Itzik_s

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  • in reply to: Is 3 Cups of Coffee a Day Too Much? #803388
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    As far as I know, Red Bull was and remains kosher under the supervision of Dayan Elzas of the “Federation” of London. The Red Bull site still has the same information which is that it is kosher supervised but does not mention the agency.

    in reply to: Hamantaschen Recipes #1222768
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Chicken fat? Who uses that nowadays? Try axle grease or Vaseline as both are healthier than chicken fat.

    in reply to: OnlySimchas #1026506
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    It seems to have lost its popularity in my community; perhaps there was an incident. In so many families that I know, older siblings had OS pages when they got married and the more recently married siblings did not have them.

    in reply to: Hamantaschen Recipes #1222751
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Well, here is the best and only authentic recipe for REAL oznei Haman:

    Hang der nayer Homon, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad YM”S ShR”Y 50 amois above Teheran

    Cut him down when one is sure his body is as dead as his neshomo and that his descent to omkei Gehennom has begun.

    In Spanish bullfight fashion, remove his ears and pin them to a sign marked “Kein Yiplu Kol Oyvecha Hashem!”

    Send these oznei Haman to Khaled Meshaal with a note “You’re next, buddy!”

    in reply to: Is 3 Cups of Coffee a Day Too Much? #803380
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    LOL – never found the taste of coffee too enjoyable except as a yogurt or ice cream flavor. for me it is a cheaper and more natural version of Red Bull.

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634334
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    No matter what, disposables do not have to be toiveled unless you KNOW you will reuse them. Any Purim when I bake, I toivel my aluminum disposables because I know that in the balagan of trying to bake 8 or 9 cakes and trays of baklava, I will use one of those disposables as a mixing bowl at least once while my mixing bowl is in use for something else. And over here, aluminum disposables have to be brought in from abroad and anyone who bothers doing that uses them a couple of times for cookies (I guess) or something else that doesn’t ruin them.

    Also see my post where I believe I may well have gotten to the source of the practice.

    Now, who here holds that one must unravel the entire roll of tin foil and toivel every centimeter of it before making a tin foil shtreimel for Purim?????

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634333
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Glass is derabannan, since it is melted and forged like metal.


    Thanks – and herein lies the reason for the misunderstanding.

    Much plastic nowadays is recycled or partly recycled where the original keli is shredded and then the shredded chips are melted and formed in order to make the new keli.

    in reply to: A Humorous Item #1171971
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    What do you call a moderate in Iran?

    Someone who allows anesthesia when chopping off thieves’ hands.

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634329
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    I am a lot older than you think :). I remember very well that no one toiveled plastic 20 years ago when I was 22 and buying stuff for my first apartment.

    Sorry, SJS, but people trusting anything I may offer them or bring to shul is more important than worrying about a practice that is really harmless becoming the new standard. I just wanted to know if there is a reason for it; I’m not going to be the one who breaks the practice.

    Worst thing that can happen is that when people go to haimishe stores to buy metal and glassware because of the mikve, they’ll buy plastic there too instead of spending gas money to save a few pennies buying it at a chain store, and more money will stay in the community.

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634325
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    That is what I don’t understand. Someone, somewhere either decided with good reason that reusable plastic has the same dinim as glass or someone just plain made up a chumra that somehow became the new standard. 20 years ago, 15 years ago, this was unheard of. It is one thing when you are being careful either because it makes you feel closer or because we learned something new about new technology, or because we’re not sure what we’re really dealing with, but this sounds like plain shtus.

    Still, only one family I know thinks it is outright shtus but because it’s so easy to do I think they do it anyway (just as I do).

    in reply to: YWN CR Rosh Chodesh Shevat Festival #635358
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    OK since Zachlawi arak is made from figs, I am bringing a case :)! And of course a box of Spanish persimmons (10 kilo)!

    in reply to: Yeshiva #641940
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Just to get things started but this really needs to be added to:

    Brooklyn and Manhattan:

    Any Chassidus based in Brooklyn has one or more of its own yeshivas there (BP, Williamsburgh, Crown Heights).

    Major Litvish Yeshivas:

    Chaim Berlin

    Mir

    Torah VoDaas

    Sefardi (Syrian):

    Mikdash Melech

    MO:

    Yeshiva University beis medrash programs and kollel.


    Outside NYC:

    Nitra Yeshiva, Mt Kisco NY (Chassidish/Chasam Soifer Ingarish)

    Cleveland. Ohio: Telshe Yeshiva (Litvish)

    Waterbury, Connecticut – Yeshiva Gedola of Waterbury (is that the official name?? – Litvish)

    Lakewood, NJ – Beis Medrash Govoha (Litvish)

    yeshivos in Scranton, PA, Adelphia, NJ. (Litvish)

    in reply to: Zoos #636234
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    SyrianSephardi, did the elephants try to take everyone’s wallets and handbags and then empty the money out? If so that wasn’t the zoo, that was Knesset and those weren’t elephants, those were politicians!

    in reply to: Working = Rich? #634570
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Under the new aberration, I mean administration, there may well be a return to kollel as people R”L lose their jobs and figure out that it pays to learn full time and rely on entitlement programs which will expand as Obama will basically be using them to buy votes for the next electtion.

    Kollel is NOT meant for that and it will only make the present crisis grow into a disaster.

    in reply to: YWN CR Rosh Chodesh Shevat Festival #635350
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    I can get persimmons from Spain or the Caucasus here. I made a shehecheyanu on persimmons about 3 weeks ago.

    in reply to: Daven With A Hat BeYichidus or Without it with a Minyan #1081905
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Moish, if you saw words like “snioot” or “misswoth” on a Syrian site would you know what was meant? That is how SyrianSephardi sees a word like beyechidus.

    in reply to: YWN CR Rosh Chodesh Shevat Festival #635349
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Ames – not all fruits from E”Y can be eaten this year!

    in reply to: Yeshiva #641921
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Azi and I are equally as serious :).

    We could not POSSIBLY list all the yeshivas worth listing here, let alone avoiding arguments over which ones might not make the list.

    in reply to: Is 3 Cups of Coffee a Day Too Much? #803378
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    It isn’t the healthiest thing to do – let’s put it that way.

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634804
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Girl for my answers would be:

    5) What do you do to relax?

    I never relax because I help my mother cook and clean whenever I have spare time and I’m not busy helping people fill in WIC applications at the local Ershte I Help Myself office for 20% of the take.

    6) How much food do you need to be satisfied?

    At least a thousand dollars’ worth.

    7) What are your eyebrows like?

    Ask my stylist whom I sneak off to see on Fifth Avenue when I’m supposed to be in Byse Cholerye seminary because is not git enough myne English to describe how she puts into them the gold dust.

    8) During the Oscar’s, you are:

    The only Oscar I know from is Oscar Meyer that myne fetter the butcher relabels as Mehadrin Glatter than Glatt and sells to everyone who isn’t from inzerer.

    9) Are your suits:

    Silk Prada or Zegna that myne tatte relabels as junk so he gets them through Customs for five dollars.

    11) How many outfits do you go through on Shabbos?

    Each time I pick up one of my little brothers or sisters and they even kiss me I change my clothing and also my shoes so maybe tzein, tvelf.

    12) How much time do you spend doing your hair before a date?

    I never do it myneself. I fly mit a helicopter tzi Manhattan fin Roklend Kounty and den back for the beshow.

    14) What brand of make-up do you use?

    Whatever tatty brings back from Duty Free every time he comes back with a new passport from fleeing the country but i only use stuff that costs over $300 even there.

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634802
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    5) What do you do to relax?

    Relaxing is an issur skila medeoraiso.

    6) How much food do you need to be satisfied?

    I am so busy learning I need to be reminded to eat.

    7) What are your eyebrows like?

    How should I know? I have not looked in a mirror since my bar mitzvah because using a mirror is a sign of gaava.

    8) During the Oscar’s, you are:

    What is this Oscar’s? A tryfe delicatessen? Stop with this bitul toyre and find me a shidduch so I can go back to day trading….I mean learning.

    9) Are your suits:

    Black, down to my ankles, with no pockets except the one inside where I keep my watch and the white powder my chavrusa gives me to help me stay awake and learn.

    11) How many outfits do you go through on Shabbos?

    One reckel for the cholent, one for the kishke and one for the kigel.

    15) What would you buy with a $100 gift certificate to Macy’s?

    I’d sell it for $200 and give $10 maaser to myne Rebbe!

    in reply to: Is 3 Cups of Coffee a Day Too Much? #803376
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    If I need to get up early and stay up late I drink about a quart of double strength coffee with added cocoa powder either before or after shacharis. I try not to do it too often.

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634799
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    WE DO NOT pasken from practices of older generations in oppressive and impoverished lands! Sometimes things were not done behiddur because there was no money to do it! Do you think anyone in post World War 1 Europe could buy a shaitel?

    Nevertheless, Chassidishe women most certainly did cover their hair in Europe – with whatever was available.

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634322
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Because the original question was about hard plastic and now I see there is a mekor for it in another community even if it seems to be a recent trend in Lubavitch. The jugs is a side issue – I don’t think anyone who picks up a jug and decides to reuse it would run out to toivel it (although I actually just need to cross the street if I want to toivel jugs in the Dneiper river :)).

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634320
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Yes, I meant reusable plastic such as plastic spatulas or microwave dishes. POM tea bottles or glasses are glass which clearly requires tevila without a brocho.

    Thanks re the soda bottles – I reuse spring water jugs for iced coffee and tea and these I never bothered toiveling.

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634790
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    My favorite question comes from the Ku Klutz Kartel shidduch handbook – “Make sure you find out what hashgocho is on the kerosene that her father uses to soak the tzioinishe flag before he burns it on yom haatzamois!”

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634780
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Come to think of it, there is a new shidduchim site that is available with one of the filtered services and that requires:

    1) Pics of all shoes owned by all potential shidduch partners, male and female, as well as pics of same putting on and taking off said shoes.

    2) Pics of all tablecloths owned by parents of all potential shidduch partners and candid shots (permission must be given to have a photographer enter the home 10 mins before shkia) of tablecloth used for Shabbos.

    in reply to: Toiveling Plastic Utensils???? #634314
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Nope – aluminum pans are aluminum which is a metal and definitely needs toiveling if you think you will reuse them (I used to toivel mine anyway when I lived in the US in case I reused one as a mixing bowl or something while baking for Purim or otherwise doing a lot and losing track). Plastic is a different material altogether and I did not think it needed tevila but now people seem to do it.

    in reply to: Zoos #636224
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Asd and anonymiss – pls see my earlier post regarding what Rav Ovadia Yosef shlit”a (may he continue to enjoy good health ad bias hagoel) has to say about visiting the zoo. When I go I don’t spend much time though – I head quickly for the bear, tiger and lion exhibits and then to find a weird looking primate for meshane habriyois. I spent perhaps 30 minutes at the Bronx Zoo and most of that was walking.

    in reply to: Kosher Hangouts #634501
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    How about something similar to Ohr Naava (or Crown Heights Nightlife) for bochurim who no longer have a full learning schedule but are not at-risk either? (I don’t know how large a group that is but it could also draw some kids who are at risk of becoming at risk only because they have nothing to do in the evenings and on Sunday).

    Courses could range from home repair and auto mechanics and first aid to basics of educational techniques and how to properly be mevaker choilim or otherwise help people in need….and, yes, cooking as well as how to handle yourself on a date! It would be a good idea to have basic fitness equipment and a high speed FILTERED internet cafe wherever this is done.

    in reply to: A Humorous Item #1171959
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    What’s the difference between (lehavdil) a rock concert and Mea Shearim?

    At the concert you’ll get stoned no matter what you wear!

    in reply to: Thank You Mods & Editor #954844
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    yes thanks for the rules!!!

    in reply to: Zoos #636208
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    There have certainly been some attempts to reconcile the Darwin theory of evolution with Torah. There are also misunderstandings of the Darwin theory that make it seem as if human beings descended from the apes whereas I believe that the theory only posits that man and the apes have a common ancestor (some have mistakenly identified a species called Homo inferioris alsharptonis as this ancestor but this is not possible as said species has only a physical resemblance to a human being )!

    However, the theory is full of holes. Darwin himself said he could not explain the human eye – which is really a huge flaw considering how important the eye is to any being and to the ecosystem.

    It also tries to take out the G-dliness of creation chas vesholom. Yes, it is very convenient to believe that the tiger and the zebra have the fur patterns that they do because both species need to hide in the grass, one to hunt and the other to avoid being hunted.

    Yet, those patterns are not all that effective – the creatures would be far better served with far duller patterns. And no matter what, the zebra ends up becoming prey, and the tiger does not have to hide in the grass when it wants to knock off a water buffalo or an unsuspecting villager.

    Those 2 creatures, and others like them, look the way they do because Hashem shows His power of creating beauty through nature. (Never mind flowers and other fauna, the patterns of which show no particular “evolutionary” need).

    The only possible value of the theory of evolution is that until Moshiach reveals the secrets of creation, some scientists apparently look to so-called evolutionary mechanisms of cells to devise antibiotics and anti-malignancy drugs. Yet, again, the first antibiotic was revealed in what non-believers call a fortunate accident and what we should see as hashgocho protis.

    And social evolutionism is plain nonsense which flies in the face of Torah and in its worst form leads to systems such as Naziism.

    in reply to: Please Rate President Obama�s Performance #637924
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    With all due respect, is it not a bit early to rate him?

    However, based on the call made to Abbas ShR”Y, the planned closure of Guantanamo, the nasty and unprofessional reference to Rush Limbaugh, and his choice of Rahm Emanuel who made such a fool of himself at the inauguration, I would have to rate him a -5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634772
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    The only time crocs are mutar (except Yom Kippur and 9 Av of course) is if you go to the men’s mikveh and you want to be sure that your toes are not exposed after you toivel, thereby voiding the tevila.

    in reply to: CR Rosh Yeshiva’s Luncheonette – BYOF #647001
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    LOL@me being the YWN editor – I’m 7 time zones away from where YWN is edited (and I’m not in EY either so that there is NO WAY I could put together a site like this)!

    in reply to: CR Rosh Yeshiva’s Luncheonette – BYOF #646994
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Deli 52 burned down and I guess it is not rebuilt yet – I think the news about the fire can be found in the YWN archives.

    in reply to: How do I konw if its true? #633843
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Please be very careful with practitioners as well – some of them really are MLM salespeople in disguise. Start by asking your own physician or a family friend who is a physician as to what, if anything, you need.

    And don’t pay more than high end drugstore prices for any supplement (Landau’s was my upper limit when I lived in the US b/c I wanted the “haimishe hechsher” but ask your rov what hechsher is needed on any given supplement).

    in reply to: Looking For Shidduch?? #634754
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Much hatzlocho, Azi. I am sure your basherte is very close by but you may have to extend your radius one block east and two blocks south.

    in reply to: CR Rosh Yeshiva’s Luncheonette – BYOF #646981
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    I remember someone doing such a thing once but perhaps he had kishke inside the cholent? The technique might be the same – make the kugel and cover it with aluminum foil while it cooks in the cholent pot. I don’t eat potato kugel though and I could be way off.

    in reply to: Pistachio Nuts #643809
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    The local home center (like Home Depot) sells pistachios and other snacks at a little stand/cafe inside the store. I just had to go out there after havdala and I overheard a lady tell her husband: “Ivan, look these pistachios are half-open and our kids will never eat them. Can you go to the hardware store and get some glue so I can stick them back together?”

    With a straight face, I recommended a certain glue (2 part epoxy for any do it yourselfers out there) to them and they thanked me!

    in reply to: Thank You Mods & Editor #954841
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    LOL re ruh moot – the guy who sent it to me uses four different full (first name and surname) identities so I don’t worry too much about what he says – he is L”A a hazeet case!

    And thanks re Itchies!

    I thought it came from the Yiddish nickname Itche which is what some ppl call me and other Yitzchaks – in our circles being called by a nickname like that means that both you and the person using it are “real Chassidim” who still speak Yiddish and have strong ties to the old ways.

    Also, Reb Yitzchak Meir Alter ZYA of Gur (Ger), the Chiddushei HaRim, was known familiarly as Reb Itche-Mayer and just about anyone named Yitzchak Meir in his revered memory is called Itche-Meir (such as Chazzan Helfgott).

    in reply to: At Risk Teenager #633832
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Teenager, I am so sorry that I did not understand who it was that abused you; I might have spoken differently. I’m not interested in bringing anyone down or making you have negative feelings; I only want your special neshomo to heal and I want to try to help with that in some small way. Anyway, what is important is that YOU realize that you are a real bas Melech and that you are not worthless.

    During the wilder times in NY, I was robbed once because I had a space between my window gate and my window that a scrawny little crackhead could and did get through . In Moscow some lowlife used a screwdriver and chewing gum to pick my lock. Was it my fault? NO!! And I know my stuff when it comes to issues of home repair; you could say I should have known better. But so what?? There is no reason why I or any other decent law abiding citizen should have to live in fear and have to worry that a good lock can be picked. But some people do evil and no matter how innocent or careful you are, they will do what they will do. That does not mean you are worthless. It means that they did evil.

    Don’t worry about what you did during your hardest times. No one will hold it against you; and if you feel that they do, perhaps you can go to another community where people will only know who you are now and that you are growing any minute. I was away 7 years, came back, and I have trouble getting people to believe I was away 7 years (and the person who caused me the trouble that mistakenly convinced me to go off suffered very badly around that time and is now suffering again as the financial crisis will soon strip him of his ill gotten position of power whereas BH I am finding ways to be one of the ones who profits from the crisis as the cards are reshuffled).

    AS for the message of how to find me, it did go through but it probably looked complicated so I’ll make your life even easier. If I find someone to help you, and I will do my best starting tomorrow afternoon when my US contacts are online or reachable, I’ll open up and post an anonymous, fresh Hotmail or similar account where you can reach me (and where I can have a notification in my toolbar or browser that you sent me a message so I answer ASAP). OK :)!

    One more thing – about moving. Are you pre-sem age, after sem, or still in high school? If you feel everyone is looking at you, maybe you can go somewhere else as I did when I came back so you are with new people. If you can go to sem far away, or find a job out of town, or if college is OK in your circles, etc etc etc that may help you a lot. Away can even be a few subway or train lines away – it does not have to be a flight away.

    A gute voch and a gute choidesh. Hashem is really on your side because He sees how much you suffered yet how much you want to do the right thing. He will send you the right message and the right messenger to help you get over this and serve Him besimcha again while you reach the highest heights!

    itzik_s: we cannot post email address’s but if both of you send an email to one of the mods, we can hopefully pass on the proper information. You can reach me at: [email protected].

    YW Moderator-55

    in reply to: Jonathan Pollard #633669
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    The rumor about Pollard is that the E”Y intelligence service then traded what they got from Pollard with the USSR in exchange for a few Soviet Jews (which of course was worthless as soon afterward the USSR collapsed – but if EY intelligence could not figure out that the USSR was dying back then it shows us how much of a ness the collapse of the USSR really was). I don’t know if that is true or not. What I do know is that at the time Pollard was married to a non-Jew (hardly the pattern for someone who cares about E”Y) and received cash and a ring for his services. That makes me think that he would have sold the secrets to anyone but E”Y was the easiest party to deal with.

    Still, there are many questions – and I agree with Wolf that pidyon shevuim means a commutation and not a pardon in this case. Indeed he and Madoff are both as deserving of a pardon – but Madoff should live out his natural life in prison and be forced to disgorge all of his ill gotten profits so as to make restitution whereas Pollard’s sentence does seem excessive. And, if he really did sell secrets directly to others, I think we would have concrete information about this, or even an article from a credible journalist, and not just rumors.

    I would have no trouble with the US making a deal where Pollard would be freed and immediately stripped of his citizenship and rights to even visit the US again and for EY to take him in.

    in reply to: CR Rosh Yeshiva’s Luncheonette – BYOF #646924
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Yes, regular Dr Pepper I can drink – regular cola tastes weird to me for some reason, especially Pepsi!

    in reply to: Thank You Mods & Editor #954835
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Thanks Syrian and have a great Shabbat – for all I know he was trying to say “ruh min hon” (the phrase the real or imagined Rochel Imenu told the soldiers in Gaza) which means “get out of here”. This guy was using four different names (first and last, not made up identities) on Usenet so who knows what language he was trying to speak and where he was from!

    in reply to: If You Could Have Anything… #1154882
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    I would want the chance to go back in time and physically experience matan Torah – but better we should all go forward in time and experience our own yetzia from the final Mitzrayim – nOW!

    in reply to: The Wasp and the Zombie Cockroach #692787
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Feivel – can u by any chance find anything about my favorite example of how Hashem creates the world, namely the tiger’s stripes and pattern? The evolutionists claim it allows the tiger to hide in the grass. Maybe – but why are thosse stripes and that face so beautiful? According to evolutionists tigers would be better off with a plain, drab pattern that really allows them to not be seen in the grass – orange stands out no matter what.

    I say that the tiger looks that way for one reason only – that we can look at it and say ma rabu maaseicho Hashem – and as a moshol that physical beauty is no indication of character. That tiger is a deadly murderer.

    in reply to: Pistachio Nuts #643805
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Feivel – I was 90% sure you were being facetious but I wanted to be sure no one who is wavering would take the post as an endorsement of evolution.

    in reply to: Thank You Mods & Editor #954826
    Itzik_s
    Member

    BS”D

    Syrian, in fact I really like some of your posts here like when you teach us words such as “hazeet case” LOL! Maybe you can tell me what “ruh moot JW” means?? Years ago a troll on Usenet who claimed to be Halabi sent me that in a nasty message when I called him down on his trolling.

Viewing 50 posts - 151 through 200 (of 445 total)