Tag Archive: Technology

Introducing the iTalmud

iTalmudThroughout 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. Reason being, between learning various chapters and pouring over this Sefer, for sometimes 12 hours a day, the pages and the binding of this particular work would quickly become worn. Indeed, there is almost this silent code of understanding that if your Gemorah looks a bit “beaten,” it invariably means that you have been learning “shtark” and have been devoting much times to diligently mastering the topics in this tractate of Talmud throughout the night and day! 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, for a Yeshiva Bachur, the way in which his Gemorah is binded is not only cool, but could also acts as a Siman, a sign that that this is HIS Gemorah!

You see, in large Yeshivas, where thousands of young men are pouring over the SAME text, it is quiet easy to loose your Gemorah, and never see it until several weeks later…let alone the end of the Zman (the equivalent of a Semester in the Yeshiva system). And so, in order to help differentiate your Gemorah, people would have the bookbinder etch with tape (or perhaps in different colors of tape!), on the side of the Gemorah, a neat design, your initials in Hebrew or English, and so on and so forth….

And so, when I stopped to Daven Mincha in a particular Jerusalem based Yeshiva and saw how this individual had added a creative Siman, a sign to help him quickly identify his Talmud, I took a quick picture and decided to share it with you all:-) I decided to dub this Talmud, the iTalmud. Apple and Steve Jobs has surely done a wonderful job of marketing if a Yeshiva Bachur in Jerusalem feels that it would be cool to brand his Talmud with their iconic logo!

February 2, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments 

Drudgereport and Technology

For many years, one of the few news sites that I tend to peruse daily is the Drudgereport. In fact, ever since he started iDrudgereport (it is the same site just that it can be read on smart phones), I generally read his headlines at the latter site, as there’s no chances whatsoever of running into a visually offensive picture. To that end, I find it rather interesting that recently he has linked to articles that stress the negative effects that the internet, or technology for that matter, can have on our children and teens For instance he has posted the following two headlines:

Truthfully, people try to analyze the politics, philosophy and overall mindset of the sites founder and author, Matt Drudge.

I will not pretend to do so.

Rather, I will merely thank him for this brave statement. Let’s be honest. He is a man who makes millions of dollars each year off of his one website.

As Jews, our Rabbis have warned that we should use the internet as a tool, and to not dilly dally and wander around a web browser, lest we get caught up in what is the world wide web! That said, contemporary society does not have a Rabbi or a “Voice of Reason” who seems to warn parents about the negative effects of using the internet, text messaging, playing countless hours of video games, etc. etc. Indeed, as this article shows, having a story featured on Drudge is dare I say, priceless!

And so, if there is anyone who is sublty warning this generation to not just know where your kid is at night, but to also care about how many hours he or she is in front of a screen, it is Matt Drudge.

Thanks Matt!

March 30, 2009 | Tags: , , | 5 Comments 

Google and God

Anyone who is remotely tech savvy is discussing the fact that Google has just introduced-Google Android. Another tool that Google previously released allows also allows users to talk to family and friends using the simple technology of VOIP and is called: Google Talk. Best of all…the sound quality is crystal clear.

In truth, I continue to stand in awe admiring all of the technology that Google offers. For example, Google Maps uses satellite imaging, that allows you to zoom in on your requested location. Oh…and the best part about a predominate amount of their tools is the price…FREE!

And so, while I’m ranting about the gadlus of technology, I would like to share the following mashal that I heard in the name of Rabbi Noach Orloweck:

Nowadays, many cars are being outfitted with a GPS System. In essence, satellites monitor your every movement and turn. And yet, if you stray from your path, a computer generated voice will always be there to calmly guide you back to your desired destination.

In a similar vane, God is always there observing and monitoring our every movement and action. And yet, if we stray from God, He will always be there to lovingly bring us back to His pleasant ways and a life of happiness and spirituality. All we need to do is-Listen!

Judaism and GPS
The GPS System for Life is called-the Torah. Through Torah knowledge a person can learn to avoid the bumps in the road called life, and instead arrive at their destination safely and happily.

In closing, while we live in a technologically advanced world (and in fact, many of you who view this blog embrace/or lean upon modern technology) we need to remember to forever drive on the Path to Perfection…The Path of God!

November 2, 2008 | Tags: , , , | 5 Comments 

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