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7 Nissan 5762 - March 20, 2002 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS
OPINION & COMMENT
OBSERVATIONS
HOME & FAMILY
IN-DEPTH FEATURES
VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR
TOPICS IN THE NEWS
PREVIOUS ISSUES

CALENDAR FOR
Week Ending on Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach, 5762

Sunday,11 Nissan - Shabbos, 17 Nissan
(Mar. 24-30, 2002)

DAF HAYOMI
Bavli:
Bova Basra, 4-10
Yerushalmi:
Terumos, 59 - Ma'aseros, 6

MISHNA YOMIS
Shevu'os, 7:4 - Ediyos, 1:3

HALACHA YOMIS
Orach Chaim 613:7-618:3

CANDLE LIGHTING
in Eretz Yisroel:

Parshas Tzav (Hagodol)
Yerushalayim:
5:16 P.M.

Bnei Brak:
5:31 P.M.

London:
6:01 P.M.
Johannesburg:
6:00 P.M.
Melbourne:
7:10 P.M.

Parshas Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach
The Summer Clock in Eretz Yisroel starts on erev Shabbos, 16 Nisan (Mar. 29) in the afternoon before Shabbos. Yerushalayim:
6:21 P.M.

Bnei Brak:
6:36 P.M.

London:
6:13 P.M.
Johannesburg:
5:54 P.M.
Melbourne:
7:04 P.M.

CALENDAR FOR
Parshas Shemini, 5762

Sunday,18 Nissan - Shabbos, 24 Nissan
(Mar. 31-April 6, 2002)

DAF HAYOMI
Bavli:
Bova Basra, 11-17
Yerushalmi:
Ma'aseros, 7-13

MISHNA YOMIS
Ediyos, 1:4-2:3

HALACHA YOMIS
Orach Chaim 618:4-622:1

Ovos: 1

Molad: Friday, Apr. 12, 3:14 P.M.

Shevi'i Shel Pesach falls on Wednesday, 21 Nissan (April 3) and in Chutz Le'aretz on Thursday, 22 Nissan (April 4) is Yom Tov Sheini Shel Goliyos - Shemini Shel Pesach.

Many are accustomed to read Pirkei Ovos after Minchah of Shabbos from Pesach until Rosh HaShanah

CANDLE LIGHTING
in Eretz Yisroel:

Parshas Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach
The Summer Clock in Eretz Yisroel starts on erev Shabbos, 16 Nisan (Mar. 29) in the afternoon before Shabbos.

Yerushalayim:
6:21 P.M.

Bnei Brak:
6:36 P.M.

London:
6:13 P.M.
Johannesburg:
5:52 P.M.
Melbourne:
7:00 P.M.

Parshas Shemini
Yerushalayim:
6:25 P.M.

Bnei Brak:
6:41 P.M.

London:
7:25 P.M.
Johannesburg:
5:45 P.M.
Melbourne:
5:40 P.M.

CALENDAR FOR
Parshas Tazriya-Metzora, 5762

Sunday,25 Nissan - Shabbos, 1 Iyar
(April 7-13, 2002)

DAF HAYOMI
Bavli:
Bova Basra, 18-24
Yerushalmi:
Ma'aseros, 14-20

MISHNA YOMIS
Ediyos, 2:4-3:7

HALACHA YOMIS
Orach Chaim 622:2-627:3

Ovos: 2

Our minhag is not to say Yom Kippur Koton and surely not to fast in the month of Nisan.

Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on Friday, April 12 and Shabbos, April 13.

CANDLE LIGHTING
in Eretz Yisroel:

Parshas Shemini
Yerushalayim:
6:25 P.M.

Bnei Brak:
6:41 P.M.

London:
7:25 P.M.
Johannesburg:
5:45 P.M.
Melbourne:
5:50 P.M.

Parshas Tazriya-Metzora
Yerushalayim:
6:30 P.M.

Bnei Brak:
6:46 P.M.

London:
7:37 P.M.
Johannesburg:
5:40 P.M.

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network



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At The Center of the Universe
At The Center of the Universe
by Mordechai Plaut

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

REFORM & CONSERVATIVES

GRAVES

LIVING JUDAISM

WOMEN IN
JUDAISM

GIYUR
LEGAL ISSUES
YESHIVA DRAFT
CULTURE WARS
-MISCELLANEOUS
CULTURE WARS
-MONEY
CULTURE WARS
-SHABBOS
SHMITTA
OBITUARIES
FEATURES
NOTICE:

This is our Pesach edition. The next scheduled edition is for parshas Tazria-Metzora, Wednesday 28 Nisan (April 10). May we hear only good news. Chag Kosher Vesomayach!

NEWS


No More than Barely 4 Million Halachic American Jews
by Mordecai Plaut

According to a new study, there are no more than 4 million people in the United States who are halachically Jewish. This figure itself should be viewed as an upper bound rather than an exact number. The true figure is probably significantly lower. The results of the American Jewish Identity Survey, 2001 have already been reported from various perspectives. The following report highlights the findings that are interesting from a chareidi perspective.

Gedolei Yisroel Call for Increased Torah Study

In a pronouncement to bnei Torah throughout the world, gedolei Yisroel stress that in light of the current state of affairs endangering the lives of the residents of Eretz Hakodesh, everyone should take stock of his ways and feel that this calamity has occurred due to his shortcomings.


Roshei Yeshiva Emphasize Obligation to Strengthen Torah Study

In the wake of the call of HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, the country's roshei yeshiva have aroused the Torah community to take vital measures to strengthen Torah study.


A Cease-Fire in the Offing?
by Yated Ne'eman Staff and M. Plaut

America is making a very public and serious effort to reach a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians. Though the Americans have not said so explicitly, it is widely speculated that the Americans want quiet in the Israel- Palestinian conflict so that they can force out Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

South African Jews Mourn As Violence Hits Close To Home
by D. Saks, South Africa

A memorial service was held in Johannesburg this week for three young South African victims of the Middle East violence. The three, who died within a fortnight of each other, were the first South African-born casualties of the seventeen-month long Palestinian uprising. Many bereaved family members and friends flew to Israel to attend the funerals, and the killings received substantial coverage in the local South African press.

Internal Affairs Ministry Lists Reform Converts in Violation of Minister's Directive
by Betzalel Kahn

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon set up a team last week headed by Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin to evaluate various solutions--including legislative reform--to the problem of listing Reform and Conservative converts as Jews based on the recent High Court decision.

CLEAN FOR PESACH AND ENJOY THE SEDER!
Edited By Rabbi Moshe Finkelstein Kiryat Mattersdorf, Jerusalem

These notes are based on the responsa of Moreinu veRabbeinu HaGaon HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita, rosh yeshivas Torah Ore, to questions posed by women attending his regular chizuk talks. They have been compiled by a group of his talmidim. The notes also include Hebrew sources and footnotes, which are not reproduced here.

Chief IDF Rabbi Confirms Hundreds of Soldiers Converted
by Betzalel Kahn

IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier General Yisrael Weiss has confirmed that the IDF conversion beis din he heads converts hundreds of soldiers.

Former Tourism Minister Meets with Reform Rabbis
by Betzalel Kahn

Then Minister of Tourism Benny Alon participated in the annual conference of the Congress of Reform Rabbis in Jerusalem on motzei Shabbos parshas Vayakhel- Pekudei. Five days later Alon resigned.


OPINION & COMMENT

Nisan is the Month of Geulah

The postwar generation has generally had it pretty good. In the West it grew up and came of age in a time of increasing prosperity and general calm. There have been crises in the West and wars in Israel, but they were usually pretty short -- a few months at most. For the most part, the past half a century has been a period of secure establishment and growth.


OBSERVATIONS

A Wake-Up Call from Israel
This message is from the Kollel Ohr Shimon in Beitar Illit

You in America, we in Israel, are all acutely aware of the emergency situation we find ourselves in. When Torah leaders the world over issue a declaration that on erev Rosh Chodesh Nisan all Jews should fast and cry out to Hashem, this must alarm us. It is up to us to take their words to heart -- as well as to see them in their historical perspective.


HOME & FAMILY


IMPRESSIONS

by Sheindel Weinbach

These are difficult times for Jewry, for those living in Eretz Yisroel and hearing the daily toll of lives, snuffed out from this world forever, or those wounded - and for those who feel along with us from afar. And very often, it is the folks across the ocean who hear the bad news even before we do.


IN-DEPTH FEATURES

Prince of Torah: Rav Shach and Limud Hatorah
by Arye Gefen

Rochel, Our Youngest Daughter
by P. Feinman


Additional Luach Information

On Tuesday night, the eve of 13 Nissan (Mar. 26) is the search for chometz - bedikas chometz, and the chometz is burnt the next morning, Wednesday, 14 Nissan (Mar. 27) until the end of the zman sreifas chometz.

On Wednesday, 14 Nissan (Mar. 27) is the fast of the firstborn - Ta'anis Bechoros.

Pesach falls on Thursday, 15 Nissan (Mar. 28), in Eretz Yisroel, and on Thursday and Friday (Mar. 29) in Chutz Le'aretz. In Chutz Le'aretz an eruv tavshilin must be made. The days until Shevi'i Shel Pesach are Chol HaMo'ed.

From Mussaf of Yom Tov Pesach we say morid hatal in Shemoneh Esreih instead of vesen tal u-motor livrocho.

From Thursday night, Motzei Yom Tov Rishon Shel Pesach, we count sefiras ha'omer until Shavuos.

The seforim hakedoshim write to make a meal on the sixteenth of Nissan to remember the se'udas Esther that she made when Homon was hanged (Mishnah Berurah, 490:2 from the Mogen Avrohom).

Shiurim of a Kezayis Matzoh

Hand Matzoh

If the shiur of a kezayis is the volume of 50 cubic centimeters its weight is 22.5-27.5 gram (.7875-.9625 ounces).

If the shiur of a kezayis is the volume of 45 cubic centimeters (a half of a double-sized beitzah without its shell) its weight is approximately 20.3-24.8 gram (.7105-.868 ounces).

If the shiur of a kezayis is the volume of 33.33 cubic centimeters (a third of a double-sized beitzah without its shell) its weight is approximately 15.0-18.3 gram (.525-.6405 ounces).

Machine Matzoh

Concerning the shiur of a kezayis machine matzoh the Chazon Ish ruled (as cited by HaRav Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky zt'l) it being a half to two thirds of a matzoh.

For actual practice one should ask a moreh horo'oh.

See Birur Halocho Orach Chaim Kamma VeTeliso'oh 475.


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