The meam loez is in Devarim chaf zayin chof vov (which is quoted by lothar above)at the end of the paragragh that starts ???? and he says “People are noheg to point with the finger zeres over the ksav and to kiss it.” I think zeres is the pinky but I could be wrong

Toi, f you look in the piskei Tshuvos on the bottom, he brings down a yalkut Meam Loez in Devarim that says the minhag. I once looked it up but I don’t remember if he brings down with the pinky or just a finger. He also brings down sefer Hachaim by R’ Chaim Palagi, which Jothar quoted. So there is a mekor but some people still question whether it’s necessary to do this

Sam2, you’re thinking of how big the dough has to be in order to take challah. I think always runs with scissors is asking What’s the actual amount that you have to take off

According to the Artscroll Siddur, it’s a kzayis. Also to learn brachos, I would recommend Rabbi Bodner’s Sefer on brachos and also Vezos Habracha by R’ Alexander Mandelbaum if you can read the hebrew. Rabbi Binyomin Forst’s sefer on brachos is also very good

I was going to say lakewood, but sorry I didn’t see brotherofurs. Antwerp

I saw the preview it looks very powerful

Project Inspire has a video called The Road Home

http://www.kiruv.com/toolsForSharing/projectInspire/9Av2011-movie-TheRoadHomeForm.asp You have to fill out a form to see that one and you get on project inspire’s email list.

Here is the link to their other videos http://www.kiruv.com/forYourInspiration/movies/

Project Inspire at kiruv.com has videos that are appropriate for tisha b’av

Go right ahead. No one is going to stop you impersonating yourself

It can be pressured at times. Everyone can go according to the way they can go. Bochurim can go for 10 hours a day. In my personal opinion, it’s because they take breaks during the day. It’s not 10 hours a day straight, but it’s broken up. Also. for the time tnat you do learn straight, you have a solid chavrusa. Yungerleit can go learn all day if that’s how they can run. Some people can’t learn all day.

You can take a shower if it’s for hygiene. You can’t take a shower if it’s for pleasure. I’m not a posek, but I think that you can use warm water. Everybody should ask their rav. Personally, nowadays in the heat that is engulfing the US, you can’t go for a week and a half without a shower. Even if you want to wait until Friday l’kavod Shabbos, that’s kind of crazy.

WIY is right. That’s what I meant