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Business leaders quit Trump advisory panel over response to violenceBy SUSAN HEAVEY and SCOTT MALONE
August 16. 2017 12:29AM
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hit back on Tuesday at business leaders who quit a presidential advisory panel in protest over his response to a rally by far-right groups that turned deadly in Virginia, calling the executives "grandstanders."
Trump has faced a storm of criticism from Democrats and members of his own Republican Party over his initial response to Saturday's violence around the rally in the Southern college town of Charlottesville.
Three business leaders quit a Trump panel in protest on Monday and on Tuesday, Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said on Twitter he was also resigning "because it is the right thing for me to do."
Wal-Mart Stores Inc Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon, the biggest private employer in the United States with 1.5 million employees, said he would remain on the council "to help bring people together" but criticized the President. Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky also said he would remain on the panel.
"As we watched the events and the response from President Trump over the weekend, we too felt that he missed a critical opportunity to help bring our country together by unequivocally rejecting the appalling actions of white supremacists," Walmart's McMillon wrote in a note to employees Monday evening.
The note was later posted on a company website and accessible to the public.
Gorsky said in a statement that ."..if we aren't there standing up for our belief in diversity and inclusion, or if we fail to speak out when the situation demands it, then we have abdicated our...responsibility."
Trump bowed on Monday to two days of pressure for a more forceful response, singling out groups behind the "Unite the Right" rally that were widely seen as stoking the disturbances. But he was still clearly frustrated over the reaction to his response.
"For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place. Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!" Trump said on Twitter on Tuesday.
The head of pharmaceutical company Merck & Co Inc, Kenneth Frazier, left the president's American Manufacturing Council in protest on Monday. The CEOs of sportswear manufacturer Under Armour Inc and semiconductor chip maker Intel Corp, Kevin Plank and Brian Krzanich, followed suit later in the day.
On Monday, Trump had struck back at Frazier, saying in a Twitter post that now he had left the panel, the Merck executive would have more time to focus on lowering "ripoff" drug prices.
'Forced and half-hearted'
Criticism of Trump from within his own party has not abated.
U.S. Representative Charlie Dent said Trump's comments on Monday, when he denounced neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacists by name, were better than his "failed response" over the weekend. But it still looked "a little bit forced and half-hearted," Dent told MSNBC.
A Democratic National Committee statement on Tuesday said in part: "The President should never keep the American people in suspense about whether he condones or opposes white supremacy."
Former U.S Treasury Secretary Larry Summers hailed Frazier for taking a stand against what Summers said had been Trump's "manifestly inadequate" response to the Charlottesville violence, and urged leaders in American industry to look to the example.
"Every member of Mr. Trump's advisory councils should wrestle with his or her conscience and ponder Edmund Burke's famous warning that 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,'" Summers, treasury secretary under Democratic former President Bill Clinton, wrote in the Financial Times on Tuesday.
After making his statement on Monday at the White House, Trump also lashed out at the media, where many commentators said his response to the unrest still rang hollow.
"Made additional remarks on Charlottesville and realize once again that the #Fake News media will never be satisfied...truly bad people!" he said in a tweet.
CNN has been one of the media most targeted by Trump for criticism. On Tuesday morning, he retweeted a cartoon that showed a train labeled "Trump" colliding with a person depicted as CNN and captioned, "Nothing can stop the #TrumpTrain !!" The tweet was deleted shortly afterwards.
Neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer, which helped organize the rally, moved on Tuesday to the so-called Dark Web, a portion of the Internet that is not indexed by popular search engines, because its registration to use the open internet was revoked by GoDaddy Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google.


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The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) Graduate Research STEM Fellowship Program provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a program of study in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance. Applied Health Sciences majors are not eligible for this program.
Graduate Research Fellowships require that students participate in an active faculty-mentored research experience that aligns with aerospace sector and meets NASA's mission. Awards are made annually and are renewable for one year for students making satisfactory academic and research progress. This is a competitive fellowship program and awards are based on merit recognizing high academic achievement and promise.
Underrepresented minorities, females, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
VSGC Supported Graduate STEM Research Activity
The fellowship program requires students to participate in an active, identified research activity in STEM that has aerospace and NASA applications. The research must be supervised by a faculty mentor and may be conducted on the home campus or at an industrial or government facility. The research activity should be continuous and may be conducted anytime during the academic year, a ten week summer term, or both. For a list of research titles and abstracts recently funded by the VSGC through the Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Program, visit the VSGC Student Research Conference web site.
Required Application Components
The application must be submitted online and all information must be complete or the application will not be reviewed. The components of the application are discussed in more detail below.
1. Description of Proposed Research Aligned with NASA's Mission and a Plan of Study
A statement written by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor should describe the key elements of the proposed research and plan of study. Applicants should submit a proposal for research that is 2-3 pages (not including references) and clearly describes the research objective and methodology. All research projects must be mentored by a faculty member and this mentor will be required to submit a letter of reference for the project. Applicants will be asked to specifically identify how their research relates to NASA's Mission Directorates .
The selection committee is made up of university faculty in a variety of disciplines. Applicants should present their proposed research in a form that will be understandable to a range of readers. For Graduate Renewal applicants, see research progress report information below. Only one Graduate Fellowship application per student per year is allowed.
2. Resume, Letters of Recommendation, and Faculty Advisor's Vita
Applicants will submit a short resume' that includes education history, significant accomplishments (e.g. honors or fellowships), and any other relevant information.
Applicants will also provide the names and contact information for two references of which one must be the student's faculty advisor. VSGC will contact both references via email to request a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant. References will be provided with a link to submit the recommendation. The faculty advisor must submit a short vita (no longer than two pages) that includes name, current position, title, department, university address, phone number, research to date, and principal publications. For the application to be complete, the faculty advisor must submit a letter of reference and a vita. The VSGC suggests that applicants contact the references listed and inform them that they will receive an email requesting this information on their behalf.
3. Transcript(s)
Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended and from the current institution with grades through Fall 2017 are required and can be submitted as a PDF in the online application (see Graduate Fellow Renewal exception below). Applicants must submit one transcript from each institution of higher education attended, whether as an undergraduate or graduate student. If the applicant is selected to receive the award, official transcripts may be required at the time of acceptance. If the applicant does not have a PDF conversion tool, links to free on-line PDF converters are provided within the application.
For Graduate Research Fellowship Renewal Applications ONLY
Current Graduate Research Fellows applying for a Fellowship Renewal do not need to submit old transcripts as VSGC has those on file. Renewal applicants do need to submit transcripts from a current institution with Fall 2017 semester grades.
In the Educational History section of the application, please list only your current institution. If your institution does not calculate a traditional GPA, please calculate an estimated GPA for the application and add a related comment in the comments field. Renewal applicants only need to submit a progress report 2-3 pages in length for your VSGC-funded research. You do not need to submit a full research proposal for your continued research. Please note that if your research has changed significantly from the previous year, then you need to contact Chris Carter at VSGC immediately (email@example.com).
Awardee Requirements
Disposition of Unused Funds
If the awardee terminates his/her academic program during the 2018-2019 academic year, the University is required to return a prorated share of the scholarship award to the VSGC. Fellowship funds are not transferable. Any unused funds should be returned to us.
Application Timeline:
Applications are due by February 5, 2018. Letters of recommendation are due by February 12, 2018. Awards will be announced by early April 2018 with funding provided to students through the universities for the 2018-2019 academic year.
A printable flyer for the Graduate Fellowship Program can be found here.
Sample proposals for the STEM Graduate Research Program can be found here.
Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Application
APPLICATION Deadline February 5, 2018
(Letters of recommendation must be received by February 12th, 2018.) Applicants will be notified early April.
Any questions can be directed to Joyce Kuberek email@example.com
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Criterion's December slate, plus Tank Girl, Breaking Bad: Final Season & new Fox classics
Afternoon, all. We've got a couple things for you today…
First, the good Dr. Jahnke has turned in a couple newly-upgraded classic Blu-ray reviews from The Original Bits for you to read today. In this case, it's a pair of excellent Shout! Factory titles from the Roger Corman catalog – Piranha and Starcrash. Enjoy!
Also today, our own Russell Hammond has just posted this week's Release Dates & Artwork update with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after clicking through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we surely do appreciate it.
Now then… we've got some announcement news for you today… [Read on here…]


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Bosch 1821D 5" Rat Tail Grinder
Standard Equipment:
- 1821D Grinder
- Vibration Dampening Side Handle
- Flange Kit
- Spanner Wrench
- 5" Grinding Wheel
Optional Accessories:
See other Disc Grinders
- Rating: 120 V AC
- Amperage: 9.5
- No-load RPM: 11,000
- Wheel Size: 5"
- Arbor Size: 5/8"-11
- Length: 14-3/4"
- Weight: 5.1 lbs
- Powerful and durable for the most demanding jobs/compact and lightweight for all day use.
- 2-Position Vibration Control Handle reduces vibration up to 60%, providing uncompromising user comfort for extended periods of work.
- The paddle switch enables the operator to control the switch functions of "Lock-OFF", and "ON/OFF".
- Epoxy Coated Field Windings provides the ultimate protection against abrasive dust and metal debris.
- Sealed Switch keeps debris out of the switch mechanism and extends switch life.
- Service Minder Brushes eliminates guesswork, stops the tool when preventative maintenance is required.
- Tool-Free Adjustable Guard for quick guard installation and adjustments.
- AC/DC Capability extends the versatility of the tool by working from DC outlets such as welders and generators.


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Cisco scores AU$38m NBN win
MPLS routers, switches and firewalls will power Australia's NBN
Cisco has sunk its claws deeper into NBNCo, after the networking giant picked up a tender to provide routers for the NBN's operational networks.
Cisco is already embedded in NBNCo's data centres, where its servers and networking kit sit alongside VMware software and EMC arrays. The new deal will see routers running multi-protocol layer switching deployed in what the company calls its National Connectivity Network (NCN), that links "depot, aggregation nodes and other key locations" to facilitate operational and provisioning chores.
NBN Co's executive general manager of Network Architecture and Technology, Tony Cross, is quoted as saying, in a hermetically-sealed statement, that "This equipment will enable communication between NBN Co's centralised operational staff and IT systems with the fibre, fixed wireless and satellite equipment situated at various locations across Australia. The remote control of this equipment, via the NCN, will allow new services to be activated and faults to be diagnosed and repaired quickly and efficiently across Australia."
Cisco has declared itself "thrilled" to have won the work, which is expected to involve up to five years of toil. ®


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More Oregon kids on 'alternative' vaccine schedules
More and more parents in one area of Oregon are not following the recommended vaccination schedule for their babies and that means some are missing their recommended shots, according to a new study.
Researchers found that the number of babies on alternative vaccination schedules grew from 2.5 percent in 2006 to 9.5 percent in 2009. And despite going to the doctor's office more, those babies got fewer shots overall compared with those whose parents stuck to the recommended schedule.
Delaying or avoiding shots through alternative schedules have known risks -- such as increasing the amount of time babies are susceptible to certain disease -- but no known benefits, according to the authors from the Oregon Health Authority and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who published their study in the journal Pediatrics on Monday.
"The findings are not surprising, but they're troubling," said Dr. Saad Omer, an assistant professor at Emory University in Atlanta.
Omer, who was not involved with the new study, said past research showed that some parents reported plans to not follow the recommended vaccine schedule. These numbers, he said, show those parents acted on those plans.
The 2009 Oregon figures are similar to those in a 2011 study of the entire U.S., which found more than one in ten parents used an alternative schedule, or refused vaccines altogether (see Reuters Health story of October 3, 2011).
The researchers say the delay can be from a fear of too many shots all at once, pain, questioning whether some vaccines are necessary and a general mistrust of the government and industry.
The CDC-backed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends babies get a series of shots before their first birthday. That schedule is backed by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The shots offer protection against several diseases, including diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, tetanus and the flu.
"The recommended schedule is based on indisputable scientific evidence that the vaccines will work to prevent infections and are safe," wrote Dr. Carol Baker, ACIP's chair and a professor of pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, in an email to Reuters Health.
And while the study cannot say if more of the "shot limiters" are getting sick compared to the others, Steve Robison, the study's lead author from the Oregon Immunization Program, said their previous research suggests that's the case -- especially looking at studies of pertussis cases, also known as whooping cough.
Limiting shots
To see how many parents followed alternative vaccination schedules, researchers used shot records for all babies born in and near Portland between 2003 and 2009.
Of the 97,711 children born in that time period, about 4,500 received two shots or less at every immunization visit to the doctor's office before they were nine months old. Those kids were called "consistent shot limiters."
The two-shot definition, according to the researchers, is based on published alternative schedules such as those by Dr. Stephanie Cave and Dr. Robert Sears in their respective books. There was a slight decline in the percent of "shot limiters" between July 2003 and October 2006. Then, there was a steep increase until October 2008, when the percentages remained steady until the end of the study. The data can't explain the reason behind the dramatic increase.
On average, shot limiters received about six vaccinations across about four visits to the doctor's office. Those who stuck to the schedule -- or only missed a shot here and there -- received about 10 vaccinations across about three visits. That difference was significant, according to the authors, and the "shot limiters" still didn't catch up to the rest even at 19 months of age.
"The problem that we saw is that these kids are getting fewer shots total and they're not catching up," said Robison.
"Parents and doctors don't realize how easy it is for kids on alternative schedules to fall behind," he added.
'Bad news'
Dr. Paul Cieslak, the Oregon Immunization Program's medical director, said the ACIP schedule is designed to balance the number of vaccinations needed with the realities of a parent taking time off work and scheduling doctor visits.
"If you're getting your kid vaccinated according to schedule, good work… If you're tempted to use these alternative schedules, your child is going to be more susceptible (to the diseases) for a longer period of time," he said.
Dr. Amanda Dempsey, of the Children's Outcomes Research Program at the University of Colorado, Denver, told Reuters Health there are other problems beyond health concerns. Dempsey, who was not involved with the new study, told Reuters Health that alternative schedules add an extra burden to the healthcare system by increasing the number of doctor visits that add to the stress of parents and babies.
She said there is also a danger that the wider population will lose "herd immunity," which is when some people -- including sick people and infants -- are protected because the people around them are immune.
"No vaccine is 100 percent effective. So even if you had all your vaccines, if you're surrounded by people who are carrying diseases, you're at risk," she said.
Robison told Reuters Health that the people included in this study have a high rate of exemptions for school-required vaccines and the findings may not apply to other areas. Another limitation of the study is that it relies on doctors reporting information. But overall, the results are bad news for children and infants, wrote Baker, who was not involved with the new study.
"These limiter parents are gambling with the health of their children; parents should be able to make medical choices but I pray they will make the best choices, and not following the schedule is the wrong choice."


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The new fall/winter clothing collection — classic women's tops, dresses, skirts, pants and tunics, as well as the latest coats, jackets and sweaters from the runway.
Receive 10% off your first purchase*
Offer excludes Minnie, Miller, pre-order items, Private Sale products, Tory Sport, Tory Burch Foundation and other charity items, Gift Cards, taxes and shipping. Cannot be redeemed for cash. Only valid at toryburch.com. Cannot be combined with other events or promotions. One use per customer. No price adjustments on previous purchases. Offer expires one month from date issued.
Tory Burch does not share or sell personal information. See the privacy policy for Tory Burch and Tory Sport.
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2010 Winter Meeting Highlights
When we remember this meeting we will remember great mounds of snow. Just prior to the Joint AAPT/APS Winter Meeting in Washington, DC the mid-Atlantic area was covered with snow from two separate record-breaking storms leaving the city with more than four feet of snow to remove from airport runways, streets and sidewalks. Thousands of residences and businesses were without power and Washington, DC was, literally, closed down for a week. Thanks to the heroic efforts or an army of road and power crews the main roads were opened and power restored to most of the area just days before the meeting was scheduled to begin.


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Stellenbosch Media Forum 2004 Marais, Jana; Rees, Meagan; De Vries, Florence; Kuschke, Jazz; Vermaak, Pieter; October, Alicestine; Coetzee, Nerisa; Taunyane, Molebogeng; Marshall, Jill; Hall, Wendy; Gerber, Amelda; Luxande, Manelisi; Webb, Délani; Mvana, Mbulelo; Botha, Benescke; Theart, Cara; Seabi, Philly; Breytenbach, Karen; Van den Berg, Marzanne; De Wet, Dawid (Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch University, 2004)The great poet Robert E. Frost in his The Road Not Taken wrote of the "road less travelled by". He stood at the crossroads and surveyed his two choices, regretting not being able to travel both. One had clearly been well ...


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The next Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference for the Nation's Genealogists takes place in Birmingham, Alabama from August 29 – September 1, 2012. Indians, Squatters, Settlers and Soldiers in the 'Old Southwest' is the conference theme and it is hosted by the Alabama Genealogical Society (AGS).
This year's FGS conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family history. Over 175 educational sessions and 13 luncheons are designed to balance the needs of genealogists at all levels, exploring a variety of records, strategies, and other tools available to those interested in researching their family history. Special sessions include a wide variety targeting members and leaders of genealogical and historical societies. In addition, special events, such as the Alabama Genealogical Society Opening Social at the Alabama Theater, the FGS Evening Social at the historic Sloss Furnaces, Spotlight on Societies, and daily sponsored lectures provide an excellent environment to meet and network with others interested in family history and genealogy.
AGS is still looking for volunteers to help with registration, technology troubleshooting, room monitors, exhibit hall and other conference activities. Volunteering may also save you money on your registration. You can find out more information here or sign up here.


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Radamel Falcao has managed to recover from a minor muscle injury to make Atletico Madrid's starting line-up for the crunch clash with Barcelona on Sunday evening.
The Colombian was a doubt for the match at Camp Nou due to a muscle tweak in his leg, but has been passed fit to face the Catalans.
Another massive boost for los Colchoneros is the return of defender Miranda to the starting XI. The Brazilian has served his one-match ban and slots in at the back alongside Diego Godin.
Tito Vilanova has opted to hand a start to Adriano at right-back for Barcelona. Martin Montoya has deputised in defence for the injured Dani Alves in recent weeks but the former Sevilla man has been given the nod.
A first-choice midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta start the match and there is also a place for Alexis Sanchez on the left-hand side of the attacking front-three. Pedro and Lionel Messi join him up top.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Adriano, Pique, Puyol, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Alexis, Messi, Pedro.
Subs: Pinto, Alves, Mascherano, Thiago, Villa, Tello, Song.
Atletico Madrid (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe; Suarez, Gabi; Arda, Koke, Diego Costa; Falcao.
Subs: Asenjo, Cata Diaz, Manquillo, Tiago, Emre, Raul Garcia, Adrian.


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Moderator: B&F Moderator
ephteeay wrote:Had you asked 3 months ago, I'd have been 33 1/3
zonard wrote:ephteeay wrote:Had you asked 3 months ago, I'd have been 33 1/3
Damn ! you just made me realize I passed my 33 1/3 without noticing it too We must have the same age FTA
Can't say I wait for my 45 nor my 78 !
Ringo wrote:43, can I retire yet?
ephteeay wrote:I was born in January which makes it 4 months since 33.33 ... so you may be a month younger than me (depending on your arithmetic skills )
John Eden wrote:Ringo wrote:43, can I retire yet?
That's about when I did (44).
Mind you, still enjoyed Mad Professor and Rodigan's sets at Camp Bestival last weekend.
Ringo wrote:
Users browsing this forum: django, Google [Bot] and 8 guests


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Jim and Jason Pennington, two brothers from Austin, Texas, decided not to spend Christmas with family in Hawaii, as they do each year.
"We had a choice: Maui or Newtown," Jim Pennington said.
The shooting on Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook elementary that left 28 dead in Newtown, including 20 young children, compelled the Texan brothers to volunteer.
The brothers flew to Newark, N.J., and drove a rental car north. They arrived Thursday in Newtown without much of a plan, other than to help in whatever way they can. They are among at least dozens and maybe hundreds of people who have come to town to assist, to volunteer, to give gifts and to offer support.
"It's like this whole town is family," Jim Pennington said. "I won't feel this close to the Christmas spirit for a long time."
Newtown's town social services office has had phone calls all week from people across the country asking how they can help, said case worker Ann Benore.
One man drove from Chicago and donated thousands of stuffed animals. A shipment of 60,000 stuffed animals arrived from Arkansas. A youth group from Cleveland drove through a blizzard to hand out toys in front of Edmond Town Hall, which is a multi-purpose building on Main Street.
In the basement of Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, banquet tables overflowed with donated toys. Benore, the town social services case worker, said there were more in storage.
"We have thousands of teddy bears," she said.
The Pennington brothers were among volunteers who set up tables, and, on Friday, they unboxed toys and displayed them. On Friday night, they said they set up a dinner for 85 firefighters in town and washed the pots and pans afterward.
Also volunteering, Vinny Conwell of Big V's Bail Recovery in Patchogue, N.Y., brought SUVs full of toys and was helping set up tables with food for the children who were going to arrive that afternoon.
He said he was with his 4.5 year-old daughter last weekend when the weight of the tragedy spurred him to collect toys.
"I did a YouTube video, and we blasted it all over Facebook ... We came up with $1,500 worth of gifts in two full-sized Suburbans," Conwell said.
He is involved with a wrestling entertainment group, Warriors of Wrestling. He would like to put on a wrestling event in the spring to raise money for the surviving Sandy Hook children.
Outside Edmond Town Hall, Carlos Lopez of Norwalk had erected the trunk of a cedar tree, stripped of its bark and branches. Several men were drilling holes into it.
He had a vision of a "peace tree," stripped of its life by tragedy, but regrowing at the hands of all community members. People were decorating sticks with yarn and ribbon, and sticking them in drilled holes in the tree to symbolize regrowth.
When asked if he is an artist, Lopez laughed.
"No. I'm in landscaping," he said. "I came up with this idea so we can grow the peace back."
Near to Lopez's "peace tree," about 30 people from Victory Center for Youth arrived from Cleveland, Ohio, after an overnight bus trip through a blizzard.
"We drove straight through the night," said David Cottingham, an adult with the youth group.
Another adult leader, Natasha Watts, said the youth group had collected toys for Newtown children and they were writing cards and notes to the families of those killed in the shooting.
Mario Hauser, another member of the Cleveland group, said he has two daughters 8 and 9.
"I couldn't imagine getting that phone call," Hauser said.
Cottingham added, "this type of tragedy affects the world ... It's about letting someone know someone cares ... Even when these crowds start to dwindle, and they will dwindle, we are all family."


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Elmore Leonard, whose work has fueled Hollywood films for decades, will have an impact on the business even after his death.
Leonard, who died Tuesday, recently had his 1978 crime novel "The Switch" adapted into a movie titled "Life of Crime." It is scheduled to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
The picture centers around two criminals (John Hawkes and Yassin "Mos Def" Bey) who kidnap the wife (Jennifer Aniston) of a wealthy real estate developer for ransom. Unfortunately, the rich man (Tim Robbins) doesn't want to pony up for his wife because he's in love with his mistress (Isla Fisher). The movie, on which Leonard served as an executive producer, is set to close the 11-day festival on Sept. 14.
PHOTOS: Elmore Leonard | Career in pictures
If "Life of Crime" finds a distributor at the festival, it will become one of a library shelf of projects based on Leonard's books and short stories to hit theaters. The biggest box office hit was 1995's "Get Shorty," based on his 1990 book of the same name, about a mobster who travels to Hollywood to collect a gambling debt and ends up getting sucked into show business. The picture, which starred John Travolta and Gene Hackman, grossed $72 million domestically. Its sequel, 2005's "Be Cool" -- adapted from Leonard's 1999 novel of that name -- didn't fare as well, with only $56 million in ticket sales.
Leonard had mixed feelings about some of the movies made from his work. He detested both versions of "The Big Bounce," the most recent one in 2004 with Owen Wilson and Charlie Sheen, and the early version of "3:10 to Yuma," which was first made with Glenn Ford in the lead role and later remade in 2007 with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe.
Other titles include the little-seen 2008 film "Killshot," which featured Mickey Rourke, and the 1997 movie "Touch," with LL Cool J.
He seemed happier with the film treatments of "Rum Punch," which became the Quentin Tarantinto-directed "Jackie Brown," and "Out of Sight."
PHOTOS: Top grossing American movie westerns
Following a check he received for the latter picture -- a 1998 film starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez inspired by his 1996 book -- Leonard moved to Pasadena. He told The Times in 1998 that he called his new home "the house that Jack built," referring to the character Clooney played in the movie. "The only Hollywood [jerk] in my neighborhood is me," he joked.
Indeed, Leonard's attitude toward the industry was often refreshingly mellow. Though he complained about some of the movies that got made from his books, he understood the adaptations were up to the screenwriters and directors -- whom he applauded when they came up with worthy end-products.
"I'm not concerned with how closely it's adapted. I just hope it's a good movie," he said in a 1998 conversation with author Martin Amis, published in The Times. "Quentin Tarantino, just before he started to shoot, said, 'I've been afraid to call you for the last year.' I said, 'Why? Because you changed the title of my book? And you're casting a black woman in the lead' And he said, 'Yeah.' And I said, 'You're a filmmaker. You can do whatever you want.' I said, 'I think Pam Grier is a terrific idea. Go ahead.' I was very pleased with the results, too."
Richard Dreyfuss: A lesson in civics, and civility
Elmore Leonard dies at 87; master of the hard-boiled crime novel
PHOTOS: Faces to watch 2014 | Movies
ENVELOPE: The latest awards buzz
DOCUMENTARIES: 10 best of 2013, and a new crop in 2014


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GEICO Pet Insurance Customer Service Number, Payment Address, Email– toll free helpline number, and with reviews and all other important information is available here. So, as this post we are here to provide you information about GEICO Pet insurance. GEICO Pet Insurance customer support team also helps you to choose best insurance plans for your benefit and also helps to find offices spread in and out of the nation.
Here, we are providing all important information like how you can contact with the GEICO Pet Insurance customer service department, how to get GEICO Pet Insurance customer care support, etc. We are here providing information something through this post and something through external links. You can find here GEICO Pet Insurance customer care phone number and contact details, GEICO Pet Insurance customer service Email, GEICO Pet Insurance customer service 24 hours number, etc.
How to contact GEICO Pet Insurance Customer Support Team
The customer support team is available to help you all time, you can get customer support through several ways including email, phone number, as well as FAQ section. You can use any one option for your any type of query, complaint and feedback.
Contact GEICO Pet Insurance Customer Care by Phone:
Here we have mention Pet insurance customer service number as per need.
GEICO Pet Insurance Service:
+1-800-793-2003, for Embrace Insurance
GEICO Pet Insurance Payment by Phone:
GEICO Pet Insurance Email Support:
How to apply for GEICO Pet Insurance Claim:
To appy for a GEICO Pet Claim, Click here…
Contact Details of Geico Insurance Head Office:
To check full contact details of GEICO Insurance Head Office, please Click here…
About Microsoft:
GEICO stands for Government Employees Insurance Company that is an insuranse service provide company in and out of the United States for over years. It has second place in the US insurance industry behind State Farm. What Offers GEICO Insurance Company: GEICO is mainly know more auto insurance products, but in addition it also provides other insurance products like Motorcycle, Boat, Business, Collector Auto, Commercial Auto, Condo/Co-Op Insurance, Life, Mobile Home, Ridesharing, RV, etc. For more details about GEICO Insurance Insurance and its products and services, you check below mention links and official website.
Important Links:
Official Website: www.geico.com
Tollfreephonenumber800.com always strives to provide you complete and right information as per your needs. If you want to find out other office address, phone numbers, and emails, so you can visit here any time, and go for your query. Here, you can search about how you can contact with brands, companies, organizations, as well as service centers.


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Introducing our new local newspaper for the Festival, The Glastonbury Free Press, which will be printed on site using vintage letterpress technology.
We're importing a five ton 1954 Original Heidelberg cylinder press which will print all night to produce your daily morning paper. These historic machines dominated the printing industry for most of the 20th Century – Their makers Schnellpressenfabrik Heidelberg invented the mechanism for an automated sheet fed press – before these arrived in the 1930's, every sheet of paper had to be fed by hand.
The text will be set using lincasting 'hot metal' technology, a method invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler in 1884 which revolutionised newspaper production and became the industry standard for nearly 100 years. The Intertype machine mechanically casts metal ingots into lines of letterpress type by combining a series of facinating automated mechanical processes in a structure that dwarfs its operator. The machinery moves with such steampunk drama it has been labelled 'the pinnacle of Victorian engineering' and 'the eighth wonder of the world'. You'll be able to see this in action all day as we prepare the type, or place a small ad with us and see your words cast in metal to be printed in the next edition.
All our vintage machinery will be on show as it operates, so drop by and see the press in action. We think we can print roughly 1,500 newspapers an hour with this, so we'll need to run the press from about 10pm – 10am to fill our print run. Early editions of the papers to be available from the early hours each day, and should be distributed site-wide in time for you to read over your breakfast.
More news on the Free Press soon…


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Bruins fans have obviously learned their lessons about becoming overconfident over the last several decades.
Asked after the commanding victory over Montreal to rate their confidence level the Bruins could win the Stanley Cup this season, readers of TheBruinsBlog.net showed a decent amount of guarded optimism.
What is your confidence the Bruins could win the Stanley Cup?
- 3 (45%, 114 Votes)
- 4 (28%, 72 Votes)
- 2 (14%, 36 Votes)
- 5 (7%, 19 Votes)
- 1 (5%, 14 Votes)
Total Voters: 255
Most ranked their confidence level at a 3, and those that rated their level as a 3 or 4 dominated the poll. In fact, out of 255 voters, 205 voted a 3 or better. Of course, only 19 of those voted 5 (17 less than voted 2). Committing to that 5 would obviously take a lot more faith than Bruins fans can be expected to have considering all the postseason disappointments since the 1972 Cup win.
So there are definitely some high expectations associated with those Bruins as the season winds down to its final eight regular-season games.


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Online shopping and bill-paying are convenient. Keeping track of a dozen complex passwords, on the other hand, is the digital equivalent of herding squirrels.
Here to help is Chris Trautwein, the chief information security officer for (ISC)2, a nonprofit that educates and certifies information security professionals.
Before we explore his three recommended approaches, let's get his least favorite out of the way: using the same password for all your accounts. Trautwein gives the popular one-person, one-password approach a devastating zero out of four stars. If hackers get that one password, they get them all. Don't do it.
Here, then, are Trautwein's favorite strategies:
Degree of difficulty: Easy. If you can handle a desk calendar, you can do this.
It's in the vault: Trautwein says the most secure approach is password vaulting, in which you choose a master password that gives you access to an encrypted database containing all of your other passwords. Popular vaults include KeePass (keepass.info), which is available as a free download; 1Password (agilebits.com/onepassword) and RoboForm (roboform.com).
Many vaults can automatically fill in your password information when you're online, meaning that you only have to remember one (master) password.
Trautwein says he doesn't endorse any particular product, but, overall, he gives the vault approach four out of four stars for security.
Keep a list: Another popular approach is the password-protected Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet, which gets three out of four stars from Trautwein. This option isn't as good as a vault, he says, but it's better than just about everything else. To create a password-protected Word document, go to the Word menu, and look for options such as "information protected document" and "encrypt with password."
Paper proof: The old-fashioned offline approach — a sheet of paper that lists all of your passwords — gets anywhere from two to four stars from Trautwein, depending on who is using it. If you're a college student living in a dormitory with a lot of people who may have access to your room, keeping a paper record of your passwords isn't a good idea, he says.
But if you live in your own home with a trusted significant other, paper can be a three- or four-star solution. Make an unlabeled list with your accounts and your passwords, and put it somewhere secure, such as a safe or an unlabeled folder in a file cabinet.
Safety first
Whichever approach you take, Trautwein wants you to consider these tips:
Choose passwords of eight characters or more, each with upper and lower case letters, at least one number, and at least one special sign (%,$,#).
Change your passwords every 90 days.
The safest passwords don't contain words, which are vulnerable to hackers using tools that churn through every word in the dictionary.
To make passwords more manageable, consider using a phrase as your starting point, he says. For instance, a Detroit Tigers fan might start with the phrase "Miguel Cabrera was the MVP," then take the first letter of each word (capitalizing where appropriate) to come up with MCwtMVP. Add a jersey number and a special sign and you have MCwtMVP#24.


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About Me
- Rabbi Chaim Coffman
- Rabbi Coffman has helped people from all across the spectrum to prepare themselves properly for Orthodox Conversion to Judaism. His students admire his vast knowledge and appreciate his warm, personal attention and endearing sense of humor.
Welcome to Rabbi Chaim Coffman's Blog!
I would like to thank you for visiting my blog, Beyond Orthodox Conversion to Judaism.
The conversion process can be a lengthy and daunting one to say the least and I want you to know that I am here to help you through it.
I have been teaching newcomers to Judaism for over a decade and over the last few years I have seen that conversion candidates really lack the support and knowledge they need to navigate the conversion process and successfully integrate into the Orthodox Jewish community.
I created my mentorship program in order to help make this whole experience as smooth and as painless as possible! (Can't do much about the growing pains, though ;)
Feel free to get to know me a little through the posts on my blog and visit the mentorship and syllabus page if you are interested in possible joining us.
I sincerely wish you all the best in your search for truth and spiritual growth.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Chaim Coffman
The conversion process can be a lengthy and daunting one to say the least and I want you to know that I am here to help you through it.
I have been teaching newcomers to Judaism for over a decade and over the last few years I have seen that conversion candidates really lack the support and knowledge they need to navigate the conversion process and successfully integrate into the Orthodox Jewish community.
I created my mentorship program in order to help make this whole experience as smooth and as painless as possible! (Can't do much about the growing pains, though ;)
Feel free to get to know me a little through the posts on my blog and visit the mentorship and syllabus page if you are interested in possible joining us.
I sincerely wish you all the best in your search for truth and spiritual growth.
Looking forward to meeting you,
Chaim Coffman
My Rebbe, Rav Moshe Sternbuch
In case you were wondering why I have all of these articles written by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, he is my Rebbe, and one of the gedolei hador (greatest Rabbis of our generation).
Rav Sternbuch fully endorses me and supports my mentorship program.
He is the address for all of my halachic or hashkafic (practical and philosophical) questions that I or my students may have.
The articles are based on his weekly talks on the Torah portion that the Rav gives in Jerusalem in his kollel. As a member of the kollel I get first dibbs on the photocopies and I type them up for my blog so you can all benefit from the Rav's erudition and insight.
Rav Sternbuch fully endorses me and supports my mentorship program.
He is the address for all of my halachic or hashkafic (practical and philosophical) questions that I or my students may have.
The articles are based on his weekly talks on the Torah portion that the Rav gives in Jerusalem in his kollel. As a member of the kollel I get first dibbs on the photocopies and I type them up for my blog so you can all benefit from the Rav's erudition and insight.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Litmus Test for Leadership
9:43 PM | Posted by Rabbi Chaim Coffman | | Edit Post
By Rav Moshe Sternbuch
power of speech
"Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the Bnei Yiroel, saying, "This is the thing that Hashem has commanded" (30:2).
Only in this section dealing with nedorim and in the one dealing with shechutei chutz (korbanos slaughtered outside the confines of the Bais Hamikdosh) does it say, "This is the thing."
Generally speaking, Moshe Rabbeinu was taught the Torah by Hashem briefly, but he conveyed it to the heads of the shevotim in a much more detailed fashion. Only in these two sections did Moshe convey what he had been taught by Hashem to the heads of the shevotim in exactly the same concise manner in which he had heard it, and it was only the heads of the shevotim who explained the halachos of these two sections to the rest of the nation more elaborately.
Nedorim teach us about the immense power of speech. Through them, a person can prohibit certain actions on himself, giving them a force equivalent to an absolute Torah prohibition, which, in certain circumstances, he cannot retract. Similarly, by sanctifying an animal with his mouth, he becomes liable to koreis if he proceeds to profane his statement by slaughtering the animal outside the Bais Hamikdosh. In everyday life, too, life and death are in the power of the tongue.
By adding not even one word in his speech to the heads of the shevotim regarding these halochos pertaining to speech, Moshe Rabbeinu was emphasizing how careful we have to be not to speak more than necessary, and to use our ability to speak, which is the most important attribute that distinguishes us from the animals, wisely and with circumspection.
oaths to state the truth
The Sifri states that one should not take an oath even to confirm the truth, and that if one does so, it is tantamount to swearing about a lie. How are we to can understand this?
The posuk states, "You shall fear Hashem, your G-d, worship Him, and cleave to Him and swear by His Name" (Devorim 10:20). Only someone who fears Hashem and keeps his promises to serve Him properly can swear by His Name, since he can claim that just like I do not deceive Hashem, so will I not swear falsely now. However, since most of us do not keep our promises to Hashem to behave the way we should, and therefore cannot make such a claim, we should refrain from taking an oath even to declare the truth.
Fear of fire
"And Hashem will forgive her" (30:6).
Rashi brings the Gemara (Nazir 23a) that this refers to a woman who made a vow to become a nozir and her husband heard the vow and annulled it without her knowledge. She then transgressed her vow by drinking wine or coming into contact with a dead person. This woman requires forgiveness, even though, in reality, her vow had been annulled. The Gemara (Kiddushin 81b) says that Rabi Akiva cried when he reached this posuk, saying that if the Torah says that someone who intends to eat pork and inadvertently eats kosher meat requires atonement, then if someone who intends to eat pork and in fact does so, how are much more so does he require atonement?
What point regarding intentional sins did Rabi Akiva become aware of?
Whenever someone commits a sin, aside from the damage caused by transgressing the word of Hashem, he also sins through his very thoughts and desires to commit a sin, which, in and of themselves, are considered to be a great sin requiring forgiveness. The person who inadvertently ate kosher meat did not perform any sinful act, but he still requires atonement for his evil intention to eat chazer.
Rabi Akiva began to realize that as part of our atonement for intentional sins too, it is not sufficient to just undertake to refrain from that sin in the future. Rather, we must aspire to uproot our desire to sin altogether to the point where we no longer feel any such desire. Just like a person instinctively fears fire and is afraid to even approach it, so should a person feel towards committing a sin or even coming close to doing so.
annual judgment
"He shall bear her iniquity" (30:16).
This refers to the opposite situation, where a husband pretends to annul his wife's vow after having upheld it. He only tells his wife about the annulment, which in reality had no effect. The wife then acts as if her vow had actually been annulled. The posuk tells us that the husband bears complete responsibility for his wife's inadvertent sins committed as a result of his deceit. The Sifri adds that this teaches us that anyone who causes another person to stumble receives the punishment for that other person's actions, bearing their iniquity as if they themselves had actually committed it.
All the more so if someone assists or is instrumental in the performance of another person's mitzvos. It is considered as if he himself performed those mitzvos, and he has a share in the reward for those actions. This is yet another incentive for getting involved in outreach work.
Similarly, a person is judged every year on the day of his death. Although a person is judged immediately after he dies, this process is repeated on an annual basis. If the deceased caused other people to sin during his lifetime, he is judged every year for those actions and their ramifications since he died. If he caused others to perform mitzvos and good deeds during his lifetime, his soul becomes elevated on his annual judgment due to all the actions performed in the meantime by those people, and by others as a result, in a never-ending chain of events. The yahrtzeit of a tzaddik is considered to be a festive occasion (hilula), because the assumption is that he only had a positive influence on other people while he was alive, and we celebrate the further elevation of his soul due to all the actions performed since his petirah.
Litmus test for Jewish leaders
"From the thousands of Yisroel one thousand was given over for each tribe, twelve thousand armed for battle" (31:6). Rashi: "This indicates the virtues of Jewish shepherds [leaders] - how cherished they were by the Jews. Before they had heard of his death, it says, 'Just a little longer and they will stone me,' but as soon as they heard that Moshe's death was contingent upon the revenge against Midyan, they refused to go, until they were given over against their will.
The Satmar Rov, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt"l, asked two questions on this Sifri cited by Rashi. Firstly, it should say that this indicates the virtues of the Jews, not of their leaders. Secondly, how can the Medrash compare these two pesukim? "Just a little longer and they will stone me" refers to the statement by the Eirev Rav as opposed to the refusal by the people to hasten the death of Moshe.
The answer is that the sign of a true Jewish leader is when the wicked hate him, because he rebukes them for their deeds, and the righteous love him for his saintly character and loving rebuke. If the wicked praise him, that should make him worry about whether he is performing his job properly. Here, too, the Eirev Eav despised Moshe Rabbeinu so much that he was worried that they would stone him, but the majority of the nation loved and respected him so much that they were unwilling to hasten his demise by engaging Midyan in a battle. The fact that the wicked hated him indicated that he was doing what he had to well.
Action before intellect
"A thousand from each tribe" (31:6).
The Medrash says that none of the tzaddikim who were sent to the war against Midyan put on their tefillin shel rosh before their tefillin shel yad. The tefillin shel rosh symbolizes the dedication of our minds to Hashem, whereas the tefillin shel yad symbolizes our service of Hashem through active mitzvos. Moshe Rabbeinu was not interested in philosophers with a tenuous connection to Torah observance.
We, too, must keep the mitzvos because Hashem commanded us to, even if we do not comprehend the reasons for them. Only once we have become punctilious about our mitzvah observance should we start delving into their profound reasons and endeavor to develop our devotion to Hashem through those mitzvos.
For this reason, too, someone who puts on only tefillin shel yad has fulfilled the mitzvah of tefillin, but someone who puts on only tefillin shel rosh has not fulfilled the mitzvah properly. The emphasis is always on naaseh¸ the active unquestioning performance of mitzvos before nishma, intellectualizing, and even before emotional devotion.
Moshe Rabbeinu wanted only first-rate tzaddikim who would perform the Divine commandment of avenging ourselves against Midyan, without wondering about the ethical justification for destroying the men, women and boys of a whole nation. He wanted people who subjugated their intellect to the Divine Will.
mitzvas yishuv Eretz Yisroel
"And you shall drive out the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein" (33:53).
The commandment to dwell in Eretz Yisroel is made conditional on driving out not only idolatrous inhabitants, but also idolatry. Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt"l was once asked why he did not call for all the Jews in the Diaspora to come and live in Eretz Yisroel in order to fulfill the important mitzvah of yishuv Eretz Yisroel.
He replied that we can learn from the precedent of the mitzvah of milah, which is not less important than mitzvas yishuv Eretz Yisroel. After all, it even overrides Shabbos, and yet if someone had two sons who died as a result of the performance of this mitzvah, the third son is not circumcised. Similarly, concluded Rav Sonnenfeld, unfortunately, many people suffer a spiritual death, which is worse than physical death, due to the heretical atmosphere prevalent in Eretz Yisroel, and so he cannot encourage people to come and live here, because a person is not obligated to expose himself to such a danger, and he must wait to fulfill this mitzvah until he is certain that no danger will be posed to his spiritual future or that of his family as a result of living here.
Positive environments
"Among the cities you shall give to the Levi'im shall be six cities of refuge" (35:6).
The arei miklot, cities of refuge, were meant to be places where those who had unintentionally killed someone were forced to spend time away from their family and friends to determine what might have led to this terrible event, to reassess their spiritual status, and to repent. The cities populated by the Levi'im were the most appropriate ones to house the arei miklot, because the Levi'im, who dedicated their lives to serving Hashem and instructing others how to do so, were likely to have the best influence on the inadvertent murderers.
Similarly, baalei teshuvah should move away from their friends and former environment and relocate to places of Torah, where they can rejuvenate themselves spiritually. This process of rejuvenation is likely to be facilitated by absorbing all the positive things in their new surroundings.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
10:02 PM | Posted by Rabbi Chaim Coffman | | Edit Post
By Rav Moshe Sternbuch
just reward
The midrash says: "Hashem said: Pinchos legitimately obtained his reward [of kehuno]". How are we to understand this in the light of another Chazal which tells us that there is no reward in this world?
Since Torah and mitzvos have an eternal effect on the neshomo and on the upper worlds, it would not be appropriate to limit the reward for our deeds to this ephemeral world, and, therefore, in principle, our actions are rewarded only in the eternal World to Come. However, someone who goes beyond the strict letter of the halocho and performs actions, which he is not obligated to perform merely out of his great love of Hashem, is rewarded mido keneged mido (measure for measure), beyond the letter of the law, in this world too.
Pinchos was not obligated to kill Zimri and in the specific situation in which Pinchos found himself he was certainly not obligated to risk his life (the gemoro in Sanhedrin relates various miracles that took place which saved him). Hence, it was only fitting that Pinchos, who went far beyond the call of duty, should receive his reward also in this world. So too are we rewarded in this world whenever our actions are performed with extra love, devotion and dedication.
Compromise for the sake of Peace?
"I hereby give him My covenant of peace (25:12)
The vov in the word sholom (peace) is cut short (ketuo), so that it reads shalem (complete, whole). Since "the ways of the Torah are pleasant and all its paths lead to peace", observing the Torah must perforce also lead to peace. However, sometimes we must abandon the ways of peace in order to preserve the completeness of the Torah and the Jewish nation. Our secular and quasi-religious brethren often preach that we should be more lenient, to make life easier for them. If only we would be more flexible, they say, they would be more amenable towards leading a religious lifestyle, or at least towards meeting our requirements.
Our response is that the Torah is not a man-made system of legislation, which is ours to dispense with based on the whims of any particular generation. Genuine peace cannot be achieved by cutting short even one letter of the Torah. When the sheleimus (completeness) of the Torah is at stake, preserving it takes precedence over preserving peace. For example, if our erring brethren suggest "compromises" in the form of "only" so and so many boys that must be drafted to the army, it is not within our power to agree to such proposals.
Zealotry WITH LOVE
"Because he was zealous for his G-d and atoned for the bnei Yisroel" (25:13)
The conventional picture of a zealot is of someone who is cruel by nature and persecutes anyone with views that do not take his fancy or merely as an act of personal vengeance disguised as some holy endeavor. The genuine Torah zealot, by contrast, has no personal score to settle with anybody. In fact, he should have no personal interest whatsoever in the outcome of his actions. His sole desire is to increase peace in the world.
Pinchos risked his life in order to prevent a desecration of the Divine name. He was overflowing with love for his fellow Jews, and the possuk here is emphasizing that his seemingly cruel act aroused Divine mercy and atonement for the whole nation. Since he made peace between Hashem and his holy Nation, he was rewarded with a covenant of peace.
It says "his G-d" and not just "G-d", because a person's closeness to Hashem depends on his level of avodas Hashem. The closer he wants to be to Hashem, the closer he actually becomes to Him. Thus, Pinchos attained his level of zealousness by virtue of his personal closeness to Hashem.
Hidden enemies
"Harass the Midianites, and smite them" (25:17)
Chazal tell us that that we were not commanded to take vengeance on the Moabites, even though they also submitted their daughters to immorality, because they did so out of fear of the Jews, as opposed to the Midianites, who got involved in a quarrel in which they had no personal interest, and also for the sake of Ruth and Naama who were destined to issue from Moav.
However, although this explains why we were forbidden to wage war against Moav, it still seems surprising that we were not commanded to harass or hate them. Perhaps this was because the daughters of Moav did not commit their actions in secret, and did not conceal their intention to cause the Jews to sin, as opposed to the Midianites, who furtively advised the Moabites from a distance to lead the Jews astray through immorality. A hidden enemy who pretends to mean us no harm is far more dangerous than a declared enemy, who we know to keep a distance from, and that is why we were commanded to harass and smite the Midianites without mercy.
Feeling responsibility for the entire nation
"Korach's sons did not die" (26:11) Rashi: "They were originally involved in the conspiracy, but during the dispute they contemplated repentance; therefore, an elevated area was set apart for them in Gehinnom, and they stayed there".
After having been involved in the dispute and contemplating repentance, they should have attempted to influence others to desist from the dispute. Instead, they made do with saving their own skin and avoiding punishment by breaking away from their previous sinful behavior. Since they did not feel a responsibility for the welfare and fate of all their fellow Jews, they did not merit to enter gan
, which
is designated for the entire nation. eden
If we feel mutual responsibility for the interests of all yiden when there is a rebellion against Hashem or His Torah, even in situations where our own interests are not endangered, we will obtain the commensurate recompense awarded to the entire nation, but if we are not concerned for the souls of our erring brethren, not only will we not share in such a reward, but we will also be forced to witness the punishment of the wicked, due to our failure to attempt to get them to desist from their wicked deeds.
On the other hand, not only were the sons of Korach spared from having to actually endure gehinnom due to their thoughts of repentance, but Shmuel, whose stature was equivalent to that of Moshe and Aharon, issued from them, and their songs for the honor of Heaven are also to be found in Tehilim. Clearly, then, their repentance was accepted by Hashem. This shows how precious even thoughts of repentance are in the eyes of Hashem, and the eternal rewards that await those who have them.
Spiritual heirs
If a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter (27:8)
The gemoro (Masseches Bovo Basro 116a) derives from this possuk that whoever does not leave a son behind to inherit him Hashem becomes angry with him. If someone has not been fortunate enough to leave behind a son, what sin has he committed?
The inheritance referred to here is not a monetary or physical bequest, but rather that of a son who continues in the path of his father after his demise. If a person does not make the financial and emotional investments in the education of his children required to ensure the future transmission of the Torah and the values of our forefathers, he is held responsible for this failure.
In addition to physical sons, a person leaves his mark through students, or anyone on whom he has had a positive influence during his lifetime. Any time they continue on the path set out by the deceased they bring about the everlasting elevation of his neshomo so that he is amply rewarded for his efforts in this world.
Moshe Rabbeinu's VISION
"And when you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people" (27:13)
Moshe Rabbeinu had no desire to see Eretz Yisroel like a tourist. By this stage of his life he had become so pure and holy that his spiritual essence dominated his physical senses, and his sense of sight was no exception. Hashem was telling him that when he would ascend Mount Abarim he would perceive the spiritual characteristics and advantages of the holy country, which he was not permitted to enter in a way that no other flesh and blood could perceive, and even Moshe Rabbeinu was only in a position to perceive this at the time that he was about to depart from this world.
Jewish leaders
"And he took Yehoshua" (28:22). Rashi: He took him [by encouraging him] with words, and informed him of the reward in store for the leaders of
in the World to Come Israel
A Rebbe once noted that the rewards awaiting Jewish leaders are limited to the World to Come, since in this world they often endure only suffering for their actions. Yehoshua had witnessed how the nation had treated Moshe Rabbeinu since he took them out of
Instead of being grateful for his selflessness to them to the extent of being
ready to have his name is struck off from the Torah for their sake, they had accused
him of stealing and even of adultery. Yehoshua knew that any leader of the
Jewish nation could not expect any satisfaction in this world from his
thankless task, and so Moshe had to encourage him by emphasizing the rewards
awaiting him in the hereafter. Egypt
Lay leaders of the community and askonim too should not expect any gratitude or rewards for their actions in this world, but they will amply rewarded in the World to Come for all their deeds.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Ask the Raavad
9:55 PM | Posted by Rabbi Chaim Coffman | | Edit Post
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
QA Responses to your halachic questions
from senior posek
Raavad of Yerushalayim
QA Your questions in hashkafah and machshavah
By Rabbi Daniel Travis based on divrei halacha heard from Rav Moshe Sternbuch, rosh av bais din of Yerushalayim. Questions may be sent to editor@yated. com and selected answers will be printed in this column. The answers given here are the general rule, but each case has its merits and drawbacks and must be referred
to a posek.
Question: I understand that any food that can be eaten raw does not present a problem of bishul akum. Today,
many people enjoy raw fish in the form of sushi. Does this mean that the prohibition of bishul akum does not apply to fish?
Another question I have is regarding the halacha of nechal al shulchan melachim, i.e., bishul akum only applies to a food that is served at a stately banquet. What if a food is cooked in a place where a food is in this category and then brought to a place where the food does not fit in this category? Does this remove the prohibition of bishul akum?
Asher Sebbag
Answer: In regard to your first question about cooking fish, the vast majority of fish is not used for
this purpose, so the fact that fish is used today for sushi does not remove the prohibition of bishul akum. If there is a fish whose majority use is for sushi, then the prohibition of bishul akum would not apply to it.
As far as your second question is concerned, if food is cooked by a non-Jew in a place where it is fit to be served at a stately banquet, then it is considered bishul akum and is prohibited. However, if that food is taken to a place where it
is not fit to be served at such an affair, since it is no longer considered to be oleh al shulchan melachim, it is permitted to be eaten.
The reason for this is that the prohibition of bishul akum is eating it, not cooking it, so it is permitted as long as one does not eat it in a place where it is oleh al Shulchan melachim.
Question: I am a working mother and have non-Jewish help in our home. I leave the house early in the morning and only return later in the afternoon, and I would like my non-Jewish help to cook lunch for my children. Is there anything I can do to avoid the problem of bishul akum?
Very grateful,
Lynn G.
Answer: The Rama (Yoreh Deah 113:7) mentions a number of ways that Ashkenazim can avoid the problem
of bishul akum. One way is for a Jew to participate in making the fire. In this vein, Rav Yisroel Salanter would go to the non- Jewish bakery and throw a cigarette into the fire.
Another option the Rama mentions is for the non-Jew to take from a fire started by a Jew. If you have a gas stove with a pilot light that a Jew lit, then every time you light the fire of the stove, it is as if you are taking from the
fire lit by the Jew. This makes it as if a Jew lit the fire. Some factories rely on a heter of putting the equipment on a timer that turns it on every day.
While this leniency is acceptable for a one-time use of an appliance, it cannot be relied upon on a daily basis, but rather one must reset the timer every day that he wishes to use it, and this way it is as if a Jew turned it on every day.
Some rabbonim, like Rav Eliyahu Falk, do not permit this method, for they do not consider this to be as if the Jew lit the fire.
Some factories have the mashgiach light the machinery every day via a cell phone. Since the mashgiach is restarting the equipment every day, this is an acceptable way to avoid the prohibition of bishul akum. Therefore, this is
considered an acceptable way to avoid bishul akum. The Rama mentions another heter of throwing a small piece of
wood into the oven. In this vein, some factories have a light bulb in the oven that adds a minute amount of heat to the oven. This is not an acceptable way to permit bishul akum, since a new action is not being performed each day.
Question: Does the prohibition of bishul akum apply to cooking or heating up food in a microwave oven?
Thank you.
Avraham Dovid Michael Salasnik
Answer: The halacha of a microwave depends on whether we consider it to be like kavush, pickling,
which is not considered cooking, or like regular cooking. Since a microwave can cook food in a
similar and at times equal way as cooking on a fire, the prohibition of bishul akum applies.
Hashem takes care of the yeshivos
9:39 PM | Posted by Rabbi Chaim Coffman | | Edit Post
By Rav Moshe Sternbuch
Political success
Bolok the son of Zippor saw… Bolok the son of Zippor was king of Moav at that time (22:2-4)
Why does it not say straight away that Bolok was the king of Moav? He was not the king initially, but only became a monarch after he had started spreading propaganda about the danger posed by the Jews to his nation. Throughout history any anti-Jewish platform has been a sure recipe for political success. Similarly, today in Eretz Yisroel politicians vie with each other as to who can come up with the most venomous anti-chareidi policy.
Bilom'S Blessing
Whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed (22:6)
If Billom had the power to bless, why did Bolok not ask him to bless him for success in his attempts to wage war against the Jews, instead of asking him to take the circuitous path of cursing the nation so that they could not succeed?
The urge of anti-Semites throughout history to witness the downfall and suffering of their (real or imagined) enemies was stronger than their concern for their own welfare. That was why Bolok preferred Bilom to curse the Jews rather than bless him.
Alternatively, by natural standards, Moav had nothing to worry about, since they were situated in their own territory with a mighty army, as opposed to the Jews who were isolated in the wilderness, and Bolok's only fear was from the Might of Hashem, who in His love for His nation would fight for them supernaturally. Hence, any blessings by Bilom for Bolok to succeed in his battles with the Jews would be totally futile, because Hashem was with them. Only by cursing them with his evil eye, and bringing out some defect in them, was there any chance that Bilom could succeed in his efforts for Hashem to take away His divine protection from His nation.
Avoiding blessings from the wicked
You shall not go with them! You shall not curse the people because they are blessed (22:12). Rashi: He said to Him, "If so, I will curse them in my place." He replied to him, "You shall not curse the people." He said, "If so, I will bless them." He replied, "They do not need your blessing, 'for they are blessed.'" As the saying goes, "We say to the wasp, 'Neither your honey, nor your sting.'"
Why would Bilom, who hated the Jews so much, want to bless them?
The so-called blessings of the wicked are no less detrimental to us than their manifest curses, and no good can come from them. Bilom's request from Hashem was that all the blessings of the Jews should come from him, because that would effectively ruin them as much as an outright curse from him. Hashem responded that he had no permission to bless the Jews, because they were themselves the source of all blessings, and had no need for any of his.
During the Second World War, Rav Moshe Schneider's yeshiva suffered terrible financial straits, but even when there was no bread to feed the boys, Rav Schneider refused offers from mechalalei Shabbos to come to the yeshiva's rescue, arguing that in order to ensure its continued success, the funds supporting the yeshiva had to come only from pure sources. In a similar vein, Rav Chaim Brisker zt"l , said that the Volozhiner Yeshiva eventually closed down, because the people responsible for collecting funds for it had not been particular about the character of the donors, and this had affected the kedusha of the Yeshiva.
What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times (22:28). Rashi: He hinted to him, "You seek to uproot a nation which celebrates three festivals in a year"?
Why did Hashem praise the Jews specifically for this mitzvah?
When the Jews performed the mitzvah of aliyo loregel three times a year, leaving their homes exposed to thieves and plunderers in reliance on the divine promise that "no one shall covet your country", that was the ultimate demonstration of faith in Hashem. It is this superior quality of faith which has sustained us each and every generation, and continues to sustain us, whenever anyone seeks to harm or destroy us.
Hashem was rebuking Bilom for attempting to uproot a nation with such steadfast faith, and telling him that no curse by any mortal could have an effect on a nation which placed its faith in Hashem so fearlessly.
Eternal Torah
It is a people (am) that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations (goyim) (23:9)
Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt"l hy"d was once in
collecting for his yeshiva. During his
speech in a shul he expounded that "goy" refers to a nation
united by a common territory, like all the nations of the world, whereas "am"
refers to a group of people with a common language, dress code or other
customs, which, even though they do not have a common territory or state of
their own, are still considered one nation. London
Bilom was saying that the Jewish nation shall dwell alone, it does not need to be an "am", because it differs from the rest of the world population in its religion and customs, and is therefore distinguished as a nation in its own right without having its own territory. Nor shall it be reckoned as a "goy", because territory is not required in order to make it into a nation, and the reason we yearn to live in Eretz Yisroel is on account of its sanctity and the mitzvos which can only be observed there, but our national essence is not dependent on living there.
He continued to expand on this theme, even though his audience was becoming sparser by the minute, as the majority consisted of Zionists who walked out in protest. Rav Sternbuch recalls that by the time he had finished there was barely a minyan left. Rav Elchonon, who knew from experience about the likely response to his words of rebuke, and the consequent loss of donors, explained to his amazed questioners who remained behind that he felt it to be his duty to increase kvod shomayim (the Honor of Heaven) regardless of the consequences. Hashem has guaranteed the eternity of Torah and Torah learners, and He would surely find a way to support his yeshiva.
Here in Eretz Yisroel, not only our spiritual but our physical existence is dependent on the undisturbed functioning of the yeshivas and kolelim. Rav Sternbuch noted at a demonstration two weeks ago that as servants of Hashem, we have no authority to agree to any "compromises" regarding the issue of drafting yeshiva or kollel students, who make up the soldiers of Hashem's army, and that their task at this time is to reinforce their Torah and yiroh.
the Segulo of Kerias Shma
And they were weeping at the entrance of the Ohel Moed (25:6)
The Targum Yonoson comments that the bnei Yisroel were saying Kriyas Shma. This teaches us about the great power of Kriyas Shma recited with devotion. At a time when the powers of tumoh represented by Bilom achieved some success in making inroads into the sanctity of the Jewish nation and lowering their superior level when the nosi of a tribe committed such a serious transgression, the nation decided to reinforce their kedusha by reciting Kriyas Shma.
When we recite Kriyas Shma properly in the mornings or evenings we inject holiness into all our limbs and destroy the mazikin (evil spirits), which have been created as a result of our sins. For this reason the gemoro (Masseches Berochos 12b) says that if it would not have been too much of a burden on the public, Chazal would have instituted the recital of parshas Bolok together with Kriyas Shma in order to remind us of the power of Kriyas Shma and the necessity of reciting it with the appropriate level of concentration. When we are meyached shmo properly the forces of kedusha are increased and the forces of tumo disappear on their own.
Tapping into previous generation
9:22 PM | Posted by Rabbi Chaim Coffman | | Edit Post
By Rav Moshe Sternbuch
Educational advice
Have them take for you a perfectly red unblemished cow, upon which no yoke was laid (19:2)
A perfectly red unblemished cow is very difficult to come by, and can only be located after much effort. Clearly, obtaining tahara (purification) from tumas mes (the impurity of a dead body) was not meant to be an easy task. Similarly, anyone seeking to purify himself from his evil ways must realize that his goal can only be achieved after expending a lot of effort.
A cow, which had a yoke laid on it, was not qualified to serve as a poro adumo. (the red heifer) This teaches us that if the holy is intermingled with the secular this diminishes from the potency of the tahara, which is inherent in the holy component. From the outset all the objects and the actions surrounding the poro adumo had to be infused with complete kedusho.
If we want our children to grow up dedicated to serving Hashem and His Torah, we have to make a point of inculcating unadulterated Torah and yiras shomayim (fear of heaven) from the outset, without any secular components at all. That way our efforts to ensure that they acquire a love of Torah and mitzvos are likely to be crowned with success.
Why we wear yarmulkes
Any open vessel which has no seal fastened around it becomes unclean (19:15)
This possuk may be taken as a general instruction to "fasten" our openings. We must endeavor to maintain control over our mouths and thoughts, and make sure that we do not speak or even think things contrary to the Will of Hashem. In the absence of such control tumah will become embedded in our neshomos.
It is clear from the gemoro (Masseches Shabbos 156b) that the purpose of covering our heads is to increase yiras shomayim. Rav Shimon Sofer zt"l¸ the Rav of Krakow adds that head coverings on a Jewish boy or man teach him the lesson that he has to rein in his thoughts and control his imagination.
Interestingly, one of the first actions undertaken by the first generations of anti-religious maskilim, who rebelled against their religious upbringing, was to take off their yarmulkes. By doing so they demonstrated that their thoughts were no longer subjugated to any higher purpose, and certainly not to daas Torah and chazal.
Jewish mother
The congregation had no water (20:2) Rashi: From here we learn that all the forty years they had the well in Miriam's merit.
The mon came down in the merit of Moshe Rabbeinu¸ and the anonei hakovod hovered above them in the merit of Aharon. Why did they require the merit of Miriam specifically for water, the most basic commodity of human existence?
The ideal Jewish mother is an akeres bayis, a housewife, the mainstay of the whole household, who is always next to her children, and raises them from the very first day. She lays the foundations for the continued existence of the Jewish home, be it in matters of tznius, kashrus, chesed¸ hospitality, and so on. It is within her power to maintain the purity of the home and to prevent foreign influences from infiltrating into it.
This is the lesson of Miriam's well. The righteous women of each generation are the cornerstones of the nation, and they preserve the kedusha and tahara of their households. Miriam was the role model for Jewish women from her day to our own times, and the water which the whole nation enjoyed in her merit symbolized the basic and essential role of the Jewish mother.
Significance of each individual
The Canaanite king of
took from them a captive (21:1) Rashi: It was only a single maidservant. Arad
They were obligated to wage war for the sake of saving even one maidservant from the danger of assimilation. Every individual is indispensable, because all the upper worlds derive their sustenance from the avoda of each and every one of us in this world, and we cannot imagine the importance and preciousness of each yiddishe neshomo. This should inspire us not only to improve our own avodas Hashem, but also to do more to draw even one person closer to his Maker. Anyone who succeeds in doing so is to be envied.
Wells of TOrah and Yiroh
A well dug by princes, carved out by nobles of the people (21:18)
Targum Yonoson writes: "the well which was dug by the forefathers Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov… was dug by the heads of the nation Moshe and Aharon". In other words, the leadership and avodo of Moshe and Aharon was based on the avodo of our holy forefathers, and without their preparation and efforts, the Jewish nation would not have merited what they did in the generation of Moshe and Aharon.
We mentioned above that that is not easy for a person to purify himself from his evil ways. On the other hand, we must it that if we persevere we can easily reach extremely high levels, since the generations preceding us have already dug wells consisting of water filled with Torah and yiras shomayim from which we can benefit. All we have to do is to tap into those potential treasure troves by means of our own avodo.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Respecting talmidei chachomim
1:32 AM | Posted by Rabbi Chaim Coffman | | Edit Post
By Rav Moshe Sternbuch
pride and humility
The medrash says "What motivated Korach to make a dispute with Moshe Rabenu? He saw the section dealing with para adumo". The commentators have difficulties understanding this medrash.
In the mitzvah of para adumo we are commanded to use the cedar tree, which symbolizes pride, and, by contrast, the hyssop, which symbolizes humility. The para adumo was metaher teme'im and metame tehorim. (it made those who were impure pure and made impure the ones that were pure) Pride is one of the most severe sins, but sometimes it is essential to utilize it. If a person, when first embarking on his avodas Hashem, tells himself that he is nothing, then that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, he must initially use the qualities of the cedar tree and strive for greatness. For example, Rav Moshe Schneider zt"l would point out to each of his students that they had great potential and inherent greatness. Only once a person has managed to realize some of his potential, should he start using the qualities of the hyssop, and remind himself of how far he still has to go to completely fulfill his potential.
Korach learnt from parshas para adumo that even someone who has not yet attained the superior levels of holy people should endeavor to attain them. Although the Rambam does say that everyone is obligated to strive to attain the level of Moshe Rabbeinu, Korach in his great desire to emulate Moshe and Aharon, thought that if he would only obtain a position similar to theirs, he would also be able to reach their high levels. His mistake lay in assuming that obtaining a high position is a prerequisite for greatness (see more on this below), and in failing to accept Hashem's decree regarding the appointments of Moshe and Aharon.
Alternatively, Korach was hinting at the fact that the para adumo came to atone for the chet hoegel, (sin of the Golden Calf) and his argument was that since Aharon had still not achieved complete atonement for that sin, there was no reason why he should be more suitable for the kehuna than Korach.
Good intentions not enough
"And Doson and Avirom" (16:1). Rashi: He dressed them with cloaks made entirely of blue wool. They came and stood before Moshe and asked him, "Does a cloak made entirely of blue wool require tzizis, or is it exempt?" He replied, "It does require tzizis." They began laughing at him saying, "Is it possible that by a cloak of another material, one string of blue wool exempts it, and this one, which is made entirely of blue wool, should not exempt itself?"
The talis made entirely of techeles was an allusion to the argument that since the entire congregation was holy they did not need a leader. Although not every member of the nation might be on the level of Moshe and Aharon, their intentions were good, and Moshe and Aharon had no right to lord it over their coreligionists. Surely, they concluded, Moshe Rabenu was only interested in leadership for his own purposes. Moshe replied that even a tallis is made only of techeiles it was still not exempt from the mitzvah of tzitzis. In other words, good intentions are not enough, and the nation does need a leader.
The early Christians lehavdil also argued that a good heart and a person's intentions were the main qualities which Hashem is interested in, and therefore most of the divine commandments could and should be dispensed with. Similarly, one still comes across some not-yet observant Jews who defend their way of life by claiming that they have a "Jewish heart" and that is the main thing. In reality, of course, the Torah expects us to combine physical mitzvos with pure intentions, and both are indispensable.
The art of forgiveness
"Moshe heard and fell on his face (16:4). Rashi: because of the rebellion, for this was already their fourth offense. When they sinned with the calf, "Moshe pleaded"; in the episode of the complainers, "Moshe prayed"; with the spies, "Moshe said to Hashem, 'But the Egyptians will hear…" , but now, at Korah's rebellion, he became disheartened".
The gemoro in Masseches Yomo (87a) relates the following episode. There was a butcher who offended Rav. On erev yom kippur that butcher did not come to Rav to ask his forgiveness, and so Rav decided to go to him to give him the opportunity to appease Rav. However, instead, the butcher told that him that he had nothing to say to him. After that he suffered a work accident and was killed.
This gemoro teaches us a big chiddush: someone who has offended another person must degrade himself and beg forgiveness from his victim. Rav surely forgave the butcher in his heart, but that was not enough. For that reason he went out of his way to give his "enemy" a chance to obtain forgiveness, but he lost that chance.
Here too, Moshe made himself available and waited for Korach to seek his forgiveness. When he saw that this was not happening, he realized that this was a very problematic situation as far as Korach was concerned. Although he could ask Hashem once again to forgive Korach's rebellion against Hashem, as he had done on three previous occasions, and he could also forgive Korach in his heart for the offence against himself, he knew that that would be not be enough until Korach himself would ask Moshe Rabbeinu for forgiveness. That was why Moshe fell on his face, not knowing what to do.
"Careers" in the TORAH world
"Is it but a small thing for you that Hashem has separated you from the congregation of Yisroel to draw you close to Him…" (16:9)
Rav Yecheskel Abramsky zt"l used to apply this possuk to a ben Torah who dedicates his entire life to Torah. He said that someone who sits in the Beis Hamedrash and sanctifies himself through Torah, should not think in terms of obtaining a position in the Torah world. The best "position" a person can attain is to be a ben Torah and thereby cleave to Hashem. Accordingly, the possuk is saying the following: "Is the "position" of being a member of shevet levi, or a ben Torah, through which Hashem draws you close to Him, such a small thing, that you now also seek the kehuno. Why are you looking for a more important position than to be a member of shevet levi, or to be a ben Torah? You will not find any better position than that."
Hashem separated shevet levi, and every ben torah, from the rest of the congregation, and He has great expectations from them than from the rest of the nation. This position comes with responsibilities attached to it. Hashem wants a ben Torah to maintain sacrosanct learning schedules, get up on time, and not whenever he feels like it etc. If he accepts the yoke of Torah, Hashem will remove the yoke of making a living from him.
Disgracing talmidei chachomim
"If one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation" (16:22)
If only Korach himself sinned, why was Hashem in fact angry with the whole congregation?
Their sin consisted in not protesting, or not protesting enough, the way Korach had publicly disgraced Moshe Rabbeinu with his accusations. Someone who witnesses the disgrace of a talmid chachom, and does not protest it, is considered an accomplice in the very severe sin of bisuy talmid chachom, which Hashem is very particular about.
Spicing our wealth
"It is like an eternal covenant of salt before the Lord" (18:19)
Just like salt spices food, so too do the matnos kehuno and all types of charity spice our possessions. When we give charity we prove that there is a purpose to our wealth. On the other hand, the assets of wealthy people who spend all their time aimlessly accumulating more and more possessions serve no purpose whatsoever. Only someone who observes the mitzvah of tzedoko properly, and dedicates a tenth of his assets to needy talmidei chachomim or other designations set out in the hilchos maaser kesofim, will be blessed and can live secure with the knowledge that his assets are serving a useful purpose.
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We are starting a new series of posts on the OAC blog, directed at helping outdoor movie enthusiasts discover new ways to enjoy their inflatable movie screen! One thing we are excited to discuss is the many places you can set up your portable movie screen. It is always enjoyable to watch a backyard cinema movie with your Open Air Cinema Screen, but a little adventure can add a lot to your outdoor movie experience!
Open Air Cinema has many customers around the world who use their inflatable screen and outdoor projector on the beach. We've found that those who do so often prefer our Pro or Elite screens, as they are extra durable and can handle the sand and dirt. But if you're looking for a special place to hold your family or company party, and want to use your Open Air Cinema Home Screen, it will hold up great. If you live in Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Virginia Beach, Florida, Texas, or anywhere with a beach, setting up your outdoor movie screen near your favorite surfing spot will be a total blast!
Producing an outdoor movie on the beach can be highly rewarding, as it is a great environment to relax and enjoy the pleasures of outdoor movies under the stars. The cool evening breeze and soft sand will make for a comfortable experience for you and your guests. And the slope of most beaches provides a natural stadium style seating that will enable everyone to have a great view! Here are a few reminders for what to bring or remember for your Beach Side Outdoor Movie!
- Make sure to identify your power source ahead of time. You may need to bring a generator to power your fan, outdoor projector, and outdoor speakers.
- Bring extra extension cords if you're plugging in from your beach house or public power supply.
- Blankets and wicker mats will keep the sand off your guests, and will provide comfortable seating. Beach chairs work well too, especially if your audience is older.
- Choose a movie that reflects the environment (it will make the evening extra-special): Jaws, The beach, The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, etc.
- Depending on the season and your location, provide treats that will add to the ambiance: sno-cones, Popsicles or ice-cream, barbecue and lemonade!
- Consider building a fire after the screening of the film. Make sure to provide enough distance between the fire and the screen! Don't forget the firewood.
If anyone has produced a outdoor cinema beach event, post your story to the comments section below! We'd love to hear how it went.
Also, if you are interested in acquiring an outdoor movie system, contact us today, and we'll help you find a system that will meet your needs and budget!


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Third-grade teacher Kelly Vallianos wanted to find an engaging way for her students to learn about measuring perimeters. One idea — to have students design a restaurant floor plan — was too difficult, she feared.
But with the help of colleagues, she found a way to tailor that fifth-grade idea to her younger students at Dominguez Elementary School, who excitedly sketched out an imaginary pizzeria.
Vallianos credits the Los Angeles Unified School District's new teacher evaluation system for sparking deeper and more collaborative conversations with administrators, who she said gave her ideas to make the lesson work.
The district's new performance reviews have come under fire by United Teachers Los Angeles, which opposes the controversial element of using student test scores as one factor in measuring teacher effectiveness.


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4:30 pm
Passport to Adventure "Enchanting, Natural Norway" Trains, ferries, and fjords - nature and man coexisting in splendor. From clean, green, cosmopolitan Oslo, to artsy, hip Bergen; Norway's cities blend seamlessly with its pristine countryside. In this episode, hosts Julie Conover and Mark Jennings begin their adventure by cycling through Oslo to visit the royal palace, an outdoor folk museum, and an amazing sculpture park, then, ferry to a quaint fjord-side bungalow to dine on fresh mussels. D
5:00 pm
Globe Trekker "Spanish Islands" Alex Riley explores the Balearics and the Canary Islands.G
6:00 pm
Sierra Center Stage "Guy Clark" National treasure Guy Clark is joined by his frequent collaborator Verlon Thompson in a rousing performance of the widely celebrated Texas singer-songwriter's most popular tunes, including "L.A. Freeway, " "Stuff that Works," and "Homegrown Tomatoes. D
7:00 pm
Austin City Limits "The Shins/Dr. Dog" This show highlights two alternative rock groups. The Shins play from their latest recording Port of Morrow while Dr. Dog performs selections from Be the Void.G
8:00 pm
Broadway: The American Musical "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (1930-1942)" Creative growth rises from the Depression: Cole Porter offers glamour; Rogers and Hart star Gene Kelly in Pal Joey; and George Gershwin creates an American opera, Porgy and Bess Part 3 of 6G
9:00 pm
Legendary Bing Crosby From the archives of the crooner's 1954-1977 television specials come these full-song solo performances and duets with his guest stars. Interviews with Bing's widow, Kathryn, and daughter, Mary, plus film critic Leonard Maltin, television personality Regis Philbin, singer Andy Williams, and performer/musicologist Michael Feinstein provide insight into his life and career. Solos include "I Love Paris," "Swanee" and "It Had To Be You." Duet partners include Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Fred Astaire and Andy Williams.G
10:00 pm
Song of the Mountains New North Carolina Ramblers; Buck & Company; Gold Heart. D
11:00 pm
Austin City Limits "The Shins/Dr. Dog" This show highlights two alternative rock groups. The Shins play from their latest recording Port of Morrow while Dr. Dog performs selections from Be the Void.G


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Up until recently, the answer to this was no. The time involved was just too great to try and provide that for everyone who would want it (and probably everyone would). Plus, if we gave exact rankings and ratings to some members, it could be very discouraging, which is the last thing FaithWriters wants to be.
However, in September 2009, we introduced the Ratings Feedback Service, which provides a really good overview of how the judges saw your entry (the strengths and the weaknesses). Each ratings feedback document is about four to five pages long and quite in-depth, providing both an overview of the judges' ratings for your entry, together with valuable editorial insight from me.
This service is provided through the only editing service used and recommended by FaithWriters:
http://www.finessewriting.com.au/FWFeed ... ation.html
Although a small fee is charged for ratings feedback, it will mean the end of wondering what you could have done better.
Also, one free report is given away every topic of the Challenge. This prize is chosen randomly and offered to a Challenge entrant for that topic who has taken time to leave feedback on other Challenge entries for that same topic. We hope that this little prize will encourage more people to become active feedback givers, as the giving and receiving of feedback on Challenge entries is one of the highlights of entering the Challenge.