OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI 
Issue #264, January 22, 2000 
Parshat Beshalach
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In this issue:
SHE WAS A DAY TRADER
MY FAVORTITE MARTIN
COLORS
YIDDLE RIDDLE
PUBLIC DOMAIN
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SHE WAS A DAY TRADER
From:  Name@Withheld

Dear Rabbi,
Do you have anything to say about the phenomenon of "daytrading?"  It seems 
to me that it's not a very "kosher" thing to do.  People that know what 
they're doing can make a lot of money at it.  To supplement our income, we 
have taken a portion of our savings (which would not make or break us) and 
opened an account for that purpose.  So far I'm not doing very well.  
Daytraders try to take advantage of the intraday swings in the price of a 
stock.  The more volatile the price swings, the better.  If the stock is 
falling in price, it does not matter, because a trader can borrow the stock 
to "sell it short" and then buy it back at a lower price to return it, 
thereby pocketing the difference.  If a stock went up in price 10 dollars 
and then fell 10 dollars, ending up the day at the same starting price, a 
day trader could earn $20, whereas an investor who held on to the stock 
throughout the day would not make a penny.  It seems like gambling to me.  
I do not see how it contributes anything to society.  My husband says it 
serves a valuable service by providing liquidity to the market and 
narrowing the spreads between the buy and sell price.  If I could be 
successful at it, it would solve a lot of our problems.

Dear Name@Withheld,

Stocks are a legitimate investment.  Buying stocks is essentially no 
different than buying diamonds, land, or wheat.  According to everything 
that I know about "daytrading," I cannot see why it should be classified as 
a forbidden form of gambling.

Everyone agrees about one thing:  Daytrading requires nerves of steel, 
tremendous concentration and an understanding of the markets.  It can make 
one a lot of money in a short time; however, most people seem to lose money 
at it.  Think long and hard about whether you really want to do this.

************

MY FAVORTITE MARTIN

From:  Ron Newton, Roanoke, Alabama  <newron@teleclipse.net>

Dear Rabbi,
Shalom and thank you again for your wonderful site.  I have always heard of 
the wonderful and unselfish life of Martin Luther, but have recently read 
he was a devout anti-Semite.  My question is, was Martin Luther anti-
Semitic, and if so to what degree?

Dear Ron Newton,

Martin Luther, the 16th century German theologian (not to be confused 
with Martin Luther King, the 20th century American Civil Rights leader), is 
considered the founder of Protestantism.

The list of Martin Luther's anti-Semitic remarks could fill books, and 
indeed they do!  His own work, "The Jews and their Lies" is a harangue 
against the Jews in which he claims, among other things, that Jews live 
from the excrement of the Devil!  Luther had a five point plan for the 
solution to the "Jewish problem" in which he proposed that all synagogues 
be burned and that all Jews be enslaved at hard labor, instead of living 
off the goodness of others, as he claimed they did.

Hitler read Luther, and Hitler's "Mein Kamf" quotes from this plan of 
Luther's.

But Luther's stance regarding the Jews is not surprising or out of line 
with his times, or with the history of Christianity up until his day.

Sources:
* Why the Jews, Telushkin & Prager

************

COLORS

From: Name@Withheld

Dear Rabbi:
I heard that colors have meanings in Judaism.  What is the history behind 
this and could you explain the meaning of certain colors like red, green, 
blue, yellow, violet, black, orange, and white.

Dear Name@Withheld,

The color red represents blood and sin.  White represents purity from 
sin.  Ironically, a white skin coloration marks a person impure, making him 
into a "metzorah" (leper).  Blue is the color of sky and hence of 
spirituality, reminding of "G-d's Throne of Glory."

* Red, white, and blue, represent fire, water, and air, respectively.  
They also stand for strength, kindness, and splendor, respectively; or, 
similarly, judgement, kindness, and mercy.

Furthermore, the color white is associated with the Angel Michael, red 
with Gabriel, and blue with the Angel Uriel.  And white is associated with 
Abraham, red with Isaac, and blue with Jacob.

(From the asterisk on, "yarok" is translated as blue, although there are 
divergent views regarding this.)

Sources: 
* Iggeret D'kala page 300
* Yitav Panim 1 page 193
* Megalleh Amukot, Ofan 8, 57, and 86

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YIDDLE RIDDLE

What two Friday nights of the year is there no shalom zachor?  (Shalom 
zachor is the Friday night celebration held in honor of the birth of a 
boy.)

Answer next week.

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THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
Comments, quibbles, and reactions 
concerning previous "Ask-the-Rabbi" features

Re:  "KOSHER COSTS" 
(http://www.ohrnet.org/ask/ask262.htm#Q2):

"Ask The Rabbi" recently featured an article about the father of a 
disabled daughter having a hard time affording kosher food on a low income.  
We want to thank our readers for their overwhelming response with 
suggestions and offers of help.  The following is a sample of some of those 
responses.  We hope to publish a follow up on this subject in the near 
future.

A kosher food bank was established last year and helps people in the 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Jewish community, seniors, Russians, observant and 
not.  It is confidential and available to all who demonstrate need.  I 
would be glad to put you in touch with the administrators of the kosher 
food pantry for information. Perhaps one could be set up in your area.

     Batya Moses, Pittsburgh, PA <batya7@hotmail.com>

Many items in regular supermarkets not marked "kosher" do have London 
Beit Din approval.  The Beit Din puts out a handbook of their products 
yearly and they can be found on the Internet.  Thank you so very much for 
an excellent publication.

     Suzanne Havivi <shavivi@barak-online.net>

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