??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??????

She opens her hand for the poor that will take it, but for the destitute who are too ashamed she sends her hand forth so the less aggressive are not lacking

The below i always felt we’re beautiful just in pshat:

????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????

??? ???? ??????? ???? ??????

??? ??? ???? ?????, ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????

Husbands read to your wives

Draft her into the Israeli army

“But any step to try to get chareidim into the IDF is for the sole purpose of acculturating them to the idolatry and kefirah of Zionism. As a bonus, the giluy arayos is also included.”

This is not something that can be proven right now. Sadly, i think some actually WANT to believe this- but there is no classified checklist locked in a defense ministers drawer that reads “list of ways to break frum people and turn them into secular zionists after enlistment”… Some of the conspiracy-like things being said may (hopefully) turn out to be just that- made up paranoid conspiracy theories.

Everyone knows and feels that there is more to both sides official stances on the issue, that among other things, there is an underlying agenda for the Haredim to stand strong and protect the Torah empire that has been built. And that the Hilonim have a hidden agenda of destroying religious Jewry as we know it. However, if you ignore those “unwritten/unspoken” things, and you just look at the high level facts from an outside point of view it’s just a game of politics that has to be played.::

The reality is- the haredim say they didnt want a country and dont agree with the govt, yet feel no problem learning, while living off the land, in a society that requires all of the things that a society would require- skilled professionals, laborers, doctors etc … a society that desperately requires a strong intelligence and military defense, particularly because of its close proximity to almost a billion of its worst enemies R”L. BH the country has provided funding for our yeshivas, financial and social benefits to the poor, largely including bnei torah (and the bad eggs who don’t want to learn but don’t want to work) that willingly choose a certain lifestyle. There is however, a seemingly unanimous lack of ???? ???? for all of this by the haredi. Clearly, the extreme secular are resenting the extreme religious for being on the receiving end, so they coined the term “share the burden”…

I think what the haredi side has to do, as it would have done if they were living in a gentile regime, is appease the other side, and try as hard as possible to amicably work out the best possible deal for themselves. Treat it like esav…. I don’t get why widening the gap with the promotion of resentment, and things like the demonization of secularists, and stubbornness/unwillingness to negotiate or compromise is the right way to go. I am not one to question the likes of hakham ovadia shlita, so my guess is that we’re on the brink of something much worse than is being revealed to us right now.

What we all need to do is make peace among ourselves and pray. And stop your kvetching already.

Rosh Cham- there is a big inyan that we get more credit for keeping Torah and mitzvot in this generation than our ancestors who lived in places and times that were more morally conducive… We are tested with much more…

There are not only two sides to this conflict- in fact, there are probably as many sides and opinions either way as there are people in our nation.

Any Torah loving Jew can appreciate the stubbornness of the gedolim and haredi community to not lose an ounce of learning and to protect and grow our young men.

However I think that there is a tremendous chiyuv first and foremost to promote unity at all costs among the ????? ???? ????? of our nation, and an equally important chiyuv to properly deal with the hilonim, which unfortunately is the majority. However this plays out, if THEY start to take steps over the next few years that prove the conspiracies that this is a war waged on the Torah way of life, so let them lose their ???? – the yeshivas are welcome to leave to BH many countries that will openly accept them and even provide them with benefits. Of course this would be tragic, but this is all IF it comes to that. I just think from a logical POV that the manner this is being dealt with is far more exaggerated than it has to be, thus drawing world wide negative attention on the Jews, and resulting in bittul Torah and a further division of ?? ????? for many of those (myself included) who choose to take a stance on the issue, whether proactively or mentally. I cant help but think- Nothing good can come of this. We’ve had 2000 years to try and fix ???? ????. we are living in one of the most flourishing eras in jewish history, our people are united through the mutual connection to our country BH and throughout the four corners of the world due to globalization. BH this is a great time to be a jew and love our fellow jew, and yet we still can’t come together … There is an element of ingratitude or lack of ???? ???? for those who protect our nation and this should be addressed. I also hope that the boys who choose to willingly serve and then continue learning do not become taboo in the yeshiva world. I think it’s a very high ???? to be a Torah observant soldier. This is all my (perhaps) twisted logic… What I’m confused about is that the gedolim are calling this a harsh gezeira and are deeply concerned. I am worried there’s something we are missing. Time will tell. Maybe the conspiracy theorists are dead on, maybe they’re off. Maybe they’re dead on, but are reacting improperly. Maybe not… Who knows? Only HKBH knows. Love your fellow Jew. Worry about your Torah and your kids torah. Then worry about everyone else’s torah.

Is there any decaf Colombian? Too much caffeine lately…

Talking is going to happen no matter what it’s just how it’s become. Non-talkers have to seek out the few quiet Shuls around wherever they may live on earth. What’s the worse approach? Do you admonish people and breed an inner hatred toward the talker, or do you “live and let live” hoping the rabbi, or someone will one day properly inspire the talker to attend shul quietly. Remember, shul can take up almost 2 hrs of a persons weekday, and more on ???, this is something we cannot judge others about if they slip or fail. For those who are infuriated by the talker- I wonder how much of your feelings come from true zealousness for ???? ??, and how much of it comes from other places. Don’t use your higher ????? as a way to denounce others and feel a false sense of superiority, cloaking it in supposed zealousness. Like yussel said, where is your ????? outside of the shul?

The rabbi and chazzan are in charge of stopping the talking, but we cannot all be police because most of us aren’t in the right position to be admonishing others. I believe that if you approach someone who you know will probably immediately cause ?????? then it is assur to approach them- you tell me how many “shush” types aren’t game for a little ?????? every so often so they can put their “religiousness” on display for all to see.

This might be too heavy for the CR- a place where putting our religiousness on display is a way of life- at least here it’s mostly anonymous

????? ?????

I have a question by which no offense is meant- but I have always been curious- what’s the deal with everyone in brooklyn having to stare at a folded newspaper no matter where it is (American/goy papers, not Jewish publications)- whether it’s half folded in the dispensaries that sell them or if its quarter-folded in the little red home delivery bag, I always see frum people on the way to shul stop dead in their tracks to bend over and read whatever letters are visible on the exposed surface, even if it means awkardly standing bent over someone’s front doorstep squinting at the ground until they finish reading whatever is on there..

If you do this- please explain what the fascination is and what you’ve gotten out of it

If you don’t- please tell me I’m not alone and you’ve seen this a lot too!

Congratulations/mazal/mazel/Tov/tuf on your wedding!

May you both have a long happy life and many children

I know that pathway to prayer has been very useful to many- most Judaica stores carry them

I recently acquired a Sefer written of the teachings of my great great grandfather who was not very well known (I think) and I read this little tidbit:

One should have in mind when saying ???? ?????, ???? ????, ????? ???? that Abraham is 5 letters, Isaac is 4 letters and Jacob is 4 letters adding up to 13 which correspond to the 13 attributes of mercy (??? ????)

The 3 ???? plus the vav in one of them are also a total of 13 letters and 13+13 is 26- which is hashems name of mercy

lema’an shemo be ahava can be read ?-???? since ahava is gimmatria 13 then 2 (?) times 13 (????) is also 26

There are lots more and I’m sure the above has a deep meaning way beyond my understanding but it’s nice nonetheless.

Gnome?

Edit to above:

TLIK – care to substantiate any of the above with facts and/or references?

Majority of these arguments have been, and continue to be the political arguments for the primary American organization lobbying to criminalize marijuana.

Again, I’m not at all steeped in the political side of it, but the only thing I took away from reading about both sides and their respective arguments is that studies mean nothing.

Both sides say they have studies that actually contradict, and yet they stick to their guns as though studies are the end all emet. Again I repeat- for your own sakes- don’t believe everything you heard growing up, simply because that’s how you grew up. And for your own sake, dont judge others unfavorably because of your potentially misguided beliefs.

And to add to Adams’ point – we as a people are far more tolerant of other dangerous forms of recreation. Its a mistake to think the negative attitude towards pot stems from societal morals and ethics- it’s deeply rooted in the American psyche because of ancient propaganda dating far back prior to prohibition, which labeled cannabis use as an “evil” and that’s just how it’s always been. For many sephardim who’s grandparents and great grandparents lived in the Middle East- a little arak and hashish on a celebratory evening was considered quite normal.

I’m happy prohibition came up because I wonder if that bottle of schnapps would still be on the table at shul if prohibition had occurred in recent years as opposed to the early 1900’s. I know, I know, our generation is too degenerate to accept such a concept as prohibition- I don’t disagree.

An argument i can hear is that most, or many of us simply don’t possess the self awareness to know when we’ve had too much (to smoke, drink, anything…) and so substance abuse can send many people on a downward path of destructive behaviour and avonot- and this is what we should teach our children when the bill passes in our states. That there are many evils in the world which can also be used in moderation for good- it’s not up to the govt or our leaders to label these things kosher or not kosher, it’s up to US to take individual responsibility of is this kosher or not kosher for ME. If we are strong willed and never lose sight of what’s important, then we’ll be able to defeat and subsequently distance ourselves from temptation. If we are weak, then we will succumb and spiral into self destruction- those are the 2 ends of the spectrum, and then of course there are all the levels in between. If you’re still too old school to hear me out on the pot thing, then re-read this last paragraph and apply it to drinking or whatever other disorders or addiction that may gdforbid exist in your life.

Again I repeat- for your own sake- don’t believe everything you heard growing up, simply because that’s how you grew up. And for your own sake, dont judge others unfavorably because of your potentially misguided beliefs. For that matter, don’t judge anybody unfavorably ever

I am sensing some blantant outward animosity and labeling so ill stop making points.

Ok last point- your opinion of drinking and driving versus smoking and driving is just that- a matter of opinion, based completely on how you feel instead of being based on any fact whatsoever. I, for example am of the exact opposite opinion of yours regarding this matter.

I can’t defend it.

But I am sure in one way or another R Moshe and the Torah forbid abusive drinking, but our society is willing to flirt with that danger over the other. Simply for the reason that the generations were not raised with much exposure to this. Even the old hashish smoked in the Middle East, or the ganja in Jamaica is not the same as today’s marijuana, which is engineered and cultivated by the biggest pharmaceutical company’s chemists.

The fact is modern marijuana is a relatively new and potentially dangerous substance if abused. The former is probably why it’s assur, the latter is the same exact thing as alcohol. Actually no, alcohol is worse.

Health– much like alcohol, pot should be enjoyed RESPONSIBLY. And much like alcohol, it’s about variables such as tolerance, weight, and most importantly- limits/boundaries.

And you’re right it’s over Dina of federal law, but not state, which you’ve already argued about with Charlie. It’s difficult to say its the law of the land if its never enforced.

My question is:

Why is it ok to have a bottle of schnapps on the table at shul at 9am, but in many of your opinions- a “rebellion against the kingdom of heaven” young observant men to smoke a joint (responsibly) for, recreational or de-stressing purposes? It is my humble opinion that alcohol consumption, when abused, is far more inebriating, disabling, intoxicating… whatever you want to call it. Alcohol poses a far greater risk for abuse, addiction, carelessness/tragedy- statistically, because it is legal and more easily obtainable than marijuana, practically, because its virtually impossible to overdose or become “emergency room” sick from smoking even ten consecutive joints, whereas alcohol consumption, by contrast, can quickly spiral out of control starting with having one too many drinks…

Of course marijuana, and the high effect from smoking it, in most cases is not conducive to learning- and alcohol is certainly worse in this regard. But what about for those of us who are not learning? How is it worse for us to smoke than to drink? It’s clear that in our beautiful religion, there has been a long history of using alcohol for purposes of sanctity and elevation of spirit- our rabbis and forefathers taught us that even something which is dangerous and has the potential to cause chaos can be used in a way to serve hashem.

I am not coming to defend the political or personal agendas of those in power advocating for legalization. I am simply trying to tell you, from extensive personal experience, that its not the evil you think it is.

This next point is opinionated and probably arguable, because I (and I think nobody else) knows the facts- but I feel that the only reason alcohol is OK in many of your opinions because of the role it plays in Jewish life. Perhaps if weed was around in biblical times it would have been used in rituals as a way to serve gd. Consequently it wouldn’t be outlawed in most lands like it is today, and wouldn’t have all of the misconceptions currently associated with it.