goodbye. I told them, ‘Think of this as an emergency call-up. Do you accept?’ The commanding officer replied in the affirmative.”
Two weeks later, around midnight, Rabbi Grossman received a phone call. “Rabbi, your blessing has come true!” exclaimed the commander over the phone. “Everyone is safe and we are on our way to you. We will be there by 2:00 a.m.”
Rabbi Grossman immediately contacted the kitchen staff and asked them to prepare a meal while he worked to organize a band. People asked him, “You need a band at 2:00 a.m.? Is Moshiach here?”
At 2:30 a.m. the soldiers disembarked from the buses, each one carrying 60 kilos of equipment on his back. The band started playing music and as the soldiers approached Rabbi Grossman, each one lovingly received with a hug. This continued for two hours. “I felt as I had never felt before,” recalls Rabbi Grossman. “Each one told me his personal miracle.”
One soldier, a kibbutznik and a lawyer in civilian life, relayed an incredible miracle. A group of soldiers were gathered in an empty house in a Lebanese village when one of them forgetfully lit a cigarette.
Hizbullah terrorists immediately noticed the light and fired an anti-tank missile at the house. Coincidentally, two horses from the village ran in front of the house and were hit and killed. The missile, deflected by the horses, veered away from the house, landing elsewhere. The horses miraculously saved the soldiers inside the house.
After the warm reception, the soldiers recited Birkat HaGomel and together with Rabbi Grossman, sang and danced until daybreak.
“To this day,” says Rabbi Grossman, “we maintain contact with each soldier and have thus become one family.”
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman is a recipient of “the Award of Recognition for Actions on Behalf of Soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces and the Second Lebanon War.”
I remember the two weeks of near face-to-face combat, the confused orders and insufficient combat gear, the intense hunger, physical and emotional exhaustion and toughest of all, the self-imposed silence and disassociation with our surroundings. “Now is not the right time to complain, but when it is over,” we thought to ourselves, “when the air raid sirens stop and we are out of these fatigues, we can talk and the truth will be known.”
When the news came that we were receiving a day off, our hearts soared. We suffered so much stress and hardship. Where would we go? How should we take full advantage of this gift?
Rumors begin to circulate that we were going to some school in Migdal HaEmek. “This must be a joke! Who ordered 10 buses to bring us to some yeshiva with some rabbi who is just going to try and brainwash us?”
Then, a few of the guys remembered. “Rabbi Grossman, that’s ‘the Disco Rabbi,’ right? The guys all give him great respect.” But what do they know? He is still some rabbi.
Tired and emotionally drained, we got off the buses and stood face to face with an old-world looking Jew, complete with a white beard, side locks and long jacket. “So here it comes,” I thought, “the push to put on tefillin or to say prayers together. Some day ‘off.’ ”
“Boys,” the rabbi’s words thundered, “I suggest that first thing you do is take a dip in the pool and freshen up. In the meantime, we will make you something to eat.”
Rabbi Grossman had heard in passing that the brigade was looking for a home for a day, and he immediately volunteered his campus. “What’s the problem – 600 soldiers? They should all come, of course we have room!”
With the echoes of war from the battlefield still in our ears, it seemed like a mirage or hallucination. Soft music came from everywhere and flowing water and greenery surrounded us. Within minutes, the tables were set with cold, refreshing watermelon, cakes and beverages, followed by cheeses, fresh vegetables and soft rolls.
Then we heard, “Out of the pool, get dressed and eat something.” We saw piles of new undergarments. Six hundred new undershirts and underwear appeared as if out of nowhere, laid out on tables for our choosing.
Rabbi Grossman sat with us and laughed, “Have a good time, boys! Have a great time! This evening, I will put on the most spectacular performance you have ever seen.”
I am not a religious person by any means, but I couldn’t help but envision the first Jew, Avraham, standing and personally serving his guests perfectly naturally and without the slightest hint of condescension. He respected each individual and cared for all his needs. Like Avraham, Rabbi Grossman saw in us a mitzvah that had fallen into his hands.
As the evening continued, we learned quickly that this was the essence of who Rabbi Grossman is and what he is all about. He loves everyone and accepts everyone as they are with all his heart and soul.
“Tell me, friends,” Rabbi Grossman said, “I heard you are lacking different pieces of equipment. Do me a favor. Here is a pencil and paper, just write down everything you are missing and leave the paper on the table.” That night, we enjoyed the entertainment and afterwards, slept in soft beds and air-conditioned rooms.
Like in a fairytale, we awoke in the morning and could not believe our eyes. Mounds of gear that we so desperately needed had arrived at Migdal Ohr. Attached was a small note from Rabbi Grossman, “To my dear solders, from all my heart!”
Rabbi Grossman personally had obtained over $60,000 worth of equipment literally overnight! The essential equipment included bulletproof vests, helmets, canteens, kneepads, night vision goggles, toothbrushes, socks and more.
Interestingly, a few months before the war broke out, a special friend of Rabbi Grossman from France had been interested in donating a new Torah scroll to the main Migdal Ohr beit midrash (study hall). For some reason, Rabbi Grossman requested to postpone the event until an unspecified later date.
“Now is the right time!” Rabbi Grossman realized. He immediately made arrangements and in an early evening ceremony, we participated in the completion of writing the Torah. While the scroll was carefully laid on the table next to a special pen and ink, Rabbi Grossman addressed the soldiers.
“My holy ones! I am going to bestow upon you the merit of a holy mitzvah that can be considered a once in a lifetime opportunity. Each one of you will complete a letter in the Torah scroll. While you are executing this holy task, each one of you should pray the prayer of his heart and request from G‑d that the merit of the letter should protect you in battle. Holy sparks will emanate from these sacred letters and disperse around you, creating a protective shield which will keep you safe and bring you home safely.”
Those moments were the most exciting and emotional ones in my life. Shaking from the intensity of the immeasurable experience, still not believing, we held the edges of the Torah scroll while our hearts beat rapidly. There was complete silence all around. One after the other, we dipped the quill in the ink and completed a letter in the Torah scroll.
A bystander would have seen a breathtaking scene of incredible elation and spiritual exuberance. The world seemed as if shrouded in silence. The strings of our heart felt strummed and the tears flowed freely down our cheeks.
“Mother!” cried one of the soldiers into his cell phone, “you won’t believe what I have done! I have written a letter in a Torah scroll! Mother, are you there? Can you hear?! Me, a Shmutznik (a member of a non-religious kibbutz), who can’t differentiate between Shabbat and the rest of the week, who has not seen tzitzit (ritual garment) in my life. Me, I wrote a letter in a Torah scroll! I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.”
After the completion of the Torah, the ceremony continued. Leading the procession was a decorated car with multi-colored lights strung all over it and with a crown of lights spinning around on its roof. Following the car, bearers of a decorated canopy marched while people danced around it. Under the canopy, others held the Torah scroll, which was clothed in white and crimson with a silver crown at its top.
Six hundred soldiers and thousands of the town residents marched and danced in the procession, a loud speaker accompanying them, playing traditional Jewish music.
As the ceremony came to a close, Rabbi Grossman approached every soldier and kissed him while placing a half-shekel coin in his hand and said, “Shliach mitzvah aino nezok – messengers of a mitzvah are not harmed.” Rabbi Grossman concluded, “When you return, G‑d willing, healthy and unharmed, you will fulfill this mission I am placing upon you, and you will donate this money to charity.”
The night came. Twelve buses made their way atop the Galilee Mountains. Heavy darkness engulfed us, yet behind, in the growing distance, a bright flame pierced the night sky. In the midst of war and violence, we found love and unending human compassion at Migdal Ohr, the educational center established in Migdal HaEmek by Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman.
* * * * * *
“This was an immense Kiddush Hashem. For a long period of time, I cried and was very emotional.” Thus Rabbi Grossman recalled the moment when he first read the words above written by First Lieutenant M.
Rabbi Grossman had much to add to the end of this exciting memoir. “Before they returned to Lebanon, I told the soldiers, ‘In the merit that you said Shema and put on tefillin, wrote a letter in the Torah and are messengers of a mitzvah, I promise you that you will all return safe and sound. None of you will be wounded or killed.’”
When asked if he wasn’t scared to commit to 600 soldiers that they would return home safe and sound, he said, “That is what came out of my mouth word for word. This was a moment of exuberance.”
“I continued and told them,” Rabbi Grossman relates, “if this does actually happen that you come back safely, the first place you must come back to – before you go home – is Migdal Ohr. We will thank G‑d together and from there we will say goodbye. I told them, ‘Think of this as an emergency call-up. Do you accept?’ The commanding officer replied in the affirmative.”
Two weeks later, around midnight, Rabbi Grossman received a phone call. “Rabbi, your blessing has come true!” exclaimed the commander over the phone. “Everyone is safe and we are on our way to you. We will be there by 2:00 a.m.”
Rabbi Grossman immediately contacted the kitchen staff and asked them to prepare a meal while he worked to organize a band. People asked him, “You need a band at 2:00 a.m.? Is Moshiach here?”
At 2:30 a.m. the soldiers disembarked from the buses, each one carrying 60 kilos of equipment on his back. The band started playing music and as the soldiers approached Rabbi Grossman, each one lovingly received with a hug. This continued for two hours. “I felt as I had never felt before,” recalls Rabbi Grossman. “Each one told me his personal miracle.”
One soldier, a kibbutznik and a lawyer in civilian life, relayed an incredible miracle. A group of soldiers were gathered in an empty house in a Lebanese village when one of them forgetfully lit a cigarette.
Hizbullah terrorists immediately noticed the light and fired an anti-tank missile at the house. Coincidentally, two horses from the village ran in front of the house and were hit and killed. The missile, deflected by the horses, veered away from the house, landing elsewhere. The horses miraculously saved the soldiers inside the house.
After the warm reception, the soldiers recited Birkat HaGomel and together with Rabbi Grossman, sang and danced until daybreak.
“To this day,” says Rabbi Grossman, “we maintain contact with each soldier and have thus become one family.”
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman is a recipient of “the Award of Recognition for Actions on Behalf of Soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces and the Second Lebanon War.”
Monday, August 25, 2008
12 minutes late or 18 minutes early?
Although not a Yeki, I am extremely Makpid on time. I am of the school "5 minutes early is on time, on time is late".
Now, every morning, no matter where I daven (usually the same place) there are drips and drabs of people who come into shul a good 10-12 minutes late. Always the same guys. During the week that's 40% of the davening time (usually around a half hour).
Personally, I try to get to shul 10 minutes before "kickoff". That gives me time to put on tallis and tefillin and actually say Korbonos (you know the stuff that take up a lot of pages in the siddur that no one says).
Well, the guy that comes in 12 minutes late, by the time he puts on tallis and tefillin, the zibbur is well past Barchu, sometimes even up to Shemonah Esrei. Doesn't this defeat the whole purpose? Why doesn't the guy just chill a few minutes, put his tallis and tefillin on like a mensch, say some brochos, korbonos and be on time for once in his life? (forget about getting his lazy a$$ out of bed 10 minutes earlier...) I never got this. And when is that proverbial deadline where the "12 minutes late guy" says it's too late and just wait for the next minyan (generally every half hour in most mid-large shuls in the Five Towns, Brooklyn, Queens, and Monsey). Is it the 14 minute mark, the 16 minute mark?
I know your out there "12 minutes late guy". Let's hear the answers!
Now, every morning, no matter where I daven (usually the same place) there are drips and drabs of people who come into shul a good 10-12 minutes late. Always the same guys. During the week that's 40% of the davening time (usually around a half hour).
Personally, I try to get to shul 10 minutes before "kickoff". That gives me time to put on tallis and tefillin and actually say Korbonos (you know the stuff that take up a lot of pages in the siddur that no one says).
Well, the guy that comes in 12 minutes late, by the time he puts on tallis and tefillin, the zibbur is well past Barchu, sometimes even up to Shemonah Esrei. Doesn't this defeat the whole purpose? Why doesn't the guy just chill a few minutes, put his tallis and tefillin on like a mensch, say some brochos, korbonos and be on time for once in his life? (forget about getting his lazy a$$ out of bed 10 minutes earlier...) I never got this. And when is that proverbial deadline where the "12 minutes late guy" says it's too late and just wait for the next minyan (generally every half hour in most mid-large shuls in the Five Towns, Brooklyn, Queens, and Monsey). Is it the 14 minute mark, the 16 minute mark?
I know your out there "12 minutes late guy". Let's hear the answers!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The uncomfortable Bar Mitzvah zach
One of the things I love about my shul and Rebbe is we don't do the typical, rote, uncomfortable rituals that many Modern (Americanish) shuls do.
This AM at Shacharis I witnessed the uncomfortable Bar Mitzvah Boy Address and I cringed the whole 3 minutes or so that it lasted (it felt like a good 4 hours. I've played rounds of golf that seemed quicker..but I digress).
The shul I attended was zocha to have a Bar Mitzvah. The Bar Mitzvah boy did a great job, great voice, etc etc. It was actually quite pleasant....until........................the Rabbi's Bar Mitzvah address.
In this case, the Rabbi was the boys grandfather, a now retired former pulpit Rabbi. He gave a very good sermon and then called his grandson to stand next to him while he addressed him. The boy was standing next to him in front of the whole shul with that awkward stance and awkward smile. I felt awful for the kid. What must be going through his mind? "Can we please hurry up here, my mouth is hurting from holding this fake smile". It seemed like forever. The typical stuff was said, the typical jokes. "Moshe" we're so proud oy you....we put a lot of work into you...we hope it pays off....now your a Bar Mitzvah and your responsible for yourself...........we're off the hook." etc, etc.
If I were elected Emperor of the world, one of the first things I would outlaw is the uncomfortable Bar Mitzvah boy address.
This AM at Shacharis I witnessed the uncomfortable Bar Mitzvah Boy Address and I cringed the whole 3 minutes or so that it lasted (it felt like a good 4 hours. I've played rounds of golf that seemed quicker..but I digress).
The shul I attended was zocha to have a Bar Mitzvah. The Bar Mitzvah boy did a great job, great voice, etc etc. It was actually quite pleasant....until........................the Rabbi's Bar Mitzvah address.
In this case, the Rabbi was the boys grandfather, a now retired former pulpit Rabbi. He gave a very good sermon and then called his grandson to stand next to him while he addressed him. The boy was standing next to him in front of the whole shul with that awkward stance and awkward smile. I felt awful for the kid. What must be going through his mind? "Can we please hurry up here, my mouth is hurting from holding this fake smile". It seemed like forever. The typical stuff was said, the typical jokes. "Moshe" we're so proud oy you....we put a lot of work into you...we hope it pays off....now your a Bar Mitzvah and your responsible for yourself...........we're off the hook." etc, etc.
If I were elected Emperor of the world, one of the first things I would outlaw is the uncomfortable Bar Mitzvah boy address.
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