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The Jew's Views

Moving to Israel

Last August my wife and two children moved to Israel. We have been searching for an amazing new place. The first place we stayed is less than ideal we have been living here for two months and are very ready to get out. They’ve the neighborhood is fine, but people are friendly. But my problem specifically is with the flat. I’ve never had such bad plumbing in any building I’ve ever rented. The water is anything but clear. And I don’t feel comfortable serving it’s in my own. When you take a shower and never feel as though you’ve Pincolle only as though you’ve replaced one set of grime with another. I am meeting with my real estate broker today to look at more flats to rent. I’m checking to see how all of the toilets flush. And all the showers. It’s now the most important thing in my search, the search for clean water. Israel is fed mostly by aquifer, and desalinization plant. The latter produces Greatwater, but it is very expensive both financially and ecologically. Aquifers are a plentiful source of water in northern Israel, but it is still a limited resource that is being used heavily at the moment. The most amazing home I’ve seen so far, was a bit too out of our price range but it had the most eco-friendly design. The design included and you rainwater collection system that could keep water for an entire year. More water then I would need even to grow vegetables. The most important thing for me in this whole ordeal has been connecting to the land of Israel. Most of the water in this apartment taste like dirt., So I guess we’re doing the right thing. Almost the same I like to be able to grow my vegetables or maybe a fruit tree.

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Business Case: Significant Influences of Religion in the Workplace

The planning and implementation of a business case is often influenced by certain cultural and political aspects. In a business case, there are rare tendencies when religion and spirituality influence and affect the decisions of the people involved therein. Followers of certain religions must have their own set of perspectives and values that they should prioritize whenever they go through their own daily lives. They try to bring these to play whether they are at work or at home.

If peace is the main goal, a person may feel outraged by accidents and other people’s unfavorable behavior and responses. However, in the long run, these peace-loving people learn to calm down and try to understand the other person who caused them trouble.

May centuries have passed and history shows us the unfavorable events that took place in the name of religion. There have been occasions in history when some people committed crimes in the name of their self-serving interpretations of their religiosity and faith.

In the workplace, it is always a best practice of the human resources managers to provide employment equality as well as genuine occupational requirements that faithful and religious people should consider, respect, and observe during their entire employment period with the business.

Thus, every business should be aware that they have a corporate obligation to ensure improved employee morale that totally discourages discrimination. The employer and supervisors should be wary of the significance of employee retention and recruitment if they are more tolerant and more politically correct by broadening their employment appeal and pool based on their indicated minimum qualifications. As respect for religion occurs in the workplace, the business itself gradually gains a positive public image and avoids any employment issues related to religion and faith of the employee.

Thus, religious attributes must be considered when planning and executing employment and work policies. First, it may be a sign of respect and tolerance to allow prayer time and even a prayer room accessible and available for any employee. Food and fasting may also be considered. More importantly, with regards to the attendance of employees, employers and managers should take into account holidays and festivities related to the practice of an employee’s religion and faith. Dresses and symbols that signify one’s religion must not be discouraged in the workplace. Thus, there should be certain processes whereby the employee can file a request to wear their garments for religion instead of wearing an office uniform.

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Spiritually and Financially Sound

These days a 401k calculator can let you get a good idea of where you may stand in the years to come. Since there are many that are available on-line for free you can be sure to plan ahead for retirement. You can simply understand and taken into consideration the amount you do contribute, employer matching, inflation and what the balance can be years down the road. This tool is a smart way to plan and save money for your future in today’s world.

What is a 401k calculator? Well, it’s basically a tool that you may use to calculate where you are going to stand years in the future. You can find out whatever you may accumulate from your own and employers contributions and make up for inflation. You’re able to even find out what it might be if you do increase of decrease what you put in it. Simple, yet useful for those planning ahead.

Helping you plan for retirement and get an outlook of the future of your savings account. This is not only a smart way to plan for retirement, but you can see how your account can grow over the years. All you need to do is put in such information as your current yearly pay, the amount you contribute, what is matched by your employer and what you may put in in the future. For your future planning it’s not only going to go a long way to help you make the right decision, but make sure you have that nest egg when retirement arrives.

Using an on-line calculator is one of the best tools for creating your own secure retirement in the years to come. You need to have some basic assumptions such as: your current salary, number of years until retirement and any increase in salary. Then plug in the current balance, contribution amount and then how you receive your pay. This then, gives you an ideal glimpse of what to expect down the road tomorrow.

What should you contribute to your account on a yearly basis? Well, of course this can be based upon what you are comfortable with and the total of your salary that you receive. Take into consideration as well, if your employer does match or contribute to your plan as well. There are some that do this. It’s a good idea to put in only what you are comfortable with and does not conflict with your monthly budget.

For those that wish to ensure they have a good idea of what to expect down the road, then planning can go a long way to do just that. When you plan what contributions you are making and the amount may increase it to over the year, then you are sure to have a good outlook of what your account may hold once you do reach retirement.

Where to look to calculate your future savings for your account? It’s quite easy to find a variety of calculators that are available right on-line. This way you not only can project what can be in the years to come, you may even take into consideration wage increases or increases in contributions.

Today using a 401k calculator can be a great way to plan for retirement and manage your account over the years. This tool let’s you easily and quickly calculate your contributions, employer contributions, salary increase, inflation and much more. So you may get a good idea of what you can end up with that can give you an idea of what to expect. Not only is planning for retirement a wise thing to do, but using this tool can let you do so effectively.

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Talk topics with Jewish girls on online dating sites

Jewish women girls might be different, and so is every girl out there, so no need to treat them very differently. A girl is a girl, even with staunch religious beliefs they still love the simple things in life. Jewish dating is centered on their religious customs and beliefs, and this you should understand. Most of their daily activities revolve around doing what the Torah teaches them and most of them might get difficult when you want to divert them from that. Religious conviction and religious beliefs play a major role in Jewish dating, just as it does in Christianity, Hinduism, or Islam. To search for a Jewish girl in France or Canada, I would suggest to first try your luck with free dating sites by looking for: rencontre gratuit, one can find more singles online before going over to the Jewish dating sites. The reason you should first try free dating sites (sites de rencontre) is because you can also search for religion within the free dating sites and then choose “Jewish” as religion. If this does not deliver good enough quality of Jewish girls I recommend you to move on to paid Jewish dating sites (and yes, sometimes you do also need to pay to find love. Oh, I do love the irony as all of us Jewish people have with paying and always trying to go for the cheapest option as possible).


When chatting with a Jewish girl on dating sites as matzodate.com, jewishsinglescanada.com, and Jsingles.com, you can start on inquiring about her religion and its beliefs. You might be surprised to learn that, even with such religious beliefs, some of them have a completely different view of life. This will give you a stepping-stone towards your next conversation. One thing you should not do is trying hard, keeping and unprejudiced attitude is good and will help you divert fast enough when your conversation is leading you two nowhere. Politely disclose your religion to her, and then inquire more about her. If yours is different, she might want to know more about your faith and this will keep the clock hand ticking. You must also learn to remain neutral and conservative during your first chatting session on dating sites. No one wants to hear another talking bad about their beliefs. Do not mock religious symbols and artifacts that come with Jewish religion or any other in that matter. Instead, inquire more about them. The best way to do this is to understand some of their religious symbols before you meet the girl. Sometimes this help in keeping you calm, if she will have to come with some of them on her wrist or neck. One thing about women is that they love romance. You can create a slow romantic scene, by asking her what her religion thinks about sex and marriage. In most religions, sex before marriage is never accepts and you can get her deeper understanding of the phrase. There are romantic Jewish literatures which you can quote or ask about when your get to this topic. There are Jewish dating sites you can find these Jewish girls, and you getting them on these sites gives an impression that they are looking for love not some religious lectures.

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Meeting Jewish Girls Online

Jewish dating sites are common today and it is up to you if you want to find Jewish girls to be keen. Jewish people have their religion and culture and therefore, it should be put into consideration while searching for Jewish date online. In the USA and UK there are many Jewish dating sites but in smaller countries such as Belgium it is much more difficult to find a good dating site that has many Jewish singles on it. Even though Antwerp (one of the largest cities in Belgium) has a very strong Jewish community, there is not a good Jewish dating site. The site that does have a good and large amount of Jewish single men and women is match4me that focuses on meeting higher educated people. In my honest opinion for Jewish people, Match 4 Me can be considered as a semi Jewish dating site.

Although it is not bad in any way to date people from other cultures but one may find they are attracted to their own kind. When looking for Jewish girls online there are several things you have to observe. Impressing a girl is very important in being able to find a date online and this can be viewed from the profile they have put up. In a pro Jewish dating site, you will find that they also value their religion and culture. Therefore, it is good to be respectable in Jewish dating site while looking for a soul mate. The dating site, such as match4me, will mostly have a matchmaking trusted third party something that is borrowed from their traditions. This happens because traditional Jewish singles had a third party find for them a partner rather than picking one by themselves. You will note that, Jewish sites screen personal information very carefully and value respect for women. If you want to win a Jewish girl you have to be someone who respects women and values their worth.

In Jewish dating, the man looking for a girl should initiate the get together once a connection has been created online. The man should be great and there is no need to be rude or aggressive if the girl you want does not want to meet yet. Meeting Jewish girls online should be easy and once you meet maintain the same connection you had online to make the moments more pleasurable. Allow yourself to be natural while with your new date and this will allow you to make a stronger connection with your partner. This should be a great moment to know each other better for the future. In order to connect with a Jewish girl, uphold their religion and don’t assume since it is an online dating you can ignore such things. Jewish children respect their family very much and it would be important to show respect for the girl’s family. A matchmaker (and with online dating match 4 me can be considered as the best intermediate matchmaker) may be involved and being on their good side will help you a lot in winning the family’s heart. Jewish dating sites observe strict registration details to ensure quality services to the online users.

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Importance of religion in our lives

One aspect of our lives that will always remain significant, no matter what happens is our belief. This belief is the mere essence of our living. As a matter of fact, it is this belief that defines us, our values and our personality to a great extent. The belief, I’m talking about here, is our religion. Yes, whether you agree or you don’t, it is the religion that drives our lives.

Religion plays a very essential role in our lives. It reflects our true identity and it mirrors our inner beliefs. While religions might differ, I believe that this difference is quite superficial. The core principles and the spirit of every religion majorly remains the same. Whether it is Christianity, Judaism or Islam; every religion speaks about fostering brotherhood and spreading peace. If that’s really the case, it makes me wonder why certain religions are blamed for things that go wrong in the society.

But then I realize that in fact, it is not the religion that is blamed here. It is its followers (or the non-followers, I should say) who are blamed. Religion is something that binds people spiritually. It is a thing of the mind. Religion, in these terms, is quite similar to technology. Technology is often blamed for creating nuclear bomb that caused widespread destruction. On the other hand, it is quite appreciated too for making life simpler by innovating products like the a wheat grass juicer. To state this more clearly, it is the people who make use of technology. Hence, it is these people who are responsible and not technology. Similar is the case with religion. It is what you believe it to be.

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The Road Rage of a Peaceful Person

There once was a time when I thought there would be peace on the Earth. That one people at a time we could solve all the problems of this world and grow to love one another. I am a good church going guy who loves his mama and the Lord. I follow their rules and listen to their teachings. I thought I was on the right path.

That is until some guy in a little sports car cut me off in the middle of rush hour. He must have thought the 17 extra inches between me and the car in front of me could fit him and the vehicle but he was wrong. If I had not slammed on the brakes and swerved over we would have been in an accident for sure.

The last thing I wanted to do was fill out  traffic accident claims  and I even shouted out a few curse words and shook my fist at him. It was then I realized peace on Earth was going to be much harder than.

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Just Moved To The Sun In Madrid

My wife and I have just moved to Madrid, specifically because my wifes mother and father live here and they are getting into the latter stages of their life. My wife and her family are all Jews and she feels that she should help her dad more as he is getting older and his mobility is suffering. He wants to continue to visit the local synagogue on a daily basis and his wife just can not cope on her own so my wife has decided to step in and help and become his full time carer.

As far as I am concerned, moving to Spain and Madrid is a really positive move as I love the Spanish way of life and the constant warm weather. I have grown tired of sitting at home in England, faced with a grey sky, having to wear multiple layers with the gas central heating cranked up to full blast just to keep warm!

We have spent so much time here during our married life that a move was inevitable. In fact, our youngest son lives here as well so we are still near to the family. With us both being retired, it really does feel like a wonderful move.

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Religions and How They Shape Our Lives?

There are times when many tend to hate religion, since more crimes are done with their backdrop. However, does that mean religions are to be blamed? Aren’t there religions that preach peace, like Christianity? In the Europe and Spain, Judaism is gaining popularity off late, for their unique principles. It intrigues many and many seek for more knowledge on these principles. Not all religions are to be blamed and moreover, it’s men who either misunderstand or tweak these teachings for their own advantage.

Irrespective of the beliefs held, not anyone obviously accept such violence. It is disgusting that even in the 21st century, there are many who use the name of God for all wrong things. Such things can really misguide and mislead many. It is time people realize what they’re doing and we also, think twice before falling prey to such teachings. Literacy rate is high and technology has reached great heights. There’s no reason why we should give importance for stupid beliefs and teaching in this century. It is time for people to realize false beliefs and use their education, to guide their path.

Technology has improved and what’s surprising? Many even band use of technology and force followers to stay clear of technology. Even simple devices that make life easy like an automatic litter box, or a phone, or a Television and even computers, are considered ways to enter the Evil Kingdom. Why should one forbid technology when it simplifies the life of people? We should not quit using these gadgets, but rather, resolve to avoid getting into laziness and lead an active lifestyle. That way, gadgets do what they’re expected to do and we can lead a healthy life.

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The Religious Concepts

Religious conceptsJudaism has been considered the mother of two of the world’s religions; these are Christianity and Islamic religion. The thought has been strengthened by the fact that the first five books of the two religions have the same content and therefore the possibility that they have slight variations when it comes to some principles and what both religions believe in. Christianity can be said to be a dominate religion in Europe even though we still have other religions that are practiced in the continent.

Spain remains one of the leading nations in terms of those who practice Christianity. One thing about Christianity is that it does not limit the use of herbs as form of medicine. This means that followers of these religions in Europe are free to use herbal medicine as alternative forms of medication. This is a case that has promoted use of Cordyceps as the main product as medication or as a part of medication. It is not the issue of religion alone that makes Cordyceps acceptable in Europe. Their medication values are the main driving force in their popularity in the Europe continent.

It is a fact that respiratory diseases are mostly communicable. They are worse during winter and their effects include damage to the lungs and inflammatory effects on the throat and along the respiratory tract. The Cordyceps is known to have active ingredients that cleanse the tract of any bacteria that is responsible for the inflammation. They also are known to reduce the cholesterol levels in the body as well as protecting the liver against the toxins that are often directed to it. Research continues to reveal more and more benefits of using the Cordyceps as main treatment or part of it.

Religion has been part of man from time immemorial. Its principles have binding effects to those who subscribe to it and hence it is relieving to those who follow Judaism and religions spanning from it that they can use the all essential Cordyceps medication for the goodness of their health.

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Religion: How to Teach Young Kids Without Creating Confusion

We live in a world of mixed religion, beliefs and it is for this reason that every parent with young kids should start teaching them as early as now how to view each others religion with great respect. Religion is one factor that affects our behavior and how we deal with other individuals. It is always taught to us the moment we reach an age where we can communicate properly. Parents wanting to set good values to their young children would often bring their kids to their particular place of worship like the churches and sacred temples. But, how do we really create a deeper explanation of what religion is to their young and inquisitive minds without confusing them?

Well, there are countless ways to start imparting good and vital knowledge about anybody’s religion to young kids. One relevant source could be the use of well-selected religious books and other reading materials. Nowadays, with the quick accessibility of internet, websites have been offering downloadable information, some are even for free for your convenience just like other relevant data or software tools you might be interested to enhance your skills like the free Photoshop, where you can get them all online without any difficulty.

Remember to choose appropriately the kind of religious books to introduce with your kids. Let them be aware that there are numerous religions as well as beliefs for each person holding a different culture or tradition. Responsible parents should give proper explanation and samples of practices being observed by a specific religion. Make them understand that we are totally different from one another, but have equal rights to choose what type of religion to follow and practice.

Parents should enlighten a child’s interest with religion by showing them good examples of their very own religious practices. With a solid foundation to their learning process, everything will fall in the right place accordingly as they grow older. Give clarification to all the issues bothering them with proper guidance and assurance. Let your child learn to analyze and distinguish what is good from evil, thus, giving the chance to make up for his/her own decision.

A child that was educated and raised with good values will not only have full knowledge of the real meaning of a religion but, rather view other religions with a deeper sense of value, respect and understanding.

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Do We in the UK Think of Rabbits Differently Than the Rest of Europe and the World?

To most countries rabbits are looked on as pests that cause damage to crops, in the UK we are a lot more sympathetic and many keep rabbits as pets.

Rabbits make lovely pets.  They will be grateful for the smallest of effort.  A hutch for shelter and a chance to hop about on the grass each day and some food will keep them happy.  Food and hay can be kept in greenhouses or sheds.  They love company as well so a bit of your time spent stroking them will keep them happy.

Some people place the hutch inside greenhouses or a garage in extreme weather for protection.  It is very important to make sure rabbits eat plenty of grass each day.  This wears down their teeth, which constantly grow, and keeps the digestive system healthy.  Hay is just as good though.

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Jewish People Are Preferred for Mental Health Research by The Johns Hopkins University School

Medical researchers prefer performing their studies on Jewish people, since they have more variations in their genes. Since Jewish people tend to merry within their circle, there are less variations in genes which let’s researchers have more narrow idea what exactly causes the problem. According to health care professionals, Jewish people have contributed enormously to advances in health care due to their participation in studies. And this extends to mental health as well.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is conducting schizophrenia & bipolar test in their research & they prefer the participants to be Jewish as well for their studies. Jewish people are believed to suffer from mental illnesses the same as everybody else, so the lesser variation in genetics allows the professionals to narrow down the causes of these mental illnesses. While many Jewish people feel that they have done quite a lot for the community for health care improvements, The Johns Hopkins University School hopes that they will continue contributing & cooperating with medical health institutions to further improve the knowledge & develop better treatments for mental health patients.

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Fruits of Israel

Warmer climates faciliate excellent fruit crops. As you would expect, Israel produces and exports a bountiful harvest of delicious fruits including avocados, bananas, apples, cherries, grapefruit, plums, nectarines, grapes, dates, strawberries, prickly pear (tzabbar), persimmon, loquat (shesek), oranges, pomegranates and tangerines.

Eating ripe fruit is important for our health. You may have heard stories that fruit makes you fat or that we should limit our fruit consumption because of the sugar it contains. But do you really think that fruit is no good for you? Fruits come from mother nature and they have all the nutrients our bodies need for the best of health.

There are some really exciting fruits grown in Israel today. This video discusses how dragon fruit is grown.

The range of fruits available within Israel are perfect for eating when ripe. A further option is to turn them into refreshing fruit drinks. Now a days, there are a huge range of kitchen appliances used for the job of making juice. If you have never used one of these machines before then it is advisable to read through juicer reviews to find out more about the different types of models which are available.

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Jews That Changed The World Of Fashion

Fashion, whether it be in the form of designer shoes, handbags or clothing is one common interest many people all over the world share. When it comes to Jewish designers there are many that have made a huge contribution creating some of the best known fashion labels available today.

Lets take a look at a few of those names. One of the most recognized brands in the world is undoubtedly Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifschitz and at the age of 16 decided to change his last name to Lauren to escape the obscenity  reference in his last name, this was a step he considered important for his success.

Next on the list is another name everybody will know, Calvin Klein. Born Richard Klein to Jewish-Hungarian immigrants he later changed his first name and went on to becoming a household name.

Others on the list of Jews in fashion are Kenneth Cole, designer and creator of the ladies footwear brand by the same name, Donna Karan of DKNY, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors to name but a few.

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Money and the internet, a new way of business?

As a blogger, I know for a fact that the internet has definitely come a long way. Now, it has become very useful, if not essential, in a lot of aspects of man’s life. One of which is business.

Looking through the great number of advertisements posted online, I can say that it has become apparent that internet marketing is becoming more and more powerful nowadays. And if you are a business executive yourself, here is my advice to you: try hiring the services of an seo agency.

Essentially, internet marketing companies, as their name suggests, will do market your business, product or services through the internet. And the fact is, there are actually a lot of internet marketing companies out there. In the same manner, they also provide a wide variety of services that will help you boost your sales. For instance, they can help you boost your sales by generating traffic to your website. They can even give you good website content.

As a lot of experts themselves say, the internet has become a very pervasive medium. And with the cut throat competition among companies in various industries, you should think of and employ creative ways to have an edge over your competitors. And through internet marketing, you can do just that.

With the wide variety of choices when it comes to internet marketing companies, you will surely find the one that will give you the services that you need. But in order to make the most out of the services offered by internet marketing companies, make sure that you go for the well established and credible ones.

Hope that helps.

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The Tango – The Soccer Ball of Choice for Europe’s Elite Players in 2012

Even if you have never set foot on the continent most people know how seriously the Europeans take their soccer (except they usually call it football) So the fact that the UEFA 2012 Euros are coming up obviously causes a great deal of excitement. It is also a big opportunity for sporting equipment manufacturers, especially for adidas who will be producing the special soccer ball that is to be used throughout the tournament.

Every big soccer tournament has its very own soccer ball and adidas make a great many of the soccer balls used at the most prominent competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. There is also always a story behind each soccer ball these days and the ball chosen for the Euro 2012 competition is no exception.

The adidas Euro 2012 Tango soccer ball is based on another adidas tournament ball creation of the same name that was used back in the 1980s for the Euros. Bright and colorful its main logo incorporates the flags of the two European nations that will be hosting the tournament Poland and the Ukraine.

Although the look is inspired by a soccer ball from the Eighties the professional quality soccer balls of the 21st century are very different from the ones produced thirty years ago. The days of soccer balls made from leather and pigskin bladders are long gone. The soccer balls that are used in European soccer leagues these days are made from hi tech materials designed to everything from resist water to actually change the way the ball moves when it is kicked.

The other thing that has changed is how much it costs these days. A replica version of the Euro 2012 was already selling out before 2012 even arrived, even though they cost around 120 euros, or $150 each!

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Wine and Religion

Alcohol and religion haven’t always had a great relationship.  Every religion takes its own approach to alcohol.  Some hate it (the Mormons as an example).  Others like the Catholic Church have embraced it fully as Jesus’ first miracle.

I think the Jewish faith might have the best approach though, especially when it comes to wine.  If a wine is truly only fermented grape juice it is considered Kosher and can be consumed.

For a wine of the month club in the United States, that doesn’t give a great marketplace to be sure, but for the wider wine industry it is nice that two of the world’s most significant religions accept wine as part of our life as human beings, if they only do so in slightly different ways.

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Let’s Talk Money – Mortgages and More

An amortization calculator is used by people who have borrowed money and wish to establish what that periodic payment amount on their loan will be. Borrowers typically use this kind of tool for house mortgage loans.

The term ‘amortization’ refers directly to this process of spreading loans or mortgages over a lengthy period of time. This differs from other models of repayment in that the amounts which are repaid include both the principal and the interest being charged on the loan.

Typically, payments are broken down into equal amounts for the entire term of the loan. However, at the beginning of the repayment schedule, more interest is applied to the payment. Towards the end of the schedule, it is usual to add more of the principal to the repayment amount.

An amortization schedule will show the borrower, usually on one line, exactly how much they will be expected to repay at each scheduled repayment point. This also informs them of how much interest is being applied to the loan and when.

An amortization calculator can be found online in a variety of places with a careful search. This is a useful tool for consumers to determine the exact nature of the burdens that the repayment schedule will place on them.

Use of a computer, a financial calculator or some other kind of spreadsheet technology is the best way of calculating this sort of repayment schedule. This is because that setting out the details in the form of a table often makes actually seeing what is going on with the figures much more straightforward. Complex mathematical formulae usually form the basis of the calculator, but they can be understood with a little research.

This tool also allows borrowers to work out how long they have left on their schedule as well as the amount of interest that they will pay throughout the total term of the mortgage or loan. Most of these calculators can be used with spreadsheet programs such as Excel.

Borrowers should also be aware though that a certain amount of rounding of figures occurs within the system in order to minimize errors and imbalances. Slight variation can occur for the amounts of a monthly repayment, but is always to smooth out any errors which can accumulate and lead to future imbalances in the loan.

The process should enable the borrower to better grasp the ideas behind the mathematics of the process. Amortization is really the progressive summary of a series of calculations figuring out monthly debt repayment.

With an understanding that the process is based on the three factors of the principal (initial amount borrowed), the interest rate and the time, any borrower with a rudimentary understanding of mathematics should be able to calculate their repayment schedule accurately.

Incurring debt and making the repayments on mortgages and loans have become a vital part of financial commerce, with many more people now having access to credit. Using a reputable amortization calendar allows these borrowers to exert more control over their accounting.

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A Spanish Catholic Christmas – A US Based Jews Experience

My cousins in Spain are devout Catholics.  I had long known this was the case, but it wasn’t until I went to visit them near Madrid one Christmas that I realized just how central their religion was to their lives.

Their home was fully done up in the spirit of the Christmas season.  I don’t mean in the commercial sense like Christians celebrate in the United States either.  No tinsel and the like.  Rather they had tasteful celebrations of the season.  Their meals for the week were served on beautiful dinnerware sets decorated with tasteful images of the nativity scene. It wasn’t garish, I wish I’d taken a picture, but it looked something like this image.

Not only did they serve on a beautiful Christmas themed dinnerware set, but they also followed certain dietary guidelines closely.  We had a fish dinner on Friday for example, something I haven’t seen done for many years.

Midnight mass on Christmas was also spectacular.  They attend a very traditional church, which is a lot different to what we are used to in the US. It was a very solemn affair with lots of ritual and ceremony.  At churches I have visited back home with my brother-in-law it sometimes feels like a party when we go to holiday services, so it was quite a shock to the system.

Don’t misunderstand me thought, it was very enjoyable.  And once service was over there was plenty of joy and happiness and fellowship amongst the congregation.  I actually found their service was quite touching, and may suggest to my Rabbi that some of the Catholic traditions are very pleasant.

They also follow a neat practice which is called the ‘Urn of Fate’.  Names are picked at random from a bowl and those people are supposed to be friends for the next year.  I don’t know how well this works in practice, but it seemed like a nice concept to me.

Overall my experience with a traditional European Catholic Christmas was very positive.  While I won’t be changing my religion any time soon, I may try to find me one of those beautiful dinnerware sets my cousins own for my Christian brother in law.  I think it would make a great talking point at his next holiday party.

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Health Issues for People of Jewish Descent

Studies have shown that people of Jewish descent have a disproportional risk of acquiring hypertension. Use a blood pressure chart to see if your readings fall into the hypertension category.  The importance of understanding the impact of blood pressure on one’s health cannot be overstated.

One the primary ways to maintain your health and be sure that you are taking care of your stress level is to monitor and control your blood pressure. By monitoring it you can tell pretty quickly if your pressure is too high, too low or just right. Basically this function of the body is the pressure that is applied by the blood that is circulated on the blood vessel walls.

It is a primary way to determine ones vital signs. It is a simplistic way of determining the blood flow and its affect on the body’s circulation. During the beats of the heart it will vary between a minimum, or diastolic, or a maximum or systolic pressure. The average blood pressure occurs when the heart pumps and the flow of blood maintains an adequate resistance within the vessels. It should decrease as the blood circulates and moves away from the heart throughout the arteries.

It will rapidly decrease through smaller arteries and will continue to drop as the blood continues moving in the capillaries then back into the heart. This is accomplished by the use of the veins. Other influences to this process include vein valves, gravity and the skeletal muscles which contract and assist in the blood pumping action.

You can measure your BP typically on the top of the arm. This involves a measurement that will give you a systemic arterial pressure. A major concern for many people is having the risk of high blood pressure. This is typically considered a serious condition that can cause a variety of physical conditions.

These conditions include kidney failure, stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and other health issues. If your BP rate stays high or continue to rise during a an extended time period it can cause significant body damage.

Statistics show that approximately one out of three adults in America have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, many times this serious condition has very few symptoms. In fact, you could suffer from it for many years and never know about it. It is during this time that your body including the kidneys, heart and blood vessels can be negatively impacted.

It is important to always keep track of and monitor your BP numbers. This includes even when you are feeling okay. When your BP is normal then you can continue to work with your physician to be sure it is maintained. However, when your BP is too high then you need to consider seeking treatment. Effective treatment, which may include medication or changes to your diet, will help to prevent damage to the organs within your body.

Maintaining your diet can go a long way in controlling fluctuations in your pressure. You can also add in proper exercise to help control it. In most cases however the majority of people will require some type of medication. Medication will help to lower it or raise it, depending on what your physical condition is. Be sure to always discuss changes in your physical condition with your medical provider.

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The Rise of Religious Fanaticism Spurs Security Job Growth

Security JobsFor most of us mere spectators of news on TV, international reports may be filled with items on how conflicts have sprung up in different parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East and Northern Africa, either because of deposed tyrannical rulers, or religious fanaticism. While a lot of people elsewhere may not be too keen on following these news reports, those who are looking for opportunities in whatever form should take note of these events.

For example, the conflicts that have arisen in Afghanistan and Iraq for decades already have made civilian employment, particularly security jobs, available to foreigners, especially citizens of those countries that have contributed to the “liberation” of these territories. Now that the Arab Spring, or the liberalization of Arab countries like Libya and Egypt from their dictatorial heads of state, has been finished, it is expected that security jobs and more employment opportunities will be made available to a lot of people, even to foreign nationals.

The availability of these security jobs in these areas of religious conflict have steadily increased because there are religious extremist groups trying to disturb the peace of these communities trying to rebuild because of the damage caused by the period of clashes. Aside from helping the peace and order situation of the place, people involved in security jobs are also tasked to provide protection to other prominent people involved in the rebuilding of the communities in the conflict-torn areas. Engineers, construction workers, and oil rig workers, among other people, need security detail so that they can perform their jobs properly without having to think of the dangers that lurk from working in an unstable environment.

People wanting security jobs from these countries that have experienced conflict from political instability or religious fanaticism should still be aware of the dangers and risks that come along with their jobs. They can certainly be assured of above-industry pay because of the high-risk nature of their jobs. However, security jobs are not that secure in the sense that they are mostly contractual. This means that if the situation in the country where a person secures his security job stabilizes, he might have to look for other opportunities.

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Religion, Censorship and the Internet

Wherever you go the internet is increasingly becoming filtered by a variety of individuals , groups or Governments.  It’s often for political goals but commercial and religion are often equally to blame for the increasing censorship.

In Turkey for instance, which is primarily a secular Government – various legal challenges have been made and effectively caused internet sites to be censored.  For example a book on Creationism was criticised heavily by a scientist called Richard Dawkins – this was enough to get his site blocked in Turkey. However Turkey’s internet access is increasinly becoming filtered in many other ways too.

Many Muslim countries heavily restrict access to social networking sites in order to restrict  people’s ability to discuss and criticize religion.  There are drivers from the powerful Evangelical groups within the USA to do something similar from there.  Fortunately this hasn’t happened in the US yet but the internet may yet be crippled from another source – commercialism.

A specific act in the US based on protecting intellectual property threatens to allow huge control over what access you have through a US ISP.  A link to a pirated DVD or film may be all it takes for a court to block an entire website from an entire country.  This will put censorship and control on a whole new level.

Already a lot of sites are inaccessible from different countries, for instance you can’t watch the BBC Iplayer from anywhere outside the United Kingdom.  In fact you need to connect through a UK proxy to be able to view it.

However just to add some balance to this discussion it should be pointed out that even non-religious people are looking to censor access to the internet.  I noticed the other day an application called the ‘God Block’ which blocks access to all internet sites  that have any sort of religious concept.  This is supposed to protect children from potential brainwashing apparently although how making children ignorant about religions will help them in the long run – I’m not quite sure.

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Jewish Surnames And Coats Of Arms

Although the Jewish people did not have a physical homeland for many hundreds of years, the two main languages, Hebrew and Yiddish, have a heritage of over 8,000 years and 11 centuries respectively. Jewish surnames have a large number of spelling variations because they were influenced by the different languages of the countries in which the bearers lived. Let’s take a look at a couple of common Jewish names.

The name Simons, or Simmons is derived from the Hebrew forename Shimn, which in turn is derived from the word ‘shama’ which means ‘harken’. The coat of arms for the name Simons is a gold shield with a fox running on a green mound.

Another common Jewish name is Cohen which is the occupational surname for a priest. Traditionally, priests were considered to have been members of a hereditary casts descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses. However, not all bearers of the name Cohen belong to this caste. When many Jews were forced to join the Russian army for a term of 25 years, a number of them changed their name to Cohen because members of the clergy were exempt from army service. The family coat of arms is a blue shield with a silver bar running horizontally across the centre, three silver stars along the base, and a sun at the top.

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What is Baptism

Religion is a hot topic all around the World. People talk about all sorts of topics from is there life after death or what is baptism. In this article we will talk a little bit about the Christian baptism so that as Jews we can better understand all cultures and people.

In some Christian religions baptism occurs when a child is a baby. However, there are many times within a religion where someone will convert to that religion later in life and then get baptized. The first theological idea on why people get baptized is to save them from original sin. However, it is my belief that there would not be a just God if someone was punished for the wrong doing of another.

The other major reason people get baptized it to receive the Holy Ghost. This guide can help push them along the pathways of life. This third member of the God hood can help you throughout your life. While these are just a few reasons people get baptized there are many others. As someone who is not of these beliefs I think it is important you learn from other people and ask them why they chose to be baptized. Hearing people’s opinions and ideas can help you better understand man kind and be a better person.

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Some Of The Best Sleep Apnea Doctors Are Jewish

I have been dealing with my sleep apnea symptoms condition for quite a while now.  And during this time period have had to see a number of doctors to finally fix the condition and help to cure my snoring.  One thing I noticed is that the doctors that helped me the most were all Jewish.  I don’t know why it is but for some reason it seems that Jewish people tend to make quite good doctors.  I think its possibly just a way of being brought up, many Jewish families in American and around the world preach to their kids the values of getting a good education and becoming a professional.

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Can Nations Getting Out Of Debt Help Keep World Peace?

What many people don’t understand is that most of the world economies revolves around debt and could not function without it.  However also at the core of a debt driven economy is the fact that it can also lead to nations getting into wars for purely economical reasons.  So the question is if nations could achieve some level of debt relief would this limit the number of wars we continue to see popping up all over the world? It very well may, because one thing is for sure if we keep the model the exact way it currently is then we will inevitably be getting into more large scale wars and the stem of their conflict will have been from financial origin.

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Do You Know Someone Who Can Be Helped By Occupational Therapy?

I was recently speaking to one of my friends who works for National Jewish Health in Boulder, Colorado about the improvements occupational therapy can bring to the lives of those who have deficits caused by developmental delays and learning disabilities , injury (such as a car accident), disease (such as arthritis), and other conditions.

She told me that occupational therapy is for those of all ages — from infants to the elderly — and can help patients achieve new heights in a range of settings from academic achievement to behavior to motor skills.  Occupational therapy can help people regain daily skills that they thought they had lost forever.

If you or someone you know needs an occupational therapist in Boulder, National Jewish Health has several certified occupational therapists, trained at prestigious occupational therapy schools, on staff.  If you’re located elsewhere, you can contact The American Occupational Therapy Association to find an occupational therapist near you.

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Jewish People And Money: The Stereotype We Could Learn From

History tells us that if we want to learn how to make money, we should talk to a Jewish person. Now that is of course a stereotype but so many cultures view Jews in that way that there must be some truth to their ability to accumulate wealth.

Just as important as it is to make money, is the ability to save money. Jewish people are famous for that as well and they often get a bad rap for supposedly controlling the money in much of the world. Personally I think that is ridiculous but what if it were true? Couldn’t we all learn a lesson or two from a group of people who seem to, in general, have their financial act together?

America and Europe are in big trouble right now both economically and socially. It seems both are falling apart right before our eyes and each one has a huge effect on the rest of the world. Saving is at an all time low and borrowing and going into debt is at a high. This can’t go on forever and the end of the line appears to be in sight. Isn’t it too bad that we all couldn’t have learned a thing or two from the Jews about the importance of saving money and not squandering it?

Rather than demeaning them and making them the butt of so many jokes,we should have been following their financial lead. The real joke is on us!

 

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Dominos Around the World

Americans love their pizza and over the years millions of them have used Dominos coupons to score even more goodies from their favorite pizza joint. But these days Dominos is an international venture, and in other countries you can find some Dominos pizzas that is rather different.

Dominos Coupons

The pizza you might know as Hawaiian Pizza (the one with ham and pineapple) is also served in Japan, but there it is simply known as a Tropical pizza. The bacon and tuna pizza offered in China certainly sounds delicious, but it has not made its way to the US yet. And the Germans add creme fraiche to all of their pizzas!

Of course the great thing about Dominos all over the world is that you are always free to create your own unique pizza using any of the toppings that they offer, which certainly makes for enough variety to keep you tasting new pizzas for a very long time!

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Why Jewish people love driving Porsches

Due to the torment that Jews were put through during the reign of Hitler it is assumed that Jews do not buy any products that are manufactured in Germany. Many people would expect that but it is not true as many Jews even drive cars that are manufactured in Germany and they include Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi’s among others. These cars are known for their excellent performance on the road as well as the comfort that they offer the driver while he or she is driving. They are also easy to maintain and need minimum service if maintained well by the owner.

One of the most common German cars that are owned by the Jewish is the Porsche which has a large number of benefits for them. The Porsche is available in a variety of models which can be chosen according to the preference of the buyer. Some of its most outstanding features are its build which makes it quite appealing to the eye and also because it is available in different colors as well. Furthermore, it is known for its fast speeds that can make anyone have an adrenaline rush especially when on a first date with a woman that a man may want to impress. The two might have met on the many dating sites that are on the internet and decided to meet after interacting for period of time until they become comfortable or fall in love.

Safety is one of the key benefits of Porsches because of the fast speeds that they can be driven at, which needs to have a guarantee that in case of an accident the driver and any other passengers will not be severely harmed. Furthermore, the car should be able to handle the speeds without the engine starting to burn up.

Are you Jewish and do you also want to drive a Porsche? Why don’t you consider buying a used Porsche 911? It is cheap and you can use a loan to buy one, even if you have a bad credit rating. Want to know more? Click here to find out more about your opportunities to borrow money to be able to yourself a used Porsche.

 

 

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Israeli Wine Industry

Religion and wine are highly intertwined.  We’ve talked about that already on this blog a few times, but if you’re looking for a great wine gift you might want some more information-at least that’s what my wife told me!

So what is the Isreali wine industry like today?

It’s growing to be sure.  In fact it might be the fastest growing wine industry in the world today.  The interesting part from a religious aspect isn’t the way wine is used in religious rituals, but instead where most of the vineyards happen to be.  Yes, plenty are in or around Galilee.  Others are in the Golan Heights, which comes with a different set of issues, those being political and military versus religious.

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Jews in Thailand

There is a small but important Jewish community living in Thailand. This is a surprising fact for many Thais as well as Jews. How did it happen?

The reason is sadly, and perhaps predictably, persecution. The Jewish community in Thailand dates back to the 17th Century when Jews from Baghdad fled Iraq for fear of their lives. This ancient Jewish community has been supplemented by Persians fleeing the rise of fudamentalism in Iran in the 1970s. Numbers of those of the Judaic faith have been further increased by Jews from Russia fleeing oppression under the Soviet system.

Today there are about 100,000 Jews living in Thailand. Many of them live in the famous Khao San area of Bangkok, but they are also found in business in Phuket and in the tourist areas of Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. Every year the number of Jews in Thailand is temporarily boosted by Israeli and American Jewish tourists visiting the South East Asian country.

As a result there are two synagogues in Bangkok with permanent rabbis belonging to Chabad. There is also a synagogue in Koh Samui in Chaweng. Although these places of worship are used heavily by visiting Jews to Thailand they nevertheless still serve the resident Jewish community in the country.

The Jewish community in Thailand might not be high profile but most Thais that know of them respect them because of the funds they raised to help victims of the 2004 Tsunami that hit with devastating effect the west coast of Thailand.

So if you are Jewish and in Thailand come and see and share sabbat food in Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket. Shalom and Sawasdee to everyone!

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The Grand Tour

In Europe the aristocracy in the Nineteenth Century would often embark on a?’Grand Tour’ that mostly entailed visiting the important Renaissance sites in Greece and Italy. Because it was before cameras they would often bring a painter with them to capture moments on their tour of historical spots. the novel, ’A Room with a View’ is about one such fictional tour.

Modern Isreali youth all have to do their time in the army to protect their country. In many cases this is a harrowing experience. While being conscripted these young jews mange to save most of their salary. They use these savings to go on a their own version of a grand tour when they leave the army. It is often a very big tour. Typically, Isrealis go to South America, India, Nepal, South East Asia and Africa. Obviously, they steer clear of most muslim countries.

There are two types of Isreali doing the grand tour. Those who travel in groups. They bargain hard asking for group rates and often immune themselves against foreign influences by keeping the jewish atmosphere very much alive in their group. The other type is the solitary traveler. These you will often find cropping up in places like Thong Nai Pan that other Isrealis rarely visit. There is a grapevine of information for Israeli travelers. They thus tend to follow similar itineries. For example they will go to the Full Moon Party in Haad Rin but not to the more bohemian (and more expensive) beach of Thong Nai Pan Noi on the same island.

Like all grand tours they tend to be cliched as well as educational. Also it seems that travelling doesn’t always broaden the mind. Maybe in this case it is cleaning the mind from the horrors of conflict.

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Website templates by Jewish designers

The religious templates constantly always need to be along with divine touch because teaching or preaching provided by the particular spiritual authorities or produced by the religious corporation spread divinity and tranquility. Normally the one location you should know is the value associated with color scheme and just how they affect the mood. By way of a Jewish designer, web design templates could be improved upon through the use of suitable color combination. The website color scheme can readily give the sign of the nature regarding your work.

However to learn such great religious website templates with divine feel, possibly you should discover a template go shopping in which carries such templates or perhaps knowledgeable artwork Jewish designer who is able to design wonderful layouts in accordance with your requirements. The fact users tend to be traveling to your site implies you’ve got the core elements regarding design upon target, these days you must have them generally there. Correct, you will need wonderful an excellent sales pitch along with duplicate along with ignore the significance of a color’s psychology. Yet at the same time any design should not always be packed with such pictures and symbols.

Individuals have the prejudice that Jewish designer activities are highly tidy and simple – the message contains priority ahead that forwards by using the images. The one thing which will be prevented typically could possibly be the usage of really strong colors which are harsh and sharp on eye. The initial impression on internet is truly the last impression so visitor can certainly switch off even though going to the page so that all the difficult work made by the SEO may go down easily with this. Colors mustn’t be utilized to support information, but alternatively to represent the site’s message and remain consistent through the website.

 

 

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Judaism My Self Esteem and My Mole

I had a hard time dating, because my mother told me that mole removal was not an option. God gave me my body and it was my my rental suit only. That mole was something He wanted me to have. Now I don’t want to get into the theology of the thing, but the truth is my mole mostly covered my right eye. Over and inch long and hairless, it hung down over the eye. You couldn’t make eye contact with me without staring at my mole. This makes dating a devout practice only. Only women who really are desperate for a Jewish man can get past the mole and even they are freaked when it touches them, which can happen when kissing.

I’m no casanova, nor would I want to be, but I have to find the right girl who will be with me for the rest of my life and hopefully beyond. I’ve been on dates, just two weeks ago a girl was very polite to me all throughout dinner. But when I leaned in for, simply a hug to say goodbye, she recoiled as my head approached, and I’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with proper etiquette, or the separation of the sexes.
It’s hard to meet women looking under a mole. I also feel like my mother is only taking up this argument because I once expressed an interest in tattoos. Most are aware that Jews with voluntary tattoos cannot be burried in a jewish cemetery. I think that rabbis would look the other way at mole removal. When it comes to my burial, I think my mother just likes to plan ahead, to a fault. But I researched how it would be removed. I saw how good a job could be done with moles today, it turns out that there is quite advanced procedures. Many of them can be done at my local dermatologists office. If he if the doctor has familiarity with the procedure it’s simple and can be done in less than an hour. One worry I had, was if I had to take any time off work but because of my boss, isn’t the best, lets say. but I was in and out in less than an hour, and back to work the next day. Incredible.

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The Moken

The Jewish people suffered terribly at the hands of the Catholic Church in Spain. They were often told to move on.They had to give up their homes and land and go to any spot in the Kingdom that they thought would not persecute them. Many converted to Christianity to avoid religious persecution. These convertees  were often viewed with suspicion and many times fared no better than those jews who remained true to their religion.

In Thailand the Moken people are discriminated against. They are normally wrong called Sea Gypsies. The term Sea Gypsy is a term that applies to any people who roam the seas much of the time

The Moken originally came from Malaysia. They were forced out of their villages about 300 years ago because of political persecution. They took to the seas in small boats and gradually moved up to Thailand and Burma.

The Moken have not only their own language but also culture and religion. Those Moken that have settled around Phuket and Khao Lak have been subjected to attempts to assimilate them into mainstream Thai life. The Queen visited a Moken village and gave them Thai surnames. While schools seek to educate the children they are also encouraged by their teachers to abandon their animistic religion and adopt Buddhism.

In the Gulf of Thailand there are a few Moken. Some have settled on Koh Paluay in the Ang Thong National Marine Park. Here they are free to pursue their natural life styles. They are, however, subject to the polluting influence of tourist groups who come out to buy souvenirs, cold drinks and to photograph the ‘Sea Gypsies’.

Just as what happened to the Jews in Spain in the late 1400s was wrong, so the way the Moken are being treated in today in Thailand is wrong.

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Refrigerator Buying – Spanish And English Resources

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to know what are some of the most standard refrigerator sizes without taking into consideration refrigerator dimensions. Below I address the information relating to this in English. For a Spanish translation please visit this ’medidas de refrigeradores’ site, which is targeted for buyers of refrigerators in Spain and Latin America.

While it is true that the refrigeration industry today showcases a great selection of refrigerator units in various sizes and dimensions, most of these technical specifications are heavily dependent on the type of fridge, and in most cases, the kind of refrigeration brand.

Here are some of the standard refrigerator sizes according to the most common fridge types.

Side by side

This fridge model is characterized by a two-door style, the left wing intended for fresh food compartment and the right wing for freezer compartment and vice versa.  Side by side refrigerators have specific dimensions based on the configuration, namely freestanding, counter depth, and built in. Height: 66 to 84 inches / Width: 32 to 48 inches / Depth: 23 to 30 inches.

Compact and undercounter fridge

Compact fridge units are small fridges and space efficient, and they greatly vary. The configuration for mini fridges is not included here. Height: 19 to 35 inches / Width: 17 to 24 inches / Depth: 13 to1 8 inches.

Top freezer refrigerator

Top freezer is a common fridge type, with the freezer mounted on top. Height: 61 to 69 inches / Width: 28 to 36 inches / Depth: 25 to 28 inches.

Bottom freezer refrigerator

The complete opposite of top freezers, with the freezer mounted on the bottom of the fridge. The technical dimensions for bottom freezer design depend on configuration: freestanding, counter depth or built-in. Height: 66 to 84 inches / Width: 29 to 36 inches / Depth: 23 to 30 inches

French door bottom freezer refrigerator

This is the most luxurious fridge model that can be had in freestanding, counter depth or built in styles. Height: 68 to 71 inches / Width: 33 to 48 inches / Depth: 23 to 30 inches

 

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Olive Oil from Spain

Over the past few years olive oil has been gaining wider and wider acceptance among the food elite both in the United States as well as abroad.  Spain is of course, one of the largest and best producers of olive oil in the world.

Since ancient times, the Spanish countryside has grown native olive trees.  That oil has been used for religious markings in the Catholic Church almost since the beginning and is featured prominently in the Bible itself (both the New and Old Testament).

Now, that hand made high end oil is finally finding its way to our kitchen tables where we all will continue to enjoy the massive health benefits from olive oil, which is actually nothing more than a condensed fruit juice!

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Religious Proscriptions Regarding Food

I’m Jewish, but I’m not particularly devout. The problem with a lot of religious proscriptions, especially those concerned with food is that they make no sense in today’s modern world. They may have done so hundreds of years ago, but times have moved on. If only it were possible for religions to move on to.

In some instances they have. For example, the Anglican church now accepts female Bishops and ordains gay marriages. This piece of forward thinking has torn the church in two with many African Anglican congregations in open revolt with their English counterparts.

Jews are not supposed to eat pork. It is an ‘unclean’ meat. It apparently has no nutritional value. Maybe 2,500 years ago pigs passed diseases onto people. Much less do today. And I’m sure there is nutritional value to eating pork, ham, bacon etc. Besides it tastes good.

Jews are also not supposed to eat shell food. That is a harder prohibition to fathom the reason for. It turns out it was a hygienic rule. When human refuse was flushed straight out to the sea crustaceans that live in coastal regions would feed on this sewage. Consequently, eating these crustaceans would make people sick. It is clear that humans derived this law from observation, not from listening to God. Now thanks to modern sewage disposal systems, shell food is safe to eat. It has lots of protein, and again tastes good.

It is a good job that the early Jews didn’t travel down to the equator or farther south, otherwise they might have come up with bizarre regulations concerning the poor health benefits of coconut milk or the dangers of eating bananas on the Sabbath.

I believe in identity and the connection with culture. I’m not ashamed of coming from Judaic stock. My descendants have given many wonderful things to world culture. However, their outdated ideas about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food is not one of their better contributions.

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The Lesson from the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain

Maybe it is my due to my ignorance or the education system, but I had never known about the presence of Jews in Spain. The presence of this fact nearly gave me whiplash.

Spain has been a country filled with Catholics. But a Jewish community did form there. Ultimately the Catholic Kings expelled the Jews from the country they once inhabited. But even now there are plenty of monuments in Spain that comes from the Jewish community that once was there.

But this example of my unawareness of this history definitely says something about how we teach peace in school, particularly when discussing the different religions and the wars that come with the fights between two religious groups. With all the tension in the world today, within our country and beyond our shores, stories like the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 can present history to us that can inform change for the future.

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