5TResident

I went through the Shadchan system when I was a young man in my 20’s. I learned pretty quickly that Shadchanim could only help you if you had at least one of the following qualities.

1) You were very rich.
2) You were a big learner and intended to be in Kollel
3) You had a large family and exceptional Yichus

Unfortunately, I had none of those qualities. My father died when I was 16 and left us no insurance, so I was not rich. Because I was not rich I had to finish my secular education and get a job as soon as I could, so I wasn’t a big learner and couldn’t be in Kollel. And my parents were Auschwitz survivors who lost most of their families to the Nazis and had to rebuild almost from nothing, so I didn’t have a large family or Yichus. So, as a result, most Shadchanim wouldn’t help me and the ones who did redt me girls who were not suitable for me (ten years older, et al). I finally married at 30 thanks to my mother’s friend, who knew a woman who knew a single girl. No Shadchanim.

I hate Shadchanim.

Reb Eliezer: I had a rebbe once in the 8th Grade who gave a very lucid explanation about Jews being like the “stars in heaven” and the “sand of the Earth”. When the Jewish people are fulfilling their mission of being the light unto the nations and glorifying the name of Hashem, we are like the stars of the heavens – bright, beautiful, graceful in our movements and most importantly, close to Hashem and out of the reach of enemies. But when we commit aveiros and make Chilulei Hashem, then we become like the sands of the Earth – worthless, drab, plain, drifting endlessly and aimlessly with the wind and, most importantly, at the lowest point on Earth and susceptible to being walked on by even the lowest animals and insects. We can be scooped up, pushed around, thrown from place to place without anyone caring.

I heard this explanation 43 years ago, and I have never forgotten it. Unfortunately, the Rebbe who stated it passed away young, at age 65, about 30 years ago.

The United States also employed Nazi scientists in the Mercury space program in the early ‘60s.

I really don’t know why this is even a question. We refer to Hashem as “Master of the Universe”. The Universe consists of untold numbers galaxies, stars and planets. Hashem is the creator of all of them. Why shouldn’t beings exist on other planets? Perhaps they acknowledge the existence of Hashem in their own way? Who is to say that WE aren’t the aliens being pondered by beings on other planets?

Hashem is the Master of the Universe. That means Master of everything.

Why shouldn’t there be aliens? Hashem is Master of the Universe and the creator of all living creatures, not just Jews. Hashem could easily have created creatures on other worlds, who also perceive Him.

Yes, there is a financial crisis. First, although I live in the “Five Towns”, I have a very small house – my plot is 40×122, certainly smaller than many homes here, in Monsey or in Brooklyn. We have two used cars, a Toyota can and a small Ford. We haven’t been to Florida as. family in 15 YEARS. Second, my wife and I are both professionals and make decent livings but we are struggling. We NEVER go away for ANY Yom Tov and we spend our summers at home. The truth is, the costs of Yeshiva tuition, summer camps and Glatt kosher food are so astronomical that only the very wealthy can afford it. Those of us of modest (ordinary) means are virtually living paycheck to paycheck.