Aug 27th, 2010
by rabbifink.
When we think of 19th and early 20th century history, we think of everything in greyscale. It’s not our fault, picture and films from the era have clouded our ability to see those times in color.
Much of that era’s Jewish history is captured in black and white photos from Europe. It gives rise to a sense that their time was one of darkness and sadness, devoid of color. Of course this is completely false. (In fact, many would counter that the black and white mode of dress common among many orthodox Jews is more doom and gloom than the the modes of dress present in the 19th and early 20th century.)
I happened upon a selection of absolutely stunning color photographs taken in Russia in the early 20th century before the world was thrust in upheaval during the First World War. The photos are in full technicolor (more…)
Aug 26th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Child Witches in Nigeria
I saw this CNN article on a friend’s Facebook page.
There is a severe humanitarian crisis in Nigeria. I don’t know how much we can do to help but I think the crisis is emblematic of social issues in our culture as well.
Innocent children are being physically abused, even tortured or killed because they are thought to be witches. If a child can be blamed for a tragedy or illness by claiming they are a witch they will be outcast, then beaten and then abandoned to rid the community of the witch. (more…)
Aug 24th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Here is something that will get you in the High Holiday spirit.
Sometimes I see video on YouTube that I cannot help but share with you.
This 13 second gem was sent to me by a friend.
It appeals to my sense of humor. It actually made me laugh. Background story below…
Enjoy. (more…)
Aug 18th, 2010
by rabbifink.
I honestly cannot believe that this story still has legs.
Silly me. I actually thought that if people knew the truth about Cordoba House they would simply cease to oppose its existence. (See: The Mosque at Ground Zero Has A Marketing Problem)
Yet, weeks later, people still call it a mosque and people still think it is being built at Ground Zero and people still think it is being funded by Osama bin Laden and it will become a terror cell and the reason they are building the mosque is to proclaim victory for Islam etc etc etc.
I have seen several videos about the issue. I have placed two of the videos on this page. Watch them both and you decide who makes the more cogent, reasoned, fair arguments. (more…)
Aug 15th, 2010
by rabbifink.
I have visited a prison and a jail. (My Visit With Judith Clark at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility) I have learned a lot about the failures of our current system of incarceration and it sickens me. As a (realtively) outspoken individual I have made my opinions known to anyone who will listen.
I tell them that I am against prison in principle. I don’t think anyone should go to prison. It’s a waste of money and far worse it is a waste of a human being. People accomplish almost nothing while incarcerated. Society gives them a free ride and they produce next to nothing for society.
The first response I hear is usually related to the safety of society. That somehow we, on the outside, are safer if the criminals are isolated, on the inside. (more…)
Aug 11th, 2010
by rabbifink.
One of the more remarkable things that has occurred in the last 50 years is the shrinking of the world. Planes fly to even the most remote locations across the globe and high-speed fiber-optic cable connects the entire global community. I can virtually visit famous landmarks and have face to face conversations with people anywhere.
Almost 2000 years ago, the established Jewish community was based in the Land of Israel. Jews were living in Europe, North Africa and Babylonia as well, but the main community was centered around the Temple and communal religious life in Israel. The Temple was destroyed almost 2000 years ago and the diaspora began. Slowly, Jews migrated all over the world. Most prominently, the communities of Eastern Europe, the Medditeranean Basin and Babylonia established large Torah communities and much of Judaism today is the product of the generations of Jews who lived in those regions.
With the shrinking of the world, Jews from all backgrounds and ethnicities have become familiar with one another and a global Jewish community has evolved. (more…)
Aug 6th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Way back in the embryonic stages of this blog I wrote about a father who was denied a birthday cake by a local Shoprite for his son’s birthday.
The reason? The store refused to write the child’s name on the cake.
That child’s name? Adolph Hitler Campbell. (Adolf Hitler Campbell can’t get a birthday cake)
A little while later, I reported that the child, along with his siblings were taken into protective services. (Breaking News! Ad@lf Hitl&r Campbell Update)
Following an appeal, Heath Campbell (the father) has lost custody of his children. (more…)
Aug 4th, 2010
by rabbifink.
As you can see I have added a widget to the sidebar that will allow you to “Like” Pacific Jewish Center on Facebook.
If you read this blog you are part of the PJC community and you should definitely “Like” us. So please be a pal, and “Like” us today! Certainly, if you have come to the Shul on the Beach at any point in time or join us on a regular basis you should “Like” us.
You can “like” PJC on the right hand side of this blog. Just click the “Like” next to the “thumbs up”.
If you can think of anything that should be added to the Facebook Page please let me know and I will try and make it happen!
To visit the Pacific Jewish Center Facebook Page click here: PJC on Facebook
Jul 26th, 2010
by rabbifink.
I am visiting my hometown of Monsey NY this summer. My family still lives in Monsey so I always keep tabs on some the news and goings on in Monsey. This morning a fascinating post on LoHud.com (the Rockland County newspaper’s website).
The post confirms what everyone in Monsey and Rockland already knows, there has been a severe demographic shift over the last 30 years. You can see it with your eyes if you visit Rockland County and in particular Monsey. But seeing the data as presented by the post really drove home the stark reality.
According the post these are the most popular baby names over the last 30 years: (more…)
Jul 23rd, 2010
by rabbifink.
Chai Lifeline is a nice Jewish organization that does amazing things for children with terminal diseases and other medical problems. They have a nice website where you can see their mission statement and some of the other things that they do here: Chai Lifeline.
Their flagship program is called Camp Simcha.
Camp Simcha is a camp for cancer children and they vow to give these children the most fun and inspiring summer of their life (until next summer, hopefully).
Camp Simcha pulled off a really great stunt in Times Square this week. They got permits and arranged all the necessary medical logistics to make it happen.
(more…)
Jul 21st, 2010
by rabbifink.
This post has been cross-posted to DovBear: Dancing at Auschwitz
Everyone has been talking about this video.
From the description:
On a recent trip to Europe, a family of three generations (a Holocaust survivor, his daughter and his grandchildren) dance to Gloria Gaynor’s pop song – ‘I Will Survive’ at concentration camps and memorials throughout Europe.
This dance is a tribute to the tenacity of the human spirit and a celebration of life.
Is it appropriate for a survivor and his family to celebrate their survival in this manner? Everyone seems to have an opinion. (more…)
Jul 19th, 2010
by rabbifink.
At sundown this evening, the 9th of Av, Jews all around the world will begin a 25 hour period of mourning. We mourn the loss of the great Temple in Jerusalem, and all that it symbolized. We lament the loss of our national unity and the special Temple connection. We hope and pray for a complete redemption and the messianic era of peace, harmony and sprirituality.
(Read my thoughts on Tisha B’Av from last year: Mourning The Living On The 9th of Av)
Most people are familiar with the custom to fast for 25 hours as a sign of our mourning. We suffer to try and feel what we are missing. For many people, Tisha B’Av is a fast day and nothing else.
That is tragic. (more…)
Jul 15th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Last night I saw an interested post on Gizmodo.com, a favorite technology blog of mine.
Google Maps has sattelite pictures of nearly the entire world. When you take pictures of everything, you’re going to catch some funny things.
Google has satelite pictures and “Street View” pictures which are (the ultimate stalking tool and) depict the view from the street. Most of the wacky Google Maps pictures are Street View pictures.
For a change, Gizmodo found a really cool satellite picture.
A crazy looking plane just above a residential street was spotted.
The street was Rose Avenue. The cross street was Lincoln Avenue. That is exactly where the Pacific Jewish Center Annex is located. (more…)
Jul 12th, 2010
by rabbifink.
This summer I took a class at Loyola Law School called Hate Speech Seminar. The course was very discussion based with some non-traditional law school reading. We also read the key First Amendment (Free Speech) cases and important Law Review articles on regulating hate speech.
I learned a lot.
Part of the course was a trip to the Museum of Tolerance at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
I took my tour of the museum today. What follows are some general impressions. (more…)
Jul 11th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Photo: Baltimore Sun
On Friday, my Bubby called me to tell me that I was quoted in the Baltimore Sun.
My math teached, Mr. Paul Miller was officially recognized by the City of Baltimore for his amazing accomplishment of teaching for 75 years, and he’s not done yet!
The Baltimore Sun did a nice write up and I was quoted at the end of the article.
They just lifted some lines from my blog post about Mr. Miller. I was not asked and they did not provide a URL. Is that okay? (more…)
Jul 7th, 2010
by rabbifink.
This post has been cross-posted to DovBear: Rubashkin’s Lawyer On Claims of Anti-Semitism
I was shocked when I saw this.
If you read the frum papers you have been told that Rubashkin was singled out for being a Jew. We call this anti-Semitism.
I have gone on record saying that I don’t see the anti-Semitism here. (Is the Rubashkin Saga / Trial Anti-Semitic? and Are the goyim out to get Sholom Rubashkin?: Why he isn’t a victim of anti-Semitism).
I have been chastised by commenters on this blog and on DovBear. (more…)
Jul 6th, 2010
by rabbifink.
A little while ago I read the unfortunately mis-titled book, Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean.
I say unfortunately mis-titled because the book was excellent but it really was not about Jewish Pirates and certainly was not limited at all to the Caribbean.
The book was good because it tells the story of some of the most famous Converso Jews following the Spanish and Porteguese Inquisition. The well footnoted text gave me a better appreciation for the 15 century Mediterranean Jews, their struggles and their success.
Perhaps above all, as I was reading the book I found myself with a greater appreciation for Sephardi Jews. (more…)
Jul 5th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Head over to DovBear for this post: An Appropriate Maharsha
(If you don’t know who the Maharsha is, don’t bother…)
Jul 1st, 2010
by rabbifink.
By now you have all heard about my math teacher Mr. Miller. (Mr. Miller Was My Math Teacher at Ner Israel)
After being featured on WBAL TV and then (almost) every single Jewish blog, you certainly know about Mr. Miller’s longevity and success as a teacher.
Last week, Mr. Miller was featured in an article in the Baltimore Jewish Times. The BJT is a local weekly magazine / newspaper in Baltimore. If you are under 25 continue reading. If you are older, skip to the next paragraph. What’s a magazine? It’s like an old fashioned blog. Or slow motion blogging. Different people have an opportunity to write their opinions and others can respond via letters to the editor or write their own articles. Pretty neat, huh?
The article is a really nice homage to Mr. Miller. (more…)
Jun 23rd, 2010
by rabbifink.
So we finally made the big-time. Who is we?
I am a student at the (now) well-known Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.
After being featured on the snarky law blogs for a a little while, our curve adjustment made it into “The Gray Lady”. Yes, the New York Times thinks our school’s new curve is news worthy.
Yesterday the NY Times ran this story about our curve and the law school arms race: In Law Schools, Grades Go Up, Just Like That. The story is a slightly sympathetic and certainly more fair than the skewering Loyola Law School got in some of the law blawgs.
Here’s the real story: (more…)
Jun 14th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Yesterday I wrote about my high school. (Mr. Miller Was My Math Teacher at Ner Israel) I went to a pretty well known yeshiva high school but this kind of media exposure for Ner Israel is not too common. Of course I was proud so I told my sister to check out the video and article.
Not to be outdone, my sister told me that her high school was also famous!
It seems that WNET, the New York PBS affiliate, has a segment called “Religion and Ethics. A few weeks back they did a piece on hateful gossip in schools. With the advent of the internet and specifically sites like Facebook, it has become so easy to say nasty things about others and leave a permanent record of the comments. (more…)
Jun 13th, 2010
by rabbifink.
By now, you may have seen the great video and accompanying WBALtv.com article, about my math teacher Mr. Miller. It has been on VIN, Matzav and Frum Satire and I am sure plenty of other blogs as well.
I’ve totally been scooped on this one. But in my defense, I had the link to the video and the article last Thursday I just sat on it because I had so many other things to write about.
The thing is, Mr. Miller was MY math teacher at Ner Israel’s Israel Henry Beren Mechina High School. In fact Mr. Miller has also taught 2 of my 3 brothers and will likely teach the other when he gets to Calculus. Not only that, my FATHER had Mr. Miller when he was in High School. So I am pretty sure I am the first blogger to write about Mr. Miller that actually learned math from Mr. Miller. (more…)
Jun 10th, 2010
by rabbifink.
Photo: NY Times
Mystery solved?
I have been wondering about this for a while. Follow me on this journey from a 3000 year old story to current culinary trends….
As the Israelites sojourned in the desert for 40 years, the Torah tells us that they ate Manna. It was a food that they were not familiar with as they reacted to the manna by saying “man hu?” what is it?
Reading the text of the narrative in the Torah tells us some very interesting details. Here are some snippets: (more…)
Jun 10th, 2010
by rabbifink.
In today’s LA Times there is a very interesting article about the Hijab and some Muslim women who have put a modern twist on the traditional Hijab.
(What is Hijab? click here)
Most of us think of the black, shapeless head to toe covering when we think of the Hijab. According the article, the black color, and amorphous shape is not required in Islamic Law. Hijab is a modesty that requires that the body be covered completely by clothing. It is permissible to add color and style to the Hijab.
The article highlights some locals who are celebrating their personal style within the limits of what is required by Hijab.
I think that is great. (more…)
When we think of 19th and early 20th century history, we think of everything in greyscale. It’s not our fault, picture and films from the era have clouded our ability to see those times in color.
