anIsraeliYid

It’s interesting how the current mess about a Rosh Yeshiva calling MK Lipmann a Rasha could have been avoided by simply listening to a Chazal – “Chachamim – Hizaharu b’divreichem!”

Note that Chazal were specifically addressing those they called Chachamim in their statement – an acknowledgement that even those who are truly Chachamim can sometimes speak unthinkingly.

an Israeli Yid

Health – stub one’s toe, bend a finger – what’s the difference? The point of the Gemara is that even the most minor of movements is the Ratzon of HKBH. It’s a stretch to read that Gemara as saying that only punishments are from Him. The reference to stubbing a toe is more logically read as including something as minor as stubbing a toe rather than exluding non-punishment effects.

Re: your anti-Zionist posts – Have you ever even opened any of the seforim of Rabbonim who supported Zionism? You keep repeating that it’s Kefira and Avoda Zara, but have not given on-point responses when others have stated why they believe otherwise. I agree that there are Shitos that disagree with Zionism, and have learned both sides of the issue before reaching my own conclusions – but I made sure that I had the knowledge to make an informed decission. What about you?

an Israeli Yid

HaKatan – My original post was to point out that those who are most vocal against the State of Israel are generally those who say that the Holocaust was a punishment from HKBH for Zionism, but the success of the Zionist enterprise three years later was a Ma’ase Satan. Is there some masochistic streak in them, that anything bad that happens to Klal Yisrael is to be viewed as a deserved punishment from HKBH (for which they, of course, know the reason), while anything good that happens is viewed as a nefarious plot by the Satan to trip us up?

I can, in fact, postulate a different theory – perhaps the Holocaust was a punishment for not returning to E”Y when the Umos Ha’olam granted us the right to with the establishment of the Mandate by the League of Nations. As the representative of the will of the majority of nations of the world, moving to E”Y after the granting of the mandate would not have constituted “hisgo’arus ba’umos”, as the umos had explicitly granted permission for Jews to return. The establishment of the State was HKBH, in his infinite mercy, providing us with a second chance, with a TWO THIRDS majority of the UN approving the setting up of a state – so once again, no hisgo’arus.

There is no need to have all non-Jews agree to something for it not to be considered hisgo’arus, and it is not required for Jews to have no input on something that affects them – after all, otherwise, how would Jews be allowed to participate in any elections, even outside of Israel? Last I checked, the KJ populace has one of the highest participation percentages in the US, and doesn’t hesitate to throw its electoral weight around to get what it wants.

In summary – you have chosen a view based on your personal biases, and are unwilling to even consider anything else. “None is as blind as he who won’t see.”

A final point – you may want to look at the Chasam Sofer’s pshat in the whole story in Yirmiahu re: “Rachel Mevaka al Baneha” – it’s a beautiful pshat that fits with the Medrash and is highly relevant to this discussion. If I have time later today, I’ll try to post it.

An Israeli Yid

Amazing how some people seem to believe that hashgacha pratis stopped in 1948. Everything before that – Retzon haBoreh. Afterwards? A Ma’ase Satan. Just amazing….

an Israeli Yid

First Republic Bank does not charge any foreign withdrawal fees, and reimburses for fees charged by the bank whose ATM was used. The exchange rate you get is the full sha’ar yatzig or interbank rate (not sure which) – better than any moneychanger.

Only downside is that you need to keep a $3,500 average monthly balance to get this.

an Israeli Yid

Did hashgacha pratis end in 1948? If the State of Israel exists, it’s obviously only because of the Retzon HaBorei – and the Nissim that have taken place, firstly for it to even have been established, and secondly to have continued to survive and thrive, should teach us all something. As Ma’aminim, we believe that HKB”H rules over all – and it is clearly His will that Israel exist.

That is not to say that there is not significant room for improvement – we all MUST strive to improve the situation in E”Y. However, the way to do that is to engage with the state and general population – not to close ones self off from the greater Israeli society. After all, thevast majority of Israeli society is just as Jewish as the frummest Chareidi – and we have a Chiyuv to show them that “deracheha darkei noam”. Yes, there is room for improvement – but rather than just standing there and yelling “gevaldt” about how bad things are, we should all go out and do what we can to improve it.

I put my money where my mouth is by moving to Israel (with a family) despite the difficulties – after 120 years, I want to be able to say that yes, I did do something other than sit on my rear to improve Artzeinu HaKedosha.

an Israeli Yid

The line I’ve used is “for religious reasons, my wife doesn’t shake hands with men, and I don’t shake hands with women”. By first mentioning that my wife doesn’t shake hands with men, I’ve avoided making them think that I think that women are lesser than I am.

FWIW, I can also say that I was told by a well-known Rosh Yeshiva, widely accepted as one of the premier Poskim in the American Yeshivish world, that if it’s necessary, I can shake hands with a woman in a business context, since it’s not Derech Chiba. Accordingly, when necessary or to avoid causing offense (such as when traveling in Europe, where religious restrictions are not as widely accepted), I’ll shake a woman’s extended hand – though I’ll not extend mine first.

Good luck to you,

an Israeli Yid