4.26.2010
Tipat Chassidut - Without a Woman
(Zohar III, 109b, 296a.)
Similarly there is a Talmudic principle that ishto k'gufo, "a man's wife is like his very body," (Menachos 93b)
4.25.2010
Random Video Clips with Atara
Elevator in MOMA
In Central Park
Playing with mittens and animal hats by Bryant Park - Feb '10
Fort Tryon Park - March '10
4.22.2010
ENGAGED!!
Atara and I were just engaged on Sunday, April 18th.
How did I pop the question? Rowboat. I think it's the smartest idea, because say she doesn't accept? Well, I guess a nice swim in cold water is more up speed! Just Kidding. I knew she would accept because everyday she would ask me to propose. I thought it would be a little more romantic in Central Park than in a sushi place.
We had a Lechaim right afterward (first we went to Noidue to eat. Shh), and a lot of very good friends came by to wish us mazel tov and give brechos, etc. It was a lot of fun. My favorite part was when everyone was gone and we had a lot of left overs to take home.
Now, we're just deciding when to have the wedding. Atara and I just went to Bed Bath and Beyond to register. So...how about being really really nice and getting us the 6 $220 5 pc place settings we want?? Thanks!
3.23.2010
Uncle Arthur
A few interesting points to know about Uncle Arthur:
- It might not be a good idea to send him manure as a gift on Farmville.
- Pesach desserts irritate him.
- He thinks of his cockapoo (sp?) as one of his children and refers to him as "the 3 year old"
Oh, and Le Marais' chocolate mousse is the bomb diggity. Just know that.
3.16.2010
SHE SURVIVED!
"Someone go down and get the garbage. I need to check my sterling."
"No, no. Don't use a brown colored bag to take the food. Take this white bag. I would never travel with a brown colored bag."
Hehe. Here are some pics.
3.10.2010
Goin to FL
I've eaten waaay too much dairy this week, and I feel like puking. Chobani Chobaniiii
3.07.2010
3.05.2010
3.03.2010
Purim Weekend in Monsey
Atara and I thought it best (Atara's mother thought it best) that we leave Thursday only because the snow storm was so bad. Getting to the Monsey bus on 42nd and 5th was the most dreadful time, because the ground was covered in an icey wet slush of death, so it made everything 10 times more difficult. I had to carry Atara on my back all the way to Wesley Hills.
Long story really really short - we got there, everything was super dandy, ate a lot of food, and then went across the street to sleep over at the Benisz's, who are fantastic people. Then, the power went out early Friday morning! Woo! Everyone in the neighborhood was freaking out, because whatcha gonna do before Shabbos with no power? I felt so badly for Atara's mother! Everything worked out though and was spectacular. Though, davening in shul was weird becasue we lit about 50 yartzeit candles, which made my eyes kill. All in all, food was great, company was great, all was great.
Until I got sick Motzei Shabbos. I thought that it was just food poisoning from eating unrefrigerated salad and mayo, but it turned out to be a stomach virus that was going around the neighborhood. So, my Purim wasn't so festive. Just a stomach ache and a chaffed bum. Then, I got Atara sick along with her little brother. eeek. sorry.
I left Monsey a happy camper though. I had a great time. Atara's family is wonderful. And special. Marc Benisz is a wise man.
Atara just left to go back to Brooklyn :(
3.02.2010
Where's the QUEESH, WOMAN?! "It's spelled quiche...., honey"
12.07.2009
I'm Alive
I had swine flu a few weeks ago. My relationship is going very well. The research I have been doing has been a little stagnant, but I gave two sick presentation to my team. One was about Al-Bedoin sign language, and the other was about verb acquisition in children.
I'm also going to try to start painting thanks to the encouragement of Atara and Brad Pitt. God knows I don't want to be held at gun point in the back of a convenient store...
I'm pretty excited about going home in January. The weather is going to be awesome and the beach spectacular. Oh boy. Bring out the mankini!
11.03.2009
So, is it a Chazaka?
So, an ambullette rammed a truck, the two front tires were lifted off the ground, and then an SUV smashed into the back of the ambullette. Somone was FOR SURE hurt.
Again, the quality of blackberry videos is horrendous. Say a kpitel please.
On a better note- Had a great date last night. 7 hours. Beat that! Went to Battery Park and sorta watched the sunset, made chocolate chip pancakes, drank decent Indian beer, and went rock climbing. I had fun. Did you??? wink wink wink. Not, you Ely. :)
11.02.2009
Combo in the NYC Marathon
Here is a clip of me chasing Combo once we saw him.
And, what's a 28 mile marathon without an after-party at the star runner's sister's apt? Everyone met back at Combo's sister Ilana's place for some nosh, drinks, and to congratulate Combo. Plus, we wanted to make sure he replenished the 5,000 calories he burned during 4 hours of running. Lots of FUUUN
Here's a reaallly poor quality clip I recorded on my blackberry of his little speech thanking his family, friends, and Hashem YisboraCh WOOT WOOT!
10.28.2009
Yosef Karduner Videos
The song list is as follows:
Mashiach Yavo
MeGronecha
Nosim LaRebbe
HaAleinu LeEretz Yisrael
Taamin And Niggun of Ein Shum Yeush
A Story by Reb Noson
KsheAdam Yodeah
Shir LeMaalot
LeKaf Zechut And Hashem Melech
Hazireinu Bitsuvah
Gesher Tzar Meod
Maggid of Mezritch Niggun
Im Ein Ani
Taiti
Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai
Yedid Nefesh
10.27.2009
Yosef Karduner in the Heights
However, Yosef Karduner is a tzaddik and a beautiful musician. His music is so crisp and his voice is so uplifting. Aside from that, he's a Breslover, and I'm huge into that. A lot of his lyrics are from Likutei Moharan or Likutei Halachos.
I recorded about an hour of the concert for everyone's viewing pleasure. I'll probably upload all 18 videos tomorrow. I would have stayed a little longer, but one of my friends who lives on the Upper West Side leaves all of his hockey shit in my apartment for his games in the Muss basement gym.
It sort of seems that he is starting to create a trend. I went to a HIM concert last December at the Nokia Theatre, and I had to leave about 30 minutes before the show was over because he couldn't stand their music. He's cute.
On another note- I feel like I'm slacking off in school. Midterms started this week, and I really don't have so much work. But, just because everyone else is freaking out and I'm not I feel like I'm not doing something right- maybe I'm too relaxed about everything? Maybe I should be freaking out too? I have been skipping class the past few days though. I'm just getting really sick of school. It's definitely time for a break.
Oh, and this morning I went climbing with Yatzi. I don't know HOW I managed to get myself in this position, but it hurt. It's kinda Greek God-ish according to Yatzkov. Eh.
10.24.2009
Oh, so Jews Are Poisoning the Wells Again? Er...Not Really
I'm actually in Boro Park now. I work at a home for disabled individuals. I hope to God they have all had vaccines for Measles. Then again, vaccines don't prevent getting the disease 100%. It sort of just protects you a little bit. Check Wikipedia out for Mumps. It's pretty scary.
Don't let anyone breathe on you in the subways... Yucky
Gut Voch :)
10.20.2009
Guido LOOVES Wasabi
So, it's pretty clear that Obama's Change has yet to come. Actually, that's not true. He's going to change America into a third world communist cesspool. Not because he's black. I'm not a racist, but my grandparents are. If they weren't Jewish I'm convinced that all of their bed sheets would be white. I hate speaking to them about Obama, because no matter which of his plans we speak about it always comes back to the fact that he's a Muslim operative planted in the White House. Why are old people so against Socialism? And Black People?
Oh, and we know that he's terrible for Israel. But, does that really matter? Shouldn't the fate of Israel be in the hands of the Jewish people alone? Maybe it is. Oh, and Obama is the Anti-Christ, supposedly...
8.26.2009
8.20.2009
NOOO!!
Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Mon 8/24
Doors 8:00 PM / Show 9:00 PM
$20 advance / $20 day of show
So, I'm a little pissed. The Mew show in Brooklyn is SOLD OUT (and at Terminal 5). And the worst thing is that a few days ago when I checked it I could have bought a ticket, but my dumb ass thought that there was still time.
I could head over there and hope that they have a few extras just before the show. I pulled this shit last year too when they were playing at Indigo Plaza....idiot
WHOOOOA IN FLORIDA!
I havent posted in a hella long time, partly because this summer I have been very busy, and because most of the time I dont have access to a computer. Beleive it.
So, for now I'm in West Palm with the fam before fall semester starts, and it's HOTTER THAN AN AUSCHWITZ PIZZA OVEN HERE!
You read right! It's friggin hot here, and the humidity will make your balls sweat enough perspiration to fill a two liter bottle of coke. Very quickly. Yummy!
I'm going back to NY on Monday. Should be fun.
7.09.2009
Music of NYC- JAZZ BROADWAY AND 39TH
With a brief appearance by the L-Train. In front of the Golda Meir Head Statue.
7.08.2009
Raz Hartman Clips - Washington Heights June 30, 2009
Awesome night. He played in an apt on Wadsworth and 188th for about two hours. Brought sooo much color and life to the Heights! Wooo!
Sorry the quality sucks...
5.28.2009
חג שבועות שמח
Chag Sameach!
______________________________
Excerpts from a letter
By the Grace of G-d
Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5724 [1964]
Brooklyn, NY
In this way the Torah emphasizes that the festival of Shavuoth is the goal of the festival of Pesach; that the Season of the Giving of Our Torah is the culmination of the Season of Our Freedom -- that the true and complete freedom, both for the individual as well as for the community, and both materially and spiritually, can be attained only through the acceptance of the Torah.
We live in a time and in a country where, notwithstanding external "freedom", the society in general, and the young generation in particular, are still largely "enslaved," and at a loss how to free themselves from the shackles of spiritual and mental confusion. The only hope that Jewish children should not be swept with this stream lies in a Torah education, where the golden chain of the Torah from Sinai is maintained; the Torah in all its sanctity, the Torah of Truth which must always remain intact, and cannot be subject to compromise or concession
[Signature]
______________________________
Nutso Preacher - DC H St and 8th
I was away from NY for about a week. Went to Univ. of Maryland to see some friends, and EVERYONE was grabbing my beard. I think it was the end of finals, so everyone was out having a good time, and as I was walking down Knox to Princeton, about 20 people yanked on my beard. Face was VERY sore haha
I also went to visit the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, NC, and chilled with a good friend in Fredricksburg, VA. I had the feeling that I was the first Jew many of the locals had ever seen in their lives....
I took the Eastern Travel bus from DC to NY, and as I was waiting, this guy was standing nearby on the corner of H St and 8th Ave. Jesus this, Jesus that. I'll cut off my foot for you, so you don't go to hell...A lot of rubbish, but really really entertaining. Enjoy!
5.17.2009
Why the Plague?
I was discussing the whole situation with my roommate, because it's very perplexing that Rabbi Akiba's students would treat each other so poorly when their Rebbe was the vanguard of preaching Ahavas Chinam. How was this possible?
So, he told me that the Lubavitcher Rebbe once said that each of Rabbi Akiba's students interpreted their Rebbe's teachings the way they saw fit. Meaning, Yankel treated Moshe the way he THOUGHT he should treat him, and Yaakov treated Simcha in accordance to what he thought was appropriate.
When we interact with another human being in such a way that we THINK we know what's best for him, we will usually end up causing more harm than good . We are merely looking into this person's life from the outside without having a single clue as to what is really best for him.
So, I said that it only makes sense that the famous adage of "love your neighbor as yourself" was stated as the NEW standard once the plague was over. I don't know if this is written somewhere, and if it is tell me please.
Now, when we understand that we must love another human being as we love ourselves we relate to that person on a totally different level. Before we behave or say something to another human being we must first pause and consider whether or not we would be offended if such things were said to us. When we consider Rabbi Akiba's adage we no longer stand on the outside and assume what's best for another, but rather we stand in the shoes of our neighbor and know what will insult or harm him, because we are positive that it will insult us!
We should all have the zchus to speak to others in a way that serves only to teach and encourage shmiras HaTorah and the adherence to derech eretz-a lashon that's free from lashon hara. This will certainly encourage Ahavas Chinam and expedite Mashiach's arrival.
5.15.2009
1ST Video on YouTube!
More To Come! It's gonna be insane!!
Wow...I have such a bad sinus headache right now. And, Abnormal Psychology final tomorrow before I go to Brooklyn. So, time for bed!
5.13.2009
Beautiful Washington Heights
When I first moved to Washington Heights three years ago I had NO idea how I was going to manage- let alone New York altogether. I was coming straight from the homey, cozy Greensboro, NC, where I was practically living in Gan Eden.
Between the smell of rotting garbage, graffiti, and Hispanic music blasting until 4AM in the streets, I really didn't think I was going to make it. I didn't even know how I was going to survive in YU, because I had never lived in such a dense, frum community. But that's for another time.
Anyway, Washington Heights has become my home, and I have grown to love it. Many would consider it to be the armpit of Manhattan, but I like to think of it as the sweet spot.
If you have ever been to the Heights, you certainly know about Ft. Tryon Park. It stands above the Hudson River nOn 191st and Ft. Washington, and is BEAUTIFUL. The day that I found Ft. Tryon park was the day the Heights became a million times more tolerable.
Just today I went and found a remote spot and did some intense hisbodedus. It was incredible. After which I learned a little from Torah Daled in LM. Good stuff. If you live in the NY area and you HAVEN'T been to Ft. Tryon Park - you gotta go. It blows Central Park out of the water.
We should all be zocheh to see the sechel she'yesh bekol davar....even on St. Nick...