tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84970552011-12-20T04:43:05.770-05:00A conflicted soul torn between two worlds, the world of Hassidim and the world of reason. It is two different worlds yet I’m in both of them at the same time, acting like a Hassid but thinking like a Heretic.Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.comBlogger2201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-62970505798133047322010-01-12T22:20:00.005-05:002010-01-12T23:00:18.596-05:00

The good old days. Hasidic Rebel churning out tantalizing pieces of art. Baal Devarim's masterful creations. Nostalgia sets in every time I turn to the right side of this blog to look for links to new posts. The blogging of yore when posts generated comments in the 100's. Back when posts were talked about in Shul, in Mikveh, and even at family Shabbos tables. Nostalgia. Nostalgia no more.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-1090035321412153742009-10-20T02:27:00.005-04:002009-10-20T02:38:09.156-04:00

It has become a yearly tradition to look around during leining (if I make it on time, that is) and see who else follows the what is being read. Most of the time it turns out that no one is listening. No one stops the Ba'al Korah trying to understand why he keeps on repeating himself, and reads the story twice. I never see anyone turn the pages back and forth trying to understand the Torah. Well,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-71052290434429312412009-10-05T02:03:00.008-04:002009-10-05T12:15:07.954-04:00

Hello, I am a Baal Tesuvah that was recruited by Aish Hatorah. I am interested in leaving Judaism since the Orthodox lifestyle is way too difficult for me. However, there is certain circumstancial evidence used to prove Judaism that scares me into believing that maybe I should be frum. Here are some things that worry me: 1. In Deuteronomy there is a prophecy that Israel would be taken away in

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-66025397539761364732009-09-22T22:07:00.005-04:002009-09-22T22:22:22.889-04:00

The first post was typed up while chatting to a friend I have been talking to a while already. She helped me with the name of the blog (I wanted something to resemble the 'machanie'im books' “der roov der ba'al agooleh”, “der kamtzen der noodiv” etc.), my nickname (which came right after we discussed what a “shtreimel” is), and after a few pitiful tries also taught me some basic English lessons I

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-56694557454607077452009-07-10T18:58:00.008-04:002009-09-26T15:24:35.228-04:00

Today is one of these days, days that I wonder why I bother with the charade at all. Once upon a time there was a city (most probably a village, or town, by modern standards) in a continent far away, a walled city that had the misfortune of being in the way of the Romans and their legions. Jerusalem succumbed to the foe, and the series of events from the day the outer city walls were breached,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-72552517073485580512009-06-21T14:58:00.009-04:002009-09-26T15:36:19.418-04:00

.בחלומי, והנה-גפן לפני I'm at tish. It is quiet - this is what they mean when they say “dead quiet”. You can hear the knife cutting into the big challah that the Rebbe just blessed. It is being cut in many pieces then distributed to the congregants standing on the bleachers all around. Everyone gets to eat a little piece, a leftover, shereim, from the Rebbe. Sitting at the head of the table

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-51540437468658685552009-05-24T00:10:00.001-04:002009-05-24T00:12:53.574-04:00

Alone is when you sit at a special gathering, a simche, amongst family and friends, but you are not one of them. You sit at the table with your friends, some even childhood friends with whom no secrets were hidden, no holds barred but now, with nothing to share anymore. Nothing to talk about. You end up listening to the repetitive heroics of shomrim and or hatzolah turning into quotes from

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-30476461507165596412009-05-17T00:11:00.006-04:002009-05-18T19:40:13.857-04:00

Meir Brandsdorfer died last week in Jerusalem. The stories I heard in shul does not correlate with the stories I read about him in the forums and websites not much aligned with the prevailing Hasidic dogma. Such as this post I wrote a couple of years ago.  ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. ----Update - 5/13/08Ten thousand foreskins were buried together with Rabbi Bransdorfer.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-55847336775465510662009-05-15T19:15:00.003-04:002009-05-16T09:48:22.411-04:00

I wrote this as a response to CK's question:I just have one question for you.  do you also feel, that proselytizing against religion is also as wonderful? or is it only if u have heaven as an award that it is excusable? Personally i don't know about proselytizing, but i would be in favor of getting the word out to all the fundi's, and letting them know that the truth is not on their side.  I

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-6336153475160412162009-05-08T17:28:00.008-04:002009-05-16T19:14:31.296-04:00

“I hope you don't mind me saying, but, and don't take me the wrong way. I'm not preaching or anything, but you're not living up to your potential”, she says rather apologetically. We are in a Brooklyn bar talking with some friends, drinking, doing what other kindred spirits do on a lovely Thursday night. Someone was even kind enough to bring cholent for everyone. We noticed them earlier, a

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-25636041893847456902009-04-04T01:44:00.003-04:002009-04-04T01:57:23.536-04:00

Hedyot started his much anticipated Better Know a Kofer series with Sara, a former orthodox BY teacher turned Christian, wait, Catholic – yeah, there is a difference apparently. The first thought I had when I heard about the premise was, wow, this is wild. But then after thinking about it, and reading the many comments, both at DH and at XGH, I have some observation I wish to share. 1. The

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-18941125538432054342009-04-01T18:52:00.004-04:002009-04-01T19:12:28.131-04:00

It sounds ludicrous in English. Come to think of it, it sounds just as bad in Yiddish, or Hebrew – er, when you think about it. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azaryah finally figured out why we're supposed to tell the story of the exodus at night. It's because it says "all the days of your life!"Ben Zoma Huh?Rabbi Eleazar ben Azaryah You see "Days of your life" means days only, but "ALL the days of your life

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-40788995806245482512009-03-24T00:06:00.001-04:002009-03-24T00:07:48.276-04:00

Many of us here are in a similar quandary to mine; in its crudest form it could be phrased as: do kids get affected negatively by a parent's action—in our case actions that are incoherent with the community at large, and with what they are taught in school, in the backyard and even at home? The question doesn't apply only to people that have already made the decision to leave, but in many ways

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-291471549471796972009-03-05T19:36:00.003-05:002009-03-05T20:43:23.534-05:00

About a couple weeks ago, a blog-post about Boro Park written by Meghan, a non-Jewish Boro Park resident, was making the rounds, either via links on some j-blogs or by email forwarding. I thought the post painted a very unflattering picture of Boro Parkers, but that didn’t concern me much. For one thing, everyone’s entitled to his/her opinion, including a negative one about Boro Park people; and

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-53816911976080174722009-02-20T16:26:00.000-05:002009-02-20T16:27:21.427-05:00

As New Yorkers do

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-41999318277167964422009-02-15T18:37:00.003-05:002009-02-15T18:39:07.298-05:00

"I can't see, I can't hear, I am in middle of davening"

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-23737329648001884802009-02-14T21:53:00.007-05:002009-02-20T16:25:14.544-05:00

Rabbi Horowitz recently posted a request for advise on how to handle custody arbitration between an OTD parent and a frum one. I commented there under "Almost Tormented". I hope that the esteemed Rabbi will be able to give a clear answer to the question posed. We know the Orthodox approach to be "מוטב שיהיה שוטה כל ימיו ואל יהיה רשע שעה אחת לפני המקום".When a conflict arises between the

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-40713241366385371052009-01-08T11:12:00.003-05:002009-01-08T11:18:36.163-05:00

Skeleton asks: “Have you ever noticed, that Hasidic rebellious teenagers, like secular teenagers, have no ambitions beyond scoring weed and women?” The answer is two pronged but first; I find it disheartening that someone like Skeleton, a person very much capable of critical thought and inquiry before accepting dogma would not realize that her statement is seeped in the ignorant widespread belief

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-1785625336735079522009-01-05T14:53:00.000-05:002009-01-05T14:54:46.492-05:00

Sometimes while listening to the news broadcasts, watching some of the pundits, and reading articles online (mostly on the Huffington Post) I want to scream out that if all wars were to be fought proportionality then we would still be fighting the First World War. How on earth does one win a war by tit-for-tat blows that serves no purpose? Please tell me.  

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-22456430126166622432008-12-23T00:58:00.002-05:002008-12-23T01:08:09.025-05:00

Erran Baron Cohen (brother of Sacha Baron Cohen a/k/a Ali G a/k/a Borat) sings a new version of the draydel song: The Satmar version (plotchige bieber hats): And the 'hoiche bieber hit' version (although the 'Yeshua' grafitti is a bit weird... is he Jews for Jesus...?) Awesome! (Hat tip: HR and Begreatfull )

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-39432661078349136232008-12-19T02:14:00.002-05:002008-12-19T02:24:05.965-05:00

Alien If you ever reach back to this universe, please go back a few hundred years to the first days of the printing press and see the raging argument of the day. A geocentric world or a heliocentric. A spherical earth, or a flat earth. An alien skimming through the printing pages might attribute both sides an equal amount of chance of being right. He might take both groups' bragging of being

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-75192771750279800532008-12-18T01:59:00.002-05:002008-12-18T02:04:32.824-05:00

Could it be possible that eventually I will embrace what I am, and fall in line with what life dealt me? Let me clarify, I don't mean that I will come to love how it turned out, or fall in line by way of accepting and acting the supposed pious life of the average Chusid. I am talking about acceptance of living a life I don't subscribe to. I'm talking about coming to terms with playing a believer,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-50236575281060166492008-12-16T00:50:00.003-05:002008-12-16T00:55:09.159-05:00

Not-Jewish Neither Philosopher – the usual. One might ask, “why get all riled up?” Thing is, I don't. He is a blogger's dream, at least this blogger's. His usual drivel involves inconsistent and flawed logic one might expect from a convert not yet comfortable reading the Torah in the original source, but this one stands out. No, it isn't the first time I came across this brilliance, neither is

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-21316713487566015832008-12-15T00:56:00.008-05:002008-12-16T00:10:01.368-05:00

The following is a guest post by a friend of mine, a committed Footsteper. I have had the same experience with some talking about Footsteps so I thought it belongs here. _______________________________________________________________ What is Footsteps? “A bunch of losers” “Oifgeklerte behiemes trying to influence Frum Yidden to eat chazer” “Never heard of it” “It's not for me; I know what I want,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-2685606800154644872008-12-14T19:37:00.000-05:002008-12-14T19:38:44.633-05:00

Mumbai - Rabbi Holtzberg Said No to Security, Left it To Hashem.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-65863584541151790042008-11-25T00:09:00.000-05:002008-11-25T00:10:38.729-05:00

Not Happy With Their Marriages, Some Hasidic Men And Women Engage In Extramarital Affairs Via The Internet

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-52072095170201211172008-11-22T23:50:00.003-05:002008-11-28T02:38:10.080-05:00

Credit

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-10916242935087268312008-11-19T13:35:00.004-05:002008-11-19T13:48:06.320-05:00

How old was Rivkah when she married Yitzchok? Some (Rashi) claim she was three years old, while other rabbinical sources put her age at 14. Common sense dictates that she was 14. So far so good?  No to some people indoctrinated by Orthodox Judaism.  Commenter # 2I do notknow who the author of this article is but it is good that he rmains nameless I think he should read the Raban's hakdomah to

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-18507661993624886212008-11-17T15:09:00.000-05:002008-11-17T15:11:33.471-05:00

Penned-in wrote an excellent post about Einstein and his religious views. To sum up PI’s post Einstein relied on the scientific method 100% and where science ended and uncertainness began he stood in awe of its greatness which he called God. To this day I’m amazed at how many kiruv people use him as a reason ‘others’ should join the clan. To rely on his great mind in this matter would also lead

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-39681609952356255552008-11-17T01:17:00.002-05:002008-11-17T01:23:09.645-05:00

Someone asked me to clarify why I have a personal bias towards the family of Motel Brody. I’m only human and as such in some cases my own personal experiences and feelings are inescapable, even in light of cold hard facts.  Sadly, the young boy has since died, this time even according to the stringent rules of Orthodox Judaism. Although how exactly a dead person can die I’m not sure, I’ll leave

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-72439805020892440662008-11-16T12:32:00.000-05:002008-11-16T00:52:45.721-05:00

Tapkes relates to a time when he was awed by a young Chasidic man who is afraid to drive on Shabbos lest he gets involved in an accident and his transgressions become common knowledge. This reminded me of my own evolution. Years ago, in a previous incarnation of his, I asked Tapkes if he really considers not fasting on Yom Kippur. As a recent discoverer of reason and skepticism I scoured the web

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-63262883244794038462008-11-14T00:43:00.001-05:002008-11-16T00:52:12.690-05:00

NPR: Talk of the Nation Podcast - NPR: 11-11-2008 Talk of the Nation - Hour 2 I have my own thoughts about the case, or rather, I had my own thoughts. But then I saw a picture of Motel Brody, and suddenly I saw the issue in a different light, in a bias only a father of kids with peyos who has seen Chanukah parties the likes of which the picture depicts.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-69873551287357219262008-11-06T01:09:00.006-05:002008-11-06T13:18:08.305-05:00

I'm not the huge novel reader but the story line of Who by Fire offered something relatable and I really enjoyed reading it.   A young man runs off to a yeshiva in Israel, his sister and mother are trying to get him back, both in their own ways. All with impressive imperfections, yet lovable characters. Much of the story takes part in Jerusalem during the second intifada, articulately

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-54531827035525140152008-11-04T15:49:00.003-05:002008-11-04T16:33:35.131-05:00

It’s election day, finally. I never realized that CNN (and FOX) could be entertaining, even more than a tight baseball game. It is frustrating to see the mass ignorance and real fear people around me have from the person I think is much better geared to lead this country. I won’t be heart broken if McCain wins the election (without court decisions) because he is a decent man and as much as he

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-6818188563408429632008-10-22T22:26:00.000-04:002008-10-22T22:27:32.714-04:00

No english title - video powered by Metacafe

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-7012168562111740322008-10-10T02:01:00.004-04:002008-10-10T02:19:54.829-04:00

His face was uncharacteristically crimson while he was making the rounds in shul this morning, obviously looking for something. I probably wouldn’t have noticed him - being too immersed in my own Yom Kippur problems - had my neighbor not nudged me with his elbow, whispering “look at Leibi”. I looked at Leibi, he stood forlorn, his eyes scanned the table, then the next one, then the next one, he

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-14348029268038193652008-09-28T16:37:00.002-04:002008-09-28T20:09:13.120-04:00

People around me are very into Palin and her supposed efficiency in eradicating all of America’s ills. Seriously. I live in a Jewish neighborhood, but Ultra Orthodox Jews, especially the younger generation, is stoutly Conservative and will vote for McCain/Palin this November. My non-Jewish barber was uncharacteristically slow this morning, two days before Rosh Hashanah - when the males are

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-46569969642329255022008-09-23T00:44:00.004-04:002008-09-23T00:50:28.085-04:00

Tafkes feels like this when he needs to put on tefilin!

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-30165628208612299302008-09-20T23:32:00.009-04:002009-09-24T01:13:50.587-04:00

This is how I felt two years ago: Sinners Don't Pray A few hours later Baal Devarim debuted with an eerily similar sentiment yet beautifully constructed as only he could. Reading it again now gives me the same chills I had when I read it for the first time. Fast forward a year - last year. I had no choice but take my now-grown son to Shul. I woke up early like everyone else and with my

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-66914456321001578932008-09-19T13:41:00.006-04:002008-09-23T15:04:38.545-04:00

How appropriate for these days. Seeing it now I remembered that I have actually seen Maddona perform this live on tour. At the time I thought the man was singing in Arabic, and I did not get the whole "Issac" theme. Though, back then I did make a resolution not to go to concerts that I can't sit up front, way up front. Watching her shpiel now only reinforces that resolution.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-44998100576777723022008-09-14T00:37:00.001-04:002008-09-14T00:53:41.148-04:00

Rabbis black-list non-kosher music Issue: Chasidic singers are (and always were) influenced by their contemporaries. Problem: For instance, saxophones are a known to have "indecent seductive tones". Solution: Ban! From now on if you want to produce a disk, or perform at a wedding you need rabbinical approval. HASID LUST CAUSE Issue: The City of New York designated bicycle lanes that

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-69023051150789980912008-09-10T20:39:00.004-04:002008-09-23T00:52:41.495-04:00

"You know, if John McCain had said these things, what would the reaction be?" Nothing! Since when do Democrats cry rather than talk about the issues?

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-74733184507433331822008-09-08T13:58:00.004-04:002008-09-08T20:49:50.645-04:00

My name is Naria Halliwell and I am a producer at ABC News. I am working on a program about the Hasidic community and would like to speak with individuals who are in the process of leaving their community or considering leaving. I would also like to speak with individuals who no longer believe, but have chosen to remain in the community. Right now I am looking just to have off the record

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-60780216030450186842008-09-05T00:04:00.002-04:002008-09-05T00:30:46.652-04:00

Another child abuse allegation surfaced within the community, this time spilling out beyond the narrow confinements of the Shtetl and into the secular newspapers. It isn’t the first time, after the Catholic clergy’s guarded muck became public it was only a matter of time before our distressed young found the courage to come forward. Many did. Though the latest story involves a Chasidic teacher, a

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-91038249059509355582008-08-31T20:51:00.003-04:002008-08-31T20:57:59.874-04:00

It has been four years since I have been prodded - gently, of course, she isn’t capable of something else - to write down my deliberations and hardships and share it for everyone to see in form of a blog. The early posts are still up, I haven’t changed anything (other than the order, I now notice), and while not entirely proud with my early writing I have learned some things over the years,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-52909143513326211072008-08-24T02:50:00.004-04:002008-08-24T16:27:14.857-04:00

Like every self respecting shul, we also have the self-anointed ‘shush’ers, you know, the righteous ones who walk along the aisles and hush the schmoozers while the services are ongoing. Their job gets harder as the prayers progress and the late comers, the ones not known for their piousness, join the congregation. The busiest time is often during leining (reading the torah) when the only form

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-11528500591454409342008-08-06T01:39:00.008-04:002008-08-08T02:27:54.423-04:00

Many have weighed in on the latest outbreak by JP, even The Original, the famed Hasidic Rebel ended his hibernation, while The Shaigetz commented. Not much is left for me to say but the following two points. 1. There was some discussion going on about what motivated 95% of Judaism to leave their religious roots. The majority of Jews today are just a few generations away from very Orthodox Jews,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-70854038618942753902008-07-31T19:38:00.001-04:002008-07-31T19:41:17.473-04:00

It's not easy to leave a culture born into for a foreign one. Chazal recognize that god’s commandment to Abraham to leave his country, birthplace and parents as one of the ten tests god inflicted upon his beloved to satisfy his self-confidence. Recently a few fellow bloggers in various stages of leaving the community met at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in the city for a night out. After listening to

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-57171411135290923802008-07-31T05:24:00.002-04:002008-07-31T05:28:48.423-04:00

…the question now is, are you really a heretic only in thought, or did you play it out -albeit secretly- in actions too? (by actions I don’t mean watching a movie, or not putting on rabeinu tam...) living a actual double life is another variation of leaving the lifestyle not only the doctrinarian. you might say the actions are only a result of your newfound beliefs. But than we can never be

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-39001813814082681932008-07-29T01:13:00.003-04:002008-07-29T01:26:52.431-04:00

Amongst many fundamentals the only reason someone rejects their brand of religion has to be personal motives, and sex is usually obsessively mentioned as prime cause. The relentless Jacob Stein is a notoriously good example of succumbing to this scheme and plugging it wherever the keyboard permits. According to Stein, the fact that there are more men than woman enlightened proves that the people

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-58860895137982606452008-07-23T01:27:00.002-04:002008-07-23T01:31:20.928-04:00

The Gitty Grunwald saga brought up an argument used by many with strong emotional interests to save the theological idea of Orthodox Judaism from its detractors. To change your views after marriage, they argue, puts one in a disadvantage with regards to who decides on the upbringing of their kids, as it is a complete turn around on an unwritten contract which predetermined the children to be

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-52229078047328503242008-06-29T02:57:00.003-04:002008-06-29T19:05:42.813-04:00

LNM and VC have tagged me to answer the following: Q1. How would you define “atheism”? In order not to be pulled in this quagmire many do when defining atheism we must stick to the dictionary definition, otherwise the discussion ends up being semantic rather than substantial. In its narrow definition, it would mean a rejection of theism, or the disbelief of it. Q2. Was your upbringing

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-48451955538112414192008-06-27T12:54:00.003-04:002008-06-27T13:18:33.007-04:00

I have been tagged (twice) on the atheist questionnaire that seems to be making its rounds lately, and I would love to contribute something myself to this ongoing debate, but that requires time, which although I have plenty I’m using it for some other things (such as work, and nothingness).Meanwhile I saw a peculiar discussion in a Hebrew forum designed for the Ultra-Orthodox. “I personally

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-14503961045689387882008-06-03T11:33:00.000-04:002008-06-03T13:12:54.157-04:00

If there was ever a case of cognitive dissonance it belonged to the following dignitary: איינמאָל האָב איך אים געפרעגט פאַרוואָס ער טענהט אַז די וועלט האָט געמוזט באַשאַפן ווערן אין זעקס טעג, און קען נישט אָננעמען די וויסנשאַפטלעכע גדולים וועלכע גלויבן אין עוואָלוציע. איך האָב זיך אויסגעדריקט צום רבי'ן אַז די מחלוקת קעגן עוואָלוציע איז "אָרטאָדאָקסישע פּאָליטיק" און עס טרייבט אַוועק

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-5424692460483535422008-05-30T01:44:00.003-04:002008-05-30T02:05:26.942-04:00

This poem I fished from the net is a clear example of what I was talking about in a previous post. Abraham Sutzkever is lamenting the downfall of his beloved Yiddish, and promises to awaken it with his roar. Alas, as a native Yiddish speaker, I have no clue what he's saying from the 7th line onward. With only lapses of comprehension his prose loses its grip, which is a shame as his first few

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-3212345051144655422008-05-27T23:38:00.001-04:002008-05-28T13:46:25.949-04:00

The latest bloggers to find their way on my blogroll are all heimisher veiber, I’ll leave it up to the sociologists to describe the phenomenon and to the physiologists to attempt to explain it. Just the other day I came across the Cuckoo’s Nest by the prolific “Chief” whose posts are dripping with sweet sarcasm and are just a pleasure to read. Then there is On Her Own who is trying to find

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-8870843763206915632008-05-26T00:22:00.002-04:002008-05-26T00:30:55.771-04:00

After spending a few years reading in English, and listening to how people talk the language I had to admit to myself that the adage I so firmly believed in, and that is so often heard in our circles, is false. Yiddish is just not a rich language. Okay, maybe I’m too rash to denounce Yiddish, which does have a chein of its own, but to think of it as a rich? In English (and Modern Hebrew too -

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-36549373204737434502008-04-09T19:51:00.003-04:002008-04-09T20:04:15.763-04:00

Some Baba Sali explains the danger of freedom. "It begins with freedom of thought, continues with freedom of speech, and it ends up with the freedom of belief רח"ל" "(Judaism) calls for thinking, for interpetation, and for the use of the mind. But as for the freedom of heresy..." " They ask: Why should a thief have his hand chopped? Some of them say it's 'too much'. Two three much on you and

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-78939133226954651442008-04-09T19:46:00.003-04:002008-04-09T19:49:36.805-04:00

A live demonstration of what Orthodox Jews around the world pray for. Credit: לחופש

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-34159541375293567592008-03-15T22:10:00.003-04:002008-03-15T22:19:57.292-04:00

An ad in the weekly paper "Die Zeitung" reads as follows:3 bedroom, nice kitchen, 3rd floor apartment in Boro Park for rent to frum family, covers the hair with tichel*, do not go to swimming pools, do not carry with the so called eruv, even the small kids. We accept section 8. The swimming pool requirement is odd, I think, otherwise everything's normal. *Can't translate the original. Credit:http

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-9459474536441001512008-02-25T15:05:00.006-05:002008-02-27T00:14:55.160-05:00

The Chasidic community in NY is up in arms on the latest rabbinical debacle. Up in arms my foot. All they do is rant, some online, most in the Mikveh. They banned a concert called “The Big Event”, arranged and produced by Chasidim no less, and to the fullest demands of the Halacha mind you, but to some it wasn’t enough. Concerts are not explicitly allowed by the Torah, they feel, and as such

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-32277307342196875602008-02-22T16:24:00.003-05:002008-02-22T16:38:19.153-05:00

A great blog (Hebrew) I have just discovered this morning (and then spent most of the day reading). The writer is an Israeli Lubavitch Chassid with similar issues to mine. Leading a double life while trying to maintain a facade of righteousness and religious rigidity. He writes in Hebrew, and his posts drips with eloquent irony and sarcasm. Really worth the time reading his old entries. טאפקעס

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-85482836839952817042008-01-09T23:32:00.001-05:002008-01-09T23:32:34.536-05:00

Someone sent me an hilarious and brilliantly done clip that I posted in the previous post. The singer/writer/actress/producer asked to remove it, and forward this message to everyone who might have gotten it: FORWARD FORWARD FORWARD!!!!! hi everyone!!!!! Yes its really me- just a quick note abt the goyta video that some of u have received- U might not realize just how hard I worked on that FOR

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-23013488792995680062008-01-08T21:16:00.000-05:002008-01-08T21:19:27.948-05:00

So heimish, so zaftig, yet artistic. Brilliant!

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-38185128596925314662008-01-08T20:40:00.000-05:002008-01-08T20:46:12.359-05:00

According to Ynet, zealots broke into the apartment belonging to a woman who recognised a TV celebrity and showed her husband the wrath of their god.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-88847299717970585992007-12-18T23:53:00.000-05:002007-12-18T23:56:40.777-05:00

I loved books as a kid, and I have continued loving them to this day. The only thing that I have to thank my parents, I think, is that they never deprived me of reading material. We had books in three languages at home, Yiddish English, and Hebrew (My mother insisted that the latter would help me understand Torah better – I believe that secretly her agenda was for me to be able to write

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-66249214082518087302007-12-16T21:04:00.000-05:002007-12-16T21:05:42.748-05:00

A very good friend is walking down the isle just about now. She had been the force behind this blog from its inception. Forever a friend she was always there for me, even if only virtually – she is truer than real. I should have been at the weeding, or at the very least sent the biggest gift possible, but I couldn’t. I can’t help but feel happy her wishing the young couple the most wonderful

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-21801959729824746932007-12-06T20:05:00.006-05:002009-05-25T01:03:09.036-04:00

God-Full-of-Mercy, the prayer for the dead. If God was not full of mercy,Mercy would have been in the world,Not just in Him. I, who plucked flowers in the hillsAnd looked down into all the valleys,I, who brought corpses down from the hills,Can tell you that the world is empty of mercy. I, who was King of Salt at the seashore, Who stood without a decision at my window,Who counted the steps of

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-27376215482235460612007-11-30T02:18:00.000-05:002007-11-30T02:54:33.457-05:00

I had an interesting experience the last few days and I would like to share it with the rest of the world, especially now that Mnuez mentioned that it led to some of his greatest moments. But let me not get ahead of myself. It all started as a comment to David where I wrote the following: Lets take a gambling example (now keep in mind that I’m no mathematician, so if I’m wrong point out where I’

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-57493724370143027692007-11-29T01:31:00.000-05:002007-11-29T13:23:46.928-05:00

jewish philosopher commented on a previous post. Call me mean, but I didn't want to let him get away with it. This is what he wrote: Actually, my blog is based totally on logic. And when I try to argue with atheists, they end up just giving up and saying "Are you smarter than all the scientists?"This, more than anything else, has convinced me of Judaism. 11/28/2007 11:18 AM The only time I

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-71176067294064236102007-11-26T01:22:00.000-05:002007-11-26T01:25:44.182-05:00

If only there could be a scientific method of measuring one’s level of observance. A method beyond reproach, something that will expose all those claiming to be observant, yet behind the doors they’ll do what they please.Guess what? I have found just that.Watch this movie ONE time only.There are two teams passing the ball to each other, one dressed in black the other in white shirts. Can you

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-87796171029602988232007-11-25T15:28:00.000-05:002007-11-27T14:24:09.417-05:00

Can one become skeptical by participating or reading endless debates that are raging periodically in the Orthodox blog-sphere? GGG, who is hosting one of these debates herself, thinks that it’s useless, and that it won’t change anyone’s mind. I beg to differ, and I have told her so. While I can’t recall a single epiphany that caused me to reject the beliefs I was taught from childhood I do know

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-54115374998767429052007-11-22T21:42:00.001-05:002009-05-17T00:18:18.282-04:00

In one of the Hebrew forums I frequent, someone wrote about an incident he witnessed. Young boys have anywhere from zero to limited contact with the opposite sex before they enter into arranged marriages. None know how to handle their spouse, nor do they know how to handle themselves. The week before the wedding, a special rabbinical agent teaches the groom how to have sex. Needless to say,

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-63012067059544928132007-11-17T22:50:00.000-05:002007-11-23T23:31:45.924-05:00

I can’t believe I left out the main example that instigated the previous post. The conversation I had went something like the following: Him – If you see a car parked outside your house would you take it for yourself because it could have assembled itself? No, sure not! Someone made it, and put it there. So how can you believe that the whole world just came into being. Me – If you see a car

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-42181864339386436002007-11-11T21:32:00.000-05:002007-11-12T00:31:11.221-05:00

“You’re just oifgeklert”, a member of the Shul I attend told me recently in a contemptuous tone.Being oifgeklert (enlightened) is not a good state to be in if you want to be a Chassid in good standing. All one needs to do to negate your argument is claim that you’re just an oifgeklerte man, and as such your words have no basis. Enlightened, in its Yiddish form is synonymous with narrow-mindedness

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-7327880599077215152007-11-10T03:03:00.000-05:002007-11-09T21:43:29.598-05:00

I now know how my 'outing' is going to happen: in a bout of mania-depression, or during a really bad alcohol or drug induced trip I’m going to post my name and picture on this blog. I know because I almost did it now (instead I’m rambling and threatening. Pathetic). I cannot find one single reason why not to it. All this time I was rationalizing my self-inflicting handcuffs to an ulterior motive-

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-81892593465236664582007-11-09T14:23:00.000-05:002007-11-15T16:53:24.418-05:00

“Scores of religious activists rallied against Lichtenstein’s “Sub on Wheels,” a kosher food truck that he parks on the Lee Avenue overpass above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. His detractors hung signs in the neighborhood warning local families not to allow their children to patronize the truck where Lichtenstein serves typical fare - hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled meat sandwiches - along

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-7945971083742378882007-11-05T16:43:00.000-05:002007-11-05T16:51:36.923-05:00

Some people don’t like how Judaism changed from rationalism and intelligent discourse to belief in charlatanic characters and grave mumbling. Others claim that this is what Judaism was all about from its inception, and that the former are reformers and falsifiers. A group of boys “found” a burial site of a famous historic convert Onkeleos (אונקלוס), and duped, or tried to dupe people to come

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-10051412552060299152007-11-02T15:25:00.000-04:002007-11-02T15:32:11.913-04:00

Explaining the reason that he chose a picture of the Twin Towers over the Statue of Liberty, the Bet Shemesh pizza storeowner said this: “The truth is I wanted to put the Statue of Liberty…I asked the rabbis and they told me, that from a spiritual perspective it’s not so good because the Statue of Liberty represents liberty and freedom and liberty and freedom aren’t so appropriate for the

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-62192459169098421382007-10-31T20:58:00.000-04:002007-10-31T21:00:21.195-04:00

We grew up as ‘eidele’ kids. We tried not to make a raucous on the streets lest we won’t be perceived as cultured . Jumping the turnstiles or eating on the street was also strongly discouraged, usually with one simple reason given. Chilul Hashem—desecration of god’s name. For as obvious Chasidic kids if “they” are to see us acting improperly it will reflect badly on our god, and that is

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-52393033466691488072007-10-29T20:45:00.000-04:002007-10-29T20:48:06.939-04:00

I got myself a real job offer. It all depends on the pay + benefits.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-37533010819926058902007-10-28T19:21:00.000-04:002007-10-28T19:35:04.538-04:00

The one who posted this video explained it as a "dark religious ritual without a grasp of reality. " טקסי דת חשוכים נטולי אחיזה במציאותHe might be 100% right but this is not how I looked at it. Nostalgia is still a huge part of my lexicon, and I see no reason to fight it. Enjoy the clip.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-81475556268093694642007-10-28T01:45:00.000-04:002007-10-28T01:51:16.890-04:00

--What? You watch TV at home?--Yes...I spent the night at a Halloween party. My costume was perhaps the most striking one—never seen in that part of the city, but for me it was quite the usual. Shtreimel, Bekishe, Rezevolke, and the works.Naturally, others wanted to try on the Shtreimel, some even talking pictures with it. One woman encased herself with the fur hat, faux silk overcoat and gartel

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-90034132750186349562007-10-25T01:41:00.000-04:002007-10-25T01:44:30.256-04:00

Coming soon to a computer near you. Hasidic Rebel was kind enough to send me saved RSS feeds of old posts. I'm going to re-post them in the order that they belong. Long live RSS!

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-61969078060796088312007-10-24T20:00:00.000-04:002007-10-24T20:01:44.153-04:00

If I'm not here nor there am I everywhere or nowhere?

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-24919358659509562822007-10-22T12:42:00.000-04:002007-10-22T12:47:15.744-04:00

I was stuck recently. In the car without being able to listen to music, my only choice left was hate radio. I haven't been listening to it for years now, and found it striking. The issues were the same it was years ago, only with different names. Eight years ago it was Limbaugh and co. who berated bush and co. preferring Buchanan over him, then quickly making a U-turn once he won the nomination

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-40828451725787206482007-10-21T13:45:00.000-04:002007-10-21T13:46:42.671-04:00

Dengue fever is something I never wanted to hear of, until I heard them, that is. My kind of flavor, I suppose. They even have a Chasidic looking hippy with a heimisher name. Check them out.

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-35632518767821594822007-10-19T01:45:00.000-04:002007-10-19T01:48:46.457-04:00

This Yom Kippur a friend put up a delicious chazer cholent which we devoured with gusto (actually, I was too conscious of the yucky animal in my plate to enjoy it at all—but that is not the point). I repeated this tidbit to a friend who concluded that I must believe in god, otherwise, I can’t “screw him”.It’s a common misconception, I believe. Baal Habos in a recent comment (to an excellent

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-58538850194709312152007-10-15T00:12:00.000-04:002007-10-15T00:16:57.297-04:00

Reading the Torah these weeks one finds plenty of verses that are nowadays questionable to say the least. It often leads people to wonder if these stories are true, if it contains fact, or it’s only a fabrication, a collection of fables bonded together in holy matrimony.Is the story of Adam and Eve true? Did Adam and Eve really exist? Some see it as allegorical, while others are successfully

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-11318254131791911572007-10-13T23:45:00.000-04:002007-10-13T23:48:57.829-04:00

A lot has been written on Parshat Noach and the repetitious story (see here for an example with a religious twist). What is in fact perhaps the most amazing feat of today’s Judaism is that one who was never exposed to DH does not even see or notice the anomalies within the story. People listen to leining making every effort to her the words, most would even be ma’avir sedra every week, but other

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-12736706710857657232007-10-12T01:36:00.000-04:002007-10-12T15:22:54.046-04:00

Acher always caught my imagination. But here is something that made me think recently. All the ‘others’ and bad people in the Torah or Talmud believed in other gods or worshiped other gods. Some of them even despite being in the know of who the "Real God" ™ is. Jeroboam (ירבעם), for example, had the good fortune to have god schlep him by his cloths and beg him to ‘return’. But his ego, and

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-39991023265556626642007-10-12T01:20:00.000-04:002007-10-12T01:23:12.719-04:00

Saba Ali, a Muslim woman growing up and living in New York Published an article in the NY Times where she details her struggles with the traditionalism and religion as defined by her own community. It’s well written and quite descriptive, and especially appreciated by one who has lived that kind of rigidity. But the differences between us Chassidim and her community is striking. To me it

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-67220523085607927052007-10-07T21:34:00.001-04:002007-10-07T21:35:15.969-04:00

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-29601474581630819062007-09-20T16:55:00.000-04:002007-09-20T17:03:24.354-04:00

A friend just informed me that she's having a surgical procedure tomorrow. She assured me that it's nothing serious, but being under the knife is never a picnic. At moments like these I'm always uncharacteristically at a loss as to how to react. I was brought up to pray to the almighty for aid, and to let the person know of my intentions, thereby letting the other person know that I

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-61645959010450122462007-09-07T17:59:00.000-04:002007-09-07T23:58:19.267-04:00

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--hasidicoutcast0907sep07,0,2763077.story The family of a woman dressed untactful in the eyes of men who head the modesty patrol in Kiryas Joel, became the object of terror and vandalism. Yawn. Yawn. Yawn. Happens all the time in Chasidic neighborhoods and villages across the globe. So why is this ‘post worthy’? Because unlike all the other

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-68463893765832749662007-07-17T23:47:00.000-04:002007-07-17T23:54:24.395-04:00

While reading an old post I just recreated, another anecdotal example that happened just the other day popped into my head—I thought I’d share it.A family member decided, hypochondriacally, that he is having a heart attack while driving. He somehow checked himself in to a hospital out in nowhere.I was in the car with a friend at the time I got the frantic call cautioning me not to tell anyone

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-59163572924168083482007-07-17T23:15:00.000-04:002007-07-17T23:29:08.693-04:00

Yes Baal Habos, and all the others who want to know why I removed the picture of the girls. I picked the one and only... Here she is!http://txt2pic.com/

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-6537773896353359052007-07-17T00:56:00.000-04:002007-07-18T00:03:06.285-04:00

I would greatly appreciate anyone who saved one of the following posts, or can retrieve it somehow, with the comments, to email me a copy. ▼ May (3) Update - Caught in the Thicket Caught in the Thicket - נאחז בסבך Letter to the Editor ► April (4) !עניי עירך קודמין Animal Farm Hassidosaurus Rex Passover ► March (3) Week Debate Avrohom Dibbuk ► February (3) Mind Boggling Online Diaries: Blogging

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-23918711045382515672007-07-17T00:42:00.000-04:002007-07-18T00:02:28.157-04:00

There it is ladies and gentleman, god gave me back the blog. Of course, as deities go, they fucked me over during the process, but thanks still need be delivered. No, they can’t retrieve the old posts from their ever increasing memory pool by way of servers, fuck you and have a nice day, or in their words “We apologize for any inconvenience caused and are working hard to ensure this problem does

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497055.post-36840492585621030072007-05-07T01:32:00.000-04:002007-10-25T01:40:49.241-04:00

(From an email that has been making the rounds lately. I believe this letter to be a spoof rather than an original letter published in ‘Der Blatt’. Not because I don’t know anyone that could write such a letter, but because I believe that the editors have a little common sense.) How much Goyish history do the kids have to know?Dear Blatt,Last week my daughter came home from school, and with a sad

Shtreimelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447700678656460299noreply@blogger.com0