Trying my best

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  • in reply to: YWN Coffee Room Nightly D’Var Torah #1124950

    The Shepherd

    The Baal Shem Tov was once shown from heaven that a certain simple man called Moshe the Shepherd served Hashem, blessed be He, better than he did. He longed to meet this shepherd, so he ordered his horses harnessed to his coach and traveled, with a few of his disciples, to the place where he was told the shepherd lived.

    Then he got up and said, “Master of the world, I’m just a simple shepherd, I don’t know any Torah and I don’t know how to pray. What can I do for You? The only thing I know is to sing shepherds’ songs!” He then began to sing loudly and fervently with all his strength until, again, he fell to the earth exhausted without an ounce of energy.

    After recovering, he got up again and began to call out, “Master of the world! What is it worth that I blew on my horn and sang songs for You, when You’re so great? What more can I do to serve You?” He paused for a moment and said, “There’s something else I know how to do and I’ll do it for Your honor and glory!” He then stood on his head and began to wave his feet wildly in the air. Then he did somersaults one after the other, until he collapsed on the ground, exhausted. The Baal Shem Tov and his disciples watched all this from a distance in amazement.

    The shepherd lay there silently until his strength returned. Again, he began to speak and said, “Master of the world, I’ve done what I can, but I know it’s not enough! What more can I do to serve You?” After pausing to reflect, he said, “Yesterday, the nobleman who owns the flock made a feast for his servants and, when it ended, he gave each of us a silver coin. I’m giving that coin to You as a gift, O G-d, because You created everything and You feed all Your creatures, including me, Moshe the little shepherd!” Saying this, he threw the coin upward.

    At that moment, the Baal Shem Tov saw a hand reach out from heaven to receive the coin. He said to his disciples, “This shepherd has taught me how to fulfill the verse: ‘You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.'”

    in reply to: Bankruptcy in Jewish Law #724488

    There also may be a difference between a business loan that was interest bearing and a personal loan.

    in reply to: Best Modern invention/discovery by a Jew?? #725714

    Artscroll – English Seforim.

    in reply to: Dating after Divorce #725367

    a 95 year rich man who will sign a prenuptial that i get everything when he dies!!!

    There are young never married girls who think along those same lines…

    in reply to: What's up with the kookie glasses? #809978

    Is this the Lipa style glasses?

    in reply to: Tipping a delivery boy – Mandatory or Optional? #920290

    It’s tangentially related to nfgo3’s closing.

    in reply to: Dating Someone Your Friend Went Out With #724880

    Sac

    Au contraire. I am the quite opposite of what you described.

    in reply to: pre paying shadchanim #724821

    Isn’t it customary that friends and acquaintances that make a shidduch (but are not a professional shadchan) take less $$ and even sometimes get an expensive gift in lieu of cash?

    in reply to: Tipping a delivery boy – Mandatory or Optional? #920287

    When Jesse Jackson was a waiter, he used to spit in white people’s soup.

    in reply to: Reading "Fairy Tale" books to our children! #1088602

    Ten little Injuns standin’ in a line,

    One toddled home and then there were nine;

    Nine little Injuns swingin’ on a gate,

    One tumbled off and then there were eight.

    One little, two little, three little, four little, five little Injun boys,

    Six little, seven little, eight little, nine little, ten little Injun boys.

    Eight little Injuns gayest under heav’n.

    One went to sleep and then there were seven;

    Seven little Injuns cuttin’ up their tricks,

    One broke his neck and then there were six.

    Six little Injuns all alive,

    One kicked the bucket and then there were five;

    Five little Injuns on a cellar door,

    One tumbled in and then there were four.

    Four little Injuns up on a spree,

    One got fuddled and then there were three;

    Three little Injuns out on a canoe,

    One tumbled overboard and then there were two.

    Two little Injuns foolin’ with a gun,

    One shot t’other and then there was one;

    One little Injun livin’ all alone,

    He got married and then there were none.

    in reply to: Reading "Fairy Tale" books to our children! #1088601

    One little, two little, three little Indians

    Four little, five little, six little Indians

    Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians

    Ten little Indian boys.

    Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians

    Seven little, six little, five little Indians

    Four little, three little, two little Indians

    One little Indian boy.

    in reply to: YOU KNOW YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN… #725399

    I wish I could say I was…

    in reply to: Dating Someone Your Friend Went Out With #724875

    The only “problem” is the bonehead who thinks its an issue for her friend to date someone she has ‘feelings’ for, that she would even mention or make such feeling clear. No need to worry about such a boneheaded thing.

    in reply to: Dating & Giving In #727296

    Sac, The guys might become crazy, I agree with that, but often the girls were crazy all along – which is worse in my opinion.

    in reply to: Dating Someone Your Friend Went Out With #724871

    Sac, I feel sorry for you if your friend has feelings for your bashert.

    in reply to: YOU KNOW YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN… #725396

    eclipse – I saw you today! I was the person passing your house just as you came out…

    in reply to: Dating Someone Your Friend Went Out With #724867

    You don’t have to apologize to anyone for getting engaged to who you get engaged to.

    in reply to: I Know This Is Trivial,but… #724546

    “WADR-with all due respect” already long exists — exactly as that.

    in reply to: Reading "Fairy Tale" books to our children! #1088599

    makes a strong argument that many of the well known tales are predated by Jewish tales of the same motif.

    Even IF that has any truth to it, they twisted it out of form to the point of oblivion. Much as they took our Torah and twisted it into their corrupted version thereof. (Without us whatever little civilization they have, they would be nothing but savages.)

    in reply to: Kashrus #725864

    philosopher:

    If the organization has a gazillion (or whatever number is enough) kashrus inspectors, why not?

    in reply to: Paying For The Dates – Split The Cost #724519

    in jewish and non jewish society, traditionally men brought Parnassa, and women brought up children.

    Exactly Professional. I fully agree with you that should continue today. Men should bring the parnassa and women should stay home with the children.

    in reply to: Bankruptcy in Jewish Law #724473

    Tzvi, In one word: Yes.

    deiyezooger, Dinei momoinus takes precedences over dina d’malchusa.

    in reply to: Dating Someone Your Friend Went Out With #724856

    dunno:

    You are 100% correct on all counts!

    Well said Derech HaMelech.

    in reply to: Honesty in dating #725631

    Lying is a big no-no.

    in reply to: How to write an easily readable post. #725671

    haifa: One needn’t proofread a forum post. If it is readable despite any typos, it suffices. Period.

    in reply to: To Blog Or Not To Blog #724382

    There isn’t enough space for to list the cons. For starters, you will be joining the company of something very dominated by self-hating Jews, Jewish anti-semites, and Torah haters of all shades.

    in reply to: Tipping a delivery boy – Mandatory or Optional? #920243

    Anyone who expects a tip, doesn’t deserve a tip.

    in reply to: Questions when checking out a boy #724436

    How is he Kovea Itim.

    in reply to: Work at home vs. in an office #724187

    Telecommuting is the best of both worlds.

    in reply to: Dating & Giving In #727292

    Ofcourse: From experience in helping in shidduchim, I’ve noticed the older single girls have way more abnormalities than the older guys.

    in reply to: Tipping a delivery boy – Mandatory or Optional? #920239

    Tipping optional and it is always okay to not give a tip. Period.

    in reply to: Dating after Divorce #725362

    eclipse: You’ve given up on the prospect of marriage ever again?

    in reply to: Tipping a delivery boy – Mandatory or Optional? #920229

    real brisker, you are 100% correct. I applaud you for not tipping such mechutzif who had the audacity to ASK for a tip!

    in reply to: Johnnies 61 Hoya's 58 #724266

    Nebech.

    in reply to: HAVE YOU NOTICED? #725046

    iyhbyu, I’ll answer that as soon as this month’s episode of Law & Order is finished.

    in reply to: Tipping a delivery boy – Mandatory or Optional? #920224

    Your answer should have been $3.75.

    in reply to: Change of Pronunciation #798161

    ROB: But the underlying point of not changing ones customs vis-a-vis havara also applies here.

    in reply to: Bein Adam Lachaveiro in the coffee room #725164

    How can Lashon Hora apply when posters are anonymous?

    in reply to: No Women On The Seruv List? #746849

    popa: Hagaon HaRav Yisroel Belsky shlit”a is supporting him in doing just that.

    in reply to: Frum Jews and College #1073179

    Regarding High School, the only reasons it is allowed is either because education is mandated by State Law (in New York it is until age 17), or simply because if they did not have High School education in the Yeshivas, parents would simply send their kids to worse places to get it.

    But it is definitely looked upon not as a l’chatchilah, but rather as something that is annoyingly necessary in the current environment.

    Today, there are a small number of High Schools in America – particularly in Lakewood – that do not teach English. Also, many Yeshivos do try to reduce the amount of secular studies as much as possible, through knocking out the last semester of English, and a number of kids are leaving HS early to enter Bais Medrash.

    Rav Chaim Segal ZT’L, the Menahel of the High School at Yeshiva Chaim Berlin was once told by Rav Shach ZT’L that if possible, he should not be teaching English studies. In Eretz Yisroel, almost all Chareidi Yeshivos do not have English at that age. Rav Aharon Kotler ZT’L made some kind of commitment not to allow English studies on the HS level in Lakewood. The exact details, and if this was actually a Takanah or merely a preference, is not clear and depends who you ask. In any case, Rabbi Elya Svei, Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia and a student of Rav Aharon’s, was asked why he allows English in Philly if Rav Aharon was against it. What difference can there be between the town of Lakewood NJ and Philadelphia PA? Reb Elya answered that he has no choice, and that currently, the Baalei Batim would not send their kids to the Yeshiva except under these circumstances.

    Is any of this the ideal? No. It is not. Is it justified? The schools say it is, as they have no choice. But the point is not what the Jews do, its what Judaism wants. Everyone agrees that it would be a higher level, a preferable situation if we would indeed not learn English even at the HS level, at least not beyond what is necessary to survive. Nobody claims it is an ideal.

    in reply to: Questions when checking out a boy #724421

    Ask who is his Rebbe and how close they are.

    in reply to: HAVE YOU NOTICED? #725042

    It worked!! It worked!!

    in reply to: Frum Jews and College #1073174

    You need to apologize to the Baalei Tzedaka that you denigrated, despite them giving you the opportunity to fulfil the mitzvah of tzedaka, you spit on them and said you would stab the poor in the back because they follow Rav Moshe, Rav Ahron, Rav Elchonon, Rav Boruch Ber, and the Rema.

    in reply to: HAVE YOU NOTICED? #725039

    (Time to add some life to this thread…)

    We need to be mekarev our MO brethren.

    in reply to: People with Yichus #724174

    BTW, does anyone think that perhaps Madoff’s son killed himself because… he was Madoff’s son?

    in reply to: People with Yichus #724173

    VOTE:

    1. If it were the case, would you be proud if your father was Rav Moshe?

    2. If it were the case, would you be embarrassed to mention that your father is the Son of Sam serial killer?

    in reply to: Frum Jews and College #1073171

    Mike – I doubt you previously ever gave much more than a quarter. And I wouldn’t believe it even if you claimed otherwise.

    in reply to: People with Yichus #724171

    You wouldn’t be embarrassed to mention that your father is David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), if that were the case?

    You wouldn’t be proud to mention that your father is Rav Moshe Feinstein, if that were the case?

    in reply to: Gefilite Fish Minhagim #1106370

    Chrain (horseradish). Night and day. No particular brand.

    in reply to: Waiting on line in a grocery? #724084

    TheGoq: She was on line already, and he walking off for a minute to the meter does not give up her place.

Viewing 50 posts - 1 through 50 (of 567 total)