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Who is he and what exactly does he say? Does it depend on the learner’s level as opposed to what he could do in a profession (I know someone who is at the top of his and very much in demand as a lecturer but when he opens his mouth about Tora absolute nonsense comes out)? In nay case, he would certainly require the learner to learn full-time as if he were at a job with all the work ethics that entails. This alone would weed out a good many (in fact when a budget crunch forced the Lakewood yeshiva to downsize they simply gave out bechinot).
On the contrary, if he has done teshuva he should davka be the one (Yoma 22b). Otherwise he will not be able to understand the public (Rabbi Itamar ben Yisrael, “Mishmeret Itamar” Beshalach quoted by Rabbi Saul Weiss in “Insights” vol.1 pg.32 #47). However, if he has not done teshuva one should not vote for him (ibid in the name of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye, “Tolodot Yaakov Yosef” Behalotcha).
The question also is if a person can rely on a clear heter where there is a clear opposite opinion.
Popa, the welfare system will not support someone at a decent level unless he is living alone in some very low-rent set-up.Even then, Chazal and all of the Rishonim and Acharonim presumed that one should be ashamed calling this “nehama d’kisufa” (bread of shame). Thus, the highest form of tzedakka is to give someone a job (Shach Yoreh Deah 249:7). Te proper exception is if someone has a pension or is otherwise financially independent (as was Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai when he began to learn full-time).
Health, name-caling is a cognitive bias. You can google it.
DaaasYochid, obviously “??? ???” means something which an intellectually honest person knows he cannot answer. I presume that you do not phone your rav when you wake up in the morning and ask if you should do netilat yadayim.
Longarkel, hevel verik.
1. The government has faults but is not anti-Tora and/or anti-Gd.
2. Living in EY oppposes the forces of secularism by denying them a free hand. Becoming a citizen and voting helps to improve things.
Crzybrit, throwing stones, setting fire to garbage dumpsters, spitting and shouting foul names is coming closer to Hashem?
Chassidish, look the Rav’s explanation that together they sap his strength so that he does not have the koach to do aveirot.
Popa, i look at he sources you cited and I do not to what you are referring. Can you be more specific.
Toi, after the Holocaust there was an urgent need to rebuild the Tora world that was destroyed. The only way to do that was to send everyone into kollel. As the Haredi population was very small this did not cause either internal problems from guys were were not suited for this or external problems from people whjo were unwilling and/or unable to support them. Today, the Tora world is greater than ever and the Haredi population is much larger. This is causing tremendous social problems among young people who are not suited for sitting and learning all day but do not have a socially acceptable alternative. In addition, the non-Haredi population is not willing to support such a large segment of the population which is not willing to work and sources inside the Haredi sector are drying up as the older generations that worked are leaving us and those who do work are feeling the pinch because of the world financial crisis.
Thus it is now necessary to “change the diskette” and go back to the traditional system of the vast majority working and only a small elite learning full-time for life. The rabbanim understand that and thus give haskama beshetika to Haredi job-training institutions. However, the extremists, who are simply sociopaths, react with violence to any suggestion of deviation from their party line (they even stoned Rav Eliashiv because he reached a compromise on moving graves to make room for a new road).Apparently some kind ofpush will have to come from both hte grassroots Haredim who are sick of poverty and constantly borrowing from one gemach to pay another and the outside world which will give them tough love (see Shach Yoreh Deah 249:7). This will have thew added benefit of allowing Tora institutions to pay decent stipends to those few who are suited just as, lehavdil, universities give generous stipends to research fellows (and, in fact, evn one of the Meretz MKs said that those few who are suited for kollelim should receive the same as doctoral candidates).
Sam, on the contrary derech eretz kadma laTora. The Netziv, in his introduction to Sefer Breisheet says that it is called “Sefer HaYashar” because the Avot even acted civilly to lowly idol worshippers – this laid the groundwork for Matan Tora. When Rav Yisrael Salanter’s granddaughter was looking for a shidduch he told her to first see if he is a mentsch. If he is also an ilui that is a bonus.
In the sense of work, there is a Chatam Sofer on Sukka 36a (which was censored by the anti-Zionists) that any work one does is a kiyum of the mitzva of building the Land. Even in Chutz laAretz, if there is no flour there is no Tora and if there is no Tora there is no flour. Similarly, if Yoav had not made war david could not have made justice (Tora) and vice-versa (Sanhedrin 49a). The point is taht there is a symbiotic relationship between Tora and Derech Eretz. Rav Asher Weiss asks how Yissachar could sell half of his reward for talmud Tora. He answers that by enabling Yissachar to learn half of the mitzva was Zevulun’s by right. Similarly, a bachur once came to the Chazon Ish and told him that his kalla was willing to support him on condition that she received half the reward for his learning (she wanted to put it in hte ketuba). The Chazon Ish told him that in that case she would get three-quarters.
M, I heard the opposite. The Satan tries to confuse us as to what we should do (hint, hint) but if we are doing what Hashem wants He helps us. My source in the menatime is a logical mind (sevara). Bli neder I will look for a prior source but I think that it is fairly obvious. Hashem controls the world – including the Satan. The Satan is only there to give us free choice. In any case there is a mitzva to conquer and settle EY according to all of the Rishonim (Pitchei Teshuva 75:6). See “Kol haTor” of Rabbi Hillel Shklover (one of the talmidei haGra who made aliya) that this and the physical building of EY is the job of Mahiach ben Yosef.
Correction: He’emek Devar Devarim 10:12
Bob, this refers to dinei mamonot and is a source for having an appeals court.
There is a yishuv of the famous machloket between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon on this subject (Rav Ovadia and others) that Rabbi Shimon’s way is not for the majority but it is for a small elite (see also HeEmek Devar Devarim 10:14). Who is in which group? This is part of the general question of the individual’s avoda which each person must clarify.
If one takes in Shabbat early it is correct lechatchila to continue the meal until night as some poskim require this (Mishna Berura 267:5 and see Pri Megiddim 47:1 that that means after tzet hakokavim).
See Shemirat Shabbat KeHilcata 56:4 and footnote 18. The half-hour before tzet hakochavim rule is because of the general rule not to start a meal within half an hour before the obligation to do a mitzva (in tis case Havdala as well as Keriat Shema and Maariv) begins.
You’re not up to date. Reports of Rav Levanon’s resignation were greatly exaggerated.
The posek takes into account the dfferent opinions and their reasoning together with his hashkafa and the questioner’s personal situation. The Bet HaLevi, for example, would not answer a kashrut question until he had looked at the questioner’s shoes. The Maharshal had five pesakim for a given shaila: one for an ordinary Jew, one for a rich person, one for a poor person, one for a big tzaddik and one for himself.
Your experience is typical of the Lithuanian ramim and roshei yeshivot as opposed to the rav (In Lithuania, as opposed to Hungary, the rosh yeshiva almost never paskened. this was done by the rav/av bet din).
As for “rabbi shopping” really you should have one rav or at least one rav for an area of Halacha (e.g. Shabbat). However, I have heard of cases where even yeshiva men would not ask their roshei yeshivot shailot in particular areas as they were very machmir and even cases where a rav would tell a questioner to ask another rav he knew had a meikal tradition as he realized that the questioner needed a heter but he could not give it as he was bound by his tradition. What is definitely illegitimate is to ask another rav after being given a “no”.
A former Meretz Yerushalayim city councillor once said in an interview in “Besheva” that she left after she saw representatives of a Charedi party entering the Meretz city headquarters. When she asked what they were doing there she was told that both parties needed a confrontation as the press had been ignoring them. Perhaps this is why she only became partially closer to Judaism.
On the contrary, although the Chafetz Chaim obviously opposed secularism he supported the essence of Zionism in his time: buying land in EY and making aliya (Letters to his son Reb Ayeh Leb HaCohen pg. 43-44). The Gra, Chatam Sofer, Netziv, Avnei Nezer, Sefat Emmet and Ohr Sameach (who contributed to the JNF) also supported the essentials of Zionism.
It is a postive mitzva to establish a state as has already been proven here. This is a milchemet mitzva (obligatory war) as set forth explicitly by Ramban (Rambam apparently includes it in the mitzva of living here). The rest is up to succeeding generations.
Health,
1. Again I dispute oyur contention that most gedolim disagreed with Rav Kook.
2. Virtually all gedolim today hold that one should vote.
2cents, there is, in fact, a great difference of opinion among poskim regarding the palce of Kabbala in pesak. As for your reasons, they are in the realm of hashkafa. While hashkafa certainly effects pesak that is only where the halachic sources are equivocal. In any case, you certainly have no right to condemn those who do not follow your sartorial tastes as there is a wide variety in the halachic conmmunity – including talmidei chachamim and poskim.
m, I think that if the Jewish people or even a portion of it (Rav Soloveichik held that if c”v the Jews in Israel go down everybody else will) received a miraculous salvation three times there is a chazaka that Hashem is with us. Even once is good thing for which we are required to be joyful and give thanks.
What were the three?
1. In 5708 the British and Americans warned Ben Gurion that if he declared a state the Arabs would overrun it in a matter of days. The Britrish even tried to help by training and providing the officers for Jordan’s Arab Legion. In fact, Israel came out with more territory than the partition plan gave it including western Yerushalayim.
2. In 5727 everybody was expecting another Holocaust. There were plans to turn public parks into cemetaries. Eshkol broke down and cried during a radio speech. We regained the eastern part of Yerushalayim, Yehuda veShomron, Gaza (the fact that it was abandoned is another matter) and the vitally important Golan (after Rav Tzvi Yehuda’s prophetic Yom HaAtzmaut speech “Where is our Hevon? Where is our Shechem?”).
3. In 5734, Syrian tanks were poised to break the Israeli line, after which they would have had a clear field to Haifa. For some reason, their commander got the notion that they were being outflanked and order a halt.
Add to that, the fact that the new, poor state managed to absorb more immigrants than its pre-War of Independence population, albeit with problems but not the type that were predicted. Add to that the constant improvements in life here both materially and spiritually. If we can execute someone on a hazaka (for example thatt he person he struck is actually his father) how much more so should we give thanks for what we have (while davening and doing hishtadlut for more)?
Health, yes almost every gadol – with the exceptions of all those who supported him. You sound like the worker who came an hour late and said that he was almost on time.
If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. If you do not vote you are in effect voting for more secularism.
Health,
1. Weird? I hope that your English is deficient.
2. I was not talking about a seculr legal requirememnt (BTW, some countries do require voting. In Australia a person who refrains from voting without a good reason is fined.) As most rabbanim support some political party they obviously hold that it is a mitzva to vote.
Sam, from the gemara (Taanit 29b) it is clear that ????? was a type of special cleaning job. The only question is regarding the exact method. Some say that the garment was rubbed with a stone (Ritva and Aruch) whereas others say that special materials were used (Nimukei Yosef). According to both opinions the garment came out cleaner. Both opinions are brought by the Shulchan Aruch (OC 551:3). He goes on to say that being that today we do not launder with water alone all laundering is considered ?????.In Modern Hebrew ????? is ironing.
Health,
1. I dispute your contention about the rov. In any case, the Halacha is not always like the numerical rov. For example, many times we pasken like Rabbi Yossi against the Chachamim because “nimuko imo”.
2. Why does the Eida, Satmar, etc,. not go according to the rov who participate in Israeli elections?
Hello, I agree that one cannot convict someone in the media. On the other hand, a public trial is considered a protection against railroading. This right was put into the US constitution because of memories of the English “Star Chamber” where political prisoners were convicted in secret trials. This is the fault of those reporters who take sides, mainly to sell their wares but also because of a group identification about which muchpsychologic material has been written.
For seforim, there is an excellent sefer in English called “Torat Eretz Yisrael” by Rabbi David Samson. I also saw that “Kol HaTor” of Rabbi Hillel Shklover has been translated in English. In Hebrew there is “HaTekufa HaGedola” of Rav Menachem Kasher. There are also “Torat HaMedina” by Rav Goren and several books by Rav Aviner.
Sorry, we don’t generally allow outside links.
Health,
1. On the contrary, they take and take and take. Some then bite the hand that feeds them and defame the Medina.
2. The Turks? Erdogan? You really are living in never, never land. As for the Kotel, Arab houses were right up against it leaving almost no room for daveners. The Medina razed the houses and built a nice plaza.
Abelleh, some say Rambam does not count it as a separate mitzva because he includes it in yishuv Eretz Yisrael.
Gubbish, there are several more reasons (BTW, the one you cited was given by Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, who was an ardent supporter of Zionism) why we are not choshesh to the thre oaths:
1. It is aggada not halacha and, in fact, does not appear in any of the major halachic codes.
2. The Goyim violated their part of the bargain – not to persecute us “too much” – on several occasions. Thus if there was a deal it is off.
3. The oaths were only for a limited period. Some say 1,000 years (if they started with the destruction of the Bayit Sheni that would be approximately the beginning of the Crusades – which were the first major violation by the Goyim). In nay case, the wondrous success of Zioinism shows that Hashem has released us from them and the time has come.
Sam, actually in Mishnaic Hebrew ???? refers to a special professional cleaning method. The gemara you cited does not say that they wore these garments all of tthe time as you implied. It says that these are the types of garments that give a woman simcha and are therefore what a man should give his wife for yom tov.
BTW, Health, do you know the origin of the name of this organization? The Sikrikin were Goyim who were given stolen Jewish land in Eretz Yisrael in lieu of a pension for their service in the Roman army. That says it all.
Health, Rav Kook did not live to see the Medina, but he defended the chalutziim and was maspid Herzl. Rav Tzi Yehuda and Rav Yosef Dov Ber Soloveichik (as well as Rav Aharon Soloveichik)saw the Medina and supported it.
As for being based on kefira, Rav Kook implored frum Jews to make aliya and join the Zionist movement so that the future state would be 100% based on Tora but they did not listen and still are not – in fact, many who do make aliya do not become citizens but stay on “student” or “tourist” visas or only become “permanent residents”. The fault for shortcomings lies squarely on their shoulders.
As for Rav Tzvi Yehuda (Kook), when Yom HaAtzmaut fell on Bahab he said both Hallel and selichot. When asked about it he replied “Hallel on the Medina, selichot on the government”. A Medina is an organism about any government or even form of government. To give one example, France is now on its fifth republic (= fifth constitution) and has had kings and emperors. However, it remains France. Thus, we are joyful at the opportunity generations of our people (including Moshe and Aharon) did not have. We daven to be able to improve it and do our hishtadlut.
Health, you are so blinded by your hatred for the Medina that you defend terrorists.
2cents, are you for real? Drug money is blood money. As for the attitude towards the Medina, one who holds that it is treif cannot even walk in many Charedi neighborhoods as they were built by taking land through eminent domain.
HaKatan,
1. The Medina through its various organs, including the IDF, supports Tora instituions and learners. It even supports those who are not exactly learning full-time. If not for this they would have to (gasp) work for a living.
2. Many of that Jewish money came from Jews whp had been stripped of their Judaism by the temptations of the goldene medina and felt guilty about it.
3. Do you really think that the UN would support Tora? Anyway, the Jordanians occupied Yehuda veShomron and Yerushalayim in nay case and would still be in control. Don’t forget, the Arabs rejected the partition plan that included internationization. The Kotel would be inaccessible and Jews would not be allowed to set foot in the Old City.
4. See “Kol HaTor” of Rabbi Hillel Shklover that there are actually two mashiachs, Mashiach ben Yosef, whose job is kibbutz galuyot and building the material aspect of Eretz Yisrael (Rav Kook held that he is the Zionist movement in general, and Herzl in particular. See “Hesped B’Yerushalim in “Maamarei HaRaya”), and Mashiach ben David, whose job is building the spiritual aspect culminating in the Bet HaMikdash.He aslso says that according to the Gra in the time of ikveta d’Mashicha the Chet HaMeraglim will infect many in the Tora world.
5. See Yerushalmi Berachot 1:1 that the Geula comes slowly in stages. See also Rabbi Elazar Azkari’s commentary, Perush Baal Sefer Charedim, that “they did not want to mention the sorrow, the blackness of balck, because they only wanted to mention the lights which gradually increase”.
6. If you believe that the Zionists “hijacked the course of our history” then you are a kofer ba’ijar as you obviously do not believe that Hashem runs the world (see Mishlei 21:1 that Hashem controls the heart of a king (there is also a well-known maxim that He controls the hearts of kings and ministers but I could not find the source.
7. Learn Hilchot Melachim of Rambam as well as commentators on the mitzva of apopointing a king and judges such as Abarbanel, Rav Hirsch and the Netziv as well as various places in Halacha as well as Aggada and Midrashim (for good advice not halachot) and you will see how to run a state according to halacha.
Rabbi Doniel Yehuda Neustadt dicusses this (“The Weekly Halachah Discussion” vol.1 pg. 43-44). Rambam based on the Gemara (Moed Katan 21b) says that there are two facets to nichum aveilim: comforting the mourners and elevating the neshama of the niftar. Rav Moshe (Iggerot Moshe Orech Chaim 4:40:11) rules that a phone call neither elelvates the neshama nor shows proper honor to the mourners (although Rabbi Neustadt feels that if the caller is an honorable – I think he means important – person even a phone call shows honor to them). Thus it is preferable to go in person but if there is a valid reason for not going a phone call is still in order. While the mourner may answer the call he may not talk about other matters or ask about the caller’s welfare.
Health, I will call Rav Kook, Rav Tzvi Yehuda, Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, the Netziv, Rav Arye Levin, Rav Soloveichik, Rav Kalisher, Rav Yehuda Alkelai, the Gra and the Chaatm Sofer to testify on my behalf. You can decide for yourself whom to call on your behalf. Not that this is the first time. 80% of Am Yisrael refused to leave Egypt and died in the Plague of Darkness. Even after seeing all of the signs and wonders ten out of twelve gedolei hador opposed Zionism. Only a small number of social outcasts who had nothing to seek in Bavel joined Ezra and Nehemia’s Zioinist movement.
Sushe, you are simply wromg. A long list of gedolim supported Zionism from the start. I also recommend “Torat Eretz Yisrael” (it is written in English) to you.
Health, you are arguing from the converse. Saying that being the az is a type of kefira means that all kefira is az is like saying that the fact that cats are animals means that all animals are cats.
BT, I have often suspect that the pashkevillim were put up by Leftists in order to discredit the frum community. BTW, a former Yerushalayim city councillor from Meretz who left said that she became disillusioned when representatives of a Haredi party came to the office. When she asked someone what they were doing there he said that the media had been ignoring both parties so they were cooking up a confrontation. Maybe this is why she came closer to Judaism but did not become fully observant.
For that matter, black clothing was considered a sign of mourning or being on trial and white clothing was a sign of joy. Thus, Jews wore white on Shabbat and even on Rosh HaShana in order to show confidence in Hashem’s mercy. In fact, the Arizal is quoted in Shaar HaKavenot as making a frightening statement about wearing black on Shabbat. Ashkenazi poskim point out that the talmidei chachamim of Pumpedita wore black clokes on Shabbat (Shabbat 147a). The Ben Ish Hai, on the other hand, paskens not to (Halachot Shana Shenia Parashat Lech Lecha Halacha 18). However, Rav Ovadia (lesheetato not to pasken according to Kabbala) says that the minhag of all gedolei hador today is to wear black suits and someone who wears white is acting incorrectly and should be instructed not to change from the minahg of the gedolim (Yalkut Yosef 262:2 in the name of Halichot Olam Part 4).
Thus we see that what is considered proper clothing can change from time to time and place to place although a talmid chacham should not wear either very cheap or very expensive clothing but nice, moderate, clean clothing (Rambam Hilchot Deot 5:9).
Sam, to be more exact it is in Shabbat 66b. Rabbi Scroll (his friends call him Art) says in the name of the Rashba (Teshuvot 1:413) that a certain action had to be performed on the stone. However, he does not say what that action was. In could be that there was some science known to them that is not known to us. It could also be that it had a placebo effect.
If we would follow the ways of the Tora and not pasul everyone who is not exactly like us we would have much more to celebrate (my English teachers said that “a lot” is a parcel of land).
What are your sources? Do you know that “Chassidic dress” is a copy of the dress of the Polish aristocracy of 300 years ago (the only levush yehudi today is jeans as they were invented by Levi Strauss when he saw that miners needed strong pants – trousers to British-speakers)? Do you know that (at least according to Agnon)the Polish authorities mandated the streimel because they thought that it was a sign of disgrace? Do you know that many gedolei Tora wore short suit jackets – and this is, in fact, the norm in the Lithuanian yeshiva world? Do you know that in mussar yeshivot it was actually assur for a bachur to grow a beard as it was considered gaava?
From the thread on smoking:
Health says:
When someone here decides to give me a check or cash. I have no professional responsibilty to anyone here. I’m free here to state my own opinions, whether others agree with me or not!
So am I.
Heaslth, read your post addressed to me together with mine and you will understand.
Rav Aviner said that the segulot for parnassa work for those who sell them. The segula for childbirth can be found at Machon Puah (which has an English-speaker division).
Health,
1. You wrote that only a machloket between the Chreidim and National Religious is a machloket. This implies that you hold that within a camp there must be uniformity.
2. I dispute your statement that the majority opposed Rav Kook. BTW, the Satmar Rebbe admitted that he was a daat yachid but said that being that others did not sit down and learn it out with him he was not obligated to change his opinion.
3. Hallevai. However, I cannot claim descent from him. At most I might be a nitzotz of one of his talmidim. However, I thank you for the tremendous compliment.
4. I am not “pushing” my sheeta on anyone. I am expounding it.
Health, where do you get off make wild accusations about moi aussi’s source of income? It seems to me that you are a world-class motzi shem ra. BTW, name-caling is a cognitive bias (you can google it).
As for the Sikrik, he was caught on video tape and convicted according to mishpat hamelech – which has the force of Halacha.I suggest you go learn the sources I posted.
Hello, who defines “sub-par”? While we re talking about toelet, do you
1. Even if it convinces one it is worthwhile.
2. Why do you dan the writer of the piece bechaf chov? Are you aware of what Chazal say about one who is choshed bekesherim? Not to mention LR and possibly hotzaat shem ra about him.
3. Do you really think that this will convince women to be more machmir? Have you ever thought that this might actually push people away from Tora?
Health, I already posted what the Chatam Sofer says about mixing Aggada and Halacha.