You’re welcome! I think the exact source is I:17, but if you google the phrase you’ll go to a translation of Likutei Eitzot, which cites it.

LU: Indeed!

On that note, I recently came across something interesting: the Rambam rules (in discussing what happens when one potential spouse wants to marry on condition of moving somewhere) that the couple should move to Eretz Yisrael, even if they are currently living in a place where most people are Yidden and the place they are moving in E”Y is majority goyim.

Rambam also uses the term tikkun olam to improve or perfect society — here’s Chabad’s translation of Mishneh Torah Rotzeach uShmirat Nefesh – Chapter Two: “When a Jewish king desires to slay any of these murderers and the like – who are not liable for execution by the court – by virtue of his regal authority, in order to perfect society, he has the license.” This is consistent with a general use of the term to mean improve or perfect society.

The problem is not using the term tikkun olam to refer to improving society. The problem is what kind of improvements they have in mind (and the Reform idea that general efforts to reform society are the most important aspect of Judaism).

Sure, helping oppressed orphans and widows and crime victims, stopping human trafficking, giving employment training to unemployed people, etc. are are good things to do under the Torah and they improve society, so we could use the term tikkun olam for them as an informal matter. But of course we should oppose people using that term for promoting causes that are against the Torah, as some non-Orthodox do.

“1) Do people actually affiliate themselves with OO?”

Yes, but the number of people is very low. If you look at the alumni page of YCT you’ll see they have placed people at a few shuls (usually small out of town shuls), though most of them end up with other jobs like at Hillels. Presumably at least some of the people at their shuls would consider themselves OO.

“2) Is it an obvious thing (like perhaps as someone would be able to tell who is Chassidish, Yeshivish, or MO based on appearance, shuls, or hashkafah)?”

Appearance: No. Shuls: only indication would be YCT rabbi (however, not all YCT rabbis are necessarily OO — see below). Hashkafa: see below.

“3) What’s the difference between MO and OO?”

MO means accepting traditional haskhafa and halacha 100% while being more open to university education, popular culture, involvement in modern society, perhaps even exploring the varying views in controversial areas such as Chazal and science, etc.

OO means affiliating with an Orthodox shul, having a mechitza, identifying as Orthodox, and yet being more flexible about certain things (such as Biblical criticism, women’s participation in shul, attitude toward non-Orthodox, etc.) Some individual OO rabbis have advocated or done very Reform-ish things, like saying you don’t have to say shelo asani isha.

Some OO are more or less the same as left-wing MO while some are like Conservative or Reform in their hashkafa (one, for example, claimed Moshiach will not necessarily be an actual person, chas v’shalom).

I actually know one YCT-ordained rabbi who is hashkafically and halachically totally MO, not OO, and who is accepted as an Orthodox rabbi by all the other Orthodox rabbis in town. Even within YCT there is a lot of variety.

Many hold all unflavored beer is kosher without a hechsher. However, CRC says that beer from microbreweries needs a hechsher. This is confusing because I don’t know how small a company needs to be to be considered a microbrewery.

Star K says only flavored or home- or pub-brewed beer needs a hechsher. So according to them, even unflavored microbrews should be OK without hechshers.

I try to avoid unflavored microbrews if I see on the shelf that that same company also produces flavored beer with problematic or clearly treif ingredients (like grape juice or oysters — yes, such strange things exist) but that wouldn’t seem to be necessary per the Star K.

Hashem can do anything. So of course He could answer prayers even if they are not really directed to Him. Billions of people are rural and isolated and have never heard of Hashem. It’s up to Him whether to have mercy on them and respond to their misplaced prayers.

Louis Farrakhan did not actually endorse Trump. Actually, he wrote on his Facebook wall recently that a Trump presidency would make the country to go hell or some such nonsense.

Trump’s seeming encouragement of violence among his supporters is the main thing that troubles me (since there are certainly parallels with Mussolini’s blackshirts and Putin’s thugs). Building a wall with Mexico is actually a pretty reasonable security measure and administrative policy (Hillary was even for it at some point).

People are assuming that MO and charedi are two completely separate, internally-homogenous things. But that’s not true at all. It’s more like a continuum, or many continuums on several issues. There are many people in the middle (like “frum but not yeshivish”) wouldn’t describe themselves as MO or charedi.

Even in Israel there are many moderate charedim, who work and have some secular education and interaction with the outside world. Likewise, there are many MO in the US and DL in Israel who are very frum and are influenced mainly by charedi rabbis, hashkafically and halachically.

People like to lump everyone into two categories, those with and without the black hats. But it’s not that simple.

“As far as those who won’t daven there anymore, it’s not that they’ve moved up, they’ve moved out of yiddishkeit entirely, that why they no longer daven.”

Not necessarily. Let’s say someone belongs to a shul with an OO rabbi with a non-kosher hashkafa. But the shul have an identity as Orthodox, there’s a mechitza, they daven with an Artscroll siddur, etc. Then the person moves for whatever reason to a new area, which like most areas, doesn’t have an OO shul (OO shuls are few and far between).

What do they do? Most of the time they will join whatever mainstream MO shul is available. At least on the surface, it will be closest to what they’re used to. And it will help them become more frum.

DY: See Rema on Shulchan Aruch (E.H. 2:5). This and other sources seem to say that if it is not already public knowledge and can be kept a secret then the person can marry (and stay married to) a kosher Jew.

Joseph: that’s not really done in practice.

Trump is potentially dangerous, but I think he tends to talk more crazily than he acts (or will act) in practice. When you look at the details of his proposed policies they tend not to be that radical. Some are conservative and some are more middle of the road.

We have millions of illegal immigrants every year, many of them dangerous convicted felons, and yet we do almost nothing to stop it. Everyone knows that this is a problem and that we have a build a wall to make our immigration system based on law and good administrative procedure. But everyone else is afraid to do it. So for that reason he could be a good president. If immigration is reduced as a result, this would lower the unemployment rate and thus help the poor.

I don’t think he would actually ban all Muslim immigration. But reducing the numbers coming in so they can be carefully vetted would presumably happen, and there’s nothing inherently wrong or radical about reducing immigration or changing immigration policies based on valid economic or security concerns.

Anyway, the important thing is if such policies are carried out, they need to be done with moderate and reasonable explanations, not with divisive rhetoric. Hopefully Trump will change his tone if he’s elected.

The murder rate is much higher in the US than in Israel (even counting terror attacks), and addressing a much more common cause of death, the traffic fatality rate per capita is 3.5 times higher in the US! Life expectancy is also higher in Israel. So it would seem that the mitzvah of “guarding yourselves very well” can be performed in Israel, even better than in the US.

I understand the idea that if you’re learning (or for that matter other mitzvot observance) is better here then you shouldn’t make aliyah. But it doesn’t necessarily make sense to think about that in the short term. It may take a while to find a new chavrusa or beis midrash or Rov, but there’s no reason to think that in general one’s learning would be better here.

One might be drafted, but defending the land of Israel is also a mitzvah, and since one cannot come into harm through fulfilling a mitzvah, this shouldn’t concern us either.

In addition, once you are fluent in modern Hebrew, one’s fluency in Biblical/rabbinic Hebrew will also increase. Just think how much more advanced your children’s learning could be if they grow up speaking modern Hebrew fluently. I see it in my own kids’ classes here — the Israeli kids in their school are way ahead because they don’t need to bother with learning how to translate Chumash.

The Lubavitcher rebbe counseled many rabbis and other community leaders not to make aliyah, because otherwise they would no longer be able to have positive influences on the Jews they left behind in chutz la’aretz.

Aside from that, most of us don’t really have any excuse aside from convenience. If most of us were to uproot ourselves and give ourselves a few years to try to live in Israel, learning the language and finding an income and so on, most of us would find we can make it. It would just mean a few years of uncertainty and adjustment difficulties. In some places most are Anglos and you can get by with English much of the time.

There are extremes in Israel but there are also those in between. There are certainly American-style moderate charedim. There are even neighborhoods full of them. The dati leumi are increasingly frum (and less rationalist than MO, due to R’ Kook’s mysticism). Most “chilonim” are more religious (and far more likely to be halachically Jewish) the Reform or Conservative Jews here (the vast majority of chilonim fast on Yom Kippur.) There’s a tiny minority of radical leftist self-haters but most of the non-Orthodox are relatively traditional and respectful toward religion.

Terrorism is a problem, but the murder rate is still much higher in America. And I’d trust the IDF to keep me safe more than the American military any day (here more likely to make us less safe by engaging in unnecessary wars).

The main thing is assimilation. If your kids c”v’s go OTD in Israel they will most likely still marry other Jews and have Jewish grandchildren. It is only a matter of time before Israeli is majority Orthodox, which will eventually inspire those grandchildren to make teshuvah. In America OTD kids marry non-Jews, have non-Jewish grandchildren, and are lost to the Jewish people forever.

How many more millions of us need to assimilate before we get the message and move to the Jewish state?

Charedim are more extreme in Israel than in America. The vast majority of charedim in America get some secular studies in school and go on to work full time at some point, while the vast majority of charedim in Israel get no secular education.

“Socialist” is an arbitrary word and can mean just about anything. There have been democrats in the past (like President Truman) who would have never used the word socialism but who supported the same kinds of policies as Sanders.

There is no fundamental difference between America and Europe when it comes to the welfare state, labor market regulations and health system — it’s just a matter of degree, of where we fit on the spectrum or continuum. America has a welfare state, it’s just small and neglects the poor (though things like the EITC and food stamps really do help to decrease poverty by quite a bit).

It’s just a matter of confused terminology. People on the center-left in America are called liberals or progressives, in UK and Ireland are called Labor, in Germanic countries are called Social Democrats, and in Latin countries are called Socialists. Each country is a bit different and going in a slightly different direction….Scandinavian countries have the biggest governments but are shrinking them a bit, and we and the UK and Ireland have the smallest but are growing them a bit. But we’re all on the same continuum. It’s not as if there’s some magical line so that if you go from having 45% of the economy be the government to 46% you’re all of the sudden socialist rather than capitalist.

Bernie calling himself a socialist really just means he wants to go somewhat farther on the spectrum toward a welfare state and more economic equality. So all Sanders would do differently is things like progressive taxation (like under Eisenhower!), Canada-style health care (which Truman advocated and which old people already have in America, that is Medicare!), making it easier to join a union, creating government jobs for to ease poverty and create full employment, and perhaps getting rid of trade deals that bleed American jobs to China and Mexico.

Comlink-X, G D Em C is the same as C G Am F (I V vi IV).

Em C G D is the same as Am F C G, which is also a very popular chord progression, especially in the last decade or so. Some Jewish songs definitely use it — see by googling “A F C G” or “Em C G D” and “Jewish guitar chords.” For example, Finally Here by Ari Goldwag uses this progression. Smile by 8th day uses it in part of the song.

C Am F G (the 50s or “doo-wop” chord progression), was very popular in the 50s and is still sometimes found today.

Many Jewish songs are just three chords or so! Many are just A minor, D minor and E (for example, the common melody to v’ani tefilati, if I’m not mistaken). Mikimi by Yosef Karduner is just four chords (google mikimi karduner chords and you’ll find it). Oz v’hadar is just three chords.

1. It depends on which chassidus. Breslov follows the S’A and is very strict about davening on time and such (that’s reportedly why the Chofetz Chaim recommended it to his son who was getting interested in chassidus). Chabad is somewhat less strict on such things but follows the S’A HaRav. Other chassidim are sometimes less strict about such things as davening on time and tachanun.

2. They emphasize spirituality and character refinement as well as Torah study. Some sephardim and Litvish do too, but it’s not as common. See the book Jewish Spiritual Practices for diverse examples of chassidic practices.

3. Personal, spiritual connection to a particular tzaddik and his teachings are deemed very important for one’s avodas Hashem.

4. Joy, love of Hashem and one’s fellow Jew, and belief in all-encompassing divine providence are emphasized. Prayer in one’s own words and various meditative practices are employed.

5. Chassidic teachings and spirituality are essentially contained in books and the personal teachings of Rebbes, and can be practiced by any Orthodox Jew, regardless of appearance or affiliation. So some sephardim, Yeshivish and MO Jews draw on chassidic teachings to a large degree and yet retain their traditional appearance and affiliation.

6. Chassidim were more fervent fighters against haskalah (as mentioned by the Chofetz Chaim) and were the main ones brave enough to risk their lives by spreading Yiddishkeit in the Soviet Union (especially Chabad and also Breslov).

Well, that way get to do two mitzvahs (Torah study plus tzedakah)….

I’m not a PETA fan, but euthanizing animals in shelters is standard practice in the vast majority of animal shelters. There’s a movement, known as no-kill shelters, in which they only “put down” those who are aggressive and dangerous or already dying. But they’ve only succeeded in taking over a small slice of the animal shelter world so far.

Some authorities permit causing extra pain to animals in order to make more money (which is what the various animal welfare abuses in modern factory farms are for.) Other authorities disagree.

It is better to be strict and only buy meat and dairy and eggs from producers who don’t engage in the cruel practices common in the modern industrialized factor farms (like beak-cutting, confining animals in small spaces, etc.)

Our ancestors only ate dairy and eggs and meat from small producers — there were no massive factory farms in the shtetl! Everything was cage-free and grass fed! Factory farms inflict a lot of suffering on animals that we know from experience is not necessary, and these particular techniques are not part of our mesorah. So why get involved in it? To save a bit of money or afford more meat and dairy and eggs? It’s not worth it.

It’s true that some of our ancestors force fed geese, but at that time pate was believed to be an important health food that could provide necessary nutrients. And modern poskim have all banned the practice. Similarly cruel practices such as those involved in veal raising have been banned by Rav Moshe.

We should also work toward legislation, along with non-extremist animal welfare groups, to reduce the worst practices to reduce unnecessary animal suffering.

It’s wonderful that you’ve decided to make teshuvah!

I’m sorry you’re feeling frustrated. But don’t feel like you have to become completely observant overnight. That makes people overwhelmed and burned out. Learn and take things on at your own pace.

Ask the Chabad rebbetzin if you could start meeting with her weekly to learn the halachos of everyday life. She will probably say yes! Ask if she can help kasher your kitchen (her husband may do that for you). Once you’re able to, move within walking distance of the Chabad house (or another Orthodox shul) and attend on Shabbos morning and Yom Tov.

Some advice: Start reading some basic guides to observance. For example, Shaarei Halacha by R’ Greenwald. There are also special books with the laws for women. Tznius is relatively simple: when you’re ready, start wearing only clothes that go past the elbows and knees; avoid very tight clothes or super bright colors; and stop wearing pants. Buy an Artscroll siddur (I like interlinear but there are many options) and start saying the morning blessings, and eventually work up to saying the major other prayers required for women (minchah, and shema and amidah of Shacharit). You’ll find that websites like Aish.com and Chabad.org and others have a lot of good guides to other aspects of basic observance. Pray to Hashem for at least a few minutes each day in your own words, thanking and praising him for everything you can think of, and asking Him to help you with whatever you need (including becoming observant of course), and end by thanking and praising Him some more.

Yes, there are seminaries for Baalos Teshuvah, certainly in Israel, and possibly also in the US. I don’t know any off the top of my head though.

Hatzlachah! Feel free to keep asking questions here!

The Torah values equality in the application of the law. Thus we are enjoined from treating a poor man or rich man differently in terms of halachic decision-making, or taking bribes.

Pirkei Avos also speaks of loving all creatures and bringing them closer to Torah. And Hashem is pleased with someone with which others are pleased. This implies we should be kind to all people regardless of who they are.

Absolute economic equality is not a Torah value. However, the highest level of charity is to ensure that the poor become self-sufficient. So ideally, if we were observing the mitzvah of tzedakah correctly as a community, everyone would be equal in the sense that we are all self-sufficient and do not need to rely on charity.

All Israel have a share in the world to come. And Rebbe Nachman teaches that everyone has the innate ability to become a tzaddik of the highest order, if they would only apply themselves with their greatest effort.

On average, active same-gender attractive males tend to have many, many more partners than do any straight males. Some have hundreds or thousands, and precautions are not taken in many cases. This causes huge public health problems, including the spread of disease (including most HIV cases in the US) and the use of illegal drugs that help maintain this lifestyle.

Society thus has an interest in discouraging toeiva, including by not recognizing their unions as marriage. Teoiva marriage won’t really encourage exclusivity because there’s already a tradition that toeiva marriages aren’t exclusive. Its main effect will be to legitimize toeiva and encourage everyone with any such desires to take part.

Mike Huckabee’s supreme court brief mentions the public health argument, certainly a secular one, though he doesn’t talk about the details.

This secular argument is probably one of the main reasons why until the year 2000, virtually no society on earth ever recognized toeiva marriage. Men and women are complementary in this respect. When you have same-gender relationships, many of the men go nuts and wallow in sensuality with extreme excess, harming themselves, others and society. Just as in Sodom!

Try Likutei Eitzot (can read in English for free online: google “English translation of Likutey Etzot”), which although chassidic has been praised as great mussar by Litvish gedolim, such as R’ Dessler and R’ Elya Lopian.