Volume 31 Number 35
Produced: Fri Feb 4 6:51:15 US/Eastern 2000
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Appending Hakadosh to Names of certain Rabbis
[Barry Best]
Atmosphere of Secular Colleges
[Carl M. Sherer]
Bowing DOWN
[Yakov Travis]
Chazak Chazak Venischazek
[Ezra Tepper]
Davening on a Plane
[Carl and Adina Sherer]
Disability and Shabbat ... help!
[Aliza Tatel]
Lost Objects
[Dov Teichman]
Pollard
[Jordan Hirsch]
Price matching
[Barry S Bank]
Secular colleges
[David I. Cohen]
Shabbat hotel sensor-controlled lights
[David & Tamar Kramer]
Special Education
[David I. Cohen]
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From: Barry Best <barry.h.best@...>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 15:15:25 -0500
Subject: RE: Appending Hakadosh to Names of certain Rabbis
As long as Dani Wassner expanded the inquiry to include the
prefix "Ha" appended to many names...
I am curious about R. Mordechai b. Hillel who is always referred
to as the Mordechai. Are there any other examples of rabbis referred to
this way (e.g., the Shlomo or the Moshe). Is there a story behind why
the Mordechai is referred to this way?
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From: Carl M. Sherer <cmsherer@...>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 12:56:40 +0200
Subject: Atmosphere of Secular Colleges
Janet Rosenbaum writes:
> Frank Silbermann <fs@...> writes:
> > I have in mind the collusion of faculty and administration in
> > encouraging radical students to steal conservative student newspapers,
> > to shout down conservative speakers, to threaten leaders of conservative
> > student groups, and to subject them to kangaroo courts with charges of
> > "hate speech." (What is Orthodoxy, if not conservative?)
>
> For what it's worth, while I have heard this may be true in the smaller
> schools (which don't have frum populations, anyhow), it's not true in
> larger and more diverse schools.
I don't think this breaks down based on large and small schools. For
that matter, I'm not sure it's even uniform from school to school within
the same university.
When I was a law student at NYU in the early days of "political
correctness," (1980-84) there was a concerted effort by many professors
and the students in their classes to shut down students who expressed
right wing views. I can recall two specific incidents that illustrate
this point. One was during my second or third year, when a
(non-religious) Jewish student came to me and asked me to help her
defend the actions of the people of Skokie against a professor who
probably would have permitted someone to yell "fire" in a crowded
building (the classic restriction on totally free speech) if it was the
politically correct thing to do. Another came on my final exam in law
school (Criminal Procedure) where I realized half way through the exam
that I had convicted every defendant, and I had no clues to the
professor's political leanings (having cut class all semester long :-)
and therefore decided to acquit everyone else on the exam.
I can also recall spending most of my constitutional law classes trying
to defend things like literacy requirements for voting, decisions that
ruled against "affirmative action," and other positions that were
anathema to the left.
Of course, the more liberal NYU Law School's politics became the more
conservative mine became, but that should not surprise anyone who has
read things that I have written on this list :-)
Carl M. Sherer
mailto:<cmsherer@...> or mailto:sherer@actcom.co.il
Please daven and learn for a Refuah Shleima for my son, Baruch Yosef ben
Adina Batya among the sick of Israel. Thank you very much.
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From: Yakov Travis <yakovt@...>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 23:13:09 -0500
Subject: Bowing DOWN
It just doesn't seem right. So much bowing DOWN & prostrating in
TaNaKH. On Yom Kippur, when we don't just pay lip service - we do get
down on the floor. So why not every day? Am I the only one who feels
like a phony when I say the Aleynu? Does anyone know when this practice
ceased? Was there controversy? Do some kehillot still do it? Which
poskim discuss this? Thanks.
Yakov Travis, Assistant Professor, Cleveland College of Jewish Studies
Beachwood, Ohio 44122, (0) 216-464-4050, (H) 216-297-9494
Please pray for the refuah shleimah of Rivkah bat Brachah Leah, Kalman
ben Liba Devorah & Elka Gitel bat Rivkah Simchah
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From: Ezra Tepper <intepper@...>
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 13:46:10 +0200
Subject: Chazak Chazak Venischazek
Following the various contributions on this topic, one should note that
the Rema writes (Orah Hayim, 139:11) that following every aliya the
congregation praises or adjures the man called up with "Chazak" (be
strong). This has somehow been transformed into "Yashar Ko'ach," whose
meaning has been discussed in mail.jewish, but which expresses the same
idea. I have no idea why this change took place. The Rema writes the
origin of this custom is derived from the words of Joshua to the
children of Israel, "chazak ve'ematz" (be strong and corragous) --
Joshua 1:6,7,9,18.
In my humble opinion, "Chazak, Chazak, Venischazok," (be strong, be
strong and be strengthened) a stronger blessing or adjuration coming at
the completion of a book of the Torah, is derived from the similar and
stronger adjuration of the angel Micha'el to Daniel (Daniel 10,19). Here
Micha'el says "chazak vachazok, uchedabero imi hischazakti" (be strong,
yea, be strong, and when he had spoken unto me I was strengthened).
Ezra Tepper
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From: Carl and Adina Sherer <sherer@...>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 07:56:56 +0200
Subject: Davening on a Plane
Someone asked (and I can no longer find the post) about standing for
davening on a plane. The following comes from a booklet entitled "Laws
and Customs Pertaining to Air Travel" which was sponsored by Tower Air
and has a haskama (approbation) from the Badatz (the Chareidi Rabbinical
Court in Jerusalem). Sources are only cited in the Hebrew version; I am
copying them into the English one:
"12. One should pray facing Israel. However, if it is easier to
concentrate facing another direction, he may certainly do so and direct
his heart to his Father in Heaven. (Shulchan Aruch OH 94).
"13. Shmoneh Esrei should be prayed while standing without leaning on
anything (SA OH 94). If necessary, he may lean slightly in a manner in
which he would not fall when the support is removed. (Mishna Brura
there).
"14. If it is difficult to concentrate while standing (or even leaning),
one may pray seated (and still be considered as part of the minyan on
the plane, since it is in one room) (MB 55:48). However, he should sit
upright without leaning in any direction and he should keep his feet
together. If possible, he should stand for the first blessing of Shmoneh
Esrei, and he should bow and take the steps in the beginning and end as
usual (SA OH and MB 94 and 95 and Igros Moshe OH 4:20).
"15. The Talmudic prohibition against praying facing a restroom does not
apply to our closed restrooms (Chazon Ish 17).
"16. If the cabin crew mandates sitting, one may return to his seat even
in the middle of praying Shmoneh Esrei, despite the fact that danger is
rarely involved, and continue praying in his seat. However, he should
refrain from talking. (MB 104:10).
"17. If possible, one should not begin praying Shmoneh Esrei within
about seven feet of one who is seated (MB 102).
"18. Although one who was seated when another begins praying Shmoneh
Esrei close to him is not required to stand, it is praiseworthy to stand
unless it is difficult. It is certainly permitted to sit while verbally
studying Torah or praying. (SA OH and MB 102)."
"20. [I skipped 19 purposely - I post 20 only because it is of interest
to another topic we discussed a week or so ago - CS]
People who publicly desecrate the Shabbos should not be included in a
quorum of ten people necessary for a minyan (MB 55:46, Minchas Yitzchak
3:26 and others). However, many authorities permit counting them in
situations of need (Igros Moshe OH 23 [does not say which volume - CS]
Chelkas Yaakov 91 and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l)."
For those who didn't figure it out:
SA = Shulchan Aruch
OH = Orach Chaim
MB = Mishna Brura
Please note that I did not check the citations of the sources - I only
copied them from the booklet.
-- Carl M. Sherer
Please daven and learn for a Refuah Shleima for our son, Baruch Yosef
ben Adina Batya among the sick of Israel. Thank you very much.
mailto:<sherer@...>
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From: Aliza Tatel <aziliat@...>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 05:18:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Disability and Shabbat ... help!
In vol30, #26
>From: Sherman Family <shermans@...>
> >Shalom I know there is an organization in Israel (I
think Y'rushalayim) that deals with technically
helping those with disabilities re: halachically
acceptable practices for Shabbat. (Shabbat pens,
scooters for those who cannot work, elevators, etc.)
Would somebody tell me the name of the organization
and how to contact it? thanks!
Rahel,
There are two places you can contact:
Machon Hari Fischel
Rechovot HaBucharim 14-16
Yerushalayim
011-972-2-532-8399/2517
Institute for Technology accordng to Halacha
Rechov HaPisga 1, Bayit Ve'Gan
Yerushalayim
011-972-2-642-4880
I hope this information is helpful.
Aliza Tatel
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From: Dov Teichman <DTnLA@...>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 20:17:16 EST
Subject: Re: Lost Objects
Yisrael Medad writes:
<< Don't know but we have on our refrigerator the following from a
Talmudic source that has since been lost to me >>
The source is Breishis Rabbah 53:14.
Dov Teichman
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From: Jordan Hirsch <TROMBAEDU@...>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 22:10:14 EST
Subject: Re: Pollard
<< The reason is simple; Pollard's crimes are not common
knowledge! In fact, few if any, American citizens are privy to the
classified files that describe what the Pollard's did. More Damning is
the fact that those who are, stand in unison against Pollard (Joe
Lieberman, David Luchkins Etc). >>
Do not speak for David Luchins. It is my understanding that he has
backed off his anti Pollard stance considerably.
Jordan
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From: Barry S Bank <bsbank@...>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 00:01:51 -0500
Subject: Price matching
Store A advertises an item for $20.
Store B has a standing policy of beating competetor's prices by 150% of
the difference between its price and that of the competitor.
Upon being presented with Store A's advertisement, store B, which sells
the same item for $30, in accordance with its competition policy, agrees
to reduce the price to $15.
Some time later, you enter Store A and see a sign posted that there was
an error in their advertisement and that a completely different item was
on sale for the $20; Strore A's price for te item in question is $30,
just like store B.
Is the purchaser obligated to return the item to Store B for a refund (or
to pay back the amount Store B reduced its price in order to beat that of
Store A)?
--B. Bank
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From: David I. Cohen <BDCOHEN613@...>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:10:21 EST
Subject: Secular colleges
Russell Hendel wrote:
<<Allow me to tell 3 stories contradicting this. The Rav (Soloveitchick)
tells of a man whose daughter was accepted to a good school without a
jewish population. He asked the Rav "Should I let my daughter go
there?". "No" said the Rav. "But she will be vegetarian and stay in her
room on shabbath...." "Would you have let your daughter grow up among
non-jews?", asked the Rav, "My answer is still no." 4 years later this
same man called the Rav "Rabbi Soloveitchick please help me...my
daughter is engaged to marry an Indian" (Sorry...but there was no happy
ending to this story)>>
I think that Russell is missing my point.
There's no question that in the situation in his story with the student
alone in her room on Shabbat and no kosher food available, it is
untenable. I referred to the few college campuses where there are
vibrant orthodox communities with minyanim, kosher food, shiurim etc. My
point is that in the USA college students need not be limited to YU or
Touro to maintain their yiddeshkeit. In fact those institutions for some
may be counter productive.
David I. Cohen
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From: David & Tamar Kramer <davtamk@...>
Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 23:55:10 +0200
Subject: Shabbat hotel sensor-controlled lights
We recently had an experience in a hotel here in Israel where we stayed
on Shabbat that seems to be an ever increasing problem in hotels in
general that Shomerei Shabbat (Sabbath observers) should be aware of.
In addition to the well known obvious issue of electronic keys discussed
in this forum several months back, there are serious issues related to
automatic sensors that cause lights to go on or off.
Where we stayed, these sensors would blink whenever there was movement
in the room. We were warned about this by someone who had stayed there
previously, so we covered the sensors before Shabbat. Little did we
know that this would cause an even worse problem. We noticed that when
we opened the door to exit the room when the lights were off, the lights
would go on!! It seems that our covering the sensors made the system
think that we were not in the room, so when the door opened the system
figured we were coming *into* the room - so it kindly turned on the
lights! (Had we not covered the sensors it wouldn't have happened on
exiting the room - but it would happen on *entering* the room - and we
wouldn't have noticed!)
We have since spoken to many other people, who have had similar problems
in other hotels - including hotels in Yerushalayim. It seems to be a
fairly common feature in modern hotels around the world.
Our advice to anyone who plans on spending Shabbat in a modern hotel is
to check out whether this is an issue where you plan to stay, so you can
either plan how to get around the problem or to choose a different
hotel.
- David & Tammy Kramer
Ginot Shomron
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From: David I. Cohen <BDCOHEN613@...>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:04:41 EST
Subject: Special Education
It has taken me awhile to read through the thread started by Louise
Miller on the lack of special education available for Jewish day school
students, specifically ADD or learning disabilities.
I was surprised that no one mentioned the programs run by P'Tach,
especially in the greater New York area. (I'm not sure if they have any
resources for Louise on the left coast as of yet.) They do provide
resources to many day schools, and I know of at least two high school
programs, one at MTA (YU High school for Boys in Manhattan) and one at
Central (YU High School for Girls in Queens)
David I. Cohen
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End of Volume 31 Issue 35
