A Great German Word

I am not a great fan of German achievement. I believe – horrors! horrors! – that a Lexus or a Cadillac is better than a BMW or a Mercedes. But I do acknowledge that Germans have a way with words. They created words that other languages simply do not have.

Schadenfreude is such a word. In case you are not familiar with it, it takes seven English words to define it: “malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others.” The dictionary also explains it with a quote from the New York Times about historian Peter Gay – who felt Schadenfreude as a Jewish child in Nazi-era Berlin, watching the Germans lose coveted gold medals in the 1936 Olympics; he said that it “can be one of the great joys of life.”

Rabbis issue list of names Jews should not give their children

A group of Israeli rabbis has put together a list of names they say should be off-limits to Jewish children – including Ariel and Omri, the given names of Israel’s prime minister and his eldest son.

Saying the name Ariel is problematic because it could beckon an angel instead, drawing down his wrath, the rabbis caution.

Omri – the name of an evil Biblical king – should be taboo because of the highly negative connotation.

Wilma Victims Get Short Shrift

Elderly Jews in south Florida have two strikes against them: Hurricane Wilma wiped out their electrical power, their lifeline to self-sufficiency, and, after Hurricane Katrina and Rita, it seems few tears are left to be shed for the plight of these victims, thousands trapped in their homes, suffering without food, clean water and medical care. A case of compassion fatigue?

Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of the Chabad-Lubavitch educational and social services divisions, shudders at the suggestion. “It would be a crime if victims were left to languish because people are tired of the misery. I hope it does not apply here,” he said. “It certainly does not apply to Chabad.”

Bill would hike fine for vandalizing houses of worship

Council’s Public Safety Committee approves measure introduced by Mid-Island Republican Oddo

Vandals who are caught desecrating churches, synagogues and other houses of worship would be forced to cough up as much as $25,000 in fines under legislation approved yesterday by a City Council committee.

The Public Safety Committee unanimously passed a measure that Council minority leader James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) introduced in August in an effort to stem a surge in vandalism that included graffiti sprayed on the walls of the Staten Island Sikh Temple in Dongan Hills last November and the decapitation of a statue of the Virgin Mary outside a Knights of Columbus hall in New Dorp in June.

US Supreme Court Nominee Justice Samuel Alito Supported Public Menorah Display.

In 1994, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) brought a suit against the City of Jersey City to stop it from erecting a holiday display which included a menorah, a crèche, a holiday tree, and a sign stating that the display was part of the broader celebration of diversity. The display of the crèche and menorah, both owned by the city, has gone on for thirty years and is done on property also owned by the city.

Veteran B’klyn Cop, 62, Retires

A renowned NYPD squad commander retired yesterday after 39 years — and spending nearly his entire career working at one Brooklyn precinct.

Sgt. Norman Horowitz, 62, has been a fixture in the 90th Precinct and the Williamsburg community since he joined the force in 1966.

During his career, he had been stabbed three times and had arrested countless crooks.

In an amazing coincidence, he once delivered a child and years later arrested that same boy as an alleged teenager robber.

Horowitz, a father of six and grandfather of 12, said he feels he has “grown up” with the community.

Subways getting emergency exits

Every subway station will be equipped with new emergency exit gates so transit riders can quickly escape from a fire or a terrorist attack, the Daily News has learned.

“Panic bars,” similar to those on emergency-exit doors in movie theaters, will be installed on subway station gates, located near turnstiles and stairwells to streets – allowing riders to get out without having to ask a token booth clerk to unlock the portals, authorities said.

Matisyahu on MTVu

“mtvU, MTV’s college network, today announced performers for the 2005 mtvU Woodie Awards — the only show honoring the music voted best by the college audience. Set to take the stage at the first-ever live “Woodies” music event and ceremony are mtvU favorites Death Cab for Cutie, Little Brother and Matisyahu. Saul Williams will also perform at the event, joining Matisyahu for a special, first-ever collaboration. The 2005 mtvU Woodie Awards will take place November 2nd at Roseland Ballroom in New York City and will premiere on mtvU on November 10th. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly.”

2 Part backstage interview with Matisyahu

Matisyahu’s Nomination Video

P.S. I think this is like one of the biggest Kiddush Hashem’s around. What do you think? (use the comment system for that)

A prayer for reconciliation and forgiveness

A spur-of-the-moment visit to Rabbi Menachem Schneerson’s tomb brings unexpected and astonishing results

I make no apologies for my devotion to Chasidism, particularly to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, with its tireless outreach and nonjudgmental welcome to Jews of all callings and backgrounds. Moreover, it asks nothing in return.

Do I agree with every point of the movement’s theology and lifestyle? No, but enough to make me an adherent. In fact, we often joke about how a rabbi so seemingly atypical, in a decidedly un-Chabad town like Greenville, is so devoted to the work of Chabad. Hence my title, “Closet Lubavitcher”!

Jewish Fundamentalism?

Question:

I was wondering if there is such a person as a Jewish fundamentalist, the way that there are those folks in Christianity and Islam? If so, what percent of Jews would or could be classified as Fundamentalist? And, what would their core beliefs be?

Answer:

I’m not sure what your definition of fundamentalist is, but here’s mine: A fundamentalist is someone who believes that theirs is the only true path, and anyone who does not follow their ways is evil. The fundamentalist sees only two options for the rest of humanity – join us or suffer the consequences. Other nations are there to either missionize or destroy, and any belief system that does not conform with theirs is to be eradicated.

Van ablaze at Chabad possibly linked to shul break-in

Federation director calls act “wholly unacceptable”

A Jewish-owned van was torched in the parking lot of Chabad Lubavitch of the North Shore last week, only two weeks after the synagogue had been the target of anti-Semitic vandalism.

Days before Rosh Hashanah, the same Chabad congregation found that vandals had entered the building through an unlocked door on Sept. 30, destroying the interior of the property with obscene, anti-Jewish messages.

Rabbi Yossi Lipsker, spiritual leader of Chabad Lubavitch of the North Shore, told the Advocate two weeks ago: “I was horrified beyond imagination. To bring that dimension into this sacred space was utterly horrifying.”

London Friends’ Hurricane Hell

The holiday of a lifetime turned into a nightmare for three Jewish friends from London this week after Hurricane Wilma left them stranded in Mexico without food or water.

An excerpt of the article: [click the extended article like to read the whole story.]

Further east in Florida, there were reports of succahs being ripped out of the ground when the hurricane struck.

According to Chabad of Hallandale’s representative Rabbi Rephael Tennenhaus, telephone pole wires shook “like lulavs”. But the rabbi said he expected the hurricane to cause more people than usual to attend simchat torah festivities as many had been prevented from cooking.

Today in 1992…

… A New York City jury acquits 17-year-old Lemrick Nelson of murdering Yankel Rosenbaum, an Australian Hasidic scholar killed in rioting in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn in August 1991 following the traffic death of a black child hit by a Hasidic driver.

This from the Australian newspaper “Herald Sun”.

Simchat Torah holiday honors completion of a yearlong cycle of reading scrolls

Excerpt from a local FL news paper:

…Meanwhile, over at the Chabad Lubavitch celebration at Bais Menachem in Salt Lake’s Sugar House neighborhood, men tossed back shots of vodka and whiskey and sipped on bottles of Michelob Ultra. Drinking on Simchat Torah, while nowhere commanded and not a part of most Jewish celebrations, has become tradition in some circles – a part of the festivities.

“Oh, yeah. The rabbi is lit,” laughed Alysse Eisen Silk, as Rabbi Benny Zippel’s voice boomed from the men’s side of the room. In Orthodox Judaism, men and women are separated in synagogue sanctuaries and while dancing.