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29 – I would have to agree with the point that it is entirely possible that government support is the modern manifestation of Hashem’s care and support, which, to a more spiritually elevated generation, presented itself in the ?? and ???? ?????.
I don’t recall any of the ?????? saying that it was an aversion to work that motivated the ??????. It is clear in the ????, however, that their ???? was ???? ??? (or, more precisely, ????? ?? ??).
That is what I had assumed your intended meaning to be, and thanks for clarifying. My point was merely that the word class can be taken to connote more than simple classification in that context.
For the record, in the suburban synagogue where I often daven (which does have fixed pews, and where women often attend minyan during the week) the percentage of latecomers seems more or less the same as at the various other types of shuls, yeshivos, etc where I have davened over the years. It is true that in the suburban synagogue these latecomers are less likely to try to get an extra kaddish.
Funny, when I saw the title of the thread, I automatically assumed that it was about people playing with their phones during Davening.
I have never had an experience similar to yours, TM, but I certainly can agree with your point. It’s one thing if a person is simply trying to get change; it’s quite another when they are keeping busy. (For the record, it is very easy to tell the difference, so anyone pretending to get change every day can just stop – you are not fooling anyone except yourself).
CTL, I think the word “class” in your first post is what came across as a bit arrogant (although I don’t think that was your intention).
NeutEu, only those who suffer an inferiority complex are consumed with comparison.
Baruch Hashem, neither I nor anyone in my close family has been diagnosed with Crohn’s. I do have a friend who suffers from it terribly, and have a small recognition of how dramatically it can affect a person’s life.
It is exactly the seriousness of the disease which could prompt a person to reject a shidduch on the basis of this diagnosis.
I do have a child with a different genetic abnormality, and was recently told by the geneticist that, even in the general population, one in every six people has a genetic abnormality of some sort (of course, some are more damaging than others). Obviously, the incidence is much higher among Ashkenazic Jews, who are effectively all intermarried with each other many times over.
It is time we got past the stigma of the words “genetic” and “hereditary.”
Wolf, I have deep respect for your candor and objectivity. I also identify with much of what you describe. Along with the sense of inadequacy and hypocrisy, I, too, am confrontation averse, and loathe the thought of telling a total stranger that he is doing the wrong thing.
When I described to my Rav something I had seen (the particular case involved an invalid manner of wearing Tefillin), he told me that I had an unequivocal obligation to inform the other person that he was doing the wrong thing, or that I would be held responsible for his wrongdoing. No amount of protest and revulsion could change this Psak.
The next time I witnessed someone doing the wrong thing, I forced myself to do what my Rav had said I must do, and was astounded to find that: 1) It was difficult, but not as hard as I had imagined, 2) The other person actually appreciated that I was trying to help him, and 3) Nobody attacked me for being the hypocrite that I am [other than myself]. I subsequently learned that it does not get easier to do (at least for me).
Please consider that your Tochacha is very valuable and important, and that you could potentially be included in the category of ???? ???? ????.
If the Tochacha (however you pronounce that) is given gently and with genuine concern to help the other person get it right, it is almost always accepted gratefully, and everyone wins.
It is most certainly incumbent upon you to do so in most cases.
If it is done in the form of rebuke, you are likely to get less favorable results.
It is most certainly incumbent upon you not to do so in all cases.
I often hear people pronounce Hashem’s Name as, “Ah-doh-noh”, forgetting that even if you pronounce a cholam as “oh”, the Yud at the end of the Name is still there. I wonder what Rav Miller v’siyato would say about this.
Apushutayid, Rashi believes that ?????? in fact does mean ??????. I recall the explanation that ?????? refers specifically to becoming intoxicated during a meal, but do not remember the source.
For one, Rav Elya Svei zt”l is known to have used whiskey, as well as to instruct his talmidim that they may do so as well, “oif mein pleitzos” (on [his] responsibility).
My Rav, a well known and highly respected posek, told me that without question, I may use whiskey as well.
Shehakol.
Even those who argue that Pringles are haadama would agree.
Squeak, I think you may have misunderstood my (and, if I may presume, truebt’s) post.
I am not saying that Trump is another Hitler ym”sh. What I meant [far from obviating the point, although not quite as directly expressed as by truebt] was that a true political genius (which includes Donald Trump, ???? ????) can mold any system to his ends. The restrictions of which you speak are not insurmountable obstacles in the way of a political genius. Evidence – not of Trump’s goals, but of the possibility that he can achieve them, whatever they are – can be seen in Hitler’s Germany.
Of course Hashem runs the show, and that was true when Haman ascended to power as well. Our main concern should be in earning His vote, not in how we use ours. It is for this reason that we should be concerned with the fact that a loose cannon (to say the least) like Trump could be the next President.
Squeak, Trump apparently IS a political genius.
This, from Dictionary.com, is one of the definitions of politics:
“6. use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, etc.”
By this definition, he may be the greatest political genius in many generations. There is no other explanation for how he managed to maneuver himself in to his current position.
Make no mistake, and do not ‘misunderestimate’ Mr. Trump. He sure is crazy, but he ain’t no fool.
There is, unfortunately, plenty of Pas Yisrael humble pie available. More than enough of it is Yashan as well.
With all due respect, the Yoshev Ohel is not the Rambam. He certainly is entitled to his opinion, and I am curious as to why he would say this. Unfortunately, I do not have access to the Sefer as of now. In any case, Davening while driving means at least one of two things: 1) The Tefilla is without proper Kavanah, and/or 2) The driver is putting his own life, as well as that of everyone else on the road, in mortal danger.
It is hard to imagine that his Tefilla while driving will be of superior quality to his Tefilla while pulled off to the side of the road, but even if it were, I have a hard time believing that this would be allowed. I would think that if it is so close to Shabbos that he is worried about Melacha, he is better off davening Maariv twice.
The fact is that were it not for the money spent on advertising, they would not be able to function at the level, or with the scope, that they do. As such, I think that advertising expenses are very difficult to divorce from operating expenses. The work that they do (i.e., the money spent “actually helping people”) is qualitatively different as a result of the money they spend on advertising. I do not consider the advertising money as having been “wasted”. On the contrary, it is an important part of their charitable activities.
The question is not whether it is worth spending 48 cents of every dollar on advertising to facilitate 42 cents of operation; the question is whether the operations of the specific charity are worth $34M.
Anon, of course you must be aware that the Mishna says that it is prohibited to daven in a tree. This is because of the difficulty in having proper Kavana while in a precarious position.
Of course, even in those cases that the Mishna does allow one to daven while traveling, (while riding a donkey, wagon or raft), it prefers, as does Joseph, that if possible, one should dismount for davening (this will be somewhat difficult in the case of the raft…).
As feivel points out, it should be obvious that the driver is precluded from davening by his responsibility not to endanger his own life or that of others.
Of course, the seder is great…this is more about making it whole again.
In any case, we Actually do have a nice chant for VBH, as well as for ?????? ??? ???. It’s not a tune, but it works very well.
Old Man –
There is no way that your words can possibly be imagined to fall within any definition of ???? ?? ??? ???? ???.
???? ??? can not exist in a heart consumed with ???? ?????.
M, I sincerely hope I’m wrong, but I must protest what I perceive, after several readings, to be the intention of your post.
Your words appear to be the product of severe bitterness, cynicism, negativity and derisiveness. It seems that you have no qualms about ridiculing a large segment of K’lal Yisrael, whose lifestyle you obviously do not understand, but are nevertheless willing to reduce to simplistic sophistry in order to mock its supposed parasitic and irresponsible culture.
If this analysis is correct, your words deserve a ????, but not a rebuttal; if it is not, I apologize for misinterpreting them, and I ask for your clarification.
CA –
I am all for spiritual growth. However, I can not relate to the baseless, groundless, and unfounded “feel-good” emotional gestures which effect no real, lasting spiritual growth, but which consume much of the energy of many a well-meaning individual who seeks true advancement of character.
The impression I got from the OP was that her friend, without any guidance or direction by a Rebbe or other spiritual mentor, determined that talking on a cellphone in public is not within the parameters of tznius. It seemed to me also that this was implemented in a way which exuded a holier than thou attitude, as evidenced by the complaints of the OP.
Of course, I realize that she was not forced to act in this way. My point was that [based on my perception of the story] she seems to have adopted a very superficial and misguided approach to the concept of tznius, albeit altruistically. Please excuse my hyperbole; I was simply trying to make a point.
Shopping, it seems that your friend might have been infected with Talibanitis. Please get her some help before she buys a burka.
Asher, why not just “Women who wear…?” I think this has little to do with the husbands.
Say the ???? of ?? ????? ???? even when washing on a piece of bread that is only a ????.
Regarding ??????, I often see people wearing the ?? ?? in a way which is definitely not fulfilling the ????. Typically, this is because either the ??? is too low, or because the ????? is twisted (this can happen very easily – as the ????? is passed through the loop on the bicep – if you follow ???? ?????.)
Be ???? Talmidei Chachamim and Lomdei Torah.
At most, Zionism is the Yetzer Hara the same way that Shabbesai Tzvi-ism is the Yetzer Hara.
Perhaps, many years ago, Zionism was the Yetzer Hara, perhaps not. I have absolutely zero interest in getting involved in that debate.
Either way, as MDG alluded, in today’s world, Zionism is most certainly not the Yetzer Hara. It is merely a paper tiger which successfully distracts some people from the real struggles with which they should contend.
This thread, ??? ???????, will almost inevitably lead to ???? ???, and should be closed.
Yes, but only on my personal account.
As a Rebbe, I have a school email account which often contains sensitive personal information about my students and their families, which I am not at liberty to divulge to my wife (this would be pure Lashon Hara).
It should be noted, however, that the school administration has access to my school email account.
I do not believe the story about Rav Moshe zatzal.
This Way To The Egress
I liked color war as a kid, and I loved it as a staff member.
NeutiquamErro, I assume you meant that the term lift complements the term elevator. I find it hard to believe that one term would want to make another feel good about itself.
Or is that the British spelling?
I suppose it depends on your definition of a “chup”.
If the definition is (as in most Yeshivos), “hair above the forehead, long enough to comb to one side,” then both Rav Gifter and Rav Hutner, among many others, had “chups”. Based on the pictures in front of me right now, Rav Hutner’s was slight, and Rav Gifter’s was quite pronounced. Many of the Alter Mirrer had very long “chups” before WWII.
I’m not sure what the other definition is.
Well, I saw your post, and then a few minutes later I didn’t. I assumed that it had been deleted by a Mod, which I could not understand.
Now I realize that you edited the post (adding the last paragraph), so it needed to be approved again.
In most cities, any place that is meant for people to go through (such as sidewalks, driveways and the like) don’t need to be labelled as such to qualify as tow-away zones.
Any time you park in a way which impedes traffic, it is a tow-able offense. Where I live, the ticketing officer will not leave until the car is moved, either by the owner or by the tow truck.
What was wrong with iBump’s post?
It’s not a ????? if you want it to be there – otherwise, how could a ???? wear ??????? (This is what we call “???? ????? ????”.)
A quick look at the pictures of the future ????? ???? from when they were Bochurim in Mir and Telshe and the other Litvishe Yeshivos in Europe shows definitively that there is nothing wrong with it.
Each of those cars should have been towed within five minutes of having been ticketed.
This is what would have happened in most municipalities in the world.
The idea that any one group of people “created” the English language, or that the people currently living in England are the direct heirs of that group, is, in a word, hogwash.
The very concept of the English language is that it, like nearly all other languages, is in a constant state of evolution.
“Colour” is how you have spelt it. We have spelled it color.
Any whining about the origin of the language shows just how irrelevant the English realize themselves to have become.
Pretty soon, you’ll emulate the French, and open an Academy for the Preservation of the Integrity of the English Language.
And we all know just how relevant the French are…
1) Often, speakers do mention that their approach is either based on, or taken directly from, a particular commentary, but listeners generalize and assume that the quoted interpretation is the mainstream approach.
2) In speaking to young children, or even in many adult settings, it is reasonable to base an idea on one approach, even if it is not the only, or even the conventional one, to make a point. In many cases, to belabor the issue of whose opinion is which way, and whether or not it is generally accepted as ???? ???, is to obfuscate the main point of the speech and confuse the audience.
It is well known that there can be many different, even conflicting, interpretations of the same ???? ??”? or ????, all of which can be ???? ????? ????. The only caveat is that where the ???? has been decided in accordance with one opinion, we are bound to that side.
It should also be understood that when attending a shiur in Halacha, one should realize that the opinion of the speaker is not necessarily universally accepted, and one should always discuss any questions with his or her personal Rav.
I would.
I don’t remember his understanding, ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???. Would you mind elaborating?
It’s a moot point. Since you are removing ???? together with the ?????, there is no ???? at all.
The rules of ????, ???, ??? determine a permissible way to separate; in this case, there is no separation occurring.
Torah is, first and foremost, a legal system – ?????? ?? ?? ???. Its Law governs every moment of a person’s life.
It is one which is an expression of Hashem’s Will, and which is designed to train and mold us in a specific mode of thought, but it is a legal system nevertheless.
I do not understand the idea that “sevara which aligns with Torah is Torah.” Much of the sevara expressed in the literature of Christianity aligns with Torah; would you apply this idea to that as well?
Rev S.R. Hirsch writes many times that “the ends justifies the means” is a decidedly un-Jewish concept. ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????.
Not agreed.
This may belong in the “changing your mind” thread, but I’ll say it here because of relevance to your post.
I have often learned new things and new perspectives from the posts of the wonderful people in the CR, and that includes many comments in this thread.
I am personally very interested to learn from the Psakim and Hanhagos of Rav Moshe zt”l, and I think this is an excellent forum for that.
Syag is absolutely correct that if an expectation or social norm exists, no punishment would be necessary to induce students to clean up after themselves. It is also true that if one does not exist, a punishment would not be especially effective.
I cannot explain how it happened that in many Shuls and Batei Medrash it is socially acceptable to leave seforim out. It is, however, self perpetuating. People do it because people do it. In this way, it is similar to talking during Davening, speaking Lashon Hora and so many other issues.
When I was in high school, the Rosh Yeshiva (who was recognised as one of the Gedolei Hador) would stand at the door of the dining room at the end of meals. If he saw a boy walking away from the table without his plate, he would fix the problem.
My own (elementary age) students know that in my classroom, making or leaving a mess is simply not done.
With all this said, and at the risk of sounding somewhat repetitive, I feel the need to point out that it is far worse to denigrate an entire class of people, be it those who use the seforim or their Rebbeim, than it is to leave the seforim out.
To be sure, it is perfectly fine to raise awareness on this issue, but let’s please exercise caution as the conversation continues, not to descend into the wholesale character assassination of Lomdei Torah.
I was not referring to any specific post. I also agree that if a certain book contains questionable content, it may well be mandatory to spread the word.
What sort of content is considered “questionable”, however, is debatable, and, in fact, variable. It therefore would be necessary to obtain a ??? ???? for each case.
I do not think this is a correct application of “common knowledge.” The quality of Frum literature is a matter of opinion, and, as we see from the posts in this thread, there are many divergent opinions on the matter. What you consider for many reasons to be poor literature may well be a great read for me, if only because I am not as discerning a reader as you are.
I doubt that “common knowledge” would render it permissible to announce publicly, “Beryl’s Pizza is terrible,” even if many people agree.
“Common knowledge” also is not a blanket ????, as I’m sure you are aware. As far as I can tell, the ??? ???? rules that if the intention is to spread the word, it is ???? to say, and in all cases it is ???? to believe.
Without commenting on how ???? would view the status of this forum with regard to intent to spread the word (about which I am unsure), I would simply point out that he further rules that even if the intention was not to spread the word, it is only ???? when the subject comes up ??? ???, but not when the ???? ??? was the express subject of the conversation.
I would further caution that in such a conversation, it is too easy to denigrate an entire group of people with a single, broad stroke.
Additionally, in most cases, this puts the speaker in danger of being ???? ??? ????? against all Frum authors.
Years ago, it was pointed out to me that there is most probably not a ????? which would render it permissible to denigrate the quality of Frum literature.
I know the counterargument. I understand that people want to know how best to spend their time and money, and that this might constitute sufficient ?????. I nevertheless believe that such a question must be presented to a competent Halachic authority.
Either way, a public forum such as this is not an appropriate place for such a discussion. ????? is a ???? for those who need the information to request it, and for the consultant to divulge it. The information, however, is private. [The questioner is also not allowed to believe it implicitly – ????? ?????].
Compare:
“Do you think I should read Tails of Vashti by Rabbi Greenwald?”
“Do you think I should allow my daughter to meet Ben Greenwald?”
Especially during this time (??? ??????), we should be particularly careful to distance ourselves from ???? ???, ??????, ?????? ?? ??.
A rat by any other name would smell as malodorous.
And, in any case, the intentions of the OP are irrelevant – the course of the conversation is clear.
Yet another thread which will inevitably lead to the wholesale condemnation of the devoted individuals in whose hands we have entrusted the future of the Jewish People.
If I were to decry the dangers of doctors treating patients without taking the necessary precautions to ensure against infection and cross-contamination, all the doctors in the room would be righteously indignant. All objective observers would point out that it has been many, many years since this problem was recognised and eliminated.
The world of Chinuch has, by all accounts, been completely revolutionized, and is increasingly more professional every year. This is true by all measures, from the people entering the field, to the training and professional development.
The bogeyman of the “nightmare Chinuch” which might once have existed (but certainly never to the extent that some would have us believe) is no more.
It is time to appreciate Chinuch for what is, instead of condemning it for what might once have been. Your son and his Rebbe deserve no less.
I pity both haters and hater haters.
Try to see past yourself, it’s very therapeutic.
?? ??? ????????? explains that ???? as follows:
?????? ????? are ??????? because of their accomplishments. People who did not reach their level of scholarship or observance are ???????.
This is true even in the ???? ????.
Nevertheless, in the ???? ????, the ??????? can be ???? because, as a result of their family, background, etc., they did not have to work as hard to achieve what they did. The ??????? can be ????? because they had to overcome great obstacles to reach as far as they did.
The lesson of the ???? is, simply, ???? ???? ????.
Fairness is a Torah value. Equality in the eyes of the law is but one application of this concept.
If one person is drowning, this does not mean that everyone in the pool should get cpr.
The commonly accepted conception of equality that the rose bush and the cedar tree must both be of the same height, color and build is a mistake that has had terrible consequences for western society.
The Torah teaches us to recognize and celebrate our different roles in Hashem’s world.