1) Via Menachem Mendel, rather
cool news, that the Artscroll Talmud is going digital. See also related at the Artscroll
blog. Follow-up-up
here.
2) Various articles and blogs opposing Deborah Feldman, as would be expected, whether or not the contents of her book were true. Here is a sample
blogpost someone sent to me, with her uncle (purportedly) opposing her. Here is a
post by Mekubal pointing out some problematic posts on her blog via the WayBack Machine. And an article in the
Jewish Press by "A Female Member of the Satmar Community in Williamsburg".
3) Chabad
opposes Rebbe stamps, because licking the back is disrespectful. It reminds me of the recycled (political, sports, lawyer, etc) joke:
When they have put Clinton's face on the United States stamps, all the stamps were returned to the post office, because people didn't know which side to spit on
I guess in Israel, they don't have self-adhesive stamps. (Though a comment there says they do have self-adhesive stamps.) And though one could use a wet tissue or napkin to moisten the stamp, the general populace would not be doing this. Even though I don't really agree with the objection, that is irrelevant. They are entitled to be bothered by it. In the comment section there:
According to an Admur the disrespect comes from the post office that cancels the stamp blotting out the portrait
4) At
the Yeshiva World, a very strange segulah for a long life:
Stern told Chadrei Chareidim “It is known that if one is ‘niftar while still alive he is promised arichas yomim’. He explained that he heard a rav say that laying down in a kever is a segula towards achieving this longevity.
5) And also via the Yeshiva World, an
OU Purim Safety alert, that intoxication is not a
mitzvah. Or, to cite their actual words:
“Bodily harm through intoxication is not a mitzvah on Purim, and driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal, leads to impaired judgment, and chas ve’shalom, a possible catastrophe.”
That is a good way to put it. Speaking now for myself, to the
hamon am in general, I would say to avoid getting intoxicated on Purim. Why? Because
nishtaneh hateva from the time of Chazal. How so? There is
yeridas hadoros and people back then were not idiots. Unfortunately, people nowadays are idiots. And they then drink to such an extent as to put themselves and others around them into danger.
Another change from the past is that there were no cars in the time of Chazal. Nowadays, someone might get drunk and walk into traffic, or get behind the wheel of a car. And even if person X won't do it, if we permit and encourage the practice across all of
klal yisrael, there
will be some unfortunate people, or idiots, who do so. There is a concept of
shev ve'al taaseh, which might well apply here.
And if people are twisting sources to claim that it is not a
mitzvah to get drunk -- well, they may be right. Or maybe, this is the necessary way to impose a new
takkanah, so as to prevent a tragedy.
Matzav, meanwhile, has
tips for
those who drink on Purim.
From past parshablog posts,
the Chiyuv, or Issur, of getting drunk on Purim. And the
Aruch Hashulchan on getting drunk on Purim.
6) A miracle story --
a misnaged listens to the advice of the Rebbe. And as a result, a (unsuspecting?) diamond smuggler is freed.
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