EliPongo's Blog

What a strange dream!

2011-05-19T12:11:00.001-04:00

I had the urge to write down and share this strange dream I had this morning.

I was in some hospital's emergency department and a man was there waiting to be discharged. He was getting frustrated with the wait and decided to leave along with his adult daughter without waiting for the discharge paperwork or to have his IV removed. Security started after him and I followed after. I figured I could take out his IV for him and try to talk him back in, but let him go if he really wanted to as there's no legal requirement to see and sign the discharge papers.

Outside, the man got into a rental moving van with his family. A security guy drew his Taser. I said to him, "If you're going to escalate this, I'm going to film the whole thing." and I pulled out my smartphone. So this hopped-up security guy decided to Tase *me*.

The darts hit me in the groin and started discharging, but I felt nothing. I then remembered that I had left my cycling shorts on under my uniform because I had been running late that morning- the Taser darts couldn't penetrate the chamois!

I went up to the dumbfounded security guy, called him an @$$hole, and put his hand on the contacts and let him get shocked.

Things got a little surreal after that; security was filling up an inflatable kiddie pool. I assumed it was out of the family's moving van, but it could've been from the hospital's decon kit.

Finally, the moving van drove away, but I wasn't sure if the man was in it along with his family.

And that's about when I woke up and wrote this down.

Sent from my Droid2
Elias Friedman A.S., CCEMT-P
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com

A poor excuse for journalism in the New York Times, and biased to boot!

2011-04-24T06:35:00.002-04:00

This morning I read Israeli Is Killed in the West Bank in the New York Times. This is the letter that I wrote to that (so called) story's author:

Wow! Those surreptitiously sneaky Israelis dared to fail to make an appointment to go and pray! Of course the Palestinian Authority Police simply HAD to shoot to kill after firing warning shots! And of course the Palestinian youths can be excused because they only set SMALL fires to the holy site.

There are gaping holes in this story even before you added in the biased language I highlighted above. For example, did these "police" make any serious attempts to stop what was obviously a familiar civilian vehicle before resorting to deadly force? What could have triggered the use of deadly force in the first place- did the civilians threaten the police in some way? Did the civilians aim weapons at or try to run over the police or something like that to actually justify being shot at? And for that matter, what did these "small" fires consist of? Trash? parts of the site complex? Molotov cocktails? And hasn't such vandalism happened before?

I'm sorry, but leaving such gaping holes in a story and writing with such a biased tone makes me seriously question your own credentials as a journalist. This story wouldn't even pass on Wikipedia!

As an exercise, I would like you to read this story you wrote, but replace Israelis with Canadians and Palestians with Americans. Makes those holes and bias I mentioned pretty glaring, eh?

Easter is a traditional day when Christians would kill Jews, I would've thought you might be more sensitive. So sad that these families have to mourn on Judaism's big holiday, Passover.

Kashruth Alert - King Star Foods - Chicken Flavor Soup

2011-03-22T16:07:00.002-04:00

From: Orthodox Union <orthodoxunion@jangomail.net>
Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Subject: Kashruth Alert - King Star Foods - Chicken Flavor Soup

KASHRUTH ALERT

March 22,
2011
King Star Foods - Chicken Flavor Soup

Brand:
King Star
Foods

Products:

Chicken Flavor Soup

Company:
Tavlinei Shemesh - ISRAEL

Issue:
This product
bears an unauthorized OU-P sticker. This product is not certified for
Passover by the Orthodox Union. Product is being recalled from the
market place.

This e-mail was sent
by Orthodox Union, located at 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 (United
States).

Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

[Ellington Shul] Fwd: HHNE Grand Opening Email

2010-12-21T18:40:00.001-05:00

Glad to see this happening!

Sent from my Droid2
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ann Oken" <oken@hhne.org>
Date: Dec 21, 2010 4:04 PM
Subject: HHNE Grand Opening Email
To: <elipongo+shul@gmail.com>

Dear Rabbi,

It is with tremendous delight and excitement that we attach the following e-mail announcing our January 9, 2011 ribbon cutting

ceremony and community-wide celebration for the Hebrew High School of New England. We are in our 14th year serving Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform teens who are getting a wonderful private education as they become more educated, affiliated, and passionate Jews. Over 40% of our currrent students consider themselves non-Orthodox.

Can we request three things from you?

Your own presence on January 9 to help us celebrate as a community
Your distribution of the attached e-mail flyer to your congregation's e-mail list and printed bulletin
Your announcing the event from the pulpit over the next few weeks

In addition, we would appreciate it if you could personally put a good word in for the event with any families with teens and pre-teens.

We are so grateful for your help in making the Hebrew High School a greater success as we move into our beautiful new campus next to the University of Hartford and across from the Jewish Community Center.

Best wishes for a peaceful and healthy 2011 for you and your congregation.

Ann-Margaret Oken

Development Associate

Hebrew High School of New England

1244 North Main Street

West Hartford, CT 06117

860-231-0317 x203

oken@hhne.org

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Congregation Knesseth Israel's Website is http://www.ellingtonshul.org/

Sceptical of the Ground Zero Mosque's Imam

2010-09-13T00:59:00.001-04:00

For the second time in less than a week the Imam behind the proposed Islamic Cultural Center, formerly known as the Cordoba House, has threatened us with Muslim violence unless he gets his way. "Man of peace"? Yeah, right!

I've been getting more and more sceptical of his announced motives of "bridge building" and "peacemaking" given that his refusal to compromise even one iota is actually BURNING bridges and DESTROYING peace.

If he offered to move this center even just a couple more blocks away, he'd not only take all the wind out of the sails of the opposition, but he'd likely vastly increase support for the project and even get donations! The fact that he hasn't done this and is now making unsubtle threats makes me very suspicous of his motives.

Ground Zero Mosque Imam: "If I Could Do It Again, I Wouldn't" - DNAinfo.com

http://www.dnainfo.com/20100912/downtown/ground-zero-mosque-imam-if-i-had-do-it-again-i-wouldnt

Sent from my Droid2
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com

Fwd: Kashruth Alert 9/8/10

2010-09-08T13:17:00.001-04:00

Sent from my Droid2
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P
elipongo@gmail.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Orthodox Union" <postmaster@ou.2dialog.com>
Date: Sep 8, 2010 1:12 PM
Subject: Kashruth Alert 9/8/10
To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

KASHRUTH ALERT

Sept 9, 2010

Pace Salsa

Brand:

 
Pace

Products:

Chipotle
Salsa, Chunky Salsa, Chunky Salsa - Hot, Chunky Salsa - Med, Chunky
Salsa - Mild, Chunky Salsa with Cilantro, Lime and Garlic, Picante
Sauce, Picante Sauce - Hot, Picante Sauce - Med, Picante Sauce - Mild,
Roasted Pepper & Garlic Salsa and Salsa Dip.

Company:

Campbell's Sales Co. - Camden, NJ 

Issue:

 
These products are no longer certified by the OU or the KOAOA

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}

 

Obtain discounts on books in Hebrew and English by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and others at www.OUPress.org

 

Kosher

Education; for interesting and entertaining DVDs about Kashrus please contact Rabbi Eliyahu Safran atsafrane@ou.org

More OU Kosher Alerts

www.ou.org

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Fw: cRc kashrus Alert, JELL-O Strawberry Cheesecake Snacks

2010-07-15T15:08:00.001-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Chicago Rabbinical Council" <alerts@crcweb.org>

Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:35:04 -0400 (EDT)

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: cRc kashrus Alert

Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser.

July 15, 2010

The following alert was sent out by the OK:

Please be advised that some

JELL-O Strawberry Cheesecake Snacks

Recently produced by Kraft Foods

were incorrectly labeled with an OK-D. The OK does not certify this product due to the fact that it contains gelatin.

If you have purchased this product and would like a refund from Kraft Foods please call the 800 number on the package.

Any questions or comments regarding this alert should be sent directly to the OK at http://www.ok.org/

Chicago Rabbinical Council
2701 W Howard Street | Chicago, IL 60645
This email was sent to: elipongo@gmail.com
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Kashrut Alert: America's Choice Berry Blend.

2010-06-22T08:42:00.000-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: Orthodox Union <postmaster@ou.2dialog.com>

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:33:58 -0500

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

ReplyTo: alerts@ou.org

Subject: Kashrut Alert 6/21/10

KASHRUTH ALERT

June 21, 2010

America's Choice Berry Blend
Brand:	America's Choice
Product:	Berry Blend - UPC: 7 54807-10063
Company:	A & P, Montvale NJ
Issue:	This product mistakenly bears an unauthorized OU symbol. The product is being withdrawn from the marketplace.

Experience Tisha B'Av with the Rav! The Koren Kinot Mesorat HaRav provides the complete Tisha B'Av Service and an exceptional commentary on the Kinot by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Learn more at www.OUPress.org

More OU Kosher Alerts

www.ou.org

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Kashrut Alert - Cinquina

2010-05-28T16:32:00.001-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: Orthodox Union <postmaster@ou.2dialog.com>

Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 13:25:53 -0500

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: Kashrut Alert 5/28/10

Forward this message to a friend

KASHRUTH ALERT

May 28, 2010

Cinquina
Brand:	Cinquina
Product:	Artichokes, Bruschetta Topping, Pesto Genovese, Sundried Tomatoes, Capers, Capers with Stem.
Company:	Cinquina S.R.L - Lanciano, Italy
Issue:	These products mistakenly bear an unauthorized OU symbol and are not kosher. They are being withdrawn from the marketplace. Consumers spotting these products are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org

More OU Kosher Alerts

www.ou.org

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Kosher Alert: America's Choice Hot Cocoa

2010-05-25T21:37:00.001-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: Orthodox Union <postmaster@ou.2dialog.com>

Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 14:02:27 -0500

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: Kosher Alert 5/25/10

Forward this message to a friend

KASHRUTH ALERT

May 25, 2010

America's Choice Hot Cocoa
Brand:	America's Choice
Product:	26oz Hot Cocoa UPC 7 54807 29069 9 Date Code 05/04/11 MCA
Company:	A&P, Montvale, NJ
Issue:	A limited amount of these canisters inadvertently contain non-kosher marshmallows. Affected product is limited to those products bearing the date code BEST IF USED BY 05/04/11 MCA. Product with the code RCA is correctly labeled. Consumers should contact their Rabbi to determine the status of utensils that have come in contact with the above product. Consumers spotting this product are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org

More OU Kosher Alerts

www.ou.org

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cRc Kashrus Alert: Whiskey

2010-05-06T17:46:00.001-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Chicago Rabbinical Council" <alerts@crcweb.org>

Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 17:20:18 -0400 (EDT)

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: cRc Kashrus Alert

Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser.

The following alert has been sent out on behalf of the Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO)

Whisky Alert

May 2010
The AKO Executive Committee has reason to believe that there are large liquor companies in the United States which may be owned in whole or part by Jews. We are concerned that such companies may not have arranged for the sale of their chametz (mechiras chametz) during Pesach. These companies primarily manufacture bourbon, cordials, and American whiskey, and also deal in a small amount of Scotch and vodka.
Chametz-containing liquors owned, produced and/or aged by Jewish-owned companies over Pesach are forbidden as chametz she’avar alav haPesach.
Since many liquor products are aged for many years before they are sold to the public, it cannot be assumed that these beverages are acceptable for kosher use even if they are purchased a long time before or after Pesach.

Accordingly, we recommend that Kashrus Agencies and consumers change their policies and only consume those alcoholic beverages which [are free of standard kosher concerns and] are known to (a) be produced by a non-Jewish company or a Jewish-owned company which arranged for the sale of their chametz, (b) not contain any chametz, including not having chametz secondary grains or malted barley (bourbon and cordials are examples of items that may have these forbidden items), and/or (c) were not aged over Pesach (e.g. vodka).

The following are some brands which we believe to be subject to the above concern:

1792 Ridgemont
51 Ice
99 Schnapps
A. Smith Bowman
Absinthe
Ancient Age
Antique Collection
Barton
Blantons
Bowman
Buffalo Trace
Canadian Host
Canadian Hunter
Canadian LTD
Canadian Supreme
Colonel Lee
Dr McGillicuddy’s
Eagle Rare
Elmer T Lee
Experimental Collection
Fireball
Fleishmann’s
Hancock’s Presidents Reserve
Herbsaint
Highland Mist
House of Stuart
Imperial
Inver House
James Foxe
Kentucky Gentleman
Kentucky Tavern
Lauder’s
McAfee’s Benchmark
Mix 51
Mr. Boston
Northern Light
Old Charter
Old Thompson
Old Van Winkle
Pappy Van Winkle
Peychaud’s
Regan’s
Rich & Rare
Rock Hill Farms
Royal Canadian
Sazerac Rye
Ten High
Terra Brazilis
Tom Moore
Tyrconnell
Van Winkle
Very Old Barton
Virginia Gentleman
W L Weller

Consumers who already own one of these liquors are encouraged to ask their personal Rabbi whether returning the bottles to the store is considered to be having hana’ah (benefit) from chametz she’avar alav haPesach. Lastly, we note that this notification does not cover the serious question of the status of whisky (or other chametz) owned on Pesach by a Jewish distributor who does or does not arrange for the sale of his chametz; consumers are once again encouraged to discuss this question with their personal Rabbi.

For updated information or questions regarding this notification, please email AKO at liquor@akokosher.org.

Chicago Rabbinical Council
2701 W Howard Street | Chicago, IL 60645
This email was sent to: elipongo@gmail.com
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cRc Kashrus Alert: Crofter's food products.

2010-05-04T22:18:00.001-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Chicago Rabbinical Council" <alerts@crcweb.org>

Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 10:24:47 -0400 (EDT)

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: cRc Kashrus Alert

Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser.

May 4, 2010

The following alert was sent out by the COR of Toronto, Canada:

The following products made by Crofters Food Ltd were inadvertently labeled with a COR symbol. These products are not COR certified.
Crofters:
Apricot Organic Premium Spread
Black Currant Organic Premium Spread
Blood Orange Organic Premium Spread
Blueberry Preserve (Bake Stable)
Cherry Prese rve (Bake Stable)
Four Fruit Organic Premium Spread
Lemon Ginger Flavour Preparation Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt
Mango Organic Premium Spread
Mango-Apricot Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt
Morello Cherry Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base
Morello Cherry Organic Premium Spread
Peach Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt
Peach Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base
Peach Passion Organic Premium Spread
Raspberry Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt
Raspberry Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base
Raspberry Organic Premium Spread
Strawberry Organic Fruit Base for Ice Cream
Strawberry Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt, Strawberry Organic Kefir & Yogurt Drink Base
Strawberry Organic Premium Spread
Vanilla Organic Fruit Base For Yogurt
Wild Blackberry Organic Premium Spread
Wild Blueberry Organic Premium Spread
Corrective measures have been taken.

For further information regarding this alert, please contact the COR.

Chicago Rabbinical Council
2701 W Howard Street | Chicago, IL 60645
This email was sent to: elipongo@gmail.com
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[Ellington Shul] Hartford North End reunion

2010-04-22T15:47:00.001-04:00

Not sure how many on the list this applies to, but hopefully someone
will find it good to know.

~ Eli

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bea Brodie <bbrodie@jewishhartford.org>
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:27:26 -04
Attached is a flyer for a reunion of those who lived in Hartford's North
End. There will be two programs, one in the afternoon and one in the
evening.

We would appreciate it if you would share this with your congregation
through your weekly e-mail announcements or from the bimah.

Thank you so much.

Bea Brodie
Project Manager
Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford
333 Bloomfield Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06117
860 727-6170
bbrodie@jewishhartford.org

--
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

Congregation Knesseth Israel's Website is http://www.ellingtonshul.org/

Kosher Alert 4/20/10

2010-04-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: Orthodox Union <alerts@ou.org>

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:45:27 -0500

To: <elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: Kosher Alert 4/20/10

Forward this message to a friend

KASHRUTH ALERT

April 20, 2010

Key Food's I.Q.F. Broccoli Spears
Brand:	Key Food
Product:	I.Q.F. Broccoli Spears
Company:	Key Food Stores- Brooklyn, NY
Issue:	This product bears an unauthorized Half Moon K symbol and is being withdrawn from the marketplace. Corrective action is being taken.

More OU Kosher Alerts

www.ou.org

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[Ellington Shul] Hartford: Happy Birthday Israel! Come Celebrate Israel at 62!

2010-04-21T08:02:00.000-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "JFGH" <aperrault@jewishhartford.org>

Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:26:29 -0400

To: Friedman,<Invalid address>; Elias<elipongo@gmail.com>

Subject: Happy Birthday Israel! Come Celebrate Israel at 62!

[Ellington Shul] Fw: 32nd Annual Holocaust Commemoration

2010-04-12T15:43:00.000-04:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: "Jeff Rudolph (JFACT)" <jfact@MCMGMT.COM>

Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:25:25 -0400

To: <JFACT@shamash.org>

Subject: 32nd Annual Holocaust Commemoration

Stories of Freedom: What You Do Matters

Join Us to Remember

32^nd Annual Connecticut Holocaust Commemoration Day

Ray Gawendo, Keynote Speaker

Holocaust Survivor from Klooga Concentration Camp in Estonia

Friday, April 16, 2010 11:00 a.m.

Senate Chambers, Connecticut State Capitol

210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford

Music

E.O. Smith High School, Norwich Free Academy

and Solomon Schechter Academy from Eastern Connecticut

Host Community

Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut

Senate President Don Williams,

will preside over the ceremony.

Lunch following ceremony in Old Judiciary Room, provided for Elected Officials, Statewide Holocaust Commemoration planning committee, Holocaust Survivors and program participants. RSVP to Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT) 860.727.5789 or jfact@mcmgmt.com

The Holocaust Posters on display as well as others are available at no charge

to educational, civic and religious organizations. Please contact JFACT for more information.

No, I don't support a stay for Martin Grossman's execution

2010-02-14T02:41:00.001-05:00

I've been getting a lot of emails lately asking me to sign a petition
to save one Martin Grossman from execution. Many rationals are given
for this, but I don't support clemency for this cop killer just
because he's Jewish?

The actual facts of the case are easy enough to Google up.

Grossman and a 17 year old friend were shooting a STOLEN gun on public
state park land. They were approached by 26 year old forestry officer
Margaret Park who asked to see their weapon permit.

Grossman was out on parole for previous burglaries. He begged Park not
to take him in for his multiple Parole violations. When she refused,
Grossman and his friend proceeded to savagely beat her 20 - 30 times
using her flashlight and radio. When she attempted to defend herself
with her weapon, Grossman - who alone outweighed her by more than 100
pounds and was more than a foot taller - took her gun from her and
SHOT HER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD!

I'm sorry but I don't buy that he was in a "panic" when he shot her in
the BACK of the HEAD after beating up the much smaller woman.

I don't care that his IQ was once measured at 77, he obviously knows
right from wrong and the meaning of consequences to actions. Not to
mention that multiple experts and courts have judged him competent.

Addicted to and high on meth & drinking? Nobody forced him to drink
and do drugs. If you think this is an excuse go hug a DUI who mowed
down kids on the sidewalk while you're at it.

Broken home? Same lame excuse as most every other convict. Lots of
people (myself included) come from difficult backgrounds yet are
productive and successful members of society - not cop killers.

Capital punishment is reserved for the worst of the worst offenses? I
would say severely beating then execution style killing a cop just to
try to beat a parole violation rap qualifies as "worst of the worst".

He's a different man than he was 25 years ago. Perhaps so, but Officer
Margaret Park is exactly the same as she has been for the past 25
years - DEAD. The fact that he feels bad (on the eve of his execution)
doesn't excuse the deed or make her less dead. The fact that this is
even brought up reinforces my opinion that death sentences should be
carried out more quickly. Dragging them out for decades is itself
cruel & unusual punishment; and, as the saying goes, justice delayed
is justice denied.

A Jew shouldn't be executed before he completes teshuva? I call
shenanigans on that one. Complete teshuva is not possible for murder
because one can neither make restitution to nor ask forgiveness of the
victim. We're not Christians who can say a few Hail Marys and have
Jesus forgive them their sins against others.

Pikuach nephesh? Give me a break! This a legitimate execution for a
heinous crime carried out under the laws of the State of Florida. The
Torah itself prescribes capital punishment for several offenses.
Murder is a violation of the Ten Commandments.

I'm really burned at how these emails I've been getting try to
sugarcoat the incident. "They were shooting a found gun.", nope - it
was a stolen gun and Grossman was already on parole for burglary. "He
struggled with her in a panic and snatched her gun when she drew it."
implying the shooting was almost accidental. In fact what happened was
that two large men severely beat a smaller woman dozens of times with
a large metal flashlight and a heavy radio, then when she attempted to
save herself with her weapon, Grossman wrenched it from her hand then
executed her with a shot to the back of the head. The only panicked
struggle I see here is that of officer Park to stay alive.

Quite frankly I see not only Martin Grossman as, but also the clemency
drive within the Jewish community as a Shanda fir de Goyim. Let the
Florida justice system run its course.

--
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

Kashruth Alert

2009-02-26T16:37:00.001-05:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Orthodox Union <alerts@ou.org>
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:46:43 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Kashruth Alert
To: elipongo@gmail.com

KASHRUTH ALERT

February 26, 2009

Newland

Brands:

Newland / or other brands manufactured by this company

Products:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Bok Choy

Company:

Zhejiang Zhongda Newland Co., Ltd.

Issue:

These products bear an unauthorized OU symbol and are not certified
Kosher by the Orthodox Union. Consumers spotting these products are
requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or via email
at kashalerts@ou.org.

Unsubscribe
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--
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

Parsha Va'eira (וארא) January 23/24, 2009 / כ"ז טבת תשס"ט

2009-01-23T16:43:00.001-05:00

Ellington Candlelighting 4:35pm
Havdalah: 5:40pm

Va'eira (וארא) Exodus 6:2–9:35 The Weekly Torah portion in synagogues on Shabbat, Saturday, 28 Tevet, 5769; January 24, 2009 "I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that I may multiply My signs and marvels in the land of Egypt." (Exodus 7:3.)

God spoke to Moses, identified Himself as the God of the Patriarchs, and acknowledged hearing the moaning of the Israelites. God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that God would free them, make them God's people, and bring them to the Promised Land. But the Israelites would not listen. God told Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, but Moses complained that Pharaoh would not heed him, a man of impeded speech.

The text interjects the genealogy of Moses and his family.

God placed Aaron in the role of Moses' prophet, to speak to Pharaoh. God intended to harden Pharaoh's heart, so that God might show signs and marvels. God told how Aaron could cast down his rod and it would turn into a snake, and Aaron did so before Pharaoh. Pharaoh caused his magicians to do the same, but Aaron's rod swallowed their rods. Pharaoh's heart stiffened.

God began visiting ten plagues on Egypt. God told Moses to go to Pharaoh at his morning bath, demand of him to let the Israelites go to worship in the wilderness, and have Aaron strike the Nile with his rod and turn it into blood. Moses and Aaron did so, and the fish died and the Nile stank. But when the Egyptian magicians did the same, Pharaoh's heart stiffened.

Seven days later, God told Moses to have Aaron hold his arm with the rod over the river and bring up frogs, and they did so. The magicians did the same. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron to plead with God to remove the frogs; Moses did so, but Pharaoh became stubborn.

God told Moses to have Aaron strike the dust with his rod, to turn it to lice throughout the land, and they did so. The magicians tried to do the same, but they could not. The magicians told Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God!" But Pharaoh's heart stiffened.

God loosed swarms of insects against the Egyptians, but not Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt. Pharaoh told Moses and Aaron to go sacrifice to God within Egypt, but Moses insisted on going three days into the wilderness. Pharaoh agreed, in exchange for Moses' prayer to lift the plague. But when God removed the insects, Pharaoh became stubborn again.

God struck the Egyptian's livestock with a pestilence, sparing the Israelites' livestock. But Pharaoh remained stubborn.

John Martin's engraving of the plague of hail and fire

God told Moses to take handfuls of soot from the kiln and throw it toward the sky, so that it would become a fine dust, causing boils on man and beast throughout Egypt, and he did so. But God stiffened Pharaoh's heart.

God told Moses to threaten Pharaoh with hail. Those who feared God's word brought their slaves and livestock indoors. God sent thunder and hail, which struck down all exposed in Egypt, but did not strike Goshen. Pharaoh confessed his wrong, agreed to let the Israelites go, and asked Moses and Aaron to pray to end the hail. Moses did so, but Pharaoh reverted to his guilty ways.

Hebrew-English text Hear the parshah chanted Commentary from Conservative Judaism by the Jewish Theological Seminary Commentary from Conservative Judaism by the Conservative Yeshiva Commentary from Reform Judaism Commentaries from Orthodox Judaism by Project Genesis Commentaries from Orthodox Judaism by Chabad.org Commentaries from Aish.com Commentaries from Reconstructionist Judaism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Portal:Judaism/Weekly Torah portion

[Ellington Shul] Parsha Shemot (שמות) January 16/17, 2009 / כ' טבת תשס"ט

2009-01-16T14:55:00.001-05:00

Personal note to members at the bottom of this message.

Ellington Candlelighting: 4:27pm
Havdalah: 5:32pm

Shemot (שמות) Exodus 1:1–6:1 The Weekly Torah portion in synagogues on Shabbat, Saturday, 21 Tevet, 5769; January 17, 2009 "The Israelites were groaning under the bondage and cried out; and their cry for help from the bondage rose up to God." (Exodus 2:23.)

Pharaoh's daughter finds Moses in the Nile (painting by Edwin Long)

Seventy descendants of Jacob came down to Egypt, and the Israelites were fruitful and filled the land. Joseph and all of his generation died, and a new Pharaoh arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. He told his people that the Israelites had become too numerous and required shrewd dealing, lest they multiply and in a war join Egypt's enemies. Therefore the Egyptians set taskmasters over the Israelites to afflict them with burdens — and the Israelites built store-cities for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses — but the more that the Egyptians afflicted them, the more that they multiplied. The Egyptians embittered the Israelites' lives with hard service in brick and mortar and in the field.

Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives, who were named Shiphrah and Puah, that when they delivered Hebrew women, they were to kill the sons, but let the daughters live. But the midwives feared God, and disobeyed Pharaoh, saving the baby boys. Pharaoh asked the midwives why they had saved the boys, and the midwives told Pharaoh that the Hebrew women were more vigorous than the Egyptian women and delivered before a midwife could get to them. God rewarded the midwives because they feared God, and God made them houses. The Israelites continued to multiply, and Pharaoh charged all his people to cast every newborn boy into the river, leaving the girls alive.

Discovery of Moses (painting by Tintoretto)

A Levite couple had a baby boy, and the woman hid him three months. When she could not longer hide him, she made an ark of bulrushes, daubed it with slime and pitch, put the boy inside, and laid it in river. As his sister watched, Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe in the river, saw the ark, and sent her handmaid to fetch it. She opened it, saw the crying boy, and had compassion on him, recognizing that he was one of the Hebrew children.

Moses before the Daughter of the Pharaoh (painting by William Hogarth)

His sister asked Pharaoh's daughter whether she should call a nurse from the Hebrew women, and Pharaoh's daughter agreed. The girl called the child's mother, and Pharaoh's daughter hired her to nurse the child for her. When the child grew, his mother brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her son, calling him Moses, because she drew him out of the water.

When Moses grew up, he went to his brethren and saw their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, he looked this way and that, and when he saw no one, he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the second day, he came upon two Hebrew men fighting, and he asked the wrongdoer why he struck his fellow. The man asked Moses who had made him king, asking him whether he intended to kill him as he did the Egyptian, so Moses realized that his deed was known. When Pharaoh heard, he sought to kill Moses, but Moses fled to Midian, where he sat down by a well.

Moses Defends Jethro's Daughters (painting by Giovanni Battista di Jacopo di Gaspare)

The priest of Midian's seven daughters had come to water their father's flock, but shepherds drove them away. Moses stood up and helped the daughters, and watered their flock. When they came home to their father Reuel, he asked how they were able to come home so early, and they explained how an Egyptian had delivered them from the shepherds, and had also drawn water for the flock. Reuel then asked his daughters why they had left the man there, and told them to call him back to join them for a meal.

Moses and Jethro (painting by Jan Victors)

Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to marry. Moses and Zipporah had a baby boy, whom Moses called Gershom, saying that he had been a stranger in a strange land.

The Pharaoh died, and the Israelites groaned under their bondage and cried to God, and God heard them and remembered God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

When Moses was keeping his father-in-law Jethro's flock at the mountain of God, Horeb, the angel of God appeared to him in a flame in the midst of a bush that burned but was not consumed. God called to Moses from the bush, and Moses answered: "Here I am." God told Moses not to draw near, and to take off his shoes, for the place on which he stood was holy ground. God identified as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, reported having seen the Israelites' affliction and heard their cry, and promised to deliver them from Egypt to Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. God told Moses that God was sending Moses to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, but Moses asked who he was that he should do so. God told Moses that God would be with him, and after he brought them out of Egypt, he would serve God on that mountain.

Moses asked God whom he should say sent him to the Israelites, and God said "I Will Be What I Will Be" (Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh), and told Moses to tell the Israelites that "I Will Be" (Ehyeh) sent him. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that the Lord (YHVH), the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had sent him, and this would be God's Name forever. God directed Moses to tell Israel's elders what God had promised, and predicted that they would heed Moses and go with him to tell Pharaoh that God had met with them and request that Pharaoh allow them to go three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to God. God knew that Pharaoh would not let them go unless forced by a mighty hand, so God would strike Egypt with wonders, and then Pharaoh would let them go. God would make the Egyptians view the Israelites favorably, so that the Israelites would not leave empty handed, but every woman would ask her neighbor for jewels and clothing and the Israelites would strip the Egyptians.

Moses predicted that they would not believe him, so God told him to cast his rod on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses fled from it. God told Moses to take it by the tail, he did so, and it became a rod again. God explained that this was so that they might believe that God had appeared to Moses. Then God told Moses to put his hand into his bosom, he did, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. God told him to put his hand back into his bosom, he did, and when he took it out, it had returned to normal. God predicted that if they would not heed the first sign, then they would believe the second sign, and if they would not believe those two signs, then Moses was to take water from the river and pour it on the land, and the water would become blood. Moses protested that he was not a man of words but was slow of speech, but God asked him who had made man's mouth, so Moses should go, and God would teach him what to say. Moses pleaded with God to send someone else, and God became angry with Moses. God said that Moses' well-spoken brother Aaron was coming to meet him, Moses would tell him the words that God would teach them, he would be Moses' spokesman, and Moses would be like God to him.

Moses returned to Jethro and asked him to let him return to Egypt, and Jethro bade him to go in peace. God told Moses that he could return, for all the men who sought to kill him were dead. Moses took his wife and sons and the rod of God and returned to Egypt. God told Moses to be sure to perform for Pharaoh all the wonders that God had put in his hand, but God would harden his heart, and he would not let the people go. And Moses was to tell Pharaoh that Israel was God's firstborn son, and Pharaoh was to let God's son go to serve God, and should he refuse, God would kill Pharaoh's firstborn son.

At the lodging-place along the way, God sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a flint and circumcised her son, and touched his legs with it, saying that he was a bridegroom of blood to her, so God let him alone.

God told Aaron to go to the wilderness to meet Moses, and he went, met him at the mountain of God, and kissed him. Moses told him all that God had said, and they gathered the Israelite elders and Aaron told them what God had said and performed the signs. The people believed, and when they heard that God had remembered them and seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh (painting by Benjamin West)

Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh that God said to let God's people go so that they might hold a feast to God in the wilderness, but Pharaoh asked who God was that he should let Israel go. They said that God had met with them, and asked Pharaoh to let them go three days into the wilderness and sacrifice to God, lest God fall upon them with pestilence or the sword. Pharaoh asked them why they caused the people to rest from their work, and commanded that the taskmasters lay heavier work on them and no longer give them straw to make brick but force them to go and gather straw for themselves to make the same quota of bricks. The people scattered to gather straw, and the taskmasters beat the Israelite officers, asking why they had not fulfilled the quota of brick production as before. The Israelites cried to Pharaoh, asking why he dealt so harshly with his servants, but he said that they were idle if they had time to ask to go and sacrifice to God. So the officers met Moses and Aaron as they came from meeting Pharaoh and accused them of making the Israelites to smell to Pharaoh and his servants and to give them a weapon to kill the people. Moses asked God why God had dealt so ill with the people and why God had sent him, for since he came to Pharaoh to speak in God's name, he had dealt ill with the people, and God had not delivered the people. And God told Moses that now he would see what God would do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand would he let the people go, and by a strong hand would he drive them out of his land.

Hebrew-English Text Hear the parshah chanted Commentary from Conservative Judaism by the Jewish Theological Seminary Commentary from Conservative Judaism by the Conservative Yeshiva Commentary from Reform Judaism Commentaries from Orthodox Judaism by Project Genesis Commentaries from Orthodox Judaism by Chabad.org Commentaries from Aish.com Commentaries from Reconstructionist Judaism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Portal:Judaism/Weekly Torah portion

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Dear Ellington Friends;

As many of you know, I have finally done what I've been saying I would do and I have moved away. I am now living in New York City's Upper West Side and I am no longer serving you as your shul's president. This saddens me greatly and is one of the reasons that I procrastinated so long in taking this step for myself. I would be very pleased if you would all allow me to continue to serve as your webmaster and to send out these email messages for you- just email me with any announcements you would like to have included!

Be sure that I will often be coming for visits, after all my brother and sister still live there and my parents and grandparents are in our cemetery. And if any of you have Facebook or Twitter accounts, please add me so that I can keep up on happenings up that way.

Have a good Shabbos and stay warm!
Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

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Congregation Knesseth Israel's Website is http://www.ellingtonshul.org/
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Swastica at PLO hate rally.

2009-01-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

Israel rally

2009-01-11T12:37:00.000-05:00

Two blocks away from the rally- as close as the cops will let up get!

cRc Kashrus Alert

2009-01-06T13:41:00.001-05:00

From the Chicago Rabbinical Council <alerts@crcweb.org>

January 6, 2009

10 Teves 5769

The following alert was sent by the Scroll K of Denver:

Products: Celestial Seasonings Teas - English Toffee & Decaf Vanilla Maple

Issue: Were labeled incorrectly as pareve with the Star K hechsher.

Products are actually certified by the Scroll K and are dairy (cholov stam).

Do not reply to this alert address. Please send all responses to info@crcweb.org

Please Post

Visit our Website for continuously updated information

www.crcweb.org

Chicago Rabbinical Council
2701 W Howard Street
Chicago, Illinois 60645

My first letter in the new apartment!

2009-01-03T19:52:00.001-05:00

It's a picture of my great-nephew Ari that my nice niece sent me. Thanks Marrisa!
-Eli

Poll Shows Sharp Division Between Democrats and Republicans on Gaza Action

2009-01-02T12:48:00.002-05:00

From the Republican Jewish Coalition <press@rjchq.org>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shari Hillman
Phone: 202-638-6688

E-mail: press@rjchq.org

RJC Responds to Poll Showing Sharp Division Between Democrats and Republicans on Gaza Action

Majority of Democrats oppose Israeli self-defense actions in Gaza;
Nearly two-thirds of Republicans support it.

Washington, D.C. (January 2, 2009) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) released a statement today in response to a Rasmussen poll of American opinions of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which showed a majority of Democrats opposed to Israel's defensive actions in Gaza while nearly two-thirds of Republicans supported Israel's actions. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:

The latest Rasmussen poll (conducted December 30, 2008*) highlights the continuing deep division between rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans regarding support for Israel's right to defend herself. As Israel takes military action to defend herself from the continuous assault of rockets and mortars coming from Hamas-controlled Gaza, that divide is especially note-worthy.

The Rasmussen poll shows that there is a huge split between Democrats and Republicans on whether Israel should have undertaken the current military action against Hamas. Democrats opposed the Israeli action 31%-55% and Republicans supported Israel's course of action 62%-27%.

This is not an isolated instance. We saw a similar split between Democrats and Republicans when Israel fought Hezbollah forces in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll in late July 2006 showed that among Republicans, an overwhelming 84% said they sympathized more with Israel (1% sympathized more with Arab states); by comparison, just 43% of Democrats did so (12% sympathize more with Arab states). In a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll at the very end of July, when asked whether the U.S. should be more neutral in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah or whether the U.S. should align itself with Israel, Democrats supported neutrality over alignment, 54% to 39%. However, by comparison, Republicans strongly supported alignment with the Jewish state, 64% to 29%.

While we are pleased that many Democratic congressional leaders have offered their unqualified support of Israel, the fact that an overwhelming majority of Democrats at the grassroots level oppose Israel's self-defensive action is troubling and a cause for concern in the Jewish community.

We hope that going forward, pro-Israel Democratic congressional leaders and advocacy groups such as the National Jewish Democratic Council will redouble their efforts to educate grassroots Democrats and build greater support for Israel's right of self-defense.

* The poll is summarized here.

###

Forward email

Bicycle & electric menorahs

2008-12-26T00:12:00.000-05:00

My last Chanukah in Ellington.
-Eli

Yeah right!

2008-12-19T11:56:00.000-05:00

We could use some global warming now!
-Eli

Such convenience!

2008-12-18T16:48:00.001-05:00

Bike shop literally around the corner!
-Eli

Place I'm applying for tomorrow.

2008-12-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Front view of the building the apartment is in that I will put in an application for in the morning. 102 W80th.
-Eli

cRc Kashrus Alert

2008-12-18T10:19:00.001-05:00

December 18, 2008

21 Kislev 5769

Kraft Foods has introduced a new product Crystal Light Hunger Satisfaction powdered beverage in Strawberry Banana flavor. This item is unique among Crystal Light varieties in that it contains whey, a milk protein, and is therefore dairy/cholov stam.

It is certified OK-D, as stated on the package.

Do not reply to this alert address. Please send all responses to info@crcweb.org

Please Post

Visit our Website for continuously updated information

www.crcweb.org

Chicago Rabbinical Council
2701 W Howard Street
Chicago, Illinois 60645

Kashruth Alert

2008-12-16T18:36:00.001-05:00

From the Orthodox Union <alerts@ou.org>
Date: Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 2:54 PM

KASHRUTH ALERT

December 16, 2008

Boar's Head Placards

	Issue:	Placards bearing an unauthorized OU symbol and the Boar's Head logo have been distributed to delis. These placards are not an indication of the Kosher status of their corresponding products. Corrective action is being taken. Consumers spotting these placards are requested to contact the Orthodox Union at 212-613-8241 or via email at kashalerts@ou.org.

More OU Kosher Alerts

Kashruth Alert

2008-12-16T09:42:00.001-05:00

From the Orthodox Union <alerts@ou.org>
Date: Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 1:57 PM

KASHRUTH ALERT

December 15, 2008

Hoody's Party Tray
Brands:	Hoody's
Products:	Serve & Snack Party Tray
Company:	Harvest Manor Farms - Cedar Rapids, IA
Issue:	This product contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation has been inadvertently omitted. Future packaging will be revised.

KASHRUTH ALERT

December 15, 2008

Sally Sherman Seafood Salad
Brands:	Sally Sherman
Products:	Seafood Salad
Company:	Sally Sherman Foods - Mt. Vernon, NY
Issue:	A limited amount of this product has been distributed while bearing an unauthorized OU symbol. The product is being withdrawn from the marketplace.

More OU Kosher Alerts

Chanukia I got in the UWS today.

2008-12-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

I just couldn't resist it!
-Eli

Customer Service: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

2008-12-13T18:19:00.001-05:00

This past Friday I had the opportunity to experience both excellent and poor customer service. The phrase, "Outstanding Customer Service", is one of the two core values of my new employer, SeniorCare EMS, and had been oft repeated during my previous three days of orientation (the other core value is "Clinical Excellence", for those of you who were wondering). Going out of my way for the satisfaction of my patients, their families, caregivers, resident facilities, etc. — all of whom are also my customers — happens to be an ethic I believe in; but I was perhaps hyper-aware of it due to it's emphasis during my job orientation.

The Good...

SeniorCare uses WhenToWork.com for scheduling shifts. WhenToWork.com (w2w) is a really nifty service that provides a lot of powerful scheduling solutions to both employees and supervisors. It's quite handy and easy to use and I've quite enjoyed using it. My previous employer, the Ambulance Service of Manchester, also uses w2w. When I logged in using the temporary sign-in ID that my supervisor had provided me with, the system asked me to pick a permanent username. I tried to pick "elipongo" which is my standard login name. The system refused to allow me to use it because it didn't recognize that I was the same person as the one who had worked at ASM.

I wrote an email to w2w explaining the situation, that the truth of the matter was easy to establish since both accounts were assigned to the same email address, and requested permission to re-use my old sign-in name. I sent the email at around 9pm on Thursday night and in all honesty did not expect a reply earlier than sometime on Friday at the earliest, if I got a reply at all. I wasn't too worried about it, it's not like I haven't had to compromise on my username before.

Dan from w2w's customer support wrote back at half past midnight to let me know that he had forwarded the request to their tech department. By 12:50am he wrote again that the permission had been granted. He was even patient with a couple of crossed emails on my part and was cheerful despite the late hour.

I was very struck by this. WhenToWork.com had taken the trouble to make a manual change to their system very promptly and in the middle of the night. It is especially surprising in light of the fact that I am not even their customer per se. Rather it is my employer, SeniorCare, who is their customer; I am merely a brand new employee with zero seniority and no ability whatsoever to affect purchase decisions.

Such attention to detail deserves to be lauded when encountered. Thank you Dan, with attitudes like yours and the rest of the w2w team's I'm sure you'll all do very well.

...The Bad...

As I mentioned in a previous post, my first road shift with SeniorCare is on Sunday. I had to retrieve from Connecticut some equipment I needed (stethoscope, shears, etc.) for the shift. I also needed to purchase a new tire & tube for my bicycle and I needed to have my new uniforms tailored and their patches attached. I had made some efforts to find places in NYC to do these things, but I realized that since I was going to Connecticut anyway, it would be simpler and faster to go to the places I already know of that could do them. Between the fact that Shabbos arrives very early this time of the year, and the fact that I had to be back before my shift started on Sunday, I decided the fastest way to get these all these things accomplished would be to rent a car for the weekend.

When I've needed to rent a car in the past, I have used Enterprise Rent-A-Car and had always been satisfied. Their staff was friendly, the cars were clean and well maintained, and the rental process was quick and painless. I had even joined up with their Enterprise Plus preferred customer program.

What I thought would be Enterprise's most convenient location to get to from my niece's Washington Heights apartment is in the Bronx. Getting there, I had the pleasure of having to take the 1 train all the way to its northern terminus at Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street because the northbound trains were by-passing all the stations between there and the Dyckman Street station (very slowly, on a little used express track) due to track work. I had to take a southbound train back to the 231st Street station where the Enterprise was located.

So I got there later than I expected; additionally when I arrived I was informed that their computers were down. I asked, and they were cool with me eating my lunch while they checked me in manually. I thought I would choke when after a bit I was asked to produce a payroll stub and a utility bill. I was informed that because I was using a debit card (I don't do credit cards anymore, hate 'em!) and had an out-of-state driver's license I had to prove my residency using these items. While I did just happen to be carrying a pay-stub from my old employer (I obviously haven't gotten one from the new one yet!) I told them that the only utility I paid was to Verizon Wireless and that I had paperless billing. They said they could call the utility for people with paperless billing, but that Verizon Wireless couldn't be used because of the "temporary nature" of cellphones — this despite the fact that I've had the same phone number and account since 1989. I asked them what exactly a utility bill would prove that my Enterprise Plus account wouldn't.

I had rented from Enterprise just two weeks prior from their Vernon, Connecticut location when I went down for my job interview at SeniorCare, so I asked them whether this rule was limited to New York state; they didn't seem to understand the question. I asked them to call the Enterprise location in Fort Lee, New Jersey to see if they would have a similar problem with my renting from them. The staff was kind enough to make the call and I was informed that New Jersey had the same rule.

So I told them if the problem is simply my trying to use a debit card with an out-of-state driver's license, then I would take MetroNorth up to New Haven and rent a car from there where my license would be in-state. They said that would probably be a good idea and they even offered to transfer my reservation over; but since they seemed to be hazy on the geography (they mentioned another town than New Haven), I told them that I'd book it by cellphone from the train.

So I burned through yet more time traveling the subway all the way into Midtown to Grand Central Terminal and caught a New Haven bound train. I used my cellphone's VZ Navigator program to find the Enterprise location closest to the train station and gave them a call. I was careful to mention my problems with the New York location, and was informed that I still couldn't rent because the hold-up was with the debit card and not the out-of-state license as I had been informed. At this point I gave up on Enterprise, telephoned a Hertz location just a couple of blocks from the New Haven station and rented from them without any issues whatsoever.

I called Enterprise's corporate customer service number and asked them why they had treated a loyal customer so shabbily. That while most people would have called another company immediately upon getting problems at the Bronx location, I had put forth an extraordinary effort to remain their customer and had been summarily rebuffed. That I didn't understand what a utility bill, which could easily have been faked in Photoshop, would prove better than my own Enterprise Plus account I had with them. I told them that I had formerly been a person who spoke highly of their company to my friends, and encouraged them to use Enterprise when needed; but that now I would not be shy about sharing my negative episode with them because in my own experience companies that change their rules like that are often already a good way down the road of going out of business. The young lady on the telephone was courteous and apologetic, but obviously couldn't do anything besides start a complaint file with the corporate offices and promise that I would likely get a call back in a week or so.

...and the Ugly.

Because of all the time I wasted due to my misplaced loyalty to Enterprise, I barely made it to my home in Connecticut in time for Shabbos. I didn't have time to get my uniforms tailored and their patches attached, I didn't have time to get a new tire and tube for the bicycle, and I barely had time to get something to eat. I hope my sister Sylvia, with whom I'll be staying the next few days, can help me with the uniforms anyways, else I may have to resort to using staples...

Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elipongo@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

New job!

2008-12-12T09:07:00.002-05:00

Patches and cap from my new job at SeniorCare EMS! I'm excited about working here- the company seems to be very serious about safety and customer service- things very important to me as well. First road shift (as a third) this Sunday.

I almost thought I would lose my opportunity here yesterday. On my way into the third day of orientation, when we were to meet the company owner, I got a flat tire!

It was pouring rain at about forty degrees in NYC yesterday and I got the flat less than two miles from my destination. First I tried a quick shot from my CO2 canister to see if it was a slow leak that would hold the fifteen minute ride- no dice. So I got out the cell phone to tell them about what was going on and tried to convince dispatch to send a rig on a rescue mission to fetch the bike and me- no dice on getting a ride; I guess I'm too new an employee yet to have built up enough trust for such a favor- fair enough, really.

So I had the distinct pleasure of changing my tube in a cold, driving rain. My front tire has a quarter inch gash in it- I have no idea from what. I improvised a boot from the box my spare inner tube had come in, pumped it up with another CO2 canister (It's amazing just how much ice can form on the valve stem when you use one of those things in a cold rain!) and got on my way. I wound up being about fifteen or twenty minutes late, thank goodness everyone wasn't too upset at me! Not exactly the impression I wanted to make on the boss on my third day of orientation... Such is life, I suppose though. Just gotta' roll with the punches and come back up smiling!

EliPongo's Blog

What a strange dream!

A poor excuse for journalism in the New York Times, and biased to boot!

Kashruth Alert - King Star Foods - Chicken Flavor Soup

[Ellington Shul] Fwd: HHNE Grand Opening Email

Sceptical of the Ground Zero Mosque's Imam

Fwd: Kashruth Alert 9/8/10

Fw: cRc kashrus Alert, JELL-O Strawberry Cheesecake Snacks

Kashrut Alert: America's Choice Berry Blend.

Kashrut Alert - Cinquina

Kosher Alert: America's Choice Hot Cocoa

cRc Kashrus Alert: Whiskey

The following alert has been sent out on behalf of the Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO) Whisky Alert

cRc Kashrus Alert: Crofter's food products.

[Ellington Shul] Hartford North End reunion

Kosher Alert 4/20/10

[Ellington Shul] Hartford: Happy Birthday Israel! Come Celebrate Israel at 62!

[Ellington Shul] Fw: 32nd Annual Holocaust Commemoration

No, I don't support a stay for Martin Grossman's execution

Kashruth Alert

Parsha Va'eira (וארא) January 23/24, 2009 / כ"ז טבת תשס"ט

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Portal:Judaism/Weekly Torah portion

[Ellington Shul] Parsha Shemot (שמות) January 16/17, 2009 / כ' טבת תשס"ט

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Portal:Judaism/Weekly Torah portion

Swastica at PLO hate rally.

Israel rally

cRc Kashrus Alert

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My first letter in the new apartment!

Poll Shows Sharp Division Between Democrats and Republicans on Gaza Action

Bicycle & electric menorahs

Yeah right!

Such convenience!

Place I'm applying for tomorrow.

cRc Kashrus Alert

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Kashruth Alert

Kashruth Alert

Chanukia I got in the UWS today.

Customer Service: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The Good...

...The Bad...

...and the Ugly.

New job!

The following alert has been sent out on behalf of the Association of Kashrus Organizations (AKO)

Whisky Alert