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It depends on the community.
In the communities that prefer darker clothing & bigger hats Cholov Stam is worse.
For those that allow lighter clothing & smaller/no hats Fraud is worse.Neville Chamberlain,
“We are to them as the Amalekim were to us.”
It always amazes me how Yidden instinctively understand we don’t follow the literal Torah. But instead we follow the modern day interpretation of the Rabbanim.
There are a lot of smart Jews. Why aren’t the Rabbanim calling to raise millions of dollars to isolate the “Amalek” gene so we can perform this Dioraisa mitzvah?
The truth is we have no interest in performing this mitzvah at the current time. We avoid it by claiming 1. We don’t know who Amalek is though with it being Biblical we SHOULD be, but are not Machmir.
2. A more modern approach is Amalek is the evil inside of us we need to get rid of. Either way no Jew that I know is working on a plan to fulfill this Mitzvah.
The Christians of today are different than those of yesteryear. In the past they believed they were doing a big Mitzvah converting Jews by any means necessary. Today it’s all about love, only love. They donate to Jewish causes, they help Jews, they try to convert us through “Good Works”
This can (& G-d willing soon) & will happen with Muslims as well. Taking the LITERAL text of the Torah, Xtian Bible &/or Quran & claiming this is the final word of G-d which is not subject to interpretation by their respective religious leaders & scholars is unsophisticated thinking. If we do it constantly so can other religions.Bli Neder no Matza 30 days before Pesach unless the hostages are free.
Square Root,
Why did the Torah have to come from an “Orthodox Shul”?
Every Orthodox, Conservative & Reform Shul has the exact same Torah. If it’s Kosher it’s Kosher &
What better way to show Kavod HaTorah then to take a Torah from a Reform Shul & “elevate” it to being used by Torah true Yidden?The sad tuth is most are Meshichists. Some I’ve asked gave me an explanation that avoided these problems but isn’t the greatest answer either as it can apply to many Jews who died.
I know a person who comes from a Frum background that discovered their ancestors who came to America were Chabad Chasidim so they became Chabad.
They told me they purposely have never visited 770 or the Ohel to distance themselves from this “Meshichist narishkeit”
They may be a minority but there are some Chabadniks that totally reject the Rebbe is Moshiach concept (& think it’s damaging to the movement) & stick to “Old School” Chabad Chasidus.Ujm,
I always appreciate the “Frummer” among us who show up wearing their stained “Davening jacket” with a torn pocket & missing button along with their “Shabbos hat” that became a “Weekday Davening hat” because it’s faded & been sat on too many times.
Certainly more fitting to talk to the King of Kings than a man wearing pressed beige khakis & a blue polo shirt.US soldiers should not be in Israel. That’s bad enough. But if Ch’V an American soldier gets killed both sides will be screaming to get away from israel & you can’t blame them.
Gardol & Modern,
It’s easy to cry Racism & Antisemitism when things don’t go your way.
One thing I love about my history teacher is he always explains the other side & what were they thinking. That doesn’t mean you agree, just why they did what they did
First, no one had any idea about a Holocaust in the 1930s because even the Nazis hadn’t thought about it.
Second, fleeing persecution & tyranny, Hadn’t Jews been doing that forever? & (I know people hate when I speak the truth but the Emes is the Emes) Just take the Tsars. They went after the Jews & OTHER MINORITIES, Why? Because he didn’t care about the people or human rights. He wanted peace & quiet & what’s the best way to achieve that? By making everyone the same. If everyone in Russia including the Jews & other minorities were converted into Russian Orthodox Christians & proud, loyal, patriotic Russians he’d have nothing to worry about. Same with the Soviets. Should America have taken in tens of millions of persecuted Jews & Non-Jews from all over the world?
In 1938 unemployment was 19%!!! In 1939 it was 17.2%!!!!
Is it wrong for a country to say they’re going to make sure their own citizens have jobs before letting in foreigners to take them?
If you were the President with massive unemployment would you do anything differently?
& Now the hardest part for Yidden to hear.
Eastern European Jews were described as having “Strange customs & Shiftless ways”
Look at an Eastern European Jew through the eyes of a Non-Jewish American. Funny hair, funny clothes, don’t speak a “real” language, not modernized, uncultured, unwesternized, little to no secular education, & very few having useful skills to bring with them.
Do you give the job of janitor at a factory to an immigrant Jew or an unemployed American citizen?
The other issue we hate to discuss is at that time Communism was very popular & while understandable at the time, MANY Jews were into Communism. The US govt was full of Communists (many of them Jews) in every Dept. The US knew we’d be at war with Communism. If you were in charge would you allow thousands upon thousands of JEWISH (the most disciplined, hard working,) Communists into your country?
p.s. When we claim these attitudes were due to Antisemitism of a perfectly innocent people let’s just look at the present. How many Jews refused to follow masking rules (whether it was right is immaterial, it’s about being good honest lawful citizens of the US & not as they were described having “Shiftless ways”). How many Shul’s locked the front door BUT OPENED THE BACK DOOR to continue holding services? How many of our schools renamed themselves as “Daycare” in order to stay open during Covid? How many weddings & funerals were illegally held cuz “We know better than the Goyim.”?
How many times have Heimish schools been raided by the FBI for “theft of services” by misappropriating govt grants? I’m not saying all Jews cuz it’s not but we also can’t deny even today many of us see the govt as an enemy that needs to be beaten at its own game by “Pulling Shtik” or crying “Antisemitism”
I have a hard time believing if a Non-Jewish minority in South America were being persecuted like the Jews in Eastern Europe were in the 30’s & you were facing many challenges at-home that as President you would say, “Sure, let’s take in 5, 6, or 9 million of these people.”
When you look at this issue as an AMERICAN instead of a JEW you quickly understand why what happened, happened & it wasn’t simply based on Racism & Antisemitism.
Did Antisemitism probably play some role? Yes. But it wasn’t “We can easily take in & absorb these people but the only reason we won’t is because we hate Jews.”Modern,
It’s pretty obvious to me (I wrote it) that “for a while” didn’t mean R’ Rice was Orthodox “for a while” then wasn’t.
It meant he was the only “Real=Orthodox” Rabbi in America “for a while” as in THE ONLY ORTHODOX RABBI IN AMERICA UNTIL OTHER ORTHODOX RABBIS CAME.SQUARE ROOT,
I’m sure it’s elsewhere online but my source is an article by Yitzchak Levine (who I believe is a historian from the NY area) printed in the Baltimore monthly magazine (R’ Rice served in Baltimore) Jan. 2014 issue of where-what-when. It’s a fairly long article covering his life & fights with Reformers in his Shul & elsewhere, as well as his movement to establish strict Orthodoxy in America.My Ruv (& noted Posek) has been having a very difficult time with this issue. After much research & discussion with other major Poskin he made a compromise ruling.
Men in our Shul that eat eggs without a Hashgacha may still be given Aliyah’s but the Tzibur should not answer Amen to his Brochos.Square Root,
We should go back to the beginning. This is from a letter Rabbi Avraham Rice, the first “Real” (& for a while only) Ruv in America wrote to his Rebbe in Germany. (c.1840’s-1850’s)
“One more thing I wish to disclose to you my revered master and teacher…and my soul weepeth in the dark on account of it, namely, that the character of religious life in this land is on the lowest level; most of the people are eating non-kosher food, are violating the Shabbos in public…and there are thousands who have been assimilated among the non-Jewish population and have married non-Jewish women. Under these circumstances, my mind is perplexed, and I WONDER WHETHER A JEW MAY LIVE IN A LAND SUCH AS THIS.”UJM,
FDR didn’t close the doors. They were already closed by the 1924 Johnson Reed Immigration Act.
It sounds simple to you because you think the world revolves around Jews. Wake up call, it doesn’t.
Look at what was going on in America & the world then & any normal person sitting in the oval office would’ve done the same thing as FDR (perhaps besides sending the Jews on the St. Louis back).You have no right to be upset with America not accepting European Jews. They had very valid & legitimate reasons for not doing so.
You don’t discuss theology, argue Halacha or sit on a Bais Din with the Conservative or Reform.
But when it comes to working together to make the community better or stronger you most certainly should work with them.Bloviation is a style of empty, pompous, political speech that originated in Ohio and was most notably used in his successful 1920 US presidential campaign by Warren G. Harding. He subsequently described it as “the art of speaking for as long as the occasion warrants, and saying nothing”. His opponent, William Gibbs McAdoo, compared it to “an army of pompous phrases moving over the landscape in search of an idea.”
Much of this talk about Achdus is just talking. In practice it’s, “I can’t work with people from a different group.” Or “My kids can’t be exposed to kids from a more modern family.”
It’s always excuses. As Gadol said it’s sad this is even newsworthy.
I read a story from someone who attended a Levaya. The Niftar was a Centrist Modern Orthodox Jew who ran the Religious Zionists of America for decades. He helped found a Modern Orthodox, Coed, Ultra-Zionist day school.
Who gave the hesped? The Ruv of Agudah!!!
The Ruv said, “Mr. X and I had differing opinions on many issues but I held him in great regard.”
The Ruv of Agudah being Maspid the President of Mizrachi.
That’s what true Achdus looks like.Participant,
What do you mean? What do you want to know?I remembered reading this written by a Talmid of Rav Ruderman.
“I had conversations with him on numerous current issues. He was very tolerant and open to different points of view. His interest was learning Torah and teaching Torah. Unlike some others who still live in a bygone era and cannot deal with reality, he once told me “the state of Israel is a good thing, where would Jews have gone were there no State of Israel”. He encouraged all of us to go to Washington in 1967 during the Six Day War. He had compassion and deep understanding, the opposite of a fanatic.”Menachem Shmei,
“many chose (in their ignorance, thanks to the Zionist propaganda) to engage in waving the Zionist flag, etc., instead of engaging in true Judaism”
I’m from a major Jewish community & the most well known & respected Chasidish Rebbe attended a local (not in the community) Pro-Israel rally. In the pics he’s holding a “Zionist flag”
This Rebbe is engaged in “True Judaism” 24/7/365. Whether running his wonderful Shul, helping people, giving Shiurim, or teaching at schools.
I think the difference is in many places Yidden fight or at best ignore each other until the Nazis take over. Where I’m from there’s a lot lower threshold that triggers cooperation. Yidden in Eretz Yisroel are being killed & held hostage. Antisemitism in America (& elsewhere) is skyrocketing. Perhaps (he does) this Rebbe has Chochma. When the Non-Frum Jews at the rally who only know how to wave a Zionist flag see a real Chasidish Rebbe in Chasidus garb right beside them also waving a Zionist flag the message that sends is priceless.Chasidim who switch their vest for a Canon windbreaker & tie their Peyos up under their B&H Photo baseball cap before going to Atlantic City aren’t fooling anyone.
Yserbius,
You’re exactly right though there’s an additional factor at play.
With Civil War looming the President called for January 4, 1861 to be a day of prayer, fasting & humiliation when all should go to their houses of worship to cry out to G-d that a solution is reached instead of war. The Rav gave a strongly Pro-Confederate speech (it’s available online).
New Orleans Jews being strongly Pro-Confederate wanted him as their Rabbi & made an offer.
At the same time Lincoln tired of all the headaches coming out of Baltimore when 1,000 Union soldiers marched in, declared Baltimore to be under Union occupation & Martial Law. They immediately started rounded up influential secessionists & Confederate supporters. The Rabbi fearing being thrown in jail for however long the Union felt, fled Baltimore for New Orleans.A VERY unpopular opinion is during the Civil War era which Rabbi sided with who.
Jewish communities being relatively new, (the Jewish population in America jumped from around 15,000 Jews to 175,000 Jews from c.1840-1860), Jews generally sided with where they lived either because they agreed or because they didn’t want to stand out.
But in border places like Baltimore, Jews like Non-Jews could choose which side they were on.
The unpopular opinion is that it’s not surprising that the “Radical Reform Rabbi” was Pro-Lincoln, Pro-Union, Anti-Secession & Pro-Abolition, while the Frum Rabbi (recognized Talmid Chochem, Smicha from Pressburg, many years in Yeshiva, some of his psaks are still in force today) was Anti-Lincoln, Anti-Union, Pro-Secession & Pro keeping Slavery as it had been.
Many Frum are embarrassed by this but looking at today with the Reform generally pushing for liberal values & progressive agendas & the Orthodox not so much is it surprising which Rabbi sided with the Union & which with the Confederacy?GadolHadofi,
(The Nazis loved propaganda & showing the world America was killing Jews by blowing them to pieces would’ve put the Nazis on cloud 9.)
But anyway, my unpopular opinion is about bombing the tracks being impossible & wouldn’t have changed anything anyway.
Anyone old enough has heard numerous times, me including from survivors, “FDR (Yimach) was an Antisemite. He refused to bomb the tracks to the camps.”GadolHadofi,
(The Nazis loved propaganda & showing the world America was killing Jews by blowing them to piece would’ve put the Nazis on cloud 9.)
But anyway, my unpopular opinion is about bombing the tracks being impossible & wouldn’t have changed anything anyway.
Anyone old enough has heard numerous times, me including from survivors, “FDR (Yimach) was an Antisemite. He refused to bomb the tracks to the camps.”Smerel,
Do you have your grandfather’s documents with his name when he got on the boat & the new name when he exited Ellis Island? Surely you &/or the “people you know” would have the records. That’s generally not something you throw out.
More strangely this concept doesn’t appear until around the 1970’s (amazing with all the literature from 1910-1970 authors never mentioned this concept or used it as a plotline).
Interestingly enough the best guess how this myth went viral is a scene from “The G-dfather” where an Italian immigrant was taken into a room, given a list of American names by immigration officers & told to pick one (which of course is total fiction) but with a surge in ethnic pride during this period people including Jews latched onto this myth without bothering or more likely not interested in finding out if it was true.GadolHadofi,
I could write a long preface about what would’ve changed?
Auschwitz was not chosen at random. There were over 40 rail lines nearby.
Instead I’ll tell you about the “Bielefeld Viaduct”
This railway handled approximately 300 trains PER DAY!
If it wasn’t the busiest Nazi railway it was in the top 3.
This made it a #1 priority for the Allies.
Why focus on the Viaduct instead of just “bombing the tracks”?
Because the Germans weren’t stupid. Knowing the war effort relied on the trains they had plans in place to rapidly (usually just a few hours) repair any damage. Imagine driving a race car but not having a pit crew to service your car.
But more importantly, over 4 years the Allies (sometimes Americans, sometimes British) bombed the Viaduct 11 times. Not a single bomb hit the Viaduct!!! A few landed close but caused a negligible amount of damage that affected nothing.
Finally the British built a massive bomb that only needed to land close. Which it did & destroyed the Viaduct. This was in mid-March of 1945. Hitler was dead at the end of April. When the Allies bombed huge factory buildings 90% of the bombs missed the target.
Good luck throwing something out of a moving airplane from 10,000 feet & hitting a target that’s about 7′ wide.
HaRav Weissmandel was a great Tsaddik & Talmidim Chochem but based on what I wrote, as well as other factors I didn’t write, I (& others into this type of history) can’t possibly imagine if even if by some miracle bombs indeed hit some tracks how that would’ve changed anything.A big part of the initial success of the Day School movement in America (most were founded around 1945-1955) was the Supreme Court ruling desegregating the public schools in 1954.
Contrary to claims that the “The Jews” supported the Civil Rights movement (many did, many did not) when faced with the reality of actually having their kids go to school with Black kids they ran. If a Jewish family couldn’t move to an area with an overwhelmingly White &/or Jewish school district the next option was to send them to the Jewish school.
The schools were more than happy to have the opportunity to teach these kids Torah true Yiddishkeit & perhaps have a positive affect on them. Which they had some successes.A big part of the initial success of the Day Schools in America (most were founded around 1945-1955) was the Supreme Court ruling desegregating the public schools in 1954.
Contrary to claims that the “The Jews” supported the Civil Rights movement (many did, many did not) when faced with the reality of actually having their kids go to school with Black kids they ran. If a Jewish family couldn’t move to an area with an overwhelmingly White &/or Jewish school district the next best option was to send them to the Jewish school.
The schools were more than happy to have the opportunity to teach these kids Torah true Yiddishkeit & perhaps have a positive affect on them. Which they had some successes.Smerel,
This is why I posted this in a thread about “Unpopular opinions” It’s a MYTH people’s name changed at Ellis Island. Do you or “people you know” have any proof? I highly doubt it.
Some Jews did in fact change their name once in America but NOT at Ellis Island.
“Was your name changed at Ellis Island? The simple answer is no. It never happened.
Today there are millions of descendants of immigrants to the U.S. who firmly believe this myth and, despite continued efforts of prominent genealogists and immigration experts, it seems impossible to stamp it out.
This could not have happened for the following reasons:
1. The only thing the clerk did was check off the names on the passenger manifest that was compiled before the ship sailed from Europe (as I mentioned). The Ellis Island clerk never asked the immigrant his or her name.
2. In any case, some 30% of the immigration clerks were themselves multi-lingual immigrants and some 60 languages were spoken, with translators available at all times (as I mentioned 9 Yiddish speaking translators, there was ALWAYS Yiddish speakers available to translate).
3. There was no name change form or any process for an immigration clerk to change a person’s name. It was not a court of law.
“According to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service senior historian Marian L. Smith:The report that the clerk “wrote down” the immigrants surname is suspect. During immigration inspection at Ellis Island, the immigrant confronted an inspector who had a passenger list already created abroad. That inspector operated under rules and regulations ordering that he was not to change the identifying information found for any immigrant UNLESS requested by the immigrant, and UNLESS inspection demonstrated the original information was in error.”
Bombing the tracks to the camps would’ve stopped the Holocaust is not true at all.
Everyone who has claimed & some still claim that “Jews (or Antisemitic officials) changed their last name at Ellis Island is very mistaken as it almost never happened because it was virtually impossible for it to happen.
A captain is responsible for everyone on his ship. So he has to have accurate records of who is on board. In order for a Jew (& Non-Jew) to board they needed to show the ship line their paperwork so it could be properly recorded.
Upon arrival at Ellis Island the immigration officials would take the Captains log to work off of. The wait in line was long. There were 9 Yiddish speaking employees (not officers just civilians) that would go up & down the line explaining to the Jews the process, arrange the documents, tell them what to say, etc). So when a Jew finally came before an officer, the officer had their name in Europe in the Captains log as well as the paperwork with their real name. A few people had a letter left out one brother “Goldstein” & the other “GoldsHtein” But that a Jew walked onto Ellis Island “Goldstein” & walked “Johnson” is a complete myth.
So if anyone claims that tell them they’re wrong. Which some don’t like hearing.I was actually gonna start my own post (I still might) but here goes nothing.
The belief that “Antisemitism is NEVER our fault.” is not true.
Sometimes knowingly or not we bring it upon ourselves due to our actions or behavior.I think it depends on the community.
I’m from a large Frum community where Baalei Teshuva are treated like everyone else.
The main community school (with well over 1,000 students) has “Grandparents Day” watch the videos. Many Zaidys have black hats & beards & some are Chasidish but there’s also plenty of “Kippot Serugot” & men wearing yarmulkes they obviously pulled out of the drawer & dusted off for this occasion. There have also been (a few) Zaidys that wore NO head covering at all.
Many Bubbys (almost all amongst the younger Bubbys) cover their hair, many do not. Long Sheitels, Short Sheitels, hats or not covered dyed bright red hair is irrelevant. Very rare but a few Bubbys show up wearing pants.
No one cares & all are welcome.
It’s really how the Kehilla is taught by the Rabbanim about how to treat & accept Baalei Teshuva. From what I understand in many communities they would not be ok with what I described above. But B’H there’s a certain open mindedness & tolerance where I’m from where (almost) everyone is accepting of other Jews even those from very differently backgrounds & ways of practicing Yiddishkeit.This reminds of one time in Shul the Ruv was explaining about not specifically listening to music for enjoyment during these time periods.
A man asked, “Can I listen to talk radio if some of the commercials might have music?”
The Ruv almost choked but managed to answer respectfully.
Very often a production with sight & sound needs filler sound or it just doesn’t flow. A pointless narrator would take away from the film while silence would as well. So some music is played during this time to improve the production & better your experience. It’s not played for musical enjoyment.
There doesn’t need to be a heter because there’s no issur in the first place.I agree! I finally convinced my Ruv that based on the olden days it’s completely inappropriate to use Air Conditioning or electric lights (the modern ones that give off very little heat) on Tisha B’Av as it’s “too comfortable”
We turn off the A/C & use candles (to add heat to the heat & increase the discomfort). Indoor plumbing on Tisha B’Av? Chas V’Shalom! Our youth group built an outhouse (smells & all) out back special for Tisha B’Av.
A Holocaust survivor who used to be a carpenter built a Kosher wooden chair to sit on & all was well. UNTIL he put a cushion on the seat. We immediately threw him & his chair out the window while shouting “Goy, Goy, Goy Avek!!”
The truth is my Ruv told me not to Daven there on Tisha B’Av. He explained that I am the only member that enjoys his sermons so it’s inappropriate due to the joy i get. But everyone else that abhors his speeches earn extra Zichusim sitting not just through an agonizing 30 minute Shabbos drasha but hours of the Ruv’s ramblings.
p s.
1. Whether in NY or elsewhere EVERY Avel chair I’ve seen has padded seats & backs, & armrests to make it more comfortable. The only difference between a regular comfortable chair & an Avel chair? Shorter legs.
2. Rabbis of Frum Shuls who won’t speak up out of fear of losing Mispallelim don’t deserve the title “Rabbi”1. Thank you for sharing the “Chumrah of the week”
What difference does it make whether one appreciates Tisha B’Av or learns something by listening to a Shiur or watching a movie? There are a few excellent speakers or story tellers that really know how to affect people &/or get them to think about doing better in deficient areas of their lives. Since these people can’t be everywhere at once what is wrong with using modern technology to share the message with a larger audience?
2. If on Tisha Bav you’re watching a movie about the Churban or the Holocaust or how to rebuild the Bais Hamikdash through Achdus but instead your mind is consumed not by the deep message but by the sight of a “young women” on the screen you need serious psychological help.Gadfly1,
I’m not talking about 1863. I’m talking about one month into the war (May, 1861). Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Roger B. Taney wrote the following ruling nullifying Lincoln’s order of Martial Law in Baltimore.
“In Merryman, Taney decisively rejected President Lincoln’s unilateral suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in and around Baltimore at the outset of the Civil War, concluding that the Constitution only authorized Congress to suspend the writ and that no emergency, no matter how existential, could justify subversion of such a vital constitutional precept.”
Lincoln ignored the ruling claiming it was an emergency measure to “Save the Union”. Even though Taney wrote, “NO EMERGENCY, NO MATTER HOW EXISTENTIAL”
Bottom line Lincoln violated the Constitution he swore to uphold & more disturbing got away with it. This opens the door for any future Presidents to ignore the Constitution in the name of “Saving America” or for the “Good of the masses”If you want to see how it’s done look no further than President Abraham Lincoln.
He declared Baltimore to be under Martial Law (no rights or due process). The Supreme Court ruled the power to declare Martial Law is given to Congress so Lincoln’s declaration was null & void. Lincoln’s response was to ignore the ruling. The grandson of Francis Scott Key (author of The Star Spangled Banner) wrote an editorial asking how under the “Balance of Power” Lincoln could ignore the Supreme Court?
For this editorial he was thrown into Ft. McHenry for 14 months (no charges, judges, jury’s, lawyers or bail). Upon release he wrote a book about his experience as a political prisoner. The 2 editors that printed his book were arrested & thrown into Ft. McHenry. Dozens of newspapers that weren’t pushing Lincoln’s narrative were shut down with some editors fleeing & others jailed. Thousands in Baltimore were jailed without ever being charged or seeing a judge. Weapons were confiscated, searches were done without warrants, & mail was opened & read.
In an attempt to cut off the political & physical power of Baltimore he had arrested (without charges) the Mayor, entire City Council, US Congressman representing Baltimore, the Chief of Police, Board of Police Commissioners, & (there were too many to jail) fired all 800 Police officers.
That’s not even the tip of the iceberg of what Lincoln illegally did & all it took was for Lincoln to tell the North, “True I may be overstepping my authority BUT I’m doing it to save the Union.”
The only way this could happen again in America is if it’s done under the guise of “Saving America” or “For the greater good”I hate to be the bearer of bad news to you (& every Antisemite) but not all Jews are rich. Some come from poor single parent homes. Some come from middle class homes where money is tight. There’s a million reasons why they may need help.
Here is a Jew who didn’t have to but volunteered to help protect the Yidden (including the ones learning) in Eretz Yisroel & your complaint is about what?Ujm,
Please enlighten us what physical characteristics are different between a Yid & a Goy. Just like many believe the Gemarah asked experts in the field questions to understand I suggest you first meet with Doctors (Jewish or non) to get their expert opinions on these physical differences.UJM,
I saw a video of a Chasidish Rebbe talking at an organizations event. The “host” became uncomfortable when the Rebbe started talking about Jews being a totally different (physical) creation & (if I’m remembering correctly) the Chasam Sofer said Yidden & Goyim are so different that he can’t understand how Yidden take medications proven to be effective amongst Goyim.
Do you believe that? If a new procedure or medication is tested on 50 Goyim & found to be effective that if a Yid has the same treatment it won’t be effective solely because Yidden are completely different (physical) creations than Goyim?I forget where but seem to remember where later Rabbanim told us when it comes to curing illnesses to NOT follow the health advice found in the Gemarah but to follow what modern doctors say.
What kind of thoughts?
You don’t need to be a Zionist to appreciate Jews are going into battle & dying to keep Eretz Yisroel & its inhabitants safe from bloodthirsty terrorists that would kill every Jew if they had the chance.I know I’ll get a lot of pushback but trying to come up with “Creative” answers often takes away from it.
Many people I know believe when it comes to explaining, expounding & setting down the definitive answers about Torah we of course yield to Chazal.
But, when it comes to issues like scientific understanding the Rabbanim were working with the best information they had at that time & in that location. Buvel was a province in the Persian empire. When a modern day halachik issue arises our (reliable) Poskim first learn the details from doctors &/or scientists. Why would it have been different back then? They were consulting with Non-jewish experts & basing their decisions on that information.
I know this offends some people but I’ve never gotten a good answer to, “How does errors in scientific knowledge take away from Chazal being the definitive source when it comes to Torah?”The (sad but true) saying of Antisemites, “Give a Jew an inch & next he’ll demand a mile.”
Biden could’ve reacted much differently to Oct 7 but he totally took the Israeli side (despite pressure from pro-palestinians in his office).
He sent a ton of weapons ( with a small slow down that didn’t threaten any of Israel’s capabilities to pretend to cater to the left).
But in true Jewish fashion since a US military cargo plane flying to Israel with arms didn’t take your “small package” for Kivi learning in Yeshiva you conclude Biden must be a raging Pro-Hamas, Anti-Israel Antisemite.Gadol,
The old & tired FDR slander.
What should he have done?
Wait, don’t tell me, bomb the railroad tracks? (Which was both virtually impossible & would’ve changed nothing).The only solution is to never let your kids leave the house.
How is this different than what they experience in school?
How do you control what your kids see on the street?
Part of being a parent is teaching your version of right & wrong. When you & your kids are secure in who you are it’s really not an issue.I sit on my porch watching the kinderlach play looking out for any breaches in proper conduct. With a yard stick in hand I observe & observe some more. A kid eating their 3rd icepop today, WHACK! Don’t you know the war in Israel only permits 2 ice pops a day?
A boy playing basketball for 10 minutes, WHACK! Don’t you know the war in Israel only permits 8 minutes of basketball?
One boy was riding by so when he got close I stuck my yard stick into his front tire. He flew like a drunk chicken & hit the ground like a sack of bricks. One thing is certain. If he ever gets released from the hospital he won’t ride his bike while Israel is at war.
It’s been tougher lately to do my duty since I’m wearing my court ordered ankle bracelet monitor. But I am allowed to stand on my porch where I can at least use a megaphone to tell them the correct way to act.