Volume 52 Number 65
Produced: Thu Sep 7 5:54:03 EDT 2006
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Air Conditioning Units - Emptying Water Tank on Shabbos
[Mike Gerver]
Boston
[R E Sternglantz]
Dairy bread
[Israel Caspi]
Dr. Feng Shan Ho
[Shlomo Pick]
Free educational resources for the Jewish New Year
[Jacob Richman]
Hollekreisch (2)
[Daniel Z. Werlin, SBA]
Maharal and The Philtrum
[Michael Green]
Simkhes Toyre Lid le-Rivkah Tiktiner
[Yael Levine]
Treifah Story
[Rich, Joel]
Various
[Rabbi Meir Wise]
Yamim Nora'im Gabbai List
[Shmuel Himelstein]
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From: <MJGerver@...> (Mike Gerver)
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 05:30:10 EDT
Subject: Air Conditioning Units - Emptying Water Tank on Shabbos
Immanuel Burton asks, in v52n64,
> Is the water that condenses in this tank muktze on Shabbos on the
> grounds of being nolad?
This seems farfetched to me. After all, the water was already in the air
in the form of water vapor. Are you not allowed to touch a cold window,
or a cold glass, on Shabbos, because of the water vapor that condenses
on it? What about the ice that condenses on your mustache on a very cold
day, from your breath? Are you not allowed to brush it off?
If the water were newly created as a result of the burning of hydrogen
or a hydrogen-containing fuel, then I can see how it might be considered
muktze.
Mike Gerver
Raanana, Israel
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From: R E Sternglantz <resternglantz@...>
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 22:47:16 -0400
Subject: Boston
I hope to be moving to the Boston area at some point in the next few
months because of work, and I'm looking for general information on
shuls/communities in the area, writ large. I'm particularly interested
in Cambridge and environs, and I would also like particularly to hear
(offlist) from unmarried adults (ie, 35+) who are familiar with the
various shuls.
Thanks,
Ruth Sternglantz
<resternglantz@...>
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From: Israel Caspi <icaspi@...>
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2006 05:56:40 -0500
Subject: Dairy bread
Some time ago there was a discussion on mj regarding dairy bread --
generally considered to be forbidden (except under certain special and
specific circumstances). I don't wish to re-open that discussion but I
have come across a closely related issue on which I *would* like have
others' viewpoints:
In Israel, all of the bread -- including challot -- that are baked by
the Ne'eman Bakery, which is under strict kashrut supervision from (I
believe) the Jerusalem Rabbinate, are "b'cheskat chalavi" (i.e., they
contain no dairy ingredients but are nevertheless considered to be dairy
because they are baked in the same ovens as are real dairy products and
therefore cannot be eaten together with meat).
Except for signs in the bakery notifying customers of the b'cheskat
chalavi status of the bread, the bread itself is unwrapped, has no
distinguishing characteristic to identify it as b'cheskat chalaviand is,
indeed, indistinguishable from parve bread. So the question is: how
does the Rabbinate permit such bread to be baked and sold?
(It is true that there is an obvious inherent difference between bread
that is actually dairy and bread that is merely b'cheskat chalavi, but
from a halachic standpoint, eating meat together with real dairy bread
or with bread that is b'cheskat chalavi is, in either instance, "only"
an issur d'Rabanan!?!?)
--Israel Caspi
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From: Shlomo Pick <picksh@...>
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:54:32 +0200
Subject: Dr. Feng Shan Ho
shalom
i guess i am a bit late with this response, but i think i should publicly
set the historical record correct. i had posted in vol, 37, no. 45,
a note about the righteous Gentile Dr. Feng Shan Ho who had handed out
visas in vienna. my posting was criticized in vol. 37, no. 53, by
Zev Sero (to whom i had tried to send this message but it was bounced
back) who responded that:
>It is clear that at no point was there ever a need for a Chinese visa
>to get into Shanghai - in fact, during the entire period in question
>Shanghai was not under Chinese rule. Mr Pick's claim that
>>> a visa stamped into your German passport with the red "J" would
>>> guarantee a ship's ticket
> is clearly not true - to get a ticket you needed money, not a visa
> which the shipping companies knew was worthless!......
> See http://www.rickshaw.org/visas_for_life.htm for arguments on both
> sides of the question.
After a break of almost 4 years, i have more information:
concerning the site, i can't get into that visa for life site any more.
in any case. However, there is a DVD my father gave me called "Shanghai
Ghetto" in which a number of interviews are given as well as historians
who chime in also. Prof. emiratus Irene Eber of Hebrew University even
claims that it wasn't a ghetto but standard Japanese policy that was
applied to all European peoples. In any case, she also states that one
didn't need a visa to go to Shanghai, but one needed a visa to get a ship
ticket to any foreign country. That was standard policy of all shipping
companies, according to her statement. i don't even know if i should
post this as i have not followed mail jewish in years, but i think that a
good word should be put in for this righteous gentile who did help is
saving my father's and his parent's life. in any case.
chodesh tov and shabbat shalom
Shlomo Pick
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From: Jacob Richman <jrichman@...>
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 14:32:37 +0200
Subject: Free educational resources for the Jewish New Year
Hi Everyone!
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year 5767, begins Friday night, September
22, 2006.
The J Site - Jewish Education and Entertainment
http://www.j.co.il
has several entertaining features to celebrate the new year:
Jewish Trivia Quiz: Rosh Hashana
Which special prayer is said in the days before Rosh Hashana ?
Which group of foods is customary to eat on Rosh Hashana ?
What are the other three names of Rosh Hashana ?
How many times is the shofar sounded during Rosh Hashana ?
Which food is customary NOT to eat on Rosh Hashana ?
The above questions are examples from the multiple choice Flash
quiz. There are two levels of questions, two timer settings. Both kids
and adults will find it enjoyable.
Additional Rosh Hashana resources and games on the J site include:
Free Rosh Hashana Clipart
The Multilingual Hangman Game (English / Hebrew)
The Multilingual Word Search Game (English / Hebrew / Russian)
My Hebrew Songbook (Hebrew Song Lyrics)
My Jewish Coloring Book (online / offline)
The J site has something for everyone, but if that is not enough, I
posted on my website 90 links about Rosh Hashana, from laws and customs
to games and recipes. Site languages include English, Hebrew, French,
German, Italian, Portugese, Russian and Spanish. All 90 links have been
reviewed / checked this week.
The web address is:
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdayrh.htm
Please forward this message to relatives and friends, so they may
benefit from these holiday resources.
Enjoy!
Have a good year,
Jacob
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From: Daniel Z. Werlin <dzwerlin@...>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 00:14:53 -0400
Subject: Hollekreisch
Eugene Bazarov writes:
> I am interested in knowing if anyone ever saw any rabbinic criticism of the
> German Jewish secular naming ceremony called Hollekreisch (or Holekreisch or
> Hohekreisch). Perhaps that it is of non-Jewish origin or something. What
> about a Vachnacht?
This is not something I know anything about, however, I did notice
extensive treatment of this topic in two books:
1. Sharshei Minhag Ashkenaz (vol 1), Hebrew, by Rabbi Binyamin Hamberger,
published Machon Moreshet Ashkenaz
2. Jewish Magic and Superstition, by Josuah Trachtenberg, reprinted JPS
Best,
Dan Werlin
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From: SBA <sba@...>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 14:31:45 +1000
Subject: Hollekreisch
The sefer Shorshei Minhagei Ashkenaz (IIRC Vol 1) has a lengthy chapter
about this minhag. I don't recall seeing any criticism there or anywhere
else.
> What about a Vachnacht?
What about it? It seems to be an old minhag which, these days is VERY
strong amongst chassidim. In fact many make a bigger deal of the
vachnacht than they do of the Seudas Bris.
SBA
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From: Michael Green <michaelchaimgreen@...>
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2006 03:24:38 -0700
Subject: Maharal and The Philtrum
We know that when a child exits the womb a angel taps it on the
Philtrum--the vertical groove or dimple in the upper lip--causing this
Jewish child to forget all of its Torah learning acquired in the womb.
Does anyone know of a source that deals with an explanation as to why
both Jews and non-Jews alike have this indentation?
I believe I once heard someone mention an answer in the name of the
Maharal...
Michael Green
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From: Yael Levine <ylevine@...>
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:47:14 +0200
Subject: Simkhes Toyre Lid le-Rivkah Tiktiner
"Simkhes Toyre Lid le-Rivkah Tiktiner", by Yael Levine (Jerusalem 2005,
32 pp.) [=Simchas Torah Song by Rivkah Tiktiner].
Rivkah bat Meir Tiktiner (d. 1605) was the first Jewish woman to compose
a book, the Yiddish musar work for women "Meineket Rivkah" [=Rebeka's
Nursemaid]. This book was published in two editions, the first was
issued in Prague in 1609. Rivkah Tiktiner is buried in the ancient
Jewish cemetery in Prague, though she arrived in Prague at an unknown
date from Poland.
Rivkah Tiktiner also composed a Yiddish song, "Simkhes Toyre Lid." This
song, consisting of eighty lines, is a hymn of praise to The
Creator. The motif of the future redemption, including the banquet of
the righteous, figures prominently in the second part of the song. The
dates of the composition of both "Simkhes Toyre Lid" and "Meineket
Rivkah" are unknown.
The Yiddish version of "Simkhes Toyre Lid" was published in a critical
edition by Chone Shmeruk, first in an article on Rivkah Tiktiner which
appeared in 1978, and subsequently in an updated version in his book
"Sifrut Yiddish be-Polin," published by Magnes Press in 1981. In
"Simkhes Toyre Lid le-Rivkah Tiktiner," the Yiddish critical edition by
Shmeruk is reproduced. This is followed by a Hebrew translation, carried
out in conjunction with Dr. Boris Kotlerman. References to the motifs
appearing in the song are also included.
The Yiddish text of "Simkhes Toyre Lid" and its Hebrew translation
appearing in "Simkhes Toyre Lid le-Rivkah Tiktiner," are prefaced with a
scholarly introduction concerning Rivkah Tiktiner and her works. The
introduction commences with the biographical information known about
Tiktiner. A Yizkor prayer in her memory is published for the first time
from the manuscript "Kuntress Beit Knesset Altneushul bi-Prague" (Jewish
Museum of Prague, ms. 113). This prayer is the only known source which
makes mention of her husband. His personal name appears in the prayer.
However, the manuscript is defective in this place, and it is not
possible to discern it.
The introductory chapter also compiles for the first time the evidence
concerning learned women in Prague. Most interestingly, on several
inscriptions in the ancient Jewish cemetery there is reference to women
who devoted their time to the Torah study.
"Simkhes Toyre Lid le-Rivkah Tiktiner" is available at the following
locations in Jerusalem: Lichtenstein bookstore on Straus St. near Kikar
ha-Shabbat; Hevruta Book Store on 16 ha-Lamed Hey St. in Old Katamon;
Ludwig Mayer Bookstore on Shlomzion ha-Malka St; Nissan Levi Store on
Keren ha-Kayyemet St., Jerusalem. The price of the booklet is NIS 20.
Mail orders within Israel are accepted directly from myself at NIS20 +
NIS 5 for postage.
Orders from abroad may be placed with Sifrei Yerushalayim. For further
details email: <jerbook2@...> or call 972-2-6433580.
Yael Levine
<ylevine@...>
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From: Rich, Joel <JRich@...>
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:10:47 -0400
Subject: Treifah Story
[ Part 1, Text/PLAIN 16 lines. ]
[ Unable to print this part. ]
I was listening to a tape of a certain Rabbi who told over a story about
the Chazon Ish telling someone in Israel not to be treated in Europe
because the injury he had was considered a treifah by the Rama but not
the mechaber and since we hold like the rama in Europe this would
determine the outcome. I had heard the story before but not in the name
of the Chazon Ish. I'm pretty sure the Chazon Ish held that the status of
treifot was determined at matan torah (or thereabouts) and that even if
an animal with such a wound is now known to be able to survive, we still
consider it a treifah (i.e. halachik stats is not determined by physical
reality) Seems a bit fishy :-)
Any insights?
KT
Joel Rich
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From: <Meirhwise@...> (Rabbi Meir Wise)
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 01:39:48 EDT
Subject: Re: Various
Good to receive the mail-jewish after a long gap. It is early in the
morning here and I am involved with our annual group of visiting IDF
wounded soldiers so my anwers will be short.
In response to Immanuel Burton - the collected water in a mobile air
conditioning unit may be considered as "graf shel r'iy" - if it were
left it would overflow and cause a bad smell and therefore may be
emptied. The water is not muktzeh and more than rain water see Eruvin
45b and the 5th tosfos in Beitza who brings it as proof.
To Joel Reich - the text in the Yerushalmi is "if they tell you that
right is right and left is left" which does away with all the problems.
Having said that it is true that Rashi and all who followed him accepted
the text as we have it in the Bavli.
I also have a mazal tov - the birth of a second grandaughter Devorah
(Debbie) to my chidren Doron & Avital Wise.
Kol tuv
Rabbi Meir Wise (London)
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From: Shmuel Himelstein <himels@...>
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2006 05:38:49 +0300
Subject: Yamim Nora'im Gabbai List
Once again I am offering my 9 page "blow by blow" Gabbai list for the
Yamim Nora'im prayer outline in Word format. It is for Ashkenaz,
ostensibly Israeli, but pretty much general.
If interested, please e-mail me.
Shmuel Himelstein
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End of Volume 52 Issue 65