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OF course time is not linear. We always have said that Ha-Shem exists outside of “time”. That is why no one has any problem saying how Matan Torah could have impacted Bereisheis (and many other examples in our literature discussing non-linear time).
If you have trouble with visualizing this, I suggest reading the SciFi classic “Flatland” (not about Brooklyn), explaining how a multi-dimensionsal multiverse can exist, even though it is not easily understood by beings (e.g humans) with limited ability to perceive all its dimensions.
IF you look at the frum community from the outside, what you would notice is a community in which learning Torah and doing mitsvos is the overwhelming activity (to the detriment of such activities as hobbies, the arts, recreations the goyim love that we don’t talk about here, sports, secular studies and making a parnassah beyond what is needed to maintain an ever-changing “respectable” standard of living). The fact that a person in modern day America or Eretz Yisrael can learn close to full time and still have a standard of living that 200 years ago would have been considered to be very bourgeois at the least (in terms of housing, medical care, food, transportation, etc.) helps explain why “kollel” people are perceived today to be willing to spend more time learning than in the past. What Yidden like best has always been learning, and there never has been such a good time for it as in the early 21st century.
Frum Yidden, at least the Chareidim, tend to be influenced by their rabbanim (and their families, especially as pertains to clothing).
One should note that most graduates of frum schools that minimize secular studies end up with sufficient skills, including English language, to find employment and in some cases to end up becoming quite successful. Of course, it could be explained by the low standards of instruction in government run schools (at least for the non-elite students) in the cities where most Orthodox Jews live. Historically, westerners who pursued a “classical” course of study studying their classics in Greek and Latin (we prefer our classics in Hebrew and Aramaic) were able to achieve in many areas, suggesting it is the rigor of the curriculum that matters more than the substance. English is useful since it is the language of business and government in much of the world, but especially in America, there has always been great tolerance in its misuse, especially since America has always welcomed (or at least, tolerated) immigrants, and since American culture has always been welcoming to the “Horatio Algers” working their way up the economic and social ladder.
Under the Muslims (in this case, the Ottoman Empire, since we are talking about Eretz Yisrael n the pre-zionist period)we had a status somewhat better than, for example, Blacks in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 1865-1954 period, (and much better than Jews in most Christian countries who had fewer rights and were subject to frequent violence, excluding America which has not been a “Christian” country since 1789). There was no forced conversion (unlike the zionists who try to force Yidden to become secular), we controlled our own welfare and educational institutions (the government didn’t try to restrict Torah learning), we had our own courts whose decisions were respected by the state, and we were exempt from (and in fact, banned from) military service. Those Jews who preferred a financially oriented lifestyle were allowed to do so without having to adopt a non-Jewish lifestyle, and those whose primary concerns were Torah and Mitsvos were unmolested. And there usually was peace in Eretz Yisrael (except for the time Napoleon invaded).
Benjamin: The gemara(s) are in Jewish dialects of Aramaic, which has almost identical grammar to Hebrew (as is true of most Semitic languages), and is as close to Hebrew, as for example, French is to Spanish, or Russian to Polish (if not Ukrainian). English is an Aryan language with radically different grammar than a Semitic language; look at the verb tenses, in a Semitic language there is no present tense which is why we use a noun pretending to be a verb to indicate the present, so if you say Ha-Shem created the world in English it means it is a “done deal” and the Ha-Shem created the world sometime in the past, but in Hebrew you are saying it was an action started in the past but continues to the present, or if we say that the Bayis Sheini will be built in the future, in English that means sometime in the unknown “yet to come” but in Hebrew it means it will be built starting in the present and continuing into the future. It is interesting to note that while serious frum books were written in Aramaic and Arabic, none were ever written in Greek, Latin, Ladino or even Yiddish. While many people lack the academic training to access the “real stuff” of Yiddishkeit and have to settle for reading about Yiddishkeit in a foreign language, they need to remember the goyish proverb “translators are traitors”. One needs to consider why over the last few millenia, Jewish communities whose scholarship was in a foreign language (such as Greek or German or English), tend to assimilate.
Humash, Talmud, Zohar, ShaLo”H (Shnei Luchot ha-Bris), Kedushas Levi, etc. — Books, including translations, in goyish languages, such as the one we are using now, tend to be watered and highly influenced by whatever theories are in vogue among the goyim, the theory being that those who can’t learn from the original materials probably shouldn’t be given access to the real stuff
IF you have a lavish lifestyle in a community dominated by Bnei Torah (and almost by definition, if you are in kollel or employed as a teacher is a Torah environment, you are unable to live a lavish lifestyle), you are for all purposed volunteering to pick up a large share of the costs of running the community. While we pretend it is not a “tax”, from an economic perspective the frum community is financed by very progressive taxation (even if they are “voluntary” contributions, but since we don’t have an IRS to make sure you pay more than your fair share, we rely on lifestyle to know who gets the bills for communal expenses. This has always been a major check on the frum community’s “1%”.
I think frum children greatly relate to the idea of being part of a discrete minority whose activities are largely hidden from the general public and totally misunderstood by the general public, and who are also subject to sometimes severe discrimination and persecution. Much of the lives of frum Yidden in golus are very much parallel to the “wizarding” subculture in the Harry Potter novels (i.e. we are the wizards, the goyim are the muggles).
There are some Christian themes that the author included, but it should be noted that none of these involve Avodah Zarah, and are based on aspects of Christian culture that were derived for Judaism. If a Yid had written the books, they could have used the same concepts and we would attribute them to Yiddishkeit origins and history. The “witchcraft” in Harry Potter doesn’t involve looking to or believing in an Avodah Zarah, and should be considered alternative science (consider the famous line to the effect that any technology too advanced for the observer to understands appears to be witchcraft). Advanced beings with superpowers are only a problem if the superpowers are derived from an Avodah Zarah (that there is nothing “treff” about either Star Trek’s “teleportation”, or Harry Potter’s “apparation”).
Most surveys conducted by the secular community confuse “Jews” with persons of Jewish descent. One should definitely exclude those persons of Jewish descent who don’t have a clear claim of being Jewish based on matrilineal descent. One should probably exclude those who have been so assimilated that they are not distinguishable from the general population (I suggest such matters as observance of Shabbos and Kashrus are key factors in deciding whether one has assimilated).
If you found some DNA from Sinai (when the Jewish people began), you would probably discover that almost everyone is of Jewish descent (which would be true of anyone from 3500 years ago – at this point all humans are related to all others-remember Noach is about 4500 years ago, and we hold everyone is descended from him).
Many people make a career studying children’s stories as well as folklore. When you investigate their origins, there is often much that we would find objectionable. There are Jewish stories for children which pose few shailos.
If you want to use “cleaned up” folk tales to teach Jewish children, you need to explain what the characters are doing from a halachic perspective (Goldilocks is a thief, but as she is a minor she probably isn’t liable, and if the bears and her are all Yidden, then perhaps it is a situation to discuss hachnasas orchim, and note the stories of rabbanim running after thieves to give them tsadakkah).
Neville Chaim Berlin: Christie is constantly criticizing Trump. Scott (and some others), are following the “old rule” attributed to Reagan, “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.” A Republican who wishes to win in November 2024 must have Trump’s support, and you don’t get that through ad hominem attacks on Trump. Indeed, there are signs of a backlash building against the nastiness of both the MAGA and WOKE camps, suggesting that the way to win the national election is to stick to respectful disagreement with one’s opponent instead of insulting and mocking those one disagrees with.
Secular Jews in the United States are major contributors to the Democrats, and turn out in good numbers to vote Democratic, and they are outraged at Eretz Yisrael being taken over the a coalition of nationalistic and religious Jews. It would be surprising if Biden didn’t work to keep his team in control of Eretz Yisrael. It is important to note that in left-wing circles, “democracy” refers not to rule by the people, but to secularism.
Christie has no chance of winning. His whole campaign has focused on alienating Trump’s base (the populist base, often called the “deplorables”, who would abstain rather than vote for Christie).
To win, a Republican needs to unite the Republican party and appeal to independents and non-WOKE Democrats. While DeSantis has already alienated the populist wing, both Scott and Haley, both with good Reaganite/Tea Party backgrounds, are avoiding burning bridges to the MAGA wing of the party (though their best chance of winning the nomination is for Trump to drop out and endorse/anoint one of them).
The system’s primary goal is to provide parnasah for lawyers, including the “Trial Bar” (plaintiff’s lawyers), and the Defense/Insurance Bar ( since many defendants have liability insurance), and the system works very well. They probably could make it a bit easier for victims to get compensation (if a company immediately admits a mistake and agrees to pay damages, give them immunity from punitive damages and class actions), and they could increase the incentive not to bring silly lawsuits (though the threat of not getting paid discourages lawyers from bringing truely silly ones). There are many Yidden working as lawyers, so we shouldn’t complain. While there are some negative macroeconomic aspects, freedom to litigate is a much better way to solve problems than what other countries do resolve problems (e.g. blood feuds).
The alternative to negotiations, including concessions, is a policy of telling the Palestinians, and through them the rest of the Arabic and Islamic world, that Israel will make no compromise and there is therefore no reason to even try to negotiate with Israel, and that they are better off concentrating on how they can best destroy Israel, so it is an “all or none, no compromise issue”. Should Israel tell the majority of the Arabs (who have made peace with Israel) that they deceived?
Of course, we can rely on the zechus of the zionists and hope Ha-Shem makes a miracle, but that might prove to be an unwise policy decision.
The expulsion of Jews (and Muslims) from Spain was based on a desire to purge non-Catholics, for political and economic reasons. They would not have cared if the Yidden there were non-observant or Hasidim. Note that unlike the Germans, they were not racially motivated and would allow anyone to stay if they converted and did a good job of seeming to be Catholic. It should be noted that most Spaniards today regard the expulsion as one of the dumbest things they ever did. — One can argue that the mass persecution of Jews in the western countries in the 19th century was related to secular Jews integrating themselves into Christian societies and playing an increasing role in cultural, social and economic areas (the backlash was mild in the English speaking countries, severe in the German speaking ones), but there was no equivalent in Spain (at least prior to the expulsion, there was some “racial” persecution of those Jews who chose to go OTD rather than leave Spain in 1492).
Israeli policy is to try to gain the support for those Arabs who choose to support Israel in its war against the Palestinians (and their allies, at this point that means the Syrians and the Iranians, with most other Arabs states being neutral). In practice, it means those Arabs who don’t want an “Islamic” state, are good candidates for recruiting. That is why you have found Arabs holding significant positions in Israel government (e.g commander of the Golani, jude of the Supreme Court, etc.–jobs that are closed to hareidim), and that most Arab countries are no longer supporting the Palestinians.
Given that the zionists reject a policy of turning the medinah into a Jewish (i.e. Torah-based, run according to halacha) political entity, which would solve all their problems – it makes sense for them to have “affirmative action” to enlist as many Arab allies as possible.
When people do stupid things, it often comes back to haunt them.
He has alienated the MAGA crowd and has no hope of getting Trump’s supporters to support him against Biden meaning that even with the nomination, he has no chance of winning. He might have a chance as a third party “Fusion” ticket with a prominent Democratic running mate.
1. Those who engage in unethical and illegal business practices have a feeling of shame and do everything they can to conceal such activities.
2. The LGBTQ community not only lacks of sense of shame, and is open about their activities, but actively tries to convert others to their lifestyle, and resorts to coercion to gain recruits and punish those who oppose them.
If the Democrats would go back to being the party of the working class, rather than scorning the proletariat as a “basket of deplorables”, you wouldn’t need to ask the question. The elites should be very nervous when asking when the peasants will finally realize that obeying their betters is in their interests (consider what happened in France in the late 18th century, or Russia is the early 20th). A ruling class that believes that it is wise to oppresses the workers will usually come to a bad end. The Democrats should abandon cancel culture and pronouns and trying to impose LGBTQ values on the American working class.
You need to define “MO”. If “Modern Orthodox” means that while supporting zionism and thinking that YU is a bunch of fanatics, one keeps kosher all the time and wears a yarmulke at all times, and observes Shabbos and Yuntuf – there isn’t all the much of a gap. Keeping Shabbos and Kashrus, and wearing a kippah, largely precludes full participation in American society and ghettoizes you. It precludes most employment and educational and business opportunities and subjects you to substantial
discrimination. The gap between a “kippah srugah” and someone who doesn’t wear a kippah is greater than the gap between the “kippah srugah” and a “streimel”.They are both multinational publicly traded corporations that originated in Germany. If you have to describe their “nationality” (a problem with multinational corporations), you could say they are European (referring to the EU, not the continent).
If you want to boycott companies based on World War II, you probably should make all your own products from scratch, and avoid all retailers (remember, we now know that the Allies knew about the holocaust from the “get go” and avoided trying to interfere).
Given that very few Texans can read Hebrew (it hasn’t been a required subject in American schools since the 17th century), I suspect they are posting a work inspired by the עשרת הדיברות, written by some English civil servants in the 17th century. There is nothing Yidden should object (we can be tacky to point out translation errors, but that would be rude and in the 21st century, the Christians tend to our friends, so we should politely smirk, and remind them that we use the original version, not the civil service version). It might be a problem to persons from non-western religions (e.g. Hindus, who would find some of them to be quite offensive, such as the ban on idols and polytheism). And of course, the Democrats would be offended by a great many of them (since they tend to support
sex and crime, and don’t much like the idea of parents, and survive by pushing lying and envy).What matters most is what the Bnei Torah do, not the “wealthy and famous” who are rarely if ever Bnei Torah. The Baal ha-Battim in many cases are still recovering from the Holocaust (and from the last few millenia), and want to show off that they “made it” in spite of everything the goyim threw at us. While a Ben Torah has better things to do, and sees our current and probably temporary prosperity has coming from Ha-Shem rather than our own efforts, the perspectives of the Am ha-Haretz are understandable.
I don’t think I have ever deleted a post of yours, or even considered it, but I was very surprised to see that those harsh stereotypes were written by you.
Artificial intelligence is a computer program written by a clever human. Whether it is amazing people by winning a game of “tic tak toe” (one of the first applications of AI), or winning a game of chess (much trickier), or answer one’s complains on a chat box — they are only as smart as what the programmer provided.
Humans were created by someone (HaShem), and can do many amazing things. We are only as smart as our programmer provided, though unlike an AI, we had a much cleverer programmer who programmed us with free will.
Since the goyim (including frei Jews) believe they were created by random chemicals bumping into each other, they are shocked that anyone can invent intelligence. We are not shocked, since after all, HaShem did create us.
huju: The “right stuff” refers to the American space program. If Israel decides to launch a non-military program of space exploration, it will probably include Shomer Shabbos crew. The American “right stuff”, which in the 1950s was limited to military pilots which then (and now, for all purposes) did not attempt to reasonably accommodate religious practices, de facto excluded any frum Jews. Almost all military occupations in the United States are not open to frum Yidden. Today, there are opportunities to become astronauts that do not require having been a military pilot, though it is unlikely they could accommodate a frum candidate (or that a frum person could ever qualify as a scientist given the open prejudices against Orthodox Jews in American academia).
I doubt that “we” went to the moon. First of all, very few frum Yidden would ever have “the right stuff” (heck, it is almost impossible for a frum Yid to serve in the American armed forces in any capacity), and there is no way one could be an astronaut even with the more absurd “modern” Orthodox heterim (remember there would no heter for training activites on Shabbos).
Furthermore, if the moon is in fact made of cheese, it would pose serious kashrus issues.
Then why do people opposed to “LOBBYISTS, CORPORATIONS, AND INTEREST GROUPS” frequently win elections. How is it that “progressives” (really anti-democratic totalitarians) and “populists” (with a strong authoritarian streak) frequently win elections. The results of elections in many countries show that the anti-elites frequently win. This suggests that those arguing that the government stinks are likely to really be complaining that they were outvoted and they are just sore losers.
If you live in North Korea (or Russia, or maybe in China), it was very dumb question you asked (and probably the last one you will ever ask).
However in a democracy, we elect the idiots who run the country, and to stay in power, they do what the voters want. The “superpower” of politicians is to figure what the voters want and to give them enough of it so they get reelected.
So if you want someone to complain to, look in a mirror.
The fact is the Palestinians have been the majority group in Eretz Yisrael for over a millenia, long before the arrival of the Zionists (who are persons with Jewish ancestry but who have rejected Torah and Mitsvos). Humash makes it very clear that Ha-Shem’s grant of Eretz Yisrael to the Yidden was based on the Yidden accepting Torah, whereas the Zionists have the policy of “We won’t listen, and we don’t do”. Jews who reject Torah, can not logically avoid the fact they are rejecting the idea of a divine right of Jews to Eretz Yisrael.
One should note that the zionists who took control of the Yishuv after World War I, and went on to drive out the British and take control of the country, were in fact secular Europeans who as a matter of “faith” reject the idea the Ha-Shem has any say in what happens in Eretz Yisrael. The Yidden in Eretz Yisrael would be able to make a much stronger argument against the Palestinians if they evicted the Zionists and sent them back to Europe (or America), and then claim rights to Eretz Yisrael based on Torah, backed up by a state in which the Jews were all Bnei Torah (and a state known for its piety and Torah learning, rather than one known for its military prowess, tech startups and the many things we can’t discuss on YWN but for which Tel Aviv is world-famous). Of course that would deprive the Medinah of the ability to rule over the Palestinians, since a community of Bnei Torah would lack the economic and military means of exercising political control.
Except for a bunch of fanatical Hareidim, most persons of Jewish descent (including most who still keep Torah) support the idea that zionism and being Jewish are interchangeable, so one can hardly blame Wikipedia for confusing the terms. And in truth, the zionists who displaced the Palestinians, were and still are almost all secular Europeans so the statement isn’t all wrong other than confusing “zionism” with “Judaism”.
Which Kennedy? John (reasonable), Joseph Sr. (not so nice but his kids tried hard to make up for it), the airport, the Senator from Louisiana, Robert and Teddy, the subsequent generations (poster childen for why nepotism is a bad idea), etc.
A “win” in a case against the Federal government, may, but not necessarily, would affect the private sector. Remember that the private sector is only restricted by statutes enacted under the commerce clause – whereas the Federal government is also restricted by Constitutional provisions (such as the First Amendment and the Test Act clause) which do not affect the private sector.
If they decide the case under the Civil Rights Act (enacted under the Commerce clause), holding it applies to the Federal government, the precedent would bind private companies. However if they decide the case based on Constitutional restrictions impose on the Federal government, the precedent only affects Federal (or at least, government) employers.
To clarify, if a private company decided it will discriminate on the basis of political ideology(which is not covered by the Civil Rights Act), they can do so – though the Federal government doing so would violate the First Amendment.
A precedent would not be that significant since the employer (defendant/appellant) is the Federal government, which is not merely subject the the employment discrimination laws, but is also subject to a constitutional prohibition against “religious tests” as a condition of employment.
QWERTY keyboards are very rare for anything but the most expensive smartphones.
If you buy a cheap prepaid phone with no data plan, you have a dumbphone.Because Trump is a LOSER who threatens to create a situation of a radically left-wing, and therefore anti-Semitic and especially anti-frumkeit, government with those who don’t like us controlling the legislature and the executive branch (and soon thereafter the judiciary). Trump is constantly attacking pro-faith conservatives. He is the WOKE’s best home to take over America.
Enforced forfeitures of all property for premeditated murder. If a gun owner is negligent (e.g. in keeping their mentally ill hid from taking the gun), they should be subject to strict civil liability for all damages. Serious punishments for violent crimes would be effective if a little bit crueler and more public (nothing medieval such as crucifixion or drawing and quartering, but perhaps public hangings shown on the internet). Kids who play video games don’t fully understand that in the real world, dying is painful and you don’t get another life.
National wide concealed carry for law abiding citizens, strong “strand your ground laws”, and immunity for those who take down the criminal.
No more than any man you meet is a propertied member of the gentry and thereby deserving the title Mister, Monsieur or Herr. Almost all cultures have courtesy titles (more obvious in England where they still use titles for nobility, but most countries kept the title for respectable commoners even when they abolished fancier titles for nobility). Note that all person can use the title for “respectable commoners” even if they wouldn’t not have qualified (based on property ownership) in the past. To the extent we use “Ha-Rav Ha-Gaon” as a courtesy title for rabbanim is indicative that we still keep the concept of an aristocracy, albeit one based on Torah rather than wealth or military skill.
Highly unlikely as there are many brands with diverse patterns of marketing.
lakewhut: It isn’t for me to question what Ha-Shem does. Ha-Shem runs the world, I don’t.
The Americans elect their leaders, and the last few are probably responsible for giving the Russians and the Chinese idea they if they say “boo” the US will runaway and give them what they desire. To a certain extent, the responses to the Ukrainian invasion may have convinced them to reconsider.
At my age, it doesn’t really affect me.
When Russia, made bold after conquering Ukraine, goes after Poland and the Baltics, and at the same time China invades Taiwan. All of NATO is at war with Russia when that happens, and the US and it Asian allies will probably at war with China (or at the least extreme hostility including a applying the trading with the enemy act). It will be a great blast. And it will make the kids stop complaining about the boomer generation – since as President Kennedy said in his inaugural, it was war and depression what set up the “greatest generation” for greatest, so the boomers (including Biden, Trump, Putin, Xi) are setting up the next generation to great things.
Just when Russia (and its Chinese overlord) are getting ready for the big rumble (third of its kind, first in the lifetime of anyone who is not pre-boomer), Putin convinces the two most powerful neutrals in the world to give up neutrality. Sweden and Finland both have “history” with Russia, and there was no rational reason for Russia to want them joining the west. Russia may want its former territories back (e.g. Poland, Finland, the Baltics, and even Alaska) but unless they can convince the US to “stand down” and acquiesce to Russia conquering Europe (possible perhaps with Trump as president, but still unlikely) the Russians have been painting themselves into a corner and even the Chinese won’t be able to save them.
What is the fuss about. In most great countries the job of the public prosecutor is to think up new charges (e.g. paying off an blackmailer to drop a lawsuit – since when is settling a fraudulent lawsuit a crime) to take down opposition leaders. The fact that no one (not to mention a former president and leader of the opposition) has ever been charged with this crime just shows how clever the prosecutor is.
When they have a convention of prosecutors (perhaps to hand out the Roland Freisler Memorial Award) the US will no longer need to hang its head in shame compared to the really great countries such as Russia and China where prosecutors have been very successful in trumping up charges against those opposing established political correctness.American exceptionalism is dead. All the other superpowers use the legal system to crush the opposition. Why should American be any different. As Obama said, American exceptionalism is bad. If countries like China and Russia through opposition leaders in jail, why should the United States be any different.
Besalel: While the “grunts” (a mid-20th century American term for ground forces, usually infantry) are increasing right-wing, the high tech (as well as American support) is what keeps Israel safe from attack from Iran and any major power whose intervention would include nuclear weapons. It is the high tech types in the IDF who are threatening to mutiny. While the “right” would win the ground war in a civil war, the country would be horribly vulnerable to someone such as Russia or China or Pakistan choosing to wipe Israel at a distance in order to support throughout the Islamic world.
P.S. The only sort of compromise that might work would involve allowing the upper class to be an autonomous minority with a Jewish state (we let them be frei, and they don’t object to us being frum). The would mean an military that operates as if everyone was frum, with special secular units for those who can’t stand kosher food or not doing melachos on Shabbos, secular “hesder” institutions or them to study their culture, and letting the seculars (regardless of whether they are Jews according to halacha) marry whomever and whatever they want, and even allow the secular to kill their own babies.
Whether such a compromise would interest the seculars is questionable, since a major theme of the zionist dream was always to purge Torah for Jewish life. However as the current crisis has shown, no matter how frum the average Israeli becomes over time, the economic elite are the ones who run the show, leaving Israel as both unstable and undemocratic.The real question is to ask supporters if they are willing to support the judicial reform if the price is the destruction of the Israeli economy and a severe undermining of the the zionist military capacity.
Like it or not, the hilonim (who hate us, much more than they hate the Arabs) are what makes Israel a modern industrialized nation whose technological advantages and strong economy are what make Israel a significant regional power (and whose secular leadership is strongly supported by most Americans of Jewish descent and by the largest political party in the USA).
Only a haredi who is willing to live in an autonomous community within an Islamic state (cf: the late Ottoman Empire) would see any viable alternative to the status quo.
1.Traditionally, a prayer for the king was made only if it was someone we liked, or there were secret police informers lurking.
2. How is the IDF protecting anyone. The whole idea of an army was to have a war with the Yismaelim. More Yidden have been killed in the Arab-Israeli conflict than were ever killed by the Arabs in the 1300+ years since the conquered the Middle East. We should being say a bracha for the Bnei Torah in Eretz Yisrael who learn Torah and do mitsvos in spite of the zionists.