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Health,
Stop with your anti-Zionist lies! You are correct that the withdrawals from Gaza and southern Lebanon (FYI, we still control Yehuda v’Shomron – I am, in fact, writing these lines in this area) were wrong but that was due to the venality of certain “leaders” – with the acquiescence of the “Chareidi” parties. In an any case, there is a mitzva to defend Am Yisrael (Rambam, Hilchot Melachim 5:1).
Moreover, a person who accepts the benefits of citizenship, such as welfare payments, must also accept the obligations of citizenship. There might be room to defer someone who is truly learning (and not just listed) but at least he should say the “mishe berach” for the soldiers and give shiurim. Those who are cohanim can be meshuchei milchama.I refer you to Rav Eliezer Melamed’s essay “Judaism: The Mitzvah to Join the IDF”.
555, I was the equivalent of 4-F despite my protestations. However, I live on a yishuv in Yehuda v’Shomron so the Arabs thus consider me to be a soldier. Does that answer your question about messirut nefesh?
Assurnet,
1. So how did they stay religious? BTW, prejudice against less established Jews did not start in that period and unfortunately did not end. Sepharadim in America looked down on German Jews who in turn looked down on Russian Jews. To this day Ashkenazi Chareidi institutions have a numerus clausus for Sepharadim and bnei Eidot HaMizrach.
2. Not true. The French authorities instituted a program to secularize both Moslems and Jews. Being that they also repealed the dhimmi laws they were very successful with Jews (and to this day Jews in Morocco speak French as their first language) but less so with Moslems. On the subject of Sepharadim and Eidot HaMizrach in general, the rav of Tunisia, Rav Mosh Calfon HaCohen was a staunch supporter of the Zionist movement and the aliya from there was run by Rabbi Moshe Farjoun. Rav Kapach, who was the rav of the Yemenite community in EY, was also a staunch Zionist and, in fact, learned in Rav Kook’s yeshiva.
3. Israelis are not becoming religious because of disillusionment with Zionism but because they understand that it goes together with Judaism.
555,
1. WW2 survivors? Were they American soldiers? A smile can mean various things.
2. What Chareidim “targeted” by Zionists? As for a religious Jew in an IDF uniform, what can be better? Wearing the clothes of the paritz? There is an obligation to be in the army in a milchemet mitzva – and we are in an ongoing milchemet mitzva with breaks. We all want it to end but not by surrendering. THere is an obligation to conquer and settle EY – and that obviously pushes off pikuach nefesh (Minchat Chinuch Mitzva 604 section 4).
Assurnet, FYI already in Morocco their was massive secularization due to the influence of French culture (according to Rav Aviner this is why their rabbis banned marriages with converts – well-to-do Jews were pressuring them to “convert” French women with whom they fell in love). In fact, religious immigrants were sent to religious settlements as per the agreement between the Mizrahi and Mapai. I have known more than one personally. In any case, you are living in the past. Today, Israel is fast becoming more religious. If the religious parties could unite and present a comprehensive (as opposed to sectorial) program they would definitely form the government.
HaKatan, even if the Three Oaths once applied they no longer apply. I have proven this beyond the possibility of any contradiction many times here.
HaKatan,
1. Nonsense. You are motzi shem ra and hundreds of thousands of Jews.
2. The leaders of the Chareidim have repeated stated thatt hey do not want them to work. Not even to study a profession in a Chareidi college.
3. Zionism is the political movement for regaining Jewish sovereignty in EY.
4. More nonsense. In fact, living in Shmutz LaAretz is compared to idolatry (Ketubot 110b). Anti-Zionism today is a refusal to see Hashem’s hand in history. At best it is Aristotelian denial of Hashem’s intervention in the world. At worst Zoroastrianism (belief in two gods, a god of good and a god of evil).
Sam, do you wear tzitziot? That is also a mitzva kiumit (according to those opinions that there is such a thing. BTW, Rav Ovadia (Minchat Shmuel 14, p. 252 sof dibbur elkeh sheraiti) says that if it is an obligation and proves it from the fact that a spouse can compel another spouse to make aliya (Shulchan Aruch EH 75:3-4 – and see Pitchei Teshuva). Rav Avraham Shaprira says that there is no such thing as a mitzva kiumit. If you wear a four-cornered garment it must have tzitziot. If you live you must live in EY. Rav Eliezer Waldenberg (Responsa Tzitz Eliezer 7:48:12) also says that it is an obligatory mitzva in our time, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE A STATE.
1. Israel does provide Tanachs to ulpan graduates, IDF inductees, etc. It is not the purview of the government to provide them generally. Certainly not the central government. Those who think so have been influenced by the socialists.
2. In Israel Jewish holidays and Shabbat are official days of rest (and most governmental offices are even closed duing Chol HaMoed), IDF kitchens are kosher (and during Pesach there are even signs that say “Do not bring chametz onto the base – that’s an order!”), during Sukkot officials welcome visitors in their sukkot, dairy companies advertise recipes for the Three Weeks, buses have stickers facing the front seats that say ???? ???? ????, etc., etc. When I worked for an insurance company in Tel Aviv someone who wanted to interpret a policy strictly was told not be like Bet Shammai butto be like Bet Hillel by someone who was not wearing a kippa. An apparently non-frum teacher, when told that she skipped a line in the textbook said that it did not matter as “??? ????? ?? ?????”.
3. The assertions of “shading up” and “idolatry” are so ridiculous that I really have to wonder about those who use such terms.
1. Bet Shammai and Bet Hillel argued for three years (Eruvin 13b).
2. I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue! – Barry Goldwater
Joseph,
1. It is not charity but payment for services rendered. And as I previously posted, it must be spent on US-made goods.
2. Why are you defending an intermarried, assimilated Jew who coldly stated that it would be good for many Israeli soldiers to be killed so that Israel would be more “flexible”?
3. Under US tax law contributions can be made to charities, religious institutions, etc. in any non-hostile country so long as they go through an American institution that is recognized by the IRS for such purposes. Because there is a tax treaty between the US and Israel that allows it this is not necessary for Israeli charities. However, the same is true of Canadian and Mexican charities. See IRS Publication 526.
555, nothing could make Obama worse for Israel. Netanyahu had enough and went to those who are our proven friends
Health, it’s better to be “shmaded up” in Yemen? In Israel, even those who do go OTD can come back and if not them their children or grandchildren. Not to mention doing things for Am Yisrael instead of some terror organization.
Rwndk1, going on shelichut is by definition temporary although unfortunately some are davka tempted to stay by offers of gigantic salaries (and marbitz Tora in the sense of beating it). It is the Tora version of being a diplomat and therefore is not really leaving EY. On the other hand, there are many opportunities to be marbitz Tora here.
Joseph, actually Pollard approached an Israeli intelligence operative and offered the info. I hate to burst your bubble but everybody spies on everybody.
In fact, shortly after Pollard was arrested Bill Casey was asked on “Meet the Press” if the US spied on its NATO allies. He responded “I hope so” – and thanks to Wikileaks we all now know that it does.
Moderator, who decides validity? What about the claim on another thread about Hesderniks going oTD?
I did not approve that other post but can look back at it. I am surprised you question my argument against an “all” statement, when even most “most” statements could be questioned for validity.
H is simply incorrect, especially regarding the Hesder system. The biggest threats to Chareidi society are poverty caused by men refusing to work and support their families as required by the ketubot they sign (and no, there is no responsibility to give large amounts to such people) and the anti-social behavior among youths who are not fit for full-time study but have no outlet. The latter was, in fact, the mistake made with Eisav (Rav Shimshon Rafael Hirsch, commentary to Bereisheet 25:27).
Israel gives much more in intelligence sharing and preventing a terrorist state from being established. Not to mention the fact that all the “aid” is actually loan guarantees that lower interest rates (although Israel has never defaulted) and the monies must be spent on American products. As for Kissinger, he delayed the aid deliberately in order to extract concessions.
Health, I do not know what are Hashem’s considerations when deciding who gets Olam HaBa. What about someone who thinks that it is better for Jews to besubject forced conversion to Islam as opposed to the chance that they will be be observant in EY (as are many Yemenites) and if not them their children or grandchildren? Does someone who echoes are worst enemies have a portion? What about someone who is motzi shem ra on an entire tzibbor in Am Yisrael?
Amer, you are absolutely correct – but only regarding those who are really learning – and Rav Gustman said that in time of war that means that they sleep with their shoes on ready to go to the bet midrash at a moment’s notice like soldiers. This is only true of a small elite and everyone agrees that they should receive a deferment (although really they should also begin their learning with a declaration that in its merit the troops should be successful and also periodically give shiurim) . They must be encouraged to serve in the IDF and go to work.
edited for obvious reasons, lack of validity being one of them
Health, I know a (Chareidi) rav who said that he was told by an elderly woman that the Turks kept order by grabbing an Arab every Fri and hanging him next to Shaar Shechem as a warning. Do you really want us to do that?
555, the root of the problem is that when Jordan controlled Yehuda v’Shomron Hussein rewarded people he wanted to reward by giving them land. However, it was conditioned on them working it. Being that if they fell into disfavor he would take it away they did not bother but when the situation became frozen with the Six-Day War they remained the owners on paper – but the previous owners were also owners on paper. Being that the PA has decreed the death penalty on Arabs who sell real estate to Jews purchases must be made through intermediaries and straw companies – and usually the seller is someone who is emigrating. Thus it sometimes happens that when land is purchased another Arab pops up and claims that he is the true owner. The court then has to decide who is right. Sometimes they decide for the Jews, sometimes not – and the Arab who is declared the owner will obviously not sell even though for security reasons he will never be able to set foot on the property. In that case the cabinet ministers are, as we say here, caught between the hammer and the anvil. On the one hand, they cannot thumb their noses at the court because abandoning the rule of law will have disastrous effects both domestically and in foreign affairs. on the other hand, they do not want violent confrontations with yahoos. In this case, the best way out was achieved. The shul will not be destroyed, just moved. The new property is indisputably government-owned so their is no legal problem.
Assurnet,
1. The caravan is temporary until a new shul can be built on government-owned land nearby (the land is now used as a playground). It is projected to take three months as the shul will not be destroyed by disassembled and reassembled.
2. All kinds of spins are floated in the Israeli press. Netanyahu woud have to be insane to unilaterally withdraw as the security situation will be completely untenable. Moreover, there is no way to expel and relocate several hundred thousand Jews either logistically or financially. Not to mention the fact that the Gush Katif expulsion, which involved 7,000, created a national trauma.
Health, the Gra says that the use of ??? regarding the curse that Yaakov feared if Yitzchak had discovered his ruse reflects three types of problems Am Yisrael from which Am Yisrael suffers:
???, who wanted to destroy the body,
???, who wanted to destroy the soul
????, who was sold by his brothers – and this is the hardest of all. These are those who join the ranks of our enemies, slander and attempt to delegitimize our state.
555, read Faaranak Margolese’s book “Off the Derech” and see who is to blame for OTDs who become anti-religious.
HaKatan, I did not hear exactly what Rav Reisman said. However, it is correct that nothing has changed.They were not obligatory then and are not now. Anti-Zionism is idolatry as it denies Hashem’s hand in history and the great miracles He has given us. Someone who votes de facto accepts the state (and BTW, the then head of the Aguda in EY, Rav Yitzchak Meir Levin, signed the declaration of independence). Someone who holds public office declares it explicitly.
HaKatan and Health,
1. Forty years ago (after the great Zionist victory) a Jew could walk alone and unarmed in any Arab area because the Arabs, like almost everyone else in the world (and this is the fundamental problem the West has in dealing with ISIS) they thought that everyone thinks like them. They knew what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot c”v and they assumed that we would do the same so they feared Jews. If you want us to make them correct you are essentially saying that we should stop being Am Yisrael.
2. ISIS has nothing to do with Israel or Zionism. This is an anti-Semitic lie. They have stated time and again that they are still fighting the Crusades.
3. Many gedolim (e.g. the Netziv, Rav Kook, Rav Meir Simcha, Rav Soloveichik) supported Zionism. Rav Schachter was referring to individuals who have individual heterim. There are also good reasons to eat on Yom Kippur and drive on Shabbat but the default position of the Halacha is that both are prohibited.
Assurnet, chas v’shalom!a. If you recall Gafni supported the government that expelled the Jews from Gush Katif. So maybe it is a mitzva to give him his pension. In any case, the alternative was a civil war, which would have been much worse. Such a war is definitely not a milchemet mitzva. This is proven from the fact that talmidei chachamim were exempted from puttting down Avshalom’s rebellion. Regarding the rest, it is the police not the IDF who enforce those decisions – and IMHO those Jews who were put in administrative detention (regardless of how one feels about it in principle) were, in fact, doing the opposite of following Tora.
Health, you, HaKatan and Joseph are one group in my mind.
Hudi, who says that one must wait until Mashiach comes (BTW, there are two – and according to Rav Kook Mashiach ben Yosef, whose job is kibbutz galuyot and building the material side of EY, has already come) to do a mitzva?
HaKatan,
1. Did you hear the news from Paris and the announcement about the capitals that are next in line?
2. Zionism has not increased the hatred of anyone towards us. It has just given another excuse (clannish, trying to take over their countries, not bwanting to be involved in theircountries, communism, capitalism, etc., etc.).
DY, it is also a mitzva to go into the IDF. This is a milchemet mitzva (Rambam Hilchot Melachim 5:1)!
Health, on the contrary, in Shmutz l’Aretz Jews commit “avoda zara in purity” (Avoda Zara 8a). They refrain from work on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, look forward to Sun, etc. There is even a discussion regarding celebrating a recent night whose observances originate in paganism. Moreover, as I have previously posted, the crime rate in America is much higher – and the recent attacks in Paris have shown that no place in the world is a haven from terror. Heath care is on a lower level (the WHO has ranked Israel’s health care system as number 28 in the world whereas the US system is number 37). In short, the mitzva is better kept in Israel from all perspectives.
Softwords,
1. I disagree with your assessment of the majority of the DL community.
2. On the contrary, the Gemara requires a man to teach his son a trade. In our thime this means secular subjects. Moroever, Rabbenu Bechaye and the Gra said that a person cannot be considered wise if he does not possess seven fields of secular wisdom (among them math, astronomy and music). The Maharal’s talmid muvchak, Rabbi David Ganz, was an associate of Tycho Brahe. The Netziv closed the yeshiva because the Russian government wanted to gradually eliminate religious studies. In contrast, the Pressburg yeshiva had an arrangement by which talmidim were exempted from the draft as theological students in exchange for passing the external baccalaureate (something like an academic high school diploma) exams.
3. Peace does not mean not disagreeing or not giving mussar. On the contrary, “????? ?????” is next to “????? ???? ????”. If pointed debating is friction (and BTW, I heard from one of his talmidim that Rav Gustman said that in Grodno it was permitted to call one’s chevruta any name except “baal bayit”) than let their be friction. However, my experience is that Chareidim and DL have no problem davening in each other’s shuls. Some Chareidim will not eat by DL but from what I have heard from Chareidi rabbanim this is am haaratzut (see Mishna Berura 318:2 that b’diavad one may rely on opinions that one does not generally accept). Marriages are also rare but that is also true regarding Litvaks and Chassidim as well asAshkenazi and Sephardi chareidim (among DL this si not an issue at all). This has already been discussed on another thread.
Neville,
1. Part of the traditional nusach is the prayer for the government. American siddurim include POTUS, the Veep and various other state and Federal officials. British siddurim have the Queen. “Mishe berach”s are also part of the tradtional nusach.
2. I do not know that Muslims have greater freedom of speech. In any case, we also ask Hashem to give our elected officials wisdom (???????? ??????? ??????????? ???????????, ???????? ????????????, ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????.). Moreover, the government is not the state. Governments come and go, the state remains.
Neville, we thank Hashem for what we have received and pray to go forward.
Health, you are incorrect chronologically and halachically. However, you are correct in the sense that after their opinion has been completely rejected there is nothing more to say on the issue. In Chazal’s words, aino mishna.
Flatbusher, it depends on how well and where one wants to live. The same is tru in America but tuition costs are breaking people no matter where they live. I have a friend who has a son who is a lawyer and a rav who has a talmid who is a CPA, both in the US. Both are just barely making it.
Health, Rav Eidelstein of Ponevich said that anyone who is eligible to vote and does not do so has no portion in Olam HaBa.
Neville, you should say the prayer for the state of Israel (as well as the IDF) with simcha and hitlahavut. As Rav Soloveichik has said, if c”v Israel goes the entire Jewish people will go. Moreover, regardless of one’s political leanings one should identify with “Shield it with Your lovingkindness, envelop it in Your peace, and bestow Your light and truth upon its leaders, ministers, and advisors, and grace them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land, grant them deliverance, and adorn them in a mantle of victory. Ordain peace in the land and grant its inhabitants eternal happiness.
Manifest yourself in the splendor of Your boldness before the eyes of all inhabitants of Your world, and may everyone endowed with a soul affirm that the Lord, God of Israel, is king and his dominion is absolute. Amen forevermore.”
If you live in Israel there is the added mitzva of praying for the government (Yermiahu 29:7).
What do you ean “borderline worship” BG? What borderline worship self-proclaimed mekuballim?
You got in wrong again, Joseph. The Central Bureau of Statistics does not keep records on ethnic background, only on country of birth. It is widely believed that slightly more that half of Israeli Jews are Sepharadim or from the Eidot HaMizrach although being that there are many “intermarriages” that is difficult to determine. Anyway, I know someone who holds that jeans are the only Jewish garment today as they were invented by a Jew (Levi Strauss).
Health,
Rav Kook explained taht in his time they were rebelling against a misconception of Tora. Today they are much more ignorant. On the other hand,having hit bottom they are now thirsting for Tora. Shuls are even being established on HaShomer HaTzair kibbutzim.
[is the fulfillment of a commandment]
Apushatayid, he was executed by a bet din after all of the conditions were met. That is to say, besides two kosher witnesses and warning he said “?? ??? ??” (Rambam, Hilchot Sanhedrin 12,2).
HaKatan,
1.Our mesorah goes back to Yehoshua bin Nun through the Gra, Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kalischer, the Netziv and Rav Kook.
2. #4 is a halacha (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 236:6).
3. Rambam does not pasken it in Mishna Tora so apparently he ither changed his mind or what he said to the Jews of Yemen was only an asmachta b’alma.
4. They are not pesak. They are aggadata and not halacha.
5. Anti-Zionism is heresy and denial.
HaKatan,
1. “One who has been killed by non-Jews is buried in his clothes, so that his blood may be seen and avenged… In other words, the clothes of the Jew acquire a certain sanctity when spattered with the blood of a martyr. How much more is this so of the Blue and White flag, which has been immersed in the blood of thousands of young Jews who fell in the War of Independence defending the country and the population… It has a spark of sanctity that flows from devotion and self-sacrifice. We are all enjoined to honor the flag and treat it with respect”, (Rabbi Soloveitchik, Five Addresses, p.139). This certainly not true of a football team. So far as America has shared values with Am Yisrael (this is an essay in itself) fighting for America, especially in WW2, might give the flag some special significance but not kedusha as it is mainly a non-Jewish symbol (don’t forget, Jews make up less than 2% of the American population).
2. “Something like”? Rav Tzvi Yehuda (Kook) said that religious Zionism is a redundancy because our religiosity makes us Zionist and our Zionism is rooted in religion.
3. Who says?
Lack of financial stability? In the US many Orthodox Jews have been living off gemachs since the financial crisis and those who have decent jobs have to send their kids to public schools because they are too poor to pay full tuition but too rich for scholarships.
Israeli attitude? What about the American attitude about victims and victimizers? Anyway, I was told that NYers have an attitude.
The rest are even more ridiculous. They are the sin of the spies. Of course, if people are already in mid-life and cannot start a business it is hard to start over. They missed the train so they have to wait for the next one (when they retire). If someone must take care of elderly parents who cannot make aliya themselves they also have a heter. There may be other individuals who have heterim. However, the default position is that a Jew must live in EY.
Rwndk1, I do not know where you live or how you define DL. In my yishuv community there is a variation but the extremes are not numerous and the left extreme are virtually all young people who have one foot into the Chiloni world (unlike the Chareidi community, which pushes kids away with both hands for much more minor deviations the DL community tries to keep them in as much as possible so that they will not wind up like Gehazi and Yushki – see Sanhedrin 107b decensored edition). The vast majority of the women cover their hair, wear long sleeves (or at least to the elbow – which the Mishna Berura allows) and long skirts (actually I heard that in Mea Shearim they banned skirts to the ground as a “Mizruchnik” custom). Some have TV but my impression is that most do not, or if they do only in the parents’ room). I do not know about Internet but it could be that those who do not general filters (as opposed to specific filters such as Adblock) were frustrated with their overkill (I have had sites blocked because of normal words that have groups of letters that also form “flag” words).
The fact of the matter is that there is no one DL hashkafa or lifestyle. There are many, each with its own nuances (Merkaz, Har HaMor, Bar-Ilan, kibbutzim, moshavim, etc.).
As for the Chareidi yeshivot and seminaries to which you send your children, they are getting the disadvantages of no secular education, an anti-work hashkafa and ingratitude towards the state that subsidizes them. So don’t judge peopel just because they sin differently than you.
What does that have to do with societal benefit? Shabbat violation is an aveira against Hashem not someone else. An example where the king would have power would be Blue laws. However, if someone invited ten Jews to his house and lit a match c”v the king would not have jurisdiction.
Joseph, now you are changing the subject. rabbinic courts are another story but in order for them to be able to impose the death penalty the Bet HaMikdash would have to be rebuilt and semicha renewed. Even then, the evidentiary requirements would more or less preclude imposing it in practice.
Rabbi, that is not accurate. We are against the state having a fundamentally secular character but we are patient and support the state even though there is a great need for improvement. Phil Chernofsky of the OU Israel Center likened it to someone who is released from the hospital but needs further treatments. He thanks Hashem for what he has received so far and davens and works for the future.
Wrong, Joseph. Since Avnei Nezer Yoreh Deah 312,49 where he explicitly states that the king has no business punishing Shabbat violators.
Regarding working for the government, what happened to civil society? In any case, there are three sheetot regarding how we can be a light unto the nations:
1. According to Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch it means being scattered among them until Mashiach comes.
2. According to Rav Kook (and expounded further by Rav Zalman Melamed) it means kibbutz galuyot, establishing a state in EY and being part of the community of nations.
3. According to the YU sheeta there ar two centers, the US and Israel.
1. Rav Soloveichik says that the flag has kedusha because Jews died for what it represents. Regarding Rav Moshe, it is obvious to any bar data that if he thought that it was a symbol of idolatry he would not have allowed it. You are in a very serious state of denial.
2. What those sages said, they said about the anti-religious elements in Zionism. Rav Kook, on the other hand, said that they wwere Hashem’s unwitting tools.
3. Regarding Rav Teichtal’s son, that is his opinion. Others disagree.
HaKatan, kol haposel b’mumo posel. Aggadata is not Halacha. In fact, Rambam (Intro/ to Perek Chelek) says that it is all metaphoric. Even regarding halachic statements, not everything is paskened.
1. The Three Oaths (@Simcha, actually they are at the end of Ketubot)are not mentioned in any of the halachic codes.
2. Rav Chaim Vital says (Intro. to Sefer Etz Chaim) that they were only for 1,000 years.
3. Rav Meir Simcha says that since the San Remo Conference establishing a Jewish state in EY is not rebellion.
4. The goyim violated their part of the bargain not to persecute us “too much” on several occasions (the Crusades, Gezerot Tach v’Tat, the pogroms, the Holocaust). Thus, the deal is off.
5. Rav Soloveichik says (Kol Dodi Dofek) that Hashem has called.
We do not concede that they have ever been practical halacha. we merely ad that even if they were they are no longer in force.
DY, the point is that he obviously does not consider it prohibited. As for Hillary Clinton, I was told by a Chareidi rav that it is permitted to look at her. LOL However, any mention of her becoming POTUS should have “chas v’shalom” added to it.
BB, I heard that the Chazon Ish said from the time she starts to appear womanly and that this referred to letting her sit next to her father in shul.
In Israel it is almost never happens that there are shidduchim betwen different groups and even sub-groups (e.g Ashkenazi and Sepharadi Chareidim, Lithuanian and Chassidic, etc.). I think that his is simply because there is such a wide choice that people can be more choosy.
In the political arena there are some tentative moves to unite the Chareidi and Chardal camps. The social and economic differences are also lessening as more Chareidi men are going into the IDF (albeit in Chareidi frameworks) and into the general job market (usually but not always in Chareidi frameworks). I heard from Rav Yeshayahu Steinberger in the names of both Rav Kook and Rav Soloveichik that this is the union of Yosef’s stick and Yehuda’s stick (Yechezkel 37:19). Yosef represents involvement in the general society (Mizrahi) and Yehuda, who established the settlement in Goshen, represents the establishment of a state within a state (Aguda).
DY, that refers to staring. No one says that one may not see a woman. In fact, there is a picture of Rav Reisman talking to a woman at his shul’s 25th anniversary dinner (it is in album 1). There is also a picture of another woman who I presume is his wife.
HaKatan, you accused the RZ of idolatry thre times and added “heresy”. Kol ha posel b’mumo posel. In fact, the Gra (quoted by his talmid Rabbi Hillel Rivlin in “Kol HaTor”) and Rav Teichtal (“Em HaBanim Semeicha”) say that the sin of the meraglim will infect many who who hold onto the Tora. In fact, you and your cohorts use the same arguments they used.
Scared, actually he says that there is no simcha in Chul except on Yom Tov.
Sorry, Joseph. The (Yoreh Deah 312,48) says that the king can only punish those who are over on mitzvoth ben adam l’chaveiro and that he has no business with mechallelei Shabbat.