If you are looking for something on the CR just go to Google and type what you are looking for and then a space and then site:theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom. For example, type in:

maskingtape site:theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom

If you want to search the whole site, just leave out “/coffeeroom.”

What MBD is saying is a shtus. There was never money in albums. The point of the album is name recognition, so you get paid more for weddings and concerts. MBD already has the name recognition so he has less of a reason to put out albums, and the fact that there is pirating makes him even less motivated. But it isn’t to blame.

Anyway. This is the beauty of capitalism, that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can release a single. That is a good thing. It forces the good to do even better. And we don’t need a filter, the consumers will be the filter.

No.

You have no right to pick and choose halachos. It’s a mefureshe Gemara in Avoda Zara 7a:

??? ????, ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????, ?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????. ??? ??? ??? ??? ??????, ?’ ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????. ?”? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????

If someone is greater you follow the one who is greater, and if not, then if it’s d’oraisa you follow the machmir, and if it’s d’rabbanan you follow the meikil.

There is an exception, and that is the Gemara which says in Eruvin 6b:

???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?”? ?????? ?”? ??? ?????? ?”? ??????? ?”? ???? ????? ???? (???? ?, ??) ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??”? ???????? ?????????? ?? ??”? ???????? ??????????

The specific application of the Gemara does not apply, as we know that a bas kol came out and paskened the halacha like Beis Hillel.

However, everyone understands that you may follow your rebbi’s opinion regardless of who agrees or disagrees with him, and that comes straight out of this Gemara. Since you are not picking and choosing, it is not hypocritical or wrong of you to follow your rebbi. If you would say “I’m going to be meikil like R’ Yaakov Emden over here” and “I am going to be meikil like the Noda biYehuda over here,” that is arbitrary and wrong according to both Gemaras.

These Gemaras refer to relying on someone. Each person who is at the level may come to a conclusion and pasken, even though others disagree, because that is his belief of the ???, and ??? triumphs all. But when one is not claiming to have figured out the truth, and certainly one who hasn’t learned a particular sugya in depth, is simply relying on others, in which case the above rules apply.

There are certain Poskim who were accepted by different segments of Klal Yisroel as “posek acharon.” The Shach, by the yeshivishe velt for example. That doesn’t mean we know he was bigger than the Taz. It means that he is our rav. And therefore in a case where we cannot figure out what the halacha should be we will take his word l’kula and l’chumra.

Some people hold the Mishna Brura is a posek acharon, or the Aruch Hashulchan, or the Maharsham. It’s the same thing. The rav that holds that the Aruch Hashulchan is a posek acharon will argue on him sometimes, but when he cannot be machri’a the halacha he will follow the Aruch Hashulchan l’kula and l’chumra.

If you wish to make R’ Yaakov Emden your rav and posek acharon, kol hakavod. But unless you follow him in every occasion that he disagrees with someone else and you aren’t capable of being machri’a not like him, you would be acting hypocritical, and you would be called a ??? according to the Gemara in Eiruvin.

This is why it is important to have a rav.

old man –

If he would have said he wants to follow all p’sakim of the Ya’avetz, I would have said yes.

OneOfMany – Thanks.

One more thing. While I think it is important that schools focus on teaching these things, it is way more important that they be taught at home. However the best way to teach these things is by example, and unfortunately all too many times the examples aren’t there.

A child may not see parents fighting and it may seem to the child that the parents go out of their way to do for each other, but that is not enough. If the child sees the parent lying for personal gain, making fun of someone behind their back, ignoring someones plea for help, even if there is a legitimate reason for doing so but it is not explained on the spot, the child will learn that other people don’t matter. This may be the most overused cliche in the book, but it all starts at home.

taking a break –

Yungerman1 is right, it is definitely a girl/guy thing. It isn’t always a “me” thing. If you look at the examples you gave yourself, it isn’t really just criticism that bothers you. It’s any “logical” reaction. You want to feel that the other person feels along with you, and is so “in it” that of course he/she won’t offer any words of advice etc. right now because IT HURTS! Men like to fix things. A man might even be quashing feelings of empathy because seeing your pain he instinctively wants to make it go away and this is how he (stupidly) thinks he’ll make it better. Some women are like men in this respect (and vice versa of course). And of course, there could be the “me” mentality involved, but I wouldn’t be quick to judge.

What people really need is good communication. If it’s someone you’re close to, just say it! “Thank you so much for trying to help, but when I’m hurting it doesn’t make me feel better to hear that.” Or something like that, and with a non-judgmental attitude. People can be surprisingly receptive to such straightforward communication, and it helps a lot in relationships.

Oh, and while we’re on this topic – look at Popa’s second post here (http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/frustration) for a good laugh.

Astrix –

chadssidus is not simply a mode of dress and a heritage of beautiful stories. It is a philosophy and a way of thinking which in many ways contradicts the way of the litvishe yeshivos. A litvishe rosh yeshiva would discourage you from learning chassidus because presumably you are learning in order to know how to think, i.e. to have correct hashkafos, and from the rosh yeshiva’s perspective you will not find the correct hashkafos there. It’s not about finding fault with people. Chassidim are wonderful people. But the litvishe rosh yeshiva believes that the chadid’s hashkafa is mistaken, so he will not encourage his student to learn it.

STOP. Cool it.

Chacham – thanks, you too!

Popa – My thoughts exactly. I can’t be here often because the new zman has begun, but thanks for backing me up there.

and charlie brown

I heard that the Gra said the Gemara is kipshuto though.

cinderella –

You are presenting two points here: 1) How can you tell her that certain things aren’t proper to do when you yourself do them? and 2) How can you tell her to believe certain things which you yourself have questions about?

For the first thing, you are not a hypocrite. Make it clear to her that no one is perfect, and we are only expected to do our best, and you struggle too. The point of telling her the mitzvos and the ideas behind them is not simply to get her to do them. Because let’s face it, practically speaking, you aren’t getting her to start keeping everything overnight. But there are attitudes and ideas that you want to attune her mind too, and you want to give her a taste of what Yiddishkeit is about. So you tell her these are the mitzvos, we all struggle with them, but we all can learn from them, and we all can use them as a general framework for growth.

For the second thing, the question is how strong your own convictions are. If you have real questions, then you should ask them yourself. Not to her of course, but go find a rabbi and give him a run for his money. And if he can’t answer then go badger someone else. And if that doesn’t work then ask us here in the CR 🙂 Don’t ignore things that bother you inside. But the main thing here is that you should not try to convince someone to believe in something you don’t. That is dangerous and can be perceived as hypocritical. So if you have real questions, I suggest you ask them yourself first, before trying to convince her of the “answers.” However, if the things you are convincing her of don’t really relate to your own questions, and you do believe fully in what you are specifically telling her, then I wouldn’t worry about the fact that you have questions in other areas. That in no way makes you a hypocrite. But you should still seek answers to all your questions. And I hope you find them!

???? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ????

Dolphins aren’t kosher. But I’m laughing now, if it tastes like salmon then why aren’t you thinking maybe it’s salmon??!!

FIRST, you must determine and follow what the halacha expects of you, and do not compromise on it unless you are in danger. Compromising on it includes falsifying it – such as telling someone that something is or isn’t a Torah value, when in fact the opposite might be true, or the Torah doesn’t really talk about the issue.

THEN, determine how you might go beyond what the halacha expects of you, in order to establish and maintain good relationships with people, and gain their respect. When you do this, once you are already trying to follow the first step, the world will say upon you – “Praiseworthy are the teacher and the parents who taught this one Torah!” This is a great kiddush Hashem.

If you choose to take the second step but ignore the first, then you aren’t being mekadesh Hashem, you are being mekadesh yourself.

Sam2 –

See the Rambam’s Ma’amar Kiddush Hashem. He gives a lot (5?) of definitions, all of which are true.

I never hold with “The Seforim.” They are too unpredictable.

Lol