Halachic Adventures

Plane crashed with 5 Israelis. The house it landed in was almost destroyed save the magen david and old testament of the non Jewish resident. She was so moved and felt it was a miracle. She made this memorial and built an apartment just for the use of the Israeli families to use.

Nachum Gorelik’s home made kosher Ice cream

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Namibia Schita

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:08:42 +0000

helicopter used to drive game into the blind

Blind into which the game is herded

Watching the game being driven into blind

subduing the Oryx

Gifts for Ethan and the local kashrut stamp

Giraffe from the helicopter

Large leather factory in Windhoek Namibia – source of shofars

Ranch house

Watching the game drive

checking the lungs

Parchment and horn factory. Holding a Kudu skull . Kosher for shofar

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Ethiopia and Tigre Province

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:44:48 +0000

As part of a trip to Uganda and the Abuyadaya, South Africa and Namibia, we stopped in Ethiopia. Here are some of our pictures.

Entrance to the old synagogue in Tigre provence.

Wall of the compound that has the synagogue.

On the way we saw farmers working like in the days of old

לא תחסום שור בדישו

The Torah says one should not work an animal an muzzle him . Here we see the farmers doing exactly that, so the animals can’t eat.

We found a number of Ethiopian Jewish cemeteries from before their aliyah. What was interesting was that their family members come back to the graves. We saw many memorial candles brought from Israel.

We climbed this mountain in the Jewish village of Bet Mariah. On the mountain top was a altar, or prayer place that they would pray from every Shabbat.

In Ethiopia, we shechted 150 chickens and 3 goats for a number of the Jews there. We did it in the original Jewish slaughterhouse behind the shul in Addis Ababa.

We set up a factory to clean and then salt the meat and birds.

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Tania-Why I want to be Jewish Bulgaria 2012

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:44:41 +0000

This letter was read by an 18 year old girl who came before the Bet Din in Sofia, Jan 2012

Why I want to convert to Judaism?

Converting to Judaism is not an easy path as I’ve been told by many, nevertheless at a somehow fragile age I decided to take upon this interesting journey. It all began about three years ago when I felt somehow incomplete somehow I was not everything I could be, but there was something other than a person or a thing that brought balance to my existence, brought balance to my eagerness for knowledge. That was Judaism- fascinated by its power to combine religion, knowledge and lifestyle I could easily see a lot of my personal views manifested 2000 years ago by various wise man.

For example I always thought that charity is a nice thing, but wouldn’t It be better if you help the man to get back on his feet- turns out someone said that a lot before I even thought about it. Hence for the last year with the help of many I have been swimming in an ocean trying to find my way by putting together all the pieces so it would all make sense, I do see that I might not be worthy of reaching a high level of Jewish knowledge but I am willing to put everything in it, everything I must like I did until now.

You know how people ask you why do you love your wife, give me ten reasons. And you start with the clichés like she has amazing eyes, she is always there for me, but deep down you know that the one reason you decided to spend your life with that person and devote to him is the warmness and calmness and fulfillment you feel when they are around you. And this is the reason why I want to convert I find Judaism completing and fulfilling and I am willing to devote my life to it.

You may ask do you understand the seriousness of becoming Jewish, do you know that you might be prosecuted and hated, I do understand that it is actually a lot harder in my opinion to be a converted Jew, because people will hate you for your own choices and not for your origins.

The times for prayer I find as times for balancing with your inner self and finding answers to your inner doubts. What I believe is that G-d will be there to protect me, therefor I needn’t be afraid of mortal people and their behavior towards me. If I was I wouldn’t be studying in the Jewish school or take a somewhat important position in a well known Jewish organization.

The times of celebrations I find as times in which G-d shall be praised for all I have is all that he has given me and all that I have deserved in his opinion. Probably one day G-d will take someone I love, but I will not be sad that I had lost someone, rather grateful that G-d gave me the opportunity to meet them and have them as my companion in life, like conversion life is not a safe journey but in the end what I will feel and have accomplished with the help of G-d I will be thankful for. Conversion is a path, a long road that will not end with this exam, the same I think about Jews with origins who have decided to take upon Jewish studies. I do have inner doubts about myself and whether I am worthy of becoming a converted Jew, I can not find answers in prayers or books about whether I am good enough, the answers I find in prayers are to never give up, maybe not now, maybe never, but my love for G-d and Judaism can not be easily crushed.

I heard also that I could pick a Jewish name I was really torn about my decision and then I decided to look what my name means for Judaism I knew there was a book called Tania but I had no clue what was it about, then I read that the book is about identity crisis, some days there is nothing more important than studying the Torah, some days there is nothing more important than a good steak. The Tanya helps you with that gap of what is your purpose and how to handle yourself. No name could fit me better and what my dream is, I saw that the Tanya combines what want to be and the religion I have chosen I believe this is no coincidence.

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African Itinerary 2013 January

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:51:10 +0000

depart wed jan 24 for ethiopia

thursday 25 fly to Axum Ethiopia where the aron kodesh supposedly rests in a church. find the old Jewish settlements in Tigre province

shabbat 27 adis ababa with the adenite jews

sunday fly to entebbe. visit the site of the rescue. 6 hour drive to Mbale

monday 28 tuesday 29 bet din sits for giyur and visit other villages and synagogues. mikveh/hatafat dam brit and weddings and seudat mitzvah

wednesday fly to adis

thursday31 jan fly to Jo-burg. shabat as scolar in residence.

sunday 1 feb giraffe schita

mon 2 feb Capetown/old shuls/schita?

tuesday/ wednesday 3/4 Zimbabwe to meet Lemba

Thursday 5 fly home

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Tekhelet The Rarest Blue – An Halachic History of Tekhelet

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:13:35 +0000

I feel that this book marks a turning point in the research on tekhelet it that it is clearer than ever that this is . The Sterman’s research is spectacular and offers a truly comprehensive picture of the richness of this,complex, interwoven tale. Ari

see The Rarest Blue for more info
The Rarest Blue, is now officially out and available! attached below some of the reviews received so far.

We would especially like to share one bit of feedback that was particularly moving to us – by Dr. Kirsten Benkendorff, a biochemist from Southern Cross University in Australia, whose work regarding the murex snail we describe in the book.

A huge congratulations to you and Judy – the book is so well written and engaging that it is really hard to put down! And I learnt a lot – not only about the history – but more surprising to me was how many new insights I got from the chemistry and biology components – it was really so inspiring and of course has triggered a bunch of new ideas and questions…

It is thrilling to us that a book about an ancient color was able to stimulate thoughts of new experiments and research ideas. Tekhelet is a topic that is meaningful, beautiful, and fascinating, offering something unique to each person who delves in to it. We think The Rarest Blue would make the perfect Hanukkah gift, and it is our hope that the book can play a part in inspiring more people in a whole range of different directions.

If anyone knows of any publications venues that might be interested in reviewing the book, please let us know, and if you’ve read the book, please take a moment to review it on Amazon.

Wishing you a happy Hanukkah,

Baruch and Judy

www.therarestblue.com

“A story of science and religion, of craft and history.. The Rarest Blue is spellbinding… A wonderful book.”

- Roald Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

“The white combined with the blue tekhelet conveys the message that a mortal can indeed achieve a state of holiness and a truly spiritual life.”

- Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D

“You’ll love this Indiana Jones-style chemistry adventure: an enlightening hunt for the lost source of history’s most valuable dye.”

- Mental Floss Magazine, November 2012 Issue

“The Rarest Blue is simply delightful. The material is crisp and clear – it reads incredibly smoothly and beautifully. ”

- Rabbi Ari Enkin, Author and Editor at Torahmusings.com

“The Rarest Blue is truly a multi-disciplinary story, employs a genuine fusion of Torah and Science, accessible and useful to both scholar and layman.”

- Rabbi Dr. Ari Zivotofsky, Bar Ilan Interdisciplinary Program in Brain Science

“An amazing tale of historical sleuthing, told by a true storyteller who manages to capture both the drama and the magic of the quest for Biblical blue.”

- Simcha Jacobovici, Emmy award winning journalist and director

“Expansive and fascinating … tackles a broad range of topics… the emphasis on Jewish traditions keeps it centered and illuminating.”

- Booklist

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