Avi K

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  • in reply to: Brooklyn Sephardi Shuls Non-SY #2109641
    Avi K
    Participant

    There are many different Sephardi and Eidot haMirzrach (strictly speaking, a Sephardi is someone who is descended from Gerush Sepharad) communities. So far as I know, the takana only applies to the Syrian community (and not all Syrian rabbis supported it).

    in reply to: שנאת חינם #2108595
    Avi K
    Participant

    If we have a state it is because sinat chinam has moderated. Lessing, in fact, thought that we would never have one because we could not get along. When was the last time there was a fist fight in shul over whether to say some tefilla? However, if the state is imperfect and we don’t have the Bet haMikdash, we obviously have a long way to go.

    This fable once appeared in Mishpacha magazine:

    Once upon a time, in the year 5780, after millennia of Jewish praying and yearning, the Mashiach finally arrived at the gates of Jerusalem.

    He tried to enter through the first gate, but the gatekeeper, who was wearing a kippah serugah, seeing that the gentleman who claimed he was the Mashiach was not wearing a kippah serugah, doubted his authenticity and concluded that he must be a false Mashiach. The gatekeeper denied him admission.

    The Mashiach tried a second gate, but the gatekeeper, who was wearing a black hat with a three-inch brim, seeing that the gentleman who claimed he was the Mashiach was not wearing a black hat with a three-inch brim, doubted his authenticity and concluded that he must be a false Mashiach. The gatekeeper denied him admission.

    The Mashiach tried a third gate, but the gatekeeper, who was wearing a shtreimel, seeing that the gentleman who claimed he was the Mashiach was not wearing a shtreimel, doubted his authenticity and concluded that he must be a false Mashiach. The gatekeeper denied him admission.

    So it went at all the seven gates to Jerusalem. Each of the gatekeepers at each of the remaining gates was wearing a different head covering:

    At the fourth gate, a turban;

    at the fifth gate, a gray fedora;

    at the sixth gate, a black velvet yarmulke;

    at the seventh gate, a black hat with a one-inch brim.

    Wherever the Mashiach was not wearing the precise duplicate of the gatekeeper’s head covering, he created doubt and suspicion, was considered a false Mashiach, and was denied admission. Thus was he not permitted to enter any of the seven gates to Jerusalem.

    And there he stands, waiting patiently for someone to let him in.

    What kind of head covering was the Mashiach actually wearing?

    He was wearing none of the above.

    That’s because he was wearing all of the above.

    A fantasy? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

    Meanwhile, the Mashiach and all his head coverings linger patiently at the gate.

    in reply to: Segula R’ Chaim Palagi and sheker #2093601
    Avi K
    Participant

    It’s not a lie. It’s a segula for the organization. The same with the “kabbalistic knife” some organization once advertised.

    in reply to: Every Yids a safek mamzer #2091971
    Avi K
    Participant

    רב יהודה חזייה לרב יצחק בריה דרב יהודה דגדל ולא נסיב א”ל מאי טעמא לא קא מנסיב ליה מר איתתא לבריה א”ל מי ידענא מהיכא אנסיב אמר ליה אטו אנן מי ידעינן מהיכא קאתינן דילמא מהנך דכתיב (איכה ה, יא) נשים בציון ענו בתולות בערי יהודה וכי תימא עובד כוכבים ועבד הבא על בת ישראל הולד כשר ודילמא מהנך דכתיב בהו (עמוס ו, ד) השוכבים על מטות שן וסרוחים על ערסותם … אמר ר’ אבהו אלו בני אדם שאוכלין ושותין זה עם זה ומדביקין מטותיהם זו בזו ומחליפין
    נשותיהם זה לזה ומסריחים ערסותם בשכבת זרע שאינה שלהם

    קידושין עא ע”ב

    in reply to: Torah on Youtube #2087407
    Avi K
    Participant

    Always, the Siyum haShas was in Meadowlands Stadium. Yankee Stadium has five kosher stands. The meat is chassidic shechita. There is also a place for davening during the Seventh Inning Stretch.

    in reply to: Unusual occupations for frum people. #2082724
    Avi K
    Participant

    Actor (Steven Hill, Esti Michelle Rosenblatt’s children).

    in reply to: Local elected frum people #2080996
    Avi K
    Participant

    Correction: Pollak is not married (or at least was not when she ran) so apparently it is her hair.

    in reply to: Segula for parnassah #2080994
    Avi K
    Participant

    Segulot for parnassa only work for those who sell them.

    in reply to: Local elected frum people #2080991
    Avi K
    Participant

    UJM, Agudat Yisrael was represented in the Polish Sejm. Rabbi Meir Shapiro was a member for several years but stepped down to concentrate on building his yeshiva.

    in reply to: Local elected frum people #2080984
    Avi K
    Participant

    Montreal has a Chassidic (Vizhnitzer) woman borough councilor. Her name is Mindy Pollak and she speaks English, French and Yiddish, wears a sheitel and did not shake hands with men during her campaign. She was approached to run for the federal Parliament but turned it down because she wants to finish what she started.

    Avi K
    Participant

    UJM, that is the problem. You think that you are still in the shtetl. BTW, they were not so holy. Anyone who learns the responsa literature knows that.

    in reply to: The Russia-Ukraine War Hoax #2078448
    Avi K
    Participant

    It’s no longer Purim.

    in reply to: Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine #2065243
    Avi K
    Participant

    Ujm, does your hat have a good hechsher?

    in reply to: Is it time to leave America #2061984
    Avi K
    Participant

    Avira,

    1. The yaldei Tehran and Teimanim claims have been debunked by various inquiries, inclyuding one by Menachem Begin’s government , which had an interest to discredit Labor.
    2. The IDF is designed to defend Am Yisrael.
    3. The Declaration of independence mentions צור ישראל. Do you not believe that this is Hashem?
    4. it is a known fact that gedolei Yisrael told Jews not to leave Europe.
    5. Where did you get that bit about tefillin?
    6. The State definitely is the representative of the Jewish people. If you don;t believe our enemies will tell you otherwise.
    7. Dina d’malcuta dina. The state must give religious freedom because then Jews in other countries will not be given religious freedom. This is the state of the world today. ידנו לא תקיפה .
    8. Control? Wanting kids to be taught skills so that they can be productive citizens and get off welfare?
    9. Who claims that the Bagatz is the Sanhedrin?
    10. What caricatures? Anyway, the solution to that and your other claims is for frum Jews to make aliya, accept citizenship 9which many hareidim refuse to do while enjoying all the benefits as “students”) and vote.

    in reply to: Is it time to leave America #2061700
    Avi K
    Participant

    HaKatan,

    Mashiach ben Yosef did come in 5708. The Zohar says that easch 1,000 years of creation is lagainst one of the first six. That means that 5708 is the sof zeman bittul chametz. There is no greater chametz than the galut.

    BTW, Rav Soloveichik said that if not for the creation of the State of Israel Jews would have assimilated completely. Missionaries were using the Holocaust as proof that they were right. RS himself was accosted a number of times during his trips between Boston and New York. The creation of the State destroyed their whole sheeta. This is besides the great mitzvot of establishing a sovereign state in Eretz Yisrael (which was heralded by almost all of the gedolim in Eretz Yisrael, including the Agudaistim), building the Land and being mosser nefesh to save Jews.

    in reply to: Re forced draft on Haredim passed by Seculars (& Arabs) #2061404
    Avi K
    Participant

    1. Actually, there is a move to lower the maximum age for the draft in order to encourage you hareidi men to go into the work force. The fact of the matter is that anyone who says that he has no motivation to serve is quietly exempted. non-motivated people make poor soldiers. Some people, of course, have martyr complexes and refuse to go to the induction centers. They want to go to jail and the IDF obliges them.

    2. It is well known that many men who claim to be avereichim are either just hanging around or working off the books. Those who are should go into the IDF rabbinate in some form. We stop talmud Torah for any mitzva. Even for things that are not such bg mitvot lie going to chazzanut concerts and tiyulim during ben hazemanim (ten weeks per year – more vacation than most workers get).

    in reply to: Is it time to leave America #2060967
    Avi K
    Participant

    HaKatan,

    Why do you continue to spout hatred of your fellow Jews? Are you filled with guilt for not making aliya? Rabbi Abahu says that the ra’ah is called that because he stands in Babylon (a paradigm for chutz laAretz) and sees a carcass in Eretz Yisrael. The Kotzker says that nothing is more tamei.

    The fact of the matter is that more people are learning Torah in Israel than in all of pre-Holocaust Europe. The state supports yeshivot and seminaries, unlike in the USA where there is a wall of separation. Moreover, polls consistently show that Israel is becoming more religious whereas America is becoming less so. Outside of the South and Midwest religion is marginal.

    in reply to: Watching Sports is Dumb🏈⚾️⚽️🏀 #2053631
    Avi K
    Participant
    in reply to: Chug Chasam Sofer Petach Tikva #2051511
    Avi K
    Participant

    What is considered unreliable? Specify what they are doing wrong. If you cannot, keep quiet.

    in reply to: Vaccine Mandates #2050357
    Avi K
    Participant

    Far fewer vaccinated people become very sick, or even get Covid at all. This is an established fact. SCOTUS has repeatedly upheld state vaccine mandates on public health grounds. The ABA has an online article about this called “Not Breaking News: Mandatory Vaccination Has Been Constitutional for Over a Century”. A federal mandate, however, is problematic on Tenth Amendment grounds.

    A real libertarian does not believe that the public should pay medical costs. A real libertarian would also not force a private insurance company to cover someone’s costs even if the person is not vaccinated.

    in reply to: Tomorrow Segula for Parnasa, Saying Parashas Haman #2050356
    Avi K
    Participant

    The Mishan Berura says that it is not enough to rattle it off. One must understand it. It says that each person received exactly what he needed. If a person internalized that he will be satisfied with his lot, which is a rich person (Pirkei Avot 4:1).

    in reply to: Protecting the innocent and false accusations #2045570
    Avi K
    Participant

    Mod, that sounds ominous.

    in reply to: The Bochur found out he is not Jewush… #2043077
    Avi K
    Participant

    Always, you’re welcome.

    Health, you do not know the long history of persecution in Arab countries. The hatred started with Mohammed, who wiped out Jewish tribes. In any case, it is a Torah mitzva to conquer Eretz Yisrael and establish a state.

    in reply to: The Bochur found out he is not Jewush… #2042396
    Avi K
    Participant

    Health, you are really funny. Don’t give up your day job though. When WW1 broke out the Turks expelled any Jew who did not have Ottoman citizenship (European Jews kept theirs as it was advantageous under the concessions given to European powers). There was even a period when any Ashkenazi was grabbed do to debts from the synagogue that followers of Rabbi Yehuda heChassid tried to build (it was destroyed because of the debt, which is why it is called the Churva Synagogue).

    Always, that was Abner “Longie” Zwillman and it was a funeral home. Segal, as his name suggests, was a levy. There is a memorial plaque for him in the Bialystoker Synagogue. There was also a hit man named Samuel “Red” Levine who kept kosher, wore a kippa under his hat, and never carried out a contract on Shabbat if he could avoid it – and even then he first went to shul.

    in reply to: The Bochur found out he is not Jewush… #2042078
    Avi K
    Participant

    Actually, Americans have only been intermarrying in large numbers in the last couple of decades. Previously, even Jewish communists and gangsters married Jews. Jews lived in Jewish neighborhoods and had mostly Jewish classmates in public schools as they were neighborhood-based and Catholic parents generally sent their kids to parochial schools. People generally know what their parents and grandparents were so once they become observant they know if they are halachically Jewish and go to a rav.
    Anyway, there is a halachic principle משפחה שנמעה נטמעה . Who knows what happened in someone’s family a few centuries ago? It could be that we are all mamzerim as during the time of the First Temple adultery was rampant (see Ulla’s response to Rav Yehuda’s brother Rav Yitzchak on Kiddushin 71b),

    in reply to: The Bochur found out he is not Jewush… #2042081
    Avi K
    Participant

    As for Zionism, it is a resounding success. Look at where Israel has come in such a short time. Imagine what life would be like here under Arab rule. Anyone who does not recognize this is either blinded by hatred or guilt-ridden by continuing to live in shmutz laAretz a.k.a. the lands of the goyim, a.ka. the lands of tuma.

    in reply to: Non jewish isreilis #2041455
    Avi K
    Participant

    I read that there are 300K immigrants from the former Soviet Union who are not recognized as being Jewish. This undoubtedly includes many who are but can’t prove it. It was very advantageous to be categorized as a Russian on one’s identity card (Jewish was considered a separate nationality along with Ukrainian, etc.). As they generally have very small families and have formed a separate sub-culture (many times I hear teenagers speaking Russian to each other, unlike the children of Jewish olim who speak to each other in Hebrew even if they speak to their parents in another language) the problem will eventually go away. Moslems, Xtians and Druze do not marry out.

    in reply to: shidduch probability #2039826
    Avi K
    Participant

    Ujm, what difference does it make which side is Sefardi?

    Avira, why are those so-called “yeshivish” people bigoted?

    Dorah, law students frequently have summer internships in cities where they neither study nor live.

    in reply to: Denigrating Gedolim #2039401
    Avi K
    Participant

    Ujm, that happens all the time. There even instances in the Gemara where two Amoraim argue over what their rebbe said and each one swears that he is right. A gadol says complex things. Each talmid comes away with a subjective interpretation.

    in reply to: shidduch probability #2039400
    Avi K
    Participant

    What difference does it make if he is Sephardi? The fact of the matter is that the NYC area has the largest Orthodox singles pool outside of Israel. Of course, with shidduch sites, if you are mobile you do not have to limit yourself geographically. I just saw a film called “Orthodoxed” about a BT Chabadnik from Canada who married a woman who was living in Panama.

    in reply to: Plastic surgery and Yiddishkeit #2039399
    Avi K
    Participant

    The Tzitz Eliezer wants to say that but it is very puzzling. Does it show a lack of bitachon for someone to undergo any medical procedure?The question is whether cosmetic surgery is considered a medical procedure that would would allow wounding the person. This is a machloket among the poskim. See “Judaism and Cosmetic Surgery”by Daniel Eisenberg, M.D. online.

    Who are these people who “frown upon” it and what is their basis? If it is muttar it is muttar. If it is assur it is assur. A person might be able to be machmir on himself but he has no right to force others to do so. If it is muttar, let them frown. The muscle exercises might be good for them.

    in reply to: Israels shocking poverty rate #2035468
    Avi K
    Participant

    UJM, when did you become a supporter of terror?

    HaKatan, you are over on hotzaat shem ra. Besides, Zionism is part of Judaism. We daven for the return to Zion, not Brooklyn.

    in reply to: Allowing Racist posts on this board #2035059
    Avi K
    Participant

    CS, based on your post you do not know English. Here is the corrected version:

    I don’t know or care if you’re Sephardic, I could say based on your posts that you’re an immature, attention seeking, troll.

    in reply to: Giving Your Child an English Name #2028370
    Avi K
    Participant

    Yiddish names are really German names. In many places, clerks gave Jews last names based on the amount of the bribe (in some places, it was called a tip). Those who could not pay much, or anything, received insulting names. For example, “Krombein” means “broken leg”. Some, as with gentiles, were their occupations or their former towns (e.g. Landau, Horowitz). There were also levi’im who took the names of songbirds, such as fink (finch). In Russia, the “h” was turned into a “g” as the Russian language does not have the former sound. Thus, for example, Horowiz and Gorowitz are really the same name.

    in reply to: Life in Israel is hard for most isreilis #2022641
    Avi K
    Participant

    This is what the spies said. A person can live in the Galil or the Negev. A person who works in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem can live on a yishuv. BTW, there are also Hareidi enclaves in places like Ofakim, The Gerrer rebbe, in fact, is telling young couples to live in the periphery where apartments are much cheaper.

    in reply to: Israel on its own #2022454
    Avi K
    Participant

    Avirah,

    1. It is a Torah mitzva to establish a sovereign state in Eretz Yisrael and a prohibition to give it to goyim.

    2. If c”v it was American territory, it would be subject to the toeva inquisitors. Not to mention the fat that there would be complete separation of religion and state.

    3. You are making the same mistake Mendelssohn made. Becoming Americans will not stop anti-Semitism. Anti-Semtism is just because we are Jews. The reasons given are just excuses.

    edited

    in reply to: Women Learning Gemara #2019041
    Avi K
    Participant

    DY, who proved it? Please cite sources.

    RE, tell that to Judge Freier. Anyway, she did not have to listen as it pertains to her life and livelihood.

    in reply to: Married Women Shaving Their Hair Off #2018325
    Avi K
    Participant

    isaacmalul. you’re welcome.

    Avira, read my post again. I wrote that Rav Sternbuch and Rav Ovadia wrote that. I did not write that Rav Moshe Feinstein wrote it.

    ujm, none of us, including you, is on Avraham Avinu’s level. Besides, that is aggadata, and aggadata is not to be taken literally. I pity your wife.

    Regarding the Zohar, the Gra says that there is only one machloket between it and the Gemara (regarding whether it is permissible to walk behind a person who is davening). All other supposed machlokot are misinterpretations. For example, the Zohar says very harsh things about a man who pulls off even one strand of his beard. Rav Chaim Volozhiner explains that it is referring to someonewho shaves with a razor.

    in reply to: Married Women Shaving Their Hair Off #2017948
    Avi K
    Participant

    Rav Sternbuch (Teshuvot V’hanhagot 2:692) and Rav Ovadia (Yabia Omer Y.D. 4:1) say that here is no halachic source for this custom. Rav Moshe ruled (IM EH 1:59 that a husband can prevent her from doing so, as it makes her repulsive to him (see Nazir 28b and Shabbat 64b).

    in reply to: Planes over Jerusalem #2017937
    Avi K
    Participant

    Ujm, are you in the group that wants asylum in Iran? It was an air show.

    in reply to: No apology yet from Bennet on Uman Libel #2010064
    Avi K
    Participant

    There have been many forged vaccination certificates in these circles. BTW,
    Rav Ovadia blasted those who desert their families and go to Uman. Not to mention giving parnassa to people who have a statue of Chmielnitzki ym”s in the middle of their capital and even have a city named after him.

    in reply to: The Lace Sheitel thread #2009473
    Avi K
    Participant

    RE, both Rav Moshe and Rav Soloveichik said not to divorce a woman over this as today many frum women are, unfortunately, not careful in this matter. In Lithuania, it was very uncommon for women to cover their hair. Custom may impact the halacha. Why should women who have never married not have to cover their hair? An erva is an erva. The only answer the poskim give (although the Aruch haShulchan is unhappy with it) is that it is not the custom.

    Avi K
    Participant

    On the contrary, the women passed on antibodies to their babies. Regarding safety, see “The COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know” put out online by Johns Hopkins University.

    in reply to: Where is the line between halacha and dinas dimalchusa #2007275
    Avi K
    Participant

    Avira, RCK doesn’t say anything. He just learns. His grandson Yanky is the one who does the talking. In any case, your issues are well known here. Just out of curiosity, would you say that the Israeli government is legitimate for the purpose of taking money, such as what it gives to Torah institutions and avereichim?

    CS, Rabbi Weiss’ role model in this is MLK. If you read “Letter from a Birmingham jail” you will see that he (and Rabbi Weiss) accepted the fact that they would have to go to jail. MLK was also worried about anarchy. In any case, there is a clear difference between protesting a law one considers unjust and breaking a law for personal convenience or profit.

    in reply to: Where is the line between halacha and dinas dimalchusa #2007005
    Avi K
    Participant

    correction: the citation from Baba Batra is the Rashbam.

    in reply to: Where is the line between halacha and dinas dimalchusa #2007002
    Avi K
    Participant

    Dina d’malchuta dina is far more than monetary matters(@ujm, many poskim rule that monetary laws have the power of minhag hamedina). According to the Chatam Sofer it includes anything that is enacted for public safety and welfare. A modern example would be traffic laws. There are a number of online articles on the subject.

    According to Rambam, Rabbenu Tam (Or Zerua, Piskei Bab Kaam 447), the Shulchan Aruch (CM 369,6), and Rav Ovadia (Yechavei Daat 5,64) it does apply in Eretz Yisrael. The Rashba (Baba Batra 54b d”h v’amar) says that it has nothing to do with land ownership. Anyone who lives in a country implicitly accepts its laws.

    CHOOSID, who decides what makes SENSE (please learn how to spell or get a spell check)?

    in reply to: Different levels of religious observance (frumkeit) #2005938
    Avi K
    Participant

    RE, who says? What I heard is that one should only eat pat Yisrael (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch).

    in reply to: Different levels of religious observance (frumkeit) #2005465
    Avi K
    Participant

    Rational, I once told this to someone from a Chassidic background and he took umbrage. He said that there has to be a pesak. If it’s kosher a jew has to eat it after making a beracha in order to elevate the animal soul. BTW, the Chafetz Chaim preferred glatt yosher.

    in reply to: wearing a yamulka in a professional setting #2005062
    Avi K
    Participant

    At one time in Europe as well as in America Jews did not walk outside bareheaded because no one did. A hat came with one’s suit. Workers wore caps. Jews did not work in non-Jewish offices so the subject did not start. In New York, I worked with several observant Jews who did not wear kippot at work. When I decided to start wearing one a black woman asked me if I had been “elevated”. Apparently, she thought that it was some kind of clerical garb.

    in reply to: Different levels of religious observance (frumkeit) #2005057
    Avi K
    Participant

    Shimon, have you taken a census? Of course, one can have a wide definition of slavery. Someone who cannot part from his cell phone and runs out of tefilla to answer it is a slave in a sense. According to slavery expert Siddharth Kara, out of 28.4 million slaves today (out of a world population of 7.674 billion – .37%) 18.1 million are actually indentured servants. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, slavery was practiced in every ancient civilization and slaves sometimes accounted for a very large percentage of the population.

Viewing 50 posts - 51 through 100 (of 3,472 total)