A Series of Random Thoughts

[debka_notion]

1. One of the relevant books I found for a paper I'm working on is by Rabbi Al Axelrod, the former Brandeis Hillel rabbi, whom I know as a very sweet man who chants haftarah abnormally slowly (but with lovely trope and a lovely voice, and trope that I just found out another friend of mine shares- I like it quite a bit better than the more common haftarah trope that has never quite hit me right). My respect for the gentleman, of whom I've otherwise heard rather mixed things, has raised considerably: even mostly skimming parts of his book make me aware of how thoughtful he is. It's also interesting to read what he had to say about the Brandeis of quite a while ago.

2. Another book I read for this project went as far as to say that Christians have higher rates of marital infidelity, abuse and something else than Jewish ones, which is why you shouldn't marry a gentile. While I'm not in favor of intermarriage myself, it has nothing to do with non-Jews being bad people. redlily aschill and I snarked.

3. Yesterday there were three completely naked men running down Rabb steps as I was walking to my Yiddish final. Not something I needed to see.

4. There are two words on my Aramaic quiz that continue to stump me.

5. Shaws is definitely more expensive than Hannafords, nee Victory. But they challah. And more other kosher goods. And I found out why it's so hard to buy kosher Balsamic vinegar. What I don't understand is why if boiling wine makes it no-longer wine and thus no longer a worry for use in pagan religious ritual, why wine or grape based vinegar is still hard to get hechshered. I mean, vinegar is no longer wine or grape juice or anything one would consider religiously valid as far as I know...

Comments

[skyblue-dreamer.livejournal.com]

I have a mostly full bottle of balsamic vinegar that can be yours in only a few weeks, should you be interested.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I just bought some, but I very much like vinegar, so if you're looking to be rid of it, I would cheerfully participate in getting it off your hands as long as you aren't charging me exorbitantly.

[skyblue-dreamer.livejournal.com]

Free of charge! I will be looking to get rid of various and sundry food items, since I don't want to bring them all home with me.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Yay! Free food is almost always good.