text:
|Women were regularly present in the synagogue. One early rabbinic tradition speaks of a halachic ruling allowing a non-Jewish woman to help prepare the meal until the Jewish woman of the household returned from the synagogue (Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 38a-b).
Another mentions the right of women and minors to be included among the seven people called to read from the Torah on the Sabbath (Tosefta, Megillah 3, 11-12); the obvious assumption here is that these participants were regular attendees.
The Jerusalem Talmud (Sotah 1, 4, 16d) tells of a woman in Tiberias who went to the synagogue every Friday night to hear R. Meir's sermons, and a late midrash (Yalqut Shim'oni, Deuteronomy, 871) tells of an elderly woman who, when consulting with the second-century R. Yose b. Halafta, mentioned that she went to the synagogue every morning.
A Christian source also confirms the presence of women, albeit in a less flattering light. Toward the end of the fourth century, John Chrysostom (later to become the Patriarch of Constantinople) preached that synagogues were places of abomination, the proof of which lay in the fact that men and women gathered there together.
He also denounced some of the women in his church as "judaizers,†an indication that they regularly attended the synagogue (Discourse against Judaizing Christians)…
For the first seven centuries of the Common Era, women and men in both Palestine and the Diaspora sat together in the synagogue. This practice was in stark contrast to that of Roman society, which regularly instituted segregation in the public realm along class, ethnic, or gender lines; and that of the early church, which by and large separated men and women as well.
The physical separation of men and women in the synagogue developed at a later time. There is no archaeological evidence from antiquity of a women's section in any synagogue, nor a single inscription noting such a separation. The absence of epigraphical evidence is significant, given the fact that many synagogue inscriptions of the time do, in fact, name various areas within the building.
The majority of these edifices had only a single prayer hall where the congregation gathered, but no balcony. And even when a building did have one, there is no reason to assume that it served as a women's gallery. It might have functioned as a space for meetings, court sessions, festive meals, study, or the hazzan's (cantor's) living quarters; according to rabbinic sources, the synagogue balcony was used for all these purposes.
Also notably absent from rabbinic sources is any discussion of separate seating for women. Four hundred or so traditions in rabbinic literature address the synagogue and its functions, and not one mentions a special women's section.
One rabbinic source does attest to the separation of men and women, but this was in the Jerusalem Temple, when a special balcony was constructed around the "Women's Court†to separate the sexes during the frivolous Water Drawing Festival on Sukkot (Mishnah, Middot 2, 5; Tosefta, Sukkah 4,1).
Notably, this stated exception to the rule makes it clear that on the other fifty-one weeks of the year, there was no such separation of men and women in the Temple precincts.
The sum of the evidence leaves little doubt that throughout Late Antiquity, whenever Jews gathered in the synagogue for ritual purposes, there were no gender distinctions in seating arrangements …
We know from Maimonides and the Cairo Genizah that the custom (of separate seating), in Egypt at least, was well in place by the eleventh and twelfth centuries, as these sources explicitly note a separation or partition (mehitzah).
Thus, at some point between the seventh and eighth centuries (our last-dated archaeological and literary sources for Late Antiquity) and the eleventh century (the above-noted sources from Egypt), this division was adopted by Jewish communities, likely because of Islamic or Christian influence, newly developing religious stringencies within Judaism regarding the impurity of women, or perhaps both of these considerations.
The full interview
Read the full interview with Professor Levine on the Reform Magazine website
Exerpts used with permission from the Union for Reform Judaism
"Four hundred or so traditions in rabbinic literature address the synagogue and its functions, and not one mentions a special women's section"
Ten unforgettable days on the Beutel
A new prayer book for the Commonwealth
|PROGRESSIVE congregations around South Africa evaluated three different prayer books during 2008, and have chosen one – the US prayer book Mishkan T'Filah – which is to be adopted from December 2009, in a modified form customised for South Africa.
The current prayer book, Gates of Prayer, is to be phased out after more than thirty years because:
South African rabbis decided that the choice of payer book should be one in which all members could participate. During the course of 2008, three different prayer books were tried out in congregations around the country: The British Reform prayer book Forms of Prayer (2008); the British Liberal movement prayer book Siddur Lev Chadash (1995); and the US reform prayer book Mishkan T'Filah (2008).
The Liberal book was rejected first, as too abbreviated, although many people liked the additional readings it supplies. The British Reform book was widely supported because it takes the most traditional approach, closer to South African practice, and offers excellent explanatory notes. But in the end, the US book won out, for a number of reasons.
Considerable editing and production work is required, which is why the revised Mishkan T'Filah will only be launched in South Africa near the end of 2009. The book has a most attractive format and design, and is printed in colour. It includes a wide selection of additional readings from the Progressive liturgical tradition and the great poetic writings from Jewish history. It is flexible, allowing for alternative theologies and styles of service.
Help sponsor the siddur!
During the months up to June 2009, the SAUPJ will be calling upon supporters to help sponsor the siddur project.
One type of sponsorship allows people to have dedications to their loved ones inscribed permanently in all printed copies of the book.
Three different levels of sponsorship are available, ranging in price from R2 500 to R7 500. To learn more about the programme, click here to see the SAUPJ sponsorship form.
What the name means
Mishkan is the Hebrew word for "tabernacle", the nomadic holy sanctuary carried through the desert by Moses and the Israelites. Mishkan T'Filah translates as tabernacle, or dwelling place, of prayer.
Response to ban on Dalai Lama
|As we approach Passover, the celebration of the Israelites' liberation from tyranny and oppression, we the South African Progressive Jewish Community, are appalled that the government of South Africa has refused to grant His Holiness the Dalai Lama entry into our country to attend the 2010 World Cup-organised peace conference in Johannesburg.
The government's willingness to succumb to pressure and threats from the Chinese government is a rejection of what we are supposed to hold dear – the sanctity of human rights, democracy and freedom.
It is ironic that the news of the government's submission to one of the world's most oppressive nations broke two days after our celebration of Human Rights Day.
This refusal to allow the Dalai Lama to attend a conference on peace makes a mockery of our constitution and of the struggle against apartheid during which so many people suffered humiliation, imprisonment and death so that South Africa can be transformed into a country in which the dignity of all men and women is guaranteed.
We call on the South African government to rescind its decision not to allow the esteemed leader of the Tibetan People into our beautiful country and to stand up to the bullying tactics of the Chinese government. We should be guided by our desire to do what is ethically and morally right and not by intimidation and money.
Declaration of Solidarity
|As members and supporters of the Jewish community, we affirm the democratic right of freedom of opinion, expression and association guaranteed to all citizens of the Republic of South Africa.
Those rights allow us to declare publicly our support for the State of Israel whose foundations lie in our historic and religious connection to the land and the unbroken Jewish presence there for three millennia.
We take pride in the outstanding achievements of the State of Israel and the many contributions to the betterment of humanity since its establishment more than 60 years ago.
We hope that peace and concord will soon be established between Israelis and Palestinians establishing mutual agreement, respect and growing cooperation.
We call on the international community and the government of South Africa to use all diplomatic means at their disposal to achieve the immediate release of abducted Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, held in Gaza by the Hamas since 25 June 2006.
We encourage all South Africans to live and act in the spirit of the Bill of Rights of South Africa and our motto, "Unity in Diversity" and to respect our democratic right as loyal South Africans to support Israel.
Letters to our friends from 2009 shnatties
From Netzer Staff:
We have a week and a half to go for Etgar and Machon. The shnattim are doing fine and looking forward to their next part of Shnat- going to the cities! Machon enjoyed their peer- led week and Etgar enjoyed their Northern Tiyul in the Galilee and the Golan Heights. This week we informed the shnattim that they are all going together to Kibbutz Yahel for their last part of Shnat, starting the 30th of August 2009. We hope they have a great time there.
Shabbat Shalom
Parents Report from Machon, by Isabella Williams:
Dear Families, friends, and of course beloved pets,
We are all missing you greatly, but are keeping ourselves busy with our daily lives here in Israel.
Machon is coming to an end. Some of us are sad to have to leave this place we have called home for the past 4 months, and other cant wait to move onto the next part of our Shnat program.
Last Wednesday Machon held a Tikkun Leil for us to celebrate Shavuot a day earlier than the country, so we could have fun learning as well as going out to the commnity for the real shavuot the next night.
At 11.45pm we all made our way to Ulam Rachel. We were provided with tea, coffee, fruit, biscuits and of course the traditional cheesecake to keep us awake.
We had 4 guest speakers over the course of the night – a feminist, a hareidi, a kabbalist and an environmentalist – who each spoke about two topics including an insiders vew on Hareidi society and Kabbalistic philosophy.
The busy night of learning concluded at 5.30am when we headed down to the tayelet to watch the beautiful sunrise over Jerusalem and to sing songs and a few prayers – Netzer style!
Thursday was a chofesh day so we could sleep and recover from our night of learning and have an oppotunity to attend another tikkun leil that night.
The weekend was a normal free weekend. Most machoniks chose to stay in Jerusalem.
I enjoyed shabbat with Etgar. We baked challah and lit shabbat candles that Rikki and Talia had decorated during their volunteering. Rikki cooked up amazing sushi and we had a really enjoyable dinner.
Monday was our first day of peer-led classes. This is where fellow machoniks become the teacher and the teacher's join the rest of the class as students. Our erev peula was a particularly fun night. We went to a park and we had pizza and ice cream for dinner before playing backyard cricket.
We were then split into teams where we had to dress up to play a giant board-game drawn out on the basketball court. There were lots of group challanges and we all had a lot of fun.
Tuesday was a regular day, except at 11am we had a bomb drill. The sirens went off over the city and everyone made for the bomb shelters. It was an experience i've never had before and hope never have to repeat.
That afternoon for Tnua time (it was just Machon because Etgar are on tiyul) Neil treated us to a movie, popcorn and drinks. We weren't told what we were going to see – it was a surprise. We made our way to Malcha Mall, sat in our seats and anxiously waited for the movie to start – meanwhile trying to guess what it was that we were about to watch. It turned out to be Star Trek!!! We all enjoyed ourselves especially as it was the first time for most of us to go to the cinemas in Israel.
Sending you all our love and ensuring you that our Hebrew is getting slightly better each day.
Take Care.
Etgar report by Beth Exiner:
Dear family and friends,this week started off with a late wakeup on Sunday and then lunch at Dana's place, where Shira and Dana cooked us a feast of delicious pasta and a choice in salads. Here, we were briefed about the week to come.Bright and early Monday morning, we were up and on the bus, ready for Northern Tiyul. Sadly, we also had to say goodbye to Alex, who was going back to Australia.
We picked up our tour guide and friend Niro in Tel Aviv and were on our way, up to the north of Israel. We started the tiyul with a short hike on Carmel Mountain which is also called Little Switzerland. We soon found out that the name originated from how green everything was on the mountain. That afternoon, we had a coffee and a look around the Druze village, Dalyat Al-Carmel and then we were hosted by some people from the Druze community who answered our questions about their religion and also cooked a good dinner, made even better by the fact that we were all starving.
Some interesting things we learned about the Druze are that at 15 years of age, everyone has the right to choose whether they will be secular or religious, and also the Druze believe in five prophets. The next day we awoke early, drove to the Kinerret and went to a lookout, where Niro taught us about the significance of the sea, such as it is the source of water for a large percent of Israel.
After this, we went on a five hour hike called Wadi El-Al, which was absolutely breath taking, albeit really, really hard.On Wednesday, we had a more relaxing day, visiting the caves at Rosh Hanikra, and then went wine tasting at a place called Binyamina. This week was incredible, but even so, I think we were all happy to see the weekend come a day early!
From the Netzer staff
Summer is here, and also the feeling that things are coming to an end- whether it is Etgar, Machon or the whole of Shnat Netzer. Machon had a very interesting, complicated and meaningful trip to Chevron, and Etgar enjoyed their very well organized peer-led week.
This week the entire group (both North and South) met on Tuesday in Tel- Aviv for the MASA Mega Event- once a year, MASA holds a special event for all the MASA programs in Israel. This year it was held in Tel- Aviv, and had our Prime- Minister Binyamin Netanyahu coming to bless the participants; awarding the volunteering prizes to participants; a concert by Mosh Ben- Ari. The shnattim enjoyed a Shabbat Beyachad last weekend, and one wrote to me: Thought you might like to see the photos from Shabbat B'yachad – there are some really really lovely group ones that I think you'd like. Have a look here.
I hope you love them too. It seems that the group really enjoyed their time together.
Our participants are doing well, and enjoying their time. Offers and suggestions as to the upcoming Chag Shavout were given to the Shnattim, and we hope they will use them.
Etgar report by Talya Davidoff:
Dear parents shnatties and anyone else who enjoys a little light reading
So, last Friday we had a shabbat bayachad (together) with all the shnatties on kibbutz Ein Dor. Its was most likely our last chance for the whole group to spend time with each other. We ran a service for the kibbutz and spent lots of time at the pool, not to mention celebrating the birthdays of Kimmi, Sarah, Blake, and Oli! As scheduled, on Sunday, Etgar began their peer led week.
We ran amazing programs for each other like politics in the middle east, the amazing race, Kehila (community), and much more. On Tuesday evening, the whole Shnat group was invited to a MASA event, with many performances and a speech from the Israeli Prime Minister, Bibi Natanyahu. We ended our peer led week with smoothies on Wednesday as Thursday is the beginning of Shavuot.
From the Netzer staff:
What a HOT week!!! The summer suddenly came, bringing a hit wave to Israel, and making it hard to focus.
This week is the last regularly scheduled week of Etgar. The Etgarniks had their last week of classes and started saying goodbye to their volunteer places. They have also begun planning the end of Etgar. Most of their energy has been focused on next week's Peer-Led Week, a week during which the Etgarniks get to plan an entire week's activities on their own. They have created planning committees and are in the process of finalizing the schedule. Everyone in the group will be leading activities. They have also started planning their Sikkum Seminar.
On Wednesday the group went to Mitkan Adam, an army base near Modi'in that house a special unit that works with dogs. We are very fortunate to have Yuval, (a member of the Netzer family who is the current TAMAR coordinator and Netzer liaison to Spanish-speaking countries), who served in this army base, joining us on our trip. Machon came back from a 5 days trip in the North, which was truly great! All the shnattim loved it and described it as one of their best experiences so far.
Thursday is Yom Yerushalayim and the shnattim went out to celebrate in the city that they have come to call home. This Shabbat, a few of our Northern shnattim are celebrating their birthday on kibbutz Ein- Dor, and invited over all the shnattim to celebrate with them. About 50 shnattim are expected to celebrate the upcoming birthdays, with Netzer sponsoring the Shabbaton. Mazal tov guys! This weekend was initiated and organized by the Shnatim and we are very proud of them for their initiative.
Etgar report by Alex Tate:
This week on Etgar we had a fairly standard week in terms of classes although we spent large amounts of time planning for peer led week, the week in which we plan and run the entire week of etgar which is next week.
Today we had a siyur to an army base where the dog unit of the Israeli army is based, we had a tour and got to see, some of the 300 dogs that are in the unit in action, including dogs sniffing out explosives and weapons and attack dogs ferociously launching and attacking at a trainer in a protective suite. this showed us a whole new innovative element to the IDF and one you certainly don't get to see every day. We said goodbye and thanked all our teachers this week as this was our last standard week of Etgar, next week is peer led, then northern tiyul and finally sikkum seminar.
Machon report by Sam Osborn,
Our alarms rang at 6:30. By 6:45 we were on our way. As the Pope was driving somewhere that day all roads around Kiryat Moria were closed off at 7:00. Luckily we made it and had a nice sleep until breakfast. On the first day we explored old Acco. We toured the old crusader buildings, the markets and the port. This was the second time I'd been to Acco but this time with Haggai guiding so I learnt all these different facts and more background. As the Hummus is unbelievable in Acco as soon as we were on lunch break, a few of us ran down to Hummus Said and cued up. You get hummus, pitta, onion, pickles, olives and tomatoes. It is unbelievably delicious. I ate one entire bowl of hummus by myself.
After Acco we had (extra) lunch on the resort like Achziv beach were we played a bit of beach cricket, swam and read. Our last stop was the Grottos in Rosh Hanikra (naturally formed sea caves) before driving to our hostel in Pi'quien, a druze village. In the evening we had an amazing kef (fun) peula and went to late right before a day of long hiking. We hiked along Nachal Kziv past Montfort Castle through jungle like valleys.
In the night we drove to Kibbutz Manara where we stayed for the weekend, literally on the border of Lebanon. There was the kibbutz fence, then the road, then the Lebanese fence. Nearby was a Nepalese-manned UN base. On Friday we toured Mt Meron and Tsfat before preparing for Shabbat. In the evening Shabbat we had a very interesting and potentially controversial service.
We wanted to have one Shabbat together, Orthodox Reform and Secular so we created a special service. We had the full Orthodox service plus lots of readings and alternative prayers in the booklet and some poems read out. I ran the service with Josh Back, a lovely hinani-ite. In the hall we set up two mechitsas, men and women on the left and right of them and mixed between the two. Proudly our service fulfilled all the requirements of the most Halachly observant there (which is quite observant). It was very different and strange for some people and was mostly a great service. A few people couldn't be bothered participating, which was disappointing, but expected.
On Saturday we had a relaxing Shabbat and then Saturday night was Karaoke night. Sadly there was no R.E.N.T on the machine. However we discovered there is an amateur production coming.
Machon is coming to an end but is extremely busy. Soon options will start!!
Again: most people are still planning on coming home.
Sam Osborn (Melbourne)
For further information, please contact
Jackie on 082 855 5199
Mor on 082 339 0246
Email: email@example.com
Fax: 011 646 5543
Making Judaism fun for tomorrow's leaders
The Progressive Jewish youth movement, Netzer, provides regular events for young people ranging from Grade 1 to post-matric
Netzer's big 2007 summer camp
Get a taste of the fun you can have with Netzer, from our report and photographs of the December 2007 camp at Glencairn, near Cape Town.
Passing the light to the next generation
What happens when the youth are no longer so young? They join TaMaR, the young adults movement
Netzer visits Israel
The youth movement Netzer took 13 madrichim on a study tour of Israel in 2007 to learn about Progressive Judaism and independent Zionism.
A South African report on the WUPJ conference
|MY TIME in Jerusalem was like an epiphany. I experienced, for a few hours, the lifestyle of an ultra Orthodox family. The choice my nephew and niece have made is not one I would contemplate but I respect their decision to live their lives the way that makes them happy. Although I do not understand the concepts of men being the "masters", and preceding every action with a bracha, they are happy and fulfilled.
Then I was privileged to have a guide the leading expert on Archaeology in Jerusalem, and to see that city through the eyes of a passionate man, whose knowledge of Israel as a whole and Jerusalem in particular is vast. From the walled city of Bethlehem and Rachel's tomb, to the ruins of the first Church (inside the old city) my morning was filled with exciting new discoveries.
It struck me, quite suddenly, that here I was, a Jew, in the country of my forefathers – that I was standing on land where many thousands of years ago my people had stood. That I was not one of about 60,000 Jews in South Africa, but one of millions, some of whom had gone before me, others who are still with us today. It was a feeling of wonderful and wondrous belonging.
But while this was food for the soul the nourishment came from the conference itself.
The opening ceremony was an absolute joy and delight. All participating countries flags were paraded (the South Africans were by far the most vocal when our flag appeared) and we were treated to an evening of wonder. After the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, welcomed us to his city we were entertained by the Mattan Klein trio who entertained us with great jazz. Songstress Peri Smilow lifted our spirits and sand artist Evgeni Swerdlov overwhelmed us with his thrilling and imaginative creations.
Thursday found us gathered at the beautiful Beit Shmuel complex to listen to the controversial Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger who spoke on "A new inclusivity for Jews and Judaism – stepping out of the kosher closet." One of things she spoke about was how, the Christmas period is one of difficulty for Jews. It was therefore decided that, in the UK, Limmud would be held during the period and this has proven to be extremely successful. The rabbi believes that with modern genetics it is not necessary to see the child come out of its mother's womb to know if it is Jewish, but that it is how a child is raised and how it behaves that should determine if he/she is Jewish. She also believes that gay couples should be welcomed into Jewish communities.
Each region then presented verbal or electronic reports. Some points of interest – the Australasian region (Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Mumbai) donated approximately US$800,000 to the WUPJ in 2008, the FSU had 1200 children at their summer camps in 2008 and Chabad are closing schools in the FSU and the Progressive movement is planning to open its first kindergarten in the region. North America has about 900 congregations with approximately 1 million affiliated members. An "Ambassadors manual" has been launched by this region to get people excited about Reform Judaism.
The first real session of the day, that I attended, was "What do Jewish Women want?" Presentations were given by women from France, North America, the FSU and Israel. In France society is not equal although it is starting to be easier for women to have careers. There are differences in the way boys are educated and boys are often told "not to cry like a girl."
In North America the main focus is on wanting to make a difference and to be accepted as equals in all aspects of life. The women in the FSU want everything but mostly personal fulfilment and they strive to be involved in the community. In Israel women want control over their bodies – for example some Rabbis now tell new mothers to only breastfeed for three months so that they can fall pregnant again. On the city councils men compliment the women who are silent and in a recent study it was found that women are seven times more likely to be interrupted than men. Some buses are segregated with men in the front and women at the back. Women ambulance drivers earn NIS 800 while their male counterparts earn NIS 2800. Women are forbidden from praying out loud at the Wailing Wall.
This session was followed by a lunch which was the inaugural meeting of WRJ-Israel. So far there are 16 Sisterhoods in Israel, some of which are twinned with Sisterhoods in the US. It was at this luncheon that I presented our gift of NIS1800 which was received with enormous gratitude.
Currently the various Sisterhoods are involved in Study, Philanthropy, working with B'nei Mitzvah students, working towards getting women called to the Torah, Care Committees, Rosh Chodesh groups and having mothers and daughters celebrate their Bat Mitzvah together. The following is their informal mission statement: "Do not let fear be your counsel. Learn to fail and let failure lead to making a difference. Choose your issues carefully. Do not steal another woman's identity. Do not bear false witness. Do not covert. Do not choose projects that are unrealistic."
Lunch was followed by the session "Women in Congregational Life. Using our power to affect change" This is the session at which I was the speaker and my speech is sent herewith as a separate attachment. Needless to say everyone present were totally gobsmacked by what we do with our limited numbers and resources. I will not detail anyone else's presentation other than to say that what they do is really tiny in comparison to our involvement. As Rabbi Jacobs pointed out – we are the smallest community but do the most work.
The final session of the day was "The Torah – a Women's Commentary" and here we had a brief study session and were given the opportunity to look at the Commentary, which some of us saw in Cape Town at the conference in 2008. The costs of this were funded by WRJ America.
Friday morning started on a fun note with all participants to the IMPJ (Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism) being given chewing gum, so that we could feel like real Israelis. They chew gum like it is going out of fashion. In 2007 research was conducted re the potential of Reform Judaism in Israel. This was designed to identify the attitude of secular and traditional Jews towards the Reform movement. (Traditional Jews constitute approximately 30% of the population). The results were interesting to say the least:
When asked what they think of Reform Judaism the following responses were received:
The 15 year plan of the IMPJ is to double the number of Reform communities, to 'brand' Reform Judaism, to expand their activities and to identify and promote philanthropy.
Rabbinic salaries in Israel – 30-40% are paid by the congregation, the balance comes from the IMPJ. The workers on the Reform vineyards are handicapped in some way or another and therefore the wines cannot be declared kosher.
We then travelled by bus to Tel Aviv and I went with a group to Beit Daniel where we spoke to people either undergoing conversion or newly converted. Many of these tried the Orthodox route first and two of the more bizarre responses were:
Such incidences are why many come to the Progressive movement for conversion.
On Sunday it was back to work, and another keynote address, this time regarding Israeli politics. The issue of whether Israel is a Jewish state or an ad hoc place was raised. There is reason to be concerned because whilst the US is breaking barriers, Israel is building them. Issues around marriages were also raised.
I then attended the session on "Raise the Ruach" which should have been attended by every Progressive Jew in South Africa, because we really need it. Just to go back to Kabalat Shabbat – the service I attended at Beit Daniel was so wonderful – lots of singing, guitar playing and great Ruach. I left feeling totally uplifted.
But – back to the session: some of the ideas were to give each member a name tag, so that they can be identified. If this is not an option then at least members of Management should wear a name tag. At least 2 members of management should be on hand with the Rabbi to greet congregants before services. We should do a lot of communal singing. We need to get members to participate in the service and to make all members and visitors feel welcome.
I then attended a session on Tikkun Olam and it was a pity that South Africa did not participate although I did manage to tell those present about what we do during the question/answer session, focussing on our project "Put God on your guest list. Once again all were impressed and some said they would take that theme home with them, and institute it in their countries. In Australia Netzer have decided to go vegetarian for ecological reasons. They plant trees in the Netzer forest in Israel and work in indigenous schools in Cairns.
Other speakers felt that the Orthodox spend too much energy on things like putting on Teffilin, building Sukkot and lighting candles; the Reform way is to repair, to be involved in social action and to make concrete social changes. In Barcelona on Tu Bishvat they plant trees where they are needed, invite the poor to Pesach Seder and help the needy on every Jewish holiday. On Yom Kippur food is given to those in desperate need and on Suckot they help the homeless. In the Ukraine Netzer clean and maintain abandoned cemeteries. Prisoners are taught and 11 of these are studying through the Hebrew Open University.
After lunch (another wonderful meal, as they all were) I went with a group to see what the youth (machinot) in Tel Aviv are doing in the field of Tikkun Olam. 45 young adults, 10 months before their army intake, stay together and learn about their identities. They discuss moral dilemmas that they face, take turns in being responsible for duties in the house and do volunteer work.
In Jaffa the school system is integrated. About 60% of the learners are Jews. Approximately 80% of the Arabs are Muslim. After school those children who need extra tuition or assistance visit a learning centre where 2 of the machinot give one hour lessons. Other machinot visit an old-age home which is mainly for Jews from the FSU and they are entertained. I went to both these facilities and they are unbelievable. We were royally entertained by some of the residents at the old age home. The machinot also do other things to give them a feeling for what others suffer – one young lad lived as a blind person for three days, another lived in a Bedouin village.
From there it was unfortunately to the airport to come home. Due to pressures at work I was unable to stay for the closing ceremony which I am sure was as wonderful as the rest of the conference.
Once again, my gratitude to all who made it possible and to those in Israel who made it so special.
Phina Hoberman named again for world board
|Phina Hoberman has been nominated to serve on the board of directors of the international organisation, Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), for a third term.Hoberman has represented the South African Union of Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS) on the board since 2003 when the sisterhoods of SAUTS nominated her to serve as their official representative.
"I was subsequently elected on November 8, 2003 as a member on the Women of Reform Judaism Board of Directors at the 44th WRJ Biennial Assembly, which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota," Hoberman said.
"Members of the WRJ board are usually elected for a four-year period only. It therefore came as a complete surprise when I received a letter earlier this year informing me that the Committee on Nominations had recommended that my term be extended for a further two-year period (2007-2009). I feel very honoured," she said.
The vote for the board members will take place during the 46th WRJ Assembly, which is due to take place in December in San Diego, California.
According to SAUTS national president, Monica Solomon, Phina has represented the SAUTS with distinction, at great expense to herself, and has kept us informed of everything that is being done by the WRJ.
"She has been a wonderful ambassador, not only for the sisterhoods in this country, but for Progressive Judaism in South Africa," said Solomon.
In a letter to Hoberman, Linda Canon of the WRJ said: "I want you to know we are delighted to have you as a board member even if you are unable to attend all the meetings. Mazeltov. I look forward to continuing to work with you."
"Kol hakavod, Phina, from all the Sisterhood members in South Africa. We are so proud of you!" said Solomon.
Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) is the women's affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, the central body of Progressive Judaism in North America. Established in 1913, WRJ now represents more than 75 000 women in over 500 women's groups in North America and around the world.
With a mission to ensure the future of Progressive Judaism, WRJ works to educate and train future sisterhood and congregational leadership about membership, fundraising, leadership skills, advocacy for social justice, and innovative and spiritual programming.
About Phina Hoberman
Phina Hoberman has been a member of the Cape Town Progressive Jewish Congregation (Temple Israel) since 1964. She joined the Green Point Sisterhood Committee in 1974 and has served as chairperson of this sisterhood and president of the Cape Town sisterhoods on numerous occasions since then.
Hoberman was elected national president of the Southern African Union of Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS) in 1983 and held in this position for two years. She represented the SAUTS at international conferences in the United States and in Israel during her term of office.
In 1999, Hoberman served a term as a member of Temple Israel's executive committee and acted as Temple Israel's representative on the Western Province Zionist Council for several years.
The SAUTS honoured Hoberman in July 2000 when the organisation bestowed upon her honorary life vice presidency in recognition of many years of devoted service to the SAUTS, and in December 2001, the sisterhoods of Cape Town presented her with the same honour for "exemplary leadership and many years of devoted, loyal and faithful service to the sisterhood and the congregation."
A year later, Hoberman received the distinction of becoming the first woman ever to be appointed
In February 2004, she was selected by WRJ for the honour of co-chairing World Jewry in the WRJ Department on Religious Action, and in May 2006, she was elected to serve as a member of the WRJ Department of Programming and Advocacy.
Hoberman's dedication to the SAUTS is noteworthy, and her commitment to the Cape Town sisterhoods continues.
Over the years, Hoberman has also made a variety of Judaica items for Temple Israel in Cape Town and other Jewish organisations. In January 1998, she donated to Temple Israel five Torah covers that she had made.
Hoberman was married to the late David Hoberman for 53 years. She has two daughters, two sons, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
May the lights burn through generations
|For eight nights, beginning with the eve of 25 Kislev (4 December), candles are to be lit in commemoration of Chanukah, the feast decreed in the Apocryphal Books of the Maccabees and in the Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 21b. For centuries, these days were marked in home and in synagogue in quite simple ways. In more recent decades, Chanukah has assumed a new and more significant profile with more elaborate celebrations.There is a marked difference between the reasons for celebration of these days between the Books of the Maccabees and the Talmud. While historian, Flavius Josephus – formerly Joseph ben Gorion haCohen and commander in chief of the Judean forces in the Galilee in the first century CE – records the historical events of 168-165 BCE, when the descendants of the priest Mattathias rose in armed revolt against the Hellenistic overlord King Antiochus IV Epiphanes and created a satrapy of the Syrian empire known as the Hasmonean Dynasty. The Talmud offers a miracle at the conclusion of their revolt, when the despoiled Temple in Jerusalem was cleaned and purified and a last cruse containing olive oil sufficient to light the ancient Menorah for one day continued supplying necessary light for the sacred light for eight days while a new consecrated supply was made ready.
Each has its own relevance and truth: The Hasmonean Revolt stemmed from the imposition of martial law in ancient Judea by an impatient monarch that included the imposition of Hellenistic worship in the Temple, a violation severe enough to cause the conservative Mattathias to refuse to take part in it, even in his own home near the modern city that bears the ancient name of Modi'in. The Temple itself was rendered unfit for the worship of God; it was not destroyed. Restoration of the purity was one result of the victory of the Judah, Simon and John, who are known as the Maccabees [Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, translated by William Whiston, Book XII, especially Chapters VI & VII].
The military nature of the Maccabees victory became increasingly problematic over the next centuries. As the fate of Judea descended under the rule of Rome, and especially after the catastrophic defeat that left the Temple in ashes and Jerusalem's high places dedicated as Aelia Capitolina – the City of Zeus – the revision of the holiday had a new political imperative. The uprising became information largely suppressed; the Books of the Maccabees exist now only in the Greek translation preserved in Christian Scripture.
At the end of the 19th Century, however, the growth of political Zionism elevated the stature of this great and successful Jewish uprising. Growing prosperity and an increased awareness of the potential for Jews to create our own homeland by resettlement, land purchase and personal dedication to Eretz Yisraeil – the Land of Israel – made Chanukah an important time of the year. While some assert that it is the arrival of contemporary consumer culture, the Zionist appeal is even earlier.
In the synagogue, the eight days are marked by reading from the Torah, with prescribed selections taken from Numbers chapter 7-8 & 28. These readings describe the gifts offered at the dedication of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. The daily service also includes the reading of the group of Psalms called Hallel [Psalms 113-119]. These special aspects to the worship offer some real evidence in a search for the original meaning of the holiday – for they duplicate the readings that are included on the much more important festival of Sukkoth, which is associated with both the dedication of the original portable Tabernacle and the First Temple constructed by King Solomon.
From a Progressive Jewish standpoint, the current high status Chanukah poses some real challenges. The Hasmoneans were strong opponents of the part of the population that accepted the aesthetic and life style of Hellenistic society. Their conservatism and opposition to change was supported by the ideology of the Sadducees. The Pharisees, whose ascendancy after this period became complete, were opponents because they sought to interpret Torah in ways that opened Judaism to the broader world of Hellenistic society.
What shall we do? In the opinion of this writer we should light the lights as a remembrance of the adaptability of Judaism through the eight nights of Chanukah. They are sacred lights, not used for illumination, and while they burn – standard Chanukah candles last about 18 minutes – we should enjoy the latkes and dreidels, the songs and stories that make the holiday beloved.
It would probably be preferable to minimize the gift-giving, perhaps substituting our own acts of tikkun olam – repairing the world – by offering appropriate gifts to the needy and poor, or to organizations whose work is the betterment of life and care of the environment.
Above all, this is a time for family and bridge-building. Watch the lights burn, and instil the light from generation to generation.
Further reading
See the Chanukah article on Judaism 101.
Other festivals
Rabbi Robert Jacobs talks about the meaning of Pesach for our personal liberation.
Two modern Pesach rituals, little-known in South Africa, bring a feminist angle to the celebrations. By Rabbi Greg Alexander of Temple Israel, Cape Town.
Rabbi Robert Jacobs talks about Sukkot, when the Ohel Mo'ed, the Tent of Meeting, is dedicated.
A time to build a Sukkot midrash
Not long ago, Ron and I were in the final stages of home reconstruction. After months of agonizing trips to Home Depot, the house was nearly at completion. Each step of the redo was a process in and of itself. Who would have known that there are over 100 shades of off-white?At last, at last, there was only one more hurdle to jump. The Los Angeles Building Inspector had to approve the construction and provide permits. When he finished his report, I was shocked to see the dreaded words, "Denied."I looked at the paperwork in dismay. Here's what I found:
I thought for a few minutes, and then it hit me: Holes in the roof, unstable walls, structure not suitable for a permanent dwelling, easily collapsible… The building inspector hadn't examined my house. He had examined my Sukkah!
At the bottom of the report was a note informing me I had a week to remove it from the premises. "Well," I thought to myself, "As Sukkot is a week long Festival, I have time to make the best of this structure before taking it down." Now there is a tradition of inviting special guests, or in Hebrew, ushpizin, for a meal in the Sukkah. I thought it would be fun to host an eclectic mix of community leaders. So I sent out "computer E-vites" and eagerly awaited responses. Imagine my delight when Moses, Tzipporah, Jonah, and Maimonides all RSVP'ed that they could attend! It would certainly be a Festival to remember.
Preparations finished, the big night arrived. The doorbell rang, and I went to greet my first guest. Before me stood a young man whose Mohawk rose at least six inches above his head. There were multiple piercings, and his leather coat smelled like oil. Whale oil. "Yo Rabbi," he said, "I'm Jonah. I really didn't want to come. I'm not into authority figures and all that. But I had nothing better to do." (1) Jonah walked right past my outstretched hand and went straight to my fish tank. He just sat and stared at the water.
The door still open, three people then appeared at the entry, two men and a woman. The men were arguing about the placement of my Mezuzah. The woman looked annoyed. One man then extended his hand and introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Rabbi Moishe ben Maiman, but you can call me Maimonides. How kind of you to open your home."
The other man had a large backpack and a sleeping bag beneath his arm. "Shalom, I'm Moses." He came close and whispered in my ear, "This is my wife, Tzipporah. She's not Jewish. Is that ok?"
Tzipporah rolled her eyes and gave me a warm hello. All three came inside. Moses threw his belongings onto the floor, and Maimonides went straight out the back door and into the Sukkah.
"Moses," I asked, "Uh… what's the sleeping bag for?"
"Oh, I'm spending the week here," he answered.
"Excuse me?" I responded.
"Well," Moses began, "According to what God told me, we are commanded to live in the Sukkah during this Harvest Festival.(2) It's to remember what the ancestors went through when they crossed the desert. All these commandments! As if Pharaoh's laws weren't tough enough. So I figured, if it's going to last a week, I may as well be as comfortable as possible!" He took out some palm branches, willows, pumpkins, and other assorted harvest-related offerings. "Don't worry," Moses went on as he arranged his belongings, "You won't even know we're here."
I stared at Moses with my mouth open.
Tzipporah then spoke up, "I don't think 'the ancestors' were all that interested in grass huts, Moses. And what about theses palm branches? Do you really think they had an abundant vegetation out there in the middle of the desert?"
Moses looked up, "You know, I never really thought of that!" Then he looked at me, "Tzipporah is the more intellectually honest of the two of us. Her father, Yethro, is an international consultant. (3)She grew up learning how to mediate in the toughest of situations. And she's a great mother. Ironically, she's the one who makes sure our son gets a good Jewish upbringing."(4)
I looked over to Jonah, who was still staring at the fish.
Maimonides then re-entered the room with a perplexed look on his face. "Rabbi," I asked, "Is something wrong?"
Maimonides looked at me and said, "Well, I hate to tell you this, but someone has to… Your Sukkah, it's not kosher."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, according to my authoritative Talmudic code, the Mishna Torah, the Sukkah can not be placed beneath a tree because you must be able to see the sky through its roof. Yet yours is too close to that big Oak, and its braches are blocking the view. The Mishna Torahforbids anything that smells offensive to hang in the Sukkah, but I think I saw a squash so old that it was growing a tail. And the schach, the covering for the Sukkah, it's supposed to be made of organic material, not a tarp from L.L. Bean." (5)
I thought to myself, "Oy vey,Maimonides should get a job with the Los Angeles department of Building and Safety."
Moses spoke up, "C'mon, Maimonides, what are you talking about? All God told me back in the desert was to observe the festival for seven days and build a little hut to live in. Where do you get all these laws from?"
"Moses," Maimonides went on, "outside of Israel we observe the Festival for eight days, not seven. Why? Because we want to build a fence around the Torah, (6) to protect the law, to make sure we get it right. You never know if your watch stops and we miss the ordained time of rejoicing. And you're not supposed to physically live in the Sukkah. Now that is a hardship."
Moses looked exasperated. "My atomic watch keep precise time, thank you. There's no need to observe eight days anymore! And you talk of rejoicing? You've got to be kidding! How can we rejoice with all these restrictions? Further," Moses gasped, "The Torah specifically commands us to live in the Sukkah! How can we deny that?"
"You think you're the only one who has a relationship with God, don't you?" Maimonides shot back, " Listen, my friend, the truth is that no one understands God's intentions better than I do. Look at all this stuff you brought. For heaven's sake! We're supposed enjoy the Sukkah by having a meal in it, by decorating it, by studying in it. But living in it is not what God intended."
Moses just looked at Maimonides with disbelief. He then said to Tzipporah, "And I suppose he's going to tell us next that cheeseburgers aren't kosher?!"
For the first time, Jonah spoke up, "Do you all realize how ridiculous you sound? Who cares if God wants us to live or eat or study in the Sukkah? It's all nonsense. Why should we have to live according to these rules anyway? God told me just the other day to go to Niniveh to deliver a motivational speech. You know what I did instead? I went on a cruise. Ok, ok, it didn't end up quite as nice as I thought it would. I never expected to be swallowed by a fish. But we can't go around just blindly following these voices we hear."
Jonah looked at Moses and said, "Don't you ever think that maybe, just maybe, you misinterpreted some of the things that God said to you? Judaism isn't only about what comes down to you from above. Judaism is about how to deal with people on this earth. There's a lot you can learn from Tzipporah."
"And before you get too high on yourself, Maimonides," Jonah continued, "Your 'definitive' code of law has room for improvement as well. Other voices have a right to be heard.(7) The two of you spend so much time spewing off hot air that you can't even hear what you are saying. Why don't you just be quiet and listen for a change." (8)
Moses retorted, "Jonah, it's ok to question, but we can't run away. We have to face and even challenge the tradition. We can't just pretend the traditions don't exist."
The room grew silent. My four guests all stared at me, and I had no idea what to do.
Just then, we heard a voice sobbing from outside. I opened the door to find a young man, probably no more than twenty years old, dressed in colorful rags and quite emaciated. "Can I help you," I asked as I led him inside.
"My name is Joseph," he said. "My family, my eleven brothers and sister, have abandoned me, and I have nowhere to go. I was looking at your Sukkah from the backyard and thought that yours might be a home that provides shelter. I'm a good worker and can help you to build anew from the inside out." (9)
I looked into this poor boy's eyes and I saw that his heart was filled with hope and dreams. I then looked to Moses, Tzipporah, and Maimonides. Here we were arguing over the structure of the Sukkah and the laws of Sukkot. Yet we had ignored what belongs at the heart of the Festival. Sukkot is about building order into a world filled with chaos. It's about a communal journey to strengthen ourselves as individuals and as a people.
Our Sukkah is physically open to the outside world, making it impossible to ignore those without shelter. Sukkot reminds us to give structure to our lives, but not a structure so permanent that we can't question it. While on Yom Kippur, we put ourselves in God's hands, during Sukkot we take the world into our own hands. And while on Yom Kippur we tear ourselves down, on Sukkot we begin to build once again.
I set an extra seat around my Sukkot dinner table, and the five of us enjoyed a true Festival meal.
And when they left, I watched as their images blended into the endless mysteries of time. I watched and I thought to myself, "Next year I'll keep it simple."
As we read in Ecclesiastes during Sukkot, "There is a time to break down and a time to build up." (10) Friends, our world has seen enough of breaking down. Yom Kippur in and of itself is about breaking down. Let's come together to build up, to reach out, to embrace the spirit of Sukkot, and to breathe new life into old rituals. Let us work toward a true "Sukkat Shalom," a shelter of peace and of wholeness.
You see, Sukkot is only partially about building a structure. The true meaning is about building a community. One person at a time.
Ken Y'hi Ratzon.
(Click on the BACK button to return to your position in the text)
A leading roof and rotting walls … likely to collapse during an earthquake
It is at Sukkot that the Ohel Mo'ed, the Tent of Meeting, is dedicated. RABBI ROBERT JACOBS of Bet David looks forward to Succot and Simchat Torah
High Holy Days and


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PipelineFX Releases Qube! 5.5Leading render manager provides support for new OS versions, new applications and adds functionality and improves ease of use (October 21, 2009) PipelineFX, makers of Qube!(tm) software, the leading render farm management software for film and post production, broadcast graphics, game development, and digital media education around the world, today announced the availability of Qube! version 5.5.
Qube! version 5.5 includes updated support for Windows Vista, and adds support for Fedora 8 64-bit, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.3 64-bit, and SuSE 11.1 64-bit.
New in Qube! 5.5 is submit time path translation for easy translation of file paths between Linux, OSX and Windows file systems. Also new is support for Maya 2010, in-application submission with % of job completion for Adobe AfterEffects, Lightwave Screamernet support, and support for Houdini, Aqsis, Mayaman and RED. Qube 5.5 also has improved performance with direct MYSQL queries and filtering.
Installation and administration has been improved through an enhanced QubeGUI that allows license installation, central configuration of all Workers, and a new centralized Administrator menu for configuration, processes and log viewing.
A complete list of all enhancements and new features is available online at www.pipelinefx.com/support. Version 5.5 is available worldwide through the network of PipelineFX resellers. Reseller contact information is located online at www.pipelinefx.com. Current Qube! customers on support can download the new version from the ftp site today.
"We are proud to release Qube! 5.5," said Scot Brew, Director of Technology for PipelineFX. "The enhanced application support, new platforms, and centralized functionality in the QubeGUI provides users and administrators more of what they need for their renderfarm. "
About Qube! and PipelineFX: Qube!(tm) is the leading render farm management system for film production, visual effects, game development and digital media education. Qube! is highly customizable, extensively scalable, can be integrated into any production workflow, and is backed by world-class technical support. Qube! has custom pipelines for creative applications like Autodesk® 3ds Max®, Autodesk Maya®, NUKE(tm), SOFTIMAGE®|XSI®, Shake®, Adobe® AfterEffects®, Pixar's RenderMan®, Eyeon® Digital Fusion(tm) and many more. Qube! is IBM ServerProven®, database driven and operates in Linux®, Windows® and Mac OS®X environments. PipelineFX, with headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, and offices in San Francisco and San Diego, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Vancouver, B.C. was founded in 2002. Qube! is used by world-class film and game studios and post houses including South Park Studios, Electronic Arts, Digital Domain, Laika Studios, Smoke & Mirrors, Rainmaker Animation, Starz Entertainment, Reel FX, MTV and ESPN. Qube! is used by schools around the world including the School of Visual Arts in N.Y., Goebelins School in Paris, FIT, Carleton School of Architecture, Full Sail, the University of Advancing Technology, Pratt Institute, the University of Hawaii-Academy for Creative Media, and Harvard's Graduate School of Design. For more information, please contact Richard Lewis, VP of Sales of PipelineFX: [email protected], Phone: 808-685-7823, 1000 Bishop Street, Suite 509, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813, USA. Also visit www.pipelinefx.com.
Trademark Notice: Qube!(tm) and Qube! Remote Control(tm) are trademarks of PipelineFX, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark owners. ©2009 PipelineFX, L.L.C.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Bonnie Shai - Barnyard Delight
Released: July 19, 2013
Nothing can stop THIS farmer's daughter! Even though her father says she should stay away from guys who have only one thing on their minds, our horny heroine--who actually has only one thing on HER mind, too--is determined to have her pleasures, and on her way to a picnic with her girlfriends, she makes a solo detour to a nearby barn where one of her favorite local cocks is hidden behind a plank of wood, and ready to come out of a glory hole for her oral pleasure in these sexy blowjob pics. Watch newcomer model Bonnie Shai in this scene full of very cool angles on cock sucking as she opens her clothes, plays with her titties and pussy, and stretches...


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Someone please help me!!!
I got a cake for my mums birthday which is tomorrow, I was talking to my sister in-law and she said not to put the cake in the refrigerator.
i have put the cake in the refrigerator and it is down at the venue, it has been in thee refrigerator for 8 hours with out me knowing i shouldn't have done that!! The cake is decorated in fondant and it has a sugar flower on it, I don't know what type of fondant they have used!
Is there anyway of making sure nothing bad happens to the decoration of the cake or anyway I can fix it if I have to???
please help
I have never refrigerated fondant, but reading other people's posts who do, many do, so this is what I can offer...
The cake comes out of the fridge and a few hours before the event
It will start to condensate / sweat - don't touch it and it will eventually dry out OK and be unharmed.
The condensation/sweat will be much reduced if brought out of fridge into a cool air-conditioned room (rather than room temperature or heated room) first


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in person
hai friends !
Every person has his own philosophy, and I am not an exception. I have my own ideas, thoughts, and plans which may be
quite different from others. Its quite natural. By the way, you are interested in knowing my personality and I thank you for this. Indeed personality is what a person is.
I am basically a pacifist, loving to do helping all, and harming to none. And I wish good for all. I have my own political ideas. I, like
everybody, have a notion about the people and things going around me and develop my thoughts related to it.
One special thing related to me is that I would like to see the world in a scientific manner or I am more inclined to science. I liked science very
much and scientific thoughts always inspired me. Almost all the sciences fascinated me and my favourites are Astronomy, Archaeology, Psychology and Anthropology.
I like reading very much. I have read many books in the above said topics and others. Yet another thing of my interest is music. I have
studied Karnatic music in my school days. Music has always fascinated me. Although I had been trained in Karnatic music, dont think that I am not interested in other classical music. I am
interested in Hindustani, and Western classical music also. I also appreciate all music from Rap to Rock.
I like films of great value much. I used to see films. I have seen several classical films from the Darsana Film Society, Kattappana, in which
I am a member. Some films that touched me much are All man for himself and god against all, The seventh seal, Ivans Childhood, Pather Panjali, Piravi, Anantharam, and Chidambaram. My
favourite film directors are Werner Herzog, Igmar Bergman, Andrei Tharkovsky, Satyajith Ray, Shaji N. Karun, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Aravindan. Not only highly artistical films, but also other films also
interests me.
I do not believe in god(s) and is not religious in nature. But I regard the religious and moral values and has no hatred to religious persons.
They have their own way and I have my own that is my attitude. I do involve in religious functions for studying the culture, mass behaviour etc. I never miss a chance to visit temples, churches
and mosques if I got a chance and had visited many such places in Kerala and Tamilnadu.
Another thing related to me is that I was very much fascinated to mother nature. The seas, trees, forests, sky(?), the space(nothing) always
wondered me. The space is always a wonder to me. I think much of my life about the space. How it was originated, who created it, from where it was created, and when it was created etc., etc. All
the religious texts or the so called holy books tell us about the created of matter only and not the space. Thus space is always mysterious to me. I am in a search in my life about space or no
space. Science too can say only vaguely about the space. At this context, I would like to quote an instance from the Upanishad
Om purnamadam purnamidam Purnalpurnamudachyade
Purnasya purnamadaya Purnamevavashishyade.


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login with
I would silently weep when no one was around...
Someone could mention the word, "baby" and I would want to bawl. I would walk by the baby department in stores and it would break my heart. We decided to wait, my hubby more than I, really, but it was not easy. I prayed to God one night and revealed the desire of my heart: to have a child." We have been using protection--Jonah was conceived anyway. I am thankful for my son. He is my unexpected miracle. I would not trade being a mother for anything. He is my world.
That craving for a baby is intense. Especially when it feels like everyone is having one except you!!
Prayer is powerful. Congrats!!!
Prayer is powerful. Congrats!!!
Comment deleted
I love that name, too. Thank you. I have a nephew named Noah.
I'm with ya. I resigned myself to the fact that being a mother just wasn't for me. So I buried myself in my work, volunteered as much as I could, told myself I didn't like kids anyway so really it was a good thing. This is not an exaggeration... it was a January, I remember that, and 6 of my friends were all pregnant at once. SIX OF THEM.
But.. I left my ex, and almost 2 years later I met my fiance, we dated a few times and got pregnant.. go figure...
I wouldn't trade Charlie for the world. And y'know? I'm a pretty good mom too :)
But.. I left my ex, and almost 2 years later I met my fiance, we dated a few times and got pregnant.. go figure...
I wouldn't trade Charlie for the world. And y'know? I'm a pretty good mom too :)
I like your story, Alissa. A friend of mine was the same way. She got divorced (to a not very nice man) and met her fiancé and got pregnant. She had tried for 7 years before that. She now has a nearly I month old little boy. Your son is beautiful, by the way. I would not trade my son for the world, either. He is my world.
I'm so glad you were blessed with Jonah!
Thank you, Beth. I definitely do not deserve him. :)
About Melissa Middleton
Current: Pennington Gap, Virginia
Birth: April 13
On Moms.com since: Mar 21, 2014
Mother of an active son, a precious baby girl, & a diva step-daughter (who lives with us). I am an artist, baker, organic gardener, frugal liver, & a Christian--happily married to my best-friend. Blogger at www.chasingwildhorses.com


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Hello there, I have a request for a pinball machine. The flat rectangle part I have down. The back and the part that stands up however is not coming to me on how to do this. I think I want to use cardboard and cover with fondant. Is there a trick with it? How would I get it to stand up behind the bottom flat part (cake)? Thanks much for you help!
PS: I could not find a singe tutorial on this :(
I would use foamcore for the back of the pinball machine and if the cake part will be elevated (on legs) I would use some "L" brackets to attach the back of the pinball machine to the board that the cake rests on. Just compensate for the height of the cake when making the back. If you need legs I would use dowels that were affixed to the cake board and then secured to a master cake board. Hope that makes sense, sound like a fun cake to do!
Its not going to have legs, but I like the foam core idea and the L brackets! Thank you.
FWIW, The technical term for "The back and the part that stands up" is "backbox," the faceplate of which is called a "back-glass" or "backflash."
And if you want to make it edible, you could always use some sort of cookie or cracker.
That sounds like a fun cake! If you want the whole thing to be edible consider a sheet of rkt covered in fondant or depending on your size, graham cracker sheets or matzoh sheets covered in fondant. Whenever I have used that everyone always eats it! Please post your finished product.
ps - use silver/gray sixlets for the pinball!
Good luck
Yeah, I didn't even think about size, I guess I just always assume it's for a grand affair! :-) I do like the idea of RKT for the back, but I would run several skewers though them into the cake board for extra stability. I have been thinking WAY too much about this cake. You could even use an acetate sheet (or other thin clear plastic to make a "glass top" for the pinball machine. It would only take a few strips of modeling chocolate to give you clearance. Good luck! I can't wait to see how it comes out!
Cupadeecakes - I've also been thinking about the cake. The planning is equally fun for me for a cake like this. And I oversize everything - so clearly I'm a hobby baker! (Which explains the 4foot long swordfish I made for my husband one year for his birthday! - I had to invite way more people over to eat it than I had originally planned)
Thank you all for your ideas!!! I like the idea of RCT for the back stand up..... I love planning as well. :) Thanks much again!


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So I was dating a girl for about a month. She then tells me that her ex-boyfriend called her about some of his things she still had. She said that she has no intentions to get back with him but that it made her realize she was not ready to be in a relationship yet as she had recently gotten out of one. At this point I asked her if she wanted to stop talking to me and she said no but that she wanted to take it slow, she even went as far as telling me that she told her friend that she wanted to keep talking to me. I was fine with this but about a week later she tells me that she has thought about it and she does not want the pressure of me waiting for her to be ready. Normally I would just say she is not into me but I asked her to tell me that we did not have a connection and she asked me if that's what I wanted her to say. I told her that I only wanted her to say that if that is how she felt. She was very quiet but she never told me there was no connection... I feel like I gave her an easy out if she really is not into me to just tell me. So a month passed by and I decided that I would rather be friends with her than nothing at all. We go hiking the other day and it felt like she kept coming up with reasons for me to stay longer, she asked me to look at a place she may rent for my opinion then wanted to get lunch then asked me to stay for dinner at her place. To clarify this was not just me and her having dinner she had some other friends and family there. But as I was getting ready to leave (she had to take her friends home) she asked me to come with her to drop them off. Then after that she wanted to watch a movie with me. After all of that when I do go home I get a text saying that she really enjoyed spending time with me. I really like this girl and if there is a chance that something could happen I dont mind giving her space and waiting. On the other hand I do not want to stay hung up on her and she just sees me as a friend. What should I do?
- Stick around and see what happens.Vote A
- Give up and Just be friends.Vote B
Most Helpful Guy
Everything you did together could be classified as friends activities, so take her interest with a grain of salt. I would play along for now, but keep my eyes open for other women and move on if something else comes along.21|10|0
This is sort of what I am doing. I have been on a few dates since then. The problem is I feel like these dates I may go on may not live up to their full potential if I have her in the back of my mind you know?


text:
Surrounded by lush landscaped gardens. Conveniently located in the uptown district of Cebu. This exclusive one hectare community offers a garden lifestyle amidst the city's stifling environment.This Condominium is in close proximity to Ayala,SM Mall,Schools and other local amenities. 25K,1BR Condo for rent near Sarrosa Hotel,Mabolo 5mins. to Ayala •Mactan International Airport – 20 minutes •SM City Cebu – 6 minutes •Ayala Center – 5 minutes •IT Park – 6 minutes •Paseo Commercial center Rental rate:Php. 25,000 Area:37sqm
University Of The Philippines Cebu
Amenities: • Guarded gates • Clubhouse • Gardens • Swimming Pool • Basketball court
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text:
Seventeen-year-old Anne just fell in love with Sasha, the most popular girl at her LA public high school. But when Anne tells her best friend Clifton - who has always harbored a secret crush - he does his best to get in the way.
Genres: Drama, Romance,
Category: Hollywood,
Released: 17th October 2016
Duration: 91 mins
Produced In: USA
Language: English, Spanish,
Directed By: Kerem Sanga
Starring: Brianna Hildebrand, Pamela Adlon, Dylan Gelula, Cameron Esposito, Mateo Arias,
Hello world!
0 Views1 Comments0 Likes
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!


text:
I am trying to reset a computers machine account password using
netdom reset [computername]
the message I get is
Access is denied
The command failed to complete successfully
I turn the firewall and UAC off and I still get the error message.
Any help would be great
thank you
6 Replies
Jul 2, 2012 at 1:29 UTC
For that command to work as you typed, you need to be logged into the pc as an administrator (domain), otherwise you need to use the parameters /s /ud /pd to provide credentials. If you are not logged in as a domain admin, you would receive the Access is Denied message.
Jul 2, 2012 at 1:31 UTC
Thanks for the response,
I am running the command from the dc that the computer authenticates to. I am logged in as admin when I run the command and i still get the error
Jul 2, 2012 at 1:44 UTC
Does this work:
Netdom reset computer /domain:domainname /userd:domainadmin /passwordd:password
Jul 2, 2012 at 1:59 UTC
@ Mel
That worked kinda lol, I got this error message
"The rust relationship between this workstation and the primary domain failed"
The command failed to complete successfully
I was running netdom to acutally fix this error message I was getting on a windows 7 computer, i was trying to create a secure channel with the domain controller. Windows 7 drives me nuts, I have been having this error for 8 months now and still have no idea what is causing this error and a correct way to fix it.
Jul 2, 2012 at 2:10 UTC
Resolving this requires re-join to domain which probably you already know but this error usually pops up
- if the computer in domain is created without a valid/correct SPN
- if possible machine name conflict (have you re-imaged this PC)
Jul 2, 2012 at 3:28 UTC
The computer account can become out of sync with the domain for various reasons and you will get this message. If it is joined to the domain you can also use the Network ID button in advanced system settings > computer name tab to get the account sorted out without having to unjoin and rejoin the domain. Doesn't always work, but wortha try.
This discussion has been inactive for over a year.
You may get a better answer to your question by starting a new discussion.


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My family and I stayed in this hotel for 1 night for the Carrie Underwood concert at the Roanoke Civic Center on March 23, 2013. We had actually stayed in this hotel around 10 years earlier (when it was still a Clarion). We absolutely loved the hotel so we decided to stay there again. It still is the same great place we remembered. The lobby/restaurant/pool area is incredible, just like we remembered it. It really has a great feel to it! The pool is half indoor and half outdoor (of course the outdoor section is closed off when it is winter) and there is a hot tube inside. It is really cool! The restaurant is behind the pool. There is no continental breakfast. The breakfast buffet was kind of pricy (don't remember the exact price), but they have a full breakfast menu that is not as pricy. The items off the breakfast menu had great portions and the buffet had a lot of variety! The restaurant does lunch and dinner too I do believe. The staff was very nice at the restaurant. The halls of the hotel are kind of outdated. It is not that they are dirty - the hotel was very clean. The walls just kind of looked outdated. The elevators were outdated as well, but worked fine. There are two entrances from the lobby/restaurant/pool section to the rooms section of the hotel. One entranceway has a very low ceiling (looked like it was just over 6 feet tall). That entranceway had 1 elevator. The other entranceway (near the pool) had 2 elevators with a much taller ceiling. Don't worry, both entranceways are indoors and are fine - it is just important to note that if you are a tall person, you might want to use the entranceway by the pool. That was the only weird thing about the hotel. The rooms were clean and our room had a flat-screen TV. Wifi was free in the hotel. I believe they change the codes daily, so all you have to do is call down to the front desk using the room phone and they will tell you the code. They typically were very quick about answering the phones. The were slow one time, but if that happens, just continue to stay on the line and they will pick up. The staff was very nice, knowledgeable and accommodating. The location of the hotel is great. The hotel is right off of Interstate-581 and not far from Interstate-81. It is very close to Valley View Mall, and it is a short, 5 minute drive to the Roanoke Civic Center exit. We stayed on a Saturday night and there were no parking problems. It seemed liked they had plenty of it. Overall, this hotel has stood the test of time, and if we have to stay in Roanoke again, we will definitely stay here! It is a great, quality hotel!! We all enjoyed it! If you have any specific questions about it, feel free to email me your questions at firstname.lastname@example.com God Bless your travels!!
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- The Holiday Inn Hotel Roanoke is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is centrally located to downtown Roanoke, 2 miles off I-81 and 1 mile from the Roanoke Regional Airport with complimentary airport shuttle. The hotel has 153 oversized guest rooms. All rooms have complimentary wireless and hardwired internet access. All public areas offer complimentary wireless internet access. Our event space and outstanding service makes Holiday Inn Roanoke the optimal meeting place in Roanoke. Our Catering Director coordinates every detail of your event, making us the favorite for weddings, conferences, banquets, military and family reunions and corporate meetings. Maintain your exercise regimen in our fitness center, swim year round in our indoor heated pool or relax in our hot tub. Catch up on work in our complimentary business center at this Roanoke Hotel. We are the only hotel in Roanoke that offers a private outdoor recreational area featuring two volleyball courts, outdoor heated pool, horseshoe pit and picnic area. Unwind in our full service restaurant Passports, for a sumptuous Dinner, cocktail or start your day with a hearty breakfast. Relax, it's Holiday Inn! Area attractions nearby: Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia Tech, Valley View Mall, Taubman Museum of Art, Martinsville Speedway, Roanoke and Salem Civic Centers. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, Orbitz, IHG, Cancelon, Travelocity, TripOnline SA, Hotwire, Cheap Tickets, HotelQuickly, getaroom.com and Agoda so you can book your Holiday Inn Roanoke Valley View reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Holiday Inn Roanoke Valley View Hotel Roanoke
- Roanoke Holiday Inn


text:
Nathan is a straight young hottie doing his first nude shoot with Chaos Men. He's a good-looking young man, slim, tanned, nice full set of pubes, great looking cut cock and an enticing set of low-hangers to boot! Apparently he's quite the artist, having designed his own tattoos, plus he loves the surf, works as a chef and claims to be a romantic in bed! Quite the catch!
Like a typical surfer, Nathan is totally relaxed during this photo shoot. He seems to really enjoy showing off his slim, tanned, almost hairless body - the smile on his face says it all! As the clothes come off, his dick starts to get nice and hard, it sure looks great set in that full pubic bush (so many guys these days seems to shave down there), but it is that full, dangling balls that grab my attention - I do so love to see a guy with a nice big dangly ball sack! And even tho he's straight, Nathan is not too shy to turn around and let the camera check out his butt and that tight little pink arsehole hidden between those delightful cheeks!


text:
HALBROOKS, Judge.
Appellant challenges the district court's conclusion that it is prevented by the doctrine of equitable estoppel from requiring respondents to relocate a shed they built on their property in 2006. Because we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm.
Respondents Drs. Rajbir and Carol Sarpal purchased a lot located in appellant City of North Oaks in July 2003. A short while later, they constructed a home on the lot. In 2005, they had an in-ground swimming pool installed. The Sarpals hired professionals to build their home and install the pool. But in 2006, Rajbir Sarpal (Sarpal) decided to construct a garden/pool shed without hiring a general contractor. As he began the process, Sarpal went to the city to obtain a building permit. The city informed him that he would first need to get approval from the Architectural Supervisory Committee (ASC) of the North Oaks Homeowners Association (NOHOA). After providing an initial submission regarding his plans to construct the shed, Sarpal was informed in a letter from ASC that it needed additional information in order to complete its review, including, among other things, "[a]n as-built survey with the location of the pool, pool equipment, fences and water feature."
ASC suggested that Sarpal could possibly obtain an as-built survey from the builder that constructed his home or the company that surveyed the property before construction, but Sarpal was unable to do so. Sarpal was also told by NOHOA
Sarpal drew the proposed shed on this survey to submit to ASC. He also drew in measurement lines from the proposed house to the proposed shed. His depiction shows the proposed shed as avoiding the 30-foot setback area. He submitted this drawing to ASC, and ASC approved his plan. Once ASC approved the plan, Sarpal went back to the city to obtain a building permit, and the city approved a building permit for the shed. Because Sarpal was going to act as his own general contractor, he was required to sign a waiver that stated, "I am solely and personally responsible for any violations of the State Building Code and/or jurisdictional Ordinance in connection with the work performed on this property."
Sarpal then proceeded to construct the shed. He measured the location of the shed from his home, using the measurements that he had calculated based on the location of the proposed home on the 2003 survey. Because the house was not built where it was proposed to be built, the shed encroached onto the setback approximately 15 feet. In a memorandum to the city, a city building official explained that
In September 2007, the city sent the Sarpals a letter, explaining the encroachment and requesting that they move the shed within 30 days. In response, the Sarpals commissioned their own survey, disbelieving that the shed could violate the setback because Sarpal had followed the approved plans exactly. After the survey showed that the shed indeed violated the setback, the Sarpals applied for a variance. The variance was denied due to a lack of undue hardship; the variance denial was not appealed by the Sarpals. The Sarpals then sought an extension of time in which to move the shed because "[m]oving the structure entails moving sprinkler heads and valves, removing fence posts and pouring a new foundation" and that those tasks would be difficult at that time of the year. This request was granted with several conditions. But ultimately, the Sarpals did not move the shed.
In April 2008, the city brought a petition for injunctive relief, seeking a court order requiring the Sarpals to relocate their shed. The Sarpals answered and raised the affirmative defense of equitable estoppel, among others. The parties cross-moved for summary judgment, and after a hearing on the motions, the district court
A bench trial was held. After hearing testimony from Sarpal and from a city building official, the district court held that the Sarpals had established the facts necessary to assert the defense of equitable estoppel against the city. The district court concluded that "[p]roviding the Sarpals with inaccurate documentation, failing to competently review the building permit application, failing to place the Sarpals on notice of the error, and approving the Shed application constitutes wrongful conduct on North Oaks['] part." The district court reasoned that "[t]he imposition of equitable estoppel prevents the injustice that is bound to occur if the Sarpals are forced to incur the extensive expenses and obligations of relocating or removing the Shed, especially after the significant time and money expended on the initial construction of the Shed." This appeal follows.
I. What is the proper standard of review?
II. Are the Sarpals entitled to an equitable-estoppel defense?
I. Standard of Review
A. Summary Judgment
The city has appealed both the district court's denial of its motion for summary judgment and the entry of judgment in favor of the Sarpals after the bench trial. Although both parties discuss the standard of review on appeal from summary judgment, neither party addresses whether a district court's denial of a motion for summary judgment is within this court's scope of review after there has been a trial and a decision on the merits.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has held that the denial of a motion for summary judgment is outside the scope of an appellate court's review when a trial has been held and the parties have been given a full and fair opportunity to litigate their claims. Bahr v. Boise Cascade Corp., 766 N.W.2d 910, 918-19 (Minn.2009). Although an appellate court has the authority to review orders that affect the judgment being appealed under Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 103.04, the denial of a motion for summary judgment in a case that proceeds to trial cannot be viewed as affecting the judgment being appealed "because the district court's conclusion at the summary judgment stage that there was a genuine dispute of fact becomes moot once the jury reaches a verdict on that issue." Id. at 918. Although Bahr involved a jury trial rather than a bench trial, we decline to distinguish Bahr on this basis. Whether the fact-finder is a judge or a jury, "it makes no sense . . . to reverse a judgment. . . where the trial evidence was sufficient merely because at summary judgment it was not." Id. (quotation omitted).
The supreme court noted that there may be an exception if the denial of summary judgment was based on purely legal grounds. Id. at 918 n. 9 (recognizing the possibility of such an exception). But that was not the basis for the district court's denial here. The district court specifically determined that there was a genuine issue of material fact with respect to whether or not the city committed a wrongful act. Because the district court did not deny the city's motion on a purely legal basis, the possible exception to the limits of our scope of review is not applicable, and the district court's decision to deny the city's
B. Bench Trial
The parties disagree about the proper standard of review on appeal from a bench trial. In general, the standard of review following a bench trial depends on whether the issues being appealed are purely legal issues, questions of fact, or mixed questions of law and fact.
Porch v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 642 N.W.2d 473, 477 (Minn.App.2002) (alteration in original) (quotation and citations omitted), review denied (Minn. June 26, 2002).
But our determination of the proper standard of review does not end here. There is conflicting authority as to whether equitable estoppel is a question of fact or a question of law. Compare In re Westling Mfg., Inc., 442 N.W.2d 328, 331 (Minn.App.1989) ("Estoppel depends on the facts of each case and is ordinarily a fact question for the jury to decide. The jury's verdict will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is manifestly and palpably contrary to the evidence." (quotation omitted)), review denied (Minn. Aug. 25, 1989), with State, City of Eden Prairie v. Liepke, 403 N.W.2d 252, 254 (Minn.App.1987) ("The application of equitable estoppel is a question of law."). In Westling, we identified the seemingly contradictory case law regarding whether equitable estoppel is a factual or legal inquiry and "reconcile[d] the apparent discrepancy regarding the nature of equitable estoppel with the supreme court's statement that `[w]hile estoppel is ordinarily a question of fact for the jury, when only one inference can be drawn from the facts, the question is one of law.'" 442 N.W.2d at 331 (quoting L & H Transport, Inc. v. Drew Agency, Inc., 403 N.W.2d 223, 227 (Minn.1987)). We concluded that "[b]ecause the facts of this case do not permit only one conclusion, we shall review the denial of equitable estoppel here as a fact question." Id. We then reviewed the agency's decision to determine if it was supported by substantial evidence. Id. We have reiterated the standard of review articulated in Westling more recently. "When the facts permit only one conclusion, the application of equitable estoppel is a question of law subject to de novo review." Concept Props., LLP v. City of Minnetrista, 694 N.W.2d 804, 821 (Minn.App.2005), review denied (Minn. July 19, 2005).
As in Westling, we conclude that the facts of this case permit more than one conclusion. The city's actions were not so egregious as to make the wrongful-conduct element of equitable estoppel obvious. But neither is this a case in which the city can claim no responsibility for the Sarpals' error. Unlike Westling, this case involves a bench trial, not an administrative hearing; therefore, the substantial evidence test is inappropriate. Accordingly, we will adopt the standard of review generally used for bench trials involving mixed questions of law and fact—abuse of discretion. See Porch, 642 N.W.2d at 477; see also Prairie Island Indian Cmty. v. Minn. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 658 N.W.2d 876, 890 (Minn.App.2003) ("Estoppel is an equitable doctrine `addressed to the trial court's discretion, and which is not freely applied
II. Equitable-estoppel Defense
At the outset, we note that equitable estoppel should be used sparingly against the government. Ridgewood Dev. Co. v. State, 294 N.W.2d 288, 293-294 (Minn.1980). We also recognize that the city is correct in its assertion that it bears no legal responsibility for the Sarpals' error. Sarpal signed a valid waiver, agreeing to be responsible for compliance with the city's ordinances, including the setback. And the city did not technically err by approving the plan as submitted by Sarpal, which shows the shed avoiding the setback. But holding the Sarpals responsible for using the wrong survey is not a just result when Sarpal was provided with the survey by a city employee and was affirmatively told that he was using the proper survey. It is precisely this type of unjust legal result that creates the need for certain equitable remedies. See Shetka v. Aitkin Co., 541 N.W.2d 349, 353 (Minn.App.1995), review denied (Minn. Feb. 27, 1996). Because we conclude that the Sarpals' legal liability for the encroachment does not foreclose their ability to successfully estop the city from enforcing its setback, we turn to the elements of equitable estoppel.
A person alleging equitable estoppel against a government entity must prove that (1) the government engaged in wrongful conduct, (2) the person reasonably relied on the government's conduct, (3) the person incurred a unique expenditure, and (4) a balancing of the equities favors estoppel. Ridgewood, 294 N.W.2d at 292-93. The parties agree on the application of the Ridgewood test, but disagree as to whether three of the four elements have been met; they do not dispute that the Sarpals incurred a unique expenditure.
A. Wrongful Conduct
The threshold question when analyzing an equitable-estoppel defense is whether the government's act or omission that induced reliance was "wrongful." Id.; see also Interstate Power Co. v. Nobles County Bd. of Comm'rs, 617 N.W.2d 566, 576 (Minn.2000). An equitable-estoppel defense against a government entity's action generally requires some fault by the government agency whose action is sought to be estopped. Ridgewood, 294 N.W.2d at 292-93. Further analysis is required only if wrongful conduct is found to exist. Id. at 293. The supreme court has noted that the wrongful-conduct element has been interpreted since Ridgewood as requiring some degree of malfeasance. Kmart Corp. v. County of Stearns, 710 N.W.2d 761, 771 (Minn.2006).
With respect to the city's conduct, the district court concluded:
The city also argues that it did not engage in wrongful conduct because, unlike ASC or NOHOA, it does not require an as-built survey in its permitting process. It only requires a site plan depicting the location of the proposed project, which it then reviews to confirm that the location of the proposed project conforms to the city's zoning ordinances. As submitted, the location of the Sarpals' proposed shed does not violate the setback. It is not clear to us that, standing alone, the approval of a building permit based on an incorrect submission would be sufficient to estop the city from enforcing its zoning law once the error was discovered. In this situation, because the city is entitled to rely on the accuracy of the documents submitted by the contractor or landowner, the wrongful-conduct element of equitable estoppel may not be met.
But we view the city's act of approving the building permit in context with the act of telling Sarpal that he was using the correct survey. In Ridgewood, the supreme court implicitly recognized that erroneous government advice could give rise to an equitable-estoppel defense. 294 N.W.2d at 293 ("Here there is no wrongful governmental conduct; no governmental official has given improper advice."). Sarpal's undisputed testimony established that he showed the person at the city office a copy of the letter from ASC indicating that he needed an "as-built" survey, that the person handed him the survey with a proposed house drawn on it, and that the person confirmed that this was the survey that Sarpal needed to use in order to get approval from the ASC. In addition, the city failed to identify this possible mistake in its permit-approval process. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by determining that these actions were sufficient to establish the first element of an equitable-estoppel defense against the government—wrongful conduct.
B. Reasonable Reliance
The Sarpals must also prove that the city "made representations or inducements, upon which [they] reasonably relied." Westling, 442 N.W.2d at 333 (quotation omitted). It is undisputed that Sarpal relied on the city's representation that the survey it provided to him was the correct survey to use. The pertinent question is whether Sarpal's reliance was reasonable. As a general rule, "[t]hose who deal with Government are expected to know the law and may not rely on the conduct of government agents contrary to law." Id. Nonetheless, "a party may generally rely upon notification from the agency charged with interpreting and enforcing the relevant rules." Id. at 334.
The city insists that it was unreasonable for Sarpal to base the shed's location on
The city also argues that Sarpal's reliance on the city's representation that the survey was an as-built survey was unreasonable because the survey is dated before the construction of the house and the house is labeled "proposed house." But this argument is undermined by the fact that nobody on ASC or at the city noticed that Sarpal was indicating his measurement lines from a "proposed house." Because Sarpal was specifically told by the city to use that particular survey and there is nothing in the record that would indicate that Sarpal had reason to know that the house was not built in its proposed location, his use of the survey to measure how far the shed should be from the house was also reasonable. Finally, because Sarpal's mistake was not recognized by any of the experienced land-use officials who were involved in the approval process, we disagree with the city's contention that Sarpal should have realized his error. Because Sarpal reasonably relied on the city's representation regarding the 2003 survey, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by determining that this element of the Sarpals' equitable-estoppel defense was met.
The city also argues on appeal that the city clerk who handed Sarpal the survey was not authorized to make representations with respect to zoning or permitting requirements. Neither party presented evidence as to this person's identity or position within the city. Because the city did not raise this objection in the district court, it has waived this argument. See Thiele v. Stich, 425 N.W.2d 580, 582 (Minn.1988).
C. Equitable Considerations
Finally, we turn to a balancing of the equities. "Estoppel is available as a defense against the government if the government's wrongful conduct threatens to work a serious injustice and if the public's interest would not be unduly damaged by the imposition of estoppel." Ridgewood, 294 N.W.2d at 293 (quotation omitted); see also In re Petition of Mesaba Aviation Div. of Halvorson of Duluth, Inc. v. County of Itasca, 258 N.W.2d 877, 880 (Minn. 1977). The city claims that "ample evidence exists of the detriment to the `public good' and `frustration of the public interest'" that would occur if it is estopped from enforcing its setback. Conversely, it claims that the district court's findings with respect to the harm that would be suffered by the Sarpals if they are forced to move the shed "lack[] an evidentiary basis."
It is true that the public has an interest in the enforcement of zoning ordinances to ensure uniform and equitable application of the law, minimize nuisances, and protect property values. See Dege v. City of Maplewood, 416 N.W.2d 854, 857 (Minn.App.1987). To estop the city from enforcing its current zoning ordinance would contravene these interests. But this broad public interest in zoning ordinances is the only interest the city has identified. The city presented no evidence of harm to an adjoining landowner, there have been no complaints to the city, and
Further, we do not agree that the conclusions that the Sarpals would be "forced to incur . . . extensive expenses and obligations [in] relocating or removing the Shed" and that they expended "significant time and money . . . [on] the initial construction of the Shed" are without evidentiary support. A letter from Sarpal to the city council stating that "[m]oving the structure entails moving sprinkler heads and valves, removing fence posts and pouring a new foundation" was admitted into evidence at trial. The building permit issued by the city with an estimated cost of $2,500 to build the shed and permit fees of approximately $200 was also admitted at trial. And finally, an affidavit from Sarpal estimating that the cost to move the shed would be a figure between $10,000 and $20,000 was admitted at the summary-judgment phase.
The city relies primarily on the fact that Sarpal admitted both in his request for a variance and in his trial testimony that moving the shed would not cause the Sarpals financial hardship to claim that there is no equity weighing in favor of the Sarpals. But a balancing of the equities is not limited to a balancing of financial hardships. The fact that the Sarpals have the means to move the shed without causing them financial hardship does not mean that the equities cannot weigh in their favor. Because the city has not identified why the public interest would be unduly damaged either by granting a variance and allowing the shed to remain or by paying the cost to have the shed relocated and because the Sarpals presented evidence of the expense and difficulty presented by moving the shed, we conclude that the district court acted within its discretion by balancing the equities in favor of the Sarpals.
When facts surrounding an equitable-estoppel defense are susceptible to more than one interpretation, the defense presents a mixed question of fact and law. When a mixed question of fact and law is determined by the district court following a bench trial, the district court's conclusion is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Because the district court did not abuse its discretion when it determined that the Sarpals were entitled to a defense of equitable estoppel against the city's request for an injunction, we affirm.


text: Farsight Mask Printings/Rarity: Cost: CMC: 5 Card Type: Artifact Oracle Text: Whenever a source an opponent controls deals damage to you, if Farsight Mask is untapped, you may draw a card. Flavor Text: It turns the adversity of the moment into the knowledge of a lifetime. Retrieved from "http://mtg.wikia.com/wiki/Farsight_Mask?oldid=64836" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: Mirrodin Uncommon Cards CMC: 5 Artifact Colorless Draw