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For this week's parashah, there's a great example of the way Acharonim come up with great ways of twisting the meaning of Midrashim and older perushim to make them fit with their religious outlook, which obviously to us (but not to them) wasn't shared by the old ones ( Read more... )

1. I was in an "Everything for two shekels" store yesterday. I noticed that they were selling a peculiar little device. It looked kind of like a hearing aid, and it was advertised as a "cure" for tiredness, driving while sleepy, or drunk driving. I read the details. It was a device that, once turned on, would start to beep if the wearer's head began ( Read more... )

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I saw this in today's Yediot Acharonot newspaper! Translation:
The blessings [to be said] when seeing
The king messiah
The Lubavitcher Rebbe
He is the god
There is none other than him!

(From the responsa Lev Chaim part 2 chapter 42)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, redeemer of Israel.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the ( Read more... )

Since this came up when replying to hatam_soferet's blog, I thought I'd crosspost it here for my readers' benefit as well.
Often times, shuls (especially non-Orthodox ones. Orthodox ones are usually much more careful about this) are built with the Aron HaKodesh (Holy Ark) *not* on the wall that's in the direction of Jerusalem. Usually, nowadays, shuls like ( Read more... )

I'm curious to see what kinds of shuls you guys go to. How is the sanctuary set up? Which way do the leaders face? Where do they sit? Bimah in center of the room? At front? Chazzan's amud and/or table for Torah reading centered before the Ark, or rabbi's and cantor's lecturns side-by-side at opposite ends of the stage? Separate (side by side with/ ( Read more... )

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