Reb Eliezer: From Ohr Sameach website:

Michael from Pittsburgh wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Does the “Cherem d’Rabbeinu Gershom” [“social excommunication”ed.] against reading someone’s mail also apply to E-Mail? At work we all share one E-Mail account, and sometimes I find it difficult to overcome my curiosity.

Dear Michael,

Rabbeinu Gershom (960-1040 C.E.), “The Light of the Exile,” was one of the earliest and greatest scholars of Ashkenazic Jewry, and led the most prestigious center of Talmudic learning of the day. In his times, there arose a need to institute a number of new measures, called “takanot.” These included the banning of polygamy and the requirement of mutual consent in divorce.

Amongst his most well known enactments is the one you mentioned – the prohibition against reading people’s mail. In those times, Jewish traders in different countries communicated in writing. Often their letters contained sensitive business information which could be very harmful if read by an outsider. As a safeguard against this, Rabbeinu Gershom legislated against reading people’s mail.

What about E-Mail? Is reading E-Mail on a computer screen included in the “Cherem of Rabbeinu Gershom”? I posed this question to Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita, and he made no distinction between regular mail and E-Mail.

You wrote, however, that you share a joint account. Here, the question can be asked, “Is an E-Mail message in a joint account like a post card?” Concerning post cards there is a doubt whether or not Rabbeinu Gershom’s decree applies, since the sender seems unconcerned if others read it.

On the other hand, perhaps the sender trusts that no one will push the button and “open” the message – just as when you send a letter you expect that no one will open and read it.

I asked Rabbi Scheinberg about this as well. Here, too, he made no distinction between a joint account and a private account. People expect that no one read their messages, and it should not be done.

I hope this knowledge helps you overcome your curiosity. If not, let me remind you of the positive commandment of “v’ahavta l’reacha ka’mocha” – “Love your fellow person as yourself.” Our Sages explain this as follows: One must not do to somebody else what he wouldn’t want the other person to do to him. Would you like someone else to read your personal E-mail?

Sources:

Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 334:22.
Aruch HaShulchan 334:20.
Herald of Destiny, by Berel Wein, Shaar Press.
Leviticus 19:18, Shabbat 31a, Maharsha.

The ones n this tread. Which post do you think is incitement?

I didn’t read all your posts. You asked if it’s rude. So I think there is nothing rude about asking someone to remove your messages. I would think that any decent person would honor that request. Especially if he would understand your feelings on specific messages. Any person who is indecent enough to deny this request, I would keep away from.

TLIK:
BH I don’t know the process that takes place before medicating a child. Nevertheless, one thing I can tell you. I highly doubt the doctor that prescribes the medication is doing any evaluations of the child. He is prescribing based on the recommendations and evaluation of others. And if a social worker or psychologist is involved, then their opinion is going to hold the most weight whether the child should be medicated.

A very important component when considering medicating a child, is not only the child should be evaluated, but the parents as well. That means checking if the parents respond appropriately to their children and are not in fact causing the issues. Asking the parents questions and the child too on what goes on at home. I don’t know if that is done, but I’m guessing it’s not.

Joseph

1:
Kol hakovod. And Hatzlacha rabba.

Gadolhadorah: Since it’s important for you to know what political leanings your husband will have, then absolutely, discuss them with the people you date. But not everyone finds it important.

the vaccine development and approval process seems to have been conducted to the highest standards of safety and efficacy.

Gadolhadorah: There is no way you can possibly know this. Do you know everything that was done to ensure the process was done “to the highest standards of safety and efficacy?”

Even if you can claim to have real inside info (which I highly doubt), it is not even possible for anyone to know if the vaccines are totally safe, as sufficient time has to pass before we see if it won’t have any negative effects. It can take years to determine if a vaccine is totally safe, not a mere few months.

In my view, the only ones who should take this vaccine (after it has been deemed assumingly safe), are those for whom covid-19 poses a great risk for them like the elderly, diabetics, and those with compromised immune system. I say “assumingly”, because as I stated, it is impossible to know after such a short time if it’s truly safe.

Wolf; I find your question is appalling!

A parent should always evaluate if they are spanking their child out of anger or yelling excessively at their child (and ends up feeling bad after, because they realize they were wrong) should go for help before everlasting damage is done to their child. It doesn’t mean the parent is bad, rather it may be because of abuse in their own upbringing, their own shame, or their current circumstances that are causing them to be stressed or overwhelmed.

The child should not have to suffer. Go for help. You won’t regret it. If you don’t go for help, you may regret it big time.

If anyone has symptoms of covid AND they feel weak (or getting weaker) they absolutely should check their oxygen level even if they don’t feel they have breathing issues.

When my mother had covid, and her saturation level was at 72, she insisted that she had no trouble breathing!! I called hatzalah and they took her in.

Gadolhadarah: You answered Coffee addict Amein v’amein. He meant nothing about Trump. And it’s strange you think he did.

It’s a good thing you’re not anti-Semitic or no doubt you would blame the virus on the Jews.

If it is true that someone sent in two blank swabs and it came back positive then the test is totally worthless and should not be relied upon whatsoever.

I had covid in March. If I tested positive now, I would absolutely not self quarantine, as I don’t believe it’s possible to get it again.

I actually know of people who tested positive even though that they were for sure over covid. That being the case, I don’t trust the results at all, and I see no reason for anyone to self quarantine as a result of positive test.

If you live in areas where the virus is raging, then everyone who did not already have the virus should be careful. But if you live in a place like New York, then just go about your business, unless you have symptoms that indicate that you have the virus, or you are high risk.

1- teenagers were/are not affected by the virus. So there is no reason for them not go to camp. the chances of any of them getting seriously sick is almost nil.
2- teenagers need something to do with their time. People with total lack of seichel make decisions that don’t include this very obvious fact.
3 – Why would day camps be more safe? In camp, they will be quarantined in a productive environment, while day camp they will be going home and about and more likely to spread the virus (provided they can and are still spreading it..
4 – Most teenagers, if not all, in NY were already exposed to the virus more than a month ago.
5- vactions is a better option? Are you kidding me?

“Also, he didn’t gasp for air, and any med student knows that someone who tells you they can’t breathe, can”

SYAG: “Gasping for air” does not necessarily mean that the person can not breath at all.

maskildoresh:

I’m wondering why you think the label “narcissist” is worse than being called an “arrogant, difficult, and self-centered person”?

Joseph: what is wrong with women voting? and what is your proof that it failed?

Joseph: one who needs to smack their child to teach them the seriousness of some dangers has to because the child is too young to understand and it’s important to make sure they don’t do it. Smiras Shabbas is not required by a child too young to understand therefore there is no need to smack. If a child is old enough to understand and is still doing dangerous stuff they need help not a smack. Same applies for Shabbas.

Josef: I always make the caller give me an idea who they and their child are before answering shidduch questions.

Why do you need to know who they are or who their child is before answering shidduch questions?

You should answer according to what you know about the person they are asking about. Not according to who is asking.

The OP asked a question that sounds very much like a question that you would ask.

Sefer HaChinuch does not say it is required for a married woman to wear her ring in public. Perhaps he says it is a good idea, but he doesn’t say required. It is completely and totally false to say that she is required to wear her ring in public.

Joseph: I did and she agrees with what I wrote.

According to your belief system, a woman must agree with everything her husband thinks, so this doesn’t prove anything.

Really?

LU: “Joseph – true, but from what I heard it still might be a problem to daven that a specific child be a girl, so one should ask a sheilah before davening. “

What does that mean?

And what does the following mean?

Golfer: “In a case where someone already has a son, or many sons, is it even permissible to daven for a girl?”