Purim is a day of joy for Jews. A rabbi I am close to told me halacha (Jewish law) actually requires Jews to be happy on Purim. Beyond that, and hearing the megilla (gorilla) and the normal kosher requirements, there are no halachic restrictions normally associated with major Jewish holidays. Play music? Fine. Cameras and cellphones? No problem. Cooking? By all means! Watch the U.S.A. vs. Canada Olympic gold-medal game? Knock yourself out. In this regard, Purim is much more relaxed than shabbos or yontif. With the ability to drive, one is not tied down to a walking-distance radius and can share the holiday with friends and family all over.
So I really appreciate that.
Showing posts with label shabbos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shabbos. Show all posts
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Rabbi Yaakov Parisi at Skokie Chabad
Rabbi Yaakov Ephraim Parisi told his very inspiring story at a packed house at Skokie Chabad Friday night, March 5. He grew up in an Italian-Catholic home in Brooklyn and was religious from the start, serving as an altar boy and then leaving the Catholic Church and starting his own small church in Oklahoma. It was there he began studying Judaism, spending a fortune on Artscroll publications to enhance his learning and knowledge. Rabbi Parisi and his wife completed their conversion process on the same day about 12 years ago. Listening to him speak makes one realize what a treasure the history of the Jewish people really is.
Dinner was outstanding: challah rolls, gefilte fish, (pareve) eggplant parmesan, baby baked potatoes, and breaded chicken. Dessert was fresh fruit and Danish.
The only part of Rabbi Parisi’s speech in which I would disagree with him is what he said about Christianity. He singled out the Southern Baptist Church in particular for pouring millions of dollars into Jews for Jesus. If that’s true (and I suspect it is), that of course is abhorrent. However, many, if not most, conservative and evangelical Christian groups are friends to the Jewish people. This includes the Roman Catholic Church, which I think has 60 million or so American members. These churches support Israel and do not try to convert Jews because they do not believe Jews need to be saved. The major Jewish organizations in the U.S. could accomplish much by joining forces with Christians to:
Fight Islamic terrorism in the U.S. and worldwide;
Support Israel and oppose the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; and
(orthodox) Support tuition vouchers
The Jewish people constitute such a small segment of American society that it only makes sense to team up with other groups who share Jewish values.
Dinner was outstanding: challah rolls, gefilte fish, (pareve) eggplant parmesan, baby baked potatoes, and breaded chicken. Dessert was fresh fruit and Danish.
The only part of Rabbi Parisi’s speech in which I would disagree with him is what he said about Christianity. He singled out the Southern Baptist Church in particular for pouring millions of dollars into Jews for Jesus. If that’s true (and I suspect it is), that of course is abhorrent. However, many, if not most, conservative and evangelical Christian groups are friends to the Jewish people. This includes the Roman Catholic Church, which I think has 60 million or so American members. These churches support Israel and do not try to convert Jews because they do not believe Jews need to be saved. The major Jewish organizations in the U.S. could accomplish much by joining forces with Christians to:
Fight Islamic terrorism in the U.S. and worldwide;
Support Israel and oppose the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; and
(orthodox) Support tuition vouchers
The Jewish people constitute such a small segment of American society that it only makes sense to team up with other groups who share Jewish values.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A Pastor's Journey to Judaism
I have my shabbat dinner for March 5 all picked out! Skokie Chabad is hosting Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Parisi for what promises to be a great shabbaton. Rabbi Parisi will speak Friday night about being a Christian pastor and how he and his wife became observant Jews. Friday night dinner promises to be the usual four-star extravaganza at Skokie Chabad. The Parisis are also speaking at a kiddush luncheon at Skokie Chabad the following morning, after davening around 11:30.
Here is the link for more information and to reserve a very reasonable dinner seat: http://bit.ly/ctnzoz
See you there!
Here is the link for more information and to reserve a very reasonable dinner seat: http://bit.ly/ctnzoz
See you there!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Shabbos terumah
A few notes about last shabbos. My friends I stayed with live in a neighborhood with one orthodox shul, which was where we went Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon.
The Saturday morning service was three hours long. I think that's inexcusable. Even a take-your-time shul can finish a shabbos service--with d'var torah--in 2:30 or less. I don't know if the filler is for people who don't go to shul during the week, but it doesn't matter. Who can sit for three hours? The chazzan really dragged out kedusha for mussaf. He has a beautiful voice, but it's too much. When I visit this shul, I'm going to daven all of pesukei d'zimrah (the introduction to the main service) on my own and show up half an hour late. I think that would make the service far more bearable and inspiring to me.
I attended a "learning lunch" at the shul sponsored by Jack Berger, featuring guest speaker Jack Berger. Jack is a Zionist with strong opinions. He frequently takes out ads in Chicago Jewish News to make sure many more people--Jews of all denominations and political views--are privy to his opinions. I mostly agree with him. His knowledge and grasp of Israeli-U.S. history is very impressive, as is his ability to respond to a Torah question with a direct quote. (His Chumash copy is more annotated than any I've seen.) I very much enjoyed his speech.
After Jack's speech, the young man sitting next to me asked Jack a question--supposedly. What he actually did was drone on for an extended period of time, finally getting around to a question he could have asked right away. This reminded me of the Spertus Museum Rules of Asking Questions:
1. You may take no longer than 30 seconds;
2. You must ask a question.
EXACTLY! Someone will stand up to ask a question, and he is shocked, shocked to learn we really didn't show up to listen to him tell his life story. We're just not interested. Ask your damn question or just sit down. Others believe this is their opportunity to offer their opinions on the speaker, his topic, or any number of other topics. No, again, if we want your opinion, we'll invite you for coffee. Until then, you're keeping other people in the audience from asking legitimate questions.
After the Sabbath ended, I went with a friend to the 2010 Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place. Note to self: the $10 parking is at Soldier Field (18th St. exit). The $19 parking is at the 31st St exit. Thieves, I tell you! I was fortunate to enter gratis as someone handed me his passes. I obviously haven't been to the Auto Show in quite some time--probably not since the 20th Century. News flash: the beautiful women are back. The automakers, famous and notorious for featuring models posing next to their new cars, are up to their old tricks again. They stopped for a while, partly because it was silly--women make the final decision regarding an automobile purchase more than half the time. Maybe these female decision-makers find the models persuasive as well. Most automaker pavilions featured models on the turntables next to the vehicles or walking around, talking to potential customers. I am still amazed at how much money the automakers spend on these shows. The displays appear to be in the mid-five figures. The automakers also need to pay for staff as well as vehicle and equipment transportation to truck everything to the next city. I admit it's helpful to see numerous new car models under one roof, especially if one is in the market for one. But shouldn't the automakers pay us for the privilege of checking out their vehicles? $11 admission is a bit harsh.
The Saturday morning service was three hours long. I think that's inexcusable. Even a take-your-time shul can finish a shabbos service--with d'var torah--in 2:30 or less. I don't know if the filler is for people who don't go to shul during the week, but it doesn't matter. Who can sit for three hours? The chazzan really dragged out kedusha for mussaf. He has a beautiful voice, but it's too much. When I visit this shul, I'm going to daven all of pesukei d'zimrah (the introduction to the main service) on my own and show up half an hour late. I think that would make the service far more bearable and inspiring to me.
I attended a "learning lunch" at the shul sponsored by Jack Berger, featuring guest speaker Jack Berger. Jack is a Zionist with strong opinions. He frequently takes out ads in Chicago Jewish News to make sure many more people--Jews of all denominations and political views--are privy to his opinions. I mostly agree with him. His knowledge and grasp of Israeli-U.S. history is very impressive, as is his ability to respond to a Torah question with a direct quote. (His Chumash copy is more annotated than any I've seen.) I very much enjoyed his speech.
After Jack's speech, the young man sitting next to me asked Jack a question--supposedly. What he actually did was drone on for an extended period of time, finally getting around to a question he could have asked right away. This reminded me of the Spertus Museum Rules of Asking Questions:
1. You may take no longer than 30 seconds;
2. You must ask a question.
EXACTLY! Someone will stand up to ask a question, and he is shocked, shocked to learn we really didn't show up to listen to him tell his life story. We're just not interested. Ask your damn question or just sit down. Others believe this is their opportunity to offer their opinions on the speaker, his topic, or any number of other topics. No, again, if we want your opinion, we'll invite you for coffee. Until then, you're keeping other people in the audience from asking legitimate questions.
After the Sabbath ended, I went with a friend to the 2010 Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place. Note to self: the $10 parking is at Soldier Field (18th St. exit). The $19 parking is at the 31st St exit. Thieves, I tell you! I was fortunate to enter gratis as someone handed me his passes. I obviously haven't been to the Auto Show in quite some time--probably not since the 20th Century. News flash: the beautiful women are back. The automakers, famous and notorious for featuring models posing next to their new cars, are up to their old tricks again. They stopped for a while, partly because it was silly--women make the final decision regarding an automobile purchase more than half the time. Maybe these female decision-makers find the models persuasive as well. Most automaker pavilions featured models on the turntables next to the vehicles or walking around, talking to potential customers. I am still amazed at how much money the automakers spend on these shows. The displays appear to be in the mid-five figures. The automakers also need to pay for staff as well as vehicle and equipment transportation to truck everything to the next city. I admit it's helpful to see numerous new car models under one roof, especially if one is in the market for one. But shouldn't the automakers pay us for the privilege of checking out their vehicles? $11 admission is a bit harsh.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
How to handle an obnoxious table guest?
I stayed with a family this past shabbos (Vayikra) who welcomed me into their modest home which they share with their six wonderful children. I am withholding their names because they are modest, they don't have internet access, and I don't want to say anything bad about them or allow readers to figure out who their other guest was. Suffice to say I hope I made a more favorable impression than this guy, whom we'll call Ned. Because that's the first name I thought of that is not actually his own.
I feel bad for Ned. He is an older single. I don't know if he's NBM (Never Been Married). He is short, overweight and a little funny-looking. I didn't ask him why he wore suspenders and a belt today. I'm tempted to infer he is bitter and angry despite coming off as somewhat friendly. The last time I visited and stayed with this family, he was there. That time, Ned was so angry at my host he got up from his seat and walked over to my host to yell at him about something my host repeated several times that he had absolutely no control over: while Ned was on vacation, someone removed some food of his from a common-area refrigerator at Ned's and my host's shul. Okay, a mild annoyance. But not a major grievance, not something to get worked up about, and not something to attack my host about! I told a confidante about this exchange, and she said, "I wouldn't invite him back." But my host is a mensch, and today, there was Ned. This time, my hosts explained they were leaving for an 18-hour drive next Monday morning, around 0600, giving themselves a spare 42 hours or so before yontif begins Wednesday evening. And Ned gave them a hard time about this, suggesting they weren't allowing enough time. Is he stupid, or does he just like bugging people? The other big topic of discussion, which Ned initiated, is that the power locks on his car weren't working. They would unlock, he claimed, without warning and with no provocation. After listening to his crap for much of my meal (which was delicious, BTW--thank you, Mrs. ----), this struck me as darkly hilarious. I helpfully tried to explain that the only likely fix was to replace the power locks, which would cost about $500. Ned demanded how I knew this, and I explained that when I visited a Carmax showroom, one of the advertised options for a used car is power lock installation, and that's the approximate cost. I then asked Ned how old his car was, because maybe it wasn't worth replacing the power locks. Ned refused to answer my question and sardonically asked if I drive a Lexus. (It's in the shop.) My host jumped in and helpfully suggested disconnecting the power from the power locks and just operating them manually. He was already annoyed because he had told Ned at least twice that discussing power locks at a shabbos table wasn't appropriate. Throughout these conversations, I discerned Ned is one of those guys to whom everything must be explained twice and slowly. We also discussed the Chicago grid system (address numbering) and how it is superior to Brooklyn's, and Ned said, "I don't know what you're talking about." Well, when you put it that way, I'm not going to take the time to explain it to you.
If Ned were 20, it would be nice for someone close to Ned to say, "Don't give your host a hard time about something that happened at his shul that he told you he had no control over; don't ask your hosts about their vacation timing since they didn't ask you for your opinion; and if your host suggests a topic is inappropriate, then just drop it." Ned is closer to 60, and if someone tried to help him like that, I suspect he wouldn't take the suggestions seriously.
I feel bad for Ned. He is an older single. I don't know if he's NBM (Never Been Married). He is short, overweight and a little funny-looking. I didn't ask him why he wore suspenders and a belt today. I'm tempted to infer he is bitter and angry despite coming off as somewhat friendly. The last time I visited and stayed with this family, he was there. That time, Ned was so angry at my host he got up from his seat and walked over to my host to yell at him about something my host repeated several times that he had absolutely no control over: while Ned was on vacation, someone removed some food of his from a common-area refrigerator at Ned's and my host's shul. Okay, a mild annoyance. But not a major grievance, not something to get worked up about, and not something to attack my host about! I told a confidante about this exchange, and she said, "I wouldn't invite him back." But my host is a mensch, and today, there was Ned. This time, my hosts explained they were leaving for an 18-hour drive next Monday morning, around 0600, giving themselves a spare 42 hours or so before yontif begins Wednesday evening. And Ned gave them a hard time about this, suggesting they weren't allowing enough time. Is he stupid, or does he just like bugging people? The other big topic of discussion, which Ned initiated, is that the power locks on his car weren't working. They would unlock, he claimed, without warning and with no provocation. After listening to his crap for much of my meal (which was delicious, BTW--thank you, Mrs. ----), this struck me as darkly hilarious. I helpfully tried to explain that the only likely fix was to replace the power locks, which would cost about $500. Ned demanded how I knew this, and I explained that when I visited a Carmax showroom, one of the advertised options for a used car is power lock installation, and that's the approximate cost. I then asked Ned how old his car was, because maybe it wasn't worth replacing the power locks. Ned refused to answer my question and sardonically asked if I drive a Lexus. (It's in the shop.) My host jumped in and helpfully suggested disconnecting the power from the power locks and just operating them manually. He was already annoyed because he had told Ned at least twice that discussing power locks at a shabbos table wasn't appropriate. Throughout these conversations, I discerned Ned is one of those guys to whom everything must be explained twice and slowly. We also discussed the Chicago grid system (address numbering) and how it is superior to Brooklyn's, and Ned said, "I don't know what you're talking about." Well, when you put it that way, I'm not going to take the time to explain it to you.
If Ned were 20, it would be nice for someone close to Ned to say, "Don't give your host a hard time about something that happened at his shul that he told you he had no control over; don't ask your hosts about their vacation timing since they didn't ask you for your opinion; and if your host suggests a topic is inappropriate, then just drop it." Ned is closer to 60, and if someone tried to help him like that, I suspect he wouldn't take the suggestions seriously.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Could we take an iPhone Sabbath break?
It would be silly for me to spend a shabbos in a neighborhood with many less-observant Jews and then complain about that situation in a blog. That's not fair. I'm a guest. It's not my house/condo; I'm in no position to complain. So if people want to call the elevators, drive to dinner, take a taxi home, it's really none of my business. I'm not saying a word, and to be honest, it doesn't bother me.
But let me say this. I don't care what night of the week it is. If I'm at a dinner party, my phone stays in my pocket or on my belt. I don't whip it out at the earliest opportunity to show everyone my new Blackberry Pearl, or latest iPhone app, or Samsung PDA. If I'm expecting an important call, I'll warn my host. Otherwise, I'm just not taking calls during dinner. Is that so hard? A friend told me he could never keep his phone off for a whole day. How about a two-hour dinner/dessert party? No, it's more fun to have it on display, I suppose.
But let me say this. I don't care what night of the week it is. If I'm at a dinner party, my phone stays in my pocket or on my belt. I don't whip it out at the earliest opportunity to show everyone my new Blackberry Pearl, or latest iPhone app, or Samsung PDA. If I'm expecting an important call, I'll warn my host. Otherwise, I'm just not taking calls during dinner. Is that so hard? A friend told me he could never keep his phone off for a whole day. How about a two-hour dinner/dessert party? No, it's more fun to have it on display, I suppose.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Is it okay to use the shampoo?
For the last four months, I’ve been honored to be a guest in friends’ homes every shabbos—Friday afternoon through Saturday night. Sometimes I remember to bring my own shampoo, and sometimes I need to depend on the kindness of my hosts to avoid an unhealthy mix of dandruff and oily hair on shabbos. Is it okay to use my hosts’ shampoo? What if the bathroom has a Shampoo Planet collection? That means enough hair treatment product to destroy the ozone layer. Oh, the plethora of options! Someone admonished me and strongly suggested using soap is fine, but I should bring my own shampoo. Other costs associated with hosting me: laundry for the towel and sheets that I soil for one night’s rest (plus nap). Any thoughts?
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