I recently heard a story from the protagonist, which is as good an indicator of truthfulness as any I know of. A young South African gay Jewish man got Aids, in the days when getting Aids was essentially a death sentence. Read More »

There was also a personal aspect of that question: How was I going to pay attention to a game that lasts five days? I’m a typically over-connected modern worker bee. Lately, as the trips run into each other and I go 50, 70 days on without one off, I often feel frantic, wondering what I might be missing. I have two phones. An iPad and a Kindle. Read More »

Exactly fourteen days after my previous post, I again take writing implement in hand (metaphorically, of course) and pen this missive to the masses. Actually, that’s an interesting point. Would my fingers in this case be considered my writing implement? I suppose the keyboard would have that function. Read More »

Exactly twenty four months after my marriage, and eighteen after Yossi Shomer’s, I attended the nuptials of my dear chavrusa and partner in argument, Michoel (Moo) Rose. Not only did I teach him the proper role of aircraft carriers in WWII, but I also helped him develop a lot of character. You’re welcome Mrs. Rose. Read More »

I recently attended a non-Lubavitch Shul for Shabbos Davening, which was pretty much the same thing as a Lubavitch Shul for Davening, except that they started at the obscene time of 8: 30. Ridiculous. Anyway, the Kiddush was in honor of a family that is leaving the community after a decade to move to Israel. Read More »

In today’s Chumash (specifically, verse 13) we read about a question asked of the R’ Yosi by the Bishop Arius. There’s a very interesting comment in the Sapirstein edition of the Chumash (page 12, note 9) which says, “Nothing other than what is mentioned here is known about this person. His name appears nowhere else in Torah literature. Read More »

I got this email a few minutes ago, from jddaniel9247@verizon.net: I am considering a portion of a posting on your blog “The Real Shliach” as an insert for a work to be published.Please reply with all your requirements (citation, format of same, etc. Read More »

Two years ago I posted , and today I was once again inspired to post similarly.The version I recall is: Before the Rosh was officially Lubavitch he informed his yeshiva hanhala that he’d be in 770 for shavuos, not in Lakewood. They cried, “But matan Torah is in Lakewood!” The Rosh responded, “Yes, but Moshe Rabbeinu is in 770. Read More »

Apparently Educational Institute Oholei Torah decided to boycott this years Lag B’Omer parade unless the organizers uninvited the Marcus brothers, who were scheduled to perform at the event. Apparently, the organizers of the event gave in. Read More »

In the first part of the month of Nissan it has become customary to recite the portions of the Torah which deal with the offerings of the Princes of the Twelve Tribes. The Prince for the 11th day of Nissan, the Rebbe’s birthday, was from the tribe of Asher. The Medrash says that each tribe is named with the redemption and praise of Israel in mind. Read More »

In the great TRS tradition of yore, I hereby present to you a slightly abridged account of a speech recently given by Alan Dershowitz in Cape Town, SA, as recorded by LtD. –Heavy security without the location being given and tickets only once they had received an email from you with ID number, etc. Read More »

On Yom Kippur one year the services were going swimmingly. So splashy were they (in the Lipa sense) that the Rabbi was sufficiently moved to loudly declare, “Oh G-d, you are so great, and I am nothing!” The entire congregation was duly impressed by their Rabbi’s pronouncement, and commenced to pray with renewed concentration and vigor. Read More »

Whoever thought that all that hope and change would end up in nothing ? Read More »

“The time has come,” the Walrus said,”To talk of many things: Of shoes –and ships –and sealing-wax–Of cabbages –and kings –And why the sea is boiling hot –And whether pigs have wings .”(here )The time has come… Dee & Dum: …the Walrus said… Walrus: …to talk of other things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, and cabbages and kings. Read More »

If they had known about this back in the day, would Reb Yehuda Hanasi have had thirteen years of toothaches taken away? Read More »

All right folks, here’s the story: why is gay marriage wrong for a non-Jew? Because acting on homosexual instincts is wrong for a non-Jew. Why are homosexual acts wrong for a non-Jew? Because they’re prohibited in the 7 Noahide laws. As Jews, and specifically as Lubavitchers, we have the obligation to teach non-Jews about the 7 Noahide laws. Read More »

Hard on the heels of my hard-hitting critique, Mark Webber, celebrated Australian F1 driver, said , “When you hear of people losing their lives, this is a tragedy. It’s probably not the best time to go there for a sporting event. They have bigger things, bigger priorities. Read More »

This is ridiculous. Here are people dying for freedom, and all these morons care about is their race. Won’t anyone stand up and say, “I support democracy, or some reasonable approximation thereof”? Read More »

Why did Aaron make the golden calf? Because he saw that the Israelites had killed Chur. That’s in verse five. In verse six, the Torah says that the Jews got up to sport, which connotes adultery and bloodshed. “Here too,” the Tanchuma states, “Chur was killed. Read More »

There were two missives in the 22 Shevat issue of Nshei Chabad which are worthy of response on this worthy blog, but I’ll only be responding to one, for reason which shall remain obvious to those who are already cognizant of them. Read More »