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You can google “may one play the lottery [i.e. purchase a lottery ticket]?” for the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. also heard that Rav Ovadia and Rav Avraham Shapira allowed buying Israeli lottery tickets as they go for tzedaka purposes. Also, the odds are so enormous that any normal person will think that the money is gone. From the standpoint of taking the money if one wins, the sponsor knows that it will have to pay up someone eventually. There have actually been dinei Torah regarding someone who bought a ticket for someone else or received a ticket when buying something for someone else.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִי עֵסֶק זֶה לִרְפוּאָה, כִּי רוֹפֵא חִנָּם אַתָּה
The mob at the Capitol was a pro-Trump crowd. Trump himself acknowledged that fact. However, it is also true that radical leftists such as Antifa and BLM rioted throughout the summer. What is worse is the polarization and mutual hatred among ordinary people. I have been unfriended and blocked by several because of my conservative and Orthodox views. It is now almost inconceivable for a liberal and conservative to even contemplate marriage in the same way as interreligious marriage (including among non-Jews) once was. It does not bode well when people stop talking and listening.
Jackk, what we are having here is a parler (French for “to speak”). Actually, that is what is done on parlors. In fact, that is the root of the word.
Charlie, don’t you know that “blue lives matter” is a white supremacist code? You could be banned from social media for that.
Once someone who was writing a halacha book on tefillin for baalei battim asked Rav Eliahsiv if something (I don’t remember what) is a chatzitza. When RE responded that it is not he argued the point. finally RE said “If you want to be machmir be machmir”. The person wrote that RE said that it is good to be machmir.
Someone once asked Rav Mordechai Eliahu about organizing a vacation trip to chutz laAretz. RME said that it is not allowed. He advertised that the trip was with the advice of RME.
UJM, the fact that a criminal did not use violence does not mean that he did not cause great damage to people. Look at what Madoff did. I personally knew someone who had to go back to America and live with his daughter because of that guy. for that matter, the record holder for longest prison term (845 years) caused an insurance policy to go bankrupt. People who had been depending on annuities they bought lost them. Some elderly people lost their life savings. There are also many who trick elderly people into giving them all their money.
Common, I think that you mean Cornish hens. If you write it with a small “c” you re saying that they are similar to corn.
The vaccines are here and more are on the way. The problem was transport and storage at super-low temperature (less than -70C/-94F).
Dor, no. Have you? Getting back to pets, Rav Eliezer Melamed says is very much in favor of giving them to children as they learn responsibility and mercy. He adds that they are very good for lonely people, especially the elderly. Pet therapy, in fact, is becoming very common.
According to Agnon the streimel was a decree from the authorities. They thought that it was degrading to the Jews to wear the fur of a tamei animal.
There is a famous picture of Rav Eliahu Lopian feeding the yeshiva’s cat. He explained that if it did its job and got rid of the mice it would have nothing to eat otherwise.
Apparently dog ownership was common among our ancestors as the Torah tells us to give them the meat of treif animals. The Maharal says (חידושי אגדות הוריות יג ע”א ד”ב האוכל) that the dog is a בעל נפש and is called a כלב because he is כולו לב. The Ben Ish Hai in Bnei Yehoyada praises his loyalty. Chazal also praise his characteristic of gratitude.
Be careful. Foreman may be 71 but he is still Big George and he might not take kindly to being tovelled. BTW, there are opinions that something that is only used when plugged in is considered attached to the ground and does not need tevilla.
The cure might be worse than the disease. Destroying people’s livelihoods is akin to killing them. There are also mental health issues and rises in domestic violence. The way to go is the Swedish way coupled with scaled protections for at-risk people depending on degree of risk or non-risk. For example, people with type O blood at much less at risk and paradoxically a new Israeli report shows that asthma sufferers are less at risk (they put it down to a lower concentration of ACE receptors, which transmit the virus to the rest of the body).
The Meshech Chochma (Vayikra 26:44) says:
“If the Jew thinks that Berlin is Jerusalem … then a raging storm wind will uproot him by his trunk and subject him before a faraway gentile nation… a tempest will arise and spread its roaring waves, and swallow, and destroy, and flood forth without pity. Therefore, you will not be calm, nor shall there be a resting place for the sole of your foot is a blessing, for as long as the Jewish People are uncomfortable in exile, they will yearn to return to their homeland.”
The same goes for Brooklyn, Monsey and Lakewood. Galut and geula are not black and white. The geula comes slowly in stages (Yerushalmi, Berachot 1:1). The Zohar says that each 1,000 years of Creation are parallel to one day of the week. That means that we are now in Mincha Gedola of erev Shabbat.
For that matter there are many overlaps. What about a biracial person? What about a Jew from Latin America? The principal of a mostly-Latino JHS in NYC is a Chabadnik who was born in Chile and lived in other Latin American countries. Parents and pupils are constantly amazed when he speaks to them in fluent Spanish. For that matter, are Sephardic Jews Hispanic? My grandmother was born in Turkey. She called her Ladino language Spanish and could converse with Puerto Ricans.
Biden will undo some of the good Trump did. However, he will most likely have to contend with a GOP-controlled Senate, not to mention a long list of pressing maters starting with COVID-19. It will be interesting to see if Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf states decide that to normalize relations in order to counter Iran and Turkey being that they will not be able to count on Biden.
Crazykanoiy, are you kidding? Canada is the home of enforced political correctness.
Charlie,
First of all, why is it a chiddush for you that people are complex? Anyway, maybe gays are pro-Zionist because they know what happens to gays in Moslem countries.
In fact, I will one-up you. The Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Amir Ohana, is publicly gay and lives with another man. He is also very far to the right, railed against anti-Hareidi articles in the press and has constantly harshly criticized the Supreme Court and even said that he would disobey the judges if he thought that a decision would harm national security.
They look at where the uncounted votes are located. If they are in cities that are overwhelmingly Democratic they will PREDICT a win for the Democrat where it is very close.
Dor,
1. I do not think that he has done any of the four avodot to himself.
2. Adultery is only with a married woman. Moreover, if she is not Jewish the minute she walks out she is considered divorced. As for gilui arayot, for a ben Noach there are only six. He certainly has not been with a man or a prohibited (to a ben Noach) relative.
3. Using bad language is not birkat Hashem. He would have to say something along the lines of “Yossi should whack Yossi”).
4. His COVID policies, if wrong are at most gramma.
5. You can consider whatever you like to be stealing. That doesn’t mean that the Halacha does.Reb Eliezer, that statement of the Akeidas is obviously lashon guzma. This is very common. For example, Chazal say that embarrassing someone in public is like killing him but no one suggests that a person who does it is chayav skila.
Yytz, a ben Noach can be executed for violating any of his mitzvot. The king can also execute anyone who violates one of his decrees. Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 2:8) says even house arrest or making an illegal turn. He can certainly have people locked up. What about Kamala Harris? She was severely reprimanded by a judge for her behavior as a prosecutor.
Dor, you obviously are completely unfamiliar with the Federalist Society. Their view is just the opposite of what you claim. I suggest that you do some research.
While Trump’s personal life is certainly not a model technically he has not violated any of the sheva mitzvot presuming that he avoided taxes and did not evade them. The great Judge Learned Hand (yes, that was really his name) said that there is not even a patriotic duty to refrain from tax avoidance. Being nasty and aggressive might even be an advantage in dealing with rogue and semi-rogue regimes.
As has been mentioned, in a complex world the choice is often between bad and worse. It is almost never black and white. While it is, of course, no comparison, many concentration camp officers were polite and cultured. One even addressed older prisoners by the formal German “Sie”. Oskar Schindler, on the other hand, was a crook and unfaithful to his wife. That’s the way it goes sometimes.
Yserbius 123, decisions on freedom of religion will have repercussions for Orthodox Jews. One very important case in the pipeline is Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
According to Rav Soloveichik, Noach was the first atomic individual. He did not even pray for his generation. He was happy to save himself, his family and a few animals. On the other hand, Babel, as the Netziv says, was the first totalitarian society. Everyone spoke the same language and had the same words. No dissent, even slight, was allowed. The Torah condemns both attitudes.
Reb Eliezer, have the new revelations about Biden and his son changed your assessment? Besides, actions speak louder than words. Compare their records. Compare the Democratic and Republican platforms.
Jack, they did not want to change the number of justices, just delay an appointment a bit. On the other hand, the Democrats said that Obama, who was a lame duck, should be allowed to appoint someone and are now saying the opposite about Trump, who might just be re-elected.
It is a segula for parnassa for those who sell them.
Actually Trump said that he supports another check. However, money does not grow on trees. Someone will have to pay this bill.
N0mesorah, I apologize for my ack of clarity. I was referring to the O.P. Gemar chatima tova.
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).