GAON

Akup,
1. Why should it be a problem? who cares what her beliefs or occupation is.
2. I recall it’s somewhat of a problem, but it should be permitted when it’s a ספק or בטל ברוב, whereas, תקרובת ע”ז is never batel and is prohibited even when it is mixed in with others.
3. Great question, and I recall that being the drive of many coming out against shaitels ten yrs ago. At the time Rav Blumenkratz ZL was still alive, and he came out with a list and hechsherim, other than that there were not too many that were willing to get involved first.
Lastly, there were Matirim, i.e. as opposed to the facts that others came out with, they claimed that it is not exactly cut (based on many different discussions and research with Hindu temples) described by Rabbi Dunner who Rav Elyashiv sent or represented, and thus not exactly considered as Takrovas Avodah Zarah

Popa,
And people died of plagues that spread like fire, in the thousands, for hundreds of years. Know part of the reason?

Joseph,
I think you should move OOT for a month or two.
It might benefit you in lots of aspects 🙂 on the other hand, who will start all the controversies here,bif you will become less judgemental.
Does anyone else agree?

“learning locally in a Shul” as a full time learner or as part time? We can not properly suggest without detail.
Perhaps the following may help:
I once saw an hakdamah by an author who was a Talmud of Yeshivas Volozhin, after they reopened the 2nd time, the Rosh- Yeshivah at the time was Rav Refoel Shapira, he describes the Yeshiva then was made up of lots of bachorim that didn’t want a shiur or any official Seder. Rav Refoel of Volozhin was fluent on any topic under the sun. He claims the students who learned there had much more success than any other Yeshiva, being that they were able to study whatever thier heart desired.

Many are mixing up the two topics.
a) Makom Kavuah b) חזקה on seats.
Those are two separate issues, regarding moving a guest over.
MAKOM KAVUAH –
I don’t see where the Shu”A or Talmud ever intended ‘Makom Kavuah’ as a ” right” over someone else sitting in your seat – all it says – is that YOU should make sure to do everything possible to daven in a Makom Kavuah, as they would say in Brisk: it’s a דין Din in the גברא NOT in the ” “חפצא (i.e. the seat) – the concept of Makom Kavuah does not give any rights. Yes, you can absolutely request (or arrive earlier!), but the person has no obligations to move once he is seated.
(Note – I just searched and saw some modern day poskim discussing the issue, but no one has any source where we see Makom Kavuah is a “right”)
CHAZAKA ON SEATS –
As others have pointed out, that is all up to the nature tekanahי of the Shul etc.
Is there any such Chazaka in the first place?
(Note, a mere place is not monetary, hence, is not exactly Chazaka of Baba Kama, but there is a concept of Chazaka as any right to a Mitzva, as pointed out by Ubiq..) How long and what defines Chazaka ? Is it a private Shul? Is it a public shul? Is it a community shul? Did he pay for the seat? Did the Gabay give him the seat? Is it a shul that everyone has their seat either given or purchased etc.?

“Well, the Mishnah Brurah says that it means the man’s seat in shul, but that anywhere he sits within daled amos of his seat is still his makom kivua.”

Furthermore, The Mishnah Brurah does not imply on the account of another person already davening, you can offer the person another seat, but the inyan of Kivua does not override anyone’s right to have a seat or to embarrass someone.
The very same Shulchan Aruch says that prior to davening you should be mekabel mitzvah of ‘ואהבת לרעיך’ etc. And also says “יקבע מקום לתפילתו שלא ישנהו אם לא לצורך – a guest sitting in your seat might very well be classified as “לצורך”, if there is no other seat to offer or can’t be done in a proper manner.
Additionally, there are Rishonim who hold that makom kivua only applies to your house, although we don’t rule like that, but I’m sure you can apply it to all the above, depending the situation.

ubiquitin

“Although generally for “takanas Hashavim”we are meikel”
Agreed on the concept and in theory you are correct. However, allow me to elaborate, when it comes to ultra-sensitive issues as Ishus and Yichus. There is no definite p’sak or procedure and, cannot be, as the Geirus is entirely up to B’D, and these cases need guidance of Gedola Horaha, due to the gravity of the issue ruled as a case-by-case basis. see res. Divrei Chaim A”Hv vol 2 (ch. 36 at the end ). Gedolim have to make sure that the “heter” does not become abused as kind of a tool for all who just want to intermarry, it can only be used as a last resort, and that is up to the B’D to investigate and decide.
That is why in many cases, many will not permit it, as it became normal procedure and instead of being used as a ‘tekanos haShovin’ it became a Tikon L’evaryon’.

Joseph,

So in your mind it is worse than Chllul Shabos or nevelos?
An issur that is not even punishable with Malkos, and again is ONLY in public i.e. in presence of 10 and ONLY via a true Kenoie (yes, i know everyone calls themselves a Kenoi these days – but not those and no one nowadays can claim so)

Mek5,
“to whom this is relevant should contact his local orthodox beis din and local orthodox Rav and not trust what unknown people say online”

Best comment!
I have read the comments, and no one even quoted any sources; everyone is just saying what they feel, think or think they saw/ heard etc. All I know, there are exceptions in all cases, and you cannot compare any case. There were cases were they did permit conversions, even for the sake of marriage (I’m not speaking about conservative/reform kind of cases or even liberal MO – I’m talking about true poskim prior to the times of Reform, like Rav Shlomo Kluger ZTL etc.), wherein of course, they accepted all mitzvos. It is basically up to the Bes Din to decide and, in ‘some’ cases there are exceptions.
If it is REALLY relevant l’Halacha, I can look it up, and post just the Marei makomos and you can represent it to your Rabbi – to ask a Posek (Note, this is not a decision that is up to your typical local Rabbi).
But again there has to be Kabalos Ol haMitzvos according to all. Thus, is a reason why all reform geyoris are null. Not only because they convert for marriage reasons.
(And yes, you can convert for marriage reasons and still accept mitzvos. E.g. Ivanka Trump did and is considered a proper conversion, at least after the deed has been done)

“Figures never lie, but Liars often figure”

Thanks CT for the line and is soooo true!

As they say:
98% statistics are made up on the spot–including this one!

Haimy, as many have pointed out, your comparison of the 25% divorce rate of college educated is flawed, you will need to consider all that are “breaking up” as well, I am sure if you apply all numbers it will be more.
In any case, yes, the divorce rate is indeed going up by the Orthodox, and you are welcome to give any analysis…
You can say, it’s indeed the influence of the secular world as well, kids being spoiled, immature and thus, being used to having “my way” etc.

Wondering* why isn’t the question the other way around:
Perhaps men should stay out.
After all, men do have a coffee room in shul… 🙂

“He doesnt have the first clue as to how to govern”
Based on that, how would you rate Obama’s experience prior to running for Office?
I think at least running a business should be a better (or at least) qualification than being a community org….

I do think Trump never thought he will make it to the WH. He only ran for the publicity etc..
Despite that, I still think he can make it work.

“The Shulchan Aruch paskens, Halacha l’maaisa, even today you can purchase an Eved Knani.
The very same SU paskens Dinei deMalchusa Dinei, At the times of the Shulchan Aruch slavery was still an accepted practice.

“Recent statue removing has nothing to do with trying to eradicate discrimination ”
Obviously. IT is symbolic of course it doesn’t actualy eradicate racisim.”

It all depends from which perspective you are coming from (as below)

“its simply a … Anti-American act ”
Lol. ISnt supporting the confederacy the utmost “Anti-American act”

There is quiet a difference between “supporting the confederacy” and the ‘people’ of the confederacy. Half of Americans who helped build this country were on the south. After the war they were still Americans and, generals like Lee were their leaders.

“who still can’t take the defeat by the rednecks. ”
You need to brush up on your history. The rednecks lost the civil war”

Rednecks defeat as of the recent election…as you know what I meant.

Think about it — why NOW?

” Some of these statues are over hundred years old.”
that should read “few”

The point is, they are part of American history and they were leaders of the south, and were not erected for the sake of “racism”, these “few” indicate that.

Fact – slavery (unfortunately!) at the time was considered the culturally norm — George Washington had slaves and so did Jefferson and so is the constitution ‘racist’. It was time for change and many opposed it, including many slaves from the south.
Every president and leader at one point and until recent had some elements of “racism”, let it be against the “poor white” Irish, women etc., American Civil rights was an uphill battle and long process, which progressed with the time.
Are we going to take down Mt Rushmore and every leader until recent?
Are we going to ban all studies from anyone who ever supported slavery (e.g. Aristotle)?
You have to know how to differentiate between real hate and what was simply a cultural issue.
The latest is just a result of a Leftist agenda of Anti-Nationalism, Pro-globalization, Anti-Religion, Anti-Right etc.

” I’d say that the difference is that lunar eclipses are a lot more common”
If siman Ra is a reason not, than there sure is a diff as a Lunar is a siman ra le’Yisrael whereas a solar is not.

Ubiq..
Regarding predictably and siman ra, I recall the Maharal in Be’er haGolah dealing with that issue.

Toras – “Why would somebody ever be מוסר נפש to go to the Kosel? That wouldn’t be permitted. Which Rishonim are you referring to?”

See Ramban in the Kesavim D’rush Rosh haShana (I think at the end), where he clearly writes what he went through to go to EY.

Joseph – what should be done”, that is precisely what these so-called mechanchim are paid for i.e to KNOW how to and to be on top of such situations, not to brush it off and dismissing it as “boys being boys” situation. They are in the field and they better know, what actions are to be done, otherwise you do not belong being in that field. Period! Joseph thank G-D you are not a mechanchim.

If you would look into the various old Tenayims, you will see that generally they lived in the in-laws house, for the first two or three years. Don’t forget, they married at very young age, age sixteen was normal, where the daughter probably still needed the mother’s help. Otherwise, I don’t think there is any source. Though there is a source that the first pesach was spent by in laws, in pesachim, regarding Korban pesach.

RebYid, with all due respect, that is exactly my point, NOT believing in these cases are usually something you philosophied and came to a conlusion about, i.e. let it be scientifically, philosophically, etc. Not just being in a rebellious mode, and saying so. You really have to believe so in essense.
Though you can argue about the term of being agnostic.

RebYid – regarding theist or not, in these particular cases you are incorrect, all of these kids were raised in an religious atmosphere, and as they say “there are no Athiests in foxholes very much applies to them, it is more of a matter as Rav Chaim of Brisk used to say, on those OTD maskilim that proclaimed themselves as “non-believers” due to having “questions” on faith, that these are NOT questions, rather, תירוצים” excuses. Meaning, they chose an easier lifestyle and and order to justify it they claim they “don’t believe”!

Now regarding the lost souls there, I think someone from the far right, someone these people would respect, even a half-normal Neturei Karta should go in there and start guiding these people. This is Pekuach nefoshos!

In any case, you need real live guidance. Don’t you have anyone to contact from the Sem that knows you and can give proper guidance.

Daas –
“My posek allowed it using irui kli sheini (which has a din of kli shlishi), but doesn’t allow tea bags in a kli shlishi. I didn’t ask him about pour over coffee, but I assume it’s the same as tea.”
It sure is the same or even worse, as the reason your Posek doesn’t allow a Kli Shlishi that he is chosesh to the Aruch haShulchan that upholds that the process of tea even in a Kil Shlishi is considered “gmar’ bishul or Bishul Kal” that these fall into a different category that even a Kli Shilishi is considered bishul. Whereas, instant coffee is already “cooked” processed.
However, the Igros Moshe strongly disagrees with the Aruch HaShulchan; a) that nowhere do we find that a Kli Shlishi can be considered any way as bishul. b) Also, being that even if you leave tea in cold water it will process, so its not the “cooking”…
Now, i’m not sure about ground coffee, as coffee if left in a “cold brew” for many hours it will brew as well..