Apikoros Tshuvot for Everyday Life - Part Two

The Relativism of Tsnius.

Tsnius, is a concept we always hear in relation to our skirt height, sleeve length, and stockings, or lack there of. The word means "modesty" or "humilty", and not only refers to the modesty of people's clothings but, it refers to the way people carry themselves day in and day out. The torah describes the ways people should act, and how they should be humble before Gd and their fellow man. The torah does not, on the other hand, describe how women should wear skirts, wigs and long tops, hiding themselves from the world.

Don't throw out our tanktops just yet!
Modesty is relative based on where you are, whom you are with and what you are doing.
Just like you wouldn't wear a bikini to services, you also wouldn't wear your shabbos best swimming laps. You wouldn't go to Saudi Arabia in a mini skirt, and you wouldn't go visit Rabbis in MeaShearim or Bnei Brak in jeans and a t-shirt (funny story*).

If there is no specific dress code, how then do you decide what is appropriate? You use your head. Go back to the concept of tsniut as it refers to our relationship with each other and Gd. How does one be humble and modest? Is it modest to flaunt oneself? No. Is it humble to force oneself onto others? No. Would I be forcing myself onto others wearing a miniskirt and a tank top to schul....probably. Does that mean that a burka is the safe way to go? I don't think so.

If you look at texts describing kisui rosh (head coverings) you would various Rabbi explaining traditions based on the common practice of the times. They didnt insist on the worst case, most covered up look, but were content with a happy medium expressed by the present day culture and place. They were even lax on some things - letting unmarried women not cover their hair so that they may be more attractive to their future husband.

If they allowed for these things when discussing kisui rosh which may arguably come right out of the torah(...arguably), why would they be any more stringent when dicussing dress, which isn't mentioned anywhere (but may be alluded to in shir hashirim)? Maybe.

Cover your privates when swimming in public, cover your hands when it's cold out, and cover your elbows and knees in MeaShearim.

Dress inteligently, and respectful of where you are and whom you are with, and that, my dear, is what it's all about.

Artscroll, I got yo back!

It seems like the new cool thing is to dis Artscroll.
Want to fit in in a crowd? Dis Artscroll. Want people to think you're shtark? Dis Artscroll. Want people to think you're legit? Dis Artscroll.

I know I'm cool, and Artscroll, you will always have a place in my heart and on my bookshelf.

Artscroll siddurim and chumashim are great for shabbat and the rest of the week. They have everything you need as far as general brachot, they provide the rashi for everything, and are very easy to follow. The siddur tells you what to do throughout the service, and general customs about the different prayers, etc. The chumash gives you basic commentary, and explains different customs as far as the haftorahs, etc.

The Artscroll gemara set is a great tool to learn with.
I know israelis that use the English/Artscroll gemara for their daily dose of daf. Face it, aramaic is difficult and the hebrew isn't common hebrew. Having the translation with modern english explanations (and tiny pictures) makes these subjects easier to understand and relate to.

Do the books have every opinion? No.
Do they reference all commentators? Of Course not.
But, Are they a legitimate text to use for services and learning? Yessir.

The Artscroll sfarim do a great job of making these complex texts accessible to the Jewish community, and for that, I will always have their back.

Unjust Detaining of Western "Spies"

Riiight...so there is a line between secure and paranoid and I think the Iranians have crossed it...that being said, I wouldnt mind having a pet spy-squirrel!!!

Iranians arrest 14 squirrels for spying

coming soon: "If you let women out of the kitchen..."

Inspired by Shabbos @ Northwestern, as well as the children's book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Another book to look out for: If your Bubbe meets your Boy...she may want you guys to get married, and then, she will want some great grandkids, etc. etc.

Comics con't

sooo I got sick of wondermark pretty quickly, but GWS is hilarious
(yes, i'm such a girl, but still...)

girls with slingshots!

check it out





in other news: stay tuned!
i am totally going to start a webcomic!

I Should Rip Off a Web Comic!

So I have been reading Questionable Content and xkcd already. Both are cute, hilarious, clever, etc.
QC is kind of indy-ish so I dont really get some references but it's still great. xkcd is HILARIOUS for anyone that is remotely into math/science/romance, and even for those who don't.

i recently found Wondermark. which i find quite clever. Pretty much, they take pictures (that i assume already existed) and add random commentary/dialogue, like below:

Compliments of Comedian Valentine:



(click to enlarge! i think...)

Orson Scott Card, SF/military extraordinaire on....the women of Genesis?

Sarah - great book. read it.

Card does a great job of taking the characters and setting of Sarah's time and turning the stories we grew up with into a reality and a world with characters that we can relate to.

I definitely had my doubts going into this book given that
a) Card writes SF
b) Ender and Sarah have NOTHING in common and he did Ender GREAT
c) Card is very Mormon...I am very not
c.5) I already knew the stories according to my tradition
d) Some of his books are kind of depressing

I dont know how he managed it, but NONE of these were issues. In fact, you probably wouldnt enjoy the book as much if you dont already know the main bible/stories around Sarahs time (Egypt as Abraham's sister, Sodom and Gemorrah, Hagar/Ishmael, the binding of Isaac, etc).

That being said, this book NEEDS to be read as fiction, or historical fiction (biblical fiction?). Card took some liberties as the author, and some parts dont line up with ANYONE's version of the Bible. But with that in mind, the book is a very enjoyable read.