In baseball, a pinch hitter is a common term for a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted in at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute, and the player that is removed from the game cannot return to play for the rest of the game. Pinch hitters are often used to replace a starting player when the pinch hitter is thought to have a better chance of reaching base or helping other runners to score.
Pinch hitting on the Bimah?  No, nobody decided that the Bimah would make a good homeplate, with the Ezrat Nashim (Ladies' Balcony) as the outfield. 

Seriously, the standard Torah Reading as done today is like "pinch hitting."  One person says the blessings, and another reads the Torah.

Think about it.  Even the Brit Milah (ritual circumcision) is done like pinch hitting.  According to Jewish Law, the father is supposed to circumcise his eight day old son, but since mistakes can't be corrected so easily, most fathers would rather give the bat knife to someone trained and make do with the blessings.

The latest pinch hitting is for  PRAYER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL.  Post-Disengagement and Amona, many people not only aren't willing to stand for it, but they won't say it, even if they are leading the prayers.

I don't know what happens in other synagogues, but here, in our local one, the gabbaim "take the bat" at times.

As horrified and repulsed as most of us are at what the Israeli Government is doing to its citizens, I still think that the prayer is important.  Read the words:

PRAYER FOR THE WELFARE OF
THE STATE OF ISRAEL
by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel 
 
  
Our Father Who are in Heaven, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless Thou the State of Israel
which marks the dawn of our deliverance.  Shield it beneath the wings of Thy love; 
Spread over it Thy canopy of peace; send Thy light and Thy truth to its leaders, officers, and
counselors, and direct them with Thy good counsel.

O G-d, strengthen the defenders of our Holy Land; grant them salvation and crown them with
victory.  Establish peace in the land, and everlasting joy for its inhabitants.

Remember our brethren, the whole house of Israel, in all the lands of their dispersion.  Speedily
let them walk upright to Zion, the city, to Jerusalem Thy dwelling-place, as it is written in the
Torah of Thy servant Moses:  "Even if you are dispersed in the uttermost parts of the world, from
there the L-rd your G-d will gather and fetch you.  The L-rd your G-d will bring you into the land
which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it."

Unite our heart to love and revere Thy Name, and to observe all the precepts of Thy Torah.
Shine forth in Thy glorious majesty over all the inhabitants of Thy world.  Let everything that
breathes proclaim:  The L-rd G-d of Israel is King;  His majesty rules over all."  Amen.

It doesn't blindly worship the State.  It's a prayer to G-d, praising G-d, asking for G-d's help.  We need G-d's help.  I suggest that we stand up, say the prayer and beg G-d to save us from the politicians. 

In the Teachers Room, we were talking.  It's where I get to hear what's going on in everyone's minds.  And though we're all involved in education (or other jobs in the school,) our ages and backgrounds are varied.  The subject suddenly became weddings, the money, the exenses.  Did you guess?  Many couples put more thought, care and investment into the wedding, rather than the marriage.

What is most important?  It's the chupah, the ceremony.

What do we show the youngsters?

One of the great things about Israeli weddings, especially on the yishuvim, is the joy, the emphasis on sameach chattan v'kallah, and not on fancy tuxedos and ballgowns.

Recently, I've been to some very special weddings, which didn't leave me with the feeling that I had eaten much more than could ever be healthy.  I certainly don't go to weddings to eat.  I'm also very glad that the only "dress code" obeyed in our weddings is tzniyut, Jewish Laws of Modesty.  Not even the groom needs a tuxedo; some don't even wear conventional western suits. 

And an added significance of the thick veils many brides wear is to make them concentrate on the true significance of their wedding day and not be distracted by the flash and frills.  In life, we're supposed to reflect, concentrate on what's important, the gifts G-d gives us, life, health, rain and what we're obligated to give in return.

Good health, Refuah Shleimah, to all... Esther bat Henya, Elkana Yedidya ben Dvora Leah, Menya Libba bat Itta Chaya, Penina bat Sofiya Zlatta and all Cholei Yisrael...

I wasn't raised knowing Shabbat or observing it in any way.  I also didn't know about kashrut and the idea that certain foods were forbidden to Jews.  But, yes, I did know that I was a Jew, whatever that was supposed to mean. 

Growing up in Bell Park Gardens, Bayside, NY, where upwards of 90% of the people were Jewish, we were like everyone else.  We were active members of the Conservative Oakland Jewish Center, and I went to its Hebrew School.  Public schools were closed on the High Holidays.

When I was 13, we moved to Great Neck. That was the first time I got to know non-Jews and even had Black classmates.  We also joined the Orthodox Great Neck Synagogue.  It was there where I became a member of NCSY and became acquainted with Torah-True Judaism. 

Rabbi Ephraim Wolf, ZaTz"L, was our rabbi.  If it hadn't been for his strong emphasis on youth activities and "kiruv" before it was a code word or priority, I wouldn't be the me I am today. It's Rabbi Wolf's Yartzeit, and want to thank him for what he gave me.

Rabbi Wolf gave me the opportunity to know true Judaism, Shabbat and opened the door to the life I live here in Shiloh.  He never pushed, but once we were here in Israel, we began hearing how proud he was.  And then when we moved to Shiloh, he'd even mention us in his sermons and visited.  There's a tree growing here in Shiloh, which Rabbi Wolf planted on one his visits.  The tree overlooks, the entrance, the school, the Mishkan Synagogue and Tel Shiloh.  It smiles on Shiloh, like Rabbi Wolf did.

Thank you, Rabbi Wolf.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach 

I saw these signs yesterday in Jerusalem:

Who would ever say that they don't "love" Sderot?  Just "love" isn't enough.  You could love it to death.  That's what's happening. 

Olmert's idea of how to protect Sderot is crazy.

Well, what does he mean by "iron dome?" Can it be something like this?

Well, if he's not planning on using it to protect Sderot, maybe he's planning it as a new jail to keep the dissidents under wrap...

I keep feeling like we're living in the Theater of the Absurd, but honestly, it's no joking matter.

And while I'm mentioning "theater," have you seen the new "news set" on IBA Channel One?

It's like they're talking to  "Big Brother."