Remember the awesome Solar Eclipse in Southeast Asia last year?
Back then, I wrote a little piece called Solar Eclipse in Judaism that explains the famous Talmudic reasons for eclipse.
Recently I came across this incredible video by the BBC. They capture amazing footage of the actual eclipse, the sights and sounds of Southeast Asians observing the [...]
Posts under ‘All Posts’
Beautiful Solar Eclipse Video (and a moron)
The Real Orthoprax Issue
This post has been cross-posted to DovBear. For more discussion, click here.
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky is making headlines with his front page Jewish Press article in which he thoroughly disposes of Orthopraxy and ousts the Orthoprax from Modern Orthodoxy.
For a thorough fisking of the main parts of the article go to XGH’s blog, this is his [...]
Our Symbiotic Existence | A Guest Post
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Vayakheil Pikudei
Mirror Worlds
As we conclude sefer Shmos we are provided with a full accounting of the donations to the Mishkan. Moshe Rabbeinu answers the call of his critics [...]
Reverse Discrimination and Oversensitivity
Yesterday I wrote about a great film in Simple Justice | The Story of Brown v. Board of Education: The End of Separate But Equal in Schools. Civil Rights made tremendous strides in the wake of Brown. It was a tumultuous time and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the way to racial equality.
Today, we have [...]
Simple Justice | The Story of Brown v. Board of Education: The End of Separate But Equal in Schools
Last week I spoke at Pepperdine University about Jewish Lessons in Parenting. I began my talk by complimenting my parents and expressing my desire to emulate their parenting in the raising of my own children. One such example occurred today.
At Law School we are reading some of the most well-known Supreme Court Cases. A few [...]
♫ What A Wonderful World ♫
Wow.
You must see this video on vimeo.
It is a breathtakingly beautiful time-lapse taken in Hawaii. You can literally feel the earth spinning on its axis as night passes into day.
I love good videos and this is one of my all time favorites. The action is stunning and the music is perfect.
Kudos to Charles on Vimeo [...]
When Kesher is Not a Knot | A Guest Post
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Ki Seesa
A Kesher Shel Kayama
We find in Parshas Ki Seesa the catastrophic sin of the eigel hazahav, which tragically placed Klal Yisrael at the precipice of destruction. Moshe Rabbeinu [...]
Time With Corrie ten Boom | Review
On Sunday I was privileged to take part in A Night for the Family at Pepperdine University. See my previous posts about the overall event by clicking My Appearance At “A Night For The Family” at Pepperdine University and listen to my speech by clicking Jewish Lessons in Parenting.
The main event was a presentation called Time With [...]
Jewish Lessons in Parenting
Last night I was invited to be a part of A Night for the Family at Pepperdine University. It was a memorable evening in more ways than one. (Read about it here: A Night for Family.)
I was asked to speak before a crowd that had just enjoyed seeing the life of Corrie ten Boom performed.
One [...]
My Appearance At “A Night For The Family” at Pepperdine University
Wow. Dinner with Pat and Shirley Boone, the story of Corrie ten Boom and Rabbi Eliyahu Fink (me) addressing the attendees. Which one of these things doesn’t belong? Right. That would be me.
So how did I end up at this event and how was it?
A member of our shul, Gary Dalin, met Dr. Ken Canfield, [...]
Pacific Jewish Center Purim Celebration Recap February 28, 2010
This Purim, The Shul On The Beach opened its doors to the entire Venice / Santa Monica community to join in a Purim Celebration. An excellent turnout from our members, friends and neighbors set the stage for a truly memorable afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Beithalachmi prepared a wonderful Purim feast that was partially sponsored by Yossi [...]
Alula Performs At Pacific Jewish Center Purim Party in Venice
Today, Pacific Jewish Center hosted a memorable Purim Celebration at the Shul on the Beach.
Well over 200 people attended, ranging from ultra-religious Jews, to unaffiliated Jews, Christians and non-Jews. It was really a great success. Fuller recap with photos here.
In the meantime, here is a taste of a our incredible performer, Alula.
You can learn more [...]
Purim Celebration at The Shul on the Beach Invitation 2/28/10
Join Pacific Jewish Center and the entire Venice / Santa Monica Jewish community for a Purim Celebration at the Shul on the Beach.
There will be entertainment as well as refreshments. You can meet your neighbors and taste a Purim Experience at our historic Shul.
Please join us!
The Sweet Smell of Simcha | A Guest Post
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Titzavah – Parshas Zachor
Pitom Hakitores
The Mizbeach Hazahav is mentioned in this week’s parsha as the final utensil Hashem Yisborach instructed Klal Yisrael to fashion for the Mishkan. Upon it, [...]
The Whales Are Mounting A Counter Attack!
I am sure you have already heard the news. If you have not, here goes.
Today, a killer whale named Tilikum at Sea World Orlando killed a trainer. Yes. A whale. An animal that has no instinct to kill a human, killed a human, IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE! That was certainly more than the spectators [...]
Happiness is a Preservative | A Guest Post
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Teruamah
Keeping it Fresh
Parshas Terumah is filled with the beauty and grandeur of the mishkan v’keilav. The home for the Shechina was to be built of the finest materials in [...]
Frum Satire Show at Pacific Jewish Center Was Incredible
Wow.
Heshy Fried aka Frum Satire performed in front of a very diverse crowd of ~60 at the Pacific Jewish Center at the Shul on the Beach on Sunday February 14 2010 and it was incredible.
Heshy ranted for over an hour and the audience was captivated. He could have gone on for another hour and had [...]
Mishloach Manos Packing on the Beach 2/14/10
Yesterday was a great day for Pacific Jewish Center and our community.
A little while back, we decided that it would a lot of fun for the community to get together and pack mishloach manos together at the Shul on the Beach.
The event had a triple purpose. The goals were all met and exceeded. The first [...]
Sorry About the Hiatus
This past week was way too busy (and boring) to blog.
Sorry for the hiatus.
Why was it busy?
We were getting ready for TWO big events at Pacific Jewish Center that went down yesterday.
Read the two posts about the events by going back to the homepage.
(Spoiler Alert
Frum Satire Show At Pacific Jewish Center
Heshy just posted this on his blog and since we are the hosts, I am reposting for your information and reference.
I know it’s a bit short notice but I (Heshy Fried / Frum Satire) will be performing this coming Sunday February 14th in Los Angeles at the Pacific Jewish Center AKA Shul on the Beach (on [...]
Sometimes Role Models Are Athletes
The two most popular posts on this blog are variants of one common theme.
Athletes as Role Models.
It makes sense. I enjoy sports, I am passionate about education and I love the moral tension created by appreciating both of those areas of life. It appears that people like reading about it as well.
Learn about what I [...]
RETRACTION: Tim Tebow Ad WAS Harmless NOT Reckless
So like everyone else, I bought into the hype.
I thought the Tebow ad was going to “tell his mother’s story”. It did not.
She still called him a “miracle baby”, but that is not that big a deal.
I apologize for the previous blog post.
The Triple Threat | A Guest Post
A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Parshas Yisro
Achdus, Emunah and Simcha
The raison-d’être of maaseh braisheis and the essential tachlis of Klal Yisrael is defined in parshas Yisro with the experience of Matan Torah. No other event [...]
An American Idol Contestant With a Huge Heart
This clip was sent my way and I’ve got to admit it is amazing.
American Idol Season ~46,281 is underway and the most memorable moment so far has certainly been the Pants on the Ground phenomena. If you have seen or heard of it – you MUST go here right now and watch it (come back [...]
Why The Earthquake in Haiti Happened
This post has been crossposted to DovBear. More discussion there.
Since the Earthquake in Haiti many have attempted to figure out “why” the tragedy occurred.
There are 4 prominent versions going around the web right now.
Rabbi Shafran Version 1: God punished the people of Haiti because of evil speech.
Rabbi Shafran Version 2: We don’t know why God [...]
