DaMoshe

Matisyahu has had a difficult journey – he became a Baal Teshuva, and sadly, went back off afterward. Yet we still see the Jewish spark within him. We also see that he is proud of it, and stands up for his people. Whatever else he does, I’d say that this is a kiddush Hashem, and will count in his favor in his overall cheshbon.

technical20, search for “Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016”

I don’t particularly care that much for any of the Republican candidates. I’d still vote for any of them over Hillary Clinton, though.

If I had to pick one, I’d probably say Rand Paul, now that he has changed his stance on cutting funding to Israel. He wants to have a much smaller government, a flat tax, and pass legislation requiring a balanced budget. I strongly agree with 2 of those 3 things, am not opposed to the 3rd at all.

If anything, the actions of the school board are despicable. In the past, I’ve tried to post some of the illegal things they’ve done, but the posts weren’t approved. The school board in East Ramapo is a huge Chillul Hashem!

technical, I beg to differ: he has offered a VERY concrete plan on the issue of illegal immigration. He wants to put up a wall. Can you get more concrete than that?

R’ Willig wrote a great article about YCT and their ilk. Mods, do you allow links to TorahWeb? If yes, here’s the link: http://www.torahweb.org/torah/2015/parsha/rwil_ekev.html

If not, the article is called Trampled Laws, by R’ Willig. I urge you to look it up, it’s a great read!

Can I give you a letter in Ivrit?

mw13: Many RCA members DID denounce the statement about R’ Ovadia. You can see the post I wrote at the time here: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/about-the-rca-i-do-shudder/page/4#post-472524

As for Weiss, there actually were many meetings, as well as a special committee, set up to handle the issue. They determined that if they kicked him out, it would likely cause a lawsuit and bring a lot of publicity to the issue. They wanted to avoid that. They don’t allow his students into the RCA, so the thought was that the issue would resolve itself (as it did when Weiss didn’t renew his membership.) The RCA didn’t tolerate his antics – they release many statements opposing things he did. Why do you ignore those statements?

He doesn’t teach at Neve anymore. I know some sites say he does, but last year he told my wife he hasn’t been there in about 10 years. I do have his email address, but I’m sorry, I don’t know if he wants it given out. I did a search for it to see if it’s posted online anywhere, and I couldn’t find it.

The Temple Institute is an organization that is preparing for the arrival of Mashiach. They are preparing the different vessels to use in the Beis HaMikdash, as well as the materials to use in building it. They have received brachos from some major Rabbonim, including R’ Ovadia Yosef zt”l, R’ Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, the previous Bostoner Rebbe zt”l, and others. Every year before Pesach, they prepare a lamb in case Mashiach comes just before Pesach, and a korbon Pesach is needed. They usually bring it to R’ Chaim Kanievsky to be inspected, and he gives them a brachah and thanks them for the work they do.

Yes, they do hold it is muttar to go on certain areas of the Har HaBayis, with the proper preparations. This is in line with certain Rabbonim who hold that way. It should be noted that R’ Moshe Feinstein, in OC 2:113, seems to hold it was ok to go on the Har HaBayis. The Teshuva addressed a question raised regarding the fact that both the Tur and Shulchan Aruch it makes no mention of an issur to spit on the Har HaBayis in our times (or in their times, I guess.) The question was asked, is this because we are all tamei meis and can’t go there at all? R’ Moshe refutes this, and gives an alternate answer, which does not involve an issur to go on the Har HaBayis at all. R’ Tendler shlita has said numerous times that his father in law, R’ Moshe, never tried to stop him from visiting the Har HaBayis.

If your Rav holds it’s assur, don’t go! But don’t insult those who follow their own Rabbonim who are mattir it.

Joseph, the question wasn’t what Jews should or should not be doing. The question was why people are opposed to it, and whether they are opposed to Jews in general. I think I answered that, and your questions/points don’t change that answer.

I’ll still address your points.

Regarding growth: yes, growth is a natural turn of events. The issue is with how it’s done. In many cases, Jews will flood an area, and try to elect their own people into office. They’ll then grant any waivers/variances they may need to build up their area. While legally that may be fine, it doesn’t mean it’s smart. The infrastructure needs to be set up first. Natural growth happens slowly, so the infrastructure can be changed to suit the needs. When Jewish communities are built, very often they bypass this step, and try to play catch-up with the infrastructure. That should be changed.

Regarding school funding and taxes: You’re not necessarily correct. Special ed services in public schools are significantly cheaper than in private schools. There is also the issue of state and federal money which is determined by the number of public school students. Having a large number of students in private schools dilutes that pot of funding, because no extra money is given for them.

In Ramapo public schools, in 2008, the average spending per child was $25,748. By 2012, the number was $27,668. You’d think, great, the number actually went up! Not so fast. Remember to take inflation into account, as well as other factors. The better measure is that in 2008, the number was 53% above the state average of spending per student. In 2012, that had dropped to 32% above average. That’s a very significant decrease.

Again, I’m not saying the growth should stop. I’m just explaining why locals oppose it.

Mods, is there a reason my post wasn’t approved?

the beginning was right on, my guess would be the little extra comment toward the end…

Abba_s: For your point D, how would it be violating their civil rights?

Joseph, how is my post “premised wrong”?

Joseph, I wrote a reply, but it hasn’t been approved yet – I see it in yellow on my screen. Maybe the mods are trying to figure out my ChC acronym? It means Chalav haCompanies, the term used by R’ Moshe zt”l.

or they were trying to decide if you were reporting an isolated incident or making an accusation against an industry. I’ll go with the first but cautiously -29

I think it depends on the person. I’ve heard some Rabbonim say that if you can, you should only have CY. If you follow one of those Rabbonim, then yes, there is a benefit to only having CY – not because of the CY itself, but because you are following your Rav.

For the benefit of CY in and of itself, I think we need to define what a “Baal Nefesh” is.

Joseph: that is why you have a Rav to ask. Unless, of course, you follow the Coffee Room Rebbe, the self-appointed Gaon (yeah right!) R’ DaMoshe. If that’s the case, let me know, and I’ll give you some direction.

Joseph: If your Rav tells you to only eat CY, then do that. I’m sure it won’t be held against you! But don’t think that those who aren’t makpid on it are doing any worse than you are. My Rav has told me many times that it’s fine for me to eat Cholov HaCompanies.

I actually have a neighbor who is makpid to only eat CY. Why? Because his family used to live on the Lower East Side, in the same building as R’ Moshe zt”l. R’ Moshe once told my friend’s father, “You are a baal nefesh, and should be makpid to only eat cholov Yisrael!” So he did so, and so does his family.

Joseph, I’m sure if you’d eat Haagen Daazs ice cream purely lishma, to appreciate what Hashem gave you, you’d be doing just fine. But honestly, how many people are at that level? My Rebbe, R’ Bender shlita, once commented to us that he saw someone on Shabbos sitting with a big plate full of cold cuts, stuffing them into his mouth. R’ Bender said something to him about how he was eating, and the guy replied, “Rebbe, it’s l’kavod Shabbos!” R’ Bender asked, “Really? Are you sure you shouldn’t be saying l’kavod mine boich?”

Most likely, none of us are at that level (I can’t say for sure). I just follow the Torah and halachah as best I can, and rely on my Rav for guidance.

feivel, I’m glad there was a happy outcome to the story. May your brother have a full refuah quickly!

I was told by my Rav that a prominent, well known Rav (who I won’t name for obvious reasons) shakes hands with a non-Jewish woman once per year.

There are questions regarding if a non-Jew makes a kinyan in the same way as a Jew. One opinion is that when someone sells something to a non-Jew, the kinyan is made with the normal way of “sealing the deal” in society.

This Rav sells chametz before Pesach for a large number of people, and he sells it to a woman. He is careful to use a few different forms of a kinyan to satisfy all opinions, so that the sale and transfer of ownership is valid. Since it is normal to shake hands to seal a deal, he will shake the woman’s hand to transfer ownership of the chametz to her.

The RCA took a good approach to Weiss. Instead of giving him a spotlight by kicking him out, they just marginalized him. They don’t accept his students as members. So once Weiss was out of the way (he’s already in his 70s), his group would be done with. Kicking him out would probably cause a lawsuit, with a lot of issues coming onto the public stage.

popa, in the past you’ve shown yourself all too eager to bash the RCA. What is your feeling about another rabbinic body, which has a prominent lo tzeis dina on it?

DaasYochid:

I think you missed his point about a propeller beanie. Many people take the example listed by the Mishna Berurah about a hat being respectful at that time, and use it as proof that a hat is required during davening. If it’s the hat that’s the ikkur, not the respectful mode of dress, then yes, even a beanie should be fine. I’ve seen people walk into shul wearing a Yankees cap. I once asked one why, and he replied that the halachah requires a hat!

If the ikkur is to dress respectful, and the hat was merely an example given that place and time, then not wearing a hat should be perfectly fine.

DaasYochid, not sure what you mean.

old man, that’s a very big “if” to assume. Who said a black hat and a jacket are the “only” respectful outfit for a man?

There was an interview, I believe with R’ Yosef Tendler zt”l, where he was asked about the early days in Lakewood. One of the questions asked was if the boys wore black hats. He responded that only the Roshei Yeshiva wore black hats, and the bochurim felt that it would have been extremely chutzpadik for them to wear one!

You can also read the interview given a few years ago by R’ Aaron Rakeffet, where he talks about learning in Lakewood during its early days. He says that even R’ Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l didn’t wear a black hat – only R’ Aharon Kotler wore one. He also said that the boys didn’t wear white shirts or black pants. He said the following:

“But when all is said and done, the chassidim conquered America. The Litvakim lost. In the Litvishe yeshivas no one dressed the same. When I learned in Lakewood, the only one who wore a black hat was Reb Aharon Kotler.”

hakohen53: Say what you want, but the halachah clearly states that the dress code for davening is based on what is considered respectful for that time and place. If you want to argue that people aren’t keeping that much, go ahead, but recognize that it’s a new approach to determining the dress code for tefillah.

You say people come without socks, wearing sandals – in some places that may be ok! I’m sure there are countries in the Middle East where that is considered respectful, and people would go meet their king/president/Prime Minister wearing sandals. If that is the case, it’s fine to dress that way in that area. In the US, you wouldn’t go on a job interview wearing sandals, so you shouldn’t go to daven wearing them either. The fact that some do it doesn’t have anything to do with a hat and/or jacket. I’ve seen people wearing hats and jackets at shul with jeans and a t-shirt underneath. Very often, the hat is beat up, and the jacket needed to be cleaned 6 months ago.

Your last point is true, but I don’t see what you’re trying to say. Nobody says there shouldn’t be a dress code for davening. Everyone agrees there is. You must be dressed in a respectful fashion. The only question is whether that means a hat or not. It wasn’t an excuse to wear sandals to davening.

The Mishna Berurah states that a person should dress respectfully for davening. He quotes the Chayei Adam who said that since people usually walk in the street with a hat, a hat should be worn during davening. It is obvious that the “respectful” mode of dress changes based on the society one lives in. In the early 20th century, when it was considered respectful to wear a hat, that was required for davening. In modern times, however, it is rare for most people to wear hats (unless they’re attending a sporting event). It would seem, therefore, that it is not required.

In fact, it would seem that not wearing a hat is better than wearing a beat-up fedorah with stains on it (as I often see in yeshivos). Wearing a beat-up hat is definitely disrespectful!

It would seem the best practice is to make sure you’re dressed neatly, with clean clothes, and your shirt tucked in. Wearing a t-shirt with a jacket over it isn’t the way to go. Wear a nice button-down shirt. If you were going to meet the president, would you wear jeans and a t-shirt?

Joseph, R’ Yaakov definitely held that Israel regaining control of the Har HaBayit was a great thing. R’ Reisman shlita told over the story of how R’ Yaakov zt”l made a Shehechiyanu and began saying Hallel when the announcement came over the air that the Har HaBayit had been taken by the IDF. The story was also verified by R’ Dovid Landesman, a mechanech who lives in Israel, and was a student in Torah V’Daas at the time.