Always_Ask_Questions

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  • in reply to: Shofar #2081200

    RW, If you go to the store and research the shofars, I am not sure you can then go to the manufacturer and buy direct. This is not why the store put them out there.

    in reply to: Denigrating Gedolim #2081204

    y1836,
    for last couple of centuries, we live through one of the greatest upheaval times of the Jewish and world history. It would be surprising, and even disappointing, if all opinions about modernity will be the same, disregarding personalities, opinions, environment in different places, etc.

    so, I don’t think it is an issue of who is right or wrong or who is acceptable, but what different people were able to discover and how it will all get integrated at the end.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2081151

    RebE, thanks, obviously multiple rishonim and achoronim allowed taking money for learning or teaching Torah with various sociological explanations of our weakness. R Moshe, for example, suggests that nowadays chachamim can’t juggle working and learning at the same time. It would be silly to ask R Kotler to go into real estate or R Soloveichik into teaching Hegel instead of learning despte their obvious talents. But then if there are people who do not get support that they find sufficient and are distraught by the lack of parnasa, and spend time looking for segulos and questionable sources of income – maybe then they should follow the derech that will make them successful, as the Gemora says. It depends on personal circumstances.

    in reply to: Local elected frum people #2081154

    R Mordechai Dubin was in Latvian parliament

    in reply to: 2 Luchos on Shovuos? #2081150

    RebE > if we can read the luchas across,

    Maybe the lesson is that you can read them across – but only if you hold them together.

    Wolf, an excellent Bayesian argument!

    in reply to: Dejavu #2081141

    I feel I’ve seen this post before

    in reply to: Democrats Gone Full 1984 #2081139

    jackk, if Federal govt were to start opening fire stations in every town, this would be un-American indeed.

    Maybe socialism is so much slower to “progress” in US because it is revealed by federalism. Every time you have a “good” policy, it is reasonable to try it in a town or a state first. Then, those who do not like it, can easily move away, and others will learn the lesson. So, when D-s try to force every issue through Federal government and courts, their anti-democratic tendencies are revealed.

    in reply to: 2 Luchos on Shovuos? #2081053

    have to answer the first question myself:
    as we know, luchos were physically identical, but the first had way more text chiseled away – so, of course, 2nd was heavier.

    Presuming, Moshe was carrying them as in the movie to show to Jews, then the first lucha will be on right side for the people, or in Moshe’s left hand, so the heavier 2nd lucha was in his right hand, corresponding to two ideas above. So, here sevora, gemora, and physics all match.

    in reply to: Democrats Gone Full 1984 #2081056

    Gadol > Economists believe in dedicating asset to the highest and most efficient use.

    this is Karl Marx, not Adam Smith. You seem to admit our point.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2081050

    RebE > you are saying what the Rambam says

    Indeed, I am not trying to come up with chidushim here or be controversial, I think this is a very traditional view that was lost due to modernishe opportunities in the goldene medina.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2081051

    re: Rambam, I do not know his biography in depth, but as I understand, he was learning “F/T” first supported by his brother David, and went “into professions” after his brother did not come back from the business trip. I do not know whether he was ever supported by the Jewish community, whether in Spain, Morocco (doubtful), or Egypt. Note that his “F/T” included some medicine, astronomy, and philosophy.

    in reply to: Local elected frum people #2080899

    maybe we need to expand what “visible” is – this does not have to be a tall hat (Lincoln and Kennedy had that also) but might be how people walk, talk, and behave. Kiso, koso, vekaaso.

    in reply to: Shofar #2080897

    I cut – and toot – my own horn. Be careful, though – most deer in USA had covid.

    in reply to: So you voted for Biden #2080895

    > I voted for Biden and I am not going to debate it.

    silence is an admission of a loss in our culture … very admirable way to do it.

    I saw on another educated board, a TDS sufferer confronted with Trump’s quote forewarning Europeans about dangers of pro-Russian policies. Having nothing else to say, he went into a pretzel – he only said it because Bolton told him to say that. Human ability to stand on heir position is amazing. I am proud of jackk who has more integrity than that.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2080894

    Syag > would also be able to stay up nights to work in a kennel and feed and clean the abandoned dogs there,

    Good comparison (I choose not to be petty that I also cleaned and love those rascals). Indeed, mothers often have hard time getting jobs as their jobs do not shine on the resume. But it was amazing to see how my wife was able to start her business on the strength of her maternal skills after the kids started walking on their own. And, no doubt, kids’ desire to take care of stray animals comes from watching her (if they were watching me, they would want to deal with stray computers).

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2080893

    Practically speaking, I don’t see much changing from the time when Gemorah warned that Rashbi derech is risky: most of people I know whose Torah is interesting are either working as Rabbis or in professions. Don’t tell me I am hanging out in the right places, I can see a kollel from my window better than Sarah Palin can see Russia.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2080892

    Syag > How do you seriously equate not going to college or working in the professional world with dying of hunger instead of opening the fridge?

    I am sorry I sound this way on Internet. I am writing for a casual conversation where people generally have good will to each other, rather than filling out all details expecting a lawyerly challenge.

    Again, this is about people who complain that they don’t get something or take inappropriately to achieve that. See R Dessler Michtav Eliyahu “Give and Take” essay that people are divided into givers and takers. Now, I am thinking, there is a good reason for Yissachar/Zevulun formal partnership with a shtar … Why not let Yissachar knock on Zevulun in shul or even tax him? Rabbis made the rules, after all… Evidently, learners felt that giving away 50% of zechus for learning is a better bargain than behaving inappropriately and risk losing whole 100%.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2080891

    RebE > one who carries on himself the yoke of Torah is taken away the yoke of derech eretz
    And Syag on a similar note:

    Look, R Ilai (?) would have birds burned over him when he learned. If you solve the kashrus issues, you can just eat those birds. And if you don’t deserve (or prefer not to use) miracles, you can live modestly. In our times, if you are ready to live the same way most people lived in, say, middle ages, you can probably work one hour a week to achieve that. In fact, if someone is committed to this learning but does not have an hour a week, I’ll be happy to sign up as Zevulun, bli neder.

    The problem is only when people want to have both zechus for learning full time and also keep up with Joneses at someone else’s expense without the sponsor approval.

    in reply to: Democrats Gone Full 1984 #2080889

    on a lighter note – maybe we are better off when D-s take private property. Last time D-s defended their private property, US ended with a civil war.

    in reply to: Democrats Gone Full 1984 #2080888

    CTL > The Democratic Party platform has never called for the abolition of private property, the hallmark of Communism.

    I don’t want to over-label, and in general this country somehow avoided communism excesses that affected most of Europe 100+ years ago, but I think one can agree that D-s often suggest solutions that partially negate private property. In purist terms, any expropriation of private property that is not justified and unavoidable is a step towards abolition of private property. As D-s often look at taxation and re-distribution as a solution. Latest exhibit – wholesale student debt forgiveness directed mostly to their own voters.

    in reply to: 2 Luchos on Shovuos? #2080887

    a (slightly) scientific question – which luchah was heavier? And (related) was Moshe lefty or righty?

    in reply to: Denigrating Gedolim #2080565

    One of the impact of “chochma” is ability to use logic and study facts. It does not have to be “goyishe” – you can skip Newtonian physics and go directly to Einstein.

    Deleted for lack of kavod haTorah

    As to Ch Ch, I already quoted a sefer that I bought in the zionist city of Benei Braq: there is an apartment in Petach Tikwa that was bought for Ch Ch and he refused at the end to come to EY, saying that if he visits Eida first, Mossad people will not read Mishna Berurah and vice versa, and he would like all of them to read it.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2080568

    > Make sure to say Parshas Haman

    Be careful NOT to say any of these – unless you made your effort in studying for a profession and looking for a job. You may anger Hashen by your Hutzpa and he may, H’VSh not answer prayers even of those who are prepared to daven.

    in reply to: Will you eat Quinoa on Peisach? #2079893

    Avira, these are separate issues. That discussion and my observation apply to the food for melachim.

    As to Mix INS, I wonder whether technology and supervision changed for the better from r Moshe’s times? Nets were changed to avoid mammals, and there is solid and chunk tuna that is full or big pieces of fish, rather than a formless mass. What would be the status of crabs in tuna’s stomach?!

    in reply to: Election 2024 #2079890

    But how do you know that desantis will be better at governance than Biden? He seems to have no business experience, was good at sports in ivy league, granted was in the navy but as a lawyer dealing with gitmo … He may talk like Trump, but is capable of acting like him ( in a good way)? Many people might ask this question and be less enthusiastic about him

    in reply to: 2 Luchos on Shovuos? #2079889

    By one midrash, both luchos had 10 commandments : these are simply two copies of a contract for both sides. So, whether the luchos were prepared in advance or written down later, shvues is the day the contract was agreed upon.

    in reply to: Airline CEOs got it right #2079881

    Dr pepper )) You also neglected to mention that the ABA said that she “has a very keen intellect, a strong work ethic and an impressive resume

    If this quote is correct, I would also be interested to know what caused jackk to post misleading information? Maybe he replied 9na secondary source for the quote. I don’t believe someone would have a yetzer hara to purposefully distort information in order to score a point against another avatar

    in reply to: The Latest in Democrat Craziness #2079880

    Crazy, to clarify the general immediately apologized for the retweet 6 years ago, saying that he meant to retweet the previous post. The one religion comment seem to actually happen indeed several months ago, at a religious rally and not when he was an advisor.

    Not that I think that it is halachically permissible to use the first amendment to say untruths about any politicians, but we should be especially careful with people who served honorably, whatever their political views are.

    in reply to: Will you eat Quinoa on Peisach? #2079538

    Someone mentioned to me offhand that “some are machmir” and are not eating canned tuna …

    Would this be a case of being pretty meikil on kavod hamlachim by holding that you would be happy to feed canned tuna to the visiting melech (whether you interpret this as a President, a Governor, an Israeli prime minister, or Gadol b’Torah, or “just” a shabbos guest?)

    Imagine, melech Shlomo is coming to your house and you proudly serve him a bishul yisroel tuna sandwich. He might just turn around and decamp to the nearby house that serves a halav stam cake …

    in reply to: Airline CEOs got it right #2079216

    age of the judge does not seem to be the problem in this case. Liberals were musing on the radio whether it is worth appealing the ruling because there is a real chance that the Supremes will uphold it. So, the ruling is not baseless. The issue seems to hedge on what “and other measures” mean in the law. I would say that CDC was justified using emergency powers in first several months but Congress should step up and define the Fed powers exactly.

    Practically speaking:
    – airlines and buses should be able to designate masked and non-masked sections, or at least let passengers exchange seats.
    – please look out for elderly people in your neighborhood who took public transportation and now might not use it and would need a ride (with an open window)

    in reply to: Election 2024 #2078738

    Orange > Romney is just one example with appeal for moderates

    I am blaming Romney for not fighting for his positions the way Trump does. If there is a moderate who will fight for his moderation, I am willing to listen. Also, Trump’s positions are rarely extremists. Sometimes he is direct calling spade a spade or different by trying new approaches. In many economic matters, he is quite moderate and populist. For example, his tax reform re-distributed a lot from rich people by cutting SALT.

    You are right that he has extremists among his followers. But they are “among” not the only ones. After all, about half of the people voted for him.

    in reply to: Lakewood safety patrol #2078436

    Who said chasidim are the first shomrim!? Obviously, litvakim had the earliest organized militia to keep chasidim out!

    in reply to: Election 2024 #2078420

    Orange, we tried Romney already. Do you think that now, when 80s literally called back (or is it 40s?), the media or Mr. Obama will apologize to Romney for laughing him off? Maybe we should re-run 2012 election based on the factual misrepresentation.

    in reply to: The Russia-Ukraine War Hoax #2078421

    John Mearsheimer was saying 5 years ago that Putin will not start a large war. He needs to eat his hat.

    in reply to: Election 2024 #2078417

    >> he will go down as the most pathetic clown in the history of American politics.”
    > right under Kamala harris

    can I un-see this discussion please?

    in reply to: Election 2024 #2077849

    PS if not for
    – FDA apparently directing Pfizer not to release vaccine test results before the election
    – suppressing all stories about Hunter and his father’s businesses

    in reply to: Election 2024 #2077848

    > If not for covid Trump would have won.

    correction: if not for
    – media blaming Trump for mismanaging covid
    – for Biden falsely claiming that he knows better
    – media amplifying Biden’s claim and not asking questions
    – 1-2% of voters buying all of the above

    in reply to: The Russia-Ukraine War Hoax #2077805

    > Doing your best is doing his best to compare this Corona

    Increasing confusion and disbelief in facts accumulates and destroys fabric of the society. One interesting observation I saw is that Russians are using same channels and fake personas to propagate confusion about the war as they used to question masks and vaccines. In one funny moment in 2016, same facebook bot propagated info about a pro- and an anti-trump demonstration in NYC to ensure a proper confrontation.

    I don’t see this coupling here though: seems like people who question the war do not overlap much with those who question masks. I guess it means that we get this propaganda virus through long chains: most of us are not subscribed to RT “news” “reports”, but we hear it from someone who heard it from someone, so we all sure that we are all using info coming from “frum” sources. More generally, discussion style here is along the lines everywhere else in the media – throwing slogans, disregarding truth, disrespect to opponents – even if slightly elevated sometimes. That is what mentioned about Amalek that cooled the water for later enemies: you get desensitized to goyishe attitudes by seeing it everywhere and I don’t even see that people coming from more isolated communities behaving better. That is, we are all infected…

    in reply to: Gruesome Evidence Points to War Crimes in Ukraine #2077771

    mdd1, to be able to discuss this, could you provide your sources for the information:
    – what missile was that and how they are use or not used by both armies
    – how Kramtorsk more pro-russian than Mariupol or other towns bombed by russians
    – what do you mean by pro-russian – population share, language, sentiment

    in reply to: Gruesome Evidence Points to War Crimes in Ukraine #2077636

    mdd1, I think your overall skeptical approach to media is healthy and would work well in many historical situations. for example, debunking Nazi propaganda about Poland allegedly starting a war against them, or NYT describing great life of Ukrainian peasants in 1930s.

    I wonder who would you believe with your approach when Nazis claimed to uncover “crimes” of Soviets allegedly killing tens of thousands of Polish officers in Katyn forest? Would you believe the side you happen to sympathize a priori, or would you stay open to both options?

    So, if taking this situation to the extreme level of skepticism – should we use prior guilt and history into account? In this case, it is RUS that sent army to UKR. There are also numerous recent cases of RUS saying absolute lies, such as that there were no RUS forces in Crimea in 2014 – and later openly giving them medals. They now seem to be saying that UKR themselves shot their own rail station with precision weaponry and similar nonsense.

    in reply to: Gruesome Evidence Points to War Crimes in Ukraine #2077635

    md1> Minute details?? Go and look the definition of “genocide”. And of “war crimes”.

    Maybe I was not clear. I am saying “ma nafka mina”. what is the practical difference for us? Someone who openly murders people, whether it is a war crime, whether it is crime against humanity, genocide, in all of these cases, they deserve condemnation and presumably are rodfim and chayavim misa. Maybe academically-minded Germans see a difference that they’ll continue buying gas from stam war criminals, but not, h’v from genocidal criminals. They are experts, let them make these distinctions. How different is it for us? Does it matter what UN item Hitler/Stalin/Mao broke when they killed millions of people?

    in reply to: I took the 2 shots & 1 booster should i take the next one ? #2077308

    Reb Shlomo > Rav Chaim Zatzal when asked, paskened that it is a chiyuv and not a reshus to get vaccinated and it is on video for all to see.

    is this information getting to the velt, or is it not propagated by people not enthusiastic about the the content? If it does, what do people who disagree say?

    in reply to: Gruesome Evidence Points to War Crimes in Ukraine #2077301

    mdd> why are you concentrating on conducting war in Europe, in Asia they are not human?

    I agree on this. Russia’s behavior in Syria was similar in terms of bombing population and it was even noticed that Rs rotated their pilots in an apparent effort to train them. Now we know what they trained for. Europeans are at fault that they did not stop their Russia-friendship project then, concentrating their efforts on receiving refugees that Rs were sending their way.

    I am still not sure what major point you are trying to make by questioning minute details and definitions on genocide, etc. Are you trying to make us support Russian behavior, or are you defending purity of legal definitions.

    in reply to: I took the 2 shots & 1 booster should i take the next one ? #2077302

    coffee > virus in order to be more virulent it becomes less deadly

    this is a general rule of virus propagation that presumes that a deadlier host either quickly kills most hosts or, in human society, causes more preventive measures. So, it is a statistical, not a biological phenomenon. Given that the current pandemic went thru so many people all over the world with very varying behaviors, this is not perfectly followed: Delta turned out to be worse than Wuhan, but Omicron and BA.2 are indeed weaker.

    How is this relevant to the fact that vaccines make it even milder, I am not sure. I don’t know though who is promoting vaccines – US has way lower rates, esp of boosters, than comparable countries and no vaccination is happening. People are literally dying because Trump is not the President – if he were, the press would be reminding us every day how bad things are and more people would vaccinate and wear masks.

    Btw, anyone has experience with the new woonder drug – Paxlovid?

    in reply to: Amen to women’s bracha #2077299

    RebE, Brocha is not kol isha. As far as I know, discussions of women reading Torah or leading men in brochos revolve around other issues, not mentioning kol isha.

    in reply to: Gruesome Evidence Points to War Crimes in Ukraine #2077300

    mdd> West and Ukraine should not have been provoking the Russian bear.

    Whether it was wise or not for Ukraine do what they do does not excuse Russia’s crimes. For comparison, imperfect Jewish politics before hurbanos of batei mikdash does not make Babylonians or Romans tzadikim.

    in reply to: Will you eat Quinoa on Peisach? #2076961

    > It is only fine to cancel holochos of derech eretz

    Mindful, I am with you on the main points, but maybe we should conclude the opposite – take a lesson from being respectful to medieval kitniyos and apply this attitude to middos.

    Also, it is worth celebrating kitniyos – as the new agricultural method that grows beans and wheat in the same fields is responsible for northern Europe overtaking southern in population and power, and similarly of Ashkenazim over Sephardim

    in reply to: Gruesome Evidence Points to War Crimes in Ukraine #2076964

    mdd > How do you know that the buses can not go in because of the Russians,

    1) because reps from international humanitarian organizations say so.
    2) Buses stand in UKR-controlled area and are trying to go into RUS-controlled. UKRs who are surrounded inside the city are further down, they do not have access to the highway with RUS checkpoints.

    Again, this is all for the courts. I am not sure why people are focused on atrocities. Start of the war was a despicable act by itself and should have been firmly opposed. Whatever RUS reasons were, no other country resolved to violence in Europe after WW2, outside of Balkan skirmishes, and Russians could have pursued other avenues even if they had some legit claim, such as cutting gas and blockading the coast.

    in reply to: Washing on Pizza #2076860

    @mod-29 – one for yetzer hara, one for yetzer hatov? how about gilgulim?

    in reply to: OMNI vs Metrocard #2076859

    why don’t use guys move to America where people have their own cars?!
    can you find someone to help you to pay to cross the bridge?

Viewing 50 posts - 5,451 through 5,500 (of 8,900 total)