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skiaddict said: “in lots of places eg the thing you put into a newborns crib it has a hamsa so it must be in the sifrei kabbala(although i have never learnt it obviously)but im sure it must be from kabbala- it is such a jewish symbol!”
No, it’s not in the sifrei kabbalah. It’s not in any seforim. It was incorporated into Jewish CULTURE from Islam. It originally stems from the “Hand of Venus,” which is a Greek avodah zarah. The Muslims adopted it as the “Hand of Fatima,” who was Mohammed’s daughter. The Christians refer to it as the “Hand of Mary.” I assume we all know who that was. The Jews who wear it call it “Yad shel Miriam.” Go figure.
Tomche: Yes I am. I don’t remember indicating that I’m an adult, but it is possible that at one time I wanted to create a false impression. (I’ve had this screen name for over a year.)
I agree that it’s a big problem, and it is manifest in your poorly articulated complaint, which is full of spelling and grammar errors. Did you, by any chance, attend one of those schools?
Sincerely,
Oy Vey, a 15-year-old yeshiva bochur who DOES take secular studies seriously.
My yeshiva starts on Wednesday. Do you think things will be back to normal by then?
I love it! Yeyasher kochacha.
Feif Un
Technically, it’s mutar to have a huricane on Shabbos, but a yirei shomayim should be machmir. 😉
Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l said, “…..there are some people who say that it’s okay to shake hands if the hand was extended to you first, reasoning that it’s not b’derech chiba; for practical purposes, however, it’s hard to rely on this.”
Rav Ovadiah Yosef had a very embarrassing story, in which his responsa sefer, Yabi’a Omer, won a government prize. Golda Meir, in front of thousands of live spectators, and broadcast on TV’s all over the country, offered her hand. He simply shook his head.
Ask your rav for his opinion.
Sender and Happiest, I agree 100%! Where I live there’s an ice cream truck that plays really freaky music, and then it stops playing. Suddenly, it goes “BOING!!” and a freaky voice goes “HELLO!!!” Then the music starts up again.
Kol Hakavod!
Don’t say “fat people.” You might insult someone. Rather, say “gravitationally challenged.”
I felt it in Philadelphia.
kapusta said: “Margarine is all manufactured and has no nutritional value at all.”
Not true. It has plenty of fat, which technically speaking is nutritional value. However, margarine is essentially plastic. It is the most frightening thing that can pass as a food item. I don’t want to go into detail, but look on Google for how margarine is manufactured.
Moshiach, that’s absolutely amazing. Hatzlacha rabba!!!!
Listening to Abie Rotenberg’s “Together” makes me cry.
I don’t think a girl can get away with her face visibly turning red, and claiming it’s her magical mental makeup…….
It depends on the particular chumra in question. Ask your rebbe. Your first question was “Does taking on more chumras make someone a bigger tzaddik?” Well, keeping a chumra doesn’t make someone a tzaddik, but becoming a tzaddik might lead someone to take on a chumra.
Sam2: If you wear the brim down, it covers almost as much of the face as a tallis does. Also, according to the GR”A, atifah does not necessitate ituf Yishma’elim. That’s why the GR”A, and some Litvaks (including Rav Soloveitchik), were noheig to make a bracha on the tallis, and then put it on the head, without wrapping it like a khaffiyeh, or covering the face. So, according to them, a hat would do just fine.
There is still a reason to wear a hat nowadays, because devarim shebikdusha require atifah.
HaLeiVi LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think any poskim say the hat has to be black, though.
Although the Mishna Berura implies that the requirement to wear a hat for tefillah is societal, Rav Moshe Feinstein ( I didn’t read the teshuvva, so I don’t know why) says that it still applies nowadays. Also, Rav Soloveitchik required atifah for all devarim shebikdusha (with certain exceptions), and he said if you won’t use a tallis, a hat will also suffice.
On the other hand,the Tzitz Eliezer (13:13)says that since nowadays most people have no problem walking in the street without a hat, it is not necessary to daven with a hat.
In yeshivish circles, many people actually tend to walk in the street with hats.
But those who are careful to daven with a hat, and those who don’t, have what to rely upon, as there are poskim who rule both ways.
Are there really 80+ moderators, or is it just your name, Mod80?
Tomche said: “ovktd: What’s so hard to make of it? It’s a mitzvah for them to get drunk and Rav Shmuel was merely encouraging them to do a mitzvah.”
I don’t know what to make of it, because Rav Shmuel said it’s ossur to get drunk on Purim. That being what he said, I don’t understand why he would advise some bochurim to get more drunk. Unless, of course, he knew that they were exceptionally mature, and they wouldn’t do anything bad while drunk.
Why in the world is “shor shenagach es haparah” only for women?
This is prejudice.
Let’s start the Jewish Orthodox Masculist Alliance. (JOMA)
Just kidding. (for the record)
charlie: I know who Rav Reines was, but who was Rav Weinberg?
Very beneficial. The Breslover chassidim spend a lot of time every day talking to HKBH as they would talk to a friend, in their native language. Rav Nachman used to repeat “Ribono shel olam,” repeatedly, before davening. If you try it (I have), you’ll have the most emotional tefillah experience you probably ever had. But in order for it to work, you have to do it for – at the very LEAST – a few minutes. It’s definitely worth it, though.
mustangrider: My bad. You’re half right. It’s two words, not one:
oligomeric proanthocyanidins
mustangrider: oh-lee-go-merrick-pro-antho-sy-ani-din.
😉
The Rambam recommends drinking wine in moderation (Mishna Torah Hil. De’os 5:3).
Red wine also has a high amount of beneficial oligomericproanthocyanidins, and other antioxidants, which are very useful in preventing heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, and cancer, among with other diseases. However, too much can obviously be very dangerous.
Wow.
I don’t know what Rav Schwab zt”l was referring to, but I do know that Rav Schwab enjoyed a very close personal relationship with Rav Hershel Schachter, and held very highly of him. So I guess Rav Schwab didn’t consider Rav Schachter to be “Modern Orthodox.”
hello99: That’s interesting. I don’t know what to make of it.
It could be, however, that he knew that those particular bachurim would be mature about it, and not do anything assur. I don’t know. But it seems from your post that you have connections with him. So if you want to find out what he really holds, I suggest you ask him.
And as a side point, “livsumei” doesn’t mean to smell like cigarette smoke.
popa said: “especially drinks other than wine, (for which there is NO MITZVA)
That is not at all pashut. It is not the pashtus of the shulchan oruch or the gemara. Even if some acharonim say that, you can’t claim that so definitely.”
Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l held like that, and also the 47 rabbonim who signed the proclamation in 2008 held like that.
mw13 said: “Huh? Coming out against giving drinks to minors is a far cry from saying nobody should get drunk on Purim.”
That’s true. What I meant was that even if it’s okay to get mamash drunk, (which MANY gedolei haposkim are VERY against), there are still restrictions. Here is part of the text of the Agudah’s statement:
1. The mitzva of “Chayav Adam l’v’sumet b’Purya…” is only with wine as it is stated in Chayei Adam (155:30) and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (142:6). Free use of whiskey and other alcoholic beverages is entirely inappropriate and contrary to da’as Chachomim.
2. Ba’alei Batim should not serve any alcoholic beverages, including wine, to groups of bochurim visiting their homes.
3. Those who drive under the influence of alcohol not only endanger themselves but all their passengers and other members of the public. Drivers must therefore not consume any alcoholic beverages, including wine, and must take extra care to drive safely, observing all applicable laws and safety procedures.
4. Nobody should enter a car if there is reason to believe that the driver is under the influence of alcohol, and all reasonable steps should be taken to prevent such an individual from driving.
mw13 said: “”You want to be more machmir than the Chofetz Chaim?”
Considering that the Shulchan Aruch is, you wouldn’t be in bad company.”
Do you say “hanosein layo’eif koach?” The Shulchan Aruch says you shouldn’t. If you pick and choose different opinions for different things,(the ones that are most convenient for you), you’ll end up with a big mess of a Judaism. That’s why we follow the contemporary poskim what to do. The Mishna Berura says drink a little and go to sleep. Sefaradi? Rav Ovadiah Yossef says drink a revi’is. Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky says it’s an aveirah to get drunk on Purim. (I heard that from a very reliable close relative of his.) Rav Mordechai Willig says not to get drunk. Rav Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, Rav Moshe Tendler, etc. The list goes on and on.
More and more rabbonim are starting to come out against getting drunk on Purim. In 2008, the Yated Ne’eman printed a statement from the Mo’etzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, condemning giving drinks to bochurim, especially drinks other than wine, (for which there is NO MITZVA), and signed by 47 rabbonim.
If your rav says that you should get drunk, then go right ahead. But you can’t pick and choose opinions for yourself.
popa said: “Because all the anti-drinkers I know don’t drink even by the seudah, when it definitely is a mitzva.
And they rarely do any of the tricks discussed by the acharonim to avoid it either. (the sleeping thing)”
I’m not an anti-drinker, I’m an anti-DRUNKer. So was the Rambam, but he cared about mitzvos as well. Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky said, “It’s an aveira to get drunk on Purim.” Rav Mordechai Willig: “The Mishna Berura says, “Vechein ra’ui la’asos!” Don’t get drunk! We’re Mishna Berura yidden!”
Drinking is definitely a mitzva. Getting drunk is not. By the way, I don’t care what “all of the” anti-drinkers do. I am an individual, and if I were able, I would follow the Mishna Berura’s suggestion.
popa said: “and I still stand by my earlier statement. i don’t think oy vey would get drunk even if it was a mitzva and even if oy vey wasn’t allergic to alchohol.”
Please give a decent reason why you think that. I am insulted by your accusation which clearly indicates that you think I don’t care about mitzvos.
“Besides, we’re all alergic to alchohol. It is a toxin.”
I’m dangerously allergic, to the extent that if I have an ounce of light wine – on a full stomach – I could wind up in a hospital bed.
HaLeiVi said: “oy vey, there’s a big difference between falling asleep and going to sleep. With the first you are Yotze Ad Delo Yada, with the latter you aren’t.”
The Ramo says “veyoshein.” I don’t know if that means going to sleep or falling asleep, but I do know that the Beis “HaLeiVi” was noheg to actually force himself to go to sleep.
Bar Shattya said: “dangerously allergic to alcohol? maybe emotionally. but you got yourself into this mess so basicly at the end of the day you wouldn’t drink even if YOU had a mitzva to.”
Incorrect. I’m physically allergic to alcohol. I don’t know what “mess” you’re talking about. And I WOULD drink if I had a mitzva to. (Because it’s a mitzva. Jews are supposed to do mitzvos, and I’m Jewish. So I do mitzvos.)
Shticky Guy said: “Bar Shattya dont fall for oy vey’s posts she’s winding you up. Cant you tell… She got so drunk over purim that it took her 4 months to respond to you! ? ? ?”
“She” is not winding him up. “He” is in fact winding him up.
anon1m0us said: “The Volozhin Yeshiva closed in 1892 because it refused to integrate secular studies.”
Not poshut at all. Read “My Uncle, the Netziv,” and the Torah U’Madda Journal, Volume Two, 1990, page 76 (which presents historical, documented information.)
“in reform temple, they don’t belive in nobody!!)
“You’re more correct than you think.
The vast majority of my family is reform. To my knowledge, every last one of them believes in the existence of HKBH.
You (and I) may not like the way the Reform practice Judaism, but there’s no reason to add on to their faults where it’s not warranted.
Are there Reform Jews who are athiests? Certainly. But to suggest that all are (when I’d be willing to bet the majority are not) is just wrong.”
An organization of american (Reform) rabbis conducted a survey which showed that 9 out of 10 rabbis do not believe in a god in the traditional sense of the word.
“I dare suggest you wouldn’t get drunk even if it was a mitzva, which means you just don’t care about mitzvos.”
The reason why I said that “we Jews generally regard getting drunk as repulsive,” is because after the Rambam says that it’s healthy to drink diluted wine during a meal, he mentions that one should be careful not to get drunk, because “anyone who gets drunk is a sinner, is disgraced, and loses his wisdom. And if he gets inebriated in front of the unlearned, he causes a chillul Hashem.” Mishnah Torah, Hilchos Dei’os, 5:3.
“”….you don’t care abut mitzvos.” That statement is based on your baseless assumption that I wouldn’t drink if it were a mitzva. I actually do care about mitzvos. Now that you mentioned it, though, I actually cannot drink, despite the mitzva. This is because I am dangerously allergic to any alcohol, no matter how minute the amount. Therefore, if i would drink even a revi’is, I would be putting my life in significant danger, and last time I checked, drinking “ad d’lo yada” is not “yehareg v’al ya’avor.”
Getting drunk when it’s not a mitzva is a serious issur. (see above Rambam.) The Mishna Berura quotes the Ramo, who says that one can be yotzei the mitzvah by drinking a little more than usual, and then going to sleep. The Mishna Berura says this is “ra’ui la’asos!” the proper way to do it.
The Beis HaLevi was also noheig like that.
You want to be more machmir than the Chofetz Chaim??
Very good. But start with Lashon Hara.
I’m not supposed to comment, since I’m not part of the debate, but shouldn’t each disputant represent their respective hashkafos, and then argue with the other’s hashkafos as presented by the OTHER SIDE? The reason I’m suggesting this apparently obvious idea, is because LMA is making claims about Modern Orthodoxy which, as far as I know, have nothing to do with Modern Orthodoxy, or at least have nothing to do with the Modern Orthodoxy which I, and many others, have been raised with.
For example: LMA said, “MO philosophy disregards feelings/Hergesh altogether.” That is simply not the case. I don’t think LMA meant that MO don’t have emotions or feelings, because that’s just ridiculous. I think he meant that MO take their Yiddishkeit on a cold, intellectual level, and don’t make an effort to incorporate any feeling or emotion into it; Toah learning is just a scientific intellectual endeavor with no spirituality involved.
Assuming that the above was indeed his intention, then I must object. Cold, robotic Judaism is certainly a problem, but it is not exclusive to Modern Orthodoxy, nor is it part of Modern Orthodox hashkafa. There are people identify with the Chareidi/Yeshivish community who have the same problem.
The Rav (R’ Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l) said that one must not let his emotions get in the way of conducting himself according to halacha. Once the halacha is being followed, then one should build his Hergesh/Dveykus/feelings/emotions upon that. However, if someone just lets his emotional desire for spirituality take him over, and doesn’t make sure he is strictly following the halacha, then he is practicing, and I quote, “paganism.”