Lakewood Yid

The time has come.

2006-09-28T23:17:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for responding to my previous post.

A Sefer Torah is divided into many parshiyos - 'Pay' and 'Samach', "Li'tain Revach Bein Parsha L'parshah".

As I noted in my previous post, I have learnt a lot about Judaism and its people. I needed a "Revach" to absorb what I learnt. I have stopped commenting over the last week as I have been spending much time rethinking what I have been doing until now, and whether I should continue.

Your comments were very enlighting. Actually, they were fascinating. Mi'kotzeh Li'kotzeh.

Here's a recap:

* I respect the level of passion that in your writing.

*you post very intelligently, and offer valid, legitimate arguments

*I hardly ever agree with you

*I don't think you are convincing those who have not already been convinced. I just don't find your defenses of the Charedi lifestyle and the gedolim, persuasive.

*LY: You are putting yourself in an intellectual environment that is foreign and antagonistic to yours

*you come across as a person who means and writes well.

*because in my experience you are friendly and honest, which is a tone the J-blogs need more people setting.

*LY you must not give up. I for one am most gratified that you stand up for Torah true ideals when all too often they are rubbished.You maintain your integrity without flattering falsifiers or insulting doubters.

*L'maan Hashem continue.

*Hmm..keep blogging, but lay off the age of the universe issue.

*I don't agree with everything you say but it's refreshing to hear the POV of underrepresented part of klak yisroel in the blogging universe.

*Don’t stop. But I doubt that you changed any skeptical minds.

*I say stop. Or at least change your name.

*LY is courage personified. He puts himself in place behind Torah and Truth. I say they are jealous of his emunah.

*you don't come across as arrogant, condescending, and angry.

*The fact that LY might be doing great things for himself is wonderful--not so wonderful if he is also negatively impacting others, and in this case I mean his own community

*So keep it up. It's great to see the other side of things.

*I am not sure you represent the true Chareidi world (if there is such a thing).As I have commented before, you very often overstate & exaggerate matters for effects sake

*Since most people who are blogging are doing so to debate and discuss, you will only stir up opposition and will not gain adherents.

*but I honestly feel that your posting on blogs is a chillul Hashem

*So keep blogging. If everybody barks the same we're just a pack of dogs.

*I feel the fact that you are chareidi and (mostly) good natured, is good PR for Chareidism.

*Putting your views out, for all to refute or ridicule, takes a certain amount of courage

*As a fellow "Lakewooder" I say that although I often disagree with you, you probably do represent a viewpoint which might otherwise not have a voice on the blogosphere. Chazak Ve'amatz.

*I would suggest that you think a little more before you write

*You have accomplished and do accomplish many wonderful things. It is very possible that your voice is a unique one in the blogosphere and a much-needed one.

*But if you would have instead spent the time learning Mesechta Temurah, for example, and chazering it well, writing out your own biurim on a couple of the difficult sugyos, it can be argued persuasively that you would be better off and Klal Yisroel would be better off.

*I too am a BMG alumnus and still live in Lakewood. I admire your emunah peshuta and what you are trying to accomplish. However, I think you sound very foolish at times.

*What makes you think you represent all of us lakewooders?

*LY - there is no doubt that there is good in what you are doing. Even if I dont agree with what you say it is clear that you are honest and sincere. It is great that we have a character in our blogosphere who is willing to have a go at portraying the Charedi line. Only occasionally do you defend the undefensible, but generally you are the best defender of your values currently around.

*I really think that you blogging is doing a disservice to Charaidim in general and to Lakewood in particular

*you should ask daas torah.

A couple months ago, I asked a notable Rosh Yeshivah. We discussed the pros and cons. In the end he said, if your doing it correctly, its surely a worthy cause. But you have to carefully evaluate the dangers involved. Bottom line he said, be your own Posek.

I have received much criticism in the past. When someone suggests that my views are "turning them off", is it really my fault? If "Amalek" or "Aguna" turn people off, should we remove it from Torah?

My intentions had been good. I fought for what I believed. And I fought clean. It bothered me that bloggers were able to write so freely against Gedolim and Charedim and get away with it.

Nevertheless, I did wish to hear it out from everyone.

My conclusion is that while my name "Lakewood Yid" was well intended, it was too controversal. It very often gave the impression that I was speaking on behalf of Lakewood. Or, it implied, that my views are "Lakewoodish", and it actually encouraged the skeptics to further dig themselves into their skeptic holes.

The time has come.

I have decided to give up "Lakewood Yid".

If I left the impression, that a Charedi blogger was able to debate head to head with the skeptics and doubters, and be able to do it in a refined aidel way, without the need to resort to course
language and name calling, I will be satisfied with that.

But if I wish to have any further success in winning over the skeptics and doubters, it will have to be under a new identity with some changes in my strategy.

So for now, I say Good bye. I thank you all for everything you taught me.

Hatzlocha V'chol Tuv. G'mar Chasimah Tova.

PS I will be keeping my email address and everyone is welcome to email:

lakewoodyid@gmail.com

Your opinion please.

2006-09-19T22:40:00.000-04:00

To all my blogfriends,

I have been blogging for about 6 months now. I have learnt a lot.

I have learnt a lot about mankind, nature, science.....

But most of all, I learnt a lot about Judaism. I learnt a lot about our Mesorah, Chazal, and Gedolim. I learnt about many aspects of Torah which I hadn't known before. And as much as I learnt, I realized how much more there is still to be learnt.

I also learnt about the diversity of the Jewish nation. That there are Acheinu Bnei Yisroel which come in all different colors, stripes and beliefs.

I am thankful to HKBH that with all the Kefirah and skepticism that I have seen, I still maintain my faith 100%.

My "blogging mission" had been to defend Gedolim, Charedim, and quite often even Judaism from the critisicm expressed by many bloggers. I learnt early on, that "Kofer calling" won't get me anywhere. No one wants to be called names, even if they are wrong. Instead, I attemped to challenge the critics by responding to their arguments.

I have recently been thinking about what kind of impression I have made on Jblogs. Have I inspired anyone? Have I dis-inspired anyone? Have I caused people to view Charedim in a better light? or a worser one? Have I caused any skeptics to re-think their anti-charedi stance? Or have I just caused skeptics to dig deeper in their holes?

Blogging takes a lot of time out of me. No one wants to feel like they are wasting their time. Should I continue blogging? Should I stop?

I look forward to hearing from you.

In the interim, I wish you all a Kesivah Va'chasimah Tova, and a happy sweet healthy year.

If I have ever insulted or verbally hurt anyone, I ask them for forgiveness. I am definitely Mochel everyone B'lev Shalem.

Rambam - IGNORE THE EVIDENCE!!

2006-09-17T12:37:00.000-04:00

הלכות שחיטה פרק י

יב ואין להוסיף על טריפות אלו, כלל: שכל שיארע לבהמה או לחיה או לעוף חוץ מאלו שמנו חכמי הדורות הראשונים, והסכימו עליהן בתי דיני ישראל--אפשר שתחיה. ואפילו נודע לנו מדרך הרפואה, שאין סופה לחיות. [יג] וכן אלו שמנו ואמרו שהן טריפה--אף על פי שייראה בדרכי הרפואה שבידינו שמקצתן אינן ממיתין, ואפשר שתחיה מהן: אין לך אלא מה שמנו חכמים, שנאמר "על פי התורה אשר יורוך"

Says the Rambam - which animals are considered Treifah (they will shortly die, and thus non kosher) and which are considered that will live?

The ones that the Chazal told us.

EVEN IF MI'DARKEI HA'REFUAH (science, biology, zooalogy etc) WE KNOW OTHERWISE (there is contradictory evidence) , WE FOLLOW WHAT THE CHACHOMIM TOLD US.

MEANING - we may eat something which Chazal told us will live, even though science has proven that it won't, and vise-versa.

Is there any difference between this and age of universe etc? If Chazal taught us that the world will last for 6 thousand years, do we need to consider the contradictory evidence that science presents us?

This Rambam says no. We follow Chazal. שנאמר על פי התורה אשר יורוך. Period.

9/11

2006-09-11T09:02:00.000-04:00

דברים פרק כח

מז תַּחַת, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-עָבַדְתָּ אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּשִׂמְחָה, וּבְטוּב לֵבָב--מֵרֹב, כֹּל.

47 because thou didst not serve the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things;

מט יִשָּׂא יְהוָה עָלֶיךָ גּוֹי מֵרָחֹק מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, כַּאֲשֶׁר יִדְאֶה הַנָּשֶׁר: גּוֹי, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-תִשְׁמַע לְשֹׁנוֹ.

49 The LORD will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the vulture swoopeth down; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

נ גּוֹי, עַז פָּנִים, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יִשָּׂא פָנִים לְזָקֵן, וְנַעַר לֹא יָחֹן

50 a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young.

נב וְהֵצַר לְךָ בְּכָל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ, עַד רֶדֶת חֹמֹתֶיךָ הַגְּבֹהֹת וְהַבְּצֻרוֹת, אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בֹּטֵחַ בָּהֵן, בְּכָל-אַרְצֶךָ; וְהֵצַר לְךָ, בְּכָל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ, בְּכָל-אַרְצְךָ, אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָךְ

52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fortified walls come down, wherein thou didst trust, throughout all thy land; and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee

Daas Torah: The world will stand for 6,000 Years.

2006-09-10T12:49:00.000-04:00

Rashba Chidushei Haggados, (Mosad Harav Kook) Baba Basra 74:b

עוד תדע, שדעת אנשי תורותנו והמקובל מן הנביאים ושהסכימו עליו חכמי התלמוד, כי יש לעולם הזה קצב ובא אל תכלית, כאמרם שיתא אלפי שנין הוי עלמא

Clearly, the Rashba is saying that the POV of the Neviim and the Chachmei Hatalmud, is that the world will stand for 6,000 years, no more, no less.

Why we learn K'tzos

2006-08-29T22:34:00.000-04:00

This post was really supposed to be a response to XGH's post on DovBear, Kollel vs Math. But being that the thread is sort of over, I decided to make a post out of it.

The main issue of XGH's post was the following:

"Problems in the Ketzos might be beautiful and fascinating, but solving them won’t bring about any measurable benefit to the world."

My response:

There is a discussion end of first Perek Kiddushin if 'Talmud' (learning) is greater, or 'Maaseh' is greater. The Gemara concludes that Talmud is greater because "Talmud May'vee Li'day Maaseh. According to basic Gemara logic, if the 'Maskana' is that 'Talmud which brings to Maaseh' is greater, then in the 'Havah Amina', the Gemara was discussing 'Talmud' on its own - not 'Talmud which brings to Maaseh'. And yet, the Gemara had a consideration that 'Talmud although its not L'maaseh' might be greater than Maaseh.

Have you ever read any of the hundreds of Shaalos U'tshuvos Sefarim? Take Igros Moshe (R' Moshe Feinstein) for an example. I've never read through it (just a little here there), but I would venture to say that at least 60% - 70% of the Shaalos are not found in Gemara or even Shulchan Aruch (Microphone?). What it takes is, Knowledge (you can make a huge pilpul, only to discover that on the next page, the Gemara concludes otherwise), Understanding (what the Havah Amina was, how did Rashi understand vs Tosfos etc), and Binah - L'havin Dovor Mi'toch Dovor - to extrapolate the thesis and rules -the 'yesod' of the sugya from one application, and to correctly apply it to another application. And anyone who learnt Daf Yomi 7 times over won't be able to really help out here. What it entails is a very thorough grasp of every sugya by utilizing sharp analyzation, extremely precise Chakiros, and hair splitting Sevaros.

Thats where K'tzos comes into play. Its a mental exercise. Its purpose is to sharpen the mind. To train the Talmud student how to think, how to analyze, how to understand, and how to correctly extrapolate.

Now of course, not every kollelnik is on the verge of becoming a Posek. But nevertheless,

"Talmud Torah K'neged Kulam"

"Lo Yamush M'Picha" (I forget the exact wording)

"V'dibarta Bam" - Bam V'lo B'dvorim B'taylim"

Mitzvas Talmud Torah is every minute, its a mitzva which is "SHE'LO Hazman Ge'rama". Woman are Patur because "V'limad'tem Es B'naichem - V'lo B'noseichem".

All this applies to every kollelnik.

The Heter for a man to work (no jokes, it requires a Heter) is V'osafta D'ganecha. In theory, one may only work to "put bread on his table" - "Paas Ba'melach".

I once asked R' Malkiel Kotler, since a wife and kids aren't Mechuyav in Paas Bamelach, and one is Mechuyav to provide her with her needs, then this should be a Heter to work more than just to "put bread on his table".
IOW, since a woman isn't Mechuyav in Paas Bamelach because she isn't Mechuyav in Talmud Torah, she is Mutar to work, say to buy a nice piece of furniture, whereas a man might not be permitted to be Mevatel Torah simply to buy 'nice' furniture. But a married man has to provide his wife with HER needs as well.

The RY agreed that this might be a good 'Limud Zechus'.

But bottom line, Mitzvas Talmud Torah is even when one learns 'Talmud', even when its not L'maaseh. The above quoted Gemara discusses which is greater, not if 'Talmud' alone has value or not.

Please Daven

2006-08-21T21:48:00.000-04:00

Please Daven for Ruevein Ben Tova Chaya, grandson of R' Harry Maryles.

He should be zocheh to a Refuah Shleimah B'korov.

Koach Hatorah Even Today!!!

2006-08-21T20:48:00.000-04:00

Many of you commented on other blogs, that with the Matzav in Eretz Yisroel that our Jewish soldiers are sacrificing themselves on the front line, the people which are exempt from the army because 'Torah Um'nosom' should not break for Bain Hazmanim, since their idealogy is that Torah protects, and therefore its only right that while the physical soldiers are fighting on the physical front line, the spiritual soldiers should be fighting on the spiritual front line (Bais Midrash).

I believe I heard in the name of R' Elyashiv Shlita, that the learners do need the Bain Hazmanim break or their learning of the Winter Zman will be affected.

R' Elyashiv also came under fire from many bloggers for declaring on August 3rd, that the best interest for Israel would be a cease fire. Rather they said, Israel must keep on pounding out the enemies.

It just struck me.

On August 13, Israel accepted the ceasefire with 2 weeks of Bain Hazmanim left to go.

So R' Elyashiv's military analysis that Israel should accept a cease fire became a reality, and that, enabled the Bnai Torah to be able to truly relax on their Bain Hazmanim break so they will regain their strength for the next Zman.

Eh, happywithhis lot? What you got to say now?

Mamesh Ah Emeseh Moifis!!! Pure Koach Hatorah!!!

(PS, Over here, someone writes that hearing a story that Zechus Hatorah saves people from rockets makes him nauseas.

"Today in schul part of the Rabbis drasha was one of these stories and it frankly got me nauseated about those who were saved by a rocket missing them because of kavod they were giving the Torah."

I hope this post won't make him vomit.)

The Koach Hatorah of the Gaon

2006-08-20T09:36:00.000-04:00

In my previous post, I quoted:

"If the Gaon says that he could bring down kol galgal hachamah on this table and show it to Aristo – do we have a safek that what Chazal HaKedoshim said is emes?"

I've had with some of you debates if the Gaon learnt secular studies. I conceded that he did, based on the testimony of R' Baruch M'shklov etc..

But I will tell you this. The above statement of the Gaon, was NOT a result of his secular studies. Show me even one Secularist who ever even attempted to make such a claim.

It was purely from the Koach Hatorah of the Gaon.

My Hero!!

2006-08-20T09:24:00.000-04:00

Drosha by Rav Uren Reich, Rosh haYeshiva of Yeshiva of Woodlake Village in Lakewood

(Extract from address at the Melava Malka of Agudath Israel of America's 82nd National Convention)

…If the Gemara tells us a metziyus, it’s emes veyatziv. There’s nothing to think about. Anything we see with our eyes is less of a reality than something we see in the Gemara. That’s the emunah that a yid has to have. Unfortunately, I don’t know where or why this is, but recently there’s been a spate of all kinds of publications – I don’t know where they’ve come from – questioning things that have been mekubel midor dor, that every child learns, together with his mother’s milk, al titosh Toras imecha, we learn that every word of Torah is emes, every word of Chazal hakedoshim is emes. We’re coming to hear new kinds of concepts, that we have to figure out a way to make Torah compatible with modern day science – it’s an emunah mezuyefes! There’s a tremendous emunah that these people have for scientists in the outside world – everything they say is kodesh kadoshim!

And then we have to figure out according to what they say, how to fit in the Gemara with this newfangled discoveries that the scientists have taught us?! These same scientists who tell you with such clarity what happened sixty-five million years ago – ask them what the weather will be like in New York in two weeks’ time! “Possibly, probably, it could be, maybe” – ain itam hadavar, they don’t know. They know everything that happened 65 million years ago, but from their madda, and their wissenschaft, we have to be mispoel?!

Chazal HaKedoshim – hakatan shebetalmidei Rabbeinu haKadosh mechayeh meisim! If the Gaon says that he could bring down kol galgal hachamah on this table and show it to Aristo – do we have a safek that what Chazal HaKedoshim said is emes? Ra’u mi’sof haolam ve’ad sofo – ain leharher achar divrei haGemara.

Our emunah has to be, and will continue to be, that every word of Chazal haKedoshim is emes le’amitoh! Ve’ain leharher achar divrei haGemara. And that’s the emunah that we were mekabel midor dor, and with this kind of emunah, these keriyos, this kara v’modim, when a yid like Rav Moshe, whose counterpart in Yale or Harvard is showing his great mind, his great genius, by questioning everything that there was in previous generations, and Rav Moshe with his humility and with his clarity as to the greatness of previous generations, he says ain leharher achar divrei haGemara – who knows how many kochos hatumah he shattered with that kind of kara vemodim! If we’ll be koreya vemodim, we’ll be zocheh, we’ll be mekarev rechokim, we’ll be mekarev kerovim, and we’ll be zocheh to see the ohr ha-emes when Mashiach comes…

In my previous post, I wrote that I was at a loss for words. In this post, I have no need for words.

(hattip - Lamedzayin)

Olam Hafuch Ra'isi

2006-08-16T09:39:00.000-04:00

Hakol Kol Yakkov, V'ha'yadayim Y'dei Eisav.

That was our slogan for thousands of years.

Not anymore.

At least according Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:

"God's promises have come true," Ahmadinejad told a huge crowd in Arbadil in northwestern Iran. "On one side, it's corrupt powers of the criminal U.S. and Britain and the Zionists .... with modern bombs and planes. And on the other side is a group of pious youth relying on God."

I am at a loss for words.

Are you claiming to understand Gods ways?

2006-07-30T22:48:00.000-04:00

Over here, I quoted: "R' Weinreb talked about was the importance of not talking in shul, and the potential impact of such behavior on the war."

Someone (of course, anonymously) left the following comment: "Weinreb must be a sick man. Some Jews are gonna die in the war because I talk in shul? Sick, really sick thinking."

My initial response was to delete the comment. I then decided to rather challenge it. By the time I was done, I thought this actualy might be "post-worthy".

So here goes:

Your lack of understanding doesn't make him a sick man. How about contacting him directly and asking him your questions before attacking him?

Your statement of "Some Jews are gonna die in the war because I talk in shul?" is saying that you fully understand Gods ways and it can't be that God would do that.

Great. Being that you are such a Mayven on what God would do and what he wouldn't do, please explain us the following:

1) Holocaust
2) Katrina
3) 9/11
4) Tsunami victims
5) So many young children and young people who are sick
6) So many young children which die or are killed
7) So many young people dying leaving behind Yesomim and Almonos.
8) Etc Etc...

When you can explain all the above, I'm willing to hear your opinion if God punishes for talking in Shul.

והוי זהיר במצוה קלה כמצוה חמורה, שאין אתה יודע מתן שכרן של מצוות

I don't see any reason why this Maamar Chazal shouldn't apply in the reverse too. That one should be careful in "minor" aveiros the same as "major" ones, for we don't know the punishments of aveiros (the punishments that God himself gives to us).

What would you do?

2006-07-25T10:39:00.000-04:00

The other day as I was walking on the street, a Black man stuck his hand out to me and asked for a quarter.

I gave one to him.

My thoughts: Its was definitely worth the 25 cents, to have a Goy think highly of Jews. Now of course, this doesn't mean that one should run around passing out quarters to every Goy on the street. But once this Goy had already stuck his hand out, I thought it would be a Kiddush Hashem to give him one. To show him that Jews are compassionate people.

Would you have given him a quarter?

Is God "talking" to us?

2006-07-25T10:25:00.000-04:00

Over here, Hirhurim links to a statement from R' Weinreb:

"R' Weinreb talked about was the importance of not talking in shul, and the potential impact of such behavior on the war."

Someone commented : "I find this to be a repulsive notion - that talking in shul has any connection to causing evil in the world. To me this is a sick theology. Just my two cents worth."

I responded: "Here's my two cents:

I was in court the other day for Jury duty. Some observations:

"all rise" when the judge comes in.

He's always addressed as "your honor".

"close your cellphones" when court is in session.

"put down all reading material when the judge is speaking"

There was no need to announce to all, to keep quiet when the judge speaks.

I wonder what would happen if in middle of the judge speaking, someone would answer his phone and talk loudly on it.

Kal V'chomer when we are sitting in front of the almighty god, no one should have the audacity to speak during davening.

It therefore shouldn't be such a shock, that if our respect to God is lower than the respect our fellow gentiles have for a judge, that God might be inclined to "talk back" to us.

Why we don't understand Chazal

2006-07-25T09:47:00.000-04:00

No doubt, that "Chazal vs Science", is probably the biggest debate argued about, here on J-blogs.
All agree that Chazal were men of great wisdom. Hence their name - Chachomeinu Zichronom Livrocha. The questions arise when the basic meaning of their statements don't concur with our current knowledge of science and how the world works.

I would like to propose a theory, to explain why that is.

The first thing we have to acknowledge, is that wisdom comes from God.

כי ה' יתן חכמה; מפיו, דעת ותבונה

"חכמה" is generally associated with the brain - the brain is the source of our intelligence

I would like to show you that there exists another source of חכמה.

Yuma 39:a

תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל עבירה מטמטמת לבו של אדם שנאמר (ויקרא יא) ולא תטמאו בהם ונטמתם בם אל תקרי ונטמאתם אלא ונטמטם

"An Aveirah is "M'tamtem" the heart of a person".

Rashi: אוטמת וסותמת מכל חכמה

It (the Aveirah) blocks the person from all wisdom.

The Gemara is clear that an Aveirah affects the heart - מטמטמת לבו. From where does Rashi get, that it affects חכמה?

I believe the answer is, that there is another source of חכמה, called חכמת הלב which God dispenses to those he chooses to.

Shemos 28: ג ואתה, תדבר אל-כל-חכמי-לב, אשר מלאתיו, רוח חכמה; ועשו את-בגדי אהרן, לקדשו--לכהנו-לי.

Shemos 31: ו ואני הנה נתתי אתו, את אהליאב בן-אחיסמך למטה-דן, ובלב כל-חכם-לב, נתתי חכמה; ועשו, את כל-אשר צויתך.

Shemos 36: א ועשה בצלאל ואהליאב וכל איש חכם-לב, אשר נתן ה' חכמה ותבונה בהמה, לדעת לעשת, את-כל-מלאכת עבדת הקדש--לכל אשר-צוה ,ה

The Gemara in Eiruvin 53:a describes the greatness of the "Rishonim" - the earlier Chazal:

אמר ר' יוחנן לבן של ראשונים כפתחו של אולם ושל אחרונים כפתחו של היכל ואנו כמלא נקב מחט סידקית

R' Yochonan said: The hearts of the "Rishonim" were like the opening of the Ulom......

I believe that the intention here is that those "Rishonim" had חכמת הלב like the opening of the Ulom...

There is no doubt, that the advent of modern technology is a result of the huge amount of חכמה which God has granted us. I would like to propose, that the tremendous חכמה we see today in the world, is חכמת המוח - Wisdom of the brain, and not חכמת הלב - Wisdom of the heart.

The reason for that is based on the above quoted Gemara Yuma and Rashi, that Aveiros block the heart from wisdom. In today's bitter golus, none of us can proclaim to be free of Aveiros. Therefore, our hearts are "blocked" from חכמת הלב, and therefore, we find it extremely difficult to understand the depth of Chazal, whose wisdom was derived from their special God given חכמת הלב.

Recently, I had the opportunity to ask R' Avrohom Schor Shlita a question. I asked, "People ask me if Midrashim are to be taken literally".

He answered: "Tell them, that when they will learn "enough Torah", they will understand".

At first I didn't fully understand his answer. I think with the above, I understand it better. Once someone learns "enough Torah", he will be Zocheh to חכמת הלב, and then - "he will understand".

Boruch She'kivanti

2006-07-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

On this comment thread, I asked Happywithhislot:

The Gemara in Brochos 54:b says that Og Melech Habashon picked up a huge stone and threatened to kill all Klal Yisroel. A 'Nes' occurred and some type of bugs ate out the area where his head was........... and then Moshe Rabbeinu killed him.

Happy, do you believe that Klal Yisroel was threatened by Og throwing a huge rock and were saved by a 'Nes'?

Happy promptly responded: "Answer is no. I've definitely seen and heard rishonim who explain away the whole mountain neck thing as a moshol."

I asked him back:

Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 218:1 paskens that when one sees "the stone that Og was going to throw at us", he is required to make the Brocha "She'asah Nissim La'vosainu Ba'mokom Zeh" WITH SHEM AND MALCHUS (He must say 'Hashem Elokeinu'.)

How can one make a Brocha on a Nes which never happened??? According to you, isn't it a Brocha Le'vatalah???

I just recently saw that the Maharal in Gur Aryeh brings this proof. Being that the issue of taking Midrashim literaly is so controversial here on J-blogs, I feel it would be worthwhile to quote the actual words of the Maharal.

The Maharal quotes the above mentioned Gemara Brochos 54:b and then says:

ומפני שאמרנו שכל מדרש מדברי חכמים נפרש על אמתתו, צריכין אנו לפרש המאמר הזה על אמתתו. ואם שנמצא מאמר זה, שזה אמר בכה, וזה אמר בכה, אבל דברינו הם דברים ברורים באין ספק. ונראה מדעת רבותינו ז"ל כי כמשמעו היה, שרצה לזרוק אבן שהרי אמרו רז"ל שהרואה את האבן ההיא חייב לברך על הנס שעשה הקדוש ברוך הוא, משמע ומוכח שהקדוש ברוך הוא עשה נס עם ישראל כשהיה רוצה לזרוק אבן

(The following translation is my own)

"And because we have said that all Midrash from the words of the Chachomim we will explain them in its truth, we therefore have to explain this passage in its truth.... And our understanding of our sages is that this passage should be taken as its understood, that indeed he (Og) wanted to throw the stone on them, for Chazal have said that one who sees that stone is obligated to make a blessing on the miracle that HKBH did,

THEREFORE IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND PROVEN THAT HKBH INDEED MADE A MIRACLE WITH KLAL YISROEL WHEN HE (OG) WANTED TO THROW THE STONE.

The Maharal is clearly stating that this Midrash should be taken in the literal sense. In the above mentioned Gemara Brochos, the end of this passage is that Moshe Rabbeinu was ten Amos tall, he took his staff which was ten Amos tall, and jumped ten Amos and smote Og and killed him. I don't see any reason to differentiate, that the part about Og picking up the stone should be taken literaly, any more than the part that Moshe was ten Amos tall, when these two Midrashim are in the same paragraph. The Rambam, Ramban, and Abarbanel all have different explanations how Adam Harishon etc literaly lived such long lives. If Adom Harishon lived for 930 years, I don't see any reason why not to believe that Moshe Rabbeinu could have been ten Amos tall.

P.S. The Biur Halacha clarifies the above mentioned Halacha by asking - how is it possible for a human being to have been able to pick up such a large rock? And he answers, because Og was the son of the "Bnai Malachim" and therefore he had superhuman strength. Apparently, the Mishna Brura also understood this Midrash/Halacha literally.

To all my bashers - HAHAHAHAHA!

2006-07-19T08:06:00.000-04:00

Take a look at the picture above, and tell me why President Bush is looking at Tony Blair with such disgust.

Things that irk me

2006-07-14T18:05:00.000-04:00

I get very irked when I see people walking into shul with their shirt flying.

I don't care if you come to shul in a blue shirt, brown shoes, straw hat, no hat, whatever. Just don't come wearing a pink tie. I CAN'T STAND PINK TIES. What's next, pink suits??? With matching pink Rockport's??? Its scary how some designer in Italy decides that men should wear pink ties, and everyone follows. So why do all the skeptics have a problem with us RW wearing black hats? If your willing to wear whatever some Joe Shmoe decides is fashionable, I'm willing to wear what my Rosh Yeshiva decides is fashionable.

What's the difference?

Anyways, getting back to the issue at hand, it says "Ha'chon Li'kras Elokecha". "Prepare yourself to stand before God".

The least one could do is tuck their shirt in.

Its about emunas chachomim

2006-07-12T07:54:00.000-04:00

On Hirhurim, someone wrote this comment:

"How do we know that the Maharal did not make a golem? How do we now that the Chofetz Chaim did not exorcise a dybbuk? The same way we know that no one has been abducted by aliens and that there is no Bigfoot. COMMON SENSE."

I responded with:

Err, common sense also dictates that seas don't split, food doesn't fall from heaven, and rocks don't turn into wells. Its not about common sense. Its about emunas chachomim. One of the 48 kinyanei Hatorah. If you lack it, you lack an understanding of Torah. And if you lack an understanding of Torah, your opinions are worthless.

Need I say more?

Lakewood Yid meets the Godol Hador!!

2006-07-04T15:31:00.000-04:00

The Godol Hador anounced his anonymous presence in Lakewood, Ihr Hakodesh. No way was I going to pass the oppertunity of getting a Brocha from the greatest Godol ever invented. So I e-nvited (invitation via email) the Godol to meet with me! The Godol expressed his concern that the Lakewood Kannoim might pelt him with the newly banned issue of the Jewish Observer, so we agreed to meet in a top secret location with no possiblity of any neighbors spying on us.

We had a pleasant meeting. We shmoozed a little, argued a little, and agreed on nothing. Well, I shouldn't say nothing. We agreed to disagree!! Just kidding. He happens to be a nice friendly guy. He even used to be Charedi. But Nebach, some skeptics "Drayed him ah Kupp".

I offered the Godol a tour of BMG. He politely declined as he expressed his interest in getting home in one piece.

IMPORTANT NEWSFLASH:

In middle of one of the many topics we discussed, the Godol revealed to me his weakness! He can get easily persuaded by a good argument!

Therefore, I appeal to all my readers who comment on the Godol's blog not to give up hope!

If we can come up with a good enough argument, we might convince the Godol to become the "Uri Zohar" of Blogvelt!!

אל תתיאש! אפילו חרב חדה מונחת על צוארו של אדם אל ימנע עצמו מן הרחמים

Cover your toes in the house of God

2006-06-27T10:35:00.000-04:00

Sephardilady wrote:

Lakewood Yid-I have no problem with a guy walking into shul in Flip Flops to pray to G-d.
Zero, zilch, efes, nada, cero.

About a year ago, members of the Northwestern University's champion women's lacrosse team visited the White House and and met President Bush. Some of them wore flip flops.

Below is a collection of comments from various websites:

"but many people, including relatives of the athletes, questioned the propriety of wearing flip-flop sandals to meet the president."

"Don’t even ask me about the flip-flops," said her mother. "It mortified me."

"This is the buttoned-down, dignified Bush White House, where the president has forbid jeans and required neckties in the Oval Office and women are instructed to be "appropriately dressed."

"But Wood worries the arrival of flip-flops at the White House is a sign that respect for even the nation’s most sacrosanct institutions is waning."

"Definitely a faux pas," says Suze Yalof Schwartz, executive fashion editor-at-large of Glamour magazine, telling The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm, "It is just inappropriate

"They're great for hanging out with your friends. But they're clearly unprofessional. And if you're going to the White House, cover up your toes."

AND IF YOUR GOING TO THE HOUSE OF GOD??? THE KING OF ALL KINGS???

Internal Debate

2006-06-20T21:31:00.000-04:00

One day this week, I davened in Satmar. Now, Satmar shul in Lakewood is quite different than Satmar shuls in Williamsburg or Monroe. The weekly mispallelim in Satmar Lakewood is probably 60% - 70% yeshivah guys. Basicly everyone wears a Jacket (95% black or dark navy) during Shachris and ocassionaly you have some non-jackets and dark colored shirts.

Anyways, in walks in a guy (apparently a bochur, no Talis, just Tefilin) wearing flip-flops.

YES, F-L-I-P F-L-O-PS.

Green shortsleeve Polo shirt, light beige knickers (pants cut at the knees), NO socks, and flip flops. He strolled in, put on his tefilin, about 3 minutes later, his cellphone was held to his ear for some 60 seconds. By the time I finished Shmoneh Esreh, I could no longer see him (he was gone).

Now lets put aside for a moment the inyan of Dan L'kaf Zechus. Do you tell such a guy something? I mean, like, how dare a person walk into a shul dressed like he's going straight to the beach? Mechitzuf, Ahrois!! Its not plausible that the guy was innocent. I would be surprised if any of my modern blogfriends would dare venture into a charedi shul, barefoot in flip flops.

But on the other hand, who knows if this guy is "on the fence" and if someone were to mussar him, perhaps he would stop coming to daven altogether? Perhaps he was sort of "testing" to see if he's accepted even like that?

Your opinions please.

(P.S. I would have loved to watch the Satmar Dayan's reaction, he goes nuts when he sees a guy with his shirt not tucked in)

A Shverreh Rambam.

2006-06-11T12:33:00.000-04:00

On another blog, I quoted a Rambam in הלכות ממרים פרק ג and some commenters not surprisingly found it to be a bit disturbing.

א מי שאינו מאמין בתורה שבעל פה, אינו זקן ממרא האמור בתורה, אלא הרי הוא בכלל המינים, ומיתתו ביד כל אדם. [ב] מאחר שנתפרסם שהוא כופר בתורה שבעל פה--מורידין ולא מעלין, כשאר המינים והאפיקורוסין והאומרין אין תורה מן השמיים והמוסרים והמשומדים: כל אלו אינן בכלל ישראל, ואינן צריכין לא עדים ולא התראה ולא דיינין; אלא כל ההורג אחד מהן, עשה מצוה גדולה והסיר מכשול.

Tough words here.Once a person is publicly known to be Kofer in Torah She'baal Peh, or those who say that Torah is not from Shamayim, such people are not a part of Klal Yisroel, and one who kills them has done a great Mitzvah and has removed a stumbling block. And we don't need witnesses or warning or judges to do this.

The Rambam in Halacha ג speaks about those who are a Tinok Shenishbah and being that they are innocent, he says:

לפיכך ראוי להחזירן בתשובה, ולמשוך אותם בדרכי שלום, עד שיחזרו לאיתן התורה; ולא ימהר אדם להורגן.

Note, the last few words. One should not be quick to kill them. As if if one did kill them, it might be OK.

The Rambam in הלכות עבודה זרה פרק י writes it again:

ב במה דברים אמורים, בגוי. אבל מוסרי ישראל, והמינים, והאפיקורוסין--מצוה לאבדן ביד, ולהורידן עד באר שחת: מפני שהן מצירין לישראל, ומסירין את העם מאחרי ה', כישוע הנוצרי ותלמידיו, וצדוק ובייתוס ותלמידיהם--"שם רשעים, ירקב" (משלי י,ז).

(Not to get off topic, but if the Rambam was alive when Jesus was, would the Rambam have personaly killed him?)

I looked up some older prints of Rambam. One didn't have any of these references to killing המינים והאפיקורוסין etc. and a different print had them in parentesies. In the new Shabsi Frankel Rambam, it has it as quoted above, and in the footnotes, there is a remark that older prints didn't have it due to the "censor".

This extreme Halacha is based on the Gemara דף כו מסכת עבודה זרה:

תני רבי אבהו קמיה דר' יוחנן העובדי כוכבים ורועי בהמה דקה לא מעלין ולא מורידין אבל המינין והמסורות היו מורידין ולא מעלין

Rashi in Sanhedrin 57:a explains

מורידין - מורידין אותם לבור להמיתם בידים
מעלין - מעלין אותם מן הבור להצילם מן המיתה.

Rashi there says: [ אבל האידנא דין זה אינו נוהג כי בטלו ד"נ [ ד"נ = 'דיני נפשות

The Chazon Ish in Y"D also writes that this was only Noge'ah when Klal Yisroel was in power etc.. "but today, we are here to be מתקן and being that such idealogy would have a reverse effect, these laws don't apply today.

But the Rambam is still very Shverr. As cazzie asked, why should we kill him right away? Perhaps he'll do Teshuvah?

Well, does Teshuvah help for המינים והאפיקורוסין? I have not yet fully researched this issue, but in the meantime, I have found the following.

Rambam in הלכות תשובה פרק ג writes:

כו במה דברים אמורים שכל אחד מאלו אין לו חלק לעולם הבא, בשמת בלא תשובה. אבל אם שב מרשעו, ומת והוא בעל תשובה--הרי זה מבני העולם הבא, שאין לך דבר שעומד בפני התשובה: אפילו כפר בעיקר כל ימיו, ובאחרונה שב--יש לו חלק לעולם הבא, שנאמר שלום שלום לרחוק ולקרוב, אמר ה'--ורפאתיו

כז כל הרשעים והפושעים והמשומדים וכיוצא בהן שחזרו בתשובה, בין בגלוי בין שחזרו במטמונייות--מקבלין אותן, שנאמר שובו בנים שובבים

אף על פי שעדיין שובב הוא, שהרי בסתר בלבד חוזר ולא בגלוי--מקבלין אותו בתשובה

Apparently, their Teshuva is accepted. However in הלכות עבודה זרה פרק ב, the Rambam writes:

.ט וכן המינים מישראל, אינן כישראל לדבר מן הדברים. ואין מקבלין אותן בתשובה, לעולם--שנאמר "כל באיה, לא ישובון; ולא ישיגו, אורחות חיים

והמינים, הם התרים אחר מחשבות ליבם בסכלות, בדברים שאמרנו, עד שנמצאו עוברים על גופי תורה להכעיס, בשאט בנפש ביד רמה; ואומרין, שאין בזה עוון. ואסור לספר עימהן ולהשיב .עליהן תשובה כלל, שנאמר אל תקרב אל פתח ביתה

Many commentaries discuss this difficult Rambam. Some go in the direction that Hashem is Mekabel their Teshuvah, just Bais Din is not Mekabel it.

This Rambam needs more clarification, and I'll add here when I have more on it.

(P.S. Ben Avuyah, for the time being, my hit-list will remain empty.)

Party Time!!

2006-06-06T22:45:00.000-04:00

Yes my friends, time to pull out some schnapps from the freezer and drink L'chaim.

After 3-4 months of battling with Godol Hador, he finaly did it! He actually wrote a pro charedi / pro Gedolim post!!

Some highlights:

"I now realize I was somewhat wrong. All religions are based on Faith, and Orthodox Judaism especially so."

(I'm kvelling from nachas. Just a few weeks ago, we were arguing if Charedism is absolute sheker.)

"there’s nothing wrong with Faith ........ The Gedolim correctly intuited what the logical conclusion of accepting Science is, and they were right."

(The Gedolim are correct. Such sweet words....)

"Considering that I have a fair amount of Faith myself, I can no longer see the point in bashing other people's faith"

(He's finaly talking like a true Godol, no bashing others..)

Here's the best line of all:

"If anything, the Gedolim’s mehalech is more honest: Have faith and that’s that."

(I feel like I just won the lottery.....)

Heibst Zach, Heibst Zach, Lummer Tantzen ah Hora.......

Why are the Gedolim silent part 2

2006-05-29T18:30:00.000-04:00

Tobie: So what you've basically done is said that the gedolim are out of touch with reality and often manipulated by askanim with ulterior motives.

LY: Play out for me the scenario. Tell me how info from UOJ and NY Mag reach the Gedolim.. Remember! They don't read such magazines (more acurately, they probably don't read any magazines) and of course they don't read blogs!

Tobie: Well, in an ideal world...

a) they try to keep up on the major news affecting their world, either directly by reading newspapers or by having close followers keep them updated.

b) the askanim and/or the community hears about these things and goes to them, asking for guidance. They then investigate the matter and react.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

a) is an unlikely option. Let's first pinpoint exactly who we are talking about when we are refering to "Gedolim". We're talking about the big guns. R' Elyashiv, R' Kanievsky, R' Shteinman, R' S. Auerbach, R' S. Wosner etc...

Ask any charedi tourist what's the #1 tourist attraction in Bnei Brak. With out batting an eyelash, he'll tell you: "To get a Brocha from R' Kanievsky". Thousands of letters with all sorts of questions are sent to R' Kanievsky. Between learning, answering letters, seeing people, answering sha'alos on the phone, one thing you won't find R' Kanievsky doing, is reading the papers on the latest scandals.

How would you imagine the life of a 95 year old man to be? Winter in Florida, Summer in the Cool Comfortable Caatskills, and the rest of the time pampered in a luxorious nursing home?

R' Chaim Scheinberg, in his mid nineties, was recently in Lakewood. After seeing hundreds of people, reading hundreds of names of people who need Refu'os, Yeshu'os, Shidduchim etc... He didn't sit down to eat supper until after 10:00 pm because he does not eat before Sefirah. He didn't get to bed before 11:00 pm, was already up at 4:00 am to prepare to daven Vasikin which he does every day!!! (I believe most above mentioned Gedolim also daven Vasikin daily.)

Friends, Gedolim of such stature don't while away their time with newspapers. Such Gedolim spend every minute "Al Hatorah V'al Ha'avodah" and being Osek B'tzorchei Tzibbur. Do the Askonim have secret internet connections to keep up? I doubt it. Maybe they read the Charedi newspapers. But surely not NY Mag and UOJ.

What we are left with is b). Hearing it from people who do read the papers, blogs etc...

Before we tune in to hear an Askan briefing a Godol, I have to first give you an introduction.

We've read the rantings of UOJ. Rabbi K. is presented to us as 100% guilty. UOJ's POV leaves us with little room for doubt. The article in NY Mag starts with a story about a sweet innocent boy being abused by the big Rabbi. While we were reading it, we all created a mental image of a sweet little boy, being played with, to the Rabbi's content. By the time the writer analyzes if the Rabbi is guilty or not, its too late. We can no longer erase from our minds the image, of the little innocent victim.

Then we find a link to angrysoul. The horror, the torture, the agony, the suffering. How could such a thing have gone on for such a long time? Where was the administration? Is this Judaism? Where are our leaders?

WHERE ARE OUR GEDOLIM?!?

Friends, our Gedolim never read UOJ, NY Mag or angrysoul. They aren't biased by a profesional writer who succesfully planted the mental image of the sweet innocent boy being fully taken advantage of. Whatever information comes to them, is being taken at face value.

Let's listen in:

Askan: K'vod Harav, a pressing issue has come up.

Godol: Nuch an Tragedyah? [another tragedy?]

A: Uuhh, an andereh suhrt. [a different kind]

G: Nu, farzteil. [speak]

A: We received information that a Charedi Rebbe is being accused of molesting yiddeshe kinderlach.

G: Vos?!? Rachmona Litzlan!! Iz es shayech ah Yid, Kal V'chomer ah Rebbe zol tuhn ah'zelche zachen? [what? God forbid! Is it possible that a jew and even more so, a rebbe can do such things?]

A: What should we do?

G: A Rebbe which does such things surely must immediately stop teaching! But do you know its true?

A: Uuh, umm, uuh....

G: Vos keketzt du? [why are you hesitating]

A: K'vod Harav, the source of our information is from the internet. (The Godol's face tightens at the mention of 'internet') There is a writer which claims that B'yediah B'rurah, he knows its all emes.

G: Nu, ver iz der Mechaber, kenen mir reden mit ehm? [who is the online writer, can I speak with him?]

A: No. He doesn't give a name or telephone number.

G: (suspicious look on his face) Iz er chutch ah frummer? [is he frum?]

A: Nisht zicher. [not sure]

G: (starting to get a little annoyed) Iz er ya tzu nayn? [yes or no?]

A: On the one hand, he quotes halacha, on the other hand....

G: Nuh?

A: Ummmm, he doesn't seem to have the greatest respect for Talmidei Chachomim.

G: (lines starting to appear on his forehead) Vos meint ihr? [what do you mean?]

A: He says that some 25 years ago, there was a Bais Din of sort, and R' Chaim Scheinberg paskened that if there was no p........................

G: (Deep in thought.)

A: The writer is quite unhappy with the psak.

G: B'seder. Uhber farvos sugst du er iz ah Mevazeh Talmidei Chachomim? [Fine, but why do you say he defames the Gedolim?]

A: Er hut gerufen R' Chaim ah ah ah ah (Askan is stuttering) B... B... B'hei.........mah (last syllable mumbled under his breath) [He called R' Chaim an animal]

G: ER HUT EHM GERUFEN AH VOS?!? (face turning red) [HE CALLED HIM A WHAT?!?]

A: Yuh, ah B'heimah [yes, an animal]

G: AH MEVAZEH TALMID CHOCHOM!!
(both hands pounding the desk)

APIKORES MAMESH!!
(Face is beet red)

AZAH EINER HUT NISHT KEIN SHUM NE'MONOS!! [Someone like this cannot be trusted]
(another pounding on the desk)

A: K'vod Harav, but there is also another report in a cho'sheveh Goyisheh magazine!

G: Zein ven hut ah Goyisheh mah'gah'zin ne'emonos? [since when can a non jewish magazine be trusted?]

A: They claim that there are victims who have come forward.

G: Zug zei, zei zulen du ah'hehr areinkumen....... [Tell the victims to come here...]

IN SUMMARY:

1) Don't expect the Gedolim to read the papers
2) Don't expect the Askonim to read UOJ and NY Mag
3) Any information that comes in to them, is without the pre-assumption that the accused is definitely guilty.

So did you really expect to see a full page add in the Yated/Hamodiah, with the Gedolim all calling on R' M. to dismiss R' K. and condemning R' K for his actions??

Why are the Gedolim silent?

2006-05-25T09:24:00.000-04:00

Here in blogosphere, the big question that everyone is asking is:

Why are the Gedolim silent? Why aren't we hearing them cry out about the terrible actions of Rabbi K.....

To understand why, one has to look at it from an inside view of the Charedi world.

I'll start in the BMG coffee room.

"Yankel! Did you hear?"

"Hear what, Moshe?"

"You mean you didn't hear what they are saying about Rabbi K?"

"Its Shtussim V'havolim"

"Shtussim V'havolim?!? What are you hocking! I heard from my brother in law who has an Ishur to use the Tumeneh net, that there's this guy who calls himself UOJ and he was Meh'vahrer that its Emes!"

"Moshe! Do you know what UOJ stands for?"

"Uhh, let me think.... Ich Vais! It stands for Undercover Orthodox Jew! He worked 'undercover' and found out the whole zach".

"Nice Shtickel Lomdus, Moshe. But no, It stands for Un-Orthdox Jew".

"What?!? If he's not orthodox, how could he know about such things?"

"Moshe, your finaly chapping the Matzov. The guy is mamesh an Apikores. He is Mevazeh Aleh Talmidei Chachomim. Ich Shem Zach to say what he called Harav Hagaon R' Chaim Scheinberg Shlita. The guy has absolutely no Ne'monos..........."

Friends, to our Gedolim, the case was closed some 25 years ago by a Bais Din that paskened that he could remain a Rebbe. Our current Gedolim don't spend their time reading blogs (blogs? What's that?) and NY Mag. They are full time occupied with the needs of Klal Yisroel. Between seeing people, Paskening Sha'olos, dealing with pressing problems (Almonos, Yesomim, Gittin, Teens at risk etc...) running around to Simchas (The Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva can very often have 3 - 4 simchas in one night), and OF COURSE, they have to learn also.

The rantings of an anonymous un-orthodox blogger on the banned internet making a gantze tumult before he even has a shred of evidence, isn't exactly #1 on the Gedolim 'To Do' list.

But I know what you'll be asking me. Now that its 'official' (pending lawsuit), why aren't we hearing anything now?

How come by the Slifkin and MOAG issues, all the Gedolim came out so loud and strong??

Friends, think think think.

Do you really think that one fine day (or maybe one not such a fine day), R' Elyashiv was a bit bored, so he took a little stroll to the local sefarim store, asked for the latest title, looked through a couple pages, and then ran home to write up a ban? Do you really think that as soon as he finished writing it, he hopped onto the next Sheirut to Bnei Brak to ask R' Kanievsky to sign??

Of Course NOT. He doesn't even read english!!

We all know what happened. The 'Askonim' came to him. They (don't ask me who) told him what the books are all about, and after confirming it, he signed the bans. The Askonim were the ones who ran around to the other Gedolim to have them all sign.

OK OK, so maybe the Gedolim are indeed too busy working for us to be up to date on current events, but how come the 'Askonim' didn't approach the Gedolim to ask them to voice their opinion on this most pressing issue? We must throw out this 60 year old Rebbe right away! He's an absolute danger! Why, as we speak, he's probably downstairs in the boiler room.....

Gevald! Sakonos Nefoshos Mamesh!!

Fregst Gut. Fregst Zayer Gut.

(Maybe we should ask Yankel in the coffee room. He seems to be very knowledgeable.)

We are ALL Torah Jews!

2006-05-19T14:42:00.000-04:00

Many blogs are very into labeling different types of Jews.

UO, MO, Right Wing, Left Wing etc..

I just saw written somewhere that occasionally when R' Gifter would speak by Agudah conventions, he would say:

"I'm not an Orthodox Jew, I'm a proud Torah Jew!"

Now that is a label that every single Jew, from the far left to the extreme right, should be able to indentify with. We are all Acheinu Bnei Yisroel. The Torah was given to all. There is to much friction being displayed on various comment threads. Every one is entitled to their opinion and to disagree with others.

RESPECTFULLY.

R' Scheinberg is a Tzadik Gomur!

2006-05-19T08:52:00.000-04:00

Over here, someone posted the following story about R' Scheinberg:

"but there is a famous story of Rabbi Scheinberg Shlita, who was on an El Al flight and sitting right near one of the bigger screens. In those day, remember, they didn't have individual screens on the back of every seat. He apparently asked them to shut off that one screen. He was told that wasn't possible. Moments later, as the story is told, there was a malfunction and all the movie screens on the plane went blank. Supposedly, the flight attendant approached the rav's gabbai and asked, if we turn that one screen off, will the rabbi allow the other screens to be turned back on?"

Is this story true? I don't know.

But if other blogs can post Lashon Hara on R' Scheinberg, then I'm more than happy to post some Lashon Tov about him.

Yes! We do have Gedolim!

2006-05-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

Another fine blog, Yeshiva World, has a post that the Gerrer Rebbe and R' Shteinman had to some extent cancel their trip to Montreal due to protests from certain factions of Netura Karta and/or Satmar. This is definitely upsetting, to all those who were looking forward to see these great Gedolim. I may in the future write a post about the mindset of these factions. For more details about this issue, see Yeshiva worlds blog.

My reason for mentioning this, is because of a comment in Hebrew I saw on YW's blog. I will try my best to translate the main context of the comment.

"When the Gerrer Rebbe was made aware that there will be protests, he immediately decided to cancel the visit. When the organizers heard that the visit was canceled, they turned to R' Yakkov Yitzchok Neiman, one of the elder & respected Rabbonim in Montreal to intercede with the Gerrer Rebbe not to cancel the visit.

R' Neiman argued to the Rebbe, if you don't come, then we have allowed those minor factions to succeed, and it will only strengthen them to continue causing us similiar hardships.

Answered the Holy Gerrer Rebbe:

"If we do come, and they come out in protest, which we cannot stop them since they have a permit to do so, surely this will create friction between us and them, and the news reporters will have a field day with it. This will lead to a Chilul Hashem.

Said the Holy Rebbe:

"WE ARE HERE FOR THE PURPOSE TO BRING KIDDUSH HASHEM, NOT TO CREATE CHILUL HASHEM."

The Rebbe was well aware that Montreal would be heavily disappointed is he wouldn't come. Yet, rather disappoint them all and not create a Chillul Hashem.

NOW TELL ME THAT THERE ARE NO GEDOLIM TODAY.

Victory!

2006-05-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

Godol Hador said:

* "Chareidi Judaism no longer stands for emmes"
* "Chareidi Judaism is sheker incarnate"
* "any commitment based on sheker is sheker itself, and cannot be accepted. It has to be rejected COMPLETELY and ABSOLUTELY by every decent minded person"
* "Likewise any ideology which insists on certain beliefs no matter what the evidence CANNOT
and MUST NOT be accepted, it is sheker through and through."

I emailed to GH and asked:

Your recent posts have taken the direction that being that you consider science to be Emes (based on the evidence and rationality of it), you therefore conclude that if Charedism oppose the findings of science, then Charedism must be sheker.

Obviously, that disturbs me.

A) The feeling that my whole upbringing and Derech Hachaim is a lie.

B) Its even harder for me think, that so many true Gedolei Yisroel from all the generations, all lived a life of Sheker.

Your position that Charedism is Sheker, is based on that Science is Emes. But is science indeed truly "Emes"?

When I see someone driving a car, I don't use my reasoning to conclude that someone drove a car. I saw it! But when I see a Jew driving on Shabbos, I don't "see'' Chilul Shabbos. He could have been driving to the hospital. But if I do use the "evidence" and then use my reasoning to conclude that he was Mechalel Shabbos (the guy is a known mechalel shabbos etc), could that conclusion be considered as Emes?

I know that this analogy isn't the best. But is my argument here correct? When you reach a conclusion via rationality and evidence, and you prove that your conclusion works, being that you never "saw it", just rather its a proven conclusion, does that classify it as Emes? Meaning, since your conclusion is based on evidence and reason, perhaps new evidence might be found.

To quote you in your last Mussar Shmooz "Any fundamental which requires absolute belief no matter what is bull, because you can never know what the evidence will bring". There are constant new discoveries. Now we are being told that Ants are 40 million years older than previously thought. Yes, you claim that science is proven and we can rely on it. And it works.

But can you stamp it as "Emes"?

If science is proven conclusions, but not "Emes" per se, then you can't label Charedism as Sheker.

Sure enough in his next post, he wrote:

"This does not mean that any arguments or theories advanced by these people are necessarily false"

I asked him:

Have you retracted those statements (the ones quoted above that charedism is sheker)?
If you are intellectualy honest, then it is incumbent that you publicly apologize for labeling a significant sector of Judaism as Sheker incarnate.

And here it came. GH's admission. That Charedism is NOT sheker:

"OK, that was maybe a little harsh. However by refusing to recognize the full scope of evidence from Science & History, Chareidi Judaism cannot claim to be intellectually honest, so theirs is a very shekker style approach. But I agree to categorically state it is sheker is hard, since absolute truth & falsehood is beyond our grasp"

But GH can't leave it that Charedim are right. If they aren't Sheker incarnate (whatever that means), then its a "very shekker style approach" because they cannot claim to be intellectually honest.

And that will IY"H be the topic on another post.

Who is an Am Ha'aretz? The Bais Halevi!

2006-05-04T11:30:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer. I heard this story מפי השמועה. I did not verify it.

The Bais Halevi had a rich schver. Some people were sort of jealous. So they aproached the Bais Halevi in shul in the presence of his schver and asked him: When is the Molad?

Now go into BMG and ask every talmid when the Molad is. I'd be shocked if you would find more than 5 people who know when it is (and they don't own a palm).

The Bais Halevi didn't know. So they turned to his schver and said: See what an Am Ha'aretz you have for a son-in-law? He doesn't even know something as basic as when the Molad is!

As the story goes, ultimately the marriage ended in divorce.

I wish I was an Am Ha'aretz like the Bais Halevi.

P.S. So much for a rich schver. It isn't worth it.

Chai Rotel: Only if you believe!

2006-05-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

Dov Bear, Godol Hador and Brooklyn Wolf posted about Chai Rotel.

Of course, I argued in defense of Chai Rotel. See Here

But it only works if you believe!

I'm known to be a big believer. God always helps his believers. The following just happened to me today:

Blackwell asked me: Additionaly are you certain that you are capable of being the spokesman for torah true yiddishkeit?

After his comment, I went to my Daf Yomi shiur.

Pesachim 105:2 אנא לא חכימא' אנא ולא חוזאה אנא ולא יחידא' אנא אלא גמרנא וסדרנא אנא

"Then R. Nachman replied: "I am not one of those sages who would proclaim a decree upon my own authority; neither am I a prophet nor do I quote an authority without corroboration, and I did so because I was convinced that my order was correct, "for thus it is also taught in the colleges."

As Rashi and Rashbam both explain "אלא גמרנא -"כך שמעתי בישיבה

So to speak out, one doesn't have to be a Chochom, its enough if "one heard it in Yeshivah"!

2006-05-01T22:52:00.000-04:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Should I Start a Blog?

2006-05-01T22:31:00.000-04:00

Someone asked me why I don't have a blog. I answered because its too time consuming. On second thought, maybe its worth a try!

So where should I start from? Why of course. From the beggining.

Of creation, that is. 5766 years ago.

My first thought, is how different the extremes are. 5766 - 15 billion. Like putting me together with Bill Gates. Hey, I don't even have 15 million pennies! 15 billion? It would probably take 5766 years to count up 15 billion singles!

In all seriousness, that's a huge gap. Someone must be way off.

Who? The scientists, of course. But I gotta go easy, this is a new blog, and a blog without commentators, is like a Rebbe without Chassidim. I can't afford to turn off my fellow esteemed "blog-friends" with my very first post.

Iy"h, more to come.