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I don’t have a source, but I have a story:
A troubled high school boy living in the dorms at Rav Aharon Soloveichik’s yeshiva in Chicago was caught with pornography. Rav Soloveichik called the young man into his office.
Holding the offensive magazine (in a paper bag) Rav Soloveichik asked the young man “do I have your reshus to destroy this magazine?”
The young man was taken aback. He had expected Rav Soloveichik to give him a stern lecture, call his parents, or threaten to expel him.
“This magazine belongs to you,” said the Rav. “Halachically I cannot destroy it without your permission. As repulsive as I find this, I cannot take it from you, or I would be over on ‘lo tignof.'”
The incident made an impression on the student, who had grown used to dismissing rabbis as dishonest hypocrites. By his example, Rav Soloveichik showed a troubled young man that Torah is an all-consuming way of life. It does not allow for shortcuts, exceptions, or special licence for adults in charge.
Also, “Imagine” isn’t even by the Beatles. It was by John Lennon (one of the four Beatles) and his wife, and was written and recorded after the band broke up.
We often talk about achdus between different communities of Jews, but this is a chance to demonstrate it. Hundreds of thousands of Jews–from secular to Haredi, with everything in between–will gather to support the State of Israel and/or the Jews in Ertez Yisrael. We don’t have to agree on everything to find this to be a meaningful and inspiring event.
I will say Hallel at Shacharit (without a bracha) and talk with my family about the significance of the day. Yom Yerushalayim is not an exclusively Zionist holiday, although I proudly identify as a Religious Zionist. Iy should be a day for all of Klal Yisrael to commemorate our people’s salvation in 1967 from an attempted genocide, as well as the miraculous recapture of our holiest sites.
Because Yom Yerushalayim corresponds with the anniversary of an actual victory, while Yom Haatzmaut merely corresponds with the declaration of statehood, there are some who observe Yom Yerushalayim but not Yom Haatzmaut. (My family observes both.)
Here are the candidates with a chance:
– Barack Obama. I give the president a slightly more than 50% chance of being reelected. The two biggest variables are who the Republicans nominate, and how quickly the economy improves.
– Mitt Romney. The Republican candidate to beat. Well known, has a strong network of donors, and does best in polls against Obama. Many voters are suspicious of him, though, because he changed his position on abortion, and supported a healthcare bill in Massachusetts that is very similar to the Obamacare bill he opposes. The fact that he’s Mormon doesn’t help him with Republican primary voters.
– Jon Huntsman. We’ll be hearing more from him soon. Succesful businessman, governor of Utah, and US ambassador to China (actually appointed by Obama). A strong fiscal conservative, but has moderate views on some social issues and the environment. Electable due to his moderate views, charisma, and experience in business, domestic policy, and foreign policy. My personal choice.
– Tim Pawlenty. Trying the hardest. Seems like a nice guy, but lacks experience, charisma, and name recognition.
– Newt Gingrich. Strengths include name recognition, conservative credentials, and intelligence. Weaknesses include his age, unrestrained mouth, and history of adultery.
– Michele Bachman. If she runs, will get the support of angry Tea Party voters. Will do well in primaries, but can’t be elected due to her history of outrageous statements. (Congress should “investigate” which of its members are “anti-American”)
– Ron Paul. Has money, and many devoted followers. Distrusted by most Republicans because of his opposition to the military. Bad on Israel.
– Sarah Palin. Mostly a joke by now. Lost her chance with most voters when she quit as governor of Alaska to focus on her reality TV show. Probably won’t run.
Most Republicans aren’t satisfied with their choices and are looking for other candidates. Potential surprise candidates include Jeb Bush, Texas governor Rick Perry, and NJ governor Chris Christie.
AinOhdMilvado is right that giving Gaza to Hamas was dumb and accomplished nothing. He forgets that giving the Sinai to Egypt for peace has worked (and hopefully will continue to). The (succesful) peace with Jordan was also a territorial concession, as it mean an end to Israel’s claim to the eastern half of the British Mandate.
Land for peace shouldn’t be a yes-no question. It can be done with seichel, or it can be done stupidly without a partner, like happened with Gush Katif.
By the way, ProudLiberal is neither “proud” nor “liberal.” He’s a troll wasting our time, and we should stop responding. He’s not even subtle about it.
Opening up a parking lot for Shabbos is clearly a problem, but its not clear to me that failing to block the entrance to a parking lot Friday afternoon is encouraging chilul Shabbos. Obviously a rav should (and probably has, in the case of this shul) be consulted.
A lot of people drive to my orthodox shul. Many of these people come to shul every week, and with the exception of a family shabbos meal friday night, this is the only shabbos-related thing they do. They go home and watch a football game on TV, or sometimes even go to a Jewish-owned treif deli.
While not frum, these are kind decent people with deep loyalty to the shul and klal yisrael. Many send their kids to Jewish schools, and a number of their kids grow up to be fully shomer shabbos. The rabbi obviously isn’t happy they drive on shabbos, but knows that if he discouraged it, they would break shabbos even more at home, and would become further distanced from yiddishkeit. This is a complex situation, and I encourage anyone making snarky comments about these Jews to actually make some effort to get to know them.
There are many good responses, and they aren’t mutually exclusive. Encourage your friends to launch a “BUY-cott”–specifically buying Israeli products and shopping at stores resisting pressure from anti-Israel types. Call or write companies that have boycotted and tell them how disapointed you are. Call companies that are still deciding and let them know how you feel.
Smoking is an issur d’oreisa. The smoker is knowingly putting himself in a matzav of sakana for no reason other than his own fleeting pleasure. He’s also threatening the lives of those around him.
Facebook may be used to facilitate aveiros (as can cars, phones, grocery stores, etc.) but is also used for good by kiruv organizations and by families who use it to stay in touch. It is as clearly prohibited by all Orthodox poskim as smoking