Last week's question was "This year, Soviet Russia plans to deploy a new line of upgraded nuclear missiles aimed at the United States. What is the name of this new type of missile?". Amazingly, even though this has been a prominent news item in recent weeks, no one was able to give the correct answer. The closest guess was "an ICBM" (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile). While the new Soviet missiles are indeed ICBMs—deployed primarily for use against the United States—this was not specific enough to win the contest. The correct answer? According to Soviet dictator and former KGB head Vladimir Putin, the new ICBM is known as the "Topol-M," supposedly employing new technology specifically designed to evade American defenses. Along with a new line of nuclear submarines and other weapons now being deployed by Soviet Russia, the Topol-M nuclear missile is part of a broad and aggressive mobilization for war openly boasted by Putin and his comrades.

Now for this week's question:

The winner is the first to provide both answers or, barring that, at least one of them.

For a chance to win the contest, e-mail your answer, name, and location to [address withheld] by Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, 12pm (noon) PST.

Excerpts from...

...Our Fan Mail

"I congratulate you on your site. It is good to see such forthright information on a positive site.... I would also like to add my concerns that Nazi-Fascism is largely resonsible for the manifold anti-Jewish conspiracies so blatantly obvious in today's modern and secular world. I also would recommend adding a moderated guestbook to your site."—SM

...and (confused, rambling?) Anti-Semitic Hate Mail

[In response to our newsletter] "my friend, i think you already know for a fact that mr. osama bin ladin is a CIA operative, and since the late 80s he needs a daily dialisys treatment! do you really think is really hiding in a cave near the border of pakistan? the star of david is not really called star of david, but is in fact an occult symbols called the key of solomon. i don't think israel will ever have real conflicts with their greatess ally the illuminaties(satanists) of america...."—Emmanuel Larocque

"What is a Hassidic Gentile? Hassidic is a certain group of Ashkenazi Jews... How is this term applied to non-Jews?"—AP

Our response: The term "Hasidic Gentile" ("Hasidei Umos HaOlam") is an ancient term mentioned by such Jewish sages as Maimonides and the Bartenura. It refers to any non-Jew who rejects false religion; accepts the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Talmud, and rabbinical teachings in general, and the Universal Law for gentiles described therein; and thereby earns eternal life and a place in the Resurrection of the Dead. Hasidic Jews are not just Ashkenazic (European), but rather include Jews of all backgrounds who follow the applied mystical teachings of Hasidus. Although the term "Hasidic Gentiles" did not explicitly refer to the application of Hasidic mysticism, the Lubavitcher Rebbe has stated clearly that it nonetheless implies that gentiles should indeed adopt many of the ways of Hasidus: to study its mystical teachings, to go beyond the minimum of the requirements of the "Seven Noahide Laws" (which in any case actually incorporate hundreds of specific commandments), and to redirect all personal efforts away from self-fulfillment toward zealously carrying out G-d's mission for the human race.