Volume 15 Number 23
Produced: Tue Sep 13 8:47:14 1994
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Birkat HaMazon for Women
[David Phillips]
Birkat HaMazon Question
[Dena Landowne-Bailey]
Free Tickets to Israel Opportunity
[Zishe Waxman]
God's Foreknowledge
[Ben Berliant]
Just a sec...
[Eric W. Mack]
L'David
[Michael Rosenberg]
Masada
[Cecelia Kramer]
New Chabad Abbreviation
[Yisrael Medad]
Old Carlbach Tapes
[Winston Weilheimer]
Rarest Shmoneh Esreh coming up soon
[Mike Gerver]
Rosh Hashana Question
[Jonathan Katz]
Shamos in English
[David Phillips]
Smoking in Halakha
[Abe Lebowitz]
The Ultimate Curse
[Art S. Kamlet]
Women saying brith in birkat hamazon
[Aleeza Esther Berger]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <davidp@...> (David Phillips)
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 1994 13:27:00 -0400
Subject: Birkat HaMazon for Women
I think "britcha...bivsareinu" means simply the covenant in our flesh,
meaning the flesh of our people. While it can only be performed on males,
women recite it as referring to Klal Yisroel.
--- David "Beryl" Phillips
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Dena Landowne-Bailey <dena_landowne-bailey@...>
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 94 17:58:33 EDT
Subject: Birkat HaMazon Question
In response to Harry Glazer (mj 15:19), I'd like to add that, whether
it's 5708 or not, Deuteronomy 30:6 provides a non-literal alternative to
the actual Brit Milah: "And the L-rd thy G-d will circumcise thine
HEART..." (I don't have the text in fromt of me, but the complete verse
did appear in MJ 15:16)
Dena Landowne Bailey
(<Dena_Landowne-Bailey@...>)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <waxman@...> (Zishe Waxman)
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 16:36:13 -0400
Subject: Free Tickets to Israel Opportunity
Hillel of N.Y., (which used to be Bnei Brith Hillel) has initiated a
program which is giving away FREE TICKETS TO ISRAEL to college age
students who: 1) have never been to Israel and 2) will be attending
some "program" when they get there. As far as I know, "program" is
defined rather loosly. It could be yeshiva, ulpana, trade school etc...
For more information, interested parties may call them directly at:
(212) 696-1590. I think they have some 200 odd tickets availabe.
Shana Tova to All.
Zishe Waxman
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ben Berliant <C14BZB@...>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 1994 11:25:09 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: God's Foreknowledge
A recent post on the subject of God's foreknowledge (Sorry. I
don't save old mj files, so I can't cite) suggested that , since G-d was
not time-bound, that when HE viewed the world, He sees past, present,
and future simultaneously.
In preparing a Drasha for Rosh Hashana, the following occurred
to me:
In the Gemara Rosh Hashana, where the Gemara says that "kol
ba'ei olam ovrin lifanav kivnei maron" (All inhabitants of the world
pass before him like a column of soldiers). Rabbi Yochanan comments:
"v,chulan nir'in b'skira achat" (all are seen in one glance). The
conventional explanation is that Hashem sees all the people in one
glance. I suggest that the "one glance" is meant to be temporal, not
spacial, - That Hashem sees our whole life in one glance.
G'mar chatima tova to all.
BenZion Berliant
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <ce157@...> (Eric W. Mack)
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 16:37:54 -0400
Subject: Just a sec...
Since scientists have added approx. 10 leap seconds to the clock
in the past 20 years (due to the earth's rotation), I wonder
whether our luach makers have taken this adjustment into account
in identifying the molad each month. Anybody have a clue?
L'shana Tova Tikatevu!
Eric Mack
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <Michael.Rosenberg@...> (Michael Rosenberg)
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 1994 21:10:40 -0400
Subject: L'David
A question was asked at lunch on Rosh HaShana which I'd like to pass on.
Does anyone know why do we say L'David only two times a day and not
three? Also, why does Nusach Ashkenaz say it after Ma'ariv and Nusach
Sfarad after Mincha?
Shana Tova to All!
Michael Rosenberg
uucp: uunet!m2xenix!dawggon!31.9!Michael.Rosenberg
Internet: <Michael.Rosenberg@...>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <cecelia.kramer@...> (Cecelia Kramer)
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 94 19:09:34 EST
Subject: Masada
Someone I work with contends that there is no historical/tangible evidence
that there was a mass suicide at Masada. I would appreciate responses which
cite evidence for this event. Thank you!
<cecelia.kramer@...>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: MEDAD%<ILNCRD@...> (Yisrael Medad)
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 94 08:55 IST
Subject: New Chabad Abbreviation
Chabad has begun using the abbreviation Shilo, spelled Shin-Yud-Lamed-
Vav, after the last Rebbe's name.
Someone know what it stands for?
Yisrael Medad
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <TAXRELIEF@...> (Winston Weilheimer)
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 1994 10:59:49 -0400
Subject: Re: Old Carlbach Tapes
I was in the Jewish Book Store in Washington DC the end of August (it's on
Georgia Ave in Wheaton). They had some old tapes of Carlbach.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <GERVER@...> (Mike Gerver)
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 1994 1:20:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Rarest Shmoneh Esreh coming up soon
Long time readers may recall my posting, somewhere early in volume 3,
about the rarest shmoneh esreh. (It was, in fact, the first thing I ever
posted to mail-jewish.) I concluded that this occurs at ma'ariv on Rosh
Chodesh Tevet, when it falls on motzei shabbat, in the year of the 19
year cycle for which the lunar calendar is as early as possible with
respect to the solar calendar, so that this happens before Dec. 4. In
that case, chutz la'aretz, you say 1) atah chonantanu, 2) ten bracha, 3)
ya`aleh veyavo, and 4) `al hanissim.
The last time this happened was in 1899, five 19-year cycles ago, but the
next time it will happen is this year, motzei shabbat Dec. 3! I haven't
calculated when it will next happen, I think either 57 or 95 years from now.
So, if you are chutz la'aretz on Dec. 3, be sure to daven with plenty of
kavanah and don't leave anything out. Not too many people get to say the
rarest shmoneh esreh during their life. If you blow it, it will be a long
time before you get to do it again. And tell your friends about it, so they
will appreciate what a rare event this is.
Gmar chatimah tovah,
Mike Gerver, <gerver@...>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jonathan Katz <frisch1@...>
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 1994 08:49:37 EDT
Subject: Rosh Hashana Question
While davening this Rosh Hashana, I was struck by a question and was
unable to come up with a satisfactory answer.
Why is Hallel not recited on R"H?
It would seem that it should be read for the holiday itself, and if not,
then at least for the Rosh Chodesh!?
Does anyone know the answer?
Jonathan Katz
<frisch1@...>
410 Memorial Drive, Room 251B
Cambridge, MA 02139
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <davidp@...> (David Phillips)
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 1994 13:45:24 -0400
Subject: Shamos in English
A recent thread discussed the concept of whether or not writing Torah
(or even Hashem's name) in English created a Shamos problem. Avi quoted
a psak that there is no kedusha (holiness) attached to things written in
English.
I want to relate a very eye-opening personal story related to this subject
and how being "too frum" can backfire. After my mother passed away I wrote
thank you notes to all the non-Jews who came to the funeral from my office.
I ended it with the prayer and hope that "May G-d bless us with the ability
to share only joyous occasions in the future." A Catholic girl approached
me in the office and asked me why I ended the note with a curse. I was
more than puzzled until she explained that any abbreviation of the
letters gd - g-d, g.d., etc. - in Catholic school meant the person was
using the G-- Damn curse word! Since that time I am very careful to
spell out the word God when writing to a non-Jew - especially since it is
not a problem - and actually causes more harm when trying to be frum!
--- David "Beryl" Phillips
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Abe Lebowitz <msatlast@...>
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 1994 18:05:50 -0400
Subject: Re: Smoking in Halakha
Since the subject of smoking has recently come up again I would like to
call the attention of m-j'ers to a book I recently came across which was
written and published anonymously in Bnai Brak in 1973. Its title is
"Kuntres Ma'aleh Ashan: Ishun behalacha, bemusar uvabriut" (A pamphlet
[actually it is 60 pages, hard bound] on smoking: smoking in the
halacha, ethics and health). On the cover the publisher has placed the
motto "venishmartem lenafshotechem - chamira sakanta me'isura" (and you
shall protect your lives - dangers are more stringent than prohibitions.
I have not seen this book for sale recently but it may be available in
some Torah libraries. Gmar chatimah tovah to all
Abe Lebowitz
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <ask@...> (Art S. Kamlet)
Date: 2 Sep 1994 15:18 EDT
Subject: The Ultimate Curse
Stan Tenen <meru1@...> writes:
>Please forgive me for jumping in. I don't know if this is relevant or
>not, but it seems to me that when a name is erased, so is its being in
>this world. We can only summon by name. ... Without the name, the
>evil is not summoned, not invoked,
If we wish to erase the name of a living evil person, however, then
if we succeed, wouldn't the angel of death have a hard time finding
this person?
Art Kamlet AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus <ask@...>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Aleeza Esther Berger <aeb21@...>
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 14:18:15 -0400
Subject: Women saying brith in birkat hamazon
While I realize that there is a serious halakhic discussion which seems
to find this problematic, it seems to me that since this phrase is in
the plural (in "our" flesh), the blessing is being said on behalf of the
entire Jewish community which includes men even when being said by a
woman. If the whole community was not intended, a man could not say
plural either, since each man has only one flesh. The implication of
women not being allowed to say this blessing, but men saying a plural
blessing, could be construed as an position that men comprise the Jewish
community and not women. Happily this is not the common psak (ruling).
Aliza Berger
----------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Volume 15 Issue 23