March 10th, 2010
With the warmer weather, and the coming of Passover, thoughts turn to the Catskills, where dozens of hotels were once open for the holiday, and the beginning of “the season.”
How many bears do you think there are, walking around in the Catskills woods?
We know less about how many bears are walking around and more about how many aren’t, which gives an interesting census snaphot in any case. According to the Times Herald-Record and the state Department of Environmental Conservation, hunters killed 1,487 bears in New York last year; 71 in Orange County (up from 70 in 2008), and 106 in Sullivan County (up from 98).
Thinking of hunters and highways reminds me of the song “Teddy Bear,” by Red Sovine. For all who’ll be going away, driving 18-wheelers up Route 17, “here’s a little prayer for you, 10-4 and goodbye.“
Tags: Bears, Catskills, hunters, Red Sovine, seders, Teddy Bear
Posted in Jewish Life | No Comments »
March 7th, 2010
Tags: Agudath Israel of America, Avi Weiss, Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, JOFA, Moshe Kletenik, Rabba, Rabbinical Council of America, RCA, Sara Hurwitz, Yeshivat Maharat
Posted in Jewish Life, Jewish Politics, Religion/spirituality, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
March 3rd, 2010
Tags: Emes V'Emunah, Frum Satire, Martin Grossman, Paul Fleming, Peggy Park, Rabbi Jack Moline, Reform Action Committee, Tallahassee Democrat, Vos Iz Neias
Posted in Jewish Life, Jewish Politics, Religion/spirituality | No Comments »
February 17th, 2010
Tags: AL-Jazeera, Evangelical, global warming, Ira Forman, Israel boycott, J Street, Keith Ellison, Mel Gibson, Michael Oren, National Jewish Democratic Council, Sarah Palin, Tea Party, The Passion of The Christ, Trader Joe, UC-Irvine, Whole Foods
Posted in Israel, Jewish Life, Jewish Politics | 9 Comments »
March 8th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
RCA-member and other orthodox rabbis admit that the ordination of women is not barred halachically; rather they believe the time isn’t right or that there are cultural impediments. (Even the Agudah statement did not reference halacha — only tradition and mesorah). What I don’t understand is are our leaders Rabbis or sociologists? Will modern orthodox rabbis stand behind what they truly (and secretly) believe in or cave in the name of a short-sighted understanding of public policy. Very scary stuff. I would be worried if I had to appeal to these rabbis for a serious personal matter. They have lost a certain moral bearing in my view. Sometimes it’s the job of a Rabbi to take an unpopular posiiton. R. Avi Weiss made a diificult choice and has done more than anyone on this issue. Be he cannot do this alone. Where are the rabbis he trained? Where are the members of the rabbinic organization he and others founded? Why do they care what the Agudah or RCA says? If the RCA refuses to take the halachic side of this issue, what good are they?
March 10th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Its been very upsetting reading this article and unfortunate the Orthodox world is not ready to accept women as rabbis. Just wanted to state that I am graduate of YCT and I fully support ANYTHING Rabbi Weiss chooses to do. Of course I need to hide behind anonymous posts to do so…