We closed on an apartment

Today we signed a contract on an apartment. So far I gave away lots of cash in return for a piece of paper. We are supposed to move in in September. I almost own a piece of Eretz Yisrael.

Asking Rabbis and The Value of Semicha

I have had a few really bad experiences in the past few months with asking Rabbis halachic questions. The answers varied from “You know how to learn, go look it up yourself” to insensitive to wrong to plainly being ignored. A lot of people around here insist on asking Rabbis shailos regardless of whether they know the answer themselves or not. It’s almost like they need an approval for everything they do, because they are too chicken to assume responsibility for their own actions.

So when I finally saw RYGB’s article, The Value of Semicha, (p. 149-154) published on this subject it made me feel better. It turns out I am not the only one who thinks that not everything needs to be asked and you can solve shailos yourself without having the “Rabbi”title.

And yes, this exactly why I am not becoming a Rabbi. The title itself is worthless and it represents nothing.

I fell into the Jordan River

I went hiking with a friend in the Golan and while we were water rafting on the Jordan I got wacked by a tree in a really rough part and fell into the river. Now I know how Naaman got rid of his tzaras.