Volume 38 Number 71
Produced: Thu Feb 27 4:26:03 US/Eastern 2003
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Blocking someone in--Theft of Property not Time
[Russell J Hendel]
Ezra HaNavi
[Yair Horowitz]
Jewish community in the Netherlands?
[Elanit Rothschild]
Kosher for passover travel meals
[Mimi Markofsky]
Kosher-Keeping Pioneers
[Dov Teichman]
Lo Sisgodedu.
[Immanuel Burton]
Lo Sisgodedu
[Ira L. Jacobson]
Local Kashrut and related Communal Responsibilties
[Sam Saal]
Misheberach for Choleh/ah/anit
[Mark Symons]
Mishloach Manot
[Elazar M Teitz]
Neck Ties and the Muncaczer Rebbe
[Dov Teichman]
On Becoming A Gadol
[c.halevi]
Rambam, Jews, and Boxing
[Paul Ginsburg]
Reishit tsmichat geulateinu
[Mark Symons]
Requirement of Saying blessings on Eclipses
[Shimon Lebowitz]
Shabbat Shalom (2)
[Shlomo & Syma Spiro, Gilad J. Gevaryahu]
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From: Russell J Hendel <rjhendel@...>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 10:03:18 -0500
Subject: Blocking someone in--Theft of Property not Time
Perry Zamek(v38n64)continues the thread on blocking someone in. Perry
claims it is STEALING ONES TIME which may not be perceived as an
Avayrah.
Other postings have clarified eg the rights to call the police
etc. However my halachik approach would not focus on theft of TIME but
rather theft of PROPERTY.
Actually, blocking someone in, is depriving them of their access rights
to the public thoroughfare. Sources for this do exist such as Rambam
Laws of Partnership. For example Chapter 5 discusses various situations
where co-tenants in an apartment complex build things which block others
off.
Such situations are very common in partnered property---since theft is a
grave sin I would have to say that these people do know what they are
doing(This disagrees with Perrys approach that it is a sin which "they
are not aware of")
Russell Jay Hendel; http://www.RashiYomi.com/
http://yahoo.groups.com/group/RashiYomi_Job
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From: <Ggntor@...> (Yair Horowitz)
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 18:52:57 EST
Subject: Ezra HaNavi
Rabbi Ezra HaNavi was a Tosafist, Kabbalist, and teacher of the
Ramban. He died on the 9th of Tevet in 1227 CE.
(Source: http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/bhyom/hebrew/tevet.htm)
-Yair Horowitz
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From: Elanit Rothschild <ezrothsc@...>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 21:27:44 -0500
Subject: Jewish community in the Netherlands?
Does anyone have any information, or know where I can find information,
on a Jewish community in the Netherlands?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Elanit Z. Rothschild
Masters in Public Administration
Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University
<ezrothsc@...>, http://www.maxwell.syr.edu
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From: <AUNTIEFIFI@...> (Mimi Markofsky)
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 20:31:30 EST
Subject: Kosher for passover travel meals
I was wondering if anyone knew of companies that will send kosher
l'Pesach meals to the Bahamas? I've hit dead ends everywhere I've
turned. I've gone through my Kosherfest guide hoping to find some leads
and have come up empty handed. I need meals for 3 people, at least once
a day for Sunday of Chol HaMoed through the end of Pesach (they can eat
tuna and matza for lunch, etc), so I need approximately 15 meals sent to
Nassau's Atlantis Hotel. Any help would be appreciated. You can reply
directly to my email address, but please keep the subject matter noted
so I don't delete the mail.
Thank you,
Mimi Markofsky
<Auntiefifi@...>
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From: <DTnLA@...> (Dov Teichman)
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 01:21:14 EST
Subject: Re: Kosher-Keeping Pioneers
>The Indians called them "the egg-eaters" because they would trade for
>eggs -- but ate no meat because it wasn't kosher.
If they observed halacha fully, i'm sure they did not trade for
hardboiled eggs, as that would still have the problem of Bishul Akum
attached.
Dov Teichman
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From: Immanuel Burton <IBURTON@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:48:15 +0000
Subject: Lo Sisgodedu.
In v38n68, Russell Jay Hendel said:
>Why? Rambam (Laws of Idolatry 12:14) makes it clear that the
>prohibition of LO SISGODEDU(Dt14-01) applies to making two Bait Dins in
>ONE city (Independent of Israel of not). In The Book of Commandments
>(Negative Prohibition #45) Rambam also states this.
If there is a prohibition of making two Batei Din in one city, then how
does one explain the fact that there are cities with more than one Beth
Din? For example, in London (UK) we have at least three, namely the
London Beth Din, the Adass and the Federation.
Immanuel Burton.
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From: Ira L. Jacobson <laser@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 07:06:16 +0200
Subject: Re: Lo Sisgodedu
Mark Steiner stated:
By the way, does anyone have information on the practice of a
famous rav to fall on his LEFT side during tahanun in the morning,
despite his wearing tefillin on that side, even if everybody else
was doing the opposite?
That is the practice of the Yemenites, so if this famous rav is a
Yemenite he is simply following his ancestral minhag.
IRA L. JACOBSON
mailto:<laser@...>
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From: Sam Saal <ssaal@...>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 12:01:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: RE: Local Kashrut and related Communal Responsibilties
I liked Arthur Altman's (<arthur_altman@...>) description of
Dallas Kosher. I wonder if others might post descriptions of their
community's local supervision.
Rather than ask "is hechsher X reliable?" this self-identification could
help the mail.jewish community to learn about smaller kosher supervisory
organizations
Sam Saal <ssaal@...>
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From: Mark Symons <msymons@...>
Subject: Misheberach for Choleh/ah/anit
Re text of misheberach for choleh/ah.
1. A comment. Our Rabbi ( J Simcha Cohen, Mizrachi kehilla, Melbourne,
formerly of LA, writes halachik column for the Jewish Press) advises,
following the practice of the Munkatcher Rov, to leave out the word
choleh/chola and just say "...Hu yevarech viyrapeh et so-and-so ben
so-and so", because designating someone as a choleh/ah leads to him/her
being judged more harshly in Heaven.
2. A question. If someone (male) has had an organ/other body part
removed, how can they be referred to as having 248 eivarim (limbs?
organs? bones?) and 365 gidim ("sinews")?
Mark Symons
Melbourne, Australia
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From: Elazar M Teitz <remt@...>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 19:50:04 -0500
Subject: Re: Mishloach Manot
> I'm also on another Jewish list, and when I recently mentioned that
> mishloach manot should be parve, because it's part of the meal, there
> was great surprise. Can someone please give me halachik backing.
The requirement for sending mishloach manos is cited in Shulchan
Aruch (OC 695:4) as "One is obligated to send to his friend two portions
*of meat* or of types of food." Obviously, then, there is no need for
it to be pareve. However (and this may have caused the
misunderstanding), the Mishnah B'rurah quotes the Magen Avraham in the
name of the Maharil that the meat must be cooked, not raw, since "manos"
(portions) implies fitness for immediate consumption.
Elazar M. Teitz
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From: <DTnLA@...> (Dov Teichman)
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:38 EST
Subject: Re: Neck Ties and the Muncaczer Rebbe
The moderator requested a reference for the Minchas Elozer's opinion
that wearing a tie is considered Chukos Hagoyim. It can be found in the
sefer Darkei Chaim VeShalom in siman 878. It says that he wrote in the
sefer Nimukei Yoreh Deah that the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch is like
that of the Maharik that clothes that goyim wear that have a purpose are
not considered Chukos Hagoyim. The Minchas Elozer writes that for that
reason his father (the Darkei Tshuva) would reprimand people who wore a
"fabriksbindel" that had a knot in front around their necks and hung
down to their chest (in other words a necktie), because they are
forbidden as Chukos Hagoyim. He says its one thing if they wore a silk
scarf that served a function in that it warms its wearer, whereas this
necktie serves no purpose, only to resemble the "shkotzim and the
nochrim" and this is forbidden not only a midas chassidus but also as
halacha.
I hope this makes you more comfortable,
Dov Teichman
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From: c.halevi <c.halevi@...>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 09:22:48 -0600
Subject: On Becoming A Gadol
Shalom, All:
Two worthwhile quotes regarding whether you and I can become a
Gadol(a):
"A man's reach must exceed his grasp, or else what's a heaven
for?" -- Robert Browning
"There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if
you lose, you win." -- Elie Wiesel
Yeshaya (Charles Chi) Halevi
<c.halevi@...>
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From: Paul Ginsburg <GinsburgP@...>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 08:56:15 -0500
Subject: Rambam, Jews, and Boxing
Rambam's Mishneh Torah , Hilchos Chovek Umazik - Chapter 5 contains the
prohibition of hitting another Jew.
How does this apply to a Jewish person who participates in boxing or
martial arts with a fellow Jew? Are these sports viewed as not kosher
since one violates the prohibition of striking another Jewish person?
Paul W. Ginsburg
Rockville, Maryland
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From: Mark Symons <msymons@...>
Subject: Reishit tsmichat geulateinu
Does anyone know where the phrase "reishit tsmichat geulateinu" (in the
Israeli chief rabbinate's version of the prayer for medinat yisrael)
comes from, and how it came to be given such hashkafic importance?
Mark Symons
Melbourne, Australia
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From: Shimon Lebowitz <shimonl@...>
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 09:35:09 +0200
Subject: Re: Requirement of Saying blessings on Eclipses
Russell J Hendel <rjhendel@...> said:
> Shimon Leibowitz v38n32 remarks that a Rav prohibited saying a blessing
> on an eclipse because it is a bad omen!!??!?
That's Lebowitz. :-)
> First of all there is a Rabbinic requirement to say a blessing over any
> great natural occurence (Either WHO MAKES THE WORKS OF CREATION or HIS
> MIGHT AND POWER FILL THE WORLD).
I am no rabbi, but I checked the Shulchan `Aruch and Mishna Berura and
found no such requirement, neither a general one for all natural
phenomena, nor a specific one for an eclipse.
> Hence we are required to say a blessing over an eclipse.
This only follows if your first statement is true. Can we have a
reference?
> I was shocked that a religious Rabbi could possibly override a Rabbinic
> obligation to say a blessing because of a superstition
I was also shocked by your shock. :-) And rather surprised that no one
else seemed to share my feeling.
> Does anyone have any further sources on this halachic issue?
I did remember R' Phil Chernofsky writing a column that mentioned this
Halacha. It can be read at:
http://www.ou.org/torah/tt/5761/vayechi61/word.htm (there was a lunar
eclipse then).
Bechavod,
Shimon Lebowitz mailto:<shimonl@...>
Jerusalem, Israel PGP: http://www.poboxes.com/shimonpgp
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From: Shlomo & Syma Spiro <spiro@...>
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 20:18:14 +0200
Subject: Shabbat Shalom
BSD, yom hamishi ki tissa
In Sha'ar ha-Kavvanot, Derushei Arvit Leil Shabbat, it is written that
when one enters his home he should say in a loud voice and with great
joy 'Shabbat Shalom' since he is like a groom receiving the bride in
great joy and with a cheerful face. And similarly, in Peri Etz Hayyim,
Sha'ar ha-Shabbat, chapter 14.
So here is a good explanation for the term Shabbat Shalom:
We call Shabbat, the bride by her name, and then greet her with the
traditional Shalom!
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From: <Gevaryahu@...> (Gilad J. Gevaryahu)
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:23:13 EST
Subject: Shabbat Shalom
Ira L. Jacobson asks (v38n69) for a summary of the articles and responses
to it.
<<The issue of the phrase was the subject of an article by N. Berggreen
in *Leshonenu La-Am* 24 (1972-73) 3-7 [see the reader responses to that
on pp. 146-148, esp. that of Prof. SY Friedman], reprinted in LL 34
(1982-83) 144-148 [and responded to in by T. Preschel in LL 35
(1983-84): 63].>>
I read the article and the comments to tell the MailJewish participants
in the discussion that we have covered most of what was published in the
article, and in some aspects even went further than the article.
Nissan Berggreen tells us that "Shabbat Shalom" is not found in ancient
Jewish sources and then proceed to quote the Gur dictionary which shows
that it was printed in the Shela"h book and suggests that it might be
based on the Beraita in Shabbat 135b. He then proceeds to bring the
quote from the Ar"i which was confirmed by Ya'avetz. He is then
discussing the nature of the words Shalom umevorach and the fact that
you have two adjectives after one noun. He mentions that Shabbat is
bi-gender form.
Maya Fruchtman brings the Ibn Ezra as quoted in Arugot haBosem which
shows that Shalom could be an adjective.
Meir Rothenberg suggests that Shabbat Shalom uMevorach is really a short
cut of "Shabbat Shalom, Shabbat Mevorach" which according to him such a
short cut is common.
Shamma Friedman comments that in Talmudic writing there are examples of
two "Levayim" [Auxiliary? Attributes?] the first in an adjectival-noun
and the second in an adjective connected with a "vav." He brings an
example "shevil hayahid hakavua" (Peah 2:1) He further suggests that the
vav in our case might act as a buffer to separate the two letter mem.
[that of the final mem of ShaloM and the first mem of Mevorakh]
T. Preschel brings an article by Menachem Zolai from 1945 who pointed
out that Shalom is also an adjective in Hebrew, that it was commonly
used in Eretz Israel, and as such was used in Shabbat Shalom umevorach.
Gilad J. Gevaryahu
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End of Volume 38 Issue 71
