Obama is putting a muslim in the White House

Please read this article:
http://www.brookesnews.com/092109muslimradicalappointed.html

Now, my Obama-supporting Jewish friends, do you STILL think Oh bomb uh is good for the Jews. Scratch that. THE CURRENT US PRESIDENT IS NO GOOD FOR THE NATION. Please spread the word.

Tashlich pictures 5

Between Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, 10 days later) Jews go to a body of water, preferably one with fish, and throw bread into it. They also say a little prayer that their sins should be cast off as they cast off the bread. You can see why this is done right before Yom Kippur, a day of Judgement.
Location: Meadow Lake, Queens

After making my own Tashlich, I took those pictures of the water. Then, I was about to leave and this family came up. I was like, "great, maybe I can ask these people if I can take their picture, so it will be more 'tashlichy.'" They walked up and said to me, "do you want to take our picture?" and I realized they are one of my Shabbos hosting families. Hahahah, one of their kids recognized me from way across the park and I didn't realize it until they were right there.

Tashlich pictures 4

Between Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, 10 days later) Jews go to a body of water, preferably one with fish, and throw bread into it. They also say a little prayer that their sins should be cast off as they cast off the bread. You can see why this is done right before Yom Kippur, a day of Judgement.
Location: Meadow Lake, Queens

After making my own Tashlich, I took those pictures of the water. Then, I was about to leave and this family came up. I was like, "great, maybe I can ask these people if I can take their picture, so it will be more 'tashlichy.'" They walked up and said to me, "do you want to take our picture?" and I realized they are one of my Shabbos hosting families. Hahahah, one of their kids recognized me from way across the park and I didn't realize it until they were right there.

Tashlich pictures 3

Between Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, 10 days later) Jews go to a body of water, preferably one with fish, and throw bread into it. They also say a little prayer that their sins should be cast off as they cast off the bread. You can see why this is done right before Yom Kippur, a day of Judgement.
Location: Meadow Lake, Queens

After making my own Tashlich, I took those pictures of the water. Then, I was about to leave and this family came up. I was like, "great, maybe I can ask these people if I can take their picture, so it will be more 'tashlichy.'" They walked up and said to me, "do you want to take our picture?" and I realized they are one of my Shabbos hosting families. Hahahah, one of their kids recognized me from way across the park and I didn't realize it until they were right there.

Tashlich pictures 2

Between Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, 10 days later) Jews go to a body of water, preferably one with fish, and throw bread into it. They also say a little prayer that their sins should be cast off as they cast off the bread. You can see why this is done right before Yom Kippur, a day of Judgement.
Location: Meadow Lake, Queens

Tashlich pictures 1

Between Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, 10 days later) Jews go to a body of water, preferably one with fish, and throw bread into it. They also say a little prayer that their sins should be cast off as they cast off the bread. You can see why this is done right before Yom Kippur, a day of Judgement.

Location: Meadow Lake, Queens

Fraud in unexpected places....

My friend put up a Facebook status today, "wants to know- how long did YOU work at your job for before you were asked to commit fraud?"

She hasn't been at her job all that long. What gets better, is that when I commented that she was a therapist, what fraud is there? Well, her FB friends chimed in. Apparently, people are asked to bill more hours than they work as both therapists and tutors. Actually, that doesn't sound like much, but as I look at it, more than one person had comments fitting that description.

Who would have thought? Surely, not me!

So, let's see what else turns up, both here and on her status....

When someone's your FB friend, glance their INFO before you ask questions

So, I went back to college. After spending almost a decade working, serving in the US Army and hoping to get the chance to go back to school, the barriers removed themselves and here I am. I am a 33, almost 34 year old in college with 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and even 22 year olds. There's just one catch: I look astonishingly young for my age. I've been asked if I was a freshman, not kidding. So, I tell people I'm a transfer and I, of course, assume that they think all along that I came straight from another school.

Now, as a Jewish girl, I'm hanging out in the Hillel. I mean Brooklyn College actually has it's own Hillel building complete with a fleishig kosher cafeteria. So, one day I'm sitting there studying after I had already eaten lunch. The group of people near me started talking to me. One of them gave me his name and I friended him on Facebook. Later on, I searched his friends for the other name I remembered and I friended her. Now, this guy has been popping me IMs and saying hello to me like crazy. Ok, maybe not like crazy, but, enough that I thought it was interesting. The only thing is that he DID have access to my age. If he looked at my FB profile, he would have seen it. Also, it's connected to this blog, which, I guess he didn't bother to look at, as my age is most clearly given in my profile. Now, I'm laughing. I bet he hasn't a clue that I'm a gyoress, either. Information that he has such easy access to. if only he had looked.

Oh, but, how did I discover he didn't know my age or hadn't looked at my profile, right?

Well, I was in the Hillel today reading my boring MicroEconomics textbook before my even more boring M/E class. He saw me, he came over, he started asking me questions. I mentioned that my instructor for my M/E class is young and probably younger than me. Well, he starts telling me about an instructor he has. He says to me, "he's probably our age." I said, "maybe your age but, I'm 12 years older than you." He stopped. He said something like, "you're not 34." I said, "almost, next month." His eyes popped out. His jaw hit the floor. He just kinda walked away and he stayed away. I was just chuckling and chuckling and chuckling....

"Shidduch Crisis"

I just have some quick thoughts about the shidduch crisis where women aren't able to get married. Is anyone mean and nasty to the men about, "why aren't you married?" Seriously, why shouldn't women give up when the community involved with shidduchim are a network of mean and nasty people? Not one shadchan I have dealt with has seemed to follow up on my dates and ask me about it or told me they spoke with the man and he doesn't want to go out again and this is why. At least in the secular world, there's no expectation that I should be dating and marrying every guy I go on ONE date with.

Which brings me to my reason for blogging this. Yesterday, an EXTREMELY modern rabbi I know was giving me a hard time that I've gone out with four guys and I haven't had a second date. He said it's my responsibility and I have to act more like a ditz so men will want me. Statements like this, are exactly why I don't want to date anymore and thus, I don't want to get married. I was told that I can't expect to stay observant if I don't get married, this following a dvar Torah from this rabbi that, "how can you break Shabbos if you believe Gd created the universe?"

So, how ever will I stay observant? Eat your own words. I will be observant because I believe Gd created the universe, now leave me alone.

Thank Gd, Cheez-its are kosher!

No, they don't pay me for this. I was talking to a friend the other day about adjustments to keeping kosher. I mentioned how I had to adjust to not being able to put Cheez-its into chicken soup. Incidentally, I eat chicken soup sooooooo much less now than I did prior to being kosher. Also, I used to love Campbell's chunky soup Sirloin Burger with crushed, you guessed it, Cheez-its.

So, now it's crushed Cheez-its in Tabatchnik soups, usually Split Pea or Potato. Tabatchnik doesn't pay me, either. Does anyone know a good carrot soup out there? I've made my own carrot soup. It's yummy but, I would really need to make that for a large Shabbos meal. Maybe when I find myself a nice big apartment in Brooklyn....

Who's friendlier? Yeshivish or Modern Orthodox?

There's a supposition made in my yahoo group that Modern Orthodox people are more friendly and accepting of those outside themselves than yeshivish folks.

Well, I don't know if you guys saw my recent post (a post or so ago), I davened at a yeshivah for ROSH HASHANAH and sooooooooooo many people came over to meet me and find out where I live and such. There was a modern shul I went to for about a year in my own neighborhood where I used to introduce myself to people and I still couldn't meet people. They would look at me like I was from outer space.

Also, I think a lot of it has to do with how you dress. People who wear skirts ABOVE their knees would never be accepted in a religious circle. I know a convert who told me she wears skirts above the knees and it's ok if she wears pantyhose. That would never fly in religious circles.

It's interesting that I am Modern Orthodox and I have no problem WHATSOEVER with the Yeshivish community and yet Modern people don't accept me because I don't have the right kind of job or make enough money. They tell me it's Jewish to to have money. Therefore, I shouldn't have been converted because I don't. Somehow though, they seem to accept teachers in the modern world, even though they don't make much.

Guest post:Col. Res. Moyal Reporting on the Goldstone Report

This is a re-post from the Facebook group: Jews for a Jewish Israel:
"it's not just Israel... it's Israel and so much more.

Below you will find the ‘Israeli Foreign Ministry’ response to the UN’s “Gaza Fact Finding Mission” committee regarding The Israeli “Casting Lead” operation, that was issued on Sept. 15 2009.

The UN report is all but fact-finding; it is actually a distortion of the truth report, destined to force the United Nation to open an international political and judicial Palestinian front against Israel under the fault claims of so-called UN committee.

Because of its shallow, unilateral view of the Middle East conflict, The UN report, in-effect, extending supportive hand to the world terror as a whole and specifically the Islamic one, while as such, is contradicting the UN organization goals.



Jerusalem, September 15th, 2009

Israel's Analysis and Comments on the

GAZA FACT FINDING COMMISION REPORT

General:
Israel is appalled and disappointed by the Report published on 15 September 2009 by the Gaza Fact Finding Mission. The Report effectively ignores Israel's right of self defense, makes unsubstantiated claims about its intent and challenges Israel's democratic values and rule of law.

At the same time the Report all but ignores the deliberate strategy of Hamas of operating within and behind the civilian population and turning densely populated areas into an arena of battle. By turning a blind eye to such tactics it effectively rewards them.

The Report barely disguises its goal of instigating a political campaign against Israel, and in its recommendations seeks to involve the Security Council, the General Assembly the International Criminal Court, the Human Rights Council, and the entire international community in such a campaign.


The Mandate of the Mission:

The one-sided mandate of the Gaza Fact Finding Mission, and the resolution established it, gave serious reasons for concern both to Israel and to the many states on the Council which refused to support it - including the member states of the European Union, Switzerland, Canada, Korea and Japan.

It also troubled many distinguished individuals, including former High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, who refused invitations to head the Mission and admitted that it was "guided not by human rights but by politics".


The Conduct of the Mission:

These concerns were exacerbated by the conduct of the Mission itself, including reports in the Palestinian media that, throughout its visits to Gaza, it was continuously accompanied by Hamas officials and its refusal to recuse members of the mission with clear political views on the issues under investigation. One mission member signed a letter to the Sunday Times saying that Israel's actions against Hamas attacks were acts of "aggression not self-defense", prejudging the investigation before it had even begun.

The unprecedented holding of telecast hearings also gave cause for concern. The fact that all the witnesses were prescreened and selected, and none were asked questions relating to any Palestinian terrorist activity or the location of weaponry and terrorists in civilian areas only supports concerns that they were part of an orchestrated political campaign.


A "non-judicial" document

Justice Goldstone as Head of the Mission repeatedly insisted that the Mission was not a judicial inquiry and so "could not reach judicial conclusions". On this basis that he justified the inclusion of partisan mission members, admitting that their involvement "would not be appropriate for a judicial inquiry'. The Report however is highly judicial in nature, reaching conclusive judicial determinations of guilt, and including 'detailed legal findings' even in the absence of the sensitive intelligence information which Israel did not feel able to provide. These determinations are made notwithstanding the Report's admission that it does "pretend to reach the standard of proof applicable in criminal trials".

Elements Ignored by the Report:

The Report all but ignores the deliberate terrorist strategy of operating in the heart of densely populated civilian areas which dictated the arena of battle. Even when the Hamas terrorists mixed among civilians, the Report rejects the notion that there was an intention to put the civilian population at risk.

Astonishingly, despite the many widely reported instances in the international press of the abuse of civilian facilities by terrorist groups, and the statements of Hamas own leaders praising women and children who acted as human shields, the Report repeatedly stated that it could find no evidence of such activities. This, even despite its admission that those interviewed were "reluctant to speak about the presence or conduct of hostilities by the Palestinian armed groups".

The Report also ignores Israel's extensive efforts, even in the midst of fighting, to maintain humanitarian standards. While it does, reluctantly, acknowledge Israel's "significant efforts" to issue warnings before attacks, it does not find any of these efforts to be effective

While the Report passes judgment against Israel in respect of almost any allegation, it seeks to absolve the Hamas of almost any wrongdoing. The word "terrorist" is almost entirely absent. Soldier Gilad Shalit, now held incommunicado in captivity for over three years, was "captured during an enemy incursion" and the Hamas members that the Mission met with in Gaza are thanked as the "Gaza authorities" for extending their full cooperation and support to the Mission.

Even the thousands of rocket attacks against Israelis which necessitated the Gaza Operation are given the most cursory treatment, and indeed the Report indirectly blames Israel even for these by terming them "'reprisals".


Rejection of democratic values:

In a Report which relies so heavily on Israeli human rights organizations and which also petitions on sensitive security issues to Israel's Supreme Court the Report devotes considerable attention to "repression of dissent in Israel". It bases this assertion in large part on the widespread support for the military operation in the Israeli public, assuming that Israel has "created a political climate in which dissent is not tolerated. The notion that the majority of Israelis genuinely supported action to bring years of continuous rocket and missile attacks against Israeli cvilains to an end does not appear to have occurred to the members of the Mission.

The Report is also critical of Israel internal investigations even though these compare favorably to investigations of allegations in military matters in most western countries, and have regularly resulted in criminal investigations and convictions.

Recommendations:
The Report's recommendations are as one-sided as its findings. It seeks to harness the Human Rights Council, the Security Council the General Assembly, the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court and the international community as parts of its hostile political campaign.


Despite token recommendations in respect of the Palestinian side, all the international pressure is directed solely against Israel.

The true test of such a Report can only be whether in future conflicts it will have the effect of increasing or decreasing respect for the rule of law. Regrettably a one-sided report of this nature, claiming to represent international law, can only weaken the standing of law in future conflicts. At the same time, it will broadcast a deeply troubling message to terrorist groups wherever they are that the cynical tactics of seeking to exploit civilian suffering for political ends actually pays dividends.

How was YOUR Rosh Hashanah?

So, I was just reading something online where they were saying that people complain that they go to services and no one is friendly. I have to tell you all. I davened at a yeshivah and the women were astonishingly friendly. Although, that may have something to do with the fact that I was sorta with someone who is from the shul. She and I were not able to sit together. However, I think that if you go to a place like where I was last year, even if people were friendly during the year... the place I was at last year, they aren't friendly during the year but, the point is that it was packed for the holidays and normally there's no one there, so who's going to be friendly to someone who's obviously just coming for the holiday. At the yeshivah, they, at first asked me if I had moved in to the neighborhood. People don't just go and daven at a yeshiva when they aren't observant.

I had two of my meals by my rabbi who just moved into the neighborhood where I often go for holidays and Shabbosos. I had another meal by another couple I know. The remaining meal I had with my other rabbi and rebbetzin with whom I was staying. I also know his parents and sister. I've met his in-laws, too. So, they are sort of my adoptive Jewish family. I played ball with the kids on Sunday afternoon.

I hope my readership, also had a lovely Rosh HaShanah.

Shanah Tovah!

Interesting encounter at school today...

The funny thing about not looking Jewish is that people don't realize I'm Jewish, especialy on a cold day. On a hot day, when I'm wearing sleeves, that tips things off.

The girl sitting next to me in Accounting today didn't have her book, she was looking on mine and we're chatting a little here and there. So, we're walking out of class and she says she came from upstate to go to school at Brooklyn College... Where? Buffalo? I'm from Buffalo. No way! Yadda yadda... so she tells me where she lives and I was like, "oh, you should have found something below the school. That area is mostly Jews and it's really quiet." Her response, "oh, my dad doesn't like Jews." Uh, huh...

I think if she talks to me, I'll have to tell her she can't be friends with me.... It's totally weird because up until that minute we were so much alike. When she said that, I just REALLY had to get to the Hillel and get my food there instead of the kosher counter in the cafeteria....

People: cutthroat at the core...

Over Shabbos I had two incidents of thoughts about how people can get. The first incident was when I was reading a book about Emotional Intelligence. Ok, I didn't read the whole book but, I picked it up and skimmed it. There were various discussions about survival.

Then Shabbos morning in shul, I got bored during the Torah reading. My eyes landed on the English right where it talks about people will eat their children when it comes down to survival. Interestingly enough, the rabbi at that shul was honing in on that very same part of the parshah. Although, he was saying something about it being a prophesy of the shoah and well, my ADHD was back in season so, I missed it.

Anyhow, I just wanted to take a minute to say that people really do step on each other. As children growing up, we're taught by our parents and teachers to think that someone else didn't mean it and such. No, they really do. I just want to say what others don't dare to say as it isn't politically correct. Screw politically correct.

Some people out there are just NOT good, nice people.

Satmars on the internet!!!! NO WAY!!! Only to trash Israel...

http://michalbasavraham.blogspot.com/2009/09/jews-who-rally-against-israel-what.html#comments

Yes, way! I came in here to blog some thoughts I had over Shabbos. Well, I find me in the comments a Satmar who says I'm not a real Jew because I believe in Israel... surprise surprise... not really. I thought Satmars weren't supposed to be on the internet any way? I see they this website that this apikores posted in my comments is backed by Satmar rabbis. Their Zip code is 11211, which is, of course Williamsburg otherwise known as Satmarland. For an Orthodox Jew in the know, I'm not surprised the Satmars have up such anti-Israel schtus.

The law of the road is still the law

Coming home on my bicycle, was a particularly interesting experience today. I pulled out of a driveway and see someone driving the wrong way down a one way street. I made it to the grocery store... I ran in to buy my stuff. I came out and some old guy wearing a yammy, slowed down and then stopped just after an open spot. I figure he was looking for a parking spot and was going to park there. When I went to pass him, he started going so I was stuck in the middle of the street in traffic until he turned two blocks later. Then I turn the corner and I'm at a light in the bike lane. Someone cuts in front of me with his car and sits in the bike lane rolling backward a couple times. I put my feet on the ground and knocked on their trunk. I'm terrible, right? A car does not get to go into the bike lane, sorry. I also saw some skateboarders going into traffic on the street. They belong on the sidewalk or maybe with traffic on the side. The topper is that I can't even tell you how many bicyclists I've seen breaking the rules. The popular one is running red lights. Yes, that's right, a biker is supposed to stop at the red light with cars. In fact, a bicyclist is supposed to follow the same rules as a car.

Jews who rally against Israel.. WHAT????

A Facebook friend commented on his status:
I was not commenting on that fact Israel, I do appreciate it very much. The status has to do with a rally that took place today in manhattan, NYC. Where many Hassidic Jews from the Satmar sect protested on the outside as a facade that Israeli Police were beating them up... but quickly turned into a nasty anti Israel rally where ... Read MoreSatmar principle of Throop avenue school called for the end and complete destruction (gd forbid) in yiddish of the State of Israel. May GD smite this man and the many others with the harshest of punishments for their reprehensible actions and grave chillul hashem.

My response:
I'm sorry, but in my mind these people are not Jewish, which is funny because they think they are more Jewish than everyone else and some people think "chasidic" is somehow better or MORE Jewish. Try more 18th Century Poland.....

Inspired by the "frum stripper" and comments....

It was stated that, "Orthodox Judaism has sexual undertones."

Just because Orthodox Jewish girls go running around in these tight skirts above the knees with a slit halfway up to their you know what crack in the back doesn't mean it's the Orthodox Judaism that has the sexual undertones.

Humans, more men than women, are sexually driven and Orthodox Jews twist and bend the rules that are supposed to deal with that into what they want. Unfortunately, wearing a revealing sexy tight skirt is more ok than pants in the Orthodox world.

It is unfortunate that rabbis don't speak out more about this. Seriously, there is so much emphasis on wearing skirts and dresses only for Jewish women that no one speaks out about the kind of skirts that are being sold in stores like Junees and Elzees which are "Jewish" clothing stores and yet these skirts are not proper attire for a good Jewish girl.