DaMoshe

I really like Paul Fredrick. Unfortunately, a while ago they stopped their deal on plain white shirts, and prices went up. So I’m looking for a new brand as well!

Nice vort, but the Midrash doesn’t say that Mashiach is brought through this mitzvah. The Torah says shiluach haken gives long life. I read last week that a Midrash says that a woman without children should do shiluach haken, and in the merit of showing mercy to a mother, Hashem will grant her children.
Tanchuma also says that since it’s followed by pesukim about getting married and building a house, it’s also a segulah for those.
One other thing I read is that it’s not supposed to be planned. It’s supposed to be a happenstance – you find a nest. It shouldn’t be a nest that you know is there, where you go specifically to do the mitzvah. It needs to be unplanned.

R’ Yaakov Bender shlita. He doesn’t give a regular shiur in the Beis Medrash, but the bond that he creates with his talmidim is unmatched.

I had a conversation once with someone about wanting Mashiach to arrive. He was telling me how so many people don’t really want Mashiach because their lives are pretty good, and they don’t want it to change for an unknown. My response was, “Imagine the happiest day of your life. Your wedding, birth of children, whatever it is. Try and remember the feeling you had then, that amazing feeling of pure joy. Would you like to experience that feeling again?
When Mashiach comes, the feeling of joy we’ll experience will be even better than that. We’ll experience a joy like we’ve never known before. And it won’t be for just a short time. We’ll have a Beis Hamikdash, we’ll have the shechinah present there… it will be everlasting. Even if you have the most incredible life right now, wouldn’t you want that?”

How about instead, they announce that the learning is dedicated in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives, ensuring that we are free to practice our religion?

R’ Tendler zt”l quoted a Meiri that says the reason we don’t give the death penalty to a Jew for abortion is because the sin is so bad, even death can’t atone for it. We don’t give punishments except where it is a kapparah. He says the sin is so terrible that only Hashem can give a proper punishment.

Nope. I don’t like the taste. But if my family wants to have it, I’m fine with it.

AviraDeArah, you can say whatever you want about R’ Yaakov Kaminetsky zt”l, but it’s not true.
A student at the time wrote an article about what R’ Yaakov really said. It was also said by R’ Reisman in one of his shiurim.

In Torah v’Daas they brought a television into the yeshiva to see the news of the war. When they announced that the Har haBayis had been captured, R’ Yaakov ran into the beis medrash and made a shehecheyanu. He then began reciting Hallel, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

I hate to say it, but even the Siyum haShas was not an example of achdus. Let’s not forget that at the 2012 siyum, there were Chassidic rebbes who told their chassidim not to attend because Zionist Rabbonim were going to be speaking.

A few notes about R’ Soloveitchik, based on things I’ve read and heard from others:

First, his impact on Judaism in the US was tremendous. It was noted by AviraDeArah that many could have gone to learn by R’ Moshe or others. Yes, that’s true for some. And as was noted, many of his students built shuls whose members had functions with mixed dancing. But remember that the times back then were very different than they are now. Many of these people were not frum at all, or barely hanging on. They would not have sent their children to R’ Moshe, because he was too “extreme” for them. The Rav gave them a place where they felt comfortable, and he brought Torah Judaism to them, one step at a time. He definitely didn’t hold that mixed dancing was acceptable, but if someone was going to do it anyway, he believed that it was better to have them do it in a place which started with basics – keep Shabbos, eat kosher, follow the laws of taharas hamishpacha. Maybe the parents didn’t stop the dancing, but many of the children did. He shifted the observance level positively.

Regarding his Torah: as I’ve posted before, I learned in Darchei Torah. I personally know someone who asked the Rosh Yeshiva, R’ Altusky, about learning the seforim of The Rav. R’ Altusky told him, “Absolutely, they’re fantastic! I have them all at home, and you should definitely learn them!” The bochur asked why the yeshiva didn’t have them on the shelves in the Beis Medrash, and R’ Altusky replied that while his shiurim on Gemara were excellent, they still disagree on hashkafic differences. Some of the younger bochurim might not differentiate, and would think all his seforim should be learned. So they kept his seforim on Gemara in the library instead of in the beis medrash.

As for different students claiming different views on things (like egalitarian minyanim), R’ Schachter once said in an interview that things like this were a common occurrence. The Rav knew were the different communities were holding. In one place, a minyan where a woman carried the Torah around on her side of the mechitzah might be warranted, to get them to come to shul. In another area, he could have been adamantly opposed to it. It all depended on who was asking.

Lastly, about YU/RIETS in general: I once had a conversation with a well-known and respected Rav about it once. I also once spoke with R’ Bender about it.
First, the Rav I spoke with: he told me that he knows all the stories said about R’ Miller zt”l and R’ Gifter zt”l, and how they left RIETS because they felt it wasn’t frum enough. He knows the criticism that was said about it back in the early/mid 1900s. “And you know what? They were right! At the time, it had problems! But it changed. Do you want to know why? Because they started sending the boys to Eretz Yisrael to learn for a year or two after high school. And that made a world of difference. As soon as that started, RIETS and YU had a HUGE improvement! And the issues they had all those years ago are gone now!”
Rabbi Bender told me that he felt YU/RIETS gets a bad rap in the yeshivish world, and it’s not warranted. He told me, “Sure, we don’t send our guys there, because it’s a different hashkafah. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad place! It’s excellent for most of the people who go there, and they have tremendous Talmidei Chachomim there!” He also pointed out that there were a few Darchei guys who he had encouraged to go to YU, because he felt it was the proper place for them.

Another big question is what type of chassidus? Someone looking for a Satmar type might not like a Chabad community. There is a huge range when it comes to Chassidus.

I have a relative who is a doctor, and does not wear a yarmulka in the office, despite the fact that most of his patients are frum Jews. I once asked him why. He told me, “When I would bend over to examine them, it would always fall off! I’m bald so I can’t use clips. So I asked my Rav, and he told me there’s no problem taking it off for that reason.”
When he’s speaking with a patient, not doing an exam, he’ll put it back on. It’s only while conducting exams that he removes it.

Regarding women learning Gemara – there is a great article from R’ Chaim Jachter entitled “Are Women Permitted to Study Gemara”, where he lays out the sources on both sides. He has plenty of sources that say it’s perfectly muttar for women to learn Gemara.
So AviraDeArah, it is hardly an “uncontested” halachah.

Here is my response to each line item:

1. There are halachos which govern how genders may interact and how they can’t. Do the schools require situations of yichud? Do they require physical contact? No, they don’t. In many of the schools, classes actually are separated above a certain ago, and certainly for specific subjects they are separate.
Once again, as I mentioned earlier, the Yeshivish world has taken on many chumros, which are not halachah.
Regarding NCSY, I already addressed that in a prior post.

2. MO does not demonize the Yeshivish world. We may disagree with it, but that is not the same as demonizing it. As for R’ Lamm zt”l’s quote, I agree, he used a term he likely shouldn’t have. But look at it like this: a caveman is shut off from the world. When he eventually leaves the cave, he is exposed to society, with which he is not familiar. He can be overwhelmed with it all. So too people who grow up in the yeshiva world and have things kept hidden from them, such as Internet access, interacting innocently with the opposite gender, and other things. MO teaches people how to deal with these things properly. When yeshivish people are exposed to it (and they are at some point), many of them don’t know how to deal with it, and they are overwhelmed.

3. No MO person I know equates secular studies with Torah study. The idea of knowledge for the sake of knowledge is because since Hashem created the world, and all knowledge has a place in the world, by gaining as much as we can, it will help us to better understand and appreciate Hashem. It will also help us understand learning Torah. For example, a good understanding of trigonometry is extremely beneficial when learning Maseches Sukkah.

4. Tznius is an area where the yeshivish world (influenced mostly by Chassidim) took on many unnecessary chumros. Learn the basic halachos before accusing others of looking for leniencies. As for techeles, if there’s an easy mitzvah to possibly fulfill, why not do it? Why try to relate techeles to tznius, when they have nothing to do with each other?

5. I’m not even sure why you believe either one of these. How does MO incubate feminism, and why would you think MO invented meta-halacha?

6. Can you please provide some examples of how self-determinism was made part of Judaism, and what the issue with it is?
As for leisure – it’s a very important part. R’ Pam zt”l was known to tell people that if you don’t allow children time to play when they’re young, they will play when they’re older. Having downtime is important for your mental health at any age, and helps you to function properly when you are not relaxing.

7. You are just incorrect on this, and I don’t know why you’d think otherwise.

8. Again, where do you get these ideas from? Spiritual achievements secularized? Denying Hashem’s sole control over the world? Just because Hashem controls the world does not mean that people are incapable of doing harm or repairing the world. Hashem set up a derech hatevah, and our actions do affect the world around us.

9. In this area, you are partially correct. There are some MO who do affirm these areas, although many oppose them as well.
As for the death penalty, it is NOT prescribed in the Noahide Laws. The law is for a fair system of laws to be set up. Penalties are up to the society setting up the system. If a non-Jew violates one of the Noahide Laws at a time when there is a Sanhedrin, then yes, the Sanhedrin can impose the death penalty.

10. This is something that is unique to each individual, so you’ll have to provide some examples. You must also differentiate between admiring specific actions and admiring the person. I will also note that this is not limited to MO, but is also done by the yeshivish world and chassidish world.
11. Times change, and the evils given in the Torah can take different forms. Calling them out for what they are today is not an issue.

12. Israel is a separate debate. You can be dedicated to the country without liking the government.

13. When the derech is one you are choosing, then you’re correct, they won’t be guiding people to it. They do, however, guide their followers to a derech which is perfectly legitimate, even if you disagree.

14. Disagree with all of these.

15. Who are you to judge who is sincere and who isn’t?

16. Disagree, I have never heard this said by anyone.

17. Where did you get this idea from?

18. The Torah is not reexamined. Sources are found that are legitimate sources from known Rishonim and Acharonim.
19. If you are sick, you go see a doctor. If you have a halachick question, you ask a Rabbi. What is the problem there? My own Rosh Yeshiva (a well known Chareidi RY) once told me how “some people won’t blow their nose without asking their Rebbe first if it’s ok.” He was bemoaning the fact that many Rabbonim give advice in areas they’re not qualified to, and people should seek out experts in the area instead of asking their Rebbe.

Regarding girls learning Gemara – one thing they don’t tell you in the Beis Yaakov system is that Sarah Schenirer learned Gemara every day, she had a daily seder for it.

philosopher: In Israel, the vast majority of people are vaccinated, so it makes sense that they would have cases. But look at another number: as of August 15th, only 514 people in the entire country were hospitalized with severe cases. That is an extremely low number for the entire country. That means vaccines are working.

Here are some lyrics:
“They’ve pleaded their case – help save the sick women and men”

“Your shame and disgrace, a wound in my heart”

“He brought me the sign how blind I’ve been not to see the light”

Name 3 songs that MBD performed on his own albums only after performing them on albums where he wasn’t the main singer.

Forgot to write, the kid was Yisroel Williger, who sang The Gedolei Hador on the album Klal Yisroel Together.

I believe that V’haviosem was on both a Begun album (Toronto Pirchei) and MBD (I can’t recall offhand which album, but I believe he sang it as part of a medley).

ujm: You have no idea how many MO high school students go OTD. Why would you make assumptions?

I remember when I was in Darchei Torah, a Chassidish Rebbe came to the area. Many guys were trying to get appointments to see him. I also did (you’ll hear why soon).
The Rosh Yeshiva got up and told everyone, “I understand the attraction of going to see a Chassidisher Rebbe. But why would you go to him when you have such amazing Rabbeim here? You need advice? You want a bracha? Ask your Rebbe here! He knows you, he knows what you need, so speak to him!”
He approached me afterward, and told me, “I heard you have an appointment to see the Rebbe tomorrow. Are you still going to keep it?”
I replied, “Yes, I am. Because I spoke to my Rebbe, and he told me that I should go speak to this visiting Rebbe!”
The R”Y smiled, and said, “If he told you to go, I can’t argue – and I’m glad you asked him first!”

Over Yom Tov, I was reading the R’ Moshe Feinstein Hagaddah from Artscroll. One of the stories in it said that when man landed on the moon, R’ Moshe said he knew they’d find nothing there. He said that in all his learning, he never found any reference to life on other worlds, so it must not exist!

If you are going to use that book, be aware that much of what is presented as basic halchah is NOT halachah at all, but extreme chumros.
A well-known and respected Rosh Yeshiva once told me that Oz V’hadar Levusha does more harm than good, as it scares people away by being way too stringent.