Shir, that's a truly superb name for the site.

I don't know what the legislation is, Toddson, but all in all bystanders are a gray zone when it comes to morality. They can always say that they feared they'll get attack too.

Good question, though. I'll try and look for an answer.

When I thought of trying to find evidence/report to the police I saw all the problems: the problem is, that after you get attacked, you don't think like this. Here's what went through my mind: while falling, I actually thought "oh, seriously?". After it, I tried to make sure that my glasses are still on me and intact, that all that I carried with me is on me (and I had a backpack, another full bad and pockets filled with important university lists and documents/IDs, and my cell phone). It took me 3-4 minutes, after cleaning up a little bit, to understand just how much dirt my mouth, chin and nose got. I was alarmed when I wiped my lips and saw, 3 minutes after, how much dirt was removed from them. And of course, not breaking into cry and trying to stay calm was in my mind.

In all of this, trying to see what and who's around me just wasn't a priority. I'm surprised I caught so much info from what went on around me without looking. And I probably would question it as an assault if wasn't for that milli-second before crossing, when I was making sure I wouldn't trip on anything. That pretty much was the big hint which led to "OK, let's connect the dots: 2 men crossed before you. Someone moved a barrier just after you scratched yourself from the sidewalk so no one will go through this path. 2-3 yeshiva boys are standing way too close. WTF?".

Shir, I'm sorry it happened and glad it wasn't worse. Best wishes for your site.

Oh, dear. People trying to take an ancient song and make it into rock. Or something. Basically, they succeed in making themselves look really silly.

Hil, there is a whole world of Jewish music out there, from the deeply spiritual (and, I think, beautiful) - Psalm 121 sung by Yosef Karduner (A song of ascents: I lift up my eyes to the mountains, from whence comes my help; My help comes from G-d, Maker of heaven and earth...)

to the "big band" if you will, kind of thing you linked to, where the lyrics are also taken from the liturgy or the Bible and the arrangements are big and brassy

to Shlock Rock which parodies pop and rock songs with lyrics about Jewish holidays, culture, and history. For example: "Havdalah" (about the service which ends the Sabbath) for the Beatles' "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" and "Wash This Way" (about the ritual and blessing over washing the hands before a meal) for Aerosmith's "Walk This Way".

That's just "popular" religious music in the "frum" (Orthodox) community. There's also cantorial music, klezmer, Ladino, and nowadays, even religious hip-hop (Mattisyahu), etc. Not to mention Jewish music from non-Orthodox sources like Debbie Friedman and Safam -- it just goes on forever and I'm only familiar with a tiny slice. Then there's non-religious, regular old Israeli music of all sorts from old-school Naomi Shemer (ballads) to Hadag Nachash (left-wing hip-hop/punk). All the influences from all the places Jews have ever lived make a showing in there somewhere.

There's great stuff out there, whatever your taste in music, really.

When I thought of trying to find evidence/report to the police I saw all the problems: the problem is, that after you get attacked, you don't think like this. Here's what went through my mind: while falling, I actually thought "oh, seriously?". After it, I tried to make sure that my glasses are still on me and intact, that all that I carried with me is on me (and I had a backpack, another full bad and pockets filled with important university lists and documents/IDs, and my cell phone). It took me 3-4 minutes, after cleaning up a little bit, to understand just how much dirt my mouth, chin and nose got. I was alarmed when I wiped my lips and saw, 3 minutes after, how much dirt was removed from them. And of course, not breaking into cry and trying to stay calm was in my mind.

In all of this, trying to see what and who's around me just wasn't a priority. I'm surprised I caught so much info from what went on around me without looking. And I probably would question it as an assault if wasn't for that milli-second before crossing, when I was making sure I wouldn't trip on anything. That pretty much was the big hint which led to "OK, let's connect the dots: 2 men crossed before you. Someone moved a barrier just after you scratched yourself from the sidewalk so no one will go through this path. 2-3 yeshiva boys are standing way too close. WTF?".

You could put that on the site as-is.

I guess my brain decided that I needed a reminder that the world is based on Torah, service, and acts of loving-kindness?

Haha! I'm pretty sure we sang the same one at my Jewish summer camp. Debbie Friedman or one of that crowd, right?

Good advice, Trudy. Thank you.

Shari, do you know Ruth Dolores Weiss version of Ecclesiastes? You can listen to it in the mix here: [link] - it's one song before the last. And I like Hadag Nachash.

I thought it was beautifully written, Shir. If you don't know where to start? BAM - you got it right there!

Ok, no Buffista note for me. I guess I should figure out what I have in my closet that currently fits and pack my suitcase.

Haha! I'm pretty sure we sang the same one at my Jewish summer camp. Debbie Friedman or one of that crowd, right?

I'm not sure. We learned it in Hebrew, and the only line I can remember is the "al HaTorah, v'al ha'avodah, v'al gimilut chassadim" part.

I just went up to my roof to sit and read for a while, which was nice. How come florescent lights look red for a few minutes after I come in from the sun? (Yes, I know I need sunglasses so that doesn't happen.)