Before we start I just want you to watch this amazing hand shadow commercial. It’s amazing.

Alright and now for some links on this quiet and calm Friday morning.

Yid with Lid posts an exchange he had with Jeff Halper, an Anti Israel activist.

Julie sends another Moshav video from that concert. Here is Return Again, one of my favorite songs. See the rest here.

The other day I wrote about the horrible comments people leave on frum news blogs. Well, someone emailed me a link to a new site, without those comments. I’d say try it out.

That anti-semite “Amber” on CBS’s Big Brother game show was evicted last night.

A new restaurant opened on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights. It looks great, and I can’t wait to try it. They have a huge salad bar, pizza, pasta and excellent sandwiches. There are already two other locations in Flatbush and Boro Park.

The JMR blog has new music from Yishai Lapidot and a music video from Akiva Margolit.

Last but not least, researchers in Israel think they may have found more of the 2nd BeisHamikdash . I’d like to see who this plays out.

Boom!

Julie sent me some great videos of Moshav Band playing in Jerusalem.

Here are two more.

You remember those Anti-Semitic remarks Amber Siyavus made on this season’s Big Brother?

Well this week Amber is one of the two house guests who may possibly be evicted from the house. Traditionally the last half of the contestants to be kicked out go to what is called a “Jury House.” They stay at an undisclosed location in sequester until the game is down to the final two and then whoever is on the jury votes between the final two for the winner.

CBS has warned all members of the press that when the evicted house guest is made available for questions “those remarks” are off limits.

Many bloggers who have had that access in the past are now declining to conduct the interview in protest and now the AP has also decided to sit out the interview.

If Siyavus, who’s nominated for eviction this week, is booted from the house, she won’t have to answer to the media about her comments. That’s because the reporters granted access to houseguests-turned-jury members have been told by CBS they must agree not to ask Siyavus or Cameron about the controversial remarks.

Traditionally, reporters interviewing the six sequestered evictees who will make up the show’s jury and decide the $500,000 grand-prize winner usually agree to only ask houseguests about conversations that they were physically present for in the house.

So why is asking Siyavus about her own comments off limits?

“Big Brother 8″ executive producer Allison Grodner declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press. A CBS spokeswoman said asking Siyavus or Cameron about the comments could influence the jury voters and affect the integrity of the game.

“If we’re going to interview them, we should we able to ask the questions that are on viewers’ minds,” says Dehnart. “We shouldn’t just agree to participate in the production of the show and protect the participants from whatever information the producers don’t want us to hear.”

The AP will decline to interview Siyavus and Cameron.

Kudos to the AP and any blogger or journalist who decides not to conduct the interview. If anyone who is reading this is a site that usually has access send a message to CBS by saying NO! to Anti-Semitism.

Don’t brush this off people. If you have a few minutes you MUST watch this.

It’s laughoutloud funny. It’s so insane it will actually make you laugh. They are so ignorant and filled with misinformation it actually becomes comical.

Here is the story.

To view the videos click here, here, and here

To air your concerns, you can email the Police Chief at: e-mail@columbuspolice.org

My newest friend and avid reader Y-Love writes more about frum racism. Thanks for the links and all the blog love. Go over and check out his new look. I love it. It looks great!

It’s like they don’t even try anymore to make anything out of the video. I’m sorry, but this is not what a music video is supposed to be. Absolutely nothing happens during this video. Nothing. It’s just a video camera in Lipa’s face while he sings the song. What a shame, why even bother? I think they are wasting Lipa’s talents with videos like this. Especially Lipa, he could do some really out of the box video concepts. But alas, this is what we get. It happens to be a great song off one of his best albums.

UPDATE: This is not a new clip. Not that it makes it any less horrible.

Click To Play

(Via Gruntig)

I didn’t think much of the actual songs on the first album, but I think Michoel does have a nice voice. I’ve heard him in person and he can really sing. With the right songs and the right creativity he could put out a great album. Is this new CD that album? I guess we’ll find out.

Here is the sample Mostly Music has on their website and that I was e-mailed.

My favorite Lubavitch Rock band goes on mainstream radio and hilarity ensues.

It’s a fun interview so listen and then if you’re in NY why don’t you go to the show.

(I wish I could but I’ll be working late today)

You can also read a review of the new album at The Forward.

Prepare to be sickened though. Everything from the phrases to the images to the misrepresentations to the incredible stretches she makes to equate Jewish settlers to Palestinian terrorists. It’s just nauseating. Here are a couple other links first.

Here is honest reporting on the special and here is a great point by point smack down of the slanted liberal anti Israel report.

PART 1

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11

(via Gruntig)

For a long time now posts at Chaptzem and Voz Iz Naies end up with racist comments or comments against other types of Yidden. Stories about seemingly nothing will spiral out of control into just the most offensive comments. I guess we’ve all just come to accept that it happens there.

Since the Yeshiva World blog began I’ve found it a good source for news from … well .. the Yeshiva World. But the comment section has been going down hill for a while now. It seems that things certain people may only say behind closed doors, certain racist thoughts or just all together unmentschlich comments are more and more common.

It seems like people feel its ok to talk like this. Maybe somehow they think this makes them seem more frum, more cutoff from the “outside” world. Maybe they just don’t know any better.

Today Yeshiva World posted a story/warning about GPS’s being stolen from cars in Lakewood. Right away the racism and nastiness began.

This is a comment I just left at Yeshiva World.

—————————————

I can’t believe talk like this so openly. I can only assume its because you have a false sense of security by posting on an anonymous blog. I’d like to hear you all talk like this about Mexicans around them when they clean your house, take care of your kids, keep your beis medrashes and shuls clean and looking good. I’d like to to hear you speak like this with any Mexicans you might do any business with.

When did being a decent human being go out of style? How about Chillul Hashem. This blog is public goyim could read they way you talk here. How about Yidden being above hatred, labels, racism and being judgmental.

You have no idea who stole this GPS. For all you know it could have been a drugged out white person or even (gasp!) a Jewish kid who wishes he had what every tom, dick and yankel has.

Regardless of who committed the crime this is not how Yidden are supposed to talk. Would the Chofetz Chayim condone such loshon about any other human being?

I hope the people who comment here don’t represent the main stream of the yeshivish and/or frum world. It’s a sad social commentary. I wish the YW editor would advise people to speak like menthsen and not behaimahs. ”

—————————————

I wish people would keep this in mind when commenting on blogs.

“If you wouldnt say it in person, in front of people whose respect you’d be afraid to lose. Don’t say it anywhere.”

This comes from Sara who left a comment on this post a little while ago.

“I was reading this book about Rav Shach (Artscroll) over Shabbos and I came across a story that reminded me of this topic.

Rashi comments “They were Yaakov’s sons, yet nonetheless they conducted themselves as ‘Shimon and Levi,’ like other men who are not his sons, for they did not seek advice from him.

When a store selling offensive materials was burned down in Jerusalem, the police arrested three yeshiva students for arson. One of them was sentenced to a year and a half in jail.

In his discourse at the yeshiva, Rav Shach spoke about the matter, saying: “We learn everything from the Holy Torah, based on the principle of the ‘actions of the fathers are signs for the children.’ We even learn from the Torah how to fight. One should not use criminal tactics for the benefit of the Torah world. In this regard, on his deathbed Yaakov said about them ’stolen tools are their weapons.’ As Rashi there explains, this craft of murder is in their possession by theft; it is from the blessing of Esau.”

Well that couldn’t be more straight to the point and straight to the heart of what I’ve been writing about the last few weeks.

Just to recap for those keeping score at home. This is me, Chaim, a lifelong Lubavitcher, quoting and using Rab Shach to prove a point I’ve been making. Go ahead, accuse me of “going off the deep end” but just keep in mind who else said what I am saying way before I ever thought of it.

Apparently after over 100 years - today’s Gedolim have settled the great debate over “Heter Mechira.” (Selling your land symbolically to goyim during the shemita year)

We are indeed the holiest, smartest most perfect generation. I don’t even know why we need Moshiach. We have Eretz Yisroel and we have great leaders who are settling all of our problems.

We have peace throughout the Jewish community. We’re all sitting and learning night and day. No one goes to any unholy music concerts. No one eats strawberries or drinks unfiltered water. We don’t hike, we don’t swing our arms and we never never allow people to sell non kosher or sit near men on buses.

We are doing amazing. We must be at the highest levels of spirituality our nation has ever seen. Why would we need an era of utopia, isn’t life perfect enough now??

(for the first timers here - that was sarcasm)