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apushatayid, indeed the modern mind had a hard time with the simanim. I’ve heard so many Drashos and lectures from inspirational speakers, who seemingly have a hard time believing that Chazal, and reinterpret the simanim as a mussar reminder or its a (once-a-year type of) Tefilla.
I think we’d get a lot further if, instead of changing things to match our world view, we would delve into understanding the big picture that Chazal are coming off.
Traditionally, Jewish people have refrained from mentioning those things that were big killers, or bad things in general. They’ve referred to ‘the Gezeira’, ‘the Milchama’ and the like.
This has its origin in the Gemara. We find a common reference to a disease of דבר אחר, ‘something else’, which is akin to ‘Yenne Machlah’.
Seemingly, the idea is so as not to give it even a toe-hold in our life.
We act to these Avaryanim just like we do to our multitudes of Shabbos texters and drug addicts: we try to be accepting, non-judgmental, loving etc.
Midwesterner, did we ever meet?
RY, that would be like someone who wears a life jacket his whole life. But don’t mock him because I’m case of a flash flood our could save his life.
In other words, even discussions about anxiety can become illogical.
So Popa The Great wrote ‘QED’ and he was right.
Squeak, and forever after you’ll keep Shabbos on Friday?
Please, calm down. Firstly, Satmar is not Neturei Karta. And not every Neturei Karta member goes to meet terrorists, either.
But mainly, you call it indoctrination but they call it Chinuch. We all pass our ideas to our children. If you don’t like my ideas that doesn’t make it indoctrination.
You won’t change them. They are following the great Satmar Rebbe ZYA and they won’t stop anytime soon. But, on your part, don’t overdo it either.
According to Tosafos Nida 16b, did Menashe have free will all his life?
Coffee, the dying Hebrews were unrelated to the miracle.
Joseph, in this case as well.But, was Chanukah a miracle?
I’ve used it on other networks but I don’t recall using it successfully on Optimum Wi-Fi. I even tried switching back and forth between my phone’s hotspot and Optimum. Through my phone it worked but not on Optimum.
And I think that’s dumb.
I find their pop-ups, or toast notifications, very annoying. You can’t move it to a different location or get rid of it any faster than it decides to stick around. At times there are multiple notifications and I can’t access those items on the tray our even seer the time.
I wrote to them but, as TAG has pointed out, they don’t care about this free try-out product and haven’t updated it in years.
I used to use openDNS but for some reason Optimum does not allow a custom dns. And worse, they deny it.
“I am just exploring what appears to me to be black and white…”
Exactly. Looking for black and white is a symptom of being very literal minded.
To you there are two choices, either literal in the fullest sense of the way we do practice it today or non-literal, and it is code words to be deciphered like a dream and has no relation to what it says.
A good look in classical Sefarim well show you that everyone takes it at face value, that the Avos kept the Mitzvos. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have these discussions by the Ramban down about why Yakov married two sisters.
However (I guess that’s a ‘qualifier’ word), being of a different form — since they had the licence to fulfill things to their own understanding — means that although the Maamar Chazal means exactly what it says it still might not mean what you picture.
The Medrash says that Avraham Avinu figured out the Mitzvos. We also learn that Noach had a Kabbalah of which animals are Tahor. No, this doesn’t mean he was a nice guy. It means what it says. And yet, they still didn’t keep Teffilin the way we do. Yes, they literally kept the Mitzvos, but not all of them were practiced the way it was spelled out later on.
If they figured out Teffilin that means they knew the reason for it. They can then choose to fulfill this idea in whatever way made sense in those times.
You seem to be fine with the understanding that it just means that they understood Hashem and followed His will. This means that you understand that there is a purpose to all the commandments, at least as a group, and they fulfilled that function. Now, take this one step further. There is a purpose to each commandment as well. They kept that, too.
Teffilin d’Morei Alma are very real, it doesn’t just mean Chazal found a cute way to describe the fact that Hashem loves us. But being very real doesn’t have to connote physicality. The same way we know Hashem has a Kisei, which is real and still not physical, we are told He has Teffilin, which are obviously not physical, but they are real and Moshe Rabbeinu was shown Kesher Shel Teffilin.
Not being physical does not mean it’s a Mashal.
If you can’t wrap your head around this it’s because you are too literal-minded.
Ubiquitin, you had that reaction to my mentioning how the Bal Hatanya explains their form of Kiyum Hamitzvos. That is because you’d take nothing less than the simple first-impression understanding. But you do this in the name of not wanting to take the Midrashim literally.
This was well illustrated when I brought up Teffilin Demarei Alma (insert ‘non-literal’ for the benefit of our 13th century friends here) to illustrate that we find Teffilin being something much more than what you wrap around, and that what we are doing is a fulfillment of a certain concept — a concept that even relates to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Your response to that was again to toss around literal or non-literal. Which means that the attitude towards such a Sugya, rather than to see what the Maharal or other Sefarim explain, is to say it’s not literal. But that doesn’t teach you what it is.
Now, as for the ‘Shomer Torah Umitzvos’ idea, which Torah and which Mitzvos? Does that just mean that he was Mishalech Lifnei Hashem? Well it already says that in the Pasuk. And, what does Afilu Eiruvei Tavshilin supposed to mean? Is this all really just an overly fancy way of telling us what we already know?
Can our conversations ever get past 13th century issues? It was a wonderful accomplishment of the Rambam to effectively dismiss the physical minded interpretations of the Torah and of Hashem. As we see, many of his writings reflect this battle. But, the battle was won. Let’s get on.
My reference to Geonim Paskening based on reasons of Derabanans is in Kedushin 45b in Tosafos. As you can see there, Rishonim had an issue with that.
The Baal Hatrumos has a Tshuva about Paskening through trains we learn in Aggadah. He mentions how although the Gemara says that a Bris is on the eighth day so that the parents are happy (Mide’oraysa at that point there is D’mei Tahara), obviously the day doesn’t change when this is not the case.
Interestingly, we do find some examples of the Taamim being invoked. The Shallos Tshuvos Min Shamayim has an answer that women make the Brachah on Shofar and Lulav since the reason for these Mitzvos apply to them as well.
There are examples of Geonim Paskening by a Derabanan based on the original motivation of the Takanah. I recall this happening by Nesu’ei Ketanah.
Back to the OP, when people say we shouldn’t try to understand the reason, that is as a response to doing things because of your understanding.
לכל תכלה ראיתי קץ, רחבה מצותך מאד.
Although obviously there is a reason for each Mitzvah, we don’t, and cannot, understand the full reason even for a relatively well-understood Mitzvah.Most of Torah Shel Baal Peh is about learning the exact classification of a Mitzvah and therefore how it applies. We can then draw an understanding built upon its Halachos.
And so, it is important to realize first and foremost that your motivation to act is because Hashem commanded you to do so. Then, on top of that, the more you understand about the Mitzvah accomplishes more.
But it is important never to think that the reason at hand is the reason. I know of a certain Tzaddik who preferred as a Baal Toke’ah someone who didn’t know the Kavanos of the Arizal. This way he can’t mess up.
So, think of it as a base, which is about being an Eved Hashem, and on top of that many understandings, meditations, and achievements.
This is from the king of ‘not literal’:
Halevai so you are saying the avos didnt keep the torah. They can meditate with sticks fun heint biz morgen, thats not wearing tefilin.
Keeping “secrets of the torah” is beautiful but meaningless (to us).
They either wore tefilin or didn’t, and sticks aren’t tefilin.
Hence, your issue is that you are actually extremely literal.
As I’ve written on the aforementioned thread, the Medrash was given to study not to dismiss. Yes, we all know by now that Aggados are very deep and aren’t necessarily meant to take at face value. This is step one. We see a strange Maamar and we understand that it is something deeper than what meets the eye.
That is what we are taught when we start out. There is, however, a level two. We go the next step and actually try to glean an understanding. Only a fool would insist on level one when faced with level two.
Using the same neutralizing ‘not literal’ spray on every Maamar Chazal doesn’t really get you far. The idea is to learn what it does mean. For this there are Sefarim — of many types with different approaches and to varying depths.
Just to stick in another view point:
I, and even more so Halevia, have frequented Frumteens in their heyday. It was indeed refreshing to have a seriously Frum website in those days.The Hashkafah in general was very solid and it put things in correct perspective for many people.
The anti-Zionist things was a raw thumb and perhaps part of its unfortunate undoing. Rav Shapiro has adapted the Satmar approach, which is fine but far from the normative approach. To most Heimish people the Satmar obsession with ‘The Medina’ is off the mark. Had the site just kept away from the topic they might have been much better off. But the Satmar Shita is that Zionism is right up there with Avoda Zara, and a Milchamah MiDor Dor. Therefore, a lot of energy and space was wasted on that. And this took attention away from important topics.
The site itself, other than discussions with the Rav was also a great outlet for the teens to discuss things which each other and express themselves.
Are you implying that your comments were solely based on the title, and you didn’t read a thing?
I know. It’s called knee-jerk reactions. It’s when you announce sentiments we knew you had. When the words are not products of actual thought, but rather reflexive and predictable. But keep in mind that speech which isn’t conveying a new idea is, to the observer, nothing more than a bark. Guess if it’s annoying.
Go to voice.google.com and choose a number. Then you can set this number to forward all calls to a phone of your choice. Separately, you can forward text messages sent to that number to any phone. Regardless of these settings, all voice mail and text messages are sent to your email. If you respond to that email the person sees that as a response by text.
Serious people are also here to stay.
As for sms, if you want to keep it off and still use those services, there is another way. Set yourself up a Google number and give that to the bank.
There are plenty of people who use it to their own benefit. Just make sure to remember your current sentiment.
Being mature with an advanced device constantly in your reach takes practice, like any other Mida. When you see the way other people use that nauseates you, take note and make a mental note not to look like that.
Our parents didn’t have these things early on so we aren’t disciplined on its etiquette. We’ll have to make it up on our own, and well enough to be able to help the next generation.
Get used to ignoring notifications, or mute them. For emergencies people will call (an added on capability of smartphones).
But the good news is, that if you didn’t get it in order to have fun but rather out of an actual necessity, and if you actually care more about your biological life, you will most likely succeed in not having it take over your life. But make a note to stop and reevaluate your position in half a year.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Chalkboard II.
23. Jerks who continue off conversations of a year ago.
24. Jerks who come back to the coffee room after a long hiatus as if nothing happened.
Never heard of any Tzaddik Davenning for that. Not even Rebbi Akiva.
So it’s a celebration of the thumbing of a nose? As I said, it is a completely secular commemoration. It’s about a declaration of independence, not of divine deliverance. Celebrate with fireworks, not liturgy.
Or do what you want but don’t make believe it is what it isn’t.
For all this talk about if the celebration is of military victory or a relief from our tormentors, it’s neither. This day celebrates the beginning of a bad war! It’s an independence day. Nothing more, nothing less. If you’d only keep it that way without stuffing in religious significance we’d all be better off.
If you really want to celebrate in the Jewish tone, celebrate the end of the war, 9th of Adar or the tenth, being the day after. Perhaps the ending wasn’t glamorous enough, but that would be a celebration of Hashem’s help. Celebrating an announcement that started (or preempted) the war is simply a nationalistic idea. Just keep it as that.
And, at this opportunity, I thank Hashem once more for the wonderful display of kindness and miracles He showed us in our times, ועל ארץ חמדה טובה ורחבה.
As the Medrash says in Shir Hashirim, this is great and wonderful and let them rejoice, but we await the presence of the Shechinah.
I found Sefaria’s website very helpful. They even have a source sheet section with sources for a wide range of topics.
She should marry him as then easily win him over by showing him kjchusid’s arguments.
Ah! Finally a Zionist /anti Zionist discussion got this far without being closed down. Thanks 29 for keeping this place interesting enough to visit.
Please. That’s a hard sell, let alone calling someone stupid for not buying or thinking of it.
Oops. That was supposed to be a reply to yitzyk.
If the discussion would be about the seller then you’d be right, it should just say ˋone who sells`. However, we are discussing both the buyer and the seller.
The aeolian harp.
The rule is well known, שוה כסף ככסף. He has Chametz in your domain and says you should keep it. In Bava Kama 46b we find the Gemara quoting the saying that if someone owes you money take whatever he offers for soon even that won’t be available.
As the Rishonim there point out, usually we don’t allow payment in such form since you received money and should therefore be courteous enough to return money. In this case however, obviously accepting the Chametz as value is part of the deal.
The Gemara says that Tzurba Derabanan have a hard time with it. There is resistance because you feel like you will be held back rather than advancing. But as is the case with learning in general, once you begin and delve in it becomes enjoyable and rewarding.
The best time to review is at the verge of forgetting. This way it comes back to life. What you worked on last time to make sense out of it well flow easy the second time around. That is akin to harvesting what you sowed. If you don’t review, it is like planting but never coming back around to collect the fruits. You aren’t really internalizing when you just made sense out of it. When you relearn with clear understanding that is when you internalize it.
Not only these Zionist. We have to shelter our children from the Karoim, fight the Baisusim, banish the Kutim, leave Alexandria, ignore the priests’ lecture in Shul on Shabbos. Maybe we should even add a new Bracha in the Tfillas Amida because of all these Minim!
Pretty cheap. It has all the hallmarks of immature writing. This small threat is actually greater than the actual famous one; but don’t ask them, because they’ll deny it, but take my word for it.
Why would any publication want to have such an article about anyone?
Because those women don’t teach the boys.
Its usage is much like k9.
“HaLeiVi, how can OpenDNS accomplish the OP’s goals?”
It is a free filter
Also, your wireless IP changes.
Hence the necessity of the dynamic IP updater app.
And why do you need Optimum’s WiFi altogether?
That’s also free. Otherwise, I had to look at data usage. Besides, many apps run better or backup while using Wi-Fi only. I’m sure these can be changed but again, that would ramp up data usage.I’ve used OpenDNS on my android. But fit that I had to root the phone, get a DNS forwarder, and a dynamic IP update app to send OpenDNS my current IP address.
For some reason, though, my phone wouldn’t connect while on Optimum’s Wi-Fi. They block DNS servers. I contacted them, but they seem to be oblivious about it.
Now you know which neighbor is supplying Hebrewbooks.
What’s the word again, when you feel so proud and glad that you’re finally noticed? Oh, I got it: I’m humbled!
You mean it’s weird for you too and it’s NOT just me??!! I’m so happy to hear that! After Meno’s post, I thought it was just me and that I was the weird one!
It’s actually your post that did it. You created a list item but didn’t end it. This system has all the posts listed and styled a certain way. Because you didn’t end your list item, and since this system doesn’t check for that, you ruined the list hierarchy that the style page depends on.
Does ending the list help?
Olam Habbah, and the Emess for that matter, is not necessarily the safest place for everyone