On Sunday, February 13th I will be speaking at the Bridge Shul in Washington Heights:
4pm (Real time, not Jewish time): How to Become a Heretic: Defining the Boundaries of Faith
5.10pm Mincha-Maariv
5.45pm Shaking the Heavens: Rabbinic Responses to Astronomical Revolutions
Entrance donation: $10 for one presentation, $15 for both.
The previous Sunday, February 6th, is the Superbowl. As an Englishman I'm not even sure what that is, but apparently it is something of great importance to Americans which prevents me from giving a lecture that evening. However I am open to giving lectures in the morning or afternoon. If someone is interested in arranging it, please email me at zoorabbi@zootorah.com. Alternatively, I can arrange it myself for Queens or Brooklyn, if someone wants to be my driver for the afternoon (I will be staying in Woodmere).
One more thing - if there are any reptile enthusiasts living in the Teaneck region, please be in touch!
Exploring the legacy of the rationalist Rishonim (medieval Torah scholars), and various other notes, by Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin, director of The Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh. The views expressed here are those of the author, not the institution.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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If you want to be a kofer-mamash, you could give a lecture on "good middos" during the Superbowl. Have the Superbowl picture on and talk about the the merits of being polite, kind, smiling at others, giving others the benefit of the doubt, and so on while noting the counter-examples on the screen. I'm sure a true kofer would really "ham it up!
ReplyDeleteIt goes without saying that you would turn off the tv at all the exciting parts, making meaningful berachot before slowly drinking glasses of water.
Gary Goldwater
Do you think that you might give a series of lectures in Monsey (the belly of the beast)?
ReplyDeleteRabbi -
ReplyDeleteI wonder if anyone "kafar"-ed (yes, I made that up) you because you stated - seriously or sarcastically (it's hard to tell) - that you don't know what the Super Bowl is.
Good luck with your lectures!
Can I assume that the humor of the Kefira count on this post is appreciated?
ReplyDeleteIf you are staying in woodmere why not give a lecture in woodmere? I believe woodmere is friendly territory for you (not cedarhurst and certanly not Far Rockaway).
ReplyDeleteBecause Superbowl Sunday does not work for Woodmere!
ReplyDelete(My wife, who is American, thought it was hilarious that I was so clueless about the Superbowl.)
R' Slifkin, you may be interested in Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo's discussions about heresy at his site, cardozoschool.org
ReplyDeleteExample:
http://www.cardozoschool.org/show_article.asp?article_id=375&cat_id=&cat_name=Jewish+Thought+and+Philosophy&parent_id=1&subcat_id=45&subcat_name=Halacha
What's a Superbowl? Isn't that just a very large bowl?
ReplyDeleteThe Superbowl is the most important thing in America. (This is especially true if the Packers make it!) Think about it, the players can make such an impact on the 50 million Americans watching it. By showing good sportsmanship in a game that consists of grown men tackling and pummeling each other they can teach a grand lesson. Yes, during the game they fight against each other, but afterward (most) players are very nice to each other. They usually shake hands and congratulate each other on a job well done.
ReplyDeleteSure, there are some football players that are crooks, but there are some priests, Rabbis and (every) politicians that are crooks. For the most part, they participate in charity organizations and people really emulate them. It's a good way for most people in America to spend sundays, keeps people out of trouble and teaches a good lesson most of the time.
I bet the rest of the world would be a better place if they had more sports (other than soccer) and they wouldn't have to be such anti-semites.
“Superbowl” is an obscure term from the days the anakim played cricket. ;)
ReplyDeleteAs a Super Bowl champion and now committed Jew, let me share my thoughts with you.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alanveingrad.com/media/SuperBowlChampTacklesTorahandMitzvot.pdf
I believe it's something you'll find in Superman's kitchen. (Or bathroom...)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'll be here all week.
E-Man, there's an old saying about how football (soccer) is a gentleman's game played by ruffians, while rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen. Rugby may be derived from soccer, but American football is derived from rugby. :-)
Cohen - the kefira count is a riot! They can't handle that R' Slifkin is coming to America.
ReplyDeleteI just punched in my emes vote.
Put out a kol korei forbidding God fearing Jews to attend to boost attendance.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying the humor.
ReplyDeleteBtw, hope that u don't normally put too much stock into the emes kefira counts because everyone is able to vote multiple times very easily! Your enemies are no doubt using that against you given the level of obsession they have with you.
Just to make you feel better about this emes kefirah thing, at least on this post. I, like probably many others, voted it kefirah because of you not knowing about the superbowl. Don't read anything into it about your speaking tour. I wish you much hatzlacha.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in America for over 30 years but neither I nor anyone in my family know precisely what a supreball is. We have a vague idea that it's a final football game but we have no clue how the teams get there or when it takes place and none of us ever watched one. All of us work out in a gym but we just don't waste time on this shtus.
ReplyDeleteHatzlaḥa and have fun! Wish i could be there, but a bit far away from my new Midwestern home base. I'd even be honored to drive you around, if it were possible.
ReplyDelete