A Windfall! I found a long lost uncle to leave me an inheritance!

This is the email I just received from my soon to be long lost uncle...

I am Mr Suleman bank manager of BOA Bank in Burkina faso.
I will like you to stand as next of kin of $5.8M Dollars
so that my bank will transfer the money into your account
then i will come over to your country so that we share the money,

Yours,
Mr Suleman

Wahoo! I am rich!

These types of emails are soooo 1999

Purim in Bet Shemesh over the years has taken on a very similar flavor to that of Purim in Jerusalem. The place is hopping.
There are Purim parties all over the place. Loud Purim music blaring into the streets. People dancing in the streets. Groups of boys from different Yeshiva going around the neighborhood singing and dancing raising funds for the yeshivas. Drunk revelers stumbling through the streets. Parties spilling out into the streets. etc.

We had the opportunity to be for a short time yesterday in Beiter Ilit. The "City of Torah and Hassidus in the Judean Hills".

We entered Beitar - another city I would think would have a similar flavor to Jerusalem (usually cities with a large number of Jerusalem expatriates take on a similar flavor) - and all was quiet. The roads were empty. People were out and about delivering shalachmanos, and whatever, but no serious reveling outside of the houses.

Our friends in Beitar who we visited (a few families) all told us that the city of Beitar has had some serious trouble in the past with "ארחי פרחי" - Archeeee Parcheee - troubled teenagers, usually of sfardic persuasion (not that ashkenazy teens are not troubled, but in Beitar it seems most of the archee are sfardim) who fight, steal, vandalize and make a lot of trouble. So these kids congregate, harass people, light heavy firecrackers in dangerous places including in crowded shuls, etc.

So they told us that the police cracked down on them this year. They sent a bunch of police cars last night and cleared the streets. They warned everybody that if they were caught hanging around outside they would be arrested. I am told they even arrested a whole bunch. Clearting the treets though also means other people would not really be reveling in the streets (otherwise it is difficult to keep the problem kids out).

So basically it meant the city was kept clean and quiet.

And while it was quiet in Beitar, in Bet Shemesh we party, Jerusalem style! Way to go Bet Shemesh!

Some AISH comedy...

In what could easily be considered another Purim style article, yet it was not in the Purim section but in the regular business section of a haredi paper, we have a story that will bring a smile to your pre-Purim face.

Some guy was feeling left out. All his friends tell stories how they bought this or that product, open it up to find it damaged - a bug inside, a hair, spoiled, broken, whatever - they send a letter of complaint to the manufacturer, and the company sends them "peetzuim" - compensation for their trouble in the form of free products beyond the price of the purchased item.

So why was he feeling left out? Because he is a satisfied customer. He never opened a product to find it damaged or spoiled or tainted. So, he never gets free gifts from the companies he buys from. He feels left out.

Just because I have nothing to complain about I should not also get free cans of coke or packages of cheese?

The article goes on to describe how this guy contacted twenty of the large manufacturers of major products that he buys. He sent them all letters saying,

Shalom. When customers write to you complaining about the quality of a specific product, you compensate him. I am happy with your products. I have not recently come across damaged products.
Still, I request you send to me as well the appropriate compensation package for the following reasons:

1. There is no reason why a happy and satisfied customer should receive less than an unhappy customer. It is much easier to retain happy customers than it is to win over unhappy customers.
   
2. I could easily report a problem and get the compensation. The fact that I am honest and not lying to you and being deceitful is not a reason to deprive me of compensation.
3. Stam. For no particular reason. I don't deserve to be spoiled once in a while? I regularly buy your products paying full price - I don't deserve once in a while a gift "on the house"?

Waiting for your reply,
Yitzchak

So, what was the response of the companies?

7 companies responded, either just thanking him for writing to them but they have no way to compensate him, or actually sending him small gifts (samples or coupons or even a gift). One of the companies wrote back saying "our products are so cheap that we cannot afford to give you a gift - thank you for writing and we hope you remain a happy customer."

The other 13 companies did not even bother responding.

What strange stories I am finding nowadays!

The day you never thought would come has come.

Many many years ago, the haredi banned television. the ban was probably one of its most successful, as it has become standard for people in the haredi community, and other communities as well, to not have televisions, and those that do are the exception rather than the rule. Many other bans have been tried, but none have had the overwhelming level of success as the ban on television.

Who would have thought that television would be back in the haredi community, albeit in the form of the internet.

HydePark/BeChadrei Charedim has now launched its own "television station" on their site. They will be broadcasting shows and clips of interest about the haredi community - interviews, programs, clips, conferences, speeches, etc.

I doubt we will get to see haredi versions of 24, the Simpsons and the A-Team, but haredi television it is.

I have the exclusive scoop on this item of neighborhood news.

In what seems to be an unprecedented event in RBS, the Kupa Shel RBS A has agreed to work with Lemaan Achai as a joint venture and cooperation.
The first signs of the joint venture can be seen with the Kupa pasting their signs for Purim collection on Lemaan Achai property.
We are all waiting to see how Lemaan Achai will take advantage of the joint venture and how they will benefit from the Kupa's RBS presence.

Regardless, the mere fact of such an explicit sign of recognition on behalf of the Kupa in favor of Lemaan Achai is welcomed and blessed by residents all around RBS.

May we be zoche to see more such cooperations between the local charities in the future!

I knew it all along.
I always knew bananas are bad for you, now we have proof!

In one of the weekend newspapers, Ha'Shavua B'Yerushalayim, there was an interesting exclusive article.

The article described how the mayor of Bnei Brak, Yaakov Asher, recently went to Japan to testify as a character witness on behalf of the boys in jail for unwittingly smuggling drugs into the country. While in Dubai, he was approached, the article describes, for a meeting with Shiekh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. The shiekh had seen him in the hotel, was curious who it was that was dressed so strangely (haredi dress), and inquired about him. When the emir found out this was the mayor of an Orthodox Israeli city, he requested a meeting.

During the meeting, Asher described the lifestyle of the inhabitants of his city. During the discussion, they agreed to work on a city twinning plan (sister cities) between Bnei Brak and Dubai. The shiekh promised 250 million dollars to Bnei Brak, along with the development of a "Dubai Park" that would cost no less than 5 billion dollars (!), along with a promise that next time he goes to visit Gaza he will also visit Bnei Brak and gave Asher a gift of an expensive Patrimony Swiss watch. The shiekh said they are opposed to the policy of occupation of Israel, but have nothing against the Jews. Al Maktoum recommended forging ties int he form of sister cities.

This plan has been kept hush hush, as Asher requested from the Foreign Ministry they check the possibility of the twinning program, and asked the media to not mention it until approval is granted. Now it has been approved, at least some of the details, for general release (I am not sure why the general press had not picked up such a story).




My questions on this story are:

1. Is there any truth to it? I have not found any info on this anywhere else doing searches...

2. City Twinning programs are meant to develop the sharing of cultures betwene cities, with each side "donating" something to the other. Clearly, Dubai will be giving Bnei Brak a lot of money if this goes through, but what can Bnei Brak offer to Dubai? Money is out of the question, and what culture can orthodox jews offer to one of the wealthy Arab emirates in the world? the article described what the shiekh was offering to Bnei Brak, yet said not a word about what Bnei Brak had to offer to Dubai.
It is possible that this is simply charity. The shiekh seems to be a very charitable person, but this was described as city twinning, and not as charity.

3. It seems strange that Bnei Brak would go for their first city twinning plan with an Arab country that has no relations with Israel. Perhaps it is even appropriate considering the hostility to the state a reasonable percentage of the residents of BB have....

4. Dubai has been in the news a lot recently rejecting any connection to Israel - the tennis squads had problems getting visas. There is some financial conference hosted by Dubai and they would not let the Israeli representatives in. etc. Suddenly they are willing to have a city twinning project with an Israeli city? and even if it is just charity - they are giving money to an Israeli city?

More Updated Information:

You can see pictures of his car and license plate here, along with getting more details. He is getting around. If what is written there is true, the police picked him up in Modiin and found money he collected "on behalf of Hatzalah", along with fake passports each with different names from various countries.

--------------------------------------------

Updated Information:

The fellow in question is British. he showed up in RBS last week from England. he is driving a silver Mercedes with English license plates, and has hatzalah stickers and lights on his car, and he dresses with hatzalah vests and passes perfectly as a hatzalah person.

That being said, he has not been seen in RBS this week. The thought is that RBS is too small for him - it is difficult to not be noticed. He is probably basing himself in a larger city (Jerusalem probably) and moving from neighborhood to neighborhood, showing up in different areas at different times.

This person moved around England, and has been under numerous investigations. He has gotten out of them because in the end nobody would ever testify against him. I am told he is wealthy and "powerful" and has been known to threaten his accusers, which cause them to back down.

And he preys on young boys and teenage girls.

So keep your eyes open.

Again, Hatzalah RBS has nothign to do with this guy. He is an impostor.

That being said, Hatzalah RBS has taken a big hit recently. I am told that because of the financial problems, people are using hatzalah more than before (rather than MDA - so as to avoid having to pay MDA's ambulatory charge), yet donations are scarcer also because of the financial troubles people are in. And now

If you are able to donate to Hatzalah RBS and help them continue saving lives, contact your local Hatzalah representative.

--------------------------------------
This is a public service warning that you should be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to whom you are dealing with.

I don't have any specific details yet about this, but it seems there is someone going around the neighborhood, dressed up as a member of Hatzalah, and "molesting" children. I don't know how far the molesting goes, but he seems to get the kids attention and trust by posing as a beloved member of Hatzalah.

I am only posting this even though I don't know too many details because of the gravity of the situation, and the fact that anyway it is good to teach kids not to speak to strangers, no matter what uniform they are wearing. As well, many people already know about it, chain calls are going around telling people to not leave their kids alone outside, etc.

So keep your eyes open...

I don't know which paper this was taken from (looks to me like Yated, but I don't know if it is true), but it is a great laugh pre-Purim.

It says to make sure you do not listen to Parshas Zachor beinmg read by a yeshiva bachur/kollel guy who learns full time.
Just like it says that a woman should not read Zachor but a man should because only a man is part of the commandment of goign to war and wiping out Amalek, so also with yeshuva boys who learn full time - they are exempt from participating in "milchemes mitzva".

Therefore, because they are exempt from war, they are also not obligated to read Parshas Zachor, and therefore cannot be "motzi" other people. So you should be careful to only hear Zachor read by someone obligated in battle.

Who knows - maybe it is Purim Torah!!!

In Israel, strike are so common that...on the Ministry of Commerce website they have a link to search for which office is on strike...

An Anonymous Guest Post

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Yesterday my wife got on the #14 Superbus by the RBS-Bet shopping center. Note the #14 bus _is not_ a mehadrin bus, and passes through all of Beit Shemesh, RBS-B, and RBS-A.

She duly got on the front of the bus and paid, and had to walk towards the rear to find seating. She then watched as several RBS-B ladies got on through the rear door, did not pay and sat themselves down in the back. She watched this happen multiple times as the bus headed up the hill, women getting on and usually off after a few stops - often taking significant time (with strollers and young children, B"H) - just not paying.

That evening she was discussing this at our dinner table. I jokingly said to my daughters "so there you see, if you don't have any money no need to worry about paying for the bus, being female just get on through the rear door and don't pay". My older daughter responded, "I can't do such a thing, I'm frum."

We speculated on what is going on here. Kav schut, possibly all these ladies have monthly bus passes and are just not taking the time to show them. Since the #14 is not a mehadrin bus (neither by custom, community standard nor company policy), I don't understand why the bus driver is allowing rear entry and not checking passes or payment.

Kind of makes you feel like a frier.

That said, if these women are taking advantage of the new bus company (who doesn't want to rile up the community by requiring front bus door entry?) then we have a situation of a community chumra violating a halacha d'orisa.

My daughter also noted that in Jerusalem, Egged has deployed a heavy presence of bus inspectors SPECIFICALLY on the charedi busy bus lines. They are going through the whole crowd requiring receipts, examining card punches against the driver's punch, and being very thorough. The fact Egged would feel a need to target charedi busy lines is a Chillul Hashem. Yet I would seem to begin to understand why.

There are some cultural historical reasons that have lead Jewish communities to have to avoid government rules just to survive, far to many such lessons from the Eastern European past. But I suspect, besides the direct act itself, people are hurting themselves here. When Superbus comes back in a year or two and says they can't be profitable on the routes - or can't allow mehadrin due to the losses, wait for the riots to start. But the foundation of the problem started now.

Last night my shiur held a siyum. We finished learning Yoreh Dei'ah vol.3 and began learning Even Ha'Ezer.

Even Ha'Ezer deals mostly with the halachos relevant between man and wife, and it starts off with the topic of "Be Fruitful and Multiply" - Pirya V'Rivya.

As we were going through an introduction, a guy comes in and asks to say a few words. He tells us how he has been married 6 years and they are infertile, the treatments are not covered by the national health care and cost him $2000 per month. He and his wife both work and that is how they pay their regular living expenses, but they cannot afford the expense of the medicine and treatments....

Talk about good timing! Just as we were learning the importance of the mitzva of having children, this guy shows up and describes his problem.

Of course people gave him money and good wishes.

He would have had even better timing if he should up 20 minutes later, right after we came across a statement in the rishonim (if I remember correctly) that said one should give money to help others, who cannot, have children...

Purim is a cursed day, supposedly. Supposedly, Purim has been cursed, in Israel, to have bad weather - cool, rainy, etc. The purpose of the curse is to avoid people dressing in untzniusdikke styles and costumes.

Personally I have heard the curse as having been wrought by the Hazon Ish, the Steipler, Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and the Brisker Rav. Maybe others have heard other names as the source of the curse.

I have also heard the curse on Purim in general, Purim in Jerusalem, and Purim in Bnei Brak.

It could be that the curse, if it really exists, is the reason for the crazy weather we are about to have. We just went from stormy to nice. By shabbos it is going to get into heat wave weather with temperatures as high as 28-30 (mid 80's). By Monday-Tuesday - Purim - the forecasters are predicting rain again with cooler temperatures...



Side point: does anyone have credible information on the origin and specifics of the curse?

I imagine that if you know Yiddish you will enjoy this Purim music video even more.... (I only understood parts of it)


(HT:dafneighbor)