Discussion on Putting a Stumbling Block Before the Blind in asking your fellow to put on tefillin when you see him in a public venue.

Asking a fellow Jew to put on Tefillin in a public place just on the spot when it is not a place that people gather for worship to me is putting a stumbling block before the blind. True it is a blessing to don tefillin and say the prayers indicated. But that said, it places any person in an obligatory position to do the "right thing" and put on tefillin when truly, a public place is really not a worship orientated venue. That said, you are putting a stumbling block before the blind because the person you ask to put on the tefillin or even just invite to do so is really like a blind person who has no idea what they can do. Truely to refuse they may be in a position that they are concerned that they may aggreive their fellow jew (the one to ask if they want to put on the tefillin) and that is a violation of Torah, and at the same time, they must be concerened that it may embarrass another Jew who is not ready for such observance and clearly would not be willing to put on the tefillin in public if asked. That said, this is a horrible thing to ask your fellow Jew in a public place as it really encompasse­s a torah violation. Sadly today, we are seeing much religiousi­ty and fervor for what is thought to be Torah and really is just radical love for obedience and order.
This is not Torah and it should be examined and discussed and removed from our ways as religiously orientated communities.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

What are "Clay Companions"?

Clay Companions are the people who refuse to accept modernity in the Jewish faith.   These well thinking people as they would wish you to believe refuse to own television sets.  They discourage others from having computers and they avoid all of the modern inventions unless it clearly has a benefit to their own new way of life that they think is the way that they are really "commanded" to live.
This is a problem because truly there is a Creator who advances civilization.  The Television set, though perhaps at times displaying minutia or otherwise sort of unorthodox attractions can be turned off by your Hand.  This is your job.  To decide not to have a television set in your home does not keep your children from being exposed to things that you may not wish them to see.  You have the discretion to allow your children to watch television.  I also think that if you do not have a television, you can not participate as a modern citizen as you are not exposed to the senitments, leadership and lessons of the day.  True there are many medias, but a television is a very relevant media and one can not think that a modern society can flourish without the true participation of all of its citizens.  That you can go without a television is simple.   Just don't turn it on.  But it is not the "evil box" that the religiously "orthodox" may lead you to see it to be.
I seriously can not participate in a society that disallows modernity, refuses to swallow the pills of modern life and partakes in rituals that silence the call to reason in your mind and being.
This is a call to those of you who are "Clay Companions"... You are really just befriending the clay of the earth.  The pots and vessiles that you have on your table that you drink your soup and water.  These are what you are calling your friends when you disespouse modern innovation and culture.  You are essentially calling the past your home and you are saying that God does not have control over the world and that you must control your exposure to the civilization that our Creator does indeed permit and encourage to exist and flourish.  And that does not seem Godly to me.

Counting the Omer- Accomplished. Welcome Shavuous.

I did it. I did my first Omer Count. It went well this year.
What this means is that for each day starting with the 2nd night of Passover, a blessing (bracha) is recited and a day is counted.
There are 49 total days in the Omer.
If you mistakenly forget to count a day, you are no longer kissed with the chance to make a bracha for the rest of the Omer period. True you could still do the Bracha, but it would be without calibre.
So I made it.
I counted all 49 days and said a Bracha every single day.
I am very amazed that it went so well. I left my prayer book on my desk and sometimes it might remind me to make a bracha. After a while, you get used to looking forward to saying the blessing each night.
Why is this important?
The Torah was given at the time of the year that Shavuous falls. This is 7 weeks from the beginning of Passover. This is the time of your life as a Jew that you make personal reflection and improve upon your strengths and hone your attributes.
I certainly in the last 7 weeks made many strides forward (if I can be to modest to say so online). I have to say that counting the Omer is a huge blessing and that it daily reminds us of the time at hand. I must say that perhaps God wanted me to get it right this year. I have never been able to do it in the past and I think that perhaps last year I started it but made a mistake early or maybe forgot to being the count in the first place.

So here I am, 7 weeks and now at the end of Shavuous. I had a good time getting here and I am glad that The Universe Allows a simple man like myself to improve my own mind and being in such a wonderful manner. Thanks.

Nonsensical- the "movement"

I hereby wish to report to the community that there is a movement at hand by our favorite non-liberal minded repressive radical pluralists to stigmative liberal minded discussion.  Their favorite word I am learning is to "out" you as "non-sensical".  This word does have some application in that you can use it to describe the illogical and rambling speech of a true mentally ill and likely schizophrenic mind.  But that said, that puts it in a special category and I do not think it is wise or prudent to oppress your "opposition" by naming them in such a way.  Such has been my experience now this past year with a few of the writings I have posted in the cybersphere and among those who are clearly of the "republican" right.
Mr. Hannity uses the term often.
This is clearly a movement and I would suggest that when dealing with someone who likes to repress free speech with such a term; this person may be non-sensical his or herself.
Just an editorial.

What I think about animal sacrifices and where I think I am going on this topic

I have often thought that in the past that perhaps there were some sins in my life that I could not fully atone from in this day and age since we no longer are afforded the offering of animal sacrifices at the Temple. 
I must say that I have learned over the last year or so that this is in fact, not true.
I am one that firmly believes in charity and if one has a particular sin of his past or error of some kind, one can effectively remove the sin completely over time through tschuvah, prayer and charity.   That said, this is clearly the Jewish perspective, but I must say that the pillar of charity is not emphasized enough and effectively I say can indeed be compared to the effect of the animal sacrifices in old Jerusalem.
The reason is this.  Today we have charities.
I personally have a wonder if the reason we do not have a temple is also because our Creator no longer wishes our atonement to come via sacrifice of beasts.
That said, I must say that the modern age advent of charity was not present in biblical days and perhaps it was animal sacrifice that was of the reciprocal of toady's Charity's effect on the Jewish soul.

I can say that with this in mind, I can not be sure if we are really to have a Third Temple.  Only our Creator can know if this is to be.  Perhaps this exile of the modern era is not to be a return to our origins.  I do not know.  We certainly pray for a return from exile, but I have suggested that return from exile in this modern era involves not a return to an established way of life in our Homeland but rather it means a return from the exile of our years to being Torah Observant.   We must pray for our people to be observant and keep the Commandments.