Don't quote me on that

Bang it out - Take a laugh and pass em' on.

2005-01-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Bangitout - Need I explain?

Me wants a McShwarma

2005-01-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

An advertisement for McShwarma from McDonalds B'Yisrael.

Brochos List

2005-01-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Nice! A list of (almost) all Brochos.

Warning: This list says rice is Mezonos. The preferred thing to do is make Hamotzee on bread and then you are covered for the rice.

Gemorah Online

2005-01-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

Check out any page of Gemorah online!

Jewish Radio

2005-01-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

This might be a link directly to the Jewish Radio music...

Seforim Online

2005-01-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

A library of a bunch of different Seforim.

Blog Television

2005-01-17T19:12:00.002-07:00

Stop reading and start watching!

Blog Television

2005-01-17T19:12:00.001-07:00

Stop reading and start watching!

Blog Television

2005-01-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Stop reading and start watching!

Jewish High

2005-01-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

Have a spare moment and cant decide what to do? Are you really bored because you have nothing planned, or do you need an excuse to not do your homework? Does it feel like Jewish High Schools are all about work, work, work, with no respite at all? Are you tired of just fitting in the mold of your particular yeshiva, high school, or hometown? Feel like meeting new, frum Jewish teens from outside your hometown? Interested in making new Orthodox friends from across the globe, or even around the corner?

Just Jewish Music

2005-01-17T18:59:00.001-07:00

Listen to tons of Jewish Music!
User: ILUVMUSIC Pass:123456

Animated Talmud

2005-01-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

Animated Talmud is an exciting new computer program that teaches Talmud through animations. This new learning tool makes the secret wisdom of the Talmud more accessible than ever before.

OLEDs: Flexible Paper-Thin Screens!

2005-01-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

OMSG.

Mac Mini - For your Car!

2005-01-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is going to be amazing (when it actually is available)... You will be able to plug your mac mini into your car!

Free iPods and other stuff

2004-11-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

FREE. I love that word!

The Chassidic Gentile

2004-11-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm Interesting...

Caution: Too Much Science May Make You Religious

2004-11-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

By Velvl Greene
THANKS TO WWW.CHABAD.ORG (CHABAD INTERNATIONAL ONLINE)

Before birth, a baby lives in its mother’s womb surrounded by water. It doesn’t breathe. Its lungs are collapsed, folded between the two upper chambers of the heart. There’s a hole in its heart so the blood circulates. And there’s a tube connecting the aorta to the pulmonary artery.

Within ten minutes of birth, its lungs have to expand, the hole in its heart has to heal, the tube has to seal off.

In fact, 67 different steps have to happen in sequence so that the baby can go from a creature that lives in water to an oxygen-breathing baby. Miraculously, these things take place routinely every minute of every day.

That is science, when we understand what happens. And we know that no human being or scientist could have developed or engineered this sequence. If a company tried to build it, it wouldn’t work.

Indeed, if we knew what goes on in our very own lives, if we knew what goes on in the birth of a baby, we would get on our knees and thank G-d forever. All of the vast scientific studies that have been made over the past hundred years keep pointing to the concept of order and sequence, and therefore, in my opinion, a creator.

A professor of mathematics came into my study one day. He was a real atheist. He said to me, “I’ve just calculated that it’s impossible to have the human eye evolving in the five billion years that they give us.” He said, “The person who believes in evolution, that is the person making the leap of faith.”

Science doesn’t contradict the Torah. Science teaches us that when the Torah says, “I have created the world,” “I will care for you,” “I will heal you,” and “I will provide,” you know what? G-d was right. In 1998 it was reported for the first time in human history that enough food has been grown to feed every living person on the planet. Theoretically, no one on this earth should have to starve. And there’s a statement in Psalms that says, “You open your hands and you give to all living things its need.” G-d has provided. And that’s what science says: You know what? He was right. When a doctor heals a patient, that’s what science says: You know what? He was right. G-d has provided.

There has never been a rabbi who has ever said to a scientist, “stop searching.” There’s never been a rabbi who has said, “quit looking.” Because the ultimate believer of truth, and the Torah is all truth, will ultimately believe that anything you find in nature that is true will reflect and react to the glory of G-d.

When I was younger, I worked for the NASA program. And I looked for life on Mars. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars looking for life on Mars -- for which, if you haven’t been thanked as taxpayers before, let me thank you. During that time I asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe, “Is this right? Can I really do this? Other religions say you shouldn’t search. And the Torah doesn’t say there’s life on Mars.” The Rebbe replied in Yiddish, “Professor Green, you should look for life on Mars. And if you don’t find it there, you should look elsewhere. And if you don’t find it there, you should look elsewhere. Because for you to sit here and say that G-d didn't create life elsewhere is to put limits on G-d, and no one can do that.”

Sphere XP

2004-11-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

3-d Desktop replacement.

Dmitriy Salita - The Star of David

2004-10-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

A sensational welterweight prospect, Dimitriy is a sharp, accurate puncher with good handspeed. After he moved to Brooklyn, Dmitriy was exposed to orthodox Judaism and became an observant Jew. He strictly follows Jewish law – if he has a fight on a Saturday, it must begin after sundown, the end of the sabbath. Dmitriy said, “Anyone who wants a good whuppin’ from me is just going to have to wait until sundown.” There are as many as 70 Jewish holy days on which he will not fight, and he follows Jewish dietary laws. When he’s training, he stays within walking distance of a synagogue for Friday and Saturday services – he’s not allowed to drive on the sabbath.

Promoter Bob Arum said, “If he’s as good as it appears he is, and he can be held up as an example of religious devotion to both Jews and gentiles, he’ll be a great attraction.”

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Dmitriy moved with his family to Brooklyn at the age of nine; he said, “Basically, we came to America because Jews were discriminated against. My parents thought that my brother and I wouldn’t grow up with the opportunity to be the best that we could be. My brother, who is nine years older then I am, used to get into a lot of fights, because he was often called names. There were rumors of pogrom every now and then, and Jews would go away to the suburbs from the city. ‘Pogrom’ means that groups of people would break into homes and bash the house. I remember that my father bought a gun just in case something was to happen. It was very difficult to get top jobs or to go to top schools and still remain proud of your Judaism. I am very grateful to America for letting me pursue my goals, and have freedom of religion and speech. You don’t normally appreciate it, but when you don’t have it, you understand just how great it is to have it. Now that I am older, I understand it.”

In New York, classmates picked on Dmitriy in school; he said, “When I first started going to school, I had the clothes that I wore over in Russia. I used to get made fun of because of it, and the fact that I didn’t speak English. I had to learn how to defend myself. I got involved in karate and as time went on my brother brought me to a boxing club. That is how it all started. I got called into the principal’s office. I got suspended a few times, but I got my respect. I started kicking some ass at school.”

He started boxing at the age of 13 at the Starrett City Boxing Club, which is run by Jimmy O’Pharrow; Jimmy said, “My gym’s like a league of nations. I seen every kind of kid come through the doors, but I ain’t never seen one like this Dmitriy. Kid looks Russian, prays Jewish and fights black.”…Dmitriy said, “Jimmy runs an old school gym, a ghetto gym. My style isn’t European. It isn’t even American. It’s a city style. It’s black. I don’t know how else to say it. But some of us white boys got it like that.”…the radio at Starrett was always tuned to HOT 97; Dmitriy described it as “Blasting. A lot of Biggie. A lot of Tupac. I think that changed my style. That’s what gave me some rhythm.” ...Dmitriy had a reported amateur record of 59-5.

2001 New York Golden Gloves champion, 139 pounds - Dmitriy won the finals on 4-5-01 at Madison Square Garden in New York City; Bill Farrell of the New York Daily News reported, “In a bout that lived up to all its expectations, Dmitriy Salita battled past Joey Rios to win the Golden Gloves 139-pound open title last night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The 3-2 decision won by Salita in as fine a boxing match ever staged in the Golden Gloves finals earned Salita the Sugar Ray Robinson Award as the outstanding boxer in the tournament. Salita, who is as talented as they come, got into his rhythm midway through Round 2 and finally took control of the bout to earn the decision and a pair of Golden Gloves.”

Dmitriy said, “You know, with me growing up in New York, the New York Golden Gloves is a big, big deal. A lot of the great fighters that have come out of New York have all managed to win the Golden Gloves. The Golden Gloves in New York is like the Olympic games, everyone knows about it. You really get your respect after you win the New York Golden Gloves. I thought that it was an important step, and that it would boost my professional career. Plus, I was just dying to have those Golden Gloves around my neck.”

His mother, Lyudmila, originally opposed Dmitriy’s boxing, but eventually became an enthusiastic supporter ...she passed away in January, 1999, after a two-year battle with cancer... when she was hospitalized, Dmitriy divided his time between James Madison High School, the Starrett gym, and Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital; he said, “I’d spend the night sleeping in a chair at the hospital and wake up to do my roadwork.”

Dmitriy said, “I will never compromise my beliefs. Never. It’s not a question. I have a personal relationship with God that I won’t compromise. My boxing is such a big part of my life, but it won’t get in the way of my religion. It can’t, and it won’t.”

Dmitriy said, “I enjoy being different. People are surprised at how good the white, Jewish kid is, surprised that I can fight. I take that as a compliment.”

Wierd Announcement Raises Eyebrows - 28 Tishrei 5765

2004-10-17T22:31:00.000-07:00

A Chabadnik.com reporter came across a very wierd item that was reported in one of the news agencies today. It read: A historical event will take place tomorrow in the city of Tiberias. The Sanhedrin which has not been convened for 1660 years will convene tomorrow together with other prominent rabbis of Israel from various circles."

Now, we would not have paid attention to this item if not for the line that said that among those participating "will be Rabbi Dov Levanoni an elder Chabad rabbi."

Chabadnik.com spoke with Rabbi Lavnuni by telephone to verify whether he really is one of the 71 rabbis that will convene in Tiberias.

Chabadnik.com: Shalom, Rabbi Lavnuni, your name appears as one of those rabbis who will be participating in setting up a Sanhedrin of 71 rabbis in Tiberias....

Rabbi Levanoni: Correct.

Chabadnik.com: Can you fill us in on what is going on?

Rabbi Levanoni: Well, to say it is mamesh a Sanhedrin is a bit misleading. It is not mamesh a Sanhedrin because the Sanhedrin sits in the Lishkas Hagozis (in the Beis Hamikdash) this is merely a Bet Din of 71 rabbis.

Cabadnik.com: What kind of an authority does such a Bet Din have?

Rabbi Levanoni: It has the authority to appoint a small Sanhedrin (23 rabbis) and a king.

Chabadnik.com: You're planning on appointing a king?

Rabbi Levanoni: No, we are waiting for Moshiach.

Chabadnik.com: Thank G-d for that. So why set up such a Bet Din altogether?

Rabbi Levanoni: To spread the words of Torah all over the world, to bring many Jews to Teshuva and observance of the Torah. In essence it is what Chabad does today.

Chabadnik.com: If you already mentioned Chabad, how did the Rebbe view such an endeavor?

Rabbi Levanoni: The Rebbe was against such a move as already publicized in one of his letters. But I checked the date when the letter was written and it was written during David Ben Gurion's term in office. The Rebbe's opposition to this then is understood in light of the fact that Ben Gurion wanted to destroy religion and to impose his views on the Jewish nation. Almost all orthodox rabbis then opposed a Sanhedrin. But times have changed.

Chabadnik: Are you aware of any other Chabad rabbis who identify with your move?

Rabbi Levanoni: Yes, Rabbi Even Yisrael (Steinzaltz) is one of them.

Chabadnik.com: Do all the rabbis who will be part of this Bet Din have the Halachic qualifications for this?

Rabbi Levanoni: You have to be an ordained rabbi of "yodin Yodin" or "Yore Yore."

Chabadnik.com: Are you one of the organizers of this conference?

Rabbi Levanoni: I together with two more rabbis, Rabbi Babad and Rabbi Idan. They are the ones who initiated this. I myself cannot participate due to my weak health but I sent my blessing via video.

Chabadnik.com: Are you the Rabbi Lavnuni who is author of the book on the Beis Hamikdash?

Rabbi Levanoni: Yes

Chabadnik.com: Thank you.

Minister Landau Receives Resounding Appaluse in 770 - 28 Tishrei 5765

2004-10-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

Israeli Minister Uzi Landau in a telephone hookup Tuesday, addressed a packed crowd in 770 who had assembled to discuss the current ominous threat looming over Israel as a result of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.

Minister Landau who is leading the battle against the dangerous plan was invited to speak to the crowd by Rabbi Yekutiel Rapp an organizer of the conference.

Minister Landau began his speech by quoting the first Rashi in Breishis that we read this past Shabbos in which Rashi asks why the Torah begins with the creation of the world and not with the first Mitzvah? The answer is to refute a claim in the future being posed by the nations of the world. If they claim that Eretz Yisroel belongs to them we should refute them by saying "G-d created the world and all of it belongs to Him. He can give and take to whomever He wants. So first he gave it to them and then he decided to take it back and give it to the Jews etc."

"You wonderful people have assembles far away in the U.S. to find ways how to stop this plague, this avalanche. You Chabadnikim who adopted a trilateral motto: "Integrity of the Torah," "Integrity of the People," and "Integrity of the Land," you who are listening to me now, certainly do not have to be persuaded that surrendering territory is wrong.

"Your job today as Jews living in the U.S., is to employ every means of persuasion and information campaign, even to exert pressure on your Administration, the U.S. government who does not succumb to terror, they will understand you much better.

"You must persuade the administration and give over to them the message of the Rebbe which still is ringing in my ears, how he would scream from the bottom of his heart against giving up territory in all times.

"The Rebbe was always and consistantly against giving up even "one inch". That was his motto. The Rebbe did not suffice only with the Jewish law which states explicitely that Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish People but many times argued that it is a security threat, a matter of life or death. He would say that not only the actual surrender of our homeland endangers the residents of Israel but the mere "talk" about it exposes our weakness towards the Arabs, and Arabs are capable very well of smelling weakness. And when we are weak we are attacked.

"Look what has happened to us in recent years ever since we started speaking about a Palestinian state. Look what happened to us just this week, Jews were murdered just because they were Jews. And guess where? Precisely on the territory we surrendered to Egypt in the camp David accords. Was that also "occupied territory," now?

"Tell this to the American people in a voice loud and clear. Give over this message to the U.S. government. This will be your contribution to our struggle here in Israel.

"Permit me to conclude with the traditional blessing that Lubavitcher chassidim bless eachother at the end of Shabbos Breishis "And Yaakov set out on his way." I wish you all to depart from these holidays strengthened and determined towards the very difficult political battles that lie ahead."

Minister Landau's remarks were received with a resounding applause

Lubavitcher Chosid To Kasher Austria's Royal Dishes - 27 Tishrei 5765

2004-10-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

Exclusive: The Sefardic Rabbi of Austria and Rabbi of the Bucharan Jewish Community in Vienna, Rabbi Yitzchak Niazov, has been asked to kasher the dishes from the Austrian Monarchy that are hidden in the palace of the royal family dating back to King Franz Joseph.

The reason for this unusual request comes after the President of Austria invited Israel's President Moshe Katzav for an official visit to Austria. The royal residence is arranging for an extravagant banquet in honor of President Katzav. For this purpose officials are taking out the precious treasures collected by Franz Joseph who ruled over 14 countries in Europe some 150 years ago.

Rabbi Niazov was contacted by a very expensive catering service which usually caters to wealthy Jewish families. This catering service was also chosen to prepare the kosher food for the President of Israel. Rabbi Niazov is usually invited to be "mashgiach" at this catering and so this time he was invited to kasher the royal dishes.

"Tomorrow I intend to concentrate on the actual kashering of the dishes itself but today I was taken on a tour to see the treasures and I saw the dishes," Rabbi Niazov said. "I have never seen such beautiful dishes in my life," he added.

Virgin Galactic

2004-09-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

By the end of the decade, normal people will be spaced.

2004-09-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

Dude. That is one sweet Esrog.

2004-09-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from a Machzor - The Jewish Prayer Book for the Holiday of Yom Kippur

2004-09-19T22:17:00.000-07:00

Next Up - The Day of Atonement

Update: Be at airport 7 hours earlier.

2004-09-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

New airport device detects bomb residue

From Paul Courson

CNN Washington Bureau

Thursday, September 9, 2004 Posted: 6:30 PM EDT (2230 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Airport security officials unveiled a new scanning device Thursday that can detect traces of substances used in making bombs.

The prototype machine being tested at Reagan Washington National Airport is based on existing units that involve a tedious method using cotton swabs, wiping sticks and a testing chamber to detect chemicals that could be used as explosives.

The new machine has been outfitted with a small platform where security workers rub a document such as a boarding pass, a passport or a driver's license.

The little platform then moves automatically into the test chamber, where tiny particles would quickly set off an alarm.

Pat Hynes, the airport's federal security director, said such particles would stay on a person's hands for a significant amount of time and probably would be transferred onto such documents.

"When a person is around and touches explosives, they can never really decontaminate themselves," he said.

He noted, however, that there would be times when the machine goes off and a person has a good explanation for such exposure to what the called "a very wide range spectrum of components."

He said he could not elaborate for security reasons, but he acknowledged the list includes substances used in fireworks, shotgun shells and certain fertilizers.

The source that triggers the alert would then be discussed through questioning with the passenger.

"It wouldn't be a false alarm, it would actually be a positive alarm, but when you talk to the individual, [it] could prove to be a false threat," Hynes said.

When the machine gives a positive indication, the passenger's luggage and personal effects would then be subjected to additional checking -- regardless of the answers provided in an interview with security workers.

The airport near Washington began using the unit Tuesday with passengers who had been directed to a more elaborate security check known as secondary screening.

Three machines will be installed by the end of the month at New York's Kennedy International Airport, Chicago's O'Hare International in Illinois and Los Angeles International in California.

Each of the machines costs about $45,000, according to the manufacturer, Smiths Detection.

Googlism

2004-08-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Googlism is the coolest!

2004-08-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

Blog this!

The Kosher Blog

2004-08-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

Kool Kosher Blog!

CNN.com - Rowling teases Potter Fans about New Book

2004-08-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) -- "Harry Potter" novelist J.K. Rowling has said her young hero will survive to the seventh book in her series about the young wizard, but refused to say whether he would reach adulthood.
Rowling on Sunday teased a group of fans with morsels of information as she gave a public reading of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in the Scottish capital.
"He will survive to book seven, mainly because I don't want to be strangled by you lot, but I don't want to say whether he grows any older than that," Rowling told the youngsters.
She encouraged the fans to try to piece together future plots for themselves, and urged them to focus on why Harry's nemesis, the evil warlock Voldemort, had not been killed.
"There are two questions I don't think I've ever been asked and that I should have been asked, if you know what I mean," Rowling said.
She told the gathering they should be asking themselves "not 'why did Harry live' but 'why didn't Voldemort die?"'
The second question they should think about is: "Why didn't Dumbledore kill, or try to kill, Voldemort?" she added, referring to the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
More than 500 people had tickets to see the author read from the fifth book. She is still working on the sixth book, but has already revealed the title: "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."
But she remained tightlipped about the title of her final book in the series.
"I'm not going to tell you, I'm sorry. The trouble I would be in if I did. My agent would have me hunted down and killed," she said.
Rowling further teased her fans over whether Harry's pals Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger would be boyfriend and girlfriend by the end of the series.
"I'm not going to say. I can't say. I think I've given quite a lot of clues by now on this subject," she said. "You are going to have to read between the lines on that one."

Personally, I think that Harry will live until the 7th book then die and there will be a new religion started by Harry Potter radicals called "potterism". Yeah... 8-)

Explorers find world's deepest hole

2004-08-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

Sweet, maybe the Ark is hidden in there somewhere?

Keep Us Safe, Keep Intel Activities Secret!

2004-08-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

A story on CNN showed how the U.S. told some reporters about intel on al queda operatives, and it ruined a sting in Pakistan. I think the intelligence agencies should not tell reporters anything, and maybe they will get their jobs done faster! There is an old Jewish Talmud saying: "To be wise be quiet". Maybe it's time for them to shut their pie holes.
Just my opinion.

Cell Phone Jammer - Nice!

2004-08-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

They have two jammers, one for america, one for europe. Best used when in a highly populated area.

Garth's Blog

2004-08-03T23:10:00.000-07:00

Check out my homies blog! :-D

SideStep - Flight Search

2004-08-02T21:36:00.000-07:00

This thing is cool. It sits on the side of your browser and helps you find awesome flight deals. I recommend that you first do a flexible date search on Travelocity first, then, once you have chosen cheap dates to travel on, try and find a better price for those days with SideStep.

DebkaFile Update

2004-08-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

What do you think about this? Post your comments.

DEBKAfile’s terror experts find two al Qaeda operatives held in Pakistan unlikely sources of up-to-date intelligence on terror plots for US financial centers and UK.

Organization is too compartmented for single operatives to have access to that many secrets – especially when, like Ghailani and Khan, they are past their prime as active terrorists.

Please visit The DebkaFile for more info.

School Supplies

2004-08-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, School Supplies.

Mr. Picasso Head

2004-08-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

Make your own "Picasso" art. Cool.

AudioBlogger

2004-08-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, Blogger is so cool, you can even post audio to your blog by Phone!