It's all about them now

The weather held and Little League got off to a successful start. As I stood there, helping and prodding (the fathers need their fun too don't they?), I couldn't help but be struck by the notion that this was one of those life milestones I've now reached. My kid in little league! I mean it goes from graduating high school, the first joint, the first make-out session, college, marriage, the first child, their first day in school and now the first game of little league (all not necessarily in that order and there's no doubt I'm missing some major milestones here...). What's next? Let's hope that we all reach the next milestones all in good health and in good spirits.

I'll end with a great quote I recently saw:

"Make G-d laugh. Plan for the future"

A Freilichin

A Freilichin Peerim...
Chag Samayach...
Happy Purim...

I say we ban air horns before banning alchohol. Anyone with me on this?

My bed calls. 6:00 minyan does not.

Maybe I'll bring an air horn to the 6:00 minyan. Could be fun.

Shalashoodes

The previous post reminded me: I know that it should really be called "Seudas Shlishis", but is "Shalosh Seudos" correct? C'mon people, I know you're out there!

Shul Etiquette

Those pictures just don't seem to be doing anything. Time to post something again. While there's so much more Slifkin news to talk about, that horse is dead for me. For now at least.

Let's move on.

The following is part of a weekly shul e-mail and occasionaly some humor finds its way in. I found this one particularly funny and I assume there's a grain of salt to be taken with this as it is a day before Purim. On the other hand, you just never know. For the sake of anonymity, this shul will be called "Kehillas HaChevra", or "KH". For those of you that got that-and I know there's at least one of you out there-thanks for stopping by.

Shul Etiquette II

Due to the warm response accorded last week's etiquette suggestions, I have decided to expand the program. The following rules will apply beginning on Purim.

Beginning Sunday, KH will be offering a course in rhythmic clapping for the metronomically impaired. Those placed in rhythmic detention will have their Makom declared a No-Clapping Zone until they have completed the course and been certified by our rhythm coordinator. At that point their clapping privileges will be reinstated.

Beginning Shabbos all strollers illegally parked in the lobby will be towed. Impounded strollers can be redeemed following the settling of all Shul accounts plus towing charges.

We will be having an abandoned coat sale Sunday. Proceeds to benefit the Coat Snatcher Legal Defense Fund.

Night vision goggles will be available for rent at Shalosh Seudos. Please be careful to remove the goggles before the lights are turned on for benching. KH will assume no responsibility for damaged retinas.

All KH members being honored by other organizations must schedule their dinners annually for May 11. Rav "Rosh HaChevra" will speak at 8:00 p.m. for all of these dinners simultaneously via video hook-up. This will serve to greatly reduce strain on the schedules of both the Rav and the entire membership. If this program is successful we will then move on to the next step of simultaneous parlor meetings, to reduce both expenses and traveling times.

As you all know, no hard alcoholic beverages are permitted in KH. In the interests of health, from now on Diet Mountain Dew will also be prohibited.

Thank you all for your cooperation.

I've got a few more suggestions, but I'm holding my tongue. ow.

Umm...so much to say... 

To Un-Bury A Son

How many people think about this when they think about the withdrawl from Gaza? I know I didn't. Puts a different perpective on things.

This is a test...

I'm testing 'hello' from Picasa. I recommend you check it out.

The Unestablishment

Kudos to Heimishtown for a great post. Here it is in its entirety-anything added by me would just detract.

It wasn't very long ago, nor very far away. We believed in the version of Da'as Torah that belonged to neither the detractors nor the mouthpieces. We believed that one who spent his minutes, hours, days, life immersed in the study of Torah was both more knowledgeable in Torah, and also had the benefit of added kedushah due to that Torah-learning. We didn't believe in Kollel; not on a long-term basis, anyway. We believed that kids should support their parents, not the other way around. We were kids. And like most kids, we thought the powers that be were out to get us. It wasn't until we were much older that we understood that listening in on our classes was as much a way of affording us protection as it was a way to make sure we didn't disrupt the class. We understood that authority figures might, on occasion, be dysfunctional people. Of course we didn't know much about dysfunction, maybe not even the word, but we knew enough to understand that some people were on a power trip - and it was worth our while not to fuel it. We were kids. And we grew up with MBD and chazzanus and Ofra Haza and Kivi & Tuki and Shloime'leh. And more. We were kids. We could understand nuance, though. They said that talking to boys is a bad idea, but joked about the Rosh Yeshiva's daughter. When she got engaged, one of the guys called the father to wish him Mazel Tov. The Rosh Yeshiva called her to the phone - say, Chana'leh, this phone call's for you. It was okay to bend the rules a little, if you knew your limits. I wonder what's different. Is it a different era? Is it that my parents are two in a million? Yes, and yes, but I look at my peers and think that all of us grew up in a less rigid environment, a broader field. It wasn't Anti-Establishment, but it wasn't Establishment either. It was a middle road, and I think it was good.

125 Years Old

Yahoo! News - World Photos - AP

I thought the max was 120?? She's lying. She's really 42 but needs a reason for looking like a rotten pear.