Two Apostles

Apostle Mark


Apostle of Chernovitzy

Boston concealed, Jerusalem revealed

My Obiter Dicta: On most Saturday Nights in the late sixties and seventies, from September until June, some two to three hundred people from all over New England, representing very different sectors of the Boston Jewish Community would gather in the cafeteria of the Maimonides School...

Music to the goddess of Ellis Island

Many years later I now appreciate The Next Lubavitcher Rebbe's fondness for Clint Eastwood movies directed by Sergio Leone. Then in Italy I was farfrumt and tried to smash the TV in his basement. The Next Lubavitcher Rebbe would chuckle and tell me that Clint Eastwood westerns carry the eternal truths... The dark Jewish gangster movie Once Upon a Time in Americais also by Sergio Leone (produced Arnon Milchan). The soundtrack to that movie is by Ennio Morricone and perhaps is the best musical score ever. I want to dedicate this music to the goddess of Ellis Island.


Long live Moskover Kotzk in Toronto!

It is Erev Rosh Hashona. I want to dedicate more music from the same score to Dispel Fantasies who yearns with us to "Talk" and feel beoyfon hamechaber with Atzmoos Umehoos.

and therefore at all generations since the Alter Rebbe they did not suffice themselves with avodas hahisbonenoos and iskafya but it was in conjunction with the connections with the Rebbe that directly related to a chossid through amiras dach and yechidoos which was mehached umevarer and kovea avoydossoy and most importantly was the link begilooy to "Talk" and feel beoyfon hamechaber with Atzmoos Umehoos.


Long live Paris in Brooklyn!

so too: "iskafya and hisbonenoos" while the tools for refining the person to talk to the ALmighty are not a replacement for the direct relationship that is gotten through "onochi omeyd ben Hashem Oovenechem"...

Dispel Fantasies, have me in your thoughts on Rosh Hashona.

Runaway Kapporos in Boston

Because of the inconvenience and because of Rabbi P. Krinsky�s involvement with the new shule in Boston he has been asked to move Kapporos from the Shaloh house where it was performed (shlogged) for several years. Stay tuned for the new location announcement.

Putin's government bars Lazars competition from Russia

Haaretz: Authorities bar Moscow Rabbi Pinkhas Goldschmidt from returning to Russia. R. Goldschmidt, a refusenik? (via Shmarya)

UPDATE: MAARIV article.

The goddess of Ellis Island

Have you seen this girl, please let me know. She is in America for a 100 years now. Somebody must have seen her?

Minsk relief fund

Sto pratzent commenting to the Jewish school in Minsk is closed:

lets stop caring about the politics of it. Politics stink. Always has always will. The question is, are Jewish kids going to have a chance at not marrying a goy'te or not. Will they have a chance at ever leading Jewish lives or not. If someone can tell us how much cash they need to make this happen right now, provide a link etc., fine. Politics we'll take care of later.

PayPal donate here: www.jewish.by
To get a tax deductible receipt your can send a check payable to Chabad of Kensington to the address 601 Ocean Pkwy, Brooklyn NY 11218 with memo for Minsk Ksivo vaChasimo Toyvo leShono Toyvo uMesuko!

Birobidzhan

The Washington Post has an article on Birobidzhan: The Jewish Community Lives On. Don�t miss the photo gallery.

Stillness

Exhibit #45, Alter Rebbe's yarmulka.

I know that the only thing that matters is our personal dialogue with G-d. Alter Rebbe claimed to enlighten the path but the path lead to buildings, chiefs, degrees, fundraising galore and blind fanatical partisanship. The experiment of Chasidism is over and each and every one of us is left as lonely and confused in this world as when we started.

Earl Krugel, 62 sentenced to 20 years

A JDL member was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for his role in a plot to bomb a mosque and a Lebanese-American congressman's office.
UPDATE, 11/5/2005: Irv Rubin and now Earl Krugel pay with life for the FBI sting.

Tomchei Tmimim "doctorate" to the alter boy

Moshe Herson awards Tomchei Tmimim doctorate to the NJ governor and his wife. Ex-altar boy Codey gets Rabbinical College doctorate. Which begs the question how can you give out a doctorate from a college that doesn�t even have a Masters program?

P.S. It is interesting to note that perhaps as a response to the publication on this blog a reference to the Rabbi Lazar's "MA in Jewish Philosophy from Rabbinical College of America" has been changed to a "BA in Religious Studies" on the FJC site.

Absolut Tzanz b'nusach Chabad in Boston

Ukraine gets another "Chief Rabbi"

Sue Fishkoff is the party favorite reporter, but one can read between the lines even in her watered down rendition: Ukrainian city gets a shul, but infighting tempers the joy.

Not a word abour Rabbi Bleich? Somebody should write an expose on why Jewish oligarchs are so eager to put their own chief jew in charge and how it really helps business as this must be the only reason.

Redefining Our Reality

My Obiter Dicta: Redefining Our Reality In a world where people feel that the structures of life are disintegrating, it is only natural to seek refuge and solace in certainty, dogmatic or otherwise...
new blog: Hagigim

Correction to the FEMA indictment

Gandalin comments to the FEMA indictment: You should update your blog, now that even the broadcasters at NBC have admitted that Aaron Broussard's pathetic story was basically nothing but a lie. Indeed, NBC retracts: An emotional moment and a misunderstanding.

Jewish school in Minsk is closed

180 Jewish children in Schneur Lauder College have been forced into "public" schools in Minsk. The school closed it�s doors due to the financial hardship. A group of devoted, dedicated and idealistic teachers forced to seek alternative employment. The last Jewish school on the sacred land of White Russia. One of the few standing Jewish communal properties in the FSU still independent from Ohr Avner and the mighty diamond dollars. Boruch Sholom Ostrovksy in Crown Heights for another week desperately trying to raise money for the Minsk community. If you would like to talk to him directly or interested in helping the community of Minsk please email me.

Farbrengen in honor of Chay Ellul

Rabbi Moshe Lieberman, the Zanzer Eynikle of Boston will be saying maamorim chasidus at Bnai Moshe Shule (1845 Commonwealth Ave, Brighton, MA 02135) this coming Thursday at 8:00 PM.

Nepotism file in London

A as a sequel to the discussion on this blog about nepotism comes this passionate plea from the Frummer? Y Heartless & Stubborn?

One would have thought that a public institution such as a school would be run by a publicly appointed committee, and headed by one or more prominent local Rabbonim. In this case, it is run by one lone "Rabbi" who, along with his wife, act as judge, jury and executioner, and for all we know, both draw a salary for all three positions as well. The title of Rabbi he uses is inherited, not earned, and despite him not really being referred to as such amongst us Heimishe, he is introduced and addressed by his fake Rabbi title when he represents us in the outside world, for it gives him credence, authority he has not earned nor does he deserve. His position as head of the school too, he owes to his lineage, not talents, for his father was the school's founder.

Signs of Life

Nick Bradbury, the genius creator of the FeedDemon blogs about the removal of a tumor in his head.

Mechitza which is good enough for tephila is not good enough for dancing

Out of Step Jew: After the usual yawner of a meeting a young girl of about 20, the daughter of a member, stood up and had two requests: The first riled one side of the ideological divide, the second the other. She requested that during the dvar Torah before the reading of the Torah, the curtain be moved so that eye contact can be made with the speaker in order to be able to concentrate (most men were thinking but not saying that they would pay good money in order not to be able to make eye contact with the speaker so that they could catch a few winks). The second request was that on Simchat Torah (the most divisive holiday on the Jewish calendar) a heavy piece of material be placed over the mechitza so that the men will not be able to glimpse the dancing girls and women.

new blogs on the mental block

Bloggerai
alansalzberg

Adjusting: School Schedules

Modern Orthodox Woman: Adjusting: School Schedules in Israel. This school schedule does make it hard for women to work in full-time jobs.

Jewish kids, a ritalin nation?

Z'ev commenting to mentalblog.com: Shlomo was given Paxil and Adderall:

The alarming trend in our yeshivot and day schools to prescribe powerful medications such as paxil or ritalin should not go unnoticed. A friend of mine is a psychologist who works with three yeshivot in Brooklyn, and says that up to 40% of the students in one yeshiva are on medication for ADHD! Like the secular school system, nurses and administration are sending home students with orders not to return unless they are put on medication. While there is not enough space here to discuss in detail (I am a health professional in Chinese medicine for 25 years), I'd just like to point out that such factors as diet, lack of exercise (especially in yeshivot), over-study, problems with peers at school, issues in the home all contribute to ADHD, so it should not be viewed as purely a chemical or pharmacological problem. There is no excuse for this trend.

Shlomo was given Paxil and Adderall

Jewish Schools are for Jewish Kids: This letter was sent out to community leaders at the beginning of August...No one helped.

A few years ago our son Shlomo was given Paxil and Adderall for ADHD and had a bad reaction to them. He became psychotic. Then the doctor refused to admit she was doing the wrong thing, even though he got expelled from school (Torah Day School). We then put him in public school where he was bullied and beat up by the black students and a special ed teacher abused him as well.

I have a dream!

Schneur Zalman of NY commenting to the Kadimah-Toras Moshe selects a new Rabbi:

Years ago the late rabbi Dr. Eliezer Berkowits of Hebrew theological College wrote an interesting article in TRADITION outlining a program for a Modern orthodox rabbinical school. We need rabbis who not only can learn but have knowledge of Jewish academic studies, secular degrees at least an MA in a Humanities subject or a degree in Social work or the like. He should also have knowledge of contemporary affairs. Today few pulpit rabbis can really learn, few can pasken a "din" beyond the Mishnah berurah, even fewer are familiar with current academic Jewish scholarship in any field. Fewer have an knowledge of secular subjects like literature, psychology or History. Very few have any serious counseling skills. What you have are people who LIKE Judaism, can do a bit of Talmud study, know the Mishna Berura and their secular knowledge is limited to the NY Times. Can a Lubavitcher shliach/rav discuss European history or the Classics with a grad student at Tufts? Can a yeshiva rabbi discuss Jungian thought with a student at Brandeis?

Chumus and Chabad at Harvard

Harvard Chabad in the Peoples Republic of Cambridge


Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi says welcome to Harvard.


If you will be nice I will show you my PhD


Black granite top, stainless steel, cherry wood, se habla espanol leolam voed!


Hirschy, we have a question in European history...


Yammy Makif!

Pinchas of Koretz

A Simple Jew posted a photo he took of the Mazeiva of R. Pinchas of Koretz in Shepetovka.

Long shadow of "goodness and kindness"

I am reminded daily about the powerful Jungian concept elegantly illuminated by Robert Bly in A Little Book on the Human Shadow.I will have to read up on it: jung shadow - Google Search.

M.M. Schneerson: Better off to be ruled by the goyim

OK somebody asked me the question. The truth is I don�t care, but the person keeps nudging me. So here. Evidently there is a video of a conversation between the Rebbe and Kazav. In the conversation the Rebbe tells Kazav that ��if so, the Eretz Yisroel is better off to be ruled by goyim". Can anyone provide or describe the full context of the conversation?

Kadimah-Toras Moshe selects a new Rabbi

Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe welcomes Rabbi Azriel Blumberg as a new rabbi starting in September 2005.

Schneur Zalman of NY commenting to AD MOSAY! Still no new Shule in Boston:

I read that Rabbi Halbfinger's shul just engaged a new rabbi. Apparently a charedi type who drinks only Chalav Israel. I understand that a young Mizrachi type whom I know was rejected. This young man is a scholar, youth oriented and a budding intellectual who could do for the shul what Barry Freundel did in DC. Yet he was rejected in favor of a Charedi rabbi. I stress I am writing with VERY limited data and i have a bit of a negiah here, but I would love to hear from others who know the complete story. Boston needs some more MO rabbis besides the Chabad people there. The days when Boston had men like the Rav/Prof Twersky , Rabbis Savitsky, Lichtenstein, Tannenbaum, Rabbi Dr. A. Altman , Marvin Fox , the Bostoner Rebbe shlit'a are long over. The community needs some intellectual leaders on par with its status as the Athens of the US.

AD MOSAY! Still no new Shule in Boston

It pains me to say that the saga started a while ago has not produced any fruits yet. The need for a new Shule is more obvious every week. But due to inertia, summer vacations, etc the Jews of Boston still don�t have a place to call their own. This is not about a building, not even about money this is about meaning. Our town is populated by self indulgent mediocrity aspiring to corner the Jewish market. This is a unique Boston�s curse and the excuses mount very week. AD MOSAY!

And now this. Schneur Zalman of NY commenting to the Real Estate and Boston Jews:

There is growth in all Jewish communities? I am not sure where you got this idea. Places like New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwich, CT and others are having little growth. Is Worcester, MA growing? Is Providence growing? I am not sure what you mean by growth of Jewish communities. Do you mean Orthodox/Traditional or Jewish communities in general. A quick glance at the Advocate seems to show many shuls and temples in Boston and many Jewish activities.

The reason Orthodoxy is dying is that most Orthodox Jews wish to remain in about 10 cities in the USA Metro NY, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, LA, Toronto, Miami, Cleveland and Montreal. If you had a choice between living in Teaneck, NJ with at least 10 shuls, over 20 kosher eateries 4-6 day schools and high schools, hundreds of classes and youth groups and somewhere else where would you go?

The DC area real estate market is also very expensive, yet Orthodoxy is growing there. Several modern orthodox rabbis formerly in Metro NY have helped this growth. Perhaps Boston could use a more dynamic Orthodox rabbinate? Perhaps a more youth oriented intellectual rabbinate could accomplish something. Perhaps a Yeshiva gedoal could be convinced to move there. Is there a yeshiva gedola in Boston? Boston no longer has the Rav or rabbi Savitsky or even the Bostoner Rebbe shlita full time. No famous orthodox rabbinical leaders currently reside there. Could that be the problem?

Long live football

Corey Dillon is back, Pats are back. Life is good after all!

Real Estate and Boston Jews

Urban blows to the Boston�s Jewish community have been documented by Hillel Levine in the Death of an American Jewish Community.It is not a surprise than that the high property prices is the major barrier to the revival of the Jewish community in Boston. Boston Globe just declared Boston to be the most expensive metropolitan area in USA: report rates Boston most expensive city. No wonder that Massachusetts was the only state to lose population last year.

Site outage due to blackout in LA

Due to the electrical blackout in Los Angeles today this web site was out for approximately 3 1/2 hours. The major data center of the hosting company is in LA and it knocked out all servers nationally.

Narcissus and Goldmund

Cathedral Gargoyles and Grotesques by Walter S. Arnold.

Narcissus: do you think there is a part of our religious experience that is really driven by our need for identity, in this case a tribal identity?
Goldmund: one has to assume it is a very big component.
Narcissus: what if the traditional tribal connections start to crumble, family structure collapses and social interaction are formal and detached; do you think this becomes a weak link in our religious cosmos?
Goldmund: but remember the main factor is still our connection to G-d.
Narcissus: let�s say that we are in the advance stages of G-d�s concealment, suppose there is not prophesy, no miracles, not even a low grade rabbinical leadership. Would you feel deep in your stomach that G-d is silent, would you feel that your spirit is an orphaned child?
Goldmund: yes but we have Torah that connects us to G-d.
Narcissus: yes we do have Torah but it�s interpretation is hijacked by Jewish lawyers who think that dry legal discourse is the essence of our union with the G-dhead.
Narcissus: and what about beauty? We pray bathed in fluorescent lights; our houses of worship are smelly and moldy basements, we treat beauty as sin. Can you understand how an artist feels homeless amongst Jews?
Goldmund: yes but there is a hasiduth.
Narcissus: yes but we don�t hear a maamar anymore, there is no a communion on a personal level, there is no revelations spoken in a direct way.
Goldmund: and the prayer?
Narcissus: Jews pray in quorums and when you pray surrounded by people you don�t love the words of a prayer can�t raise and kiss the angels.
Goldmund: you can complain but we have to do what we Jews were commanded to do!
Narcissus: Do you know that Jews are highly intolerant to dissent. You can be assured that any view that they deem nontraditional will be greeted with the aggressive hostility. Can you visualize a person who is driven away and crushed to a corner?


CANALETTO, London: Ranelagh, Interior of the Rotunda, Oil on canvas, National Gallery, London

Goldmund: we can complain but we have to do what we Jews were commanded to do!
Narcissus: and what if a person who is driven to solitude and ostracized by his people is dreaming of beauty and by an accident this person finds himself enveloped in a theatrical drama of a catholic cathedral with all it�s sensual might. And what if such a person decides to accept the Cross during the month of Elul so he does not have to feel despondent under the fluorescent lights of Rosh Hashona?
Goldmund: the steady cool radiance of the fluorescent is more mature than the childish tapestry of the rosary.
Narcissus: it is not only about beauty. It is about every point that I mentioned. Take tribal identity for example. People are prepared to pay a high price for the admission to a gang, an exclusive club or a tribe. They are prepared to undergo violent initiation, pay money and even risk and often sacrifice the very life to belong. But with Jews you are instructed to disconnect from most people around you with food and custom, and the pitiful reward is the lack of communal and tribal ties, solitude. Our communal breakdown is so profound that almost no one is surprised that Nefesh bNefesh an organization that leads aliyah from America is financed by the Evangelical Christians. This illustrates that the tribe has ceased to perform the most basic functions. But this is not about corporate performance either. This is about a sense of abandonment one feels as Jew today.

(Narcissus and Goldmundby Hermann Hesse.)

The fall of the rebel angels

Pieter BRUEGEL, the Elder, The Fall of the Rebel Angels, 1562, Oil on oak, Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
9/11

mentalblog.com links

Biur Chametz: The weirdness of a social pseudoblogger
SEMGIRL: Tznius down your throat.
Yettabettaboo wants to be pregnant: bitter pill.
Wolfish Musings: On Being Bored with Gemara.
little green footballs: Flight 93 Outrage.
Tamara Eden: Shabbat Reflections.
Jewish Rifle & Pistol club of Central & Northern New Jersey.
My Obiter Dicta takes Chakira to task: Derech Eretz Qadma la-Torah.

Rav Rubin of Kimpelung - Bukovina

MIB commenting to the Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's notebook:

Im Kol Hakavod to Rav Safran (with whom I enjoy a warm relationship), he was not the only one who lobbied the Queen Elena and King Mihai, Dr. Blatt the Artichect Clejan and others. On many occasions it was Rav Rubin of Kimpelung-Bukovina (head of the above mentioned Va'ad) and a man named Nosson Klipper who initiated these contacts. On many occasions Rav Safran and Rav Rubin went together to meet with church leaders such as the head of the orthodox church in Romania, Patriarch Nocidem.

The Bobover Rav related an amazing incident that occurred when the Va'ad received a report that penicillin was desperately needed to fight an epidemic spreading rapidly among Jews still languishing in Transnistria. After conducting a thorough investigation the Va'ad found that there a certain bishop (who was a member of the Red Cross) living on the outskirts of Bucharest. The Kimpelunger Rav did not wait hesitate a second. He and the Bobover Rav (displaying incredible self sacrifice) went to meet the Bishop to see if he would be willing to help etc...

After being received, the Rabbonim began begging the Bishop for the assistance they desperately needed... The Bishop who was acquainted with Kimpelunger Rav asked the Bobover to identify himself, when the Bobover gave his name the Bishop replied "Ah, A Tzanzer Einekel!" and burst out in tears he then locked the door to his office, opened one of his desk drawers and removed a black Yarmulke, placed it on his head and said "ich vel aich helfen!"

The two Rabbonim stared at him in openmouthed astonishment. As they regained their composure, the Bishop revealed that his name was Goldshtein and that he came from a Jewish family but that "this is my position today!" and continued crying.

Rav Rubin came to the US after the war. He later founded the first organization ("Geder Avos") dedicated to vigorously combating the destruction of thousands of cemeteries in Eastern Europe. While Geder Avos didn't succeed in rebuilding cemeteries, as this was impossible during communist rule over Eastern Europe, they did succeed in thwarting the designs of governments who wished to desecrate the graves. He later was Av Beis Din in Borough Park.

Rav Rubin was a scion of many dynasties including those of: The Baal Shem Tov, R. Pinchas of Koritz, Be'er Mayim Chaim, Degel Machane Edraim, R. Yaakov Kopel of Kolomaya, R. Avrohom Yehusha H. of Apta, R. N. Z. of Ropschitz, A.Y of Ropshitz, R.Mendel and R. Chaim of Kossov, Y. A. of Radovitz, R. Sholom of Belz, R. Moshe Tzvi of Savran and many other Tzaddikim of far earlier generations. Another interesting fact is that R. Mueshulam Roth was married to a sister of his.

amol a malach amol a galach

Schenur Zalman of NY commenting to the Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's notebook:

The rebbes provided leadership in good times. In extremis during World War II no one secular, Religious, Zionists or Communist provided leadership that saved any Jews. A few bright spots were Chief rabbi A. Safran of Rumania, and Dr. Elkes in Kovna. I would argue that a certain Jewish leader who went down in history as a fiend, came closest to providing some leadership for his community, but in the end that effort failed miserably too. My point is that Tore learning doesn�t necessarily equal leadership.

Some rabbis did provide some form of leadership such as the Piascesner Rebbe in Warsaw, Rabbi Michel Baer Weissmandel in Slovakia, Dr. Leo Baeck in Berlin, Dr. Joseph Carlebach in Hamburg and Chief rabbi Avrohom Kahane Schapiro in Kaunas. But most Rabbis were lehavdil as confused as the New Orleans mayor.

Most rabbis and Rebbes seemed to have disappeared after Sept. 1939. In some cases they were killed or forced into hiding. In a few cases they were the first to escape rather than the last. In other cases they abandoned leadership to secular elements including opportunists and low lives.

But please tell me where gedolim or rabbonim provided leadership in terms of enabling a Jewish community to ATTEMPT to survive. As I have written elsewhere even in the case of the MIR it was the student body led by Rav Layb Mallin that decided to take a risk and leave via Russia and Japan. The Roshe Yeshiva were against the plan.

Rav Pinchus Hirschprung with Rav Yisroel Yitzchak Piekarsky

It pains me to say this, but Rav Pinchus Hirszprung wrote his memoirs before the War was over and it was published in the US in 1943 or 1944 in Yiddish. As a refugee from Poland in Fall 1939 he went to a certain gadol in Lithuania for advise. The rav told him "shev val Taase adif" do not move remain here (VILNA). Rav Hirszprung did not obey and survived.

The Brisker dayan Reb Simche Zelig said when asked about a similar question replied that "dine nefashot" require yishuv hadaas and he does not have that quality at this time. An honest and frank reply.

Chief rabbi Safran did provide leadership even though he was all of 29 years old. I was speaking to a well known Orthodox professor and rav in Bar Ilan Rabbi Dr. R whose father was the last charedi shochet before the war in a large Orthodox community in Western Hungary. In naming the city I asked: did he work for rav P the S. rav at the time. He said do not mention the name of that rav, he abandoned the community and fled to Budapest in 1944, leaving his flock leaderless. I should add that he became the 1st rosh yeshiva of the Satmar yeshiva gedola in Brooklyn and a leading ideologue of the Charedi community, after the War. On the other hand in Rome the chief rabbi converted and in Bulgaria the chief rabbi assumed certain Christian beliefs too. As they say in Yiddish amol a malach amol a galach...

One rabbi who tried to tell Hungarian Jews the truth Rabbi Issacher Teichtal the dayan of Pisztany in Slovakia was condemned by the local Orthodox community as a trouble maker and Zionist as he describes in his magesterial work Em Habanim Semeichah.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes, Meishke Levertov

Shmais: With sadness we inform you of the passing of Rabbi Moishe Levertov of Crown Heights at the age of 76. Rabbi Levertov is survived by Yibadlu Lechaim Tovim his dear wife Rebbetzin Brocha and children: Rabbi Yosef Levertov - Austin, TX, Rabbi Berel Levertov - Santa Fe, NM and Rabbi Nota Levertov - France, Mrs. Elka Matusof - CH and Mrs. Chana Marasov - Australia.

Sorry Reb Meishe, I did not have a chance to reconcile with you. Two weeks ago Gilya Zaltzman told me to go and see you in Maimonides hospital, I never made it.

Man-child as President of the USA

I detest the professional Bush bashers. Their hate is primal, simplistic and too emotional. But in light of the events of the past weeks (that naturally could not and should not be explained by blaming Bush only) the following observations by Bull Moose ring true: Arrested Development.

Bris No. 3,500

Congratulations to Dr. Yeshaya Shafit, the Mohel of Russia on his 3,500th Circumcision.

Rabbi Kotel Da-Don is fired in Zagreb

Update on the semi-secret society in Zagreb:
Haaretz: Croatias Jewish leaders fire state rabbi, say he divided community.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's notebook

Ynetnews: Hurricane punishment for pullout.
It is distressing to see that all the Torah staffed in Rabbi Ovadia Yosef by the Ashkenazim did not help one iota. Come to think of it he is starting to sound like R. Shach at his worst moments. This scrap is in the minds of a large segment of the hareidy population. And more importantly didn�t Rabbi Ovadia Yosef enable Oslo with his party vote, the mother of all calamities? Wasn't his party a vehicle for concessions when the prize was right?

Medal count: Putin - 1, Lazar - 2

Lazar gave Putin one medal in Auschwitz. In return he has collected two medals:
Chief Rabbi of Russia Awarded Memorial Medal.
Chief Rabbi of Russia Awarded Top Russian Civic Order.

Jerusalem high-speed train approved

Globes: Jerusalem high-speed train approved. The NIS 3.5 billion Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed train, via Ben Gurion Airport and Modi�in, is Israel Railways� most complex project.

A call to Jews to stockpile rifles and pistols

Schneur Zalman of NY commenting to The New Orleans PD meltdown:

I think a key lesson to be learnt from the breakdown of Law and Order in New Orleans is the need for all law abiding people to have weapons to defend themselves. Since most Orthodox Jews live in urban areas, it behooves us all to stockpile rifles and pistols to defend ourselves. This should be accomplished in a legal manner. Rifles, etc. are legal in almost all states. The government is unable to do so, certainly not local authorities and they can not be trusted to act in the manner the law dictates. By the time the Feds come around it may be too late as we saw last week. Our urban centers can erupt at any time and Jews may be the first victims as they live in those places.

Friking axe

Mayor of New Orleans says that people needed a "friking axe" and blames the governor. This is the only interview you need to see.

Dr. Michael Jacob Hirsch is safe and alive!

To follow up on Search for missing New Orleans Jews: I just spoke to his son Bernie in Texas. They found a person with a boat who went to his fathers house and fetched him. According to Bernie this person single handily save over 100 people ( government response, heh). Dr. Hirsch is now in New Orleans and he will be driven to Baton Rouge tonight.