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מכרכר בכל עוז's avatar

You forgot the water bottle.

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Evil Blob's avatar

He didn't forget it. He just realized that he made a fool out of himself with that one.

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Ash's avatar

I would love if you would speak in Lakewood! Probably never gonna happen though.

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

If you are going to talk about book bans and condemnations, you should include a bit about at least three other books. The Maiden of Ludmir, My uncle the Netziv and my book, Aleph Shin. Aleph Shin was not actually banned because the power that be concluded an official ban would make it more popular, but I have a lot on the proposed ban that I might share.

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Clif's avatar

Alef Shin was fantastic except two points (in my opinion).

1) Moshiach ending is always a killer for a book.

2) As it being a frum book (with him being moshiach no less) to allow them to have tatoos on their feet against halacha, as well planning on sending the married men in the submarine to start a new life even when knowingly leaving their wives to think they can remarry and thus create mamzerim gives it a bad religous vibe overall.

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

Clif, either you forgot or didn't understand what was written in the book. 1. the married men gave their wives gittin... no mamzerim and they could remarry. 2. they were NOT tatoos. The halacha is a tatoo is only if INK is injected under the skin. These were plain burn marks. 3. As for Moshiach. The character is Never called Moshiach in the book, nor does he claim to be. However, according to the Rambam, the Moshiach, besides a great gadol b'torah must be a great warrior.

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Clif's avatar

Granted it has been a few years since reading it. From my recollection they were tatoos but as you're the author I trust that's what it was. In regards to the gittin, again from remembering from many years ago, it was only when one of the people told his rabbi about the mission did he arrange gittin for them. In regards to moshiach you know what they say "if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck..." definitely insinuating if not downright saying he's moshiach.

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Joe Berry's avatar

Hi Sender. I had no idea your book Aleph Shin was "banned". I would be so curious to know more details. Personally, I found the book very enjoyable; read it a couple of times and have shared it with a number of people.

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

Hi Joe, There was a "bottom-feeder" who contacted all the bookstores to ban it but only one listened to him. After it started to sell in England, Lehman Distributors banned it and sent back the remaining copies. I had a long talk with Rav Matisyahu Solomon about it that was not very pleasant, but in the end, he did not ban it. Judaica Plaza would not sell it when it first came out (I think because of the same bottom-feeder), but shortly later did sell it and sold a lot of it. The Jewish Observer wrote an article lambasting it and would not allow me to reply.

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Don Coyote's avatar

Which issue of the JO?

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

11-2000 edition of the Jewish Observer article by Pinchas Jung.

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Don Coyote's avatar

Thank you.

It must be this:

"A typical example is one of the latest,

best-selling, techno-thrillers, complete

with three letters of approval from

well-known rabbinic personalities

reproduced on the back cover.

"The story includes numerous

episodes of people becoming involved

in all the undesirable activities that we

are battling today. A Jewish man

becomes involved with a young woman

he believes to be non-Jewish. A Jewish

youngster gets entangled with drug dealers

and a gentile girl; there are shooting

incidents and samples of rough language

along the way.

"Have the approving rabbis indeed

read the entire book? Do they honestly

believe that this is ideal reading material

for our youth? If so, we have a new

problem."

I was not aware that a reviewer at the JO is qualified to find approbations of well-known rabbinic personalities problematic. I was not aware that a reviewer at the JO is meant to make his objections public without first consulting those well-known rabbinic personalities who granted the approbations. Unless he has received the backing of any particular well-known rabbi who the JO accepts as an authority over those well-known rabbinic personalities .

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

That's it. I wrote a comprehensive response that the JO refused to print. I was told, "let sleeping dogs lie."

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Ash's avatar

Any way I can read that article?

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Miriam Gould's avatar

It's been many years since I read it...2000 I think...however, I too, thought the character was the Moshiach. Did you mean to "insinuate" he was? Have you thoughts on reissuing it and perhaps editing it (for any reason). It's been 24 years now...I did enjoy the book. I've lended to a neighbor recently and she is lending it to someone as well now. We are in Baltimore...Pikesville and down the street from our shul.

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David Staum's avatar

I hadn't heard of Aleph Shin before, but after reading the comments here, I was intrigued. I do most of my (non Shabbat) reading on my Kindle. Have you considered making it available as an e-book? I don't see that option on Amazon.

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

That is an idea. The Rumspringa Kallah is on Kindle.

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Just Curious's avatar

What is “Aleph Shin”?

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sander goldberg's avatar

A frum novel that came out in 2000. One of the most popular frum novels in history.

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Moshe Rubin's avatar

How can one obtain your books?

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sander goldberg's avatar

B'mechilas Reb Noson for using this comment section for personal purposes. senderzeyv@gmail.com

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Ash's avatar

Wait, your that Sender Zeyv!? Cool. How about your Romantic Amish Mamzer book? Surprised that wasn't banned. I thought it was pretty gutsy of you to write such a book - good for you!

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

You read The Rumpsringa Kallah? That book wasn't banned because none of the frum publishers will even publish it!

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Joe Berry's avatar

Whoa... I didn't know this book exists. Just now read the review on Amazon. Sounds quite interesting. Will be buying it.

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Ash's avatar

I read the kindle preview, which is quite lengthy.

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

if you read these kind of books, read the whole thing, you will love it.

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Evil Blob's avatar

Sender, just curious. Why are mamzerim and mamzerus a recurrent theme in almost all your books?

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

It's not. Just in The Rumspringa Kallah.

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Uriah’s Wife's avatar

@MD,

It’s just a popular romance. A work of fiction. FICTION. If you’re so discomfited by fiction, you should reconsider your adoration of some of the whackier works (seforim) of a some of our Poskm Gedolim.

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Ash's avatar

I would love to. I do most of my reading on Shabbos. Is there any way to purchase a hard copy? If there is, I would gladly buy it. I would also love a copy of Every Man A Slave as well. Thank you!

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sender zeyv goldberg's avatar

Contact me at senderzeyv@gmail.com. Every Man A Slave is out of print.

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Miriam Gould's avatar

It's been many years since I read it...2000 I think...however, I too, thought the character was the Moshiach. Did you mean to "insinuate" he was? Have you thoughts on reissuing it and perhaps editing it (for any reason). It's been 24 years now...I did enjoy the book. I've lended to a neighbor recently and she is lending it to someone as well now. We are in Baltimore...Pikesville and down the street from our shul.

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Clif's avatar

Alef Shin was fantastic except two things in my opinion. 1) The ending with him being moshiach 2) As a frum book and him being moshiach for them to be allowed tattoos on their foot against halacha gave it a bad vibe. Other than that great book all around.

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Evil Blob's avatar

Baruch Hashem! Irrationalist Modoxism just published a halachic justification for coed schools!

https://irrationalistmodoxism.substack.com/p/a-halakhic-endorsement-of-coed-schools

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Joshua Waxman's avatar

Looking forward to attending on Sunday!

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Uriah’s Wife's avatar

When you address the Ark Encounter please compare it to our biblical Noach account of the great Deluge. Also, a discussion of the Gilgamesh epic and why it should be less believable than our biblical Noach narrative.

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Just Curious's avatar

It’d be cooler if the 8-ft hammerhead was alive, incidentally.

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Avner Gold's avatar

Is there an entrance fee for Sunday?

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Ash's avatar

Wasn't your book banned too?

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User's avatar
Comment deleted
Mar 7, 2023
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Ash's avatar

Yes. I have basically forgotten about that! Why?

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Yosef Hirsh's avatar

(writing under diff account now)

I know you from the Mir......

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