en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4097902 Comments by Charnie Feldman http://blogs.forward.com/forward-thinking/217274/#IDComment960557222 Simple answer to your last question about eating hot food. Many of us do serve cold cuts, but since on Shabbos we're also supposed to have a hot meal, since our Shabbos seudah is a festive meal. The most common hot disk is chulent. Most of us make chulent in a crock pot. And we leave it on overnight. But don't try to convince me that there isn't a reader here, of any religion or practice who doesn't know of people who put up dinner in the morning in their slow cooker and then leave for work. Sun, 29 Mar 2015 20:19:36 +0000 http://blogs.forward.com/forward-thinking/217274/#IDComment960557222 http://blogs.forward.com/jj-goldberg/217309/#IDComment959315609 Sorry Mr. Goldberg, but this article doesn't in any way excuse your first. Those of us who often read your columns know that you don't exactly love most Orthodox Jews, and here was an opportunity for you to make it seem as though now, in addition to all our other negative traits, you can now add pyromaniacs. Your true colors cannot be hidden by this attempt to "apologize". Too little, too late. Tue, 24 Mar 2015 01:32:01 +0000 http://blogs.forward.com/jj-goldberg/217309/#IDComment959315609 http://forward.com/articles/211419/turning-shabbat-into-front-in-war-on-secular-jews/#IDComment934827227 You shouldn't expect more from this deadly combination - Haaretz and the Forward. Isn't it ironic that with the current rate of assimilation, there won't be anyone left to read the Jewish Forward somewhere not too far down the line? BTW, Israel is a Jewish state (albeit one where non-Jews are welcome). Get over it. And keep in mind that Christians observe their Sabbath on Sunday, while Muslims observe theirs on Friday. Why can't Jews have one on Friday night? Just like they have for millennia. Mon, 29 Dec 2014 03:40:24 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/211419/turning-shabbat-into-front-in-war-on-secular-jews/#IDComment934827227 http://forward.com/articles/206385/ditching-the-family-for-the-holidays/#IDComment881946209 It seems to me that the those responding in the article aren't hearing your message, that being with your family at this point in your lives is minimizing the spiritual growth you're seeking. This is a very common phenomena among those who have become Orthodox, and increasingly feel isolated from the family they love. Perhaps skip spending the High Holidays with your family, choosing instead a venue where you can find other like minded people to share with. A great opportunity to have a family gathering is Chanukah. Also, when you and your wife are the hosts, it affords you the opportunity, as pointed out before, to show the rest of the crew some of the traditions that they may not be aware of, but it a non-judgmental way. And inviting some people for The Shabbos Project (Oct 24-25, 2014) will give them an opportunity to experience a Shabbos without feeling threatened that some one is trying to "convert them". Sun, 28 Sep 2014 16:56:00 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/206385/ditching-the-family-for-the-holidays/#IDComment881946209 http://forward.com/articles/205355/petach-tikvah-chief-rabbi-rejects-ethiopians-for-m/#IDComment874782904 Back in the 1980's Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that the Ethopian Jews were 100% Jewish and did not require further conversion. Shame on this rabbi. Tue, 9 Sep 2014 22:33:32 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/205355/petach-tikvah-chief-rabbi-rejects-ethiopians-for-m/#IDComment874782904 http://forward.com/articles/204901/israel-appropriates-west-bank-land-for-possible-se/#IDComment871544784 This most recent war with Gaza has rendered Peace Now and JStreet even more irrelevant then they were before. Gush Etzion has been a Jewish area for quite some time. Mon, 1 Sep 2014 22:27:29 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/204901/israel-appropriates-west-bank-land-for-possible-se/#IDComment871544784 http://forward.com/#IDComment866297204 Israeli women are particularly artsy with elaborate scarves called tichels. They tie them in many ways, and they can indeed be very beautiful. But for those of us who are working "outside the velt", the sheitel is the way to go. Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:24:43 +0000 http://forward.com/#IDComment866297204 http://forward.com/#IDComment866296490 Litvish or Litvaks generally today refers to non-Hassidic Orthodox Jews, particularly those who are part of the Yeshiva world, such as Lakewood. Just as many Hassidim (but not all) can trace their lineage to Hungary, most Litvaks came from Lithuania and Poland. Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:21:21 +0000 http://forward.com/#IDComment866296490 http://forward.com/articles/201683/hasidic-in-the-heat/?p=all#IDComment853806235 This article was very well balanced. And having been dressing tznius (albeit not hassidic) for many many years, I don't find myself uncomfortable at all. Cotton saves the day! Not having the sun directly on my skin seems to work very well. It's the winter that I can't stand, all those layers of clothing just to get out the door. And BTW, most of us do shower during the 9 days, just making it quick showers to "take care of business". As for whether or not some hassidic men smell, I wouldn't know, I never happen to be that physically close to one. But plenty of people smell, you don't have to be Jewish. Mon, 14 Jul 2014 00:54:59 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/201683/hasidic-in-the-heat/?p=all#IDComment853806235 http://forward.com/articles/201106/as-israel-mourns-some-blame-all-arabs-while-others/#IDComment849284909 Terms such as the one used in the first sentence of this article; "kidnapped in June in the occupied West Bank" have no place in an allegedly Jewish publication in an article about our collective mourning. Tue, 1 Jul 2014 16:15:28 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/201106/as-israel-mourns-some-blame-all-arabs-while-others/#IDComment849284909 http://forward.com/articles/201106/as-israel-mourns-some-blame-all-arabs-while-others/#IDComment849283881 Amen Tue, 1 Jul 2014 16:11:52 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/201106/as-israel-mourns-some-blame-all-arabs-while-others/#IDComment849283881 http://forward.com/articles/200081/what-did-the-orthodox-do-now/#IDComment847093783 Based upon your screen name, I'd guess that you're a disheartened Jew (perhaps previously religious) who's gone to the Jews for J side? Wed, 25 Jun 2014 21:26:02 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/200081/what-did-the-orthodox-do-now/#IDComment847093783 http://forward.com/articles/200081/what-did-the-orthodox-do-now/#IDComment847093400 It's always easy to reject things we're not at that familiar with. However, thousands of people have discovered, particularly in the past 40+ years, that Orthodoxy is not restrictive, miscognist, dull, backwards and all the other adjectives that are frequently attributed to them. Rather, there’s an amazing amount of warmth, joy, love, kindnesses, intellect, and other positive words that can be used to describe Orthodox Jews of all stripes. The shortcoming of the many articles that The Forward has published is, that for those who aren't familiar with Orthodox Jews of any variety at all, they throw them all into one box labeled “mushuganas”. In fact, sometimes it seems that the shortcut to gaining a byline with the Forward is to be a former Hassid. Therefore, this article is a welcome one. Wed, 25 Jun 2014 21:24:24 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/200081/what-did-the-orthodox-do-now/#IDComment847093400 http://forward.com/articles/199363/why-love-the-jew-hate-the-judaism-is-so-wrong/#IDComment842962890 For some reason that only the Forward can reply to, my response to Lenewyorkais was "automatically deleted". Sun, 15 Jun 2014 05:14:56 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/199363/why-love-the-jew-hate-the-judaism-is-so-wrong/#IDComment842962890 http://forward.com/articles/199363/why-love-the-jew-hate-the-judaism-is-so-wrong/#IDComment838547067 Perlow's speech was a bit "out there", given how quickly it was picked up in various media. But maybe that was his intent. Be honest, the Reform, but even more so Conservative movement are dying right before our eyes. Fifty years ago, Conservative synagogues were bustling with life, services were well attended all year, and their new rabbinate (many of whom were Orthodox ordained rabbis who wanted to work from the pulpit) were still adhering to the basic tenants of Judaism. But that isn't the Conservative movement that exists today. Instead they are in a losing game of trying to figure out why Reform has passed them in popularity, and Orthodoxy is growing. When you start adjusting your religion in a fruitless aim to attract new adherents, you're no longer practicing Judaism, you're inventing something, and not too many people are interested in a religion that doesn't really represent anything. At least Reform is honest about what it represents. And therein lies what I believe R' Perlow was saying; that the packages called Reform, Conservative and Open (not to be confused with Modern) Orthodoxy are not Judaism. They can be construed as social clubs, Jewish cultural gathering places, or whatever, but they don't represent the religious practices that have kept the Jews for over 3,000 years. Or, as the famous saying goes, "The Jews don't keep Shabbos, Shabbos keeps the Jews". Tue, 3 Jun 2014 21:38:59 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/199363/why-love-the-jew-hate-the-judaism-is-so-wrong/#IDComment838547067 http://forward.com/articles/199036/why-rabbi-schneerson-was-good-for-jews-but-bad-for/#IDComment838541326 While I'm definitely not part of Chabad, I must admit that the Rebbe had undeniable charisma. Two times in my life I went to 770 for Shabbos morning davening (services), and saw the Rebbe. He was surely one of the 36 righteous people of his generation in whose merit the world exists. It is very unfortunate that he didn't reign in his chassidim with regard to the "Moshiach" business, it's splintered Lubavitch and made them often look foolish to the rest of the Orthodox world. But he established ed the roadmap that many other kiruv workers have followed, including being among the first to utilize technology in outreach. Tue, 3 Jun 2014 21:17:44 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/199036/why-rabbi-schneerson-was-good-for-jews-but-bad-for/#IDComment838541326 http://forward.com/articles/192802/con-man-targets-orthodox-with-elaborate-tales-of-w/?p=all#IDComment796229755 That's why I won't give to anyone who comes around in my community who hasn't been endorsed by the local Vaad. There was another similar case earlier where a Russian con man was making the rounds in Brooklyn. He'd give his sob story at the door and then push his way in to rob people. Wed, 19 Feb 2014 04:01:53 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/192802/con-man-targets-orthodox-with-elaborate-tales-of-w/?p=all#IDComment796229755 http://forward.com/articles/192703/when-boycotts-backfire/#IDComment796227212 I'd say that 600,000 at that point in time is just over optimistic. I'd go with your 450k. Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:49:36 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/192703/when-boycotts-backfire/#IDComment796227212 http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/192744/#IDComment796166383 Frimit, isn't this loshon hara to attack Rabbis in the Satmar community in this manner? I was in Williamsburg just last night, and saw many women from Satmar. I've always noticed that they wear very little makeup. The "Hot Chanies" are in Crown Heights. Tue, 18 Feb 2014 23:03:13 +0000 http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/192744/#IDComment796166383 http://forward.com/articles/192673/everything-he-wanted-to-know-about-sex-among-the-o/#IDComment796163136 I don't quite know how to put this, but guess what, all the working parts are the same for both Orthodox Jews, Reform Jews and non-Jews. But have a look at a translation of a Jewish marriage license (ketubah) and you'll see a commandment that the husband satisfy his wife. Are you intelligent enough to understand what that means? Tue, 18 Feb 2014 22:48:48 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/192673/everything-he-wanted-to-know-about-sex-among-the-o/#IDComment796163136