Volume 60 Number 78
Produced: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:52:06 EDT
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
"Frum" products downsizing
[Rick Turkel]
Beta Israel
[Robert Schoenfeld]
Listening to music on the radio, tape, mp3 player etc. during sefirat
[David Tzohar]
Out of synch (8)
[Yaakov Shachter Ben Katz M.D. Chaim Casper Perets Mett Martin Stern Menashe Elyashiv Martin Stern Sammy Finkelman]
Out of synch -- another example
[Menashe Elyashiv]
Thought for the Month
[David Ansbacher]
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From: Rick Turkel <rturkel@...>
Date: Mon, Apr 23,2012 at 09:01 PM
Subject: "Frum" products downsizing
In M-J V60#76, Carl Singer wrote:
> Now that we've put away the Passover pots and dishes, perhaps it's time to
> look at the kosher-for-Passover products that are marketed (in some cases
> manufactured) by the various "frum" labels....
Lest someone think that this is a new phenomenon, I can assure our chevra that
this has been going on for many years, and not only with "frum" marketers of
Pesach foods. I have a recipe from my wife a"H (who passed away in 1986) that
calls for three 7-oz. cans of tuna, i.e., 21 oz. total. Now, it's been well over
twenty years since tuna came in 7-oz. cans; first they shrank to 6.75 oz., then
6.5 oz., then 6.0 oz., and for the past several years they have contained 5.0 oz.
At that size, I've been using four cans - and the recipe is still 1 oz. short of
the original ratio required by the recipe! (Not a big deal, but the point is
clear.) The most interesting part of the story is that all three regular (i.e.,
non-"frum") brands of Kosher tuna -- Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, and StarKist
-- shrank their cans more or less at the same time. Can you spell "market
collusion," boys and girls?
That's just a single example, of which there are many that I know of. Another one
that comes to mind: as far back as I can remember, Celestial Seasonings herbal
teas were sold in boxes of 24 teabags; these days they're down to 20 per box.
--
Dr. Rick Turkel
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From: Robert Schoenfeld <frank_james@...>
Date: Sun, Apr 22,2012 at 12:01 AM
Subject: Beta Israel
Robert A Book wrote (MJ 60#77):
> Depending on which theory you believe about how the Beta Israel of
> Ethiopia ended up in Ethiopia, it is possible that they were separated
> from the rest of Klal Yisrael several centuries before the codification
> of the Mishna and the promulgation of many of the halachos d'rabbonon
> (rabbinic laws).
> If that's the case, the fact that they didn't follow rabbinic laws
> would not be sufficient to qualify them as "sectarians" (if the word
> is used to imply deliberate dissent or rebellion)."
An even more interesting theory is that they may have some far connection to the
Jewish garrison at Assuan who had a Temple on the Elephantine island. Why do
they exist only in one tribe around Lake Tana?
Another possibility is that there existed monotheists as early as the Ethiopian
Dynasty of Egypt.
Also it is intriguing that, though not Jewish directly, the Ethiopian Christians
are the only early church that still has sabbath on Saturday?
Bob
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From: David Tzohar <davidtzohar@...>
Date: Mon, Apr 23,2012 at 07:01 AM
Subject: Listening to music on the radio, tape, mp3 player etc. during sefirat
I recently read a very lenient opinion on the prohibition on
listening to music during sefirat ha-omer.
According to R, Eliezer Melamed (who is not considered a particularly
lenient decisor), the prohibition is on listening to music in public
and then only joyous music as for dancing. Cantorial and accapella
music are completely allowed, and it is permissable to listen to all
recorded music on the radio, mp3 player, etc.
The rationale is that the original minhag referred only to live
performances and dancing. Also, recorded music did not exist at the
original time of the edict. He concludes that one who wants to be
lenient has some halachic opinion on his side.
Of course there are other poskim (Chatam Sofer and others) who are stringent and
prohibit any and all music during sefirat ha-omer.
David Tzohar
http://tzoharlateivahebrew.blogspot.com/
http://tzoharlateiva.blogspot.com/
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From: Yaakov Shachter <jay@...>
Date: Fri, Apr 20,2012 at 02:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch
In MJ 60#77, someone wrote:
>
> Since the first constraint that we come to in the order of the
> readings is that the parsha before Shavuot has to be B[]midbar...
>
This is empirically untrue. About one-third of the time, Shavu`oth
falls between Parashath Naso and Parashath Bha`alothkha. This most
recently happened in the year 5771, that is, on Wednesday, June 8,
2011. So it wasn't that long ago that the above generalization was
proven false, unless (and this is a stretch, but I am trying hard to
find a justification for the listmember's statement), when he wrote
"constraint", he meant a consideration that is not binding, but only advisory.
Jay F. ("Yaakov") Shachter
(1-410)9964737 GoogleVoice
<jay@...>
http://m5.chicago.il.us
"The umbrella of the gardener's aunt is in the house"
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From: Ben Katz M.D. <BKatz@...>
Date: Fri, Apr 20,2012 at 04:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch
In reply to Martin Stern (MJ 60#76):
The reason seems to be because it is not that we are "behind" Israel in Torah
reading but that Israel is ahead. Remember, the annual Torah reading cycle was
developed in galut (Babylonia), not in Israel. Thus there is no reason for us
to "catch up" to Israel. Israel waits for there to be a week when we read a
double portion to split the double portion so that Israel can "slow down" and be
back in synch with us.
Also, AFAIK there is no chiyuv on an individual to hear Torah; the chiyuv is on
the community. If I stay home from shul one Shabbat, I have no obligation to read
Torah. (It's a good thing to do, just not an obligation.) Therefore, if the
community is reading X and you are part of that community, you go and hear X.
Perhaps if there is a community of foreigners in Israel, say, at a hotel, and they
form a minyan, then their obligation may be to read what they would have read at
home.
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From: Chaim Casper <surfflorist@...>
Date: Fri, Apr 20,2012 at 04:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch
Martin Stern asked (MJ 60#76):
> [why will] the two communities will be out
> of synch for some time. Someone asked me why the Israelis do not split
> Tazria and Metzora, which would be the first opportunity to get back in
> synch, but wait until Behar and Behukotai, four weeks later.
The rules of the parshiot can be found in Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 428:4:
"Zav must be read [the Shabbat] before Pesah during a regular (i.e.
non-leap) year while [in most leap years] Mezora is read [the Shabbat]
before Pesah during a leap year except during certain leap years (in the
19 year calendrical cycle designated by the abbreviations MBH"H and H"S)
when Aharei Mot is read before Pesah. In any event, Bamidbar must always
be read before Azeret [Shavuot]...."
I asked our ba'al kri'ah if he understood the reason why and he pointed
me to
http://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/15600/when-israel-and-the-dias
pora-are-out-of-sync-on-parshiyot-why-dont-we-take-the where it says:
"R. Yissachar ibn Susan (Tikkun Yissachar) writes, then, that if
the people of Eretz Yisrael were to split apart an earlier pair
of parshiyos (Tazria-Metzora or Acharei-Kedoshim), then that would imply
that they are less important than the Jews living outside the
Land (in that they have to change their usual practice for the sake of
the chutzniks). Instead, then, they wait until the last available
pair (in this case, Behar-Bechukosai) and then split that pair up,
because at that point there's no choice - they have to do so in
order that Bamidbar be read on the Shabbos before Shavuos."
Chaim Casper
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From: Perets Mett <p.mett00@...>
Date: Sat, Apr 21,2012 at 06:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch
Harlan Braude wrote (MJ 60#77):
> In MJ 60#76 Digest, Martin Stern wrote:
>
>> This year, the seventh day of Pesach falls on Friday, so in Israel the
>> following day is Parshat Shemini, whereas for those outside Israel it is the
>> eighth day of the festival. That means that the two communities will be out
>> of synch for some time. Someone asked me why the Israelis do not split
>> Tazria and Metzora, which would be the first opportunity to get back in
>> synch, but wait until Behar and Behukotai, four weeks later.
>> [...]
>> Does anyone know of any reasons for these choices?
>
> See the last page of this treatment:
> http://www.math.technion.ac.il/S/rl/docs/reading.pdf
>
> I think the question is better than the answer, though. :-)
On the contrary, the answer is much better than the question.
The sedras are not arranged in order to "get in synch"; there is no source for
such a concept.
The sedras are split to meet the criteria of chazal as codified in Shulchon
Oruch Orach Chayim 428. Other than these milestones, the sedras are based on
communal tradition.
After Pesach, the next milestone is to read Bamidbor on the Shabbos preceding
Shovuos. In EY this year, this issue does not raise its head until P'
Bhar-Bchukosai, which have to be split to provide enough sedra weeks before
Shovuos.
gut vokh
Perets Mett
London
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Martin Stern <md.stern@...>
Date: Sun, Apr 22,2012 at 02:01 AM
Subject: Out of synch
Haim Shalom Snyder wrote (MJ 60#77):
> In MJ 60#76, two questions were asked as a result of the fact that the 22nd of
> Nisan fell on Shabbat this year. This fact meant that in Israel, it was a
> regular Shabbat and the Torah reading was parshat Shmini, whereas outside of
> Israel, it was the eighth day of Pesah with the appropriate Torah reading for
> that holiday...
> ...
> Question 2 came from Martin Stern, who asked why the "out of synch" situation
> isn't corrected at the earliest possible opportunity.
> ...
> Since the first constraint that we come to in the order of the readings is
> that the parsha before Shavuot has to be Bamidbar, no change is made until
> parshat Behar in Israel.
The rule is that Bamidbar must come before Shavuot, not that it be read on
the immediately preceding Shabbat. In fact, it is not uncommon for Naso to
come before Shavuot. Therefore Haim's suggested reason cannot be correct.
Martin Stern
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From: Menashe Elyashiv <Menashe.Elyashiv@...>
Date: Sun, Apr 22,2012 at 04:01 AM
Subject: Out of synch
Re why wait until the last possible week :--
This is not a new problem. R. Issahar Susan in his Tikun Issahar from 1549
brings two minhagim: the mustarabim (the old communities in Israel, before
the arrival of the Spanish explusion) separated Behar & Behukotai; the
Sepharadim - Tazria & Mesora.
The first minhag is mentioned in the Magen Avraham to OH 428:6, and has
been the minhag here since then.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Martin Stern <md.stern@...>
Date: Tue, Apr 24,2012 at 04:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch
This appeared in the Torah Tidbits (997) for Acharei Mot / Kedoshim (in
Israel) produced by the OU Israel Center in Yerushalayim:
"Several TT readers asked why we wait for B'har and B'chukotai to return to
reading the same sedra in Israel and in Chu"l. Wouldn't separating Tazri'a
and M'tzora or Acharei and K'doshim work just as well and accomplish the job
sooner? Could be that separating B&B shows that the Tochacha is purposely
the Shabbat before the Shabbat before Shavuot. Shows is the key word. It
would be in all cases, but this way, we see its purpose."
Martin Stern
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sammy Finkelman <sammy.finkelman@...>
Date: Wed, Apr 25,2012 at 06:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch
In MJ 60#76, Martin Stern wrote:
> This year, the seventh day of Pesach falls on Friday, so in Israel the
> following day is Parshat Shemini, whereas for those outside Israel it is the
> eighth day of the festival. That means that the two communities will be out
> of synch for some time. Someone asked me why the Israelis do not split
> Tazria and Metzora, which would be the first opportunity to get back in
> synch, but wait until Behar and Behukotai, four weeks later.
> [...]
> Does anyone know of any reasons for these choices?
In MJ 60#77 Harlan Braude wrote:
> See the last page of this treatment:
> http://www.math.technion.ac.il/S/rl/docs/reading.pdf
This gives a few tables which lets you see what sedrahs are read in
what kinds of years. The tables really should run from after Succos to
after Succos, because that is the cycle, but it runs from Rosh
Hashonah to Rosh Hashonah.
To this particular question it says:
"Behar and Bechukotai (portions 32, 33) are joined in every common
year, except in Israel if c = 2."
[meaning the next Rosh Hashonah will be on Monday, and therefore
Pesach began on a Shabbos and there was an extra Shabbos in Israel
compared to outside in which the weekly portion was read. If this
happens in a leap year, Mattos and Masei are split. Even though they
are very long sedrahs, they are the last ones of the regularly combined
ones to be split. Otherwise Mattos and Masei are split only in leap
years that begin on a Thursday. SF]
"This provides for Bechukotai to be read before 1 Sivan, which is
needed so that Bamidbar (portion 34) will be read before Shavuot. (It
is said in Megila 32:2 that Ezra ruled that Bechukotai will be read in
the Sabbath preceding Shavuot, but later it was moved a week earlier,
so that the curses in this portion will not be read right before the
holiday)."
Where and what is Megilah 32:2 ?!!
Mesechta Megillah ends at the bottom of daf 32a. There is no daf 32b.
Is this something in the Yerushalmi?
The curses in Vayikra can even be read two weeks before Shavuos! When
Mattos and Masei are split, the actual Haftorah of Parshah Pinchas is
read, and Naso is read before Shavuos. In leap years which begin on
Thursday and end on the day before a Tuesday, Purim is on Friday, Erev
Pesach is on Shabbos, the first Seder is Motzai Shabbos and Pesach
begins on a Sunday, Acharei Mos is read before Pesach, Naso is read
before Shavuos, Parshahs Pinchas comes out on the 16th of Tammuz and
its Haftorah is read, and Mattos and Masei are split.
If there are two more days in Cheshvan and Kislev, then Purim is on
Sunday, Pesach on Tuesday and Parshahs Pinchas on the 14th of Tammuz
but all the rest is the same.
In a common year beginning on Thursday with the next Rosh Hashonah on
Tuesday (but not Monday) Vayakel and Pekudei are split. If the next
Rosh Hashonah, like this year, were to come out on a Monday, there are
two Shabbosim on Pesach outside of Israel. Israel, in such a case,
does not split Vayakel and Pekudei - it splits Behar and Bechukosai.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Menashe Elyashiv <Menashe.Elyashiv@...>
Date: Mon, Apr 23,2012 at 02:01 PM
Subject: Out of synch -- another example
We started saying Pirke Avot on Shabbat Isru Hag; those outside of Israel
started the next Shabbat. So the whole cycle is out of synch.
This also happens when Shavout falls on Friday, but only for Ashkenazim, as
Sefaradim say Pirke Avot for only one cycle. BTW, the Sefaradim in Israel
will have a "free" Shabbat this year on Erev Shavuot.
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From: David Ansbacher <dansbacher@...>
Date: Tue, Apr 24,2012 at 11:01 AM
Subject: Thought for the Month
I recently heard that the Roshei Taivos for this month, Iyar (Alef - Yud -
Yud - Reish), stand for "Ani Hashem Rofecho".
Interestingly, last month was the month of Geulah, where, after the Makkos
Mitzrayim, Hashem promised "Kol hamachaloh asher samty b'Mitzrayim lo osim
eilecho ki Ani Hashem Rofechoh". Therefore it is appropriate that the next
month should be a month of Refuoh. May there be a Refuah Shleimoh this month
for all who need it with the coming of Moshiach, Bimheiroh V'yomainu.
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End of Volume 60 Issue 78
