Yaakov Shwekey's New Hit Cry No More

A Modzitz Concert of Chazzanim

[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/gxV1FKlGZjk?rel=0 ]

If you thought fasting for a day for the health of Rav Elyashiv was a bit too much, get a load of this...

According to Kikar, an avreich from Jerusalem was so distraught at the possibility of losing Rav Elyashiv, in a time when many great rabbis and rosh yeshivas have recently died and a number of others are currently not well, that he decided to donate a year of his life to Rav Elyashiv.

He came up with the idea, and went to ask the gedolei hador. They told him he should discuss it with his family - his wife and kids. he says they agreed right away.

He says the rabbonim encouraged him and directed him to accept it upon himself without any special ceremony, but just via personal prayer, which he says he did  last Shabbos.

After he did, during leining the person sitting next to him noticed him smiling. he asked him why the big smile. After the fellow explained what he had just done, the hassidic guy asked if he would do the same for the Satmar Rebbe - donate a year to his life? The fellow responded that yes, and he would give a year of his life for each of the gedolim.

I wonder if this will become a trend now. I wonder if 50 people donate a year each, will he be able to live a healthy life until 150? Is there some limitation on how this works? Does it mean he will have a good and healthy life for the coming year? What about the donor - when he dies a year early (though obviously nobody knows when he is supposed to die, so nobody knows when it is early or not), will he able to be saved and his life extended by prayer? This raises so many questions.

The source for such a thing, that I am aware of, is when it worked, according to the Medrash, with Adam donating 70 years of his life so David could be born and become king of Israel.

PA TV song - Jaffa and Haifa are in my country Palestine

50 Strong For Israel!

[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/Us9nnDfYZjs?rel=0 ]

Picture Of The Day

I have gotten some feedback about The Shuk from various readers, and I am impressed. They have a great range of products, and operate in a wide range of sections of the country. I initially thought that their operation is limited to "anglo strongholds", such as Jerusalem, Bet Shemesh, Modiin and some other large cities as well with reasonable numbers of anglos.

Sure enough , looking around the website a bit, I noticed that they operate all over the place, and not just on small items. Here is someone selling his car on The Shuk. This seller is located in Kfar Saba, and someone else is located in Kochav Yair.

With such a wide range of items available, and in so many parts of the country, a potential buyer is sure to find what he is looking for!

Interesting Posts #358

1. Jeremy Lin and the American Couch Potato

2. A Choice In Garb

3. The Parental Guide To Sherut Leumi

4. Twin Cities

5. Most Dangerous Wedding In The World

Rav Benny Lau, a rav in Jerusalem and rav of a number of organizations, has set off a firestorm of anger with his comments n Rav Elyashiv's situation.

Rav Lau spoke of the intense prayers being offered for Rav Elyashiv to recover. Rav Lau wrote on his Facebook page:
In the news they are reporting that the treatment Rav Elyashiv underwent has failed, and he is currently on a respirator and is unconscious. 
I am reminded of the image of Rav Yehuda HaNasi that fell deathly ill, and outside his mansion the students congregated and were relentless in prayer, in order to prevent the Angel of Death from completing his work. The maidservant of rav Yehuda HaNasi was one of the only people who saw him as a person and not as an image, but as a person who was actually suffering in pain. At first she asked the students to overcome the Angel of Death, but then she changed her prayer and requested that the upper spheres should overcome the lower spheres. She then threw down a ceramic jug, and the shattering noise caused the students to stop praying for a moment. In that moment, sans prayers, Rav Yehuda passed away. 
From the prayer of that maidservant we learn the halacha that sometimes it is appropriate to pray to allow the neshama to leave the rebellious body. This is how the Ran concludes in Masechet Nedarim, as Rav Moshe Feinstein explained it in igros Moshe. 
We too should daven that Rav Elyashiv, who lived his entire life in modesty and completely dedicated to the goal of keep the Jewish people connected to the Torah, he should find quiet and rest and the physical pains should leave him, soon in our time. 

In the original Hebrew:
בחדשות ×ž×•×¡×¨×™× ×©×”×˜×™×¤×•×œ ×”×חרון ברב ×לישיב כשל וכעת ×”×•× ×ž×•× ×©× ×•×ž×•×¨×“×. ×× ×™ נזכר בתמונה של רבי יהודה ×”× ×©×™× ×©×§×¨×¡ לתוך גופו ומחוץ ל×רמונו התגודדו ×”×ª×œ×ž×™×“×™× ×•×©×גו בתפילה, על מנת למנוע ממל×ך המוות ×œ×”×©×œ×™× ×ת מל×כתו. שפחתו של בית רבי הייתה ×ž×”×™×—×™×“×™× ×©×¨×ו ×ת ×דונה ×œ× ×‘×“×ž×™×•× ×•×ª ××œ× ×›×ž×¨××” בשר ×•×“× - ×יש מיוסר מכ×בי×. בתחילה עוד בקשה ×©×”×ª×œ×ž×™×“×™× ×”×¢×•×ž×“×™× ×œ×ž×˜×” יכניעו ×ת מל×ך המוות ×ך ל×חר זמן שינתה ×ת תפילתה וביקשה "×™×”×™ ×¨×¦×•×Ÿ שיכופו ×¢×œ×™×•× ×™× ×ת התחתוני×". הפילה ל×רץ כד של חרס ובנפילתו נשתתקו קולות התפילה ונסתלק רבי מן העול×. מתפילתה של ×ותה שפחה למדנו הלכה ×©×œ×¢×™×ª×™× × ×›×•×Ÿ ור×וי להתפלל להניח לנשמה להסתלק מן הגוף הבוגדני. כך מסיק להלכה הר"ן במסכת × ×“×¨×™× ×“×£ מ כפי שמבי×ו הרב משה פיינשטיין (×גרות משה חושן משפט ב, ×¢×’). ××£ ×נו נתפלל שהרב יוסף ×©×œ×•× ×לישיב, שחי כל חייו בצניעות ובמסירות במטרה לשמור על ×¢× ×™×©×¨×ל מחובר לתורתו, ×™×ž×¦× ×©×§×˜ ומנוחה ויסתלק מכל ייסורי הגוף, ×”×©×ª× ×‘×¢×’×œ× ×•×‘×–×ž×Ÿ קריב

Many are upset, saying that he has no right to say such a thing, to call for prayers for Rav Elyashiv's death.

I see nothing wrong with davening for a recovery (not what Rav Lau suggested), no matter how remote the chances of this are. Not just to continue existing as he is right now, but to recover. Some claims to the contrary disturb me. I have heard, both in conversation and from reading forums and talkbacks, some people say that he should be kept alive and davened for, even if just remaining in his current state. They reason that as long as he is alive he protects us (that made me think of him as "the national mezuza") and while he is suffering he provides a form of kappara for us. People are saying that even if he were to remain in his current situation, we should continue to extend it and daven for it to continue so we can receive our kappara.

To me that sounds absurd. I have no problem with the concept of the death, or suffering, of tzaddikim bringing kappara to the people. Even if I don't understand it, I have no problem accepting it. But to demand, or to daven, that Rav Elyashiv (or anyone else) should be forced to continue to suffer so that we could get a kappara, is just selfish and sick. To daven for him to continue suffering? That is absurd! Daven for a recovery, or don't daven. but to daven for the situation to continue as is for selfish reasons is ridiculous.

Anyway, Rav Benny Lau saw some of the criticism of his statement on various websites and posted a further comment. he quoted more source material on the subject from the gemara, and then brought the explanation of the Ran. he wrote:
Sometimes we must ask for mercy for someone sick that he should die, for example if he is suffering greatly from his sickness and he cannot recover as it says.. ..
From the words of the Ran we understand that there is a reality of a sick person who is going to die, that the doctors have said they have done everything humanly possible to heal and now he is in a state of suffering - for him we daven that he should be redeemed  from his body that is trapping his soul. It is everybody's right, and for sure a gadol like Rav Elyashiv, to be released from the physical limitations trapping his soul.


×ין מבקש עליו ×¨×—×ž×™× ×œ× ×©×™×—×™×” ×•×œ× ×©×™×ž×•×ª - נר××” בעיני דהכי ק×מר: ×¤×¢×ž×™× ×©×¦×¨×™×š לבקש ×¨×—×ž×™× ×¢×œ החולה שימות כגון שמצטער החולה בחליו הרבה ו××™ ×פשר לו שיחיה כד×מרינן בפרק ×”× ×•×©× (כתובות קד - הסיפור על רבי) ×•×ž×©×•× ×”×›×™ ק×מר דהמבקר חולה מועילו בתפלתו ×פי' לחיות מפני ×©×”×™× ×ª×¤×œ×” יותר מועלת ומי ש×ינו מבקרו ×ין צריך לומר ש×ינו מועילו לחיות ××œ× ×פי' ×”×™×›× ×“××™×›× ×œ×™×” ×”× ××” במיתה ×פי' ×ותה זוטרתי ×ינו מהנהו. 
מדברי הר"ן ×נו ×œ×•×ž×“×™× ×©×™×© מצי×ות של חולה הנוטה למות שהרופ××™× ××•×ž×¨×™× ×©×ž×™×¦×• ×ת ×™×›×•×œ×ª× ×”×נושית ×œ×¨×¤× ×•×”×•× × ×ª×•×Ÿ במצי×ות של סבל - ×©×ž×‘×§×©×™× ×•×ž×ª×¤×œ×œ×™× ×ž×”×§×‘"×” שיג×ל ×ת ×”××“× ×ž×”×’×•×£ ×”×›×•×œ× ×ת הנשמה. זכותו של כל ×ד×, ובוד××™ של גדול ישר×ל כרב ×לישיב, להיות משוחרר ממסגרי הגוף הכול××™× ×ת נשמתו.

The claim of "hadarat nashim", the exclusion of women, is getting out of hand. Do haredi Jews not have the right to style their society as they please? Does every single event and activity have to be gender-mixed or else be considered evil and abusive?

The latest complaint is regarding a request (demand perhaps) by the haredi councilmen of Jerusalem for separate hours in the upcoming International Ice Festival in Jerusalem.

The event is sponsored by the city of Jerusalem and the haredi community wants to be able to enjoy it as well, just like everyone else will enjoy it. If they do not want to have gender-mixed ice skating, I see nothing wrong with the request for some separate hours for them to enjoy. All over the USA local JCCs and even much larger and less Jewish events schedule separate hours at their events and activities for those who wish to restrict themselves in that way.

The response of the iryah is, as reported by Mynet, that they will not allow separation of men and women.

I think this has gone overboard. Perhaps one can say it might be necessary, as per the conduct delineated by the Rambam in his "Shmoneh Prakim" of attempting to uproot an extreme behavior by going to the other extreme in order to end up somewhere in the golden middle road - so perhaps one might think every instance of gender-segregation needs to be rejected, due to haredi society having gone to the extreme and imposing it in the craziest of situations as a standard. Maybe by complete rejection, even in instances where it is reasonable, we will eventually end up somewhere in the middle, allowing those who want it in reasonable situations to do so, but not turning it into a standard. I don't know if that will work or if it should or should not be attempted, but it seems to me that the automatic rejection of such requests has gone overboard.

Due to Rav Elyashiv's failed health and deteriorating situation, Rav Chaim Kanievsky has requested, according to statements published in the 3 daily Haredi newspapers, that people accept upon themselves to fast tomorrow, Thursday - the last day of the special "Shovavim period", for the health of Rav Elyashiv.

Rav Kanievsky said that the best is for people to accept a full-day fast, but those who cannot should at least fast for half a day. As well, only someone who's regular learning schedule will not be affected should fast. One who will not be able to maintain his regular learning, should not fast.

And to remind you, A TehillimRing was started for ×™×•×¡×£ שלונבן ×—×™×” מוש×
To help complete this TehillimRing, click here
A TehillimRing is used for urgent situtations to get all of Tehillim recited quickly for a choleh.
Click here to find out more about a TehillimRing.

Interesting Articles


I don't usually link to articles in roundups, as I try to stick to blog posts. So, I am separating this group of articles that i found interesting over the past couple of days, and posting the roundup here:

1. Don't trust the World by Yair Lapid

2. The Bet Shemesh That The Media Doesn't Recognize

3. Should We Let Haredi Families Live In Tents?

4. Couple In Their 90s Make Aliyah - oldest couple ever (in modern times I guess)

Chazzan Helfgot Sings Yiddishe Mama At A Wedding In The Lau Family

Orthodox Jews protest against Zionism

[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/IapWP8hq9Mc?rel=0 ]

Picture Of The Day

A story came in to Ladaat.net, after having been told by the "Elyashiv House Spokesman", Shlomo Kook, who also says that many stories have come in to them over the past few days, but this story is especially unique.

The story goes that a woman from Bet Shemesh was visited in her dream on Saturday night by her recently deceased father. In this visit, he asked her what is going on that there are so many prayers coming up to heaven from the world. He said that it seems the heavens are filled with prayers.

She responded to her father, in her dream, that all those prayers are because of Rav Elyashiv , as the Jewish nation is united in praying for his recovery. He responded to her , "Now all is understood", and then he disappeared.

Make of it what you will or won't, and learn whatever lesson you want from it..

Headline Of The Day


  -- Haaretz

television has really gone to the dogs....

Quote Of The Day

Who needs Zahava Galon when there is Netanyahu? Bibi is strong with words, but a failure in actions. From all the talk of integration of the Me'arat HaMachpela and right-wing legislation, nothing remains.

  -- MK Dr. Michael Ben-Ari (NATIONAL UNION) responding to reports that Kever Rachel and Mearat Hamachpela are being removed from the national heritage sites list

There are always people selling interesting and weird stuff on eBay. The latest eBay item of interest to the Jewish world is somebody selling a stone from the Western Wall.

This is probably a scam, as I doubt anyone is chipping away stones from the Western Wall, and I don't think he is selling any stones that weigh 10 tons...

Various news sites (Bechadrei, INN and Mynet) are reporting about someone claiming to sell stones from the Western wall on eBay. he is not doing what others have done before - selling stones or dirt from nearby the Wall. he is claiming to be selling actual stones from the Wall itself. Rabbi Rabinovitch, the rav of the Kotel and holy sites, has sent a complaint to eBay demanding they cancel the sale, calling it sacrilegious, a serious offense to Judaism, and a violation of Israeli law.

Rabbi Rabinovitch also claims it involves fraud, as there is no blessing in obtaining such a stone, rather a curse would befall such a person. To support that, Rabbi Rabinovitch bring sin his book about the Western Wall a story related by Rav Zilbershtein in which a woman fell seriously ill. Someone told her husband that he should put a piece of stone form the Kotel under her pillow and it would be a blessing for recovery. As soon as he did, she died.

I did numerous searches on eBay and could not find the stone from the Western Wall being offered. Maybe they took it down.

A couple of interesting laws that were recently proposed:

Congrats to the Ida Crown Jewish Academy on becoming the first Jewish team to win the regional championships in Illinois, and on not compromising their religious ideals while doing so..

Oprah: The Challenges Facing Black Hasidic Jews

Here is another clip from Oprah Winfrey's visit to Hassidic Brooklyn

Exclusive Webisode: The Challenges Facing Black Hasidic Jews

The Abrahamsons, one of few black Hasidic families, discuss the challenges they face within their community and in the world. Plus, what is it like to be an interracial Hasidic couple? Sarah and her husband, Yosef, open up about the reactions they have received from friends and co-workers.

[ http://www.oprah.com/common/omplayer_embed.html?article_id=35958 ]

Exclusive Webisode: What It Means to Be Hasidic

The Ginsbergs, a Hasidic family living in Brooklyn, New York, sit around the dinner table with Oprah and discuss what their faith means to them. Plus, find out why they say Hasidic Jews—young and old alike—strive to touch lives and make the world a better place.

Out of all the Jewish groups, Chabad is the best possible group for Oprah to have spoken to.

Lipa Schmeltzer at Gourmet Glatt Grand Opening

Picture Of The Day

I see nothing wrong with this, but I do find it funny and interesting.

Kate Hooker, a designer in the UK, was in Israel over a decade ago. While in Israel she bought a hassidic jacket in a second-hand shop. The jacket had been made for a 14 year old hassidic boy. She thought it was so great, it fit her so well, that she had it replicated, and then she marketed it.

Hooker even says that her version of this coat is Kate Middleton's favorite coat. The princess Kate Middleton.

(source: Ynetnews)


I am trying to imagine the hassidic mens/boys jacket this was copied from, but somehow I cannot picture it...

A couple of weeks ago I pointed out a letter to the editor in a newspaper in the United States concerning a resident who was opposed to the possible twinning of Montgomery County with Bet Shemesh. It seemed like the project was already in the final stages and was going to move ahead.

Turns out that Montgomery changed direction and decided to cancel the twinning plan with Bet Shemesh. Instead, they are moving down their list of possibilities and choosing Gondar in Ethiopia over us in Bet Shemesh.

From the Washington Post:
Thoughts:
To his credit, Mayor Moshe Abutbol responded to inquiries on the municipal Facebook page as to his response to this issue.

Here is the original in Hebrew, translation will follow below:

בניגוד לשמועות, ×œ× ×‘×•×˜×œ×” כריתת ברית עיר ת×ומה ×¢× ×ž×—×•×– מונטגומרי. לעיר בית שמש יש שיתופי פעולה ×¢× ×”×§×”×™×œ×” היהודית במחוז ×שר פעלה למסד ×ת הקשר ב×מצעות העירייה המקומית. פעילות זו נתקלה בהתנגדויות של ×’×•×¨×ž×™× ×¤×¨×•-פליסטינ××™×™× ×שר ×ž× ×”×œ×™× ×ž×בק כללי נגד מדינת ישר×ל ×•×¤×•×¢×œ×™× ×œ×—×¨× ×¢×œ תוצרת ישר×ל, להימנע מהשקעות בכלכלה הישר×לית ולהטיל סנקציות על מדינת ישר×ל. חבל מ×וד ×©×’×•×¨×ž×™× ××™× ×˜×¨×¡× ×˜×™×™× ×ž×§×•×ž×ž×™× ×ž×‘×™×ª שמש ×—×•×‘×¨×™× ×‘×ž×¢×©×™×”× ×œ××•×ª× ×’×•×¨×ž×™× ×¤×¨×• פליסטנ××™×™× ×‘×”×¤×¦×ª דיבתה של העיר בית שמש, ×שר ×¨×•×‘× ×”×ž×•×—×œ×˜ של תושביה ×—×™×™× ×™×—×“×™×• בהרמוניה מל××”.

My translation: Contrary to rumors, the twinning arrangement with Montgomery County was not cancelled. The City of Bet Shemesh has active cooperation with the jewish community of the county that tried to institutionalize the connection via the local municipality. This was met with opposition by pro Palestinian elements that are waging general struggle against the State of Israel, attempt to create boycotts of Israeli products, effect divestment from Israeli companies and place sanctions on Israel. It is a shame that local people with agendas in Bet Shemesh join together with those pro-Palestinian elements in spreading slander against the city of Bet Shemesh, whose decisive majority of residents live together in complete harmony.

My thoughts on the mayor's response:

at first I thought the death yesterday of Whitney Houston had nothing to do with us here in Israel. Nothing more than the way it might have affected her fans anywhere, that is.

But it turns out it did have a specific connection to Israel

The Black Hebrews are mourning Whitney Houston's death.

From Breitbart:

Mako News has a report about a situation in Modiin...

A building project was sold as "Mechir L'mishtaken" - this is subsidized housing that is built to be sold cheaply. To qualify to buy one must meet criteria set by the government, usually including some combination of having low income, over a certain number of children, sometimes must have served in the army, never have previously owned a home, etc.

In Modiin a number of the apartments in the project were bought by haredim. Nothing wrong with that, except that they actually had no interest in living there. They were buying ti for the investment, and now, 2 years later, are turning around and selling those apartments for double what they paid.

The purpose of mechir l'mishtaken is not for people to find a great investment to make a killing off. it is to help weaker sectors buy apartments they need for living. The government gives these subsidies, encourages the cheaper prices, nto so people can make good money off the government, but for people who need to have a place to live in.

I am a capitalist like the next guy. I have no problem with a person putting down money and making an honest buck off it. I also have no problem with the government building more houses -people need to live and there is a shortage.

When the issue came up in bet Shemesh, I did not like it. I said then that why should the government subsidize the purchase of apartments when they did not subsidize it for me? And, what is to stop anybody from buying these apartments and turning around and selling them for double the price? All the while, they are decreasing my property value. If the housing was built and buyers paid full value, bvakasha. go ahead. But why subsidize housing that will let people just go make money off it?

So, now they are talking about adding criteria that would make a buyer hold the apartment for 10 years. According to the quote in the video, Housing Minister Arial Attias is against setting such a rule. I would add, in addition to a rule like that, that the buyer must live in the house for a period of x number of years (fill it in as 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, etc - the number does not really matter because if people would have to live there, they would only buy it if thats where they were willing to live.)

NASCAR Team Races for Israel

[ http://www.youtube.com/embed/ONdd-QwRRX4?rel=0 ]