Rabbi Michael Green's Blog
Introducing the iTalmud
Throughout the “Tech World” many people waited with anticipation to hear Steve Jobs introduce an Apple iTaplet. While Steve Jobs has now formally made his announcement, people have been miffed as to why the iTablet was not the name for their new device! Instead, Apple is calling their new device the iPad. Indeed, there have been more than a handful of critics who have not been so kind to the name of this Tablet device that Apple will soon release. Well, today I got to see not the iTablet, but the iTalmud for the very first time! Allow me to explain…During my years in Yeshiva, regardless of where I studied, be it in America or Israel, year in year out, it was necessary to have a bookbinder bind the Gemorah, the tractate of Talmud that the Yeshiva would be learning. And so, many Bachurim would not simply bind their Gemorah. Instead, many Bachurim take the opportunity to also have the binding of their Gemorah stand out and have a cool design. What’s more, while some people in contemporary society are proud of their tattoo or their shoes or what have you…
The Jewish Stairway to Heaven
On Sunday, we enter the Jewish month of Cheshvan. Our Sages however, refer to this month using the name: Mar Cheshvan. If you are thinking that the word Mar sounds a bit familiar, you are right! You probably recognize that it is ever so similar to the word Marror, the Bitter Herbs that we eat at the Pesach Seder.
Truth be told, our Sages relate that this month, is Mar, it’s bitter, because there are no holidays in this month. Indeed, there is not even a formal fast day!
The Windmill Sukkah
As illustrated in my Twitter Update here, I love Sukkos! Truth be told, the best place to celebrate this holiday is in the holy city of Yerushalayim. The weather is great, a spirit of Kedusha permeates the air, kids are off school, people are visiting from countries such as America to Argentina, the concerts are eclectic as well as legendary, and I could just go on and on…if you’ve never been here before for Sukkos, you’ve gotta come.
Thankfully, we have been doing a lot of walking around the city over the past couple of days. Indeed, we’ve walked from Ramat Eshkol to Shaarie Chessed on more than one occasion.
A Little Magic: Don’t See the Wheelchair! See the Person!
When I was a teenager, I once worked with a special needs boy for about four weeks over the summer.
I’ll admit: it was hard work, and nit did not feel all that rewarding. However, at the end of the camp, the boy gave me a big hug at my knees. I still remember that hug to this day.
Not withstanding that one summer, I had never been exposed to the day to day needs of special needs children.
Ramat Eshkol Strollers
In my neighborhood of Ramat Eshkol and all across Jerusalem for that matter, strollers are like cars. For instance, if you want to go to the grocery store and bring some bags back what is the preferred method of transportation? Well it seems that the most cost effective and efficient method of shlepping your items home is to take your stroller. Plus, if you take your double stroller and only have one child with you, a person then has room to stash more bags in the second seat.
Elul, Exodus, and the Economy
So here we are. It is once again the month of Elul in which we begin to blow the Shofar on a daily basis and prepare for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. To many people across the country, a new year that offers new change and hope is a good thing! From the economic doldrums that we continue to face globally and the health care debate that seem to continue to roar across the USA, times appear to only get worse and worse with each passing day. We can only hope that our elected leadership pull us through and out of this vortex that seems to be shoving more and more people into the Great Recession.
Why I have a Twitter Account?
For a slew of reasons, I never thought that I would join Twitter.
Even before it became mainstream and in use by CNN to The New York Times, I’ve been invited to join Twitter by people who are even decades older than me—and I’ve always politely declined.
That said, I’ve come to the realization that at least during the school year, I can’t consistently write posts on a daily basis and share original content, Torah thoughts, inspiration, and so on and so forth.
And yet, I still want to convey a “short vort” or an inspirational insight from a piece of Talmud to a Chassidic Master. In other words, this means that I don’t intend on using Twitter in the “conventional method” of announcing my every move. Rather, I see Twitter as a vehicle to share with others how Jewish wisdom is relevant and powerful and can enhance your daily life even in a hundred or so characters!
Random Links of Interest
While there are different minhagim regarding listening to music during the Sefirat HaOmer period that we find ourselves in, I found it both interesting and courageous nevertheless of Srully Williger to market his orchestra by saying that we could satisfy your needs…even in the recession. See his site or the picture to your right.- I grew up sharing a room with my two brothers. As such, while this “room divider” may appear chic, the fact of the matter is that we set this trend a long time ago!
- On a totally different note, Bnos Chana Seminary was kind enough to post on their website this image of the wedding picture of HaRav and Rebbetzin Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg shlita. Talk about seeing a special Gedolim picture!
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