New Release: "The Event " CD & DVD

Sheya Mendlowitz and Aderet Music are proud to announce the upcoming release of "The Event."

This is a full recording of last years groundbreaking musical experience.

The concert features Lipa Schmeltzer, Surprise Guest MBD, Dedi, Abie Rotenberg, & Pirchei Choir by Eli Gerstner and Yossi Newman.

The Double CD and DVD also features special guest stars Acheinu (The Shapiro Brothers), Rabbi Baruch Chait, Sruly Willliger and Shloime Gertner.

The concert was orchestrated by Yisroel Lamm and was a musical tribute to Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum ZT"L.

Also featuring the entire all star cast in the video "The Life of a True Visionary" by Abie Rotenberg.

The Event on Double CD and DVD will be available next week through Aderet Music and in Israel through Greentec.

Preparing for the Fast- Tisha B'av

Fasting is something one can prepare for to ensure they are better equipped to handle this tragic day of mourning. To learn more about Tisha B'av click here for audio and video. some important things I have read to prepare for a fast:

1) Keep hydrated: drink plenty of fluids and preferably water.
2) Nosh: The day before the fast try eat something every 2 hrs or so
3) No Salt! No Caffeine :as they make you thirsty and less hydrated
4) Don't overeat before the fast: this will not help you be less hungry the next day
5) Don't eat heavy foods:Food stuck in your stomach may upset you tomorrow.
6) Eat foods with water: watermelon, grapes etc. (are like time release water capsules?)
7) Before the fast eat filling foods with complex carbs: Whole wheat Bread, pasta etc.

Feel free to add ideas!

It's Finally Here! Shidduch Story Website: Holy Shidduch.com

It's been a long time in the making but a local Houstonian has developed a a website for one purpose only: shidduch stories! Have a great shidduch story you always wanted to tell or just sound off about the subject? Go to HolyShidduch.com and start typing. This one takes the cake:
I hate beards. I went out with a guy who had one and told him so. He disappeared in the bathroom for 20 minutes and to my shock returned clean shaven. I couldn't finish my dinner so I took it to go. When I got home I opened the container and he had put is beard hair in my eggplant Parmesan. Insane!

Torah Scroll Created In Dallas! Video

As a new resident of Texas I take pride in reading that Dallas has their first locally produced torah scroll! You can read more about this great achievement here. The scribe of this work is Rabbi Avraham Bloomenstiel of Congregation Toras Chaim and they decided to developed a website to introduce everyone to the world of the sofer (safrut). Here are some videos they developed:

Rabbi Bloomenstiel Interviews with Dallas Morning News



The Hebrew Letters Part 1




The Hebrew Letters Part 2

Starbucks Ice Cream Coupons

It's the nine days and that means-no meat (except for shabbos and if you have a siyum etc.). One can still enjoy a nice scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day... I therefore present to you a $1.00 off a pint of Starbucks coffee ice cream coupon to make your day that much more enjoyable!

Rabbis Indicted for Money Laundering

The latest scandal to hit the Jewish community is really hard to swallow! The NYT reports that 5 Rabbis including Rabbi Kassin, an 87 yr old Rabbi of Shaare Zion and one of the leading Rabbis of the Syrian Jewish community, has been indicted by the FBI on allegations of money laundering through charitable organizations. This unfortunately reminds me of the recent the case in which the Spinka Rebbe pleaded guilty to similar charges and is looking at 5 yrs. in prison. We hope these allegations prove to be false but what a devestating effect this has on Jews to see Rabbis in the news like this. This should strengthen our resolve moving into the month of ellul to be more diligent about following halacha in regards to our business dealings. In this merit we should all have much success and merit to see the geulah real soon.

Keeping Kosher in Hawaii

Whenever one travels to an exotic place, there is usually an issue of keeping kosher. Unless you are staying at kosher run hotel for a Jewish holiday, finding kosher food can be a real difficulty. An article in the Examiner discusses this issue with keeping kosher in Honolulu. The good news: Kosher meat ( Meal Mart aka Alle Processing) is available in Hawaii. So wip out that portable grill next time you head out to the to the tropics of Hawaii and you can always count on Chabad to help you out.

Mashgiach + Woman=Mashgicha

The Jewish Exponent has an article regarding the kosher industries Mashgicha, a female mashgiach (Kosher supervisor). As I mentioned there are more and more women coming into kosher supervisory roles. Here in Houston there is a lady mashicha who handles the kosher meat department at Krogers under the HKA. Her name is Rosa and her signature can be seen on the meat products that are packaged on site.

Rubashkin: What does the fututre hold in store?

The forward has a more in-depth article about the recent purchase of the bankrupt Slaughterhouse giant, Agriprocessor. The information on the new owners:SHF Industries, a company formed by Canadian plastics manufacturer Hershey Friedman and his son-in-law, Daniel Hirsch. Friedman owns Polystar Packaging Inc. of Montreal, which is a top maker of plastic packaging for meat.
According to the forward, people are wondering about many issues including whether the Rubashkin family will be involved in the plant. Mr. Friedman has assured people that the Rubashkin family will not be involved in upper management, however some members of the family may be allowed to hold onto lower level jobs.

Agriprocessor Meat Plant: SOLD!

The good news of the day is the Agriprocessor has been sold ! More importantly, it will remain a kosher meat plant and hopefully can bring down the cost of kosher meat and poultry. The buyer: SHF industreies which as previously discussed is owned by Canadian plastics manufacturer Hershey Friedman and his son-in-law, Daniel Hirsch. No news as to how quickly they will get operations up and running. Agriprocessor aka Rubashkin had gone bankrupt after undergoing several scandals and labor law indictments.

Library Technology

Innovation is always an interesting thing and it changes our lives at every turn. Do you remember when they started using metro cards? No more searching for coins at the turnstile. How about the invention of the code bar scanner or those self checkout lines. The latest innovation to hit the library is self checkout and my local library has it and it saves me time. Simply scan your card and then each book has a bar code on the outside which is scanned as well. You even get a printout of all the information.I get email alerts about book that will be due. They even installed a wii station with a huge plasma screen. What's next?

Starbucks: Kosher and Non- Kosher

As the summer heat rages on, one might find ones self in dire need of a beverage to cool down. For many coffee lovers this means sitting down with an ice cold coffee (can you feel it?) on a hot summer afternoon. Many people are wondering what they can and can't order from their local Starbucks in the way of iced coffee or a frapuccino but now the questions have been answered. Two Starbucks fanatics have done the leg work for you on a website entitled Kosherstarbucks.com . As time has progressed the creators Uri and Moshe Ort, have collected a wealth of information about the kosher certification of various items at Starbucks. You can always double check with your local Rabbi but it's nice to know someone is looking into it. If you want to save your mony here is a reciepe to make your very own kosher frapuccino.

• make 6 cups of dark roast coffee for the best flavor
• use 2/3 of a cup of cocoa powder, plus additional cocoa powder for garnish
• 2 cups nonfat milk for the best results

Directions

Fill ice-cube trays with half of the brewed coffee and place in the freezer. In a bowl, combine the remaining brewed coffee, cocoa powder and milk and stir to dissolve the cocoa. Cover and chill.

When the ice cubes have frozen, put them in a blender and grind them but not too much, just enough so they . Fill 4 glasses with the crushed ice and divide the coffee-cocoa mixture evenly among them. Dust the top with cocoa powder and serve.

You can also put whipped cream on top for the final touch.

Really Funny Retail Website!

It's not everyday that you find a retail store that has a sense of humor.
Here is what a friend of mine, David B. sent:


HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam. Now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands.
Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and it's in Dutch, but just wait a couple of seconds while it loads and watch what happens.

http://producten.hema.nl/