tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27695285086938719012011-07-31T01:32:58.394-07:00ש פ'צה א'ן מח'צה'Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-38418588516232213642010-04-08T20:05:00.000-07:002010-04-08T20:08:15.340-07:00

…was actually the first song we heard on the radio when we entered Tennessee. It was a drive that passed through such sites as Hungry Mother State Park, and a vending machine selling live bait. But those 18 hours passing through parts of the US stirred within me the most patriotic feelings I’ve ever experienced. This is such a beautiful country, and I’m so glad I was able to travel and appreciate

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-67088563995057486252010-03-28T21:41:00.000-07:002010-03-29T14:51:14.778-07:00

After an unanticipated, too-long hiatus, I knew I had to come back with something spectacular. Luckily, on Friday morning I had the opportunity to host shmura matza baking in my apartment, under the supervision of Rabbi Ethan Tucker. It was a surprisingly powerful experience to actually be able to connect with the essential part of this chag in a physical way. We may have had more technology, but

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-25283102414913822692010-02-19T13:26:00.000-08:002010-02-19T13:31:21.066-08:00

Today's pre-Shabbos singing was led by Avram Mlotek, an heir to quite the Yiddishist legacy. In addition to the numerous beautiful niggunim, Avram taught two Yiddish songs. Enjoy!Shnirele Perele:Zol Shoyn Kumen di Geule:

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-20305406654419588082010-02-16T20:10:00.000-08:002010-02-16T20:11:36.503-08:00

A really interesting NY Times article that touches on some of the issues raised during our Snow-Day Sicha. In the article, which I mentally filed under “Patriarchy Hurts Men, Too,” Dana Jennings discusses dealing with the sexual side effects of his treatment for prostate cancer. He discusses what it’s like to live in a society that promotes a certain sexualized ideal, while dealing with the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-77587022096043504362010-02-14T09:21:00.000-08:002010-02-14T09:23:30.795-08:00

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of reading my entire bat mitzvah parsha, Parshat Bo, in celebration of my second bat mitzvah. Reminiscing about the festivities the first time around, it was always nice when I was practicing and actually layning, to come across 10:8-11, which I wrote about for my bat mitzvah d’var torah. In what perhaps was, in retrospect, a sign of my budding egalitarianism,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-58485270279932190362010-02-10T16:51:00.000-08:002010-02-10T16:55:21.569-08:00

Some highlights from the day:1. Sitting with a cup of hot cocoa in front of a Talmud knowing that I had an entire day of independent study to work on it (the hot cocoa and the Talmud).2. The lunchtime sicha about creating an egalitarian taharat hamishpacha ethic. While I can’t exactly bring myself to shout for joy about the idea of mikvah, it was interesting to hear the various thoughts being

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-53882044560603167632010-02-08T21:17:00.000-08:002010-02-08T21:18:11.160-08:00

As the year has progressed, we are at the point when, as individuals and as a group, we’ve pretty much settled into a routine. We have our learning projects, and know what we need to do for our classes. This past weekend, our comfortable yeshiva habits were upended, to make way for the sudden influx of over sixty other fellows from past summers. Those of us involved with the yeshiva will

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-48524757185162760292010-02-02T19:26:00.001-08:002010-02-02T19:26:29.302-08:00

Tomorrow’s shiur klali will be related to one of Rav Elie’s favorite topics: “How Can I Pray What I Don’t Believe,” specifically how to handle prayer when you disagree with the content of the liturgy. Davening has never been particularly easy for me, but I confess that I’ve recently had a more difficult time with it. In truth, now that I’m davening in an adult and egalitarian environment, and no

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-46291254216213146432010-01-26T13:50:00.000-08:002010-01-26T13:55:47.352-08:00

In preparation for my first ever YU Book-sorry, Sforim-Sale trip, I asked the Roshei Yeshiva to send me a list of sforim they thought every budding yeshiva bukhur (with an unlimited budget) should have.Happy book hunting! ShasMidrash RabbahYerushalmiShas MishnaRambam Mishna TorahMinhagei Yisrael

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-17240326736753335852010-01-21T17:48:00.000-08:002010-01-21T17:53:51.067-08:00

Some chizuk, courtesy of Jen Taylor Friedman:Here's an old question: How can you be religious when there is zero evidence to support the idea of Gods and no reason to think such a thing exists? Is it not foolish to act so illogically?And here's one perspective.I live with depression. Depression is very clever at erasing evidence. You can list all sorts of reasons for being glad and enjoying life,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-56427516310107946092010-01-18T21:28:00.000-08:002010-01-18T21:30:03.538-08:00

1. Miep Gies, one of the rescuers of Anne Frank and the others hiding in the attic, and the woman who actually kept Anne's diary throughout the war, has passed away at the age of 100. She was a remarkable woman, who risked her life to try and save a group of people, some of whom she barely knew. I can’t help but be inspired by the way in which she refused to accept the evil that was present in

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-5352877879105203822010-01-18T08:39:00.000-08:002010-01-18T08:40:35.909-08:00

A belated mazel tov to R"M Avital Campbell-Hochstein and Yisroel Campbell on the birth of their baby son-and on R"M own recent birthday!That kid is going to be the funniest Torah scholar alive.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-82536585975996514282010-01-10T21:18:00.000-08:002010-01-10T21:19:49.145-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/opinion/10kristof.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/education/07daly.html?scp=1&sq=Mary%20Daly&st=cse Two articles that appeared in the Times this week that were particularly interesting, considering the recent discussions that have been taking place at the yeshiva regarding egalitarianism. The first of our official sichot was a discussion about the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-25605001953979215392009-12-24T13:17:00.000-08:002009-12-24T13:20:49.420-08:00

Greetings from London, where I am spending my winter break with my summer chevrusa, Hannah Sassoon. There is something both weird and comforting about seeing Jews living outside of the U.S; this adventure has also been quite the Jewish education-and Limmud hasn't even begun yet.A few thoughts from a wandering Jew in Briton:1. There is something really special about walking around a city where you

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-29858088828768261352009-12-18T12:37:00.000-08:002009-12-18T12:38:07.030-08:00

Every year in day school, we were taught about the opinions of Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, who argue about the best way to light Channukah candles. Beit Shammai writes that each day the number of candles lit should decrease, from eight on the first day to one on the last, while Beit Hillel writes that they should increase, starting with one candle and eight on the last day. Dr. Devora Steinmetz

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-68616071747066640392009-12-14T18:50:00.000-08:002009-12-14T19:02:23.774-08:00

Mazel tov to Rav Shai and Rachel on the birth of their son this morning!May Baby Held live a life filled with wonder, moments of radical amazement, and an understanding that "Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy" (Abraham Joshua Heschel, of course).Video courtesy of Rav Shai, included in the birth announcement:

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-47627309817038638972009-12-13T04:26:00.001-08:002009-12-13T04:29:06.025-08:00

A thought from Jen Taylor Friedman in honor of the one-week anniversary of Yom Iyyun.Source sheets and videos from the Yom Iyyun can be found here: http://www.mechonhadar.org/yomiyyun.You know what one of the really nice things about eating lunch at the Hadar Yom Iyyun was? Leaning across the table afterwards to some total strangers and being able to say "Rabbotai - nevarech?".And knowing that

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-7873799245502205192009-12-07T19:08:00.001-08:002009-12-07T21:27:53.879-08:00

When I see Aharon Varady during davening, I realize that life is a lot more interesting when, amidst the standard minyan and davening, there is one person going against the flow, and who would think to add Bilhah and Zilpah to the Imahot during the first bracha of the Amidah.Aharon is also a prolific blogger, whose enviable skills I can only hope to achieve with much practice. From Aharon's

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-28799967813628787962009-12-06T19:55:00.000-08:002009-12-06T20:17:36.059-08:00

Let's start the week off right, with a look at the beautiful things that can happen when cultures collide:I dare you not to have The Miami Boys Choir stuck in your head after this. You're welcome.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-62136483662954719712009-12-03T19:46:00.000-08:002009-12-03T19:47:26.389-08:00

Mechon Hadar's Halakha Yom IyyunHalakhah as a Language of Applied Values:Theory and PracticeSunday December 6at Yeshivat Hadar190 Amsterdam Ave, NY(@69th St – West End Synagogue)Cost:$15(Register below)· Students pay only $5· Lunch will be available for an extra $10Watch remotely at Ustream.tv by clicking here for a live broadcast of select sessions. If you are interested in exchanging

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-45329766830299185692009-12-02T19:54:00.000-08:002009-12-02T19:56:13.553-08:00

Shared with me today by Avi Strausberg, a true woman of the world, who will hopefully honor us with a guest post in the coming weeks: When Avi was working on the farm at ADAMAH, she would come home after spending hours in the field. She would look at her hands, grimy with the dirt from working the earth, and wonder any of the seeds she planted would grow, and what would come of her hard

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-2019270853527206742009-11-29T21:25:00.000-08:002009-11-29T21:30:18.355-08:00

As we contemplate what we are most thankful for in this world, I would like to take a moment and give thanks for David Goldberg. The Goldberg is a fellow in the year program, and on leave from rabbinical school at JTS. While he is clearly serious about Judaism, it is his openness to life, his joke telling "skills," and to sharing his peanut butter and honey sandwiches, that complete the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-65036557259274129102009-11-29T21:20:00.000-08:002009-11-29T21:25:37.713-08:00

We are pleased to announce that Jaclyn Rubin (shlit”a) has finished the Talmud’s Masechet Kiddushin. Since we anticipate many more of these events, we decided we’d better learn how to get the celebrating done right. While there was no scotch (yet. When Jaclyn finishes the Talmud next week or so, we’ll get on that) there was a delicious chocolate/strawberry cake.The caption reads: “Learning Torah

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-35224644304239251812009-11-22T18:28:00.000-08:002009-11-22T18:31:02.594-08:00

One of my favorite parts of the Yeshivat Hadar opening event was when R”M Avital discussed the different visions of work that exist in Rabbinic literature. After four consecutive days of Torah reading, and not a lot of sleep to get me through them, I was finding it easy to sympathize with the position that work is a punishment from God. Today, work consisted of running into Dr. Ruth Westheimer,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-46421519257322564782009-11-17T21:04:00.000-08:002009-11-17T21:05:57.503-08:00

During last week’s shiur klali, Dr. Steinmetz discussed, among other things, Bereishit 21:15-21, analyzing Hagar and Yishmael’s banishment from Avraham’s house, and their wandering through the desert without water until the angel appears to Hagar. One of the most memorable and striking elements that Dr. Steinmetz pointed out was the text’s criticism of Hagar’s actions towards her son in the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-75031157676177657662009-11-15T18:04:00.000-08:002009-11-15T18:17:30.084-08:00

As I realized that time I was a cross-dressing klezmer musician, hiding my love for a colleague, sometimes Molly Picon is best at singing exactly what I'm feeling (lyrics and translation under "more info"). This week, the blog will be back to its regularly scheduled programming.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-64111100278061744132009-11-05T17:42:00.000-08:002009-11-05T18:14:41.107-08:00

I never knew how much I needed a davening counselor until I met Rav Elie. It is extremely liberating to have someone davening a few feet away who can engage in a discussion about any random liturgical topic that might come to mind; knowing that an understanding of any aspect of davening is only a question away makes the entire enterprise much more personally meaningful. I asked Rav Elie to

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-44132176944086414462009-11-01T18:31:00.000-08:002009-11-01T18:33:01.842-08:00

By the time Rabbi Steven Greenberg came to speak to the Hadar fellows on Wednesday for our shiur klali, I was relatively certain that I could give his life story. The night before, a few of the fellows and I had watched Trembling Before God, the 2001 documentary about the hidden lives of gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews, which featured R’ Greenberg. In addition, we watched the extended interview

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-19747074038792536362009-10-21T21:42:00.000-07:002009-10-21T21:44:19.663-07:00

Excitement was in the air today. Whether it was due to the promise of pizza, or the fact that we all looked a little bit nicer, there was a sense of anticipation that hung over the learning today. After countless e-mails had been sent to friends, family, and random strangers, logistics were coordinated, and the usual last-minute dramas were attended to, my own feelings could best be summed up

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-43350664290317038842009-10-20T20:44:00.000-07:002009-10-20T20:47:31.759-07:00

And by "it, I mean, "the chance to discover where it is I've disappeared to since June." I'll be wearing nice shoes, so you know it will be worth it.See you there!"Any Torah study without work will ultimately be lost and lead to sin."Pirkei Avot 2:2 "I am abandoning all practical training for my children and I will only teach my children Torah." Mishnah Kiddushin 4:14 Is life about Torah, or is

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-88947417951285793642009-10-18T21:08:00.000-07:002009-10-18T21:10:20.454-07:00

This weekend, some of us decided to forgo our Shabbos naps (a pretty major sacrifice) and went to a shaloshudes (third Shabbos meal) talk at the apartment of the inimitable Chippy Hait. Chippy, a Hadar alumna from this past summer, decided for her project to initiate a series of talks on Shabbos. There to inaugurate her first one was Ben Mernick, a Hadar summer fellow from 2008, who spoke about

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-65353785130903589032009-10-13T20:11:00.000-07:002009-10-13T20:14:03.804-07:00

I had a fantastic post planned about Rav Shai’s introduction today of our social justice project, visiting the sick and the elderly. And then Jen Taylor Friedman, Soferet extraordinaire and an alumna from Yeshivat Hadar summer ’09, sent me this blog post of hers and stole my thunder. Enjoy.When writing Torah, the sofer is supposed to speak each word beforewriting it.* The speech somehow causes

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-65482256700892508862009-10-12T20:44:00.000-07:002009-10-12T20:46:10.136-07:00

Mazel tov to Hadar alum J.G on the birth of a daughter! It’s nice to know that Hadarniks have been busy with the simchas. Another Hadar person on Alefnext.com! R.L has been living and working in New Orleans, and shares her thoughts on the connection between rebuilding the city, and the holiday season. http://www.alefnext.com/h2h/rebuilding/. It’s great reading, and she’s doing amazing work.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-19115540319933225072009-10-02T04:26:00.000-07:002009-10-02T04:48:12.981-07:00

http://www.alefnext.com/h2h/shaken-up/The post is for a Birthright:NEXT series called Harvest to Harvest, which is looking to turn this holiday season of repentance and reflection into a call for action. Though Yeshivat Hadar has no official programming to combat homelessness, as a Friend of Hadar pointed out to me the other night, it is nonetheless a topic that is discussed often. Over the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-8213405852540597822009-09-25T09:49:00.000-07:002009-09-25T09:51:51.944-07:00

Jaclyn Rubin shlit”a has officially read the entire Mishna (which she probably also knows by heart, but those rumors have received no official confirmation). Demonstrating that there is absolutely nothing the rabbis won’t discuss, Jaclyn read from some of the Mishnas she has learned, with topics ranging from the classification of a zav, (a man who has had a seminal emission) to the laws regarding

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-59398722769129278872009-09-22T16:37:00.000-07:002009-09-22T18:10:24.272-07:00

It was a day of adventure for Yeshivat Hadar as we sailed the high seas, the wind in our hair, a red sky beckoning, and home just a faint memory. Contending with marauders, scurvy, and the compulsion to act out that scene from Titanic, when victory was at hand we drank in celebration from commemorative mugs. Then we gathered and told tales of our journeys to distant lands, halachic triumphs, the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-51370756678952341602009-09-21T20:13:00.000-07:002009-09-22T03:49:02.388-07:00

Even though this is one of the most overlooked and maligned days in the Jewish calendar, I have to confess that for years I’ve thought of this as one of the most important fasts. Maybe it’s because the philosophical reason (at least as I understood it) has always made the reason for the misery of the day more understandable than any of the fast days. As much as I try to make myself regret the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-84217214376291530422009-09-17T22:26:00.001-07:002009-09-17T22:26:57.845-07:00

On my morning walk to Hadar, I met Lief (Leaf?), one of the cast of characters I occasionally encounter in the morning. The first time I met Lief over the summer, we shared a series of jokes, and when I saw him again, I asked him if he had any new ones. Here it is (I changed the priest to a rabbi because, you know…): One night after Maariv, a rabbi gets into a cab to go home. Unfortunately,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-88356123732411951032009-09-17T21:12:00.000-07:002009-09-17T21:15:27.520-07:00

Mazel tov to D.Z and Y. (Yeshivat Hadar Summer alums) on their engagement! With genes like that, I look forward to the day that their kids will be teaching me Talmud.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-16961921765976993682009-09-16T12:33:00.000-07:002009-09-16T12:35:57.025-07:00

On Monday the yeshiva commemorated the five-year anniversary of the death of the father of one of the fellows. Even though none of us had ever met S.’s father, the way in which S. chose to pay tribute to her father generously allowed for us to connect to him in a way through which we, as a community, could mourn for him in a meaningful way. After her final recitation of the Mourner’s

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2769528508693871901.post-31234454339763590742009-09-09T19:40:00.001-07:002009-09-09T19:40:30.089-07:00

Hashem Sfatai Tiftakh, Ufi Yagid Tehilatekha If you recite Shemona Esreh as often as you should—three times a day, plus musaf every Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, and holidays—you will recite this phrase more often that you might care to think about. Even I who has not (yet) reached these lofty heights has said it so often that this phrase has pretty much ceased to register, even on my best davening

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00784062957320842911noreply@blogger.com0