על אודות עדינה

Well, I don't know why I'm mentioning this here, but guess what? I finally met Adina in person (we were introduced (by phone) by a teacher we shared in grade school, and we've been speaking on the phone and transferring emails on and off for -get this- a year and a half(!) without ever even seeing a picture of one another, let alone meeting!). She looks a little different than I imagined, but basically as I knew before- a short 'Bukharian' girl. Although she's not as pretty as I somehow got the impression she was, I did think she was attractive, ..but to be honest that not saying all that much because where I'm holding now I would seriously think about cohabiting with a rhinoceros if it talked to me the right way! (I'm sorry! I just wanted to say that!). As for personality; it's the same problem as before; I don't know what she's interested in, but it doesn't seem to be anything I'm interested in. Any time I think I'm starting to have a deeper conversation with her- she starts spacing out. ...I seriously can't live with that. If I need intellectual friends, I definitely need an intellectual girl...

I mean, I still want to hang out with her in the future,..but only because I don't have any other girl to hang out with these days...(that's not a good enough reason, I know!)

איש הרוח ואיש הגשם

A debate between a yeshiva student and a college student (both will be fictional) about whether one should 'work' or 'learn'.

...I gotta work on this...

Marriage

One quote I coined last night (by my brothers 'vort'):

"one needs a wife to "bit-ch" about work to, and one needs friends to "bit-ch" about the wife to!" (don't quote me though!)

The Way of Wisdom and The Way of Action

רבי שמעון ורבי ישמעאל"י"

One cannot deny the legitimacy inherent in both approaches to Judaism, as seen in the Talmud Berakhoth (35b): (Stressed parts highlighted).

ר' חנינא בר פפא רמי כתיב (הושע ב) "ולקחתי דגני בעתו" וגו' וכתיב (דברים יא) "ואספת דגנך" וגו'?
ל"ק: כאן בזמן שישראל עושין רצונו של מקום, כאן בזמן שאין ישראל עושין רצונו של מקום.

ת"ר: "ואספת דגנך" מה ת"ל? לפי שנא' (יהושוע א) "לא ימוש ספר התורה הזה מפיך" יכול דברים ככתבן, ת"ל "ואספת דגנך" הנהג בהן מנהג דרך ארץ, דברי ר' ישמעאל. ר"ש בן יוחי אומר אפשר אדם חורש בשעת חרישה וזורע בשעת זריעה וקוצר בשעת קצירה ודש בשעת דישה וזורה בשעת הרוח- תורה מה תהא עליה?! אלא בזמן שישראל עושין רצונו של מקום מלאכתן נעשית ע"י אחרים! שנא' (ישעיהו סא) "ועמדו זרים ורעו צאנכם" וגו'- ובזמן שאין ישראל עושין רצונו של מקום מלאכתן נעשית ע"י עצמן שנא' (דברים יא) "ואספת דגנך". ולא עוד אלא שמלאכת אחרים נעשית על ידן שנא' (דברים כח) "ועבדת את אויביך"

אמר אביי הרבה עשו כרבי ישמעאל ועלתה בידן. כר' שמעון בן יוחי ולא עלתה בידן.

א"ל רבא לרבנן במטותא מינייכו- ביומי ניסן וביומי תשרי לא תתחזו קמאי כי היכי דלא תטרדו במזונייכו כולא שתא.

אמר רבה בר בר חנה א"ר יוחנן משום רבי יהודה בר' אלעאי בא וראה שלא כדורות הראשונים דורות האחרונים- דורות הראשונים עשו תורתן קבע ומלאכתן עראי זו וזו נתקיימה בידן, דורות האחרונים שעשו מלאכתן קבע ותורתן עראי זו וזו לא נתקיימה בידן.

ואמר רבה בר בר חנה אר"י משום ר"י בר' אלעאי בא וראה שלא כדורות הראשונים דורות האחרונים- דורות הראשונים היו מכניסין פירותיהן דרך טרקסמון כדי לחייבן במעשר דורות האחרונים מכניסין פירותיהן דרך גגות דרך חצרות דרך קרפיפות כדי לפטרן מן המעשר, דא"ר ינאי אין הטבל מתחייב במעשר עד שיראה פני הבית שנא' (דברים כו) בערתי הקדש מן הבית ור' יוחנן אמר אפי' חצר קובעת שנא' (דברים כו) ואכלו בשעריך ושבעו: י

While it is also true that "many did", it is also true that for the minority this is a good and acceptable and even well commendable way of life.

Some individuals can and should make theological ideas and halakhic speculations - a life of true purpose and of only expounding on ideal living their daily bread, their career, and their goal in life. As the Maimonides is famous for having said:

י) ולמה לא זכה לוי בנחלת ארץ ישראל ובביזתה עם אחיו? מפני שהובדל לעבוד את ה' ולשרתו, ולהורות דרכיו הישרים ומשפטיו הצדיקים לרבים, שנאמר "יורו משפטיך ליעקוב, ותורתך לישראל (דברים לג, י) י"

יא) ולפיכך הובדלו מדרכי העולם -- לא עורכין מלחמה כשאר ישראל, ולא נוחלין, ולא זוכין לעצמן בכוח גופן; אלא הם חיל ה', שנאמר "ברך ה' חילו" (דברים לג,יא), והוא ברוך הוא זוכה להם, שנאמר "אני חלקך ונחלתך (במדבר יח, כ) י"

יב) ולא שבט לוי בלבד, אלא כל איש ואיש מכל באי העולם אשר נדבה רוחו אותו והבינו מדעו להיבדל לעמוד לפני ה' לשרתו ולעובדו לדעת את ה', והלך ישר כמו שעשהו האלוהים, ופרק מעל צווארו עול החשבונות הרבים אשר ביקשו בני האדם -- הרי זה נתקדש קודש קודשים, ויהיה ה' חלקו ונחלתו לעולם ולעולמי עולמים, ויזכה לו בעולם הזה דבר המספיק לו, כמו שזיכה לכוהנים ללויים. הרי דויד אומר "ה' מנת חלקי וכוסי -- אתה תומיך גורלי" (תהילים טז, ה) י

i.e.- Some people should separate themselves from the mundane, repetitive and ultimately pointless daily grind- for living with one clear Divine purpose in mind.

I heard Rav Amnon Yittzhak say many times something which I think is worth always pondering; he asked many Israelis who were part of the working force, "What is the main purpose of your life? Why are you working so hard, leaving little time left for for anything besides some quick pastimes?". Many of them actually answer "I'm working hard so my children can have a better life than me". Interestingly enough upon asking the child "what is the purpose of your life, which would justify your father having worked for you so long?", the child himself answers "well, I too must work to support my family, and raise my children into a comfortable lifestyle". Yes, but for what purpose is this life! Surely G-d did not put you in Tel Aviv to make glass products 24/7 until you die!

הנאה

The more pleasures of this world one takes for himself, the less he appreciates pleasure.


This can be seen in the statement of our sages in regards to the Divine Laws:

"איזהו עשיר? השמח בחלקו".

'Wealth' can be understood as a term here denoting the zenith of physical pleasure. Who can experience such pleasure? Only one who appreciates the pleasures he has available to him. How can that be done? As was stated- by minimalism.

דעת

Being aware of ones' ignorance is true knowledge.

צביעות

אל תתפלל על דבר שיש בידך לשנותה.

אסור להתפלל "רפאנו!... הושיענו!" "יהי רצון שתצילנו... מחולאים..." אם אוכלים ועושים דברים המתנגדים לבראיות. וכן לגבי א"י: אין להתפלל "קבצינו... לארצינו" אם ביכולתינו לעלות לארץ, ואיננו עולים.

אין המדרש העיקר

אין המדרש העיקר, אלא המעשה

...is what it says in 'Avot'. On a personal level I never fully agreed. What if someone has a whole life full of helping others, and doing good, but he has not ever pondered deeply about them- what good are his actions? What good are actions done without thought? I'm having a very hard time verbalizing this at the moment, but I just want to jot something down.

Take myself for example; I don't want to see myself as someone who's mental academical and spiritual development will have to come to a quick end because I might have to marry, and/or start having to work many hours to support myself. What good is an unexamined life? I'd (theoretically) not get married till I'm 40 if that would allow me to pursue my intellectual (as well as any other time consuming) interests. I very much prefer the 40 year old well-thought-out traveling homeless man to the mother who lives in a suburb, has a few kids, and works in an 'unimportant job'. But then again, maybe I'm saying that only as a result of my being male...

I was on the train a few days ago, though, and I was pondering people -as I most often do- and I noticed the business man; who brought his lap-top along with him onto the train to continue his work, and a sense of conscience came over me; that my previous thoughts found their source in Lucifer's conniving mouth. If one continues to study, someone will have to support him. In my case it would be my mother. It is obviously not at all ethical to let ones mother support them (especially in the "Kohnian" model...may even be considered a form of thievery.), one must be at least self sufficient as soon as possible. Though hopefully can even help support, or perhaps at times, wholly support others (perhaps including ones wife and family).


I find it interesting to note, and therefore will, the words that follow Paul's admonishion of "Let him that stole steal no more" in Ephesians 4:28- "but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth"! Something which many Jews (for example) seem to overlook- the way to discourage any forms of stealing is working and supporting others.

I see therefore that the ideal at least is not not study in celibacy and irresponsibility, but of course to follow the dictum of our blessed (and wise) sages 'אין המדרש העיקר, אלא המעשה'.

"On beards and Female Men"

I have been thinking recently about the "feminization" of men in metropolitan America recently.

Men were once more masculine, and therefore be attracted to "femininity" as and idea, and women attracted to masculinity. But as we all became more feminine, men also became more feminine. That is why many more men are attracted to other men today, because they are attracted to the femininity in them, not the 'man-ness'. And that is why, in turn, women can be attracted to other women today, because now they are not so much attracted to the masculinity in men, but of the femininity in them, so they're also attracted to the femininity of women.

Which is why, for example, less women would be attracted to a man with a beard these days (for it is a conduit of masculinity. ...unless it is a beard that doesn't veer much from femininity).

Adeism?

New Post! ...but short.

I think the main difference of opinion should be between Deists and, not "atheists", but "non-Deists", and their arguments should mostly be based on Scientific evidence.

A-theists issue is with organized religion, and organized religion only; yet that's always confused with "belief in G-d" (a term which I anyway, have never been too fond of). And most of the time not with all theists, but only with extremists, or many a time with Christianity only.

Separate thought: Atheists complain that religion is socially and psychologically oriented, when they are just as well...

BIRTH. DAY.

"The hour of great contempt". 24. אם לא עכשיו אימתי?

ברוך שהחייני וקיימני והגיעני עד הלום. כה יתן וכה יוסיף. אמן

Money

'Money' is a very 'evolved', sophisticated and complex invention.


- Forming of perceptions.

- מהות החג

Theology

There are pressing Theological questions existent. Someone who bases their lives on religion should think them through, as opposed to saying "I never really gave it much thought".

לאן הגענו

http://storyofstuff.com

מצוה לראות

VALENTINVS

ok, I read my Wikipedia article about Valentines day, but I still feel I am no wiser about it than before I read it. According to what it states scholars say that Valentines Day is not necessarily connected to the fact that mid-January to mid-February was a time of fertility in the Roman calender. Though on the other hand the only connection between medieval saints named Valentinus and romance seems to be a "modern addition" to some obscure legend, and yet it gained in popularity as a romance-based holiday in Europe since the late medieval times, and greatly in America since the 1840's.

It is interesting to note though, that according to those additional legends, Claudius II made a decree that all young men should be single, and Vanentinus would wed young couples secretly (suggesting that he was no supporter of pre-marital relationships!) ..though, according to the addition on the addition, Valantinus had a crush on Claudius's daughter! ...though according to the addition to the addition to the addition (!), the first Valentine notes were some sort of "kvitlach", (prayer notes)!

In any event, the most likely source for the romantic elements of Valentines Day on all accounts seems to be, of course, way Pagan, and not connected to any saint. They seem rather to be connected to "Lupercalia", in which "many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy". Though, of course, that doesn't really account for the romance aspect.

I also found it interesting, though, that in Egypt, many of the youth are getting into Valentines Day, against the will of their elders (mainly because there is a great unemployment rate, and the youth are looking for a way to express their love in public".

וקראתה בו

There is something which I would have liked to write in this panel a while ago, but didn't get around to, and that is the book "Proust and the Squid" by Maryanne Wolf .

It's subject is a subject which is hard to believe is so overlooked; todays transition from reading words on paper as our main way of taking in information to a more digitalized method. Definitely one of the most important subjects our generation has to face, but does not care enough about to discuss! This is a transition the likes of which hasn't happened since the transition from the spoken word to writing. And this is a problem which also fundamentaly affects orthodox judaism.

It is hard to properly describe how advanced our systems of reading really are, and how far we've come, and how much (as opposed to the view of Socrates) it has positively affected our minds. It is extremely developed compared to the original forms of writing. But today the digital technology available to us has the potential to actually make our brains devolve in the long run! Any information acquired through demonstration, and not through reading will only make us lees intelligent. Most of the things available on the digital media are not educational anyway.

All I can say quickly and offhand here is that we must decide how much we really want the digital media surrounding us to affect our minds. My personal opinion is that a seldom documentary can be useful (in addition to reading) to clarify a subject (though only after attempting to understand through reading).

In yeshivas there is a very strong effort not to 'give in' in regards to reading and understanding. I just read recently that one of the explanations of the Mishna in the second chapter of Avot; "אל תאמר דבר שאי אפשר לשמוע שסופו להשמע" as meaning "don't say that something cannot be understood, if it CAN be understood (with enough diligence). It's really better to struggle through a passage in the Talmud then to rush to some explanation or translation (קודם ראשי ואחר כך רש"י- בפיהם של חכמי מרוקו).

In regards to recorded Drama, especially when some of the content if of questionable ethicallity has been a big question. The Ultra-Orthodox Jewish approach is generally that it is all negative. While the liberal-orthodox and Evangelical Christians for example try to filter out the 'bad' stuff. More research is necessary.

Strassman

Well, another engagement! Daniel Strassman! I only heard about it a few hours before it happened through my father who took the message, only problem is his handwriting is illegible! But somehow, I found it, and got there on time thank G-d. I thought the chatan was basically the only person I would know there, but there were many people we both knew from camp. I haven't 'chilled' with friends in a while...b'ezrat hashem I will get back to some amount of normalcy soon!

History

History is the psychology of the world.

פסל כל תמונה

OK, OK, far be it from me do discuss in such an official way, such inane issues, and far be it from me to brood on Rebecca ---, but I was just sent a message on 'a certain dating website', in which I probably had some sort of subscription to from a long while back, and I decided to browse there for a second; and what turns up? A new picture of Rebecca! Now, I'm not doing this for nostalgic purposes, but just to make a short demonstration. (I couldn't do this before because I didn't have a 'good picture' of her..I mean, for memories sake, I didn't want to have one, if you know what I mean).

Anyway, to make things short, Rebecca is a sweet girl in her pre-20's, somewhere in America, looking (partially through 'online profiles') for her soul mate.

OK, now this is the first picture I personally received from Rebecca through email:

When I first saw it I said; yo man! This girl ain't for me, she looks like some kid who just stepped out of a rodeo or something, and I don't really dig southern things...

So that's what I did; told her nicely I wasn't interested..




Now, here's an example of the picture she has up today on a website (I think it's publicly posted..if it isn't, then may I be forgiven). Here too, she looks a little better, but personally, I wouldn't even start up with such a girl.








And finally; specimen C; the picture I found on 'the other site':

Is not all the lust and beauty of her youth greatly more evident here than in the first ones?! To me it would be no surprise if she got all her dates with the second site, and wonders why!

(Yet even this is not how she plainly appears in real life (she always wears glasses. This picture makes her look much more wild than her intellectual, reserved, cool and composed self. It also makes her seem a bit younger than she actually is, which adds to her a certain amount of silliness.)


So, what of this? What am I trying to prove? Well, two things; first of all to any of us who have, or check out internet dating profiles, with the hopes of running into someone pleasant- beware! You're picture is all people judge you by (well, if you're a girl!). So make sure the picture you have of yourself is a reasonable representation.

(Personally; I've only been out twice through internet dating, this here was the first girl, who looked better, and..different than her picture (which isn't here), and the second time the girl actually looked a lot worse than the picture..).

Second point; we are obviously way too superficial, and play too much importance into looks. We should be ashamed at ourselves! After thousands of years of development, only because of capitalism and commercialism still have the same tendencies, and glorify the same things as a caveman! At least we, G-d's people, we should be at the forefront of this counterculture we attempt to run against the western world in which we reside. Overindulgence in the things of the media, and approaching them without a heavy head, and a 'grain of salt', but mindlessness, and subconscious acceptance are the main things we should refrain from totally. At least us; the nation of priests, should see people for who they are, and not how f-'d up their faces might look.

עבד

Yossi

Well, I went to my friends engagement last night. Thank G-d I don't really care anymore if my friends are getting married...

I knew he was Buharian, but I guess I kind of forgot he's actually from Uzbeckistan. The place had a much more Uzbeck flavor than I thought it might. They even had a Buharian band with the singer seemingy singing love songs about Samerkand (capitol, Uzbeckistan). My friend though, knew the Uzbeck dances better than anyone there. Though it's sort of weird doing that dance with only guys (some of the dances are sort of sexually seggestive), but, it was alright...