from Wolfish Musings

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

18 days, 18 lines (at least)

just for fun. need 18 topics. coming soon. not sure if they'll be consecutive days, but they should be. discipline is half the point.

Why do you feel the need to like them?

Thinking Bochur: Why do you feel the need to like them?: "I have been asked this question about ,African Americans , Arabs ,Rabbi Hershel Schachter , satmar chassidim , mishichishtim, and anti mishi..."

It Gets Better - Gay Orthodox Jews

Hat tip to Frum Satire for posting this.

Exclusive: Shalom Sesame’s “Tikkun Olam Song”

Exclusive: Shalom Sesame’s “Tikkun Olam Song”

Faces and face-lifts in antiquity

Faces and face-lifts in antiquity

Lecha Dodi

walking the line

it's kind of annoying. religion is so deeply personal. I love it, though. Most of it.

:)

I've been posting some little things here, lately.
Not that I don't think moshiach is more of an abstract concept, but whatever gets people to do good in this world is fine with me. Any redemption I need will only come daily from conscious, daily practice, not from a dude on a donkey and buildings coming loose from their moorings.

Unrelated, sort of: getting a good place in olam haba seems silly to me. I'm not worried about the afterlife. A more sensible mythology might be that if you do good while you're on earth, those who love you will be well-taken care of after you die. 'Cause what good is living large in olam haba if your loved ones are dealing with a world of eek in your absence? That would be like watching a nightmare. Not for me, thanks.

From Elsewhere (A Secular Place)

from a note to a friend about the idea of going away over YK (I'm likely not; watch, I'll find religion. lol.). I added some returns to make it easier to read.

As you know, part of me digs the spiritual, and I dig taking the month before the holidays as a time for introspection and thinking about how things have gone and where I want them to go and all that s, but I have stuck around and been around for holidays because it might be my [relative]'s last for about five years, now ...

... (today's 7 years since my grandpa died; I think of him every day, and was thinking jahrzeit is stupid [for those who remember the dead daily], so I looked up what it's all about, and I learned folks who go to pray in public say [a memorial prayer that's actually an affirmation of faith; kooky Jews] the mourner's Kaddish, in addition to lighting a candle.

(And I learned that lighting a candle is a custom from other faiths, but I kind of like the idea of singing a song that makes you feel like (ooh, child, things are gonna get easier ... ), and I like the idea of shining some light, figuratively or literally, on a day that might otherwise have some extra boo in it.

And that's me. I learn what it is and take the parts I like and make them mine, sometimes in my own way. And I don't believe God's a man with a beard in the sky, but when we all get musical goosebumps, that's bigger than all of us, and if anyone wants to call that God, that's fine with me, 'cause I totally believe in that.

Kook and 7 Walkers

If you dig Rav Kook, check this out.

Hey, I can post videos using the share feature. Nice! :) I hope everyone's well. Judaism is living day to day; I've written a little bit here and there, but I haven't been inspired to post anything in particular. If you're currently not listening to music, please don't click on the video. Have a great day!

mussar and chassidus

kind of like yin and yang. or milk and cookies.

Seder Songs

Some videos have women on vocals. Here are the aish versions, transliterated.
And here's the The Open Door, the CCAR Haggadah, which is available in .pdf for free download.

I had a bunch, then my computer crashed. Will try to get them all back up over the next 8 days.

Kadesh Urchatz (the order of stuff)



Kiddush (starts about 1:00 in)


HaLachma Anya


Mah Nishtana


Avadim Hayinu


Story of Four Sons


Rabbi Mitelman from Hofstra Hillel had a couple of good things to say. I wasn't actively involved, when I was there, but he's a cool guy, and it beats the usual rabbis doing math adventures (imo):



Grateful Dead Seder? Apparently. Also found this bit about Bill Graham.

Maror

Korech

Shulchan Orech

Tzafun

Barech

Hallel

Nirtzah

Echad Mi Yodea

More music ((dudes))

Music

This would be funny, if it weren't true.

There have been reports of RCA rabbis lobbying synagogues not to hire rabbis ordained by YCT, a reflection of what they think of Rabbi Weiss’ standards.
In a twist, one Rabbi Weiss school, YCT, won’t recognize the rabbinic credentials of the other Rabbi Weiss school, Yeshivat Maharat, with Rabba Hurwitz being denied membership in the International Rabbinic Fellowship, also founded by Rabbi Weiss and primarily composed of YCT rabbis.

Source of quote is the link above.

Also, see Hesh's post. It has a link to a VIN article. I liked comment #24 on it.

I always wanted to be a rabbi, but didn't bother, 'cause the orthodox wouldn't take me seriously. Apparently (according to the quote above), YCT's walking a line that sends that very message. Which is too bad. Disorganized religion is far easier to deal with, imo. Which reminds me, Patrick's coming up to play a gig in NYC this Saturday night (Purim!). I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you, DH! (child abuse content)

I don't always agree with this guy, but he makes a really good point.

Another Worthy Encore

chareidi and tzahal content

Worth repeating

Please click the link below, then scroll up for the quote in original posted context.
Frumsatire Fan February 8, 2010 at 1:00 PM

I really think everyone should read some A. J. Heschel – man who believed in tradition but rejected some aspects of the theology of orthodox judaism. It’s not all-or-nothing, my-derech-or-no-derech.

“It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion–its message becomes meaningless.”
Abraham Joshua Heschel (God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism)

I blushed

'cause I'm a dork and I like sweetness, even if it's just friendliness. It's all good. And I had fun making fun of myself for blushing, afterward. :)
So here's an R.E.M. video, because I've dislocated my copy of "Accelerate" on CD (which shouldn't happen, will have to tear bag apart), and I love this song. R.E.M. Lyrics Site Link, too.

neat stuff for tu b'shvat and big cheers

here at neohasid

big cheers for adventures in foster parenting. chock full of kindness and she likes music. yay!

kook-y and links

just posting this link on kook here for future reference.

and this shul in colorado

and here's a nice new riders show to stream

The Tao of Judaism

Yay for people doing good stuff re: domestic violence.

And I love my dad. Just saying. :)

Great Reggae Chazzan