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Iran is host to the most Jews in the Middle East after Israel and Turkey. And they’re on the list, but as a religious minority can be exempted. However, I don’t think it’s easy for them to get out under the current regime.
Just to clarify, asking a shaila is never the wrong thing. I’m not “faulting” them for it, just saddened. I would have been (and I believe even Avi K and most of us here) happier if they didn’t and stayed home, without even questioning if going to a party overrides the sanctity of Shabbos.
Some frum politicians with invitations to the Inauguration opted out because of Shabbos, and it could have been done within the parameters of Halacha, but it was simpler not to go than stay over for Shabbos or risk tight scheduling. We all have priorities and I wish Shabbos observance in the fullest sense was a priority for them.
That’s why I mentioned kudos to them for hosting a Shabbos seudah Friday night. I got zero response here, either because it was overlooked, or because many of us would prefer they be regular, consistent Shabbos observers without all the glitz being necessary. I don’t know, perhaps you guys can enlighten me.
Avi K: I was very clear that extenuating circumstances can necessitate a heter, and in the case of giving birth the Halacha has been made clear by our Rabbis, so no need to even ask when it comes to it or possible pekuach nefesh.
Kurov Lmalchus was not applied cavalierly in the past, more likely if there is something to that effect it’s because the King had unchecked rights to behead anyone that defies him. We are not dealing with this now.
And the fact that the desecration was done publicly usually makes for more stringent application than the norm because of maras ayin.
Kudos to Rabbi Shemtov and the Kushners for this
Avi K: most of us wouldn’t have asked, because we’re not looking for a heter. A Sheila is asked when a) one is truly unaware what the Halacha is or b) there are extenuating circumstances that necessitate a heter or more permissible course of action than a direct Halachik violation. Here’s where we see things differently — I don’t think attending a party or church to celebrate the President’s victory was an extenuating circumstance. Mr. Trump had many Orthodox Jews working for him, and from all accounts I’ve read, he NEVER made them work on Shabbos or even a three day Yom Tov when in the middle of working on an important deal. So all those scare mongering about them pleasing the President or face serious retribution is nonsense. He has Kushner to thank for his win, whether he attended those parties or not.
And your hishtadlus comparison is not at all accurate. Also, I was discussing the church issue as well, and no one mentioned anything about a shaila there. And finally, some Rabbis are so much more lenient than others (assuming it was asked in a fair manner) and shouldn’t be deemed Orthodox.
Vashti was punished for making Jewish girls work on Shabbos. Which put the whole nes Purim in motion. Just sayin…
Avi: if you truly believe Trump’s win was a miracle, show a little bitachon that even if the Kushners held fast to their beliefs instead of “compromising”, their status and potential to do good would not have been diminished. Au contraire.
Was Zdad’s last post removed? And why?
Well, Zdad, while you’re probably correct in general, I don’t think this is the case here in the CR. People generally care, and for good reason. Shabbos observance is for the most part black and white. And it’s seems they made a mockery out of it, and publicly.
I actually voted for Trump (I’m in NY so it was more of a spur of the moment decision, and didn’t have a chance of actually mattering) and didn’t complain when Jared attended a campaign meeting with Trump on Shabbos as it could have been easily argued away as no big deal, especially since I wasn’t privy to any details of how he conducted himself at said meeting.
These two issues were much more blatant and both (the church and car riding) effect major tenets of Yiddishkeit. Lines were crossed apparently to “fit in” and be part of the success & partying. Jews have held strong for the sake of Shabbos while sacrificing much more, and those that didn’t unfortunately for the most part fell away. That’s why Zdad you are frum today while most of those who’s ancestors immigrated at that time, their grandkids have assimilated.
Try google Maps to see how the address shows up.
Sorry but I disagree TM. Moshiach’s coming and filling the world with Hashem’s Glory – NOT BIBI’s or the Zionist’s – is what we’re davening for. The embassy in Jerusalem won’t bring us any closer to the Beis Hamikdosh. So even if one believes that the rebuilding of the land is the beginning of the Geula (which for the record I vehemently disagree with) to think the American embassy in Jerusalem brings us any closer to HASHEM’s Sovereignty is illogical.
I just reread your post and perhaps I misunderstood, so if you’re talking generally I can’t answer for every eventuality, but when we speak specifics like the embassy I’m pretty sure I’m right.
Since there are too many threads here on this topic, my time is limited, and I probably won’t change anyone’s mind here I’ll try to refrain from arguing ad infinitum.
I couldn’t agree with you more. The Zionists need Jerusalem as their capital to reinforce their ownership claims to Israel as a Jewish state like it once was.
Well guess what, we beg Hashem multiple times a day to bring Moshiach and rebuild Yerushalayim, and we don’t need Bibi’s help to accomplish this. So thanks but no thanks.
Yerushalayim will truly be ours when Hashem answers our Tfilos, embassy or not. May it be speedily in our days.
Stop demonizing Donald Trump. If he were such a tyrant, Jared and Ivanka would have stayed far, far away and Jared wouldn’t have volunteered to help him with his campaign. Before he helped his FIL, no one likely knew he even had political skills as he was just a young albeit successful businessman, not an acclaimed politician. And they didn’t even need Trump’s money…
Also, in your effort to be DL”Z and steer away from possible L”H, you may be forgetting that Donald Trump is our President (even if you don’t currently reside in the US, this is a public forum) and he needs to be respected as such. Not for naught do we say in Pirkei Avos “??? ????? ?????? ?? ?????”.
DY, lol
DaMoshe: are you talking about going to Church Shabbos also? And are you sure they asked?
So over Shabbos I heard that Jared Kushner davens three times a day, and I’m thinking perhaps I judged him wrong (that post wasn’t approved). To confound me even more now comes news that the whole family attended an interfaith church service on Shabbos.
So now LU will scream L”H and I’m wondering, if someone publicly violates Halacha, knowingly or unknowingly, shouldn’t there be some public outcry to set things straight so that everyone knows it’s not allowed?
If true, the question was probably asked as what to do once there, not if they should go to the ball in the first place. So the Rabbi may have been “forced” into given a heter, if that’s possible.
Legitimate heterim to be driven home by car are also given when one is forced out of the hospital, rather than spending many hours in the lounge or wherever on Shabbos. But then there was a NEED to be there, and part of the reason is probably so one shouldn’t hesitate to go to the hospital for a ??? ????. Or when someone is released and not fully by the kochos to walk yet, and a hospital waiting room is not the best place to recuperate.
But as I mentioned in the other thread, I’m really bothered by the scenario you outlined, and even with a heter it’s definitely not in the spirit of Shabbos.
LU:
1. Don’t play dumb, although it’s not a complete “changing of the guards”.
2. I wrote my post about 10:40 EST, IIRC, so I wouldn’t call it fast. It s not that long either, but in the past, at that hour my posts went through almost instantly. And after my previous post, they may have “woken up”.
I apologize, LF, seems you were right.
Why’d you choose the name “BuzzLeaks” though, that didn’t seem believable.
What if there’s a mod shortage, will that be the end of the CR? My post from close to 2 hrs ago still hasn’t been approved. That doesn’t bode well at this hour. Or maybe it’s been deemed controversial and a Beis Din must be convened to rule on the matter. I really don’t know.
I thought obeying mechanchim was a mitzvah, hence disobeying would be an aveira. (If nothing else, they are the parents’ shliach in chinuch. Does this not apply to girls?) Do you all believe it’s not a mitzvah to obey/aveira to disobey) teachers etc?
On a different note, am I the only one here saddened (if true) by the supposed heter for the Kushners to be driven home Friday night after the inauguration ball because walking home would be unsafe? The reports stem from a Kol Barama radio interview with Mark Zell, the chair of the Republican party in Israel.
However, according to the latest article in the Times of Israel, when Mark Zell was questioned about it he said he was basing it off “a family member”, and couldn’t confirm it or name the Rabbi involved in the heter. I really hope it’s not true, time will tell.
Rebshidduch: when trying to reach “busy” people, you usually need to be a little pushy. So don’t just call and leave a message (although definitely do that as well) but if you don’t get a return call within 2 days or so try phoning again. You can call (try to vary the time of day) about once or twice a day, but only leave a message intermittently. If you don’t get through after a week or so, ask around if the Shadchan has a better number to be reached at — or it’s time to find a better Shadchan. Someone that is so overwhelmed will likely not be of much help to you in any case. (Unless she had extenuating circumstances that made her busier than usual. Which is where your research may come in handy as well.)
And remember the Yiddish saying that you can’t get a potch over the phone…
– I don’t think you’re allowed to Davka make it with the intention of it becoming botul, but there may be differing opinions.
Sources also can’t verify the veracity of this report, but froggies are apt to report rumors and let the public decide if the news is believable…
Nothing personal against Froggies btw, it’s just that today’s Froggies are not at the same medreiga they were in Mitzrayim… Yeridos hadoros effect everyone and everything.
There is Cholov Yisroel kefir from Wayside Acres with a Lakewood hechsher. The grains I’m afraid are only available in Eretz Yisroel, unless someone snuck some out, or the manufacturer here is willing to share. But I could be wrong so ask around.
It’s also good to know that you can actually “produce” kefir by mixing some kefir with regular milk, cover with breathable fabric/paper and leaving at room temperature for about 24 hours — and it actually works for about 2 or 3 times. Big money saver.
Lenny: In case it’s not obvious to you at this point, don’t sign any more documents before having them reviewed by a professional YOU PAY for his advice to you (lawyer, dayan etc.). You mentioned you’re well off, this is not the place to scrimp.
What I find odd is that he never mentioned PTSD etc. earlier in the CR. Then we all would have been more on his case for him to get treatment — although I honestly don’t know how effective treatment is for this or if he’s in therapy for it. (He just wrote that he has PTSD NOW, so claiming he’s over it would be contradictory.) Anger and outbursts can be among the side effects, which make his wife’s abuse claims seem more legit.
Not necessarily. You were being pragmatic first. And the Halacha is that even if a PERSON comes to G-d forbid kill you (or your family) you kill him first. But you couldn’t exactly kill the crocodile with your bare hands. So you were searching for the appropriate tool to be able to complete this life saving task.
And my guess is then you panicked and woke up… Because your next step would have likely been to beg Hashem for mercy.
Geordie: the problem is that we don’t know. Sometimes the owner can’t come back right away and it gets blown away or ruined from the elements. Or it gets stolen. There are some lost and find hotlines but it’s not streamlined or people forget to call.
I don’t know what the answer is either, but in the past when I hung something someone lost in front of my house on my front yard fence (a belt etc.) it stayed there for weeks until I just dumped it. Some things are less valuable so people don’t bother or they have no clue where they lost it.
Zdad: NYC consists of a lot of neighborhoods, it’s not exactly one mumble-jumble.
And they can’t have it both ways when it comes to tax rolls. Crying foul when Yeshivas/synagogues don’t pay property taxes AND protesting all the developments going up at the same time that are greatly increasing the county’s tax revenues. Especially when these new residents barely cost them anything when it comes to schooling.
Writersoul: I didn’t say ALL photos are from Kaser, it’s just that the emphasis seemed misplaced. I don’t think that Kaser is what they are upset about, that’s not the neighborhood these guys are from/close to. To me it seemed like a scare tactic, sort of look how bad things can get if we don’t reign it in. The houses in Kaser seemed old, while at issue now are the new fancy condos built on relatively small lots.
I agree that there may be “overbuilding”, the question is how do we control it without clamping down totally. And why are small synagogues and Yeshivas often targeted when they are not usually loud or bad neighbors. Also, Shabbos only Shuls do not have parking issues.
Zdad: KJ would manage their water and sewer needs just fine if their “friendly” neighbors wouldn’t sue them every inch of the way FOR NO GOOD REASON. NYC doesn’t mind if they tap into their water supply (for the right price of course) but somehow it all gets litigated at every turn.
And Jersey City is a lot closer to Brooklyn than Scranton with plenty of cheap housing in some of its neighborhoods, but I don’t know how the crime rates compare.
Actually Joseph, much of Brooklyn (and the NJ waterfront as well) is building upwards, higher than the previous buildings in the neighborhood were. And because it suits the city’s tax rolls, almost everyone seems to be supporting it. Of course the suburbs have a lot more space to build, but it’s not exclusively a frum Jewish issue. But when it happens in Monsey it’s a travesty, while elsewhere it’s considered an economic boon.
Of course growth has to be dealt with safely, but to claim we were once a small village and are to remain so forever is unrealistic and shortsighted.
MW13 and Joseph: although the article keeps on harping about residents’ fears that their homes’ values will fall, it does admit at one point in the article that it’s not actually so, and I quote:
“With space at a premium, aggressive home-buying solicitations have led to accusations of blockbusting, although the term actually refers to the practice of persuading homeowners to sell cheaply, playing on fears that people from a different race or class are moving into a neighborhood. In fact, despite critics’ fears that an influx of ultra-religious Jews will hurt property values, the opposite is true in Ramapo, where houses normally sell at a tidy profit.”
So it needs to be read carefully to get to the truth, but they’re not lying outright. I also thought its emphasis on photos from Kaser was misleading, as Kaser is only a small part of Monsey, that’s its own village and denser than most of Monsey/Spring Valley.
TDM456: Are your friend’s initials also TDM?
Which reminds me of this well known yet powerful story
It should also be noted that PBA’s subtitle, IIRC, began with “mildly retarded …”. I don’t know the timeline, but would guess it was this way at the time of the OP.
As an aside, I vote that subtitles be “frozen”.
How many mosquitos are you talking about? Most likely it’s just a few that have found shelter in a shed etc. and somehow sneaked into your house.
At least in NYC, it hasn’t been all that cold this season yet, so it’s also possible they’ve survived under bushes etc. IIRC, the average mosquito lives for about 30 days. I don’t think it’s warm enough for them to breed though.
And those that follow the Jewish custom of giving Chanukah gelt are welcome to give me a million bucks. And then I can get myself “a few” gifts of my choosing, but I’ll be nice about it and not use red and green wrapping paper.
I believe bounty paper towels are okay now (vegetable based). No point bringing up an old thread that is no longer relevant
Many people eat Chrein R”H if it’s made without REAL vinegar. Apparently synthetic acetic acid is okay.
Newspaper is actually recommended for cheap “organic” mulching. But it must be topped with something else so it shouldn’t blow away.
Under today’s tax laws it may be advantageous for non-U.S. residents to NOT HAVE U.S CITIZENSHIP. Just thought some of you might need to know this.
LU: do Israelis vote by absentee ballot or is there another setup? I was wondering if it may still effect the popular vote outcome, or these votes have already been counted.
Joseph: nothing connected with Chasidim. It relates to which country one hails from. I believe Galicianer Chasidish women therefore don’t shave while Oberland women do, even if not Chasidish. Or at least they used to.
Excellence: everything in moderation is what I’d say about coffee. And it doesn’t cause brain damage.
I just remembered that the ad I mentioned also had a center portion stating “This is drugs.” with a photo of cocaine or some powder.
In hindsight, I guess it’s considered good marketing if I still remember it. The goal was perhaps that as well, to have “flash-backs” of the message when students were confronted with temptation years later.
In elementary school, we had a workbook with black and white photos on the opening pages. To the left there was a photo of a brain with a caption “This is your brain” and to the right a photo of a fried egg in a pan, sunny side up with the caption “This is your brain on drugs.”
I think my teacher explained it, but when when I first saw it I was baffled. It was a stark ad, but probably one intended for a more mature audience that understood the nuances. I guess I was more literal at that age, and fried in this context was new to me. I remember thinking along the lines of how does photo A (a brain) morph into photo B (an egg).
As a frum student I honestly didn’t feel it was directed at me, and none of my classmates as far as I know ever did drugs. B”H for my sheltered upbringing, which although perhaps needs some slight tweaking nowadays when some kids have more exposure, it has worked well in my days of yore…
The ad was likely part of Nancy Reagan’s campaign as well.
The question of the above law’s constitutionality comes into play since the senate has to approve the President’s cabinet nominations to ensure checks and balances. Additional stipulations perhaps impinge on that process.
YY: these laws were enacted after JFKs presidency, most likely because JFK appointed RFK for Attorney General. However, its constitutionality as it applies to the presidency is questionable, which is why I wrote “may be illegal” and not “is illegal”.
Ubiq: NY state at least, had more “generous” preexisting condition laws, and hence higher premiums (along with more mandated coverage, IIRC).
When it comes to health insurance it seems the maxim you “can’t have the cake and eat it too” applies.
Additionally, nepotism may be illegal for the President, and won’t be looked favorably upon by the masses. And because he’s family, his influence will more likely be exaggerated.