Volume 17 Number 10
Produced: Tue Dec 6 22:53:14 1994
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Artscroll Siddur for a Bais Avel
[Eric Safern]
Candles for Shabbos Chanuka (2)
[Sam Gamoran, David Kramer]
Good one volume Jewish History Book
[Avi Feldblum]
Jews & Martial Arts
[Gad Frenkel]
Mechitza in the Temple
[Joseph Steinberg]
Music Today
[Eli Feldblum]
Origin of Mehitza
[Marc Leve]
Parve
[<DARDASHTI@...>]
Rare Davenings
[Ruby Stein]
Rarest Shmoneh Esreh
[Michael Rosenberg]
Seeking Review of R. Bulka book
[JL Lettofsky]
Torah reading - corrections
[Lon Eisenberg]
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From: <esafern@...> (Eric Safern)
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 94 14:58:39 EST
Subject: Artscroll Siddur for a Bais Avel
I'm passing on a request from Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, who is currently
in the final steps of editing a Siddur for a bais avel (house of
mourning) to be published by Artscroll, using the Artscroll Siddur as a
base.
Rabbi Schacter is interested in hearing any criticisms you might have
had about previous Artscroll Siddurim - mistranslations, technical or
other objections.
The final galleys need to be returned in two weeks, so this is a short
window of opportunity to correct things.
I will forward your comments to someone who promises to at least listen
to you...
This Siddur will contain weekday Shachris, Mincha and Maariv; Shabbos
Mincha; Rosh Chodesh Musaf and Hallel; parts of Slichos, and some
special material relating to Aveilus (mourning).
For non-internet responses, you can fax The Jewish Center directly:
Fax (212) 724-5629 att: R. Schacter
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From: <gamoran@...> (Sam Gamoran)
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 94 08:46:11 IST
Subject: Re: Candles for Shabbos Chanuka
I too have experienced Akiva Miller's (<Keeves@...>) "China Syndrome"
(total meltdown) problem using regular Shabbat candles in a Chanukia.
In Israel, one can buy extra long but thin Chanuka candles. Also, here,
Shabbat candles come in many different sizes and thicknesses. The trick
is to use tall and thin.
The other trick I've used - if Shabbat comes early enough in the holiday
is to space the candles further apart in the Chanukia - e.g. every other
holder.
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From: <kramer@...> (David Kramer)
Date: Tue, 06 Dec 94 13:30:50 EST
Subject: Candles for Shabbos Chanuka
Akiva Miller asks for ideas about lighting larger candles for Shabbos
Chanuka.
I have successfully used the small "tea candles" available for travel.
They are self contained in small aluminum carriers and I find they burn
very neatly. To display the candles, I covered a 2x4 long enough to
carry the 8 candles with tin foil and nailed on to that a small 2x4
block to hold the Shamash.
Alternatively, I have used regular Shabbos candles by cutting off 1/4
inch or so from THE BOTTOM to expose the wick and placed them in a
standard Chanukia by lighting the TOP wick, melting the wax, and
immediately placing the candles TOP DOWN in the holder. The tapered
tops of the candles fit perfectly in the standard candle holders. Of
course if you have many people lighting, the candles do generate a lot
of heat and separation of the Chanukias becomes very important.
This year I graduated to an oil Chanukia and would solicit the learned
cyber-crowd for advice on the best types of wicks and oil holders. I
used a floating wick but found it very difficult to light without
dripping wax from the Shamash all over. The last days, I got smart
enough to put some water in first to raise the wick level, but it
still was messy. Any better ideas?
David Kramer
<Kramer@...> or
<DTK1950@...>
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From: Avi Feldblum <feldblum>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 22:47:54 -0500
Subject: Good one volume Jewish History Book
I had some people over at the house recently who are re-learning about
their Jewish heritage. They asked what good one volume Jewish history
book I could recommend. Since I did not have one come to mind
immediately, I figured that this group probably had some good ideas (and
I'll also go check Dan's book list).
Avi Feldblum
<feldblum@...>
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From: Gad Frenkel <0003921724@...>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 94 10:32 EST
Subject: Jews & Martial Arts
All of you who have been concerned about Martial Arts and Jews can now
rest easy. I remember reading a Karate magazine some twenty years ago
that suggested that the Jews actually invented the Martial arts. As
proof they mentioned, Avraham and Eliezer rescuing Lot, Shimon and Levi
killing all the males in Shechem by sword (so what if they could barely
move) and a Midrash (this is from memory so please forgive any
inaccuracies) that says smething about some fight that one of the
brothers had with some of Yosef's soldiers and how Yosef downed the
brother with a kick which was recognized as a kick from the house of
Yaakov.
In case you're wondering I don't mean this seriously, although the article was
real.
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From: Joseph Steinberg <steinber@...>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 10:48:14 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Mechitza in the Temple
Regarding a mechitza in the temple Yossei Halberstadt wrote:
:I.e. there is no reference to any 'barrier' or 'screen', however the men and
:women were seperated on different levels.
Yes, during the Simchat Beir Hashoeva there was some minor seperation
between the sees -- but during the rest of the year there was not. In
fact, to get to the Ezrat Yisrael you had to walk through the Ezrat
Nashim!!! The Third Bayit will have the same thing -- no Mechitza
whatsoever and a walk through women to reach the mens' area (well,
actually, men could stand in the Ezrat NAshim as well!!!)...
E=mc^2 | Joseph Steinberg | New York, USA | <steinber@...>
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From: Eli Feldblum <feldblum@...>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 22:44:19 -0500
Subject: Music Today
In Talmud Megilla, page 7a, it says you cannot party like the
non-jews or listen to music. Rashi says you can not listen during meals,
Tosfot says you cannot have an excess of music and Ramban says you can
not listen at all. Does anyone know any reasons why there can be jewish
bands or why you can listen to the radio all day?
Eli Feldblum
<feldblum@...>
[Got to start them young, but that doesn't mean I'll get him his own
account just yet. A proud father]
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From: Marc Leve <72440.1657@...>
Date: 06 Dec 94 00:13:43 EST
Subject: Origin of Mehitza
Marlene Rifkin:
>> This statement astonished me, and has prompted me to ask for
>> enlightenment regarding the origin of the mehitzah, and the
>> establishment of the women's section of the synagogue.
>> [OK so now someone can find the correct citation and quote in full. Mod.]
The Mishna in the 5th Chapter of Succah (51b) mentions "fifteen steps
going down from "Ezrat Yisrael" to the "Ezrat Nashim".
The context of this Mishna is the description of the Simchat Beit
Hashoeva on the evening of the second day (motzai chag) of Succot.
The Gemmara on the same page (continuing on to the next page - 52a)
explains that originally the women's section was on the same level as
the men but later a takkana was made that the womehn sit upstairs and
the men below. The Gemmara then brings a Beraita that explains that the
men were outside and the women inside but this brought them to frivolity
(kalut rosh); the men and women switched, but this did not help so a
takkana was made that the women sit upstairs and the men below.
The Gemmara asks how it was allowed to add any structures to the Temple.
The answer is based on Zecharia 12:12 and afterwards, which talks of the
House of David and other families by themselves and their wives by
themselves. The Gemarra's conclusion is that if during a time of
mourning men and women should be separate, then certainly they should be
separate during merry-making, when there is a much greater risk that
they become frivolous. See also Rambam Hilchot Lulav 8:12.
The Ezrat Nashim is further described in Mishna Midot Chapter 2 Mishna 5
and in the Rambam, Beit Habechirah, 5:9
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From: <DARDASHTI@...>
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 20:40:47 -0500
Subject: Parve
A suggestion has been made that PARVE is a Farsi/Persian word. The word
parve does not exist in modern Farsi, the word Parve does not exist in middle
Farsi or Pahlavi. In modern Hebrew the word STAMI is used.. For the best
discussion of PARVE see volume 13 of the Encyclopedia Judaica.
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From: <RUBY@...> (Ruby Stein)
Date: Tue, 06 Dec 1994 10:05:33 -0500 (EST)
Subject: re: Rare Davenings
As mentioned by Bernard Horowitz, we all davened maariv last motzei shabbat
with extra kavanah because of the rarest shmonei esrai. After davening, I
thought to myself, why should I have extra kavanah for this maariv in
particular? After all, maariv on the 3rd of Tevet, 5755 occurs only once
in history! That goes for shacharit and mincha on 3rd of Tevet, as well as,
maariv on the 4th of Tevet 5755 etc. etc. etc.
Ruby Stein
<ruby@...>
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From: <Rosenber@...> (Michael Rosenberg)
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 15:35:39 -0800
Subject: Re: Rarest Shmoneh Esreh
I found myself wondering how many Jews alive got to daven the rarest
shmoneh esreh twice? Think about it, a 6 or 7 year old in 1899, today
101 or 102 years young and still davening with a minyan? How's that for
zchut?
Michael Rosenberg
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From: <ea308@...> (JL Lettofsky)
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 1994 11:25:15 -0500
Subject: Seeking Review of R. Bulka book
I have been looking for a review of CHAPTERS OF THE SAGES: A PSYCHOLOGICAL
COMMENTARY ON PIRKEY AVOTH, by Reuven Bulka, pub'd by Jason Aronson.
This 1993 edition is a reprint of the book which originallyy appeared in
1980 with the title AS A TREE BY THE WATERS, pub'd then by Feldheim. I have
checked in traditional (print) review sources, with no luck. Perhaps
someone out there is aware of, or has written a review.
JL Lettofsky
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From: <eisenbrg@...> (Lon Eisenberg)
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 94 18:09:37 IST
Subject: Re: Torah reading - corrections
In response to Aleeza Berger <aeb21@...> :
I don't have any sources in front of me, but have studied this subject. The
basic rules:
1. If a consonant is pronounced incorrectly, it must be corrected (even if
the meaning isnt' changed, e.g. keves/kesev [lamb]).
2. Other errors must be corrected only if the meaning is changed.
Now #2, it seems to me from what I've noticed, is often not applied correctly;
many things that don't need correction are corrected and many things that
should be corrected aren't. some examples:
1. Kamaz pronounced as segol with sof pasuk or etnahtah need not be corrected
(shemen vs. shamen, or lekha vs. lakh, for that matter).
2. Milra` pronounced as mil`el OFTEN needs to be corrected (particularly,
when it changes the tense of the verb).
3. Incorrect cantilation (ta`amim) may often needs correction, since it is
equivalent to punctuation and inflection, which can often change the meaning.
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End of Volume 17 Issue 10
