Across the continent

Wow!!!

A hugeeeeeee and very, very nice Mazal tov to NAGEELA east and west all star

AZI STEINER

Upon getting engaged!

Economics

I'm not sure exactly what came over me, but it was a sudden inspiration.

Thanks God, Sincerely, Pharaoh

People often ask about the point of the ten plagues.

After all, on a scale of one to ten on how difficult it would have been for God to simply have the Jews waltz out of Egypt (or perhaps hora out would have been more appropriate), the number is probably somewhere between easy- shmeesy and no- sweat (technical terms often used by actuaries). So again, why all the drama? Okay it would have made a pretty boring movie plot otherwise, but our seder would certainly have been shorter! "We were slaves, then we weren't. Let's eat!"

Here is a list of a couple of answers (some better than others).

• God purchased His 'geting out of Egypt kit' at Costco, and didn't want to waste it.

Nah

• The Egyptians made the Jews suffer so much over the years, they deserved a little payback.

OK, but why the creative, nature altering plagues? Why not just make them eat sardines or something?

• God wanted to show his complete control over the world. Weather, livestock, health, economy, wind, wild beasts. Once He did that, nobody can question his abilities. (Ramban)

Now we're talking! Is there something more?

• God got a real laugh out of frogs and it all sort of flowed from there.

Are you feeling okay, Locker?

• It was actually being nice to the Egyptians!

Huh?

• No really. They did bad stuff. Had God just said, "Game over, exit Jews," they would not have had the chance to improve. This way, God gave them chance after chance- "Hellloooo, wake up Pharaoh. You're evil. Please change your ways or else I'll beat you up."


• It's kinda like a parent who finds out their kid did something really damaging. A lazy parent just cleans up the mess and doesn't mention it to the child. A proactive parent takes the time to explain to the child where they went wrong, and provides consequences if they refuse to improve.


• Although the Egyptians may not have realized it at the time, the plagues were (at least partially) for their benefit! Ironic. (Seforno).

Never would have thought of that

So it wasn't just, "Hey Egyptians, you just wait until my big brother finds out you've been bullying me and then you'll be sorry." It actually made a lot of sense for the evil Egyptias, who, after all their wickedness, are still children of God, too.

Galaxy of the kayak

Stepping into my parents' backyard in Lakewood, I am transported to a different galaxy.

No longer do I live in the realm of grass, trees and squirrels. I now belong to the domain of BBAMB. That's the official intergalactic code for Boats, Boats, and More Boats.

Don't be alarmed at the picture, those aren't all my father's boats...

I mean, they all are my father's boats. They just aren't all my father's boats. This picture isn't even half of my father's boats. Close, but not quite half.

Yes, the famous Captain Locker who spent years battling swans in famous ake Carasaljo has hoarded his signature watercraft at his, until now, secret lair. Behold, the boats...

A taste of East

Heading to the East Coast tonight.

Look out New Yawk!

Pesach themed cartoons

Here are a couple of Passover themed cartoons I sketched for one of my teen classes.
The idea behind the classes was to admit that the seder, indeed the whole Passover experience (although fun) can be very confusing if you look at it from an intelectual angle, and to explain in depth how it all makes perfect sense. Giving teens and appreciation for the beauty of the holiday and its rituals.


This one was from the first class in the series which dealt with the difficulty in understanding the purpose of the whole holiday.


This class dealt specifically with the structure of the Haggadah, and how to understand its organization, thereby developing a deeper appreciation for its seemingly random paragraphs.

More Koreans learn Talmud than Jews... by far!

Check out this translation from an original ynet article which truly blows the mind!

http://muqata.blogspot.com/2011/03/talmud-study-now-mandatory-in-south.html

Here's the article in Hebrew:

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4046985,00.html

And here's a cartoon with a talmudic twist.

http://www.kidstimes.net/2008/cartoon/325_cartoon.gif

"The secret to Jewish genius! Nice!"