By Dalessio Dalacio

 For registered members of The Aleph Institute, Spark of Light Correspondence Course programs offer comprehensive and learner-friendly materials, with correspondents to support and foster each member’s individual spiritual growth.

Written and audio correspondence courses on topics such as Jewish law, Biblical stories, Kabbalah and Jewish history

Weekly audio classes and lectures on an array of topics

Wish you could spend your time involved in meaningful intellectual pursuits? Would you like to broaden your educational sphere and understanding of Judaism in a low-stress environment and correspond with a Rabbi or student to answer your questions?

Aleph is offering several correspondence courses. Not only will you find these courses to be intellectually stimulating, but you will learn things about Jewish customs and your heritage that will inspire and even surprise you! Please review the list of courses on offer and send in your application on the next page.

The Bible for Clueless but Curious by Nachum Braverman

Designed to teach and entertain both the beginning bible student as well as the advanced one, this class explains the Torahs stories and lessons in a new, easy to read, and exciting approach. This class chronicles the events in all 5 books of the Torah, while also explaining their relevance to todays day and age.

Kosher for the Clueless but Curious by Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf

Incorporating a lifestyle of change such as keeping kosher can be daunting at first glance. Never fear! This course teaches the aspiring student about Kashrut from the ground up. This is a perfect choice for the student who wants to know more about what it means to keep Kosher and why it is important. Additionally, this course strives to help students of all levels and backgrounds find comfortable levels of observance for their situation.

My Prayer

Prayer allows humans to connect with the infinitely powerful creator of the universe. This class teaches the basics of Jewish prayer and explains its meanings by following the text in the Siddur (prayer book). For both, the experienced and those who are just learning, this class helps broaden the understandings of a persons connection to G-d. Additionally, this course strengthens the students gratitude for the multitude of kindness that G-d does for all His creations.

These courses are designed to help you learn more about your Jewish identity.

If you are unable to pay for the postage to mail in your question sheets, please let us know and we will do our best to help you. The courses are free. You may enroll in one course at a time.

Each course is split into different lessons. For each lesson, there is a question sheet which the student fills out and then sends it in to the Aleph office. The student may send in one worksheet at a time, or all at a time - it doesn’t matter. Once we receive the worksheet, we grade it. As soon as the course is completed, a certificate is mailed out and a new course may be started.

If a student has questions on the material he is studying, he can address them to us, and we will have a Rabbi respond.

http://aleph-institute.org/correspondence-courses.html

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By Gen Wright

 Today, many people know of Japanese Samurai Swords and their legendary beauty, efficiency, and craftsmanship. However, they aren’t exactly aware of one of the greatest influences on Japan and Samurai culture. Miyamoto Musashi is one of the most famous Japanese swordsmen and Samurai to ever unsheathe a blade. His Samurai Swords were known for their size, strength, and artistic elegance. But to stall there in remembering the man and his weaponry would be a great injustice to just how strongly both sword and man impacted the history of Japan and the Samurai. Here are four areas where, even today, the legend of Miyamoto Musashi Samurai Swords can be seen and felt:

Beauty and craftsmanship: With a slick curvature and a modest grip, the light yet deadly blades of Miyamoto Musashi’s Samurai Swords are too beautiful and finely crafted to be as fearsome as they are. Like a siren song, it is a thing of elegance, which must be respected. Just as Miyamoto Musashi took great time and care with his techniques, so, too, must one respect this advanced piece of weaponry. But that does not stop the fact that of all Japanese Samurai Swords, these remain the most famous, not only for their look, but also for the legend their creator carved with his 60-plus successful duels.

Warfare: Miyamoto Musashi is said to have fought his first duel while just 13 years old. It is said that he cut down a brash, arrogant opponent that day before continuing a life of warfare and bloodshed that was tempered only by his great respect for knowledge, technique, strategy, and culture. His long sword technique is one of his most famous, as it teaches through the use of the Daito (or long sword) and Wakizashi (known for shorter blade length), how to defend oneself through fluid motion and calm control.

Religion: What we know today about Musashi’s religious beliefs comes from his “Book of Five Rings,” a treatise on his travels, experience, and philosophies. He doesn’t appear to disrespect any religion, but does state that man should not depend on the gods for his deliverance in times of war. In a sense, man is to forge his own path and not rely on the providence of supreme beings to find favor in the eyes of nature and the world at large. “…these things religious teachings are not to be found in the Way of the Warrior,” he writes.

Literature: While his famous “Book of Five Rings” remains one of the greatest texts ever written on the craft of swordsmanship, Musashi’s influence on literature and popular culture does not end there. Since his birth and death, he has been the subject of many different films, TV shows, books, and traditions; in an indirect sense, his mark is felt even further in the many different works pertaining to the Samurai which have come and gone over the years.

The man’s life cannot be separated from the legend of his Samurai Swords. They defined him and have since defined the entire world of Japanese Samurai Swords, which continues to capture our attentions and imaginations even today, through people in every culture. And the end will not come any time soon!

Browse the most interesting Japanese Samurai Swords and Miyamoto Musashi Samurai Swords

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By Dalessio Dalacio

 Spark of Light religious freedom advocacy programs ensure that inmates do not leave their First Amendment religious rights at the jailhouse door. When an inmate reports incidents of abuse or discloses large policy problems, Aleph responds with extensive surveillance of prison practices and addresses these matters with prison and government officials to ensure state and federal prison compliance with the constitution and new federal laws that protect the religious and humanitarian rights of persons in institutional environments.

The Aleph Institute addresses the constitutional rights of Jews to obtain kosher food, and coordinate work schedules that respect the Sabbath and religious holidays as follows:

Kosher Diet

Guidance in the implementation of kosher cafeteria menus and support for inmates requests to receive kosher meals in order to keep the laws of kosher

Shelf-stable kosher meals and snacks for resale through the institutions canteen

Sabbath/Holiday Work Scheduling

Supplication for work proscriptions so inmates can observe holidays in accordance with Jewish law

Anti-Semitism Resolutions

Support for prisoners nationwide with religious discrimination cases

Institutional Handbook of Jewish Practice and Procedure

An invaluable reference book and guide published by The Aleph Institute for institution staff with information about religious practice and requirements of Jewish inmates throughout the year

Aleph Advisory for Institutions:

A semi-monthly memo to institution staff detailing upcoming Jewish events and requirements including an order form for chaplains to purchase and/or apply for free Jewish religious items

http://www.aleph-institute.org/religious-freedom-advocacy.html

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By Dalessio Dalacio

 Fellow Jews in the Armed Forces, in the camps, at the fronts, on land, sea and in the air! Listen to these words and reflect upon them, and you will, with G-ds help, gain courage and enhance the safety of your life and health.

Everything is in G-ds Hands!

You must know, dear brethren, that the life and health of every man is in G-ds hands. G-d guides the destinies of every man, and whatever happens to him, in all places and at all times, is predestined by G-d.

If it is G-ds will that a person should live and be happy, that person will surely escape unscathed even under the most dangerous circumstances. Conversely, if it be Divinely destined that a person be harmed or die, that person cannot escape his fate even in the safest of places and under the best human care.

This does not mean that one should be careless about ones safety. On the contrary. G-d has ordained that man should take care of himself, in the natural way, and, as our Torah tells us, no person should wantonly jeopardize his health or safety.

For although G-d can save, in the most miraculous and supernatural way, any person He desires to save, very special merits are required for such Divine favor.

Therefore, any one placing oneself in danger for no good reason is foolhardy and deserving of the consequences, since in the first place, he can never know whether he merits such special Divine favor; and in the second place, by the sin of exposing himself to danger without justification, he minimizes his chance of a miraculous rescue.

When, therefore, a person finds himself in danger, he should realize that it was Divinely destined so, and that whatever the danger, G-d can save him from it.

Moreover, precisely the dangers to which the soldier is often exposed give him an opportunity to see G-ds wonders at every step, and to become more firmly convinced how complete and absolute is the Divine guidance by which G-d takes care of each living being.

Consequently, no man should lose heart under any circumstances. He should pray to G-d and trust Him to save his life and protect his health.

http://www.aleph-institute.org/

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By chaman goyal

 Holidays are the requirements of every profit or non profit organization. Here we now talk about profit organization that is banks. Generally there is only one holiday allotted to the banks that is on Sunday but the Saturdays is also half holiday as the banks open till half noon as per the schedules. These holidays of bank are very important as the bank have to conclude the work done in months and years. Some time these banks holidays are in the form of strike and these banks utilize the strike days in completing there pending tasks. It is assumed that bank holidays are the days when banks are shut down but in some banks it is a day for over pending work so as to cope up with the current situations. The days on which banks are really shut down are like Christmas day, Good Friday and Sunday. According to Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, it is said that the bank holidays are set or decide by legal devises so that public holidays are not lost.

Coming to the bank holidays in 2010. holidays are preplanned for the year 2010 and these are listed below:-

New Year’s Day

Jan. 1 Sat.

Martin Luther King Day

Jan. 18 Mon.

Presidents Day

Feb. 15 Mon.

Memorial Day

May 31 Mon.

Independence Day

July 5 Mon.

Labor Day

Sept. 6 Mon.

Columbus Day

Oct. 11 Mon.

Veterans Day

Nov. 11 Fri.

Thanksgiving Day

Nov. 25 Thu.

Christmas Day

Dec. 25

Bank holidays in India is announced by RBI (reserve bank of india). Bank holidays are generally public holidays when the banks does not operate. In india these banks holidays are decided by the negociable instruments act of the banks. Bank holidays are not only year wise but also classified on the bases of months. These act provide holidays to all the seven territories and twenty eight states.

Banks in USA are different working schedule than in india. In USA Monday through Friday is known as Business day. This day of Monday is treated as the holiday and are also assumed as weekends long events. Rest the days in india which have holidays same works with the USA. There are 10 US national holidays each year so the banks work according them.

Chaman Goyal writes this article on “Bank Holidays”. Get complete details about bank holiday around the world, bank holiday, bank holiday in usa, bank holiday in india, 2010 bank holiday, bank holiday calender, bank holiday in canada.

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