Disqus - Latest Comments for schuschein

Re: Canceled proclamation draws ire of anti-abortion activists in Alexandria

Mike S. — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 07:26:14 -0000

WaPo had quotes in place from Jackie Dilworth, the spokesperson for Whole Woman's Health which provides one of the two abortion providers in Alexandria. Her comments were pretty powerful. If you're doing a follow-up story, I'd certainly recommend contacting WWH to discuss the uphill battles they've faced in Virginia.

Re: Vicious attacks on Ivanka Trump exposes liberal hypocrisy

Mike S. — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:28:53 -0000

I understand that this is not related specifically to President Obama's daughters. However, it does relate to President Obama's wife -- another woman who had been attacked. And it's in a tweet by the author of this piece.

https://twitter.com/kristin...

Same type of vitriol? I'll let you all decide. But it ain't pretty.

Re: How To Say Kaddish For Your Father in 7 Different Cities

Mike S. — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 19:08:16 -0000

Hi! I was the guy from Agudas Achim who helped gather together a minyan (and led it). Glad everything worked out.

Backstory: Agudas Achim Congregation was welcoming one of the "USY on Wheels" buses - a program which shuttles Jewish teens across the continent and back over five weeks. In many cities the kids stay in hotels, but in a choice few synagogue communities get volunteers to host the kids. This was the first time in at least a decade that Agudas had this opportunity.

The bus was on its way from Charlotte and was due in around 6pm. Unfortunately due to traffic, their arrival was about two hours late -- and as soon as the kids came in they immediately needed to eat and attend a program so that they could end on time in order for volunteers to get the kids back to their homes.

Had there been no traffic and everything was running on time, you would have likely seen a minyan for maariv like none other that you experienced on this journey. Imagine 45 teens who have spent the summer together as a Jewish community, expressing themselves through tefilliah with kavanah (intent) like no other. I was fortunate to experience that with this same group the next morning -- as boys and some girls on the trip put on tefillin, led the service from the bimah and read from the Torah.

When participants take active and enthusiastic ownership of their minyanim, it's quite a special community to be a part of.

Re: Glick: Time to Draw Lines and Defend Them

Mike S. — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:37:33 -0000

** "The Rachmuths pulled their children out of the Lerner School when they concluded the school would not abide by its commitment to assist “all students in developing a positive Jewish identity and pride in their Jewish heritage.”"

The above is true. The Rachmuths pulled their kids because the decision was made to allow non-Jewish kids into the pre-school. This would fit the description above.

** "As committed Zionists, the Rachmuths were dismayed to see that far from fulfilling its commitment, the Lerner school was cultivating a learning environment that questioned the legitimacy of the Jewish national liberation movement and of the State of Israel."

The letter denies this allegation fully -- advising that the school DOES place an integral focus on Israel and Zionism, and absolutely supports Israel's legitimacy. You can comb the internet for the Algemeier article that has dozens of parents commenting affirming that the school they send their kids to does this specifically.

** "Perhaps the turning point was when the school took down all the maps of Israel from the classroom walls. Perhaps it was when their five-year-old son came home and asked them why the map of Israel hurt some people’s feelings."

I'll quote the letter: "Again, had she bothered to contact the school, she would have learned that the maps, along with all other pictures, art and learning aids, were removed at the end of the school year for cleaning. Maps are also typically removed and new ones added depending on the history lesson being taught. For example, a Biblical map may be used to teach Biblical history, and then replaced with a modern map as the students start learning about the modern State of Israel."

** "Perhaps it was when they discovered that the school had employed a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activist as a Hebrew teacher. Perhaps it was when they discovered that the school’s development director and former president of the board was an anti-Israel activist whose group, Jews for a Just Peace, had joined forces with the anti-Semitic and rabidly anti-Israel BDS groups Students for Justice in Palestine and the Palestinian Solidarity Movement."

As long as these employees refrain from promoting their own viewpoints to the school community (which they did), the school does not feel that it's a problem. The Jewish school I send my kid to has a handful of non-Jewish employees. They know that it's a Jewish school, however, and their own personal beliefs are not broadcast.

** "Perhaps it was when the school refused to back Israel during Operation Protective Edge during the summer of 2014."

From the letter: "The Rachmuths’ request for Lerner to have students support Operation Protective Edge was posed to a teacher during Lerner’s summer camp for preschoolers (i.e., three- and four-year-old children). While the camp’s activities continued to focus on Judaism and promoting Israel, the teacher’s professional opinion was that discussing a serious and dangerous military conflict such as Operation Protective Edge with such young children was not age-appropriate. That is a far cry from 'refused to back Israel.'

I fully support Operation Protective Edge. I've taught about it informally to Zionist youth group kids. But even approaching the subject with fourth graders is tough enough. I agree that it's not age appropriate AT ALL to talk about it with 3 and 4 year olds.

Once again -- the Rachmuth's DID NOT withdraw their kids based on the way the school teaches about Israel. They withdrew because they didn't want to be associated with a Jewish school which admitted non-Jews to the preschool. That's the reason they gave to the school specifically.

Does this help?

Re: Glick: Time to Draw Lines and Defend Them

Mike S. — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:31:00 -0000

Glick received her information by interviewing one disgruntled couple whom the school was suing for breach of contract. Glick did not contact the school whatsoever for a statement or an explanation.

So -- presenting the school's side of the story is equally as relevant.

Re: Glick: Time to Draw Lines and Defend Them

Mike S. — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:22:37 -0000

For those of you interested in hearing the school's side of the story: http://media.wix.com/ugd/07...

It presents a fully different viewpoint -- specifying that the reason the Rachmuths provided for withdrawing their children was NOT related to Israel in any way, but occurred due to the school's decision to admit non-Jewish students into their pre-school. Their later complaints about BDS and anti-Israel sentiment within the school is addressed and denied.

Re: Dating at the Pub, a Man with a Cold, FIFA & Target | Keeping the Faith | Jewish Journal

Mike S. — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:39:03 -0000

Apparently, filling out that survey at the bottom of the Target receipt helps each Target representative who checks you out -- so good for you on doing that.

The one way to show gratitude which trumps the survey is accepting the offer for a Target credit card. I love my Target reps, but not that much. :)

Re: Eight Places Where Free Speech Boundaries Are Stricter Than at Many Abortion Clinics

Mike S. — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:12:40 -0000

Thanks for the article. A question about #3, though: wouldn't the church be considered private property? If so -- is this any different from any other private property ruling -- including health clinics?

As a clinic escort at several clinics in the DC area, there are varying
rules about where private property begins and public property ends
regarding right of way, clinic entrances, etc. (We've seen this in the
Boston area as well.) But as a private establishment, freedom of
expression does not grant access to anyone to enter private property.

Re: Rabbi bans Orthodox Jewish man from receiving blood donations from women, non Orthodox Jews and non Jews -

Mike S. — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:04:32 -0000

Per the article, "an Orthodox Jew may receive blood from a non Orthodox Jewish donor only in a life or death situation." Which means that Pikuach Nefesh still stands. Of course, you don't find many who decide on elective blood donations for other purposes rather than saving a life.

(Unless, perhaps, the Ultra-Orthodox community has a lot of high-altitude runners?)

Re: Dean Obeidallah: "Sacha Cohen's movie is a modern-day minstrel show"

Mike S. — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:36:21 -0000

Likewise, apparently* he also speaks in Hebrew as The Dictator in this film.

(Disclaimer: I, too, have not seen the film. But I did listen to SBC's rare "not in character" interview with Howard Stern this week.)

Re: Weighthacker: weight-loss for geeks

Mike S. — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:45:47 -0000

"Error establishing a database connection. Please try again later."

I guess I'll go do my five-mile run and check out the site when I re... OH!! Well played, Weighthacker. Well played...

Re: The Top Five Musical Albums That You’ve Probably Never Listened To

Mike S. — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:11:48 -0000

Great list. Especially Fear, Pretty Hate Machine, and Dare to Be Stupid. I still consider that to be Weird Al's best work -- especially because of Yoda (which had been a work in progress for years as he tried to find the right people from whom to get permission) and One More Minute.

"I Want a New Duck?" Not so much...

Re: http://itsdlevy.tumblr.com/post/10190802149

Mike S. — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:33:12 -0000

It's worth mentioning that you affirmed my hunch that Michael Dorn is also an MW0.

Re: Trip down memory lane…

Mike S. — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:39:36 -0000

I see you had the two Mashas for kindergarten -- so did I. Ah, memories...

Re: Online Educational Sites...

Mike S. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:44:48 -0000

Avi (first grade) is a fan of CoolMath.com -- for the vast array of kid-friendly Flash-based games...

Re: Kindergarten Friends, 31 years later…

Mike S. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:52:54 -0000

Something similar happened with me last year -- when two of my kindergarten classmates (at the same school where you, Josh and your daughters were in kindergarten) ALSO had daughters who started kindergarten -- Also 31 years later.

My son didn't start kindergarten at my alma mater; he's attending a school here on the other side of the Potomac. But there's a good chance that all three of them will end up back at the same school once he completes eighth grade.

However, one of my son's classmates at school is the son of one of my housemates from college. Life can be very cool in these ways...