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if you wear it long enough, it will become thinner and lighter. Try your grandfather’s tallis.
Maybe mass transit should be in peril.
While people count efficiency of shoveling people in train cars, this is not all to that. US reliance on individual cars is in support of individual liberty and ingenuity and against statism and monopolies. You can change your plans on a fly, you can change jobs without changing where you live, you can get to a job even if you live in a poor neighborhood as long as you can get a working car, you can drive to a different school. Goods can be delivered in trucks to a different customer. Your plumber can come from a different town. These are all great things for the country and we consider it a given, but it will all be different if we were tied to the mass transit.
As an extreme, I worked with a guy who was somewhat rudely dismissed from a contractor job. He said goodbye to us, found a contract in another state next day, packed into his van and left. The company realized that they made a mistake and called him back. He did not hold the grudge, but raised his hourly rate, finished negotiation while driving, turned the van around, and was at his workplace next day as if nothing happened.
Unfunded pension obligations are improper accounting, most likely introduced by politicians to push projects through and pay off supporters. If those politicians are still alive, they should be sued for damages, or maybe even their families if they inherited money or jobs.
Avira, interesting, thanks. I thought it is very inappropriate to have inappropriate discussions in lashon kodesh, as that is you treat anything kodesh. You are saying that practical benefit of learning lashon partially compensates for the other losses. Glad to hear that there are Kookesque poskim in your world.
I think Sec Pompeo was talking about it. Trump preferred to press China using other points but in the same direction. Jewish community used to be more in tune with world politics when we campaigned for Soviet Jews and for Israeli against Arab tyrants. Makes sense to write to your senator.
Here is a story of a great principal. I was in a meeting way away from schools with no windows, and did not know that a snowstorm started. So, I was way way late to pick up kids, while driving slowly on a frozen highway. When I made to school, kids were with the (very elderly) principal and everyone else was long gone. After apologizing, I offered him a ride home. He looked at me angrily and said “I need to be back at school at 7am”. I offered to take him back at 7am. He dismissed me and went to his snowed car and was there next day before everyone else, of course.
Syag,
and I don’t believe that our schools are so way worse than all other perfect places. I did hear good things about schools in your area, though.
It may be that I get more information because we are not always flowing according to directions. If a kid comes home and says “I wonna go to seminary!!!” and you say “great, let me know which one”, then it is the end of the story. When we said “not great, let’s discuss what are your plans for the future”, the kid goes back to the teacher, and the teacher says something they did not say to your kid, etc. This is not always a bad experience also. We had great discussions with principals who were willing to change teachers, do other adjustments, and shared with us difficulties of what they are confronted with. We would also go a long way to support such great principals/teachers.
I may be guilty here of quoting only difficulties because this is worth discussing to make our communities better.
Syag > i havenât seen that line of motivation for seminary attendance anywhere except from people on the outside
My daughters were told, repeatedly, by their primary teacher that their lives will be ruined without a seminary, they’ll have no friends, possibly something about shidduch also that they did not pass to us.
> The American trained and supplied Afghanistan military couldnât win in their fight against the taliban, so the taliban took over
There is exactly one person who claims this – Joe Biden. All commentators agree that the exit was done badly. How could you expect Afghanis to fight when they know they are losing, when there are no parts to repair airplanes, etc. Biden went against military advice and it is on him. It is on military leaders that none of them resigned. And they are still there. One of the immediate reactions was that Afghanistan will embolden Russia and China, and this has already been proven to be true, unfortunately.
jackk, Trump solved a lot of problems in Syria and then retreated to a defensible position. Kurds are still there, and we are still working with them. yesterday’s headline: Aided by U.S. troops, Syrian Kurdish forces tighten siege after ISIS prison break.
There was not much possible to do there – by the time Trump came in, Russians were already bombing everyone on behalf of Syrian government. US kicked ISIS and defended their positions where Russian “contractors” tried to overtake US position. Not by economic sanctions, but by obliterating the attackers. 99% of humanitarian disaster was due to Syrian/Russian attacks that caused millions of refugees going to Jordan and Turkey (not completely an enemy like Syria) and then Europe.
> getting a MBA does not make you an apikores.
indeed, MBA would be a good education for a Talmid Chacham
Many of Talmidei Chachamim in Gemorah were in business. On this daf, there are two that partnered, each one contributing a bull to the working pair. Others have workers collecting figs, buying real estate, etc. It seems that T’Ch has an extra challenge – as others are looking up to him, he can not use some kulos that others do so that people will not get confused what halakha is, so they need to accept some extra losses, for example, on chol hamoed.
ym, a good point, bring him this example to show what he can grow up like, Ch’V.
GH, I understand. Still, it may depend on a teen and on parents. If the experience is so transformational and inspiring (and I think for many it is), then why delay it. Maybe send a responsible older teen with younger ones to learn in the same place.
Again, I understand that this is an obviously right choice for those who will become chinuch/ community professionals, my question is for those who will go into professions. How many years are required to form a responsible Jewish person, who will continue to be shomer Torah and mitzvos and continue learning and participating in the community? We are often creating a hard step off – the kid learns, learns, and then suddenly he is responsible for family, work, college, all at the same time. I’d rather see kids gradually becoming responsible – go to work or college under parental supervision to make sure they continue mitzvos and learning in that environment, and do not acquire bad ideas, and then know how they’ll support family before getting married. Rambam writes along similar lines – get a job, house, get married.
The kids are possibly on a break, in quarantine, or both. Better them destroy CR than roam social networks.
Moed Katan daf has two hidden talmidei chachamim who give little r eliezer b shimon “brochos” like “your house will be destroyed”, r Shimon explains that it will be full of children.
YS, a more important question is why do people lean so much on this “gap year” to bring enthusiasm in children. Why not send them to EY during middle or high school years? On one hand, they are less capable of being away from family, on the other hand, they are not yet at the age of getting in trouble ;). What surprises me is the uniformity of acceptable behavior.
YS, the cost factor seem to be the “keep up with Joneses” phenomenon.
For those who go into chinuch, seminary is, of course, a prudent investment into future profession.
For people with more income, $30K/year is higher than BY but comparable/lower to college, and they can go to places where classes will be transferred for college credit.
Now for those in between, who are getting substantial discounts in schools and who plan to have grants/loans for college or do not plan to go there, the $30K is a shocking number.
Avira > Thereâs also a mitzvah to know lashon kodesh, so itâs productive even if it would have been considered MâL if in a different language
Did someone forge this, or Avira is actually endorsing reading Tzioni books on Shabbos? read in ashkenazis pronunciation of course.
Avira > rema doesnât allow âwar storiesâ, he mentions specifically Josephus
? my rema says: ×׊×××ת ××××× ×ץפ××¨× ×××××ת
But overall I agree that the idea here is of spending time productively, as, for example, the next seif allows working with an astrolabe. Also mentioned sifrei chochmot. Idea of pareve entertainment for relaxation is not there. But the question remains whether feeble modern minds require that. So, maybe no need to recommend watching sports l’hathila but for those who are used to that and not abusing it, maybe it is Ok? similar to previous psak on smoking.
I think the mod challenged me on the idea that cultural issues need to be addressed with a psak from
today’s poskim, it is not sufficient to quote Sh’A. I am pretty sure this is an accepted position, maybe I used some flippant wording that triggered the mod (did I say “modern”? I include R Feinstein in that) . Hope this clarifies.Avira, after first printers were done with the Bible, they did a lot of “popular” literature that (I think) was quite inappropriate even by modern standards. I am not going to google for this sefer, but let me know if you did đ
This is quite a dilemma: will we stayed uninformed on sh’a or follow R Akiva “this is Torah and lilmod ani tzarich”
Avira > increased anonymity of mask mandates is related to the dramatic rise of crime and political unrest
any serious societal upheaval leads to unrests. Romans built a global civilization and suffered global pandemics.
amom,
we should not read about China at all, it is a different world. We don’t know how many people died there. But look at AUS/NZ – how man lives these countries were able to save by their zero-covid policies (of course, being a remote island/continent helps also). Their path forward seems pretty simple now: there will be omicron-specific vaccine in 2 months, they’ll use it and open again. If new variant comes, it will take another 3 months to make a vaccine, they’ll close for 3 months.“natural immunity best” means that you are OK with people getting sick, some seriously, some dying, especially old and Roshei yeshivos. Vaccines have similar benefits to immune system as natural infection, similar or less risk of immune system side effects (myocarditis) and no risk of damage to lungs and other organs produced by “natural immunity”. This means vaccines beat natural immunity by “kal vahomer” principle. I do not understand how one interprets Torah to come to the opposite conclusion. Maybe we are coming from different facts. Please explain.
pre-covid, there were people who would go to school and work when sick. Maybe it will be less acceptable now, especially if there is no loss involved, you can simply WFH.
But “if you are sick, stay home” is not working enough for covid, given high infections before symptoms. But you are right, this should update my forecast. No symptoms is due to novelty of the virus and immune system lag until it starts fighting. After several exposures/infections, the running nose, etc symptoms will occur earlier and then the rules will be to stay home with symptoms and no need for masks after that.
And why we are skipping rema who allows secular literature and war stories in loshon kodesh?
Avira, I understand moshav leitzim is people actually talking something inappropriate. I presume sport watchers also do, but don’t have to. So, I see it is close to gambling in terms of wasting time non-productively. You are right that if you throw in drinking beer and talkin stupid stuff, then it becomes moshav leitzim. But if not, would a person be allowed to have some relaxation time, leading to more productive life otherwise both in working and in learning? I don’t see why not. Probably same goes for novels.
Do you really expect lines like that to go through?
Asian hospitalization rates are lower than white Americans – by 10% young, by 20% in 50-65, and by 30% for older. They should be doing something right. Maybe not just masking, but also having parents at home rather than institutions?
A guesstimate looking forward – compare with rhinovirus that apparently also has multiple strains, the most risky time is up to 24 months, getting about 10 infections. So, somewhere on the order of 10 infections + vaccination should reduce covid to a common cold. So, say half of that would be tolerable. Some, rough estimate 5 encounters would lead to normal. Vax or get sick every 9 months – 45 months, or 3.5 years. Hopefully less if each next vaccine will give not just improve generic immunity but specific to the current variant.
EJM, I think the disparity was bigger 100 years ago. From some lady’s story in Poland: father and brothers went to Rebbe’s tisch for yom tov, and mother and us were sitting at home, not knowing what to do…
As to the younger Rav, I would never vote to fire an old one and hire a new one without a cause just because “we need to attract younger people” or something like that. I also haven’t been to tristate for more than a quick visit for the last decade.
in world news, Germany is reluctant to oppose Russia because it depends on Russian gas due to abandoning nuclear and phasing out coal, and also not having LNG terminals to receive gas from Arabs and US. Then, it says: in 2018, under Trump’s pressure Germany agreed to build an LNG terminal, but this was abandoned after Trump lost the election. How is that for Biden’s achievement by inaction?
look at halokhos of gamblers as eidim. One of the issues is non-productive behavior – that should surely cover watching sports (and betting will bring the rest). BUT, the issue is less severe for someone involved in productive employment somewhere else. So, it might be that some moderate waste of time is OK for a person who learns or works for a living.
Just have some savlanut and experience. One Rav I know starts such stories with “everyone from this story are already niftar, so I can tell it” … Younger rabbis should quote what the learned in yeshiva while they remember it.
CS, it is a good illustration how many things are done as a routine and nobody dares to try until something happens. In the Jewish context, consider Bayis Yaakov schools that Chofetz Chaim supported to begin with, but did not start until one brave lady did.
EJM > Everyone all of a sudden gets suprised when girls start watching tv behind their husbandâs back.
I just do not agree that Torah study’s main application is substitute for the desire to watch TV whether for boys or girls. When used like that, you are not moving towards emes.
jackk > Biden is not responsible for people not listening to the advice of the CDC
I am not sure. At the end of Trump’s term, vaccine reluctance was about the same by party. During Biden’s time, Republicans became more reluctant. Maybe it was supposed to be given that R-s have this large segment who do not trust any government no matter what, but surely Biden’s general ineptness and lack of credibility did not help. Remember how he claimed initially that Trump left him no vaccine stockpiled. He could have said – thanks to Trump for developing vaccines, now we will rump up production. He then dismissed the whole Op Warp team without cause, preferring to rely on his official team, and now, one year later, Dr Walensky talks about a need to re-organize the process. It is clear that Trump’s approach of developing multiple new approaches worked better.
> have any statistical evidence that those who âlistened to the CDCâ fared any better than those in red states
A recent poll shows that those who think that natural immunity is preferable to vaccine have 2-3x rate of being infected.
CS, I think you are right. Employers were reluctant to let employees work from home. Now, it is an accepted model. Not all, but many will stay. This may be akin to great plague in middle ages where reduced labor force created a new environment where labor became more expensive and more respected.
Learning does not have to be linear, blatt by blatt. Could the guy be simply looking for a specific issue across the masechet that he previously learned? for example, all agadot on a topic, or counting all cases where B Shammai’s opinions wins, or what is common between all Gra’s notes. Or learning Mishnayot from the Gemora?
ujm > business owners v uber drivers
this is a great example. I think Uber drivers are always on an edge to get the new ride and not “lose time”. An Uber Talmid Chacham can sit and learn and then pick up a more profitable ride. As a business co-owner, I agree that it takes time. Still, I am working “24 hours but not in a row”. Ability to be there for the family without going and asking the boss every time is priceless. Those who started WFH lately are probably have similar feelings now.
He does not believe the polls, and so should not you! It is People’s short attention span fault, Senate’s fault, Rep Governor’s fault, Putin’s fault, Afganis’ fault, next will be Ukranians’ fault. Why do people apply for jobs where it is someone else’s fault, anyway?
Pew 2021: 47% of currently married non-O Jews are intermarried, with 60% of those who married after 2010 and 18% of those before 1980. So, for those who are 40 y.o. numbers are like Avira says or higher.
other findings:
First intermarriage is quickly followed by 2nd: among those who have one Jewish parent, 80% have non-Jewish spouse.
40% Of R- have some “in common” to O-. 76% of C-s. No branch 24%/
50% O- feels some in common with R-, 63% to C-. So, it is about mutual.
Interestingly, in each group there are 7-9% of those who do not feel in common with their own group.Among 65+ 44% are R, 25% C, 22% none, 3% O
Among 18-29, 29% are R, 8% are C, 41% are none, 17% are OAmerican democracy is built on the free speech idea that everyone can say whatever they want, and, after hearing them all, the voters will make their reasonable, if not perfect, choices, and complicated multilevel system will make it so that one bad choice will not ruin the country, like it happened in Weimar republic.
Jewish debating rules are different, and we all are supposed to strive for truth and not mislead each other. So I am surprised to see here people repeating partisan slogans without trying to bring it to some level of truth. It is unbecoming.
When isro said Baruch Hashem, it was an embarrassment for the Jews.. so even then nonjews were faster at acknowledging Him. Jews tend to complain first.
I don’t know specific statistics of who is or is not Jewish in each temple, but there are currently millions of Jews either affiliated with reform or not affiliated who don’t know much and are being lost, and all most people here seem to worry is how they affect “us” … I understand such feelings during the time of tzoros like when reform or communists were attacking us, but not nowadays.
Ejmr, you are following Rehoboam preferring young advisors to older ones with disaster to follow. If you aren’t sure what I mean, ask your wife to locate this gemora for you
Ujm, it’s not just salary, it is also lifestyle choices. In some professional settings, people are tied to a conveyor, in others, you can take time off for learning and family … It is not of course fully goes by degree, there are lawyers on firms and independent ones, and there are plumbers who are in charge of their life, but generally more education gives you more control.
At the very least, the guy could have said: b’h there were only four people at the minyan!
Syag > erroneous view of what you are trying to fix
well, just list what you disagree with rather than musing about my character. I am really interested in hearing different opinions, especially if they give some explanations. You can also look at the nearby threat of colleges, where OP coming up with seemingly such list of colleges that give you BA for no work. Anyway, we need to define what the goal of the degree is and a path to it. But overall I think the middle path is the right one – not the fancy ivies and not the degree mills, but reasonably-priced local or online or NYC Jewish colleges that give quality education without exposing to hurtful environment.
RebE +10
similar quote: a person who tells his son to learn Torah will raise a man who will be telling his son to learn Torah.
EJMRBro, I applaud the idea of doing BA, or better BS, quickly and moving on Masters, but make sure you actually learn something. You don’t have to demand more from the college, you can use online resources like Khan Academy or MOOCs. If you end up a professional, whether a lawyer or an office manager, you need to provide honest service for the money you will be paid. If you can not, you will be stealing or fired or both.
Syag > how much enjoyment you get out of painting the learning community as a bunch
Syag, not much. I am saying what I am saying in a hope to make things better. I actually think it is very reasonable to send kids to a local cheap school. For sure better than to send to expensive mid quality school far away to study who knows what as many modern people do. I am sorry that I am not very good at cheering people up: when I start analyzing the problem, I immediately start thinking what can be improved. Offline, I might keep it to myself, but I see no reason not to express opinion here where we have a chance to discuss it. I am not the only one (not to compare, but to illustrate). R Steinsaltz once showed a video of some guy from CT approaching Lubavitcher Rebbe to tell him that their community just built a mikva. Rebbe replies I give you a brocha to build a mikva. The guy thinks that Rebbe is not hearing well and repeats louder that they _already_ built the mikva! The Rebbe repeats, the guy gets louder, etc, until the Rebbe clarifies – I give you a brocha to build the next mikva.
Touro
YU/Stern
Michlalah
Univ of Mryland, Baltimore
John Hopkins
Florida State
Arizona State
McGill