Tim Tams: "He never gave up hope, he never lost sight of his goal"

Guest post from Kosherman:

Readers of last week's AJN will notice the newspaper celebrating an extraordinary Yom Tov. No, I am not referring to Shavuot but rather to the exciting and fantastic news that Rabbi Moshe Gutnick has convinced Arnotts company to produce "Kosher" Tim Tams.

I must admit that those intellectual giants who administer the news on behalf of our community showed massive restraint when reporting this most amazing event in the history of the Australian Jewish community.

Yes, they actually limited the Tim Tam story to the front cover, an article on page 3 (squeezed in amongst a couple of molestation stories), a Kron cartoon and...drum roll...an editorial!!

To quote their excitement: “It is indeed a milestone that as of today, kosher consumers across Australia can walk into any supermarket or store or petrol station and purchase these iconic Australian biscuits,” gushed KA rabbinic administrator Rabbi Moshe Gutnick.

After all the recent public criticism of our rabbis - usually led by the  same AJN - isn't it  lovely to see them acknowledge that we still have warm-hearted rabbis who positively gush at the thought of Jews piling on the kilos. To quote: "He never gave up hope, he never lost sight of his goal"!

Though not the purpose of my post, a quick Google search will show that while the rabbi gushes on about his achievement, both he and the AJN fail to mention other issues associated with the product - health-wise and ethical.

If any reader is interested, here are a few links which show that there are others in the general community who won't recommend this delicacy:

This YouTube clip (WARNING: a non-tzeniusly dressed woman) lists all the unhealthy and even dangerous ingredients noted on the packaging.

And here's another clip.

And from this website:  The chocolate coating in Tim Tams is not made from cocoa, but a mixture of artificial colours of Tartrazine (102), Sunset Yellow (110), Allura Red (129), Brilliant Blue (133) and Caramel (150). These additives are all suspect carcinogens.

So despite becoming Kosher (and I am surprised at the AJN's excitement about this - it is usually full of advertisements for non-Kosher establishments and products), it is unclear if Tim Tams are good for you.

But back to the Kashrus issue.

Despite the well-known views of Rav M Moshe Feinstein zt'l who permitted the consumption of Chalav Akum (where there are govt supervision and penalties by the authorities for tampering or substitution), it is difficult these days, when Chalav Yisrael is readily available in nearly every communty of observant Jews, to find a Chareidi Rav who will these approve the use of  non-Kosher milk products. The fact is that most poskim hold that non-supervisied milk is actually 'treif' and if used in error the equipment has to be Kashered. This view is especially so amongst Chassidic groups - every single one. And Chabad, to the best of my knowledge, have certain stringencies regarding Chalav Yisroel that many other chassidim and Charedim don't require. Furthermore, even the Rabbanut Kashrut in Israel, which generally has lenient standards, is very strict on this.

See RabbiBakshi Doron re the psak of the Rabanut

RavM Eliyahu

A collection of quotes on the unacceptability of non-Kosher milk

So my question to the good rabbi is "Why?"

You being a thoroughly Frum Jew and a Chabad chassid who I have no doubt that Chalav Akum products have no place in your kitchen. Yes, I understand that being in charge of KA means that you must allow leniencies, especially for items that are necessary for certain groups of consumers. I refer to milk, butter etc.

But is it really so important that Australian Jewry gorge themselves with Original and Double-Coated Tim Tams?

I know that your NSWKA more or less stated (or admitted) that they have less stringent Kashrut standards that their Melbourne counterpart Kosher Australia. But really, is it necessary to go out of your way and make the effort to chase and convince Arnotts to produce 'Kosher' - Chalav Akum - chocolate biscuits? Is there really such a shortage in the 100% Kosher version? Rabbi, please visit Glicks, Grandma Moses (all which are under your supervision), Heimishe, Lichtenstein and the others in Melbourne and Sydney and you will be amazed what a range we already have.

Is it really the function of a Chassidic Rav to produce unnecessary and unhealthy products which are not 100% Kosher. After all, it's not as if Arnotts came begging to you for your Hechsher. By all accounts it was the other way around! In fact the front cover of this issue tells us that this Tim Tam 'miracle' was achieved "after a decade of hard work and  persuasion by the Kashrut Authority".

Imagine, wasting a decade for a half-Kosher unhealthy choclate snack!

Having written all this, today I received an email from that great crowd KCA warning us that only the 200gm (net) packets are acceptable (plus another few conditions).

Although the AJN article also mentioned this, my survey shows that very few people (like indeed myself) actually remember seeing these provisions. Thus anyone missing these may be consuming not only Chalav Akum but also tarfus!

I discussed this post over Yom Tov with my rabbi, who told me that though he agrees with my views 100% and encourages me to publish, he, for a number of reasons, could not publicly make these comments. I gently reminded him about לא תגורו מפני איש...

I have heard whispers that some in the Kashrut industry are getting worried about items being produced under Rabbi Meir Rabi and his "Kosher veYosher" Kashrut label. This is especially so now that Rabbi Rabi has publicly stated that his supervision aims to cater for those who are not overly stringent in their standards. I realise this may affect both KAs, but I suggest that you let him keep that sector of the Kosher market and you remain faithful to the more demanding standards that most Kashrut organisations worldwide are now seeking and which you often represent here in Australia,

And if that means not seeking out new customers like Tim Tams with its non-Kosher milk, so be it.

PS: I am trying to find the time to post my thoughts about that upstart Kashrut organsation "Kosher veYosher". Maybe in the next few days or weeks. 

Katz, Kotz, abi gezunt...

Presumably if 'David' becomes 'Dovid' then 'Katz' can be 'Kotz'...

Oh! Livia...

Hi friends, here's one for your 'interesting/weird names' collection. It's from this week's AJN and is a very strange Hebrew translation/transliteration for Olivia - pronounced as "levaya" (although that word is actually spelled  "לויה")

I really think that mums and dads who aren't too fluent in Hebrew, should discuss the Jewish name they plan to give their child with a rabbi or someone who nows the language well.

Shmuley Boteach - the rabbi of the groupies!

AJNWatch has previously commented upon Shmuley Boteach and his outlandish and peculiar ideas and behaviour (see here, here, and here). He is back again in Australia and, unsurprisingly, a guest speaker in Caulfield Shul. That's the direction CHC have taken under their latest 'management' and they sure have found the perfect match.  

After all, if a Shul can't attract the crowds with Torah and Tefillah, maybe "Kosher sex" and "Kosher Jesus" will bring in the masses (no pun intended). Come to think of it, they would probably have no problem inviting Jesus himself to deliver a sermon or two. (After all, they did invite a "galach" to "feer tish" for them at a Shabbat meal.)

No doubt the femalefolk will be sporting their "Shmuley groupie" T-shirts and drinking from "Shmuley-groupie" mugs?

PS: What next, Shmuley? "Kosher groupies"?

PPS: For those reading this who may wonder what a groupie is, here's the definition from the on-line Free Dictionary:

groupie [ˈgruːpɪ]

(Music / Pop Music) Slang, an ardent fan of a celebrity, esp a pop star: originally, often a girl who followed the members of a pop group on tour in order to have sexual relations with them

COSV, what happened to parsha Shemini?

Hopefully this email from the COSV, didn't mislead member Shuls into leining the wrong Parsha last Shabbat...

A couple of birth notices overlooked

Sydneysider writes:

I was surprised (and a bit disappointed) that your 'specialist' on names (see here and here) missed a few beauties in the Sydney edition of the AJN recently.

Here you have them for the delight of readers:

AJNWatch comment:

There's obviously a nice story behind these notices and we are interested to hear from anyone who knows it.

Meanwhile here's another unusual name from last week's edition:

Interesting name אז - maybe as in אז ישיר משה - thus having some relevance to Pesach...

Robert Weil's letter to the AJN

Despite the fact that Robert Weil doesn't like AJNWatch very much, we feel that he deserves a public Yasher Koach for his letter in this week's AJN where he succinctly responds to the nonsense written by an activist of the noisy homosexuals - who get far too much encouragement and support in addition to coverage in that newspaper. 

This is not the first time that Mr Weil has stood up for the Torah view on this matter and this should be acknowledged by all of us.

It is quite sad that from the entire Jewish community of Australia, only he and Sydney's Rabbi Chaim Ingram can be relied upon to defend traditional decency and 'normalcy'.

AJN: "First time of the firstborn"

In the AJN's "Preparing for Pesach" supplement this week:

First time what?

Why the silence in the Elwood v. Yesodei dispute?

From "Yesodei dad"

Dear AJN Watch editor

I am a parent of 2 boys enrolled at the Yesodei Hatorah College in Elwood and am upset at the fact that you haven't thought it important enough to bring to the attention of your readership the appalling situation that our school have been facing due to the unreasonable, irrational  and obstinate attitude of some members on the board of Elwood Shul. 

It is no secret that for the past few decades Elwood Shul is in decline. They can rarely put together a Minyan during the week and  despite the efforts of the rabbis is basically an empty shell. The late Rabbi Chaim Gutnick z'l understood this well and sensibly encouraged the board to welcome the Yesodei school into its empty ex-Moriah premises thus returning the sound of Torah and children studying it back to Dickens Street. This brought much Nachas to those who have warm memories of the Elwood Talmud Torah and Moriah College of years gone by. Rabbi Gutnick did not for a second consider local 'politics' and affiliations. He made his decision to help because he knew that this was the right thing to do from all aspects.

Since Rav Chaim's passing however, a number of those 'in power' seem to have gone to war against this "shidduch". They wish to reverse such a remarkable and rare achievement of 'Techiyas Hameisim' of a local Shul property. Yes, remarkable and rare. Imagine how grateful the people who belong to Shuls like Toorak, Brighton, Moorabbin, East Melb would be if they could host such a vibrant and lively Jewish centre with 100s of kids operating out of their premises 6 days a week? And even being paid for the privilege! 

But what is happening in Elwood? The board has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in legals trying to remove the students and make difficult the continuing Torah and general education of hundreds of Yiddishe kinderlech! How shameful is that? 

Why isn't the entire community up in arms? Why are the rabbis silent about this? Indeed, what about Elwood's own rabbis? Shouldn't they be in the front line of battle to save this most important Torah mossad? Wouldn't one expect to see Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick leading the campaign for continuance of one his late father's greatest achievements? (I apologise in advance, if Rabbi Gutnick has been doing so quietly. Though doing so openly would be far more useful and effective.) Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being wasted on legal costs and we don't hear a peep anywhere. Why no in-depth enquiry by the AJN? And aren't the members of Elwood Shul concerned at the waste of so much of their money?  Finally, where are you AJN Watch? Isn't this a topic that you should be headlining? 

I agree with your criticism of  Caulfield Shul for its treatment of poor collectors. And I usually agree with your stance on most communal issues. But, why oh why,
have you been silent in this painful and sad case of a few angry old men fighting against 
  של תינוקות של בית רבן הבל פיהם  .

Why is your voice is not heard at all?

Why?

Comment from AJNWatch:

While we haven't directly addressed this issue, it has been mentioned on this site previously.

Click here:

But to answer your main complaint, can we just say that AJNWatch is run by a few volunteers who, believe it or not, each has another life as well. They toil for hours behind the scenes because they genuinely feel an obligation to try and improve matters - rather than simply sulk and kvetch. We hope to at least somewhat remove the חילול השם of silence and accusations of מדשתקי שמע מינה דניחא להו

Having said that, we do not claim to have even scraped the surface of  issues that require commenting upon. As a partial solution we are happy to host appropriate posts (like yours) that reflect the aims and viewpoints of AJNWatch. So - be our guest...

Rabbi Genende's Purim Torah and...Sodom

The end of (the original) Sodom

In Ethics of our Fathers (Pirkei Avot 5:13) the Mishna talks about  4 categories of people associated with giving charity. The 4th is one who doesn't give any - and also prevents others from doing so. The Mishna calls this person a Rasha (wicked). Now read on:

For some time now some AJNWatch contributors have been following up the truly bizarre (alleged) claim by a number of Meshulochim and (allegedly) verified by their local drivers that they are banned from entering Caulfield Shul during prayer times by the 'guard' if he has the slightest suspicion that they may  Chalilah vaChas use the opportunity to accept Tzedaka.  They virtually have to beg this bouncer for mercy and almost 'swear' by their mother's lives that they will only pray.

And woe betide anyone who breaks this most ancient decree (conceived approx 3,500 years ago by the Board of Management of the former city of Sodom). To the best of our knowledge there was never such a diktat in place under the previous rabbis, Rabbi Sholem Gutnick and Rabbi Yonasan Abraham.

Maybe it's time that someone gave the good people of CHC a halachic/history Shiur regarding the behaviour of the Sodomites - as well as  how it all ended.

Until then, maybe when next sermonising, the rabbi  quote a few lines from one of the many sites that talk about this and freely available on the net, Eg:

From the perspective of Jewish tradition, is tzedakah a mitzvah that Gentiles should also fulfill?

Do all the nations of the world have a Divine mandate to establish caring societies that help and strengthen those in need?

A 13th century sage, the Ramban - also known as Nachmanides - finds a reference this from Proverbs (14:34): "Tzedakah uplifts a nation."

He writes: "Tzedakah exalts any individual nation that practices it. According to him, the classic example of a cruel and selfish society which failed to do acts of tzedakah was the city-state of Sodom, which was why it was destroyed during the era of Avraham and Sarah. The story of Sodom's destruction appears in the Book of Genesis, and in his commentary on a verse from this chapter (19:5), the Ramban points out that the root cause of Sodom's destruction is described in the following Divine message:

"Behold, this was the sin of Sodom, your sister: She and her daughters had pride, surfeit of bread and peaceful serenity, but she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy. And they were haughty, and they committed an abomination before Me, so I removed them in accordance with what I saw." (Ezekiel 16:49,50)

Another 13th century sage, Rabbenu Yonah, expresses a similar idea:

"We find concerning the sin of Sodom, that although they sinned with many perverse acts such as robbery, violence, miscarriage of justice, and illicit sexual relations, Scripture attributes their annihilation to their failure to practice tzedakah, as it is stated, 'Behold this was the sin of Sodom, your sister...she did not strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy.' " (Sha'arei Teshuva 3:15).

Jewish tradition views Sodom as the epitome of selfishness; thus, selfish behaviour is referred to in our tradition by the contemptuous epithet "Midas Sodom" - the attitude of Sodom, and it is a term which can apply to an individual or to an entire nation.

 And actually, we didn't find "re-creating Sodom" featured anywhere in RABBI RALPH'S PLAN - "MORE THAN A SHULE"  

But then neither did we find amongst in his plans anything about educating the parishioners about the importance of Mitzvah of Tzedakah. Check out the list, maybe we missed something there.

Despite using the term "allegedly", we actually have several first-hand reports about this disgraceful behaviour taking place regularly in front of a once proud and heimish Shul.

What causes a formerly highly respected Beth haKneset to turn its back on Mitzvat Tzedaka and in its place be labelled by visiting needy people as a reminder of one of the most wicked places known in our (and indeed the world's) tradition?

Was it the change in the make-up of board members? Was it the religious leadership or lack of any input by them?  Some may say that after the unpleasant and expensive Mond business and the departure of the rabbi there was been a noticeable drop of attendance by those labelled as Shomrei Torah uMitzvot. But whatever, instituting "Sodom laws" is a massive plunge in acceptable standards and indeed something unheard of in Shuls anywhere.

Following the publicity about these charges, we truly hope that the decent and charitable folk who remain and/or who have connections with CHC will express their outrage and pass on our sentiments to as many people as possible with the aim to influence a change in this despicable rule.

Having known about the above for quite some time,  you can imagine how staggered we were after receiving the following  'hilarious' Purim newsletter published by Rabbi Ralph, where he jokes about how Chareidim will be treated in his Shul. (At least, we hope he is joking. But seeing the way collectors are treated in his Shul, who knows?)

Rabbi, here's some advice. Forget the college humour. Take a long and serious look at what  is happening in YOUR synagogue! Hiring guards to ensure that congregants (unfortunately very few - after you discount the Kaddish-zogers) do not, G-d forbid, give a few dollars to destitute or unwell fellow Yidden! Poor Jews who have paid a small fortune and shlepped themselves to the other side of the world to try and get help themselves and their families. Shouldn't you be thoroughly ashamed to be associated with such practices? Do we need to remind you that Tzedakah was always the most important Mitzvah that Jews everywhere participated in? Whether  they could afford it or not.

Where is your and your Shul's Ahavat Yisrael to these poor people - Chareidi and non-Chareidi?

Are you not embarrassed that your CHC spend member's monies - ensuring that they won't give charity! What an absolute disgrace!

Maybe your next newsletter topic should discuss at length the words of Chazal that proof of being part of עם ישראל  is when  Jews show that they are ביישנים, רחמנים וגומלי חסדים

And you may also use the Mishna that we began with:

אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בְּנוֹתְנֵי צְדְקָה.

הָרוֹצֶה שֶׁיִּתֵּן וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ אֲחֵרִים, עֵינוֹ רָעָה בְּשֶׁל אֲחֵרִים.

 יִתְּנוּ אֲחֵרִים וְהוּא לֹא יִתֵּן, עֵינוֹ רָעָה בְשֶׁלּוֹ.

 יִתֵּן וְיִתְּנוּ אֲחֵרִים, חָסִיד.

לֹא יִתֵּן וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ אֲחֵרִים, רָשָׁע:

 

 

PS: Previous AJNWatch commentary about Rabbi Genende's views here.

Mikey Bear misses us!

Thank you Kay T. for forwarding the above kvetch from that pesky serial whinger Michael Barnett, not someone whose blog we normally follow.

Mikey, no need for you to be intrigued and no, we certainly haven't been leaned upon by anyone or changed any of our views. The simple reason that we have stayed away from this semi-annual "gay moan and gripe" festivity is because it has become boring. Boring for us and boring to our readers. Zehu! Nothing else. 

Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen can, BH, well look after himself and his opinions without requiring any outside help. He is obviously a giant amongst pygmies and a person with courage to put forward the eternal unbending truth of the Torah. (Admittedly, it is sad,  that apart from a handful of other rabbis, Rabbi Chaim Ingram comes to mind, the rest of the rabbinate remains shtum on this matter.) 

And it is sometimes painful to read criticism of Rabbi Cowen (and AJNWatch) by hypocrites who in private conversations express views on screeching, noisy homosexuals which are no different to ours. (Yes, we get around and hear a lot.)

  

Sadly many politically-correct nonentities feel that they have no option but to declare their "warm acceptance" of these publicity-seeking, often half-naked, sexually-disturbed weirdos.

But no fear, Rabbi Cowen is a far bigger person than any of them and as a principled Torah-true Talmid-Chacham and intellectual, his views will triumph. No amount of frilly-pink-underpants wearers can ever overcome this reality.

Let the ECAJ, AJN and all the other ABC-XYZs of the community concentrate on those who are truly suffering in silence and really want to be helped and leave the frilly-pink-undies screechers to the accomplished hands of Mikey and his one-man blog.

By the way, Mikey, how did you enjoy the cheese?



Now it's "Rabbi-auctioneer"..

Further to the earlier post about "rabbi-chef" and "rabbi-plumber" we now can add to our list "rabbi-auctioneer (and all things real-estate)".

We don't know if the reverend gentleman currently (or previously) occupies/ed any rabbinical position, but his qualifications he would really be handy in a Shul where the Aliyot are 'auctioned' off every week.

The Kosher Cheese Wars

Life was meant to be cheesy writes:
I regularly receive the emails of 2 popular community lists - Emmanuel and SBA. I enjoy reading the Mazel-Tovs and especially appreciate the communal notices and advertisements which are of specific interest to most of Melbourne's observant families. So thanks and keep it up chaps.

So what's up?

I noticed yesterday that one (or maybe both) of those lists had the following notice:

108 sliced cheese - for $21.99! That's a HUGE difference to the mid -to-high $30s we've been paying for similar Haolam sliced cheese for years. Despite the fact that in the past few years our dollar has surged in value going from just under 50 cents to the US$ to almost $1.10. But have we seen any significant drop in prices? Not that I have noticed. And this refers to most other Kosher products (though we noticed a few great specials put out by Coles and Safeway prior to Rosh Hashono). A quick browse on the net shows that the same Haolam 108 slices are available in Kosher supermarkets in the NY  for less than half the price we are forced to pay here.

So thank you to whoever is behind this new cheese importing venture - !כה לחי . Melbourne (and presumably Sydney) Kosher consumers wish you much הצלחה and look forward to support you as you increase the variety of your products. Hopefully, not only will your prices remain fair and reasonable, but you competitors will emulate your actions.

And thanks also to another new local entrepreneur for dramatically lowering prices of his imported Paskesz lines. (Also advertised by SBA and Emmanuel.)

Maybe this Pesach families will not have to go into debt in order to keep their kiddies tummies full.

Jon Faine and Purim

Guest post by J. Harman:
I am actually quite a fan of Jon Faine. I try to listen to his engaging and intelligent morning radio show on 774 as often as I can. But come on, Chaim Herzog, do you REALLY think that Faine is the appropriate person to host a "Purim farbrengen" and Megilla-reading? And shouldn't the fact that you represent Chabad mean that you should be more careful when making arrangements for (at least) religious occasions? And what I know about Faine, he would agree with my sentiments 100%.

AJN e-paper - the choice is yours - pay or get it free!

Today, however, that sense missing out comes to an end.

Responding to reader demand, this week The AJN has launched a brand new electronic or “e-paper” version of the newspaper, available on a regular desktop or laptop.

Accessed via a separate subscription, The AJN’S e-paper is a full version of the newspaper, with the same look as the print edition

Subscribers can download the latest issue from 4am every Thursday morning to their computer.

The AJN’S e-paper also contains all the video, audio and sharing functionality of the extremely successful ipad edition.

“We were very pleased at the huge interest our readers have taken in our ipad edition,” said AJN operations manager Rod Kenning. “We realised that we wanted to extend the convenience and added value of an electronic edition of the paper to those readers who don’t have an ipad, so we created the epaper version.”

Priced around one-third cheaper than the print edition, an e-paper subscription gives you access to the current week’s newspaper, and the ability to download any previous edition of The AJN during the term of your subscription. Readers will also get access to both the Sydney and Melbourne editions.

The e-paper edition of can be accessed jewishnews.net.au.


AJNWatch readers, of course, were informed last May about the possibilty of getting both editions of the AJN (plus a few thousand other publications - local and overseas) FREE.

For details click here.

NOTE: Another advantage of getting your free e-paper is that it is available on your computer on Wednesday evening.