Rocky

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Viewing 22 posts - 101 through 122 (of 122 total)
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  • in reply to: GYE (Guard your eyes) #2108741
    Rocky
    Participant

    I was quite surprised to see anyone (especially an avid internet user) that would make fun of GYE. Anyone who does not recognize the nature and dangers of internet shmutz or mocks those who struggle with it, is living under a rock. Rabbanim who say “what’s the big deal, just don’t have internet,” or even those who think filters are the answer for everything are just as blind.

    There is no one out there doing what GYE does. They are saving neshomos daily.

    in reply to: I got a tesla (model Y) #2106970
    Rocky
    Participant

    If anyone thought that the OP was serious, I think his line about the environment clinched his trollness.

    in reply to: Inefficient and Sketchy Non Profits / Tzedaka organizations #2105269
    Rocky
    Participant

    Many organizations such as Yeshivos classify themselves as “synagogues” specifically for the purpose of getting out of filing public 990s. If donor would show their disapproval and insist on transparency that would shift the tide.

    You may be very surprised to see the salaries of the staff of some non-profits. Several heimishe mosdos have execs making $400k or more in DECLARED income. This does not include other non-declared income and benefits such as parsonage, trips to Israel etc.

    It is a shame that so many people give tzedakah with just their heart and not the mind as well.

    in reply to: WWRAS-What would R’ Aharon zt”l say? #2103787
    Rocky
    Participant

    @gota good point: I don’t think you have such a good point. Yes, I understand the concept of learning b’iyun. However when it is taken to an extreme it may not be the most productive way to spend the precious years in kollel. Are most of the people who are learning so slowly indeed experts in their field? After trying to see every bit of “reid” on a sugya do they really have clarity about that sugya? If they were to be tested by a posek after they have seen all that you describe could they spell out with clarity” The issues are wxyz and we pasken like x? Or is it mostly mental gymnastics where many are really fooling themselves.

    Another point to consider is that when there is no set goal of how much to cover it leads to accomplishing less. Most people who learn daf yomi say the best thing about it is that it pushes them to accomplish. Some masmidim in yeshiva have that inner drive but many do not.

    One last thing. Who sanctions such a pace?Is there a bona fide gadol who says it is OK to go THAT slow? Why do we listen to gedolim when it comes to irrelevant issues but not when it comes to THEIR area of expertise. Shouldn’t someone who has mastered Torah be the one to tell you how to do it?

    BTW I am not writing these from mere conjecture. After shavuos I was speaking to a BMG kollel fellow in his third year in kollel. He showed me what his chaburah did from pesach until the week after shavuos. It was a total of ONE amud i.e. half a blatt. No joke. I asked if that is normal and he said that there are plenty of chaburah that go slower than that. When I said 8-12 blatt a year I was being generous.

    @common saychel: the point is not to compare 2022 to 1963. I know that we are better off today. But if everyone says “how dare you to criticize the kollel system!” then indeed things will never improve.

    in reply to: WWRAS-What would R’ Aharon zt”l say? #2103190
    Rocky
    Participant

    For those of you who are confused by my title, the issue is not just what would R. Aharon say. Yes, I was being critical of the current American Kollel system most of which is based in Lakewood. I don’t think public criticism is a bad thing if the toeles is to encourage positive change.

    Let’s take a parallel but theoretical example. Let’s say there is a kiruv organization that brings two families a year back to yidishkeit. Someone comes along and says, “Hey instead of using the current system, I think if you do XYZ you could be mekarev 10 families a year without spending any extra money or hiring new staff.
    A legitimate response would be “we tried that 5 years ago and it didn’t work” or “you don’t understand the business like we do and x might help but y &Z would never work”.
    A closed-minded response would be “do you know what it means to be mekarev 2 families?! Do you know how much nachas it brings Hashem and how many generations will be affected by these two families?”
    So too by the kollel system. If people tell me that my observations are wrong and that the majority do not suffer from any of these ills, great. I will happily shut up and stand corrected. I don’t learn in BMG and don’t live in Lakewood, so for all I know my perspective is warped and there is no room for improvement. But if indeed a significant number (not all- a significant number) do fall into the descriptions then it appears we could improve. Instead of saying nothing but “rah rah we won” maybe we can take a minute of self-reflection and stop being so self-defensive.

    Getting back to n0mesorah, I still agree with you on some points and disagree on others. I don’t think that many are regular learners of Dirsh MB and that is why Dirshu was mostly taken over by Chasidim (we can argue about this). Like I said before, if my numbers are off and the overwhelming majority (not just the guys who stay 10+ years) are really connected to a local Rabbinical authority (Rebbe or Rav), are covering ground in learning, living a minimalist lifestyle etc. then super. BH. But if people agree that I may have a point then everyone (not just gedolim) can speak up and change the system.

    in reply to: Gedolim #2098679
    Rocky
    Participant

    The editor of the “gedolilm pages” of the yated and Hamodia determine who are the gedolim today

    in reply to: Opulence Worshippers #2096610
    Rocky
    Participant

    It’s not realistic to ask mosdos to not honor rich folks with an unhealthy attitude towards $ and it’s also not realistic to ask Jewish publications to not run ads that promote opulent lifestyles. Jewish magazines are in the business to make money. The only way is through education. If people get up publicly and speak about how it’s not cool to flaunt maybe eventually it will sink in. Naftali Horowitz does a good job with this. It would also be nice if Rabbanim would speak privately to people when they start to make plans for simchas to explain what is expected in their community.

    in reply to: WWRAS-What would R’ Aharon zt”l say? #2096045
    Rocky
    Participant

    N0mesorah,

    I disagree with you on a few points but let me clarify my standpoint. I Agree that that it is amazing that we have a significant segment of American Jewry that sees kollel as not just admirable but even as a standard. The fact that there are so many couples looking to start married life based on Torah is a wonderful thing. I just think that there are issues (not “evils”). I don’t think it makes sense to ignore the issues by saying “yeah but isn’t it wonderful that so many people are doing it”. It could be that I don’t have enough exposure to the real situation on the ground and if so, I will step back and shut up. It is also important to clarify that my points are exclusive to the Kollel system in America, not EY or the UK.

    A) It sounds like you agree with me on this point. My objection is to the standard that has been raised in the kollel world (new model cars, eating out, buying clothing shoes etc in the expensive local stores). If rich kids learn in kollel that is great. The problem is when the standards are raised and there is pressure on the “have nots” who end up living a higher lifestyle than they should.

    B) I also don’t have a problem with wealthy people supporting children in kollel. I think it is admirable if a family decides not to go to a hotel for pesach and decides to give the $ to their kids in kollel. I do have a problem with parents being pressured to go into debt or take on an extra job to support their kids. If the kids know that their parents are doing this I think it would be proper to refuse to pressure them to do this.

    C) There are a lot of Rabbanim in Lakewood today but there are also many more baalei batim and many more needs. Ask the average Kollel fellow in Lakewood who he goes to for guidance in both learning and and life. I don’t think most will answer “the local Rav”

    D) I would hope that if a man is in kollel long term (10+?) he would come out knowing something. But how many 2nd or 3rd year kollel guys are still learning 8-12 blatt a year without any significant halacha seder? If I am wrong great!

    E) It is sad that you don’t recognize the needs of klal ysirael. The gedolim of 60 years ago all encouraged their talmidim to to be moser nefesh for klal yisrael or at least be concerned. That meant going out and teaching and being mekarev. Believe it or not, the learned population of Klal Yisrael is still a small fraction of the whole. It’s not my issue. Ask any talmid of R’ Aharon, Rav Ruderman, Rav Yaakov etc. To think that we have solved our issues is sticking your head in the sand. If even 5-10% of the kollel population after leaving kollel would go into klei kodesh lishmah we would change the face of American Jewry.

    in reply to: WWRAS-What would R’ Aharon zt”l say? #2095852
    Rocky
    Participant

    Well then, I guess that settles it. The CR has spoken. Everything is just peachy creamy in the American kollel system and there is nothing that can be improved. I am glad that I am wrong on all these issues.

    BTW-Guteyid-I have brought up several of these points to big Roshei Yeshiva and they agreed with me that they are serious problems contrary to the CR consensus. Their reaction was more one of throwing up their hands and saying that the problems are too big to fix. B”H we are wrong and may the bliss continue.

    in reply to: Segula R’ Chaim Palagi and sheker #2093939
    Rocky
    Participant

    Ok maybe “bold face lie” is too harsh but is is sheker. I do like gefilte fish’s translation much better than they way the tzedakah organizations translate it. I am more bothered by falsifying the translation than by the conclusion by which they arrived. It would be a lot different if they would add something to the effect of ” We asked Rabbi So and so how to fulfill this segulah today and he said it can be fulfilled by….”

    In terms of the conclusions, I also disagree.

    A) R Chaim Palagi spelled out which yeshuos it works for. He didn’t say kids going OTD, shalom bayis, parnosa etc. He gave a specific list

    B) A preutah has a legal definition. If you give a woman a peruta and ask her to marry you, you are married. Give her half a peruta you are not. We can speculate what R. Chaim meant but to throw around definitions with impunity and adding words to a sefer that are not there is not right.

    Let’s face it. The only reason that tzedakah organization dug up this segulah which no one knew about 30 years ago is that they like the idea of asking for $104. If we translate a preuta as a quarter they would not be publicizing it.

    in reply to: Segula R’ Chaim Palagi and sheker #2093729
    Rocky
    Participant

    It is a lie to intentionally falsely translate a quote from a safer by adding in words that are not there.

    This is what they sent
    The great Mekubal, Rav Chaim Palagi zt”l, wrote in his sefer,
    “To donate on Erev Shavuos 91 prutos, and to complete twice ‘ben’, which is 104 dollars & this is a great segula for zera shel kayama and for all yeshuos,”

    Adding in the words “which is 104 dollars” and “and for all yeshuos” is a bold-faced lie.

    It is even more deceptive than the tzedaka organizations that sent out solicitation after the petira of R’ Chaim Kanievsky ZT”L asking for people to donate lezecher nishmas R’ Chaim to an organization that he had nothing to with. At least in that situation they did not say “R’ Chaim ZT”L loved our organization and if he were alive would say to donate”. They were just trying to capitalize on a tragedy. Very bad taste but not outright sheker.

    in reply to: BAN SEAFRIA. #2093032
    Rocky
    Participant

    Let’s say it is run by reform Jews. If they are transcribing the texts accurately why should it make a difference?
    Sounds like two good things could result
    A) Give a big zechus to people who may not have many
    B) Encourage more non-Orthodox Jews to study the texts on the website

    in reply to: WHY DO LITVOCKS ALWAYS SAY TACHNUN?? #2090237
    Rocky
    Participant

    The better question is why does YWN allow such obvious trolls?

    in reply to: I took the 2 shots & 1 booster should i take the next one ? #2076915
    Rocky
    Participant

    I believe that I saw an article in the Harvard Journal of Medicine that discussed whenever someone has a question seeking medical expertise the wisest place to turn is the YWN coffee room. Since we all know that most Doctors are Jews it is most likely that the most competent medical experts will be able to provide their unbiased professional advice in this forum.

    in reply to: Ukraine Fundraisers #2066267
    Rocky
    Participant

    I don’t understand the whole question. Since there are so many fundraisers there must be one that is run by someone you trust. Are you really planning to donate to 20 different funds? If you have the money and the heart to donate just pick one or two funds and give it there.

    Don’t take it upon yourself to vet every fundraiser out there.

    in reply to: question for competent lawyers and anyone else who knows law #2060795
    Rocky
    Participant

    Who says that you need to fly? Just walk state to state or into the country and your rights are protected.

    If an airline wants to say all passengers must wear green hats can they not do that?

    in reply to: Baba Sali #2047855
    Rocky
    Participant

    Yabia: You are the sfardi voice of the YW coffee room and obviously know about the greatness of the Baba Sali zt’l. Why would you post this? Are you trying to lure someone into saying something negative about one of the gedolei hador of the previous generation?

    in reply to: Kollel life with no parental support #2047806
    Rocky
    Participant

    Looking at some of the other posts of the OP it seems like her husband is actually a long-term kollel fellow (8+ years?). That changes a lot

    1. I think it is rare for parents to give support to children for the long term. It may be true that short term (1-4 years) many but not all kollel families receive parental support but long term is rare.

    2. While indicated that it seems to me most couples should be able to make it in kollel without the need for parental support all the rules change once you start talking about long term kollel. Once you get into issues of multiple tuitions and a growing family it is a whole different ballpark

    3. Yes you will find people even in the chareidi community who will be skeptical about long-term kollel families. Many of the families in these situations are there by accident not because it is part of a life plan. We don’t know the situation of the OP but don’t be surprised if people assume that you are part of that majority that just fell into it.

    in reply to: Kollel life with no parental support #2047567
    Rocky
    Participant

    Amom kudos to you for living the kollel life for the right reasons and may Hashem support you and your husband.
    I think an important question is if parental support is really necessary in today’s day and age. It seems to me that there are many jobs available for kollel wives that bring in a very respectable salary and kollelim themselves provide a much higher stipend than in the past.

    Let’s say the wife can earn $35-40 k and the husband can bring in another $12 K from a kollel check. Add in some nice donations from the government in the form of child tax credits, medical insurance, wic etc. how much more does a couple need to get by? Granted if they want to live the high life with late-model SUVs and high-end baby strollers and clothing it will cost more. But can’t a kollel couple get by very comfortably today if they live a modest lifestyle?

    What am I missing?

    in reply to: America’s teacher salaries #2046239
    Rocky
    Participant

    Gadol Hadorah: There are very few cities in the US where rent for a 2 or 3 bedroom apt is more than $4,000 per month. In those rare cases, the schools pay much more than $4,000 per month.

    Romain: The issue is more than asking for a liveable salary. The issue is that people are not choosing teaching as a profession. The hope is that if salaries are increased that will change things.

    Comparing teachers’ salaries from one country to another is just silly without comparing all cost of living expenses in total.

    I don’t think anyone is suggesting teachers should make $168k per year. When you throw out a number like that it means your post is not serious

    in reply to: Teachers salaries #2045355
    Rocky
    Participant

    There is a teacher shortage in the public schools too. It could be attributed to a lot of factors but the bottom line is that the issue of supply and demand is simply not raising the salaries for either Moros or Rabbeim. The schools feel like they can’t win. The parents scream bloody murder if tuitions go up and there is only so much cash in the pot. So the schools try to pay as little as they can get away with but the Rabbeim and Moros say that I still need a liveable salary. They don’t care if you tell them how much they get paid per hour. They need to pay their bills.

    Soooo… the boys work selling on Amazon and the girls go into medical billing.

    It used to be that there was something called idealism and people were willing to suffer with a lower wage because they lived for an ideal.

    I dealsim is pretty much dead but hey, that should be a topic for a whole new thread.

    edited

    in reply to: Teachers salaries #2045236
    Rocky
    Participant

    It sounds logical but guess what: it’s not working. Ask any school administrator anywhere in the country if there is a shortage from both Male and Female teachers.

    Secondly your suggestion of hiring cheap labor means that you will get what you pay for. Perhaps in a factory in China it pays to hires unskilled labor to install widgets but if you wanted dedicated professionals to teach your kids and grandkids it will cost.

    This leaves only two sources for the money, philanthropists, higher tuitions or both.

Viewing 22 posts - 101 through 122 (of 122 total)