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N0mesorah, before we can discuss that we must discuss the definition of a medina (state). Prof. Google defines it as “a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.” The sociologist Max Weber defined it as a polity that has a monopoly on the use of force. The form of government or constitution only sets forth the rules of governance. Those in the government are only temporarily in charge of the actual governing in accordance with constitutional constraints. This the State of Israel would still be the State of Israel if all of the ministers were observant and even if a kingdom under Mashiach ben David would be proclaimed. This, someone who wants the State to end is in fact saying that he does not want Mashiach to come. Moreover, as the destruction of the State c”v would perforce mean the death of several million Jews he is, in fact, calling for another Holocaust. Something to think about during Yom Kippur.
Rational, a bachur will be much happier in any yeshiva if he fits in with the hashkafa (BTW, there is a yeshiva for English speakers called Shappell’s/Drachei noam whose hashkafa is that is doesn’t have one). As for the Bet-el yeshiva, so far as I know it soes have a program for English speakers but the expectation is that they will make aliya if they haven’t already. The yishuv has many English-speaking families, most of whom have lived in Israel for many years so it might be a good choice for someone who wants to get into Israeli life gradually.
Someone, what makes you think that a state is identical with the government or even the system of government? France, for example, is now on its fifth republic (constitution). Some American states have had more. Does this make them different states?
HaKatan and Akuperma, have you sought professional help for your denial syndrome. Everyone knows that the state is here to stay. That is why Arab states are establishing normal relations. If frum Jews had made aliya en masse one hundred years ago in response to the calls of Rav Kook and the Imrei Emmet the state would have been completely religious from the beginning. Now it will have to take a little longer. BTW, the Zohar says that each 1,000 years are equivalent to one of the six days of Creation. That means that 5708 was the last time for biur chametz. There is no greater chametz than the Galut.
Gd Forbid! This is the voice of the erev rav, When everyone thought that Rommel would reach EY Rav Herzog paskened that the third commonwealth would not be destroyed. What could happen is that a mostly religious government will be elected after this one falls, which it sooner or later will. The Geula comes slowly in stages (Yerushalmi, Berachot 1;1).
HaKatan,
No one held such a ridiculous position. At most someone may have used exaggerated language. Once Rav Aharon Kotler called a certain rabbi an am ha’aretz. The Satmar rebbe was very upset until someone told him that that RK said “am ha’aretz” like he (the SR) said “apikoros”.
Rav Kook held that the Zionist movement (or maybe Herzl, it is not clear what he meant) is Mashiach ben Yosef, whose job is kibbutz galuyot and building the material aspect of EY (“Kol haTor” of Rabbi Hillel Rivlin according to the Gra’s teachings). Rav Yosef Soloveichik held that the Israeli flag has kedusha similar to the bloody garments of a murdered Jew.
I also very much doubt that statement you attributed to Rav Schwab. He was a proponent of “Torah im Derech Eretz”, which was the original Modern Orthodoxy. He may have been talking some people who call themselves MO but are really just traditional and think that half a glass is a full glass. However, it is not an empty glass either. It is certain that he did not say that there is no source for Zionism. Ramban says explicitly (Sefer haMitzvot, mitzvot that Rambam “forgot”) that there is a Torah obligation to conquer and settle EY in our time. Some say that Rambam does not include it because it is included in other mitzvot. BTW, when Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was asked about going to kivrei tzaddikim he said that he went to the military cemetery on Mt. Herzl.
See Chullin 63b regarding the ראה. The Kotzker says that there is nothing more טמא.
AkupermA et al., stop being motzi shem ra on your fellow Jews! Someone who fights for a Jewish state is far better than someone who badmouths it from his easy chair in galut.
Charlie,
You do not know history. The term “Israeli” was first used in the Tanach. There were two different nation called “Plishtim” (Philistines) but “Palestine” was first applied by the Romans as part of their attempt to erase all memory of it belonging to the Jewish people. The term “Palestinian” later was a regional description like “New Yorker”.The First Congress of Muslim-Christian Associations (in Jerusalem, February 1919), adopted the following resolution: “We consider Palestine as part of Arab Syria, as it has never been separated from it at any time [my note: in fact, it was part of the Ottoman district of Syria, in fact, the NILI spies were tried and hanged in Damasus as that was the area capital]. We are connected with it by national, religious, linguistic, natural, economic and geographical bonds”. Under the Mandate, Jews who held Mandatory citizenship were also called Palestinians.The term “Palestinian people” in reference to a segment of the Arab people was first used by the PLO in 1967.CTL, what will you do when the mob attacks the privileged, Zionist CTL compound or at least nationalizes it? Tzvi Fishman wrote a story about this in “Days of Mashiach” called “On Eagle’s Wings”. You wrote once that you are planning to retire. Why not retire to EY? You can even continue to consult online.
Akuperma, if there are free elections the Fakestinians (they are a fake people – they are descendants of Lebanese and Syrians who came for economic opportunities) Hamas will win hands down. That will signal all-out war.
Charlie, there is not much difference between Nazism (National Socialism) and Communism. Hitler and Stalin were birds of a feather. The latter even planned a second holocaust but died (he was found in a coma on Purim and died a few days later) before he could carry it out. The fact that the two parties engaged in sreet battles just shows how bad internecine arguments can get. Look what happened to Trotsky. BLM is more similar to the Nazis as they are overt black supremacists.
CA, small children disturb the davening as they do not yet know how to daven and are incapable of sitting quietly. See Mishna Berura 97:3.
Syag, if the muktza was put there before Shabbat along with something more important or if it was not left intentionally there is no prohibition. Similarly, if the muktza is a devar she’melachto assura, the stroller may be moved for it;s needs or a permitted use (SA OC 310:7-8). How do you define not Shabbat-related? In general, if someone enjoys something that is his oneg Shabbat (Aruch haShulchan OC 307:2-3). I suggest that you review the halachot.
Reform rabbi, very funny but don’t give up your day job.
There is a family in my community named Uman. They usually sponsor a shiur in their sukka during Chol haMoed.
CTL, apparently he doesn’t consider you a Democrat. In any case, by cutting off those institutions he uses you would be over on taking revenge. What would you do though if you found out that they are also used by people who have done you favors?
N0mesorah, on the contrary, not wanting a central movement shows that they are anarchists. No rules. On the other hand, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors described herself and fellow co-founder Alicia Garza as “trained Marxists”. Brad Polumbo wrote an interesting article about this called “Is Black Lives Matter Marxist? No and Yes.” whichcan be read online.
Charlie, I once read a claim by a musicologist that the Gregorian chants were taken from the tunes the Levites used in the Beit haMikdash, which are true Jewish music. In any case, Rav Moshe says that modern dress cannot be classified as Jewish or non-Jewish as they are made for everyone. Probably the same can be said for tunes. What matters is the words.
Shmil. even if the words are a translation of some verse in the Torah if there is a secular intent I would not classify it as Jewish. Similarly, someone who writes a name of Hashem with a secular intent does not write a shem kadosh. There is a joke about a boy and girl who meet fr a shidduch. The girl says “My name is Batka”. The boy says “Mine is Kelikaku”.
Charlie,
1. Former President Clinton is still a male and therefor it is “his personal life”. I understand that you like Newspeak but there is a limit.
2. A Biden/Harris win (I would not be surprised if Harris becomes President in a palace coup based on Section 4 of the 25th Amendment) would mean a war between leftist totalitarians and conservative judges, especially on issues regarding freedom of speech and religion (National Review has an article on why Harris is worse than Hillary Clinton). On foreign policy look for an appeasement policy towards Iran and a continuation of Obama’s alienation of America’s allies.
Charlie,
Actually Israel was only able to absorb the mass immigration of the 50s because of the “reparations” from former West Germany. Until then it was impoverished and had a strict (and strictly violated) austerity program. Since the Likud revolution of 1977 there has been much privatization, which has resulted in prosperity and much greater efficiently. For example, when the phone company was part of the Ministry of Communications it took years to get a phone – unless someone had an “in” (protektzia). In fact, protektzia was needed for just about anything decent. The middle-class Mizrahi (which later merged with the socialist HaPoel haMizrahi) joined the governments to get a piece of the pie and insure thee rights of the religious public (e.g. kosher food in the IDF). Jo Amar, in fact, had a protest song about this called Lishkat haTaasuka (employment Service). There is no such thing as equality..Not in this world and not in the next. The only difference is the basis of inequality. As George Orwell put it, “all animals are equal but some are more equal than others”.Israel’s experience is not exclusive. Every country that has thrown off socialism for a free enterprise economy has greatly benefited. Unfortunately, many people did not have the foresight to realize this. Prof. Yisrael Aumann, in fact, commented that socialism sounds great but has one problem. It doesn’t work.
CTL, that odes not mean that it is wise. It does not even mean that it is constitutional. Once a NYS legislator was asked why he pushed a blatantly unconstitutional measure (it had to do with supporting religious schools). He answered that sometimes he has to do things like that to get votes.
Charlie,
1. Israel does not have a federal system. Moreover, it is approximately the size of NJ in both area and population. Insurance pools have always been state responsibilities. This would also be much more efficient.
2. Israel’s system is mostly private. There is a basic plan that is funded through income-based premiums and distributed to HMOs on the basis of membership. The HMOs also offere voluntary supplementary plans forage-based premiums. Insurance companies also offer supplementary individual and group plans.CTL, if you mean that they will bring back America and undo the Obamanation then that will secure Trump’s place in history. Do you really want an America where traditionally religious people and others who defy the leftist cancel culture are persecuted by PC totalitarians? Do you really want an America where violent criminals are coddled?
As for being happy to pay taxes for social programs, be a tzaddik with your own money not with others’. We learn this from Avraham Avinu. When he was rich he would not take a shoelace (although he insisted that his soldiers be paid) but when he owed money to innkeepers he took whatever he could halachically take, However, I suggest that you listen to what Thomas Sowell has to say about how they destroyed the black family and inculcated a culture a dependency.
1, didn’t you ever hear of not punishing the sons for the sins of their fathers? FYI, there are children and grandchildren of Nazis who became frum Jews.
CTL, on the contrary, whatever his personal failings Trump has filled the judiciary with friends of freedom of speech and religion. He is also the greatest friend of Israel since Truman. The Democratic party has been taken over by Marxists who are cancel the living and take down statues of the dead. Senile Joe Biden, who does not even know for what office he is running (he exhorted people to vote for him for the Senate) is just a figurehead.
Charlie, Obama lavished money on the PA kleptocrats. They took the lion’s share for themselves and used the rest to pay monthly pensions to families of terrorists killed by Israel. Trump defunded them (although the Euronazis continue to pay).
Rabbi Akiva Eiger called for restrictions and staying at home during the 1830 cholera epidemic. However, he obviously relied on the medical knowledge of his time. If most, or even a plurality of people are infected at home it makes no sense to have a lockdown. In fact, one Israeli public health expert called a lockdown “medieval”.
RE, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Village of Skoke v. National Socialist Party of America 69 Ill. 2d 605 (1978) overruled the appellate court stating “The display of the swastika, as offensive to the principles of a free nation as the memories it recalls may be, is symbolic political speech intended to convey to the public the beliefs of those who display it. It does not, in our opinion, fall within the definition of “fighting words,” and that doctrine cannot be used here to overcome the heavy presumption against the constitutional validity of a prior restraint.” in Virginia vs. Black 538 U.S. 343 (2003), SCOTUS ruled that cross burning is permitted unless it is proved that the burners intended to intimidate rather than merely express an opinion.
As far as the O.P.’s question is concerned, yes a swastika is permitted as is hate speech in general.
See Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). BTW, a swastika is a religious symbol in native American and East Indian cultures.I wonder how many of those killed by police were effective suicides. this is known as “suicide by cop”.
Charlie, how do you define morals? If you define them according to Halacha cheating on his wives was not immoral. There is no prohibition for a Noahide to only have one wife or not to have girlfriends. In any case, I think that most people support Trump because they oppose what the Democrats are doing (although some might think that such a person is best suited to deal with America’s enemies). In fact, until Hillary Clinton declared war on freedom of religion (in the words of the Washington Post) conservative Xtians were going to stay home. That one foolish statement about people having to change their religious beliefs cost her the election.
Ubiquitin, there would be a law against stealing but the details might well be different. in fact, there is a machloket if the obligation to establish a justice system means that they adopt al of Choshen Mishpat or that they can make whatever laws they want so long as they are consistent and non-discriminatory or if they must have a law on everything in CM but can change from our pesak (e.g. a shor tam pays one third). Just to give an example, according to Rav Chaim Soloveichik poskm stealing sleep or jumping a line is robbery. According to the Chafetz Chaim it is worse as it cannot be returned. However, to the best of my knowledge there is no secular law that criminalizes either.
Ubiquitin, what exactly is your contention? Are you saying that even without the Torah there would be a law against stealing? Probably. The question is how stealing would be defined. Is redistribution of wealth stealing? What about Robin Hood? For that matter, Jesse James was a folk hero because people thought that he was just taking money back from robbers (the banks).
Ubiquitin,
1. Law does not have to based on right and wrong. Hobbes postulated that the state was invented because people realized that a situation where everyone grabs from everyone else is grossly impractical. Utilitarians called for “the greatest good for the greatest number” but did not define what is good or who counts in the number. Thus, the Nazis ym”s justified the Holocaust. Bentham proposed comparing the pleasure and pain caused by the act. However, this could justify a poor person stealing from a rich person.
2. People do or refrain from doing many things even though there is no law on the subject. The old-fashioned terms are “just because” and “this is not done”. Just to give one example, there is no law in Israel requiring berit mila but 98% all Jewish males are circumcised.
Ubiquitin, I reread and you are half right. We should know but that does not mean that there would be a law. We should know to honor our parents even without a commandment but there si no law requiring it.
Akuperma, are rich people really treated better? Look what happened to Jeffrey Epstein. In fact, for a rich person to be arrested publicly is much worse emotionally. Imagine how suspects such as Richard Wigton felt when they were arrested in their offices and led away in handcuffs.
Ubiquitin, Rashi does not say that we would not know that stealing is wrong. Quite the contrary, people would prohibit it. However, according to Rav Shimon Shkop the Torah tells us what is and is not stealing. It also gives custom and dina d’malchuta a say. For example, if Reuven admits that he stole Shimon’s object the bet din will give it to Shimon even if it is not factually correct. Similarly, if the government seizes property it belongs to the government. Thus, we can travel on roads and bridges that were built through eminent domain (Baba Kama 113b).
Ubiquitin, Rashi say the opposite. Even if they were not written they would have been commanded. That is to say, people would prohibit them.
Doing, Rav Shimon Shkop addresses this in Shaarei Yosher. How do we allow a possessor to retain a disputed object where there is no proof? It is a safek d’Oraita of robbery and therefor we should be stringent and leave it aside until there is proof. He answers that before an object can be considered stolen the law must say that it does not belong to the possessor. The whole idea of the mitzvot is that there are actions which are inherently bad, in the case of the sheva mitzvot, or bad for us, in the case of the Taryag. Good and bad obviously were created before people as the Tree of Life was created before Adam and Chava.
N0mesorah, first the slave has to get the money. The Gemara discusses this as everything he gets is his master’s. Someone must give him the money on condition that it not go to his master. In essence, he is buying the slave in order to free him. BTW, John and Abigail Adams received a slave as a wedding gift and immediately freed him. Washington freed all his slaves in his will.
N0, an employee can leave whenever he wants.
One the mob has reign no one is safe. Already they have torn down statues of an abolitionist, Hans Christian Heg, who died fighting the confederacy and beat liberal state senator State Senator Tim Carpenter so badly he needed surgery.
Akuperma, you are wrong. A person may not use his house for an illegal business and may not violate a zoning ordinance. One of my uncles was forced to give up a pet (if I remember correctly, a goat) he bought for my cousins because he had less than an acre of land.
Not necessarily. Maybe he wants peace and quiet. The key is whether or not he would also oppose some other house of worship. Of course, it could also mean that he does not want another shul competing for membership with his shul.
According to the Jerusalem Post a group of researchers from several universities including the Technion have a solution. “Based on previous studies showing a stronger likelihood of virus transmission indoors, the scientists suggest that fluorescent lamps, microcavity plasmas and LEDs inside ventilation systems can be effective at deactivating both airborne and surface-deposited strains of COVID-19.
On this basis, the team argues that investing a few billion dollars in such a technology in the form of UV-C sources can help protect billions of indoor workers worldwide.
Similarly, the deployment of UV light, according to the group, can lead to a return to routine activities such as working at the office, going to school and attending entertainment events. ”UV-C is already being used by the Maayanei haYeshua hospital in Bnei Beraq. Obviously, this would be the solution for minyaniim of any size.
Haimy, you wrote it yourself. We should feel revulsion at the sin but not the person. This was Beruria’s answer to Rabbi Meir – and it came out like her (Berachot 10a). I have a feeling that you will have to work alone with you. People who do aveirot never say that they are evil. They always have excuses. People who cheat the government say that other ethnic groups do it. People who cheat on exams and have others do term papers for them say that they need a good grade. People who talk during davening say that shul is the only place where they meet their friends. The list goes on and on.
Haimy, what about working side by side with people who say rechilut and lashon hara, cheat on their taxes, lie to day school scholarship boards, etc.? It seems to me that you have adopted the leftist cancel culture. Be careful. Someone might cancel you.
Joseph, if an employee expresses deep racism and xenophobia off-hours, off premises, on his own time on social media and in public and it becomes to known to fellow employees it could create workplace issues. As people might boycott the business (which they really should not do, but people do many things they should not), This is why rechilut is such a severe sin.
RE, if you are referring to the toeva ruling it had nothing to do with Constitutional Law. It was an interpretation of a law passed by the Congress and signed by POTUS. Justice Gorsuch said that he personally thinks that it is a bad law but he has no choice but to affirm that it says what it says. If you are interested in reading a complete report google “HOW JUDGE GORSUCH JUDGES” on the website of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (which is a conservative organization).
Akuperma, FYI the 14th Amendment was subsequently adopted. The accepted interpretation of the “Due Process” clause is what is called “substantive due process” – certain rights, in particular those in the Bill of Rights, are protected from government interference. The “Equal Protection” clause prevents states form improperly discriminating against classes of citizens. What is proper (e.g. a minimum age for driving) and what is not (e.g. a religious test for public office) is a matter of judge-made law although they look at social norms in their generation (thus Brown vs Board of Education overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson). This actually is a continuation of the English Common Law system, which is analogous (l’havdil) to our responsa literature. This contrasts with the Civil Law system of the Continent where law is strictly defined by codes. In American law schools the main point of study remains the case law system. civil law
Charlie, I seriously doubt if anyone other than the confrontation seekers know for whom they were named. In fact, Army officals did not even know. A base was built and the locals decided on the names. Google “The history behind the naming of Fort Bragg as Pentagon considers renaming base”. It goes far beyond that though. Any historical figure who did anything wrong is out. In fact, they are even calling out Trump for holding a rally in Tulsa (scene of one of the worst racial massacres in American history) on June 19 (Abolition Day). The inmates have taken over the asylum.
I posted that previously. Just out of curiosity, did your “Caps Lock” button get stuck?
CBS News reported that Coworker David Pinney said the two men had a history.”They bumped heads,” Pinney said.
Health, you should check out what they write. According to CBS News “George Floyd and Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with killing Floyd, worked security at the same local club for much of the year before their fatal encounter on a Minneapolis street last week. The owner of El Nuevo Rodeo said the two were in close proximity once a week for their Tuesday night shifts, though she did not know if they ever actually met while working at the club.”
Health, the neck restraint IS Not generally allowed unless the officer reasonably believes that his life is in danger. I reiterate, there should be follow up on the fact that they worked together as bouncers. In fact, between 1980 and 2008 56.4% of all homicides were committed by acquaintances. Another 7.1% were committed by spouses and other partners. Other family members accounted for 10,9%. People held grudges and decided to be judge, jury and executioner.
The Ashkenazi rav of PetachTikva said that peopel over 60 should get first dibs on limited minyanim both for honor and because this group has suffered more isolation. If there are special hours in stores for seniors and, conversely, youth minyanim, why not senior minyanim? Full disclosure: Iy”H I will be 66 next month.
Every society has racism. Just ask members of minority tribes in Africa.