Interesting Posts and Articles #104

1. A back and forth between Dr. Marc Shapiro and R' Genack about Kashrut -- glatt vs. non-glatt, and the OU-D for dairy equipment (here, here, and in footnote 1 here.)
   
   
2. See also the Kosher Quandary -- a session at YU, transcribed by Chana, with a panel consisting of Rabbi Genack, Rabbi Avi Shafran, etc. And she also has a transcription of a session with James Kugel, about midrash before Chazal, and why it is important.
   
   
3. ADDeRabbi has a post on the Seforim blog, a review of a new siddur translation.
   
   
4. The KallahMagazine blog discusses Ralbag, and how long it took to have the shevatim, and therefore their ages.
   
   
5. I discuss whether the Zohar predicted the attack in Mumbai -- I don't believe the Zohar mentions the correct number of victims, nor does it mention a synagogue, nor did anything happen 70 days earlier which would qualify. Therefore, the Zohar is speaking about something else. But then, in updates, I take on Rav Ashlag, author of the Sulam, as to the proper translation of kenishta.
   
   
6. This WonderMark cartoon is about Santa's reindeer, but it reminds me of what can go on in terms of midrashim, and how we can forget they are not in the Biblical text itself. Related, this recent parshablog post on parshat Vayishlach about who Dinah married, and the way that the original midrashim were modified in the course of harmonization.
   
   
7. Shirat Devorah on whether we should move to Israel, based on the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
   
   
8. Politico about questions to ask Obama about the recent scandal.
   
   
9. Bush talks about Creationism and Evolution on Nightline. He says he believes in evolution, and thinks that the Bible is probably not literally true. (I am not sure if he means evolution vs. creation, or in general.) See video here:
   
   
10. Hirhurim about Rabbi Rackman -- "On the Death of a Giant"
    
    
11. Check out my roundup of parshablog posts on Vayishlach.