jay11691

Just to be Modeh al Haemes- I looked into the inyan a little more, and perhaps I was misrepresenting some of the Rishonim. The Ramban actually says clearly in his Hakdomoh to Iov that what happens to a person, bein ltov bein lrah, is all part of Hashem’s plan. However, it seems that the idea of Hashgochoh Pratis is one step beyond this: an extra shmira/direction from Hashem. It is still not clear to me exactly who receives this “extra” & exactly what that means: after all everything is planned by Hashem. I would love to know any Mekoros somebody can mention (not opinions) very shortly & succintly (without taking over the discussion)…….

I did not mean to imply that the Bais Yaakov’s follow TIDE. Believe me, we are on the same page in that regard…..

I merely I find it interesting that there remains a tiny remnant of Hirschian thought in the movement…. Perhaps this explains the almost crisp attitude & semi-professionalism one finds in the movement. Very different from the men’s yeshiva world. Just a theory….

Many Rishonim believe the Mtzvah of “Viyudaas es Hashem” means to inquire beyond Emunah Peshuta. Chovos Halevovos is a good example.

For example, anyone at all familiar with R’ Hirsch’s writings will recognize immediately that Chani Juravel’s writings are heavily inspired by him. It is hard to imagine a Hirschian attaining such prominence in the men’s Yeshiva world…..

True. Notice that I carefully wrote,” a Torah-driven Hirschian derech.” (Not to imply that R’ Hirsch wasn’t Torah-driven).

My point was that the Bais Yaakov movement was founded and nurtured by people trained in the Hirschian way. Sarah Schenirer herself was inspired by R’ Hirsch originally, and a buki in all R’ Hirsch’s writings. The people she brought in to run the movement were Hirschians. There are echoes even today…..

Funny topic. I think that women have a sensitive sense of smell. They know whether their husband is actually accomplishing anything, or if he is going through the motions. That’s even assuming he is not sitting around shmoozing half of seder, where it’s poshut that she will smell him out……

A theory: at it’s core, the divide between the Bais Yaakov system & the Lakewood system is that between a Torah-driven Hirschian derech and the Torah-only Eastern European derech.

HaLeivi’s comment is confused. What is the difference between being cared for on a personal basis, which you admit the Rishonim say only Tzaddikim are Zoiche to, and the posters here who seem to think that when every average yid finds a parking spot that it is Hashgochoh Pratis?

Again, it is fine to rely on the Kabbalists, but know that you are doing so, and know that this type of outlook is not an ikar.

Additionally, even according to the Kabbalists, it is irrational to think that we can understand what is good vs bad. R’ Moshe Feinstein points out in a Teshuvah that the idea that complete bitachon will guarantee you food is wrong. Perhaps Hashem wants you to starve. Perhaps that is the good…..

You are wrong. The Rishonim that I quoted, in those specific spots, are not referring to animals at all. Please take a look at the Ramban. It is extremely clear.

Additionally, the Rambam says quite clearly that ANY level of Hashgochoh Pratis is dependent on your Madreigah.

If you want to rely on the Kabbalists that is fine. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that this idea is central to Yiddishkeit.

My two cents: Appreciating davening does not happen in a vacuum. Way, way before that is self-understanding and being in touch with true reality. Our busy secular world makes it very difficult to even understand and realize we exist & the nature of that existence. Try closing your eyes and concentrating on your sense of self. Who am I? What am I? Who is this person called ______? What is being alive?

You do not need the answers, you just have to get in touch with the nature of being before you can daven at all & enjoy it.

Once you reach a point where you are happy with your mere existence, & not reliant on distractions, then you can daven. Your davening will be a heightened existence. This will make sense & change your life if you try it.

I’m impressed that you didn’t feel the need to twist the words around to make a rhyme…

Eat less. It works well.

R’ Shimon Schwab says in “Collected Speeches” that the correct term for people who have returned to Yiddishkeit is not Baalei Teshuvah, but “Tzaddikim”……..

That certainly does not negate the many Rishonim who believe otherwise…..

The idea that halachically one must always learn unless faced with an emergency is a daas yuchid. The Ran paskens so, however, Ridvaz in Tshuvos chelek gimmel, #416, points out that virtually all Rishonim disagree. Rashi, Rosh, Ritva, Rashba, Rabbeinu Yonah, Sefer Hayirayim, all paskin that you are mekayim the Cheyuv of learning with Krias Shma Shacharis V’Arvis. Anything more is a reshus and a mitzvah b’alma. This is according to Stama D’gmarah in Brochus 35b.

Also, see the Ohr Samaich in Hilchos T”t. I paraphrase: “….. How could Hashem establish a choiv of Talmud Torah for everyone (we are all different)? Therefore, the Chachamim explained the true nature of this cheyiv (Talmud Torah) as follows: Krias Shma Shacharis V’arvis is a fulfillment of the passuk of Vhigesa Boi Yoimam V’layla……. & I am not satisfied with th Ran’s explanation……….”

Of course, there is always the inyan of learning Torah, but again, that is a crucial inyan but not a cheyiv.

The word “Apikoros” is completely misused by most people. Basically, they imply that if you don’t believe in the Yeshivish hashkofos you are an apikoros. However, those who take this position fail to realize that many many great Gedolim did not have the same Hashkafos as R’ Aharon Kotler Zt”l.

Although not directly related, it may be useful to quote R’ Shimon Schwab Zt”l :

” While we do not insist that only “Torah Giants” come forth from our great yeshivos, we are certainly not anxious to put up with any “Torah dwarfs” either. By this we mean the overly inflated semi-scholar, whose knowledge of Neviim and Kesuvim is nil and whose acquaintance with Shisha Sidrei Mishna is pitiful. These individuals are only vaguely familiar with halachah and aggadah, and their encounter with hashkafah literature is confined to two or three books. Sadly enough, some of these people become self-styled experts on daas Torah today” – Selected Essays, page 144

I used my BTS (Bachelors of Talmudic Studies) from BMG (i.e. Lakewood) to apply to Graduate Architecture programs. I was accepted to about half- including some that are pretty well regarded.

The degree itself is neither positive nor negative when applying to a program that has no previous familiarity with it (as in my case). Instead, the admittance department will look closely for other clues that show your potential for success. So be sure to make sure the rest of your application package is highly professional and impressive (GRE scores, personal essay, letters of recommendation etc.).

However, where previously accepted BTL/BTS students have left a negative impression on the school (this may be true in the law or business programs), you will definitely have to work harder to convince the school to accept you. Here, a very impressive LSAT or GMAT score may help.

Incidentally, some previous comments have debated your writing skills. An important point to remember is that even without obvious grammatical errors, writing may still have Yeshivish characteristics. These are implicit in the sentence structure and the expression of ideas and are hard to pinpoint- especially in a limited forum such as this. Needless to say, your writing suffers from this flaw. A good way to begin the education process may be taking a Writing 101 class at your local college.

Best of Luck