There are many things to be thankful for. As a Jew, I give thanks three times a day. However, I don't mind celebrating Thanksgiving. For some reason, many, if not most New York Orthodox Jews refuse to celebrate this Holiday much as they refuse to celebrate Yom Hatzmot. Is there anything that these people are thankful for?!
Well, I am thankful for G-d, for family, for a job, for my health and the health of my family, for electricity, for cars, for technology and many more things (not in any specific order).
But, this post is not actually about giving thanks. This post is about 3 letters that I read in the "Country Yossi" magazine. CY happens to be one of the better Jewish mags that are out there and as many magazines, it has a "letters to the editor" section. I read three letters in this month's edition that reminded me of why I hate this place and the mentality of the people here.
I will comment on the letters that I read.
1) The first letter is by some guy who is freaking out about Jewish concerts that don't meet his standards. At one concert that he attended it "had Israeli male dancers with their shirts flying out and halfway opened and no undershirt underneath." At another concert he "had to walk out...where they featured a... rap singer singing songs that sounded like the songs... coming from a red racing sports car zooming down the highway". This is one of those "holier than thou" guys who is preaching what people should and should not do... EVEN THOUGH HE IS GOING TO THE CONCERTS!! What an ass. As long as he was wearing his white shirts, black pants, etc., it's OK for him to attend the concert. Well, sir, if you don't enjoy the Jewish concerts, STAY IN YOUR HOUSE!! Leave everyone else the hell alone.
2) The next letter comes from "a single mother of three and struggling to make ends meet every month." Apparently, this women "was diagnosed with skin cancer and her surgery on her face to remove basal cell carcinoma." She had recently left one job to go to a new job. Her old boss, who in her words, "owns a beautiful home and is an executive of a prospering business," had his secretary call her to tell her that if she "wanted medical coverage from after the 12th of the month (her last day) until the end of the month, she should pay for it." I am not saying that this guy should have paid for it, although that is exactly what I am saying. People have no mercy and no compassion. It is not a community. It is everyone for themselves.
3) The last letter comes from some person who is pissed off at the attitude of the Jewish store owners. We have all had issues with purchasing, exchanging, returning items from or to a Jewish owned store. I am not saying that every Jewish store owner is an ass. But the same New York Jewish attitude that these people bring to their shuls and schools is what they bring to the stores they own. I personally have decided not to shop at a couple of Jewish owned store after receiving bad service. Maybe these people think that their brethren will shop at their stores no matter what. Well, not me.
These are the people that I live with in New York. They are the reason that I want to get out of here. Fast.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
City Life
Why do we continue to live in the New York's, the Los Angeles', The Miami's, etc. of America? Why don't we prefer to live in a place where housing is affordable for our community? Look at Lakewood. It once was an affordable place, but now most people moving there are moving to "the outskirts" of Lakewood because very few people can afford to live in Lakewood. Why can't we figure this out? Aren't there enough rich people to help support the masses?! It doesn't make sense to me, but I will continue to try and find something better. I need to do it for myself and for my family.
Where and with who? What will be the necessary things that I would want for a community? Who will I want to live with or near? I haven't figured it out but I will.
I don't want to live in a house attached on both sides. I don't want to live in an apartment or condo. I want to live in a house with a driveway and a bedroom for each child and a garage and a yard for the children to play in. There are communities like this all over America. So why do I have to live in a place with a 4' x 4' yard (if I'm lucky)? Why do I need to live with upstairs or downstairs neighbors? I don't and you don't either. It's just a matter of finding that place and going. Jobs are everywhere. The income that I'll (you'll) lose in a move out of a big city, you will more than gain in affordable housing, a healthier lifestyle, a friendlier environment for your family, & a happy home.
Unfortunately, it's impossible for a religious Jew to do a move like that by him or herself. We need community. We need a school. We need a Shul. We need Kosher food. This has to be a group effort. My hand is already raised. Are you at least thinking of raising yours?
Where and with who? What will be the necessary things that I would want for a community? Who will I want to live with or near? I haven't figured it out but I will.
I don't want to live in a house attached on both sides. I don't want to live in an apartment or condo. I want to live in a house with a driveway and a bedroom for each child and a garage and a yard for the children to play in. There are communities like this all over America. So why do I have to live in a place with a 4' x 4' yard (if I'm lucky)? Why do I need to live with upstairs or downstairs neighbors? I don't and you don't either. It's just a matter of finding that place and going. Jobs are everywhere. The income that I'll (you'll) lose in a move out of a big city, you will more than gain in affordable housing, a healthier lifestyle, a friendlier environment for your family, & a happy home.
Unfortunately, it's impossible for a religious Jew to do a move like that by him or herself. We need community. We need a school. We need a Shul. We need Kosher food. This has to be a group effort. My hand is already raised. Are you at least thinking of raising yours?
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Where
Where would a group of New Yorkers want to move in order to start a new community? I've heard various ideas ranging from the Monsey area to Long Island to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I'm thinking about a little bit more out than that.
While I don't know where exactly I want to move, I do know that there is no reason that a house should cost me more than $300,000-$350,000. There are thousands of beautiful houses across the United States that can be had for as little as $200,000 for a 4 bedroom. Now, that's where I want to be. Obviously salaries in those areas will be much less compared to a New York salary, but the ratio of salary to cost of house is much much lower out there.
Of course there is the whole problem of not being like the people around you. Can a New Yorker even live a "normal" life if it's not in an active town/city?! Yes! The idea, as I've stated before, is to get a bunch of people interested in this. If 25-30 families picked up and went, it would be a lot easier for everyone involved. The question still remains; Where?
While I don't know where exactly I want to move, I do know that there is no reason that a house should cost me more than $300,000-$350,000. There are thousands of beautiful houses across the United States that can be had for as little as $200,000 for a 4 bedroom. Now, that's where I want to be. Obviously salaries in those areas will be much less compared to a New York salary, but the ratio of salary to cost of house is much much lower out there.
Of course there is the whole problem of not being like the people around you. Can a New Yorker even live a "normal" life if it's not in an active town/city?! Yes! The idea, as I've stated before, is to get a bunch of people interested in this. If 25-30 families picked up and went, it would be a lot easier for everyone involved. The question still remains; Where?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
The Children
One of the main reasons a person should want to move out of the Brooklyn/Queens, etc. area is because of the way children are raised here. I admit that there are plenty of "good" people who were born and raised in these areas. However, I have seen one too many children either totally lose themselves or worse believe that there is nothing wrong with them, when anyone speaking to them knows that they are following a path that is not at all proper.
Ethics of our Fathers clearly states that "Derech Eretz Kudma Latorah", proper behavior comes before the study of the Torah. How many people do you and I know who believe that as long as you look the look and even talk the talk, you are absolved of any crime towards other individuals, be it a crime of theft, speech, hate, etc. As long as you did your time in school, you are OK.
Excuse me, but what Bull Shit is that? Whatever happened to "Doing onto others as you want done to yourself"? Whatever happened to Achdus, unity? Well, I will tell you what happened. They stopped teaching it in schools. The schools wanted to enroll as many children as possible and almost every parent wants their child to grow up into a learner, so the schools started leaning more towards learning and less towards teaching behavior. It's a damn shame when you see people that can be so good, but fail miserably. Sinas Chinam runs rampant. This sect hates that sect. That sect thinks those are Christians. These followers physically assault that followers of their "leaders'" brother. (Off topic: What kind of leaders are these?!) We are clashing with ourselves. We are hurting ourselves. We are killing ourselves.
It's time for a change. Time to teach values, to teach love, to teach tolerance. As the sages teach "Woe to the evil person and woe to his neighbor." Sometimes the best option is to pick yourself up and move. Start over. Clean house. Whatever you want to call it. But don't look back at Sodom burning. "What's mine is mine and what's yours is yours", is what the Sodomites said. Look around your neighborhood. People can't pay tuition while others get tuition breaks because all of their income is "off the books". They are stealing from their neighbors, their fellow congregants.
Pack your backs and move. It's time.
Sorry about the rant, but it's hard not to when you see the injustices done.
My original point is still valid. The schools are not doing the job. The owners are more worried about the money than the children, and the teachers are struggling to put food on their tables. The fact remains that there are very few schools that teach our children how to be human beings first and students next. We've got to be worried about the next generation because look how this one turned out.
Ethics of our Fathers clearly states that "Derech Eretz Kudma Latorah", proper behavior comes before the study of the Torah. How many people do you and I know who believe that as long as you look the look and even talk the talk, you are absolved of any crime towards other individuals, be it a crime of theft, speech, hate, etc. As long as you did your time in school, you are OK.
Excuse me, but what Bull Shit is that? Whatever happened to "Doing onto others as you want done to yourself"? Whatever happened to Achdus, unity? Well, I will tell you what happened. They stopped teaching it in schools. The schools wanted to enroll as many children as possible and almost every parent wants their child to grow up into a learner, so the schools started leaning more towards learning and less towards teaching behavior. It's a damn shame when you see people that can be so good, but fail miserably. Sinas Chinam runs rampant. This sect hates that sect. That sect thinks those are Christians. These followers physically assault that followers of their "leaders'" brother. (Off topic: What kind of leaders are these?!) We are clashing with ourselves. We are hurting ourselves. We are killing ourselves.
It's time for a change. Time to teach values, to teach love, to teach tolerance. As the sages teach "Woe to the evil person and woe to his neighbor." Sometimes the best option is to pick yourself up and move. Start over. Clean house. Whatever you want to call it. But don't look back at Sodom burning. "What's mine is mine and what's yours is yours", is what the Sodomites said. Look around your neighborhood. People can't pay tuition while others get tuition breaks because all of their income is "off the books". They are stealing from their neighbors, their fellow congregants.
Pack your backs and move. It's time.
Sorry about the rant, but it's hard not to when you see the injustices done.
My original point is still valid. The schools are not doing the job. The owners are more worried about the money than the children, and the teachers are struggling to put food on their tables. The fact remains that there are very few schools that teach our children how to be human beings first and students next. We've got to be worried about the next generation because look how this one turned out.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
A reply to "The Poker Grind"
In my previous topic, I mentioned a possible charitable organization that would help people in a new community afford a down payment on a house. The Poker Grind replied to that topic here: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6211062033346602424&postID=7339826081785940521.
I just wanted to respond to The Poker Grind.
While I am not saying that it is one's right to own a house. And, again, I am also not saying that I know that the charitable organization would be halachically correct.
I am saying is that anytime you start a new community, the costs for the first few families is very large, because of the lack of Kosher food, Jewish schools, Mikvah, Sefer Torah, Shul/community center, etc. I believe that it would be a lot easier to convince people to take on the challenge by offering help with the house. If I am not mistaken, I believe that the Jewish community in or around Baltimore offers young couples the down payment on their house as a free loan and if the couple lives there for a certain amount of years, the loan is waved.
Once again, I am not saying that I have all the answers or even know all the questions. I am just shooting from the lip. Some of my thoughts will be correct and some will be false.
Maybe it was/is wrong of me to think that people would more easily move to a new community, when it is easier for them to live in their own house.
Last thought, I doubt a mortgage in this new community, where ever it might be, would be $3,500/month. Once again, that is exactly one of the main reasons that people are flocking out of NYC. People can not afford $3,500/month. If the down payment was made for these families on a house in a new neighborhood, their former rent payments would probably cover most, if not all, of the mortgage.
I am glad to see that other opinions will be formed on this blog. It is the main reason that I started to write it. Thank you, The Poker Grind.
I just wanted to respond to The Poker Grind.
While I am not saying that it is one's right to own a house. And, again, I am also not saying that I know that the charitable organization would be halachically correct.
I am saying is that anytime you start a new community, the costs for the first few families is very large, because of the lack of Kosher food, Jewish schools, Mikvah, Sefer Torah, Shul/community center, etc. I believe that it would be a lot easier to convince people to take on the challenge by offering help with the house. If I am not mistaken, I believe that the Jewish community in or around Baltimore offers young couples the down payment on their house as a free loan and if the couple lives there for a certain amount of years, the loan is waved.
Once again, I am not saying that I have all the answers or even know all the questions. I am just shooting from the lip. Some of my thoughts will be correct and some will be false.
Maybe it was/is wrong of me to think that people would more easily move to a new community, when it is easier for them to live in their own house.
Last thought, I doubt a mortgage in this new community, where ever it might be, would be $3,500/month. Once again, that is exactly one of the main reasons that people are flocking out of NYC. People can not afford $3,500/month. If the down payment was made for these families on a house in a new neighborhood, their former rent payments would probably cover most, if not all, of the mortgage.
I am glad to see that other opinions will be formed on this blog. It is the main reason that I started to write it. Thank you, The Poker Grind.
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