The Silicon Emperor’s New Soul
But we are neither wallabies nor Watsons. We don’t just feel; we emote. We don’t just compute; we conceive. We don’t just act; we choose. Our reflections in a mirror mimic us too. But they’re not us.
Yaakov Horowitz’s Campaign – And Why We Ought To Support It
Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz announced a new weapon in the struggle against abuse. For most people, the obvious reason to support him will be sufficient. It might be worthwhile to consider some of the other...
The Gallup Poll Profiles (and Finds) the Happiest Man in America
They found him, in Hawaii. For the last three years, Gallup has called 1,000 randomly selected American adults each day and asked them about their emotional status, work satisfaction, eating habits, illnesses, stress levels...
CENSUS AND NON-CENSUS
by Dov Fischer Jewish population statistics fascinate me. As with other kinds of surveys, they tell some truths, misrepresent others. As Mr. Merlis, my yeshiva high school social studies teacher, used to say: “Figures...
Reading, Writing, and a New Periodical For the Jewish Home
The badchan at Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter’s wedding observed that the choson had learned in Satmar, Vien, Brisk and Lakewood, whose roshei teivos (sovel) indicated that he was a man of tolerance. Many people would...
What Is Going On at UCI?
By Dov Fischer I live in Irvine and have been a congregational rabbi and community activist here for more than five years. Because I grew up on the East Coast, have traveled all across...
On Nitpicking, Pilpulistic Nonsense, and Hair-Splitting in the Law
by Dov Fischer Twenty years ago, a friend arranged for me to have lunch with a prominent Jewish name-partner at a major Los Angeles law firm. My friend explained to me that the partner...
A New Column You Can Do Without
But I do hope that you will pass it along to the appropriate people. You can do without it, because if you are a regular here, you are either frum or familiar with the...
Out of the Mouths of Frum Babes
Quite often, I find myself in front of audiences of relgious non-Jews, explaining what committed Jewish life is all about. There is never time, of course, to convey more than a few vignettes and...
Best Israeli Comment on the Egyptian Situation
Reportedly sighted on an Israeli Facebook page, but not verified: “Dear Egyptian rioters, please don’t damage the pyramids. We will not rebuild. Thank you.”