en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4801278 Comments by ChelmWiseman http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/05/youre-republican-but-you-seem-like-such.html#IDComment419154847 Thanks Rob. Glad you enjoyed it. Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:34:12 +0000 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/05/youre-republican-but-you-seem-like-such.html#IDComment419154847 http://forward.com/articles/160331/hebrew-national-faces-new-kosher-hearing/#IDComment415806610 I agree... Con agra would eventually find a Rabbi who will certify their process as long as it could reasonably be classified a kosher. I don't think that the company is a victim, I don't think that there is a victim here. What really bothers me is that the lawsuit is asking the secular court to determine matters of kosher, putting it in a position to arbitrate between groups of Jews. Historically this has always been a bad precedent.... and a precursor to worse things to come. Wasn't there a Beit Din that they could have appealed to that the triangle K company would have been forced to answer (or lose credibility?) Sun, 5 Aug 2012 13:10:44 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160331/hebrew-national-faces-new-kosher-hearing/#IDComment415806610 http://forward.com/articles/160331/hebrew-national-faces-new-kosher-hearing/#IDComment413803464 This lawsuit is a stupid idea. Kosher is determined by the certifying agency and any Kosher Jew can pick and choose which agencies certification they will accept. If the court rules on this, you will have a secular government defining what is Kosher... a monumentally bad idea. Thu, 2 Aug 2012 12:28:25 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160331/hebrew-national-faces-new-kosher-hearing/#IDComment413803464 http://forward.com/articles/160331/hebrew-national-faces-new-kosher-hearing/#IDComment413802257 Then their problem should be with the certifying agency... not the food producer. The Rabbi who issues the Kosher certificate is responsible if in fact the inspectors do not have adequate time to inspect the meat. Thu, 2 Aug 2012 12:26:02 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160331/hebrew-national-faces-new-kosher-hearing/#IDComment413802257 http://forward.com/articles/160220/white-house-scratching-head-on-jerusalem-remark/#IDComment412337646 In 2008 Obama told the AIPAC audience that Jerusalem, undivided was the capital of Israel... but this leaves them scratching their heads? Clearly the WHite House position on this issue has changed. What country's capital has ever been determined by final status negotiations? Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:40:28 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160220/white-house-scratching-head-on-jerusalem-remark/#IDComment412337646 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412330035 All true... and different zionists had different motives. If seeking a refuge from persecution was the only motive, the Zionist Congress would have agreed to the Uganda proposal... which Herzl advocated. They rejected it for all of the reasons you outlined. But there is also no doubt that the persecution of the Jews played a role in Israel's founding. It is not one or the other. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:26:04 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412330035 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412299960 YefehQol, I am not so sure you can convincingly argue this case. If you read the writings of the zionist founders, such a Herzl, you will find a strong desire to solve the "Jewish Question" of Europe. The religious zionists were always there, but were relatively small in number compared to the seculars. It is weird, but true. Also, if you read the 1948 declaration of independence, you will see a fairly clear reference to the holocaust as evidence of the need for a Jewish state... of course you will also find reference to the historical aspirations as well. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:30:58 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412299960 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412297590 "Once Hamas and conservative Muslims realize that our common goals overshadow our differences, they will cause tolerance of gays worldwide" Hahahaha... good one. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:26:47 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412297590 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412296325 Sorry but that is a silly statement. Humans have limited energy and resources. We have to make choices on how to spend them. I don't necessarily agree with Mr. Michelson's statement for the same reasons, but just because you can't do everything does't mean you should do nothing. and don't be so scared of hypocrisy. If you are not willing to be a hypocrite then you will never be any better than you are on your worst day. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:24:21 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412296325 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412293288 Jay, I am sure that I disagree with just about everything you advocate in terms of policy for Israel. However, I am amazed at the clarity and truthfulness of this article. We need more voices like yours on both sides of the debate. It is so hard to find unbiased sources of information, but biased source + a good does of intellectual honesty is just as good. Thank you. I said a prayer for you this morning and wish you many blessings. Yasher Koach! Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:19:20 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/159911/when-the-rig#IDComment412293288 http://forward.com/articles/160143/pelosi-gop-seeks-to-exploit-jewish-voters/#IDComment411311164 I think that this is sincerely what Pelosi believes. For most of my liberal friends, I am the only Republican they know. They believe that if you are a Republican, you must somehow have a defect in your education, intelligence, or character. I also don't think that the main issue for Republican Jewish voters is Israel. Israel is important and Obama's record is hard to defend, but the main issues are the economy, government regulation, taxes, etc. Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:37:10 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160143/pelosi-gop-seeks-to-exploit-jewish-voters/#IDComment411311164 http://forward.com/articles/159910/maccabees-most-macabre/#IDComment411306149 This is a great article. It is clear that the Rabbis rejected any glorification of the Maccabees after the destruction of the temple, but could not completely rid themselves of Hanukkah. The focus on the martyrdom of the Maccabees by the Christians could very well explain some of this reluctance. Thanks again for a great article. Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:26:16 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/159910/maccabees-most-macabre/#IDComment411306149 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/p/story-of-chelm.html#IDComment410823865 Wow! Thanks Maury. Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:17:15 +0000 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/p/story-of-chelm.html#IDComment410823865 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/07/clear-thinking-rabbi-bad-headline.html#IDComment410823607 Thanks for this comment. I went and read the Sachs article. I am a liberal (reform) Jew, but I often find myself agreeing with Rabbi Sachs. It will be tough to replace him in Britain. Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:16:33 +0000 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/07/clear-thinking-rabbi-bad-headline.html#IDComment410823607 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/p/story-of-chelm.html#IDComment409841749 Hi Maury, welcome to the blog. Thanks for commenting. I checked out your blog and it is definitly worth the read. If I have some time, I will write a little about it next week. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:48:56 +0000 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/p/story-of-chelm.html#IDComment409841749 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/07/the-democrat-monopoly-on-jewish-vote.html#IDComment409841115 Maury, I agree. The Jewish monolithic voting bloc is actually a rarity in Jewish history. In most societies where there is little persecution, Jews tend to be distributed on both sides of the debate as the rest of the local population is. This was true in Muslim Spain and pre-Nazi Germany. I suspect that Jews will become divided among Republicans and Democrats more in proportion to the rest of the population... but it will take some time. It will also depend on how much the Democrats tolerate the anti-semites in their party. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:47:41 +0000 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/07/the-democrat-monopoly-on-jewish-vote.html#IDComment409841115 http://forward.com/articles/160029/after-london-stumble-romney-eyes-israel/#IDComment409799482 Fair enough... I think to smooth things over Romney should send the Queen an iPod with all his speeches on it. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:25:33 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160029/after-london-stumble-romney-eyes-israel/#IDComment409799482 http://forward.com/articles/160002/blind-camp#IDComment409508465 I think it is OK that different camps offer different services. We sent our daughter to a specific camp because of the special needs accommodations and have been very pleased with the outcome. A little shopping is important. Overall, I have found Jewish camp administrators to be very dedicated, but like all of us they are trying to do a lot with a little. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:10:46 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160002/blind-camp#IDComment409508465 http://forward.com/articles/160029/after-london-stumble-romney-eyes-israel/#IDComment409505608 It was disconcerting that UK had to call in 1200 troops to augment the private security firm that supposed to be handling security. I remember reading an article that the israeli team was practicing without security, which should not have been, particularly because the ICOG is refusing to have a moment of silence for the Israeli athletes killed in Munich. So, his comment was unpolitical, but true. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:04:15 +0000 http://forward.com/articles/160029/after-london-stumble-romney-eyes-israel/#IDComment409505608 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/07/clear-thinking-rabbi-bad-headline.html#IDComment409499451 Suzanne, thanks for taking the time to comment. It is indeed ironic. Although, It does seem that the medical literature is split. The article I referenced did mention some medical journal articles that the judge relied on for his ruling, but I find it hard to believe that the defense did not present some equally compelling studies of their own. Circumcision is one of those practices that most Jews do for strictly spiritual reasons and many non practicing Jews can't imagine having a son without making sure he is circumcised. It is one of those weird mysteries of the Jewish people. In the end, I think that the judge had to know that his ruling would make it extremely difficult for Muslims and Jews to practice their religion in Germany, which I believe was his point. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:49:19 +0000 http://www.wisemanofchelm.com/2012/07/clear-thinking-rabbi-bad-headline.html#IDComment409499451