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In Vienna there is a small Jewish community of about 10,000
which, in recent years, has been living in relative
tranquillity. Now, with the establishment of the new
government that includes the rightist party of Jorge Haider,
the Jews are apprehensive. Storm in the Knesset Regarding Blasphemous Remarks
Against Gedolei Hador A storm erupted in the Knesset plenum last week when Shinui
MK Paritzki uttered outrageous words of blasphemy against
gedolei hador. Knesset members from UTJ and Shas
protested vociferously against his appalling statements and
did not let Paritzki continue speaking. MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni proposed last week the enactment of an
"Education and Love of Children Law." The purpose of the law
is to determine parameters for raising children --- including
punishment -- within the family framework.
Funds for Haifa Mikveh Diverted to Other Purposes Members of the Joint Religious Front in the Haifa
Municipality have discovered that Housing Ministry funds
earmarked for the building of a mikveh in the western
part of Haifa were directed to other projects by Mayor Amram
Mitzna. Reserves General Moshe Nativ: Torah Study Must Not Be
Stopped For Even a Day General (Res.) Moshe Nativ, former head of the Manpower
Division of the IDF and currently a member of the Tal
Committee to study the drafting of yeshiva students into the
Israeli army, has recently stated, "After having visited a
number of yeshivos, I realize that Torah study must not be
stopped for even one day." How Do We Teach the High Court the Limits?
It is almost unnecessary to comment about the recent decision of the
Israeli High Court to outlaw any form of corporal punishment, including
asserting the right of a spanked child to sue his parents even if
he or she was not injured. The Court ruled that using this sort of
method is "a remnant of a social and educational conception that
is outmoded." The Many Faces of Bereavement Some years ago, our extended family was struck by tragedy: a young
man was brutally murdered by terrorists, leaving behind a young widow
and little children. Although they were `only' relatives by marriage,
we tried to do what we could. In the process, I consulted a friend
who had extensive experience in all sorts of community endeavors.
As it turned out, she, too, had a relative who, only a short time
before, had been widowed by terrorism. Derech Eretz and Much Torah --
The Jewish Community of Syria
The last day for Kiddush Levonoh -- I Adar
One can say Kiddush Levonoh in the whole world until Motzei
Shabbos parshas Tetzaveh, the eve of 14 I Adar (Feb. 20) at 1:10
A.M., Israeli time. In most of Europe the final time is 12:10 P.M.,
eastern America 8:10 P.M., in New York 6:10 P.M., but more west to
New York it is impossible to make a berochoh on Motzei
Shabbos, and their actual final time is the entire Thursday night,
the eve of 12 I Adar (Feb. 17). If one did not make a berochoh
until leil Shabbos it is preferable to then make Kiddush
Levonoh so not to forfeit the mitzvah altogether. Even in
New York one should make Kiddush Levonoh bedi'eved on leil
Shabbos and not rely on the little time on Motzei Shabbos
and especially since it is now winter and the nights are cloudy. Also
regarding the other parts of the world including eastern countries
where the final time is the whole Motzei Shabbos there is an
opinion in the Mishnah Berurah (426) that one should make a
berochoh on leil Shabbos and not rely on the last night
(Sha'ar HaTziyon par. 13), and this is especially so in our
case since Motzei Shabbos will be after the astronomical full
moon.
The astronomical full moon is at 6:27 P.M., approximately six and
three quarters of an hour before the nigud emtzo'i and twelve
hours and twenty-one minutes before the full fifteen days from the
molad. This month one can surely not make a berochoh
even bedi'eved until the end of the full fifteen days, and
it seems that even beforehand, after the nigud emtzo'i, he
should only make a berochoh without shem u-malchus
(Birur Halocho, IV, Orach Chaim 426 (pg. 300). |
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