Comments for A Rabbi's World

Comment on Hearing What It Sounds Like by Budd Gardstein

Budd Gardstein — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:05:27 +0000

you are correct. words are meaningless, what counts is just being there when you need. put Torah into action at 61 no one has ever done what I just said. but it is written in Torah and that is what needs to happen. I am blue collar Jew in a rural environment. very different from everyone else I work on guns and do Blacksmith and run to a other drum beat.

Comment on This, Too, is the Face of Jerusalem: Serving the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community by William

William — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:55:07 +0000

Are there any historical references of the lifestyles references here in the history of ancient Israel? It would be interesting to see these lifestyles against the backdrop of earlier Torah believing Jews. Any help along this line would be appreciated.

Comment on Shopping for Passover, 2009 by Hali

Hali — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:52:23 +0000

Once again, Rabbi Skolnick takes his holier than thou attitude public from his ivy tower in the bunkerhead of the dwindling Conservative movement… He has been witness to the Conservative downslide in two decades and holds on piously to that weather beaten flag… While it is near criminal that prices soar for Passover in these economic times that deserve a bailout….. perhaps a dose of being Machmir in the milk and honey of sensitivity to the religious needs of others and adherence to the Laws of Loshon Harah might better fill his blog space, if not his agenda. Chag Sameach..

Comment on Shopping for Passover, 2009 by Fred Gelber

Fred Gelber — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:20:06 +0000

I completely agree with the words of Rabbi Skolnik. The kosher consumers should just refuse to buy such products when other acceptable alternatives are available. Unfortunately, those who adhere to strictnesses such as Cholev Yisrael, are the victims of such excesses. Rabbi Skolnik does not touch on the latest outrage reported on various blogs, the Queens Vaad and the Five Towns Vaad refusing to accept Streits products because Streits does not have a nationally recognized certification. The irony is that the Rabbi who grants the certification has much more recognition and respect than those Rabbis who issued such a ban.

Comment on Can We Not Talk? Sermons and cell phones by Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:47:39 +0000

Rabbi, For starters, I would suggest you start davening on Shabbos and Jewish holidays in an Orthodox synagogue. A lot more people leave the cell phones home on Shabbos and Jewish holidays.

Comment on Can We Not Talk? Sermons and cell phones by Avi

Avi — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:10:12 +0000

Well, for one thing, you shouldn’t have a phone on Shabbat (barring specific doctors), so if you can increase Shabbat observance, that would solve that problem.

Comment on Adar in a Season of Discontent… by Andrea Novotny

Andrea Novotny — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:00:41 +0000

The Rosh Hodesh service is one which I always anticipate with great enthusiasm, whatever else is happening in my life. It’s a joy to sing Hallel with our congregational family so soon after dawn. Rosh Hodesh has a special valence in our history, as well as being a harbinger of the Pesah festival. Leaving shul in the morning never means shedding the feeling of the shaharit service, especially the enhanced “high” of the Rosh Hodesh service. Particularly in these times, it is even more helpful to carry that feeling through the next several days. Hag Purim sameach! - Andrea Novotny

Comment on This, Too, is the Face of Jerusalem: Serving the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community by Rhona Yolkut

Rhona Yolkut — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:46:57 +0000

As important as the information about JOH is in the article by Rabbi Skolnick I found the open mindedness and heartfelt thoughts expressed here even more meaningful. As a Jewish mother of 4 one of of whom is gay it is nice to hear a rabbi publicly acknowledge how hard it is to live an “out of the closet” life particularly in a religious/spiritual context. It is important for shuls and their clergy to be sensitive and welcoming to the GLBT community. The reform movement has been way ahead of the conservative and orthodox movements in this arena for a long time. We have a long way to go but with the sensitivity expressed by Rabbi Skolnick we may be headed in the right direction. I pray for all of our children that time comes quickly.

Comment on Gaza, Again… by Gerry Skolnik

Gerry Skolnik — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:48:51 +0000

Dear Miriam- so nice to hear your voice! Sorry it took me so long to respond, but please know that I surely appreciate your kind words. My very best to you and your family…

Dear Elaine- thank you so much for your comment, and kind words. As for the Orthodox demonstrators protesting against Israel, I would caution you to remember that they are not in any way representative of Orthodoxy, but rather of their small, ultra-Orthodox right wing branch, and most Orthodox Jews find their policies repugnant. As do I!
Again, thank you for writing-
Gerry Skolnik

Comment on Gaza, Again… by elaine markowitz

elaine markowitz — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:25:56 +0000

I couldn’t have said it the above better.myself. However, It was very disheartening for me to view the the clip about the protests in London wherein Jewish people (with kippa, beards black coats, etc. )of the Orthodo persuasion protesting against the Jews in Isreal along with the Arabs and claiming that there was no Israel that it is Palestine and that we have no right to be there. They were wearing the same checkered scarfs around their necks that are worn by the Palestinians.

Once again Jewish lives will be lost in this terrrible battle. Don’t we have enough people to contend with that are against us without the Orthodox?
How dare they?