Always_Ask_Questions

Syag > Danger has criteria

Right. I was just pondering this. We can put some numerical values on mixtures – 1/60, 1/100 and on preponderance of evidence (50%), but I am not seeing good definition of “danger” or just “this might happen”. Anyone knows?
Gemora has a lot of discussions weighing dangers of missing out on something v. remote risk (not necessarily to health, maybe just of public confusion). On the current page – should we allow yibum under some confusing and rare circumstances when someone somewhere might see that and not realize what exactly is happening and learn halakha incorrectly. While the weights are not clear to me, what is clear that every time we can avoid risk, we should consider it seriously. Very common solution in Yevamos – do halitzah instead of yibum, something you would not do if there was no risk at all.

As to socks – what if a shidduch date is already driving? what if she is gonna steal socks from her sister or even brother, risking lives in the upcoming fight? what about mental stress on her mother?
So, I usually take such calls at work (btw, my kids consider calling rude, they text) – at least first 2-3 per incident.

No price controls. He is simply printing money to give to those who are lacking and forcing companies to produce formula or whatever other markets his decrees destroyed.

n0mesorah, thanks a lot. I did not know that Sefaria’s gemora is using R Steinsaltz! Woe to me for not recognizing it … I think I looked up what Seforia sources are before 2017. I don’t recall whether they had Bavli then at all. Also, they are using mathematician’s Heinrich Guggenheimer 2015 translation for Yerushalmi.

Edited

Answer: current Daf Yomi Seder.

More(!) seriously, I have to answer humbly “I do not know” to the OP’s question – despite years of diligent study with a personal tutor. Even after the tutor and I introduced. B’H, several more exemplars into the world and I was zoche to observe them closely, first in vivo and then in vitro – I still cannot comprehend them. But the Seder is not over, so I am still holding hope.

A bigger picture – there is always a difference how we address risks coming directly from Hashem, or indirectly from our enemies:
David rightfully choose a plague v. a war, as there is no end to which evil people might go; We teach Torah in the face of Romans or Soviets, etc. But there is no chiyuv to do bris milah on a bleeding child to prove that we are big tzadikim. This was also addressed in some of teshuvos regarding Covid.

Where the limits of risk are might be a subject for debate. People can indeed be affected by biases here: some because they “believe in science” and will swallow anything to show how “progressive” they are; others – because they do not trust anything “from goyim” and do not know anything themselves. Most are affected by the bias of convenience and personal finance – I don’t want to do some extras; do something my friends do not do; or that can hurt my mossad. (kiso/koso/kaaso).

Gadol, yes, we will first need to file for an order to disclose ujm’s IP.

Maybe rather than monitoring mental and prisoner records, there should be psychological tests for empathy. Just review of social media would suffice, like in this case.

Avira and it’s evil at its core.

>> When it comes to mitzvos “Hashem will forgive us”, nu nu, it’s only a mitzvah…

We have lots of halakha of postponing bris (jaundice) or cancelling (hemophilia, empirically measured – 2 brothers dying), possibly even draft as I mentioned (Yevamos ~ 70). So, it is clear that health is a factor, the question is a matter of degree that can be rationally discussed, nothing “evil” here. The “forgive” wording is entirely mine, poorly paraphrasing the shabbos breaking rationale “live for them”.

>> But when we have non torah based political interests…. that’s a different story.

I understand that you see this as political on the context of pro- and anti-Zionism. Here we are trying to get into another person’s mind, so let’s try following him. In the context of people affiliated with Israel as a Jewish country, this is an issue of having an upper hand against the enemy who is a threat to Jewish lives. Lubavicher was quoting in this context a difference between fighting goyim in general and those who attack border cities – the latter requires extra protection, otherwise enemy will continue creeping in over time, like Russia in Ukraine. Har Habayit is an important place both in Jewish and non-Jewish minds, so prevailing there matters. You can continue arguing that his premise is wrong and Jews should evacuate from Israel, or you can disagree with the heshbon whether it is healthy to provoke a billion people, but – again, from that POV – it is a reasonable sevora.

Avira > we’re not obligated to follow the opinions of climatologists, there’s no source or mesorah for it.
n0 > We should follow the truth.

I agree with both! We have great mesorah from Gemora that we should use sevorah to make decisions. Sometimes, you can experiment yourself, others – consult experts. In all cases, you need to be critical of what experts are saying and strive for truth. Of course, one should listen to gedolim here – who know halocha and either studied science themselves or can consult sufficient authorities.
Edited. Leave it to the rabbeim to decide who is qualified to pasken.

Avira, a good question about difference between metzitza and har habayit. I presume that the thinking is that danger is allowed when there is a reason. On metzitza, one can say that H’ will be also concerned about baby’s health and will forgive skipping this tradition. Gemora says that one Rav will postpone bris due to draft from wind, so it is not too outrageous to be concerned about remote threat to a baby. On the other hand, one might claim that going to Har Habyit has a value in strengthening Jewish presence in Yerushalaim, etc rather than danger. I understand that this is questionable, and that nonsense for you, but this is a disagreement on political judgment rather than halakha.

Looking at metzitza issue from recent knowledge, Aguda’s response that “driving is more dangerous” seems to be true. On the other hand, cases of post-bris herpes is still reported in press once in a while over the years. Maybe someone wants to compute numbers to compare with covid danger per person, assuming say 10 herpes cases per NYC (of course, cases may be under-reported).

We can also conclude that, similarly to Covid, it is possible that R Tendler with his understanding of builogy and statistics understands the danger and thus osers, while a community of people who do not study that may rely on “shomer peshayim”, as they do for Covid.

anon, it is Trump’s fault. He appointed Powell. Biden was not expected to do better, say thank you that he resisted appointing a diversity socialist that his team wanted.

Apparently even after all blunders, there are still things that administration can do, but does not:
1) Biden.. dangled the possibility of at least temporarily waiving the Jones Act, . that says only American-flagged ships can carry fuel and other goods between U.S. ports. The industry would likely jump at that, but there’s doubt that the administration could overcome union opposition to doing so

2) Industry ..requesting faster permitting times for pipelines and easier access to public lands for drilling — .. administration is unlikely to acquiesce. In fact, the Interior Department in January is expected to propose new rules that would raise the royalty rates companies pay to produce oil on federal land.

Gadol, thanks for explaining this old adage: of course, it means that the person should always go “up” – when he leaves the house and when he comes back! To remind yourself of this practice, you should always leave the house from the basement so that then you go “up”, and then come back to the first floor (or whatever is the top floor when you live on a terrace).

Syag > You admit you are lacking information but your response is to tell me to do research.

to recap: I did my research – have read a number of works and heard references from others that all lead to the conclusion that the Rav is a Talmid Chacham. You and others are dismissing him based on some unclear references/rumors/opinions that claim that his views are not just something you do not agree, but unacceptable. I am pointing out that the picture of such a dysfunctional Feinstein family does not make sense and should make you ask yourself a question.

Btw, some introductions mention that a number of Igeres Moshes are addressed to R Tendler. Can someone summarize what topics are in their conversation and how is R Moshe addressing R Tendler?

Jackk, thanks, this is mind boggling stuff. Is this still prime-time TV or on C-span? How many people are watching (besides you).

Syag,
I am not familiar w/ R Tendler’s declarations that are “against Torah”. I am not fully familiar with all he said and did over years, I read some of his science-related work and it was reasonable. He was R Moshe’s s-i-l and not put in herem by him, as far as I know. A quick search shows that R Reuven Feinstein spoke at R Tendler’s levaya. All of this just has to give you a pause before proceeding, but I see no acknowledgement.

ujm, you can refer to physicists on the issues of physics, but if you look at relationship between science and Torah, you would obviously start with someone who is bokeh in both.

> In April, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it has awarded contracts for all of the initial 30 million barrels it put up for sale as part of President Biden’s historic Strategic Petroleum Reserve Release.

Very creative. Every Dem’s solution (to the problems they created) is to spend down something. Why not encourage people to work/ to produce? Why not encourage domestic oil & gas production at the same time as all green energy and deal with Russia first and global warming second?

jackk, thanks for the updates! Breathtaking. I hope the gingermint was obtained and DNA analysis done. Do keep us updated if something else important happens.

This is very enlightening threat: economy is a complicated subject and it is possible to come up with lots of technical explanations that support you – look at oil production, disregarding economy growth, etc. You may be basing your position on reading some biased sources that come up with these funny numbers. Given complexities, look at the big picture: Dems discourage oil industry in multiple ways. Thus, when prices are so high, it is partially their fault. You cam justifiably claim that it was a rational policy to, say, close all coal & gas in Germany and it “only” fell apart because of unpredictable Russians. Merkel still refuses to admit her fault, saying “at least I tried”. The answer is simple: if you put priority on possible near-term dangers, you will do all possible to mitigate possible harm. If you don’t, it is your fault. It is probably easier to see on the above German case that is being ridiculous, but situation in US is similar.

As Reagan zogt: recession is when your neighbor loses his job, depression – when you lose it, and recovery – when Jimmy Carter loses his. He was right then, he is right now.

We do have an option of either recession (if rates will be raised high) or inflation (if not), or none if they will be raised “just right”, or both …. The actual result is in part depends on controls that Feds and others apply, so a prediction is based on your understanding of their actions. Larry Summers brings a good analogy: a car that started skidding may fall off left shoulder or right, depending which way the wheel will be turned in panic. Presumably, the more inflation goes up, the more Fed will be trying, so the chances of ending with recession are higher than getting Weimar-type hyperinflation.

RebE, indeed Yiftach is your answer: it is not who learns the most, or runs a bigger tisch, but who can solve the problems of that generation

This is repeated ridiculous motzi shem ra on r Moshe. You are claiming that r Moshe got himself an inappropriate chatan out of all numerous humble students he had. You are disparaging either his own judgment or his parental abilities. Given that his sons became hoshuve rabonim, I don’t see a reason to think his daughter is different.

For dem defenders: Biden said that he will shut down oli industry. Now, you are saying government has no role, it is all markets. So, either he, and you, lied then, or you are lying now.

The government has a role in setting up fair markets and when it doesn’t, things go wrong.

jackk, thanks for doing the holy work of watching it for us and summarizing here the most mesmerizing episodes. Truly appreciate it!

I understand there are other issues here beyond the machloket:

1) where is prohibited area. It seems that modern archaeology can rule out some areas not being in the mikdash. Just make sure those who make determination are not motivated by politics. I did not see charedi poskim addressing this issue, do they? maybe they do not think that current archeology reached definite conclusions.

2) political implications aggravating not just the locals, but a billion of Muslims worldwide. This seems the main factor for the negative psak … Position to ignore that billion is definitely political and , while understandable, is very risky and should not be in hands of some crazies who can’t even get to Knesset on their own.