Am I A Hypocrite? Or Just Plain Selfish?

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  • #2331458
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    I’m currently involved in a long-term effort to obtain a Sefer Torah. I’m about a year into this effort and tt will take me about five more to obtain this goal. Most of the people in my neighborhood know about this particular goal of mine, are very supportive, and would like to see me accomplish it.

    There is one person in my neighborhood who, like everyone else, is also supportive of my goal. However, this person keeps insisting that once I obtain my Sefer Torah, I should donate it to the Israeli Army for use by the chayalim. I’ve told him that that’s not the plan, but he keeps bringing it up anyway.

    While I support the Israeli Army and the chayalim in their work and would wholeheartedly approve of someone else donating their Sefer Torah to it, I do not personally want to do this. Part of the reason I’m engaged in this goal is that I want to be able to read from it in my shul (I’ve been a regular ba’al kriah for thirty-six years). If I donate my Torah to the Israeli Army, I will obviously not be able to do so. In addition, I’d like to eventually pass it down to my children and their families someday.

    So, am I hypocritical (or perhaps just selfish) to simultaneously recognize the good work of the chayalim, recognize that they could probably use another Sefer Torah, want to support them, and, at the same time, not want to hand over the Sefer Torah to them when I actually obtain it?

    The Wolf

    (Please, no posts disparaging the IDF/State of Israel. That’s not what’s in dispute with this question. Just take it as a given that I support them and answer accordingly. Yes, this post is all about me, not the IDF/State. Thank you.)

    #2331842
    HaLeiVi
    Participant

    People often have wonderful ideas of what other people should be doing with their hard-to-come-by gains.

    Tzedaka by guilt is extortion. When someone leans heavy on the would-be Mitzvah it causes a momentary guilt or internal battle. This is why it is deeply annoying when, after you already decided how much you’ll donate, the fundraiser keeps going. (It is also a form of Geneva according to Sefer Chasidim.)

    You can tell this fellow that if he’ll donate the Shul and Aron Kodshim you’ll consider giving the Sefer that you worked to get for 5 years.

    In simple terms it is ridiculous for him to pester you about this.

    #2331843
    HaLeiVi
    Participant

    What is stopping this fellow from raising money and fulfilling his own idea? Why does it need to be the one you’re working to get?

    #2331845
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    I don’t understand the question

    If someone makes money and uses it to have self care (vacation, eating out) is he selfish, because he didn’t give it to tzedakah?

    Just like there isn’t anything wrong with self care once in a while I don’t see a problem with this either

    Just my humble opinion

    #2331900
    Participant
    Participant

    1) Why “the Israeli Army and the chayalim” either write “soldiers” or “Tzeva HaYisraeli”.
    2) Really stupid question. I supported Ted Cruz. Was it hypocritical that I didn’t give him my living room couch?

    #2331907
    SQUARE_ROOT
    Participant

    There are Orthodox synagogues in New York City
    that have more than a dozen Torah Scrolls.

    There are Orthodox synagogues in New York City
    that have twice (2x) as many Torah Scrolls than they need,
    or even thrice (3x) as many Torah Scrolls than they need,

    These synagogues should consider donating some
    of their Torah Scrolls to Orthodox synagogues in
    Eretz Yisrael, or some other place that truly needs them.

    If I remember correctly, there was a non-profit organization
    around 20 or 25 years ago, whose only purpose was to
    transfer Torah Scrolls from Orthodox synagogues
    in the USA who had more than they could use,
    to poor Orthodox synagogues in Eretz Yisrael.

    Sorry, but I do not remember the name of that organization.

    #2331910
    pure yiddishkeit
    Participant

    As you said so, I will not reply regarding the idf, but in relation to you writing/aiming for a sefer torah for yourself, no, it is not at all selfish, in fact the mitzvah of writing a sefer torah to donate it for somewhere else, whilst may be a nice thing, is not the core mitzva of attaining a sefer torah. The mitzvah is more for you to have personal benefit ie reading from it.
    It is more of a hiddur if you will be using it yourself, or have benefit from it.
    Hope that helps.

    #2331918
    catch yourself
    Participant

    You’re not a hypocrite, and it is not “selfish” of you to want to have your own Sefer Torah; on the contrary, it is a Mitzvah, and you are to be commended for what you are doing.

    It is a true Kiddush Hashem that you are working on a six-year plan to fulfil this Mitzvah in the best way possible. [Most people never have their own Sefer Torah, instead relying on the Rishonim who say we can fulfil the Mitzvah by purchasing other Seforim.]

    The fact that you also plan to lein from your own Sefer on a weekly basis is a marvelous Hidur Mitzvah in Krias HaTorah. At the same time, it is also a tremendous display of Kavod HaTorah that you will make regular use of your Sefer.

    I’m sure your friend means well, but I think he’s wrong about this.

    #2331975
    Koifer BIkur
    Participant

    You are not a hypocrite. It’s YOUR mitzvah and you have no obligation to expalin to anybody what you plan to do with it. Your friend should mind his own business.

    #2332173
    ujm
    Participant

    The main thing is that you shouldn’t talk during leining. Everything else is commentary.

    #2332239
    stamaguy2
    Participant

    FYI- most hold that if you donate a sefer torah then you lose your mitzva of ksivas sefer torah.
    Best practice if you want to be mikayim the mitzva is to lend it to whomever will use it, while keeping ownership of the ST yourself.

    Also Mishna Berura says that if you know how to lein and know the nikud, it is ideal to be maavir sedrah from a sefer torah- MB- Siman 185

    #2332259
    lakewoodbt
    Participant

    i dont understand the question, if you want something you do it, if this Zionist fellow wants to give it to the IDF let HIM fundraise, simple. you can avoid him from now on.

    #2332262
    pekak
    Participant

    @SQUARE_ROOT

    People donate sifrei Torah to a shul because they want their loved ones to be remembered in that specific shul. Sometimes they actually remain the property of the donor and they’re kept there for use at certain occasions and when the donor moves away they take it with them. Nobody has a right to just transfer a sefer Torah.

    #2332309

    > main thing is that you shouldn’t talk during leining.

    Obviously, Wolf is trying to fulfil this by buying his sefer Torah and leining it. Do you think he will be talking between the pesukim?

    PS Even AAQ does not talk when called to the Torah, the time I am walking past others to the Torah is usually enough to exchange all the jokes I have for the day.

    #2332323
    SQUARE_ROOT
    Participant

    pekak:

    Thank you for sharing those very valid facts!

    =====================================
    lakewoodbt:

    After 120 years, G*D will judge you for Sinat Chinam
    against Torah-observant members of the IDF.
    You are not good enough to polish their shoes.

    You will also be judged for your inexcusable lack of gratitude
    (Hakarat HaTov) towards members of the IDF,
    who make gigantic sacrifices protect Jewish land and Jewish lives.

    Last but not least, the people who taught you to hate
    will be punished for teaching Sinat Chinam and ingratitude.

    #2332366
    Kuvult
    Participant

    Square Root,
    Why did the Torah have to come from an “Orthodox Shul”?
    Every Orthodox, Conservative & Reform Shul has the exact same Torah. If it’s Kosher it’s Kosher &
    What better way to show Kavod HaTorah then to take a Torah from a Reform Shul & “elevate” it to being used by Torah true Yidden?

    #2332640
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    Thank you all for your replies. They are greatly appreciated.

    Yes, I knew that he was being unreasonable. But sometimes it’s good to ask an outside opinion, especially when you are a nogeiah b’davar as I am here. Considering the fact that it’s going to take me several more years to write (assuming HKBH gives me the life, health, and strength to do so), I have a lot invested in this, and so, I can’t really claim to have a truly objective view.

    Just to address some of the points brought up:

    What is stopping this fellow from raising money and fulfilling his own idea? Why does it need to be the one you’re working to get?

    To be fair, he is doing this. He’s already arranged to have five Sifrei Torah sent to the Army.

    1) Why “the Israeli Army and the chayalim” either write “soldiers” or “Tzeva HaYisraeli”.

    Because I’m not always consistent. Chatasi…

    I’m sure your friend means well, but I think he’s wrong about this.

    I have no doubt that his intentions are good.

    The main thing is that you shouldn’t talk during leining. Everything else is commentary.

    Sorry… as the ba’al kriah, it’s my job to talk during laining. 🙂

    FYI- most hold that if you donate a sefer torah then you lose your mitzva of ksivas sefer torah.
    Best practice if you want to be mikayim the mitzva is to lend it to whomever will use it, while keeping ownership of the ST yourself.

    Yes, I know. That was the plan all along – to put it in the shul I daven in and use it during Krias HaTorah.

    The Wolf

    #2332641
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    Obviously, Wolf is trying to fulfil this by buying his sefer Torah and leining it.

    Not buying.

    The Wolf

    #2332664
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    “Square Root,
    Why did the Torah have to come from an “Orthodox Shul”?
    Every Orthodox, Conservative & Reform Shul has the exact same Torah. If it’s Kosher it’s Kosher“

    Kuvult,

    The reason is because reform and conservative shuls have only 1 Sefer whereas orthodox generally have a few

    #2332686
    Participant
    Participant

    Huh squareroot? What’s pekak done to you
    I thought only my comments get so nefariously construed [or completely rewritten].

    #2332706

    > come from an “Orthodox Shul”

    Pre WW2, some American Jews considered European Torahs to be inferior quality. Why was that? Because Europeans would sell good Torahs locally and send worse ones to the Americans … Not sure what the status is now, but I would not be surprised that quality (including of checking) would be lower for customers who are not as good in understanding the quality.

    #2332711
    ujm
    Participant

    Kuvult: Reform and Conservative do not have Shuls. They have some kind of Chapel that is closer to a Church than to a Shul. They have nothing to do with Judaism.

    #2333373
    SQUARE_ROOT
    Participant

    Kuvult said:

    “Why did the Torah [Scroll] have to come from an Orthodox Shul?”

    =============================================

    MY RESPONSE:

    Thank you for your question, It is a very important question.

    You might not be aware of this, but in recent decades,
    Reform and Conservative and other off-the-Derech movements
    have been writing their own Torah Scrolls! Rachmanah Latzlan!!

    One female fake-sofer, Miss Aviel Barclay, calls herself “Soferet”
    and her web site is www dot Soferet dot com.

    There are big problems with this.

    [1] Halachah clearly states that a Torah Scroll written by a woman is PASUL (invalid).

    [2] If I remember correctly, Aviel Barclay is a convert to Reform Judaism,
    which makes her NOT Jewish, and a Torah Scroll written by a non-Jew is PASUL (invalid).

    [3] She holds by non-Orthodox Rabbis, and only by non-Orthodox Rabbis,
    which again makes her Torah scrolls100% PASUL (invalid).

    She also teaches random people how to write Torah Scrolls, if they pay her.

    Many years ago, I sent her an email which quoted classic Torah sources
    which prove that a Torah Scroll written by a woman is PASUL (invalid).
    She sent me an email back, and she already knew that the Halachah
    was definitely against her, but that did not stop her, or even slow her down.

    In the 1990s & early 2000s, there was another Reform female fake-sofer
    who called herself “Chatam Soferet”. I do not know if she is still active or alive.

    In my opinion, it would be very appropriate to pray that
    all of the fake Torah Scrolls written by her,
    and all of the fake Torah Scrolls written by all pasul people,
    should all be completely burned.

    PS: In Eretz Yisrael, fake Torah Scrolls have been written by ARABS!!
    Rachmanah Latzlan!! Rachmanah Latzlan!! Rachmanah Latzlan!!

    #2333446
    👑RebYidd23
    Participant

    If everyone were completely selfless, nobody would be doing anything for themselves, and society would fall apart.

    #2333488
    Participant
    Participant

    (correction to my previous post, 2332686: I, ironically, wrote pekak instead of lakewoodbt.)

    #2334317
    BURGTHZ
    Participant

    Your neither
    HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
    BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

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