Volume 8 Number 47
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Abortion
[Eric W. Mack]
Avodat HaKodesh
[Chaim Schild]
Children in the Service (2)
[Lon Eisenberg, Michael Kramer]
Cosmetic Surgery
[R. Danny Wolf]
Ellis Island
[Steven Edell]
Feminine Torah
[Michael Kramer]
Isaac's reference
[Anthony Fiorino]
Mezuzah and Z'man Grama
[R. Danny Wolf]
Must Reading
[Yosef Bechhofer]
Rabbi Avi Weiss
[Steven Edell]
Shababnikim
[Turkel Eli]
Translation of "Lev"
[Simon Streltsov]
Unusual proportions of Og Melech Habashan
[Hayim Hendeles]
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From: <ce157@...> (Eric W. Mack)
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 93 21:34:12 -0400
Subject: Abortion
Operation Rescue recently passed thru the Cleveland area, leaving in its
wake several arrests. If we believe abortion to be asur for non-Jews as
well as for Jews (shofech dam ha-adam b'adam damo yishafech) [the
spiller of blood in a person shall be put to death] (B'reishit), then
are we obligated to join the effort to stop abortion in America? Or are
we commanded to be an "Or La-goyim" [a light unto the nations] merely by
example and not by pressure?
Go Indians and White Sox!
Eric Mack and/or Cheryl Birkner Mack
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From: SCHILD%<GAIA@...> (Chaim Schild)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 12:52:24 -0400
Subject: Avodat HaKodesh
I am looking for the author of a sefer I have seen quoted in a number
of places. The sefer is called Avodat HaKodesh. It appears (from context)
to be a Kabbalistic book written by a Rishon. I am not refering to a sefer
by the Chida with a similar name. Any clues?
Chaim
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From: <eisenbrg@...> (Lon Eisenberg)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 09:04:54 -0400
Subject: Children in the Service
In Israel, it is common for children (boys under 13) to be the sheliah
zibur (leader) for Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) and Pesukei
dZimrah (opening psalms) on Shabbat.
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From: <mpkramer@...> (Michael Kramer)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1993 09:00:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Children in the Service
In response to Merril Weiner's query about including children (i.e.
boys) as shlichei tzibur: it is common practice in Israel (Bnei Akiva,
Rabbanut type shuls at least) to have a young boy lead kabbalat
shabbat--a practice we have adopted in our shul here in Sacramento
(Kenneset Israel Torah Center). As I understand it, as long as there is
no issue of being motzi someone else (when there are brachot involved)
then a katan may lead.
Which brings up, again, the question of women and girls . . .
Michael P. Kramer
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From: <etzion@...> (R. Danny Wolf)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 09:54:10 -0400
Subject: Cosmetic Surgery
I quoted a responsum by R. Moshe Feinstein, z"l, to the effect that
cosmetic surgery is permitted. It is in Hoshen Mishpat, part 2, Siman
66. Interestingly, the "diyuk" that he suggests and rejects (namely
that intention to harm is a requirement only in striking, but not when
blood is drawn) is exactly what I heard in the name of the Rav.
Also interesting is that R. Moshe prohibits giving blood for money in
H.M. 1:103 and Orah Haim 4:101. I myself don't see any distinction at
all. The possible leniency that R. Moshe cites, that giving blood is
therapeutic, seems to me quite perplexing.
Thank you for pointing out the responsum about giving blood; I wasn't
aware of it.
R. Danny Wolf
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From: Steven Edell <edell@...>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 15:54:48 -0400
Subject: Ellis Island
I was told by someone who knows people who live in New York that Ellis
Island was changed into a museum. I was told that one of the
interesting facts is that you can go there and find out information
about anyone who came into the U.S. through there, including original
name, birthdate, town of origin, names of kin, etc.
As my grandfather Z"L immigrated to the States in the early 1900's, and
we know very little about his background (he had forgotten it by the
time I started asking quesitons about it), I would be interesting in
knowing if this information is available either on-line or by mail, or
if anyone might be planning to visit Ellis Is. in the near future, that
I can request him/her to get the information for me.
Steven Edell, Computer Manager Internet:<edell@...>
United Israel Appeal, Inc
(United Israel Office) Voice: 972-2-255513
Jerusalem, Israel Fax : 972-2-247261
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From: <mpkramer@...> (Michael Kramer)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 17:45:45 -0400
Subject: Re: Feminine Torah
Just back from vacation and note that Howard Joseph, answering my query
regarding "Torah ahat yihyeh lachem," reminds us that Torah can be
either masculine or feminine, as per Gemara Kiddushin. I've yet to
check Kiddushin, but in this pasuk Torah is both! And is there any
logic to each particular usage?
Michael Kramer
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From: Anthony Fiorino <fiorino@...>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 10:40:50 -0400
Subject: Isaac's reference
The Judith Bleich article mentioned by Isaac Balbin appears in _Jewish
Tradition and the non-Traditional Jew_ edited by R. J.J. Schacter,
published by Jason Aronson, Northvale, N.J.
Eitan Fiorino
<fiorino@...>
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From: <etzion@...> (R. Danny Wolf)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 09:54:06 -0400
Subject: Mezuzah and Z'man Grama
Mezuzah is not a z'man grama. See the Mishna in Brachos 17a and see Yoreh
Deah 291:3.
R. Danny Wolf
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From: <YOSEF_BECHHOFER@...> (Yosef Bechhofer)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 19:07:10 -0400
Subject: Must Reading
Must reading this summer should be the Artsctoll Reb Yaakov book about
Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky zt"l. While it does suffer from some minor
mistakes and omissions, the picture of what a true gadol (the likes of
whom this country no longer possesses and perhaps never will again) is,
the inspiration of a life lived for the sake of Heaven, and the behavior
of a supremely refined, sincere, devoted individual, is a lesson for us
all, and very moving to boot.
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From: Steven Edell <edell@...>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 93 15:54:46 -0400
Subject: Rabbi Avi Weiss
I just found out that R.Avi Weiss will be IY"H at M.Pomeranz' bookstore,
King George 31 (downstairs), on Sunday, July 25th from 1PM - 2:30PM, to
discuss his book (& sign it), "Women at Prayer".
-Steven Edell
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From: Turkel Eli <turkel@...>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 93 10:04:09 -0400
Subject: Shababnikim
I would like to add a comment in agreement with the feelings of
Aryeh Frimer. I have heard of stories where many students in some
yeshivas were not serious learners. The heads of the yeshiva (for
older students) decided to impose discipline and throw out large portions
of the students. These roshei ha-yeshiva were told in no uncertain terms
but famous poskim that it was not allowed. The reason seemed to be
(it was not made clear) that anyone thrown out of a yeshiva. en-mass,
would get a bad reputation and would have troubles getting into another
yeshiva and so would be subject to the army.
In summary the yeshiva world is well aware of the problem of kids
wandering the streets or staying in yeshiva but not learning. In public
they declare that any such student will immediately be reported to the
army. In practice no one who does not volunteer to the army is ever
reported as not being in the yeshiva.
Eli Turkel
<turkel@...>
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From: <simon1@...> (Simon Streltsov)
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 93 19:02:06 -0400
Subject: Translation of "Lev"
I recall hearing on the one of R.Miller tapes, that "lev" (like in
"behol levaveha") should be understood as a reference to intellect,
albeit "heart" in most languages refers to emotions.
It seemed pretty strange to me, so I remembered it. It also seems
strange to everyone I asked about it.
Anybody has a clue to what I am talking about?
Simon /Simcha/ Streltsov
<simon1@...>
Boston University
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From: Hayim Hendeles <hayim@...>
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 93 09:39:22 -0700
Subject: Re: Unusual proportions of Og Melech Habashan
Several issues ago, someone questioned the unusual proportions of Og
melech Habashan - i.e. the ratio of his width to height was very
strange.
Believe it or not, not expecting to find anything about the topic, I was
quite surprised to find that this issue is disccussed in a sefer I have
about the Parsha, called Otzreinu Hayashan, at the end of Parshas
Devorim. He quotes this exact question from a response of the "Maram
Pano", Siman 3 (or around there). He also refers to a Ramban on Babba
Basra, page 101, who also discusses this issue.
Sincerely,
Hayim Hendeles
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End of Volume 8 Issue 47
