Thursday, September 24, 2009
Animal rights activists posken against Kapparot
YNet
Animal activists from 'Let the Animals Live' collect halachic opinions from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef claiming that harm brought to chickens during Yom Kippur ceremony should be kept to minimum. Group asks chief rabbis to instruct public to convert chicken-swinging custom into alternative of giving charity
The animal rights organization Let the Animals Live petitioned Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger and Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar to instruct their followers to prevent the suffering of chickens used in the Yom Kippur holiday's Kapparot (atonement) custom and to give money to charity as a replacement for slaughtering the animals.
The letter from the organization to the rabbis read: "Every year we turn to the highest echelons of the religious leadership, but the abuse continues. It is our moral obligation, together with the rabbis, to take action to limit the great suffering of the chickens on the eve of the new year."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Women's greater freedom & unhappiness
New York Times
In the early '70s, breaking out of the domestic cocoon, leaving their mothers' circumscribed lives behind, young women felt exhilarated and bold.
But the more women have achieved, the more they seem aggrieved. Did the feminist revolution end up benefiting men more than women?
According to the General Social Survey, which has tracked Americans' mood since 1972, and five other major studies around the world, women are getting gloomier and men are getting happier.[...]
Friday, September 18, 2009
Rosh HaShanna & a year of blogging
It has been an interesting and productive year and one which bears introspection and review. We have spent much effort on the issue of conversion and abuse. There have been some heated discussions - some of which were very abusive. Hopefully this year we will try harder and be more successful in having discussions within the boundaries of halacha and be more sensitive and accomplish more.
It is also clear that the internet has tremendous power for teaching and bringing about change. Hopefully we will be using it to bring about needed changes and kiddush haShem. For too long issues have been "swept under the rug" and there has been intimdation and bluff used to control others. The Blogs have the potential to be the great equalizer - but they need to be used responsibly. It still amazes me that I am having conversations or influencing people in South America or Asia and that people in Australia or Saudia Arabia are reading and commenting on what I have posted. I have learned much from your comments as well as the postings on this blog. For those who have been offended by my comments - I apologize and ask your mechila. For those who have made abusive comments to me - I forgive you whole heartedly. However for those who are offended by the truth - there is not much I can do.
Wishing all kesiva v'chasima tova
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