Avi K

Akuperma, while I do not know of statistics, it makes sense that OTDs will want to preserve those aspects of their former lives that they enjoyed. Some, BTW, eventually come back (I personally know one), in some case to another stream of Orthodoxy (e.g. Chassidic to MO). As for not being distinguished from goyim, it takes several generations of assimilation to lose all of the little thinks (manner of speech, body language, etc.) that come from the national aspect that is not connected to free choice (see Rav Soloveichik, “Two Beritot”) make us distinguishable.

Joseph, I think he means the part about safek goy. However, if one holds like Rav Moshe 9an certainly at least b’diavad we do) if someone’s parents were not frum most likely the kiddushin was not valid. In fact, someone told me that before he became BT he was a witness at his sister’s wedding.

I do not see anything wrong with giving an animal a name. If Adam haRishon gave each species its name why can’t we give them individual names? However, putting them on the same level as humans is wrong and dangerous. As for Harambe, how did the kid get into his cage? Someone was negligent. BTW, when someone’s animal dies on says ????? ???? ?? ?????? (Berachot 16b).

Crawley, Actually, an OECD poll showed that Israelis are among the happiest in the world (#5 after Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Finland). Israel is one of the best places to raise children (#4 after Austria, Sweden and Finland according to the Family Life Index). It has one of the best medical systems(#28 on the WHO list). You are over on the sin of the spies. Or you are overcompensating for guilt feeling at not living here.

Is a Jew allowed to buy from someone who supports Bernie Sanders?

Joseph, what about people who send their kids to Orthodox schools who are dishonest in business, say lashon hara (I even know someone who imitates the accents of gedolei Tora and another who tells insulting jokes about various communities because they thinks it is funny), use bad language, etc.? The Gra says (Even Sheleima 2) that if someone has naturally bad middot learning Tora will actually make him worse. This is why Tora is compared to water. It makes everything grow. As for children who go to public school, would you differentiate between playing in your home and in theirs as perhaps the other kids will be influenced? What would you tell someone who has close non-frum relatives?

MW13, the mishna in Avot refers to an individual and his individual status. It does not make blanket assumptions.

Rebyidd, there is no religious test for public office in the US. In fact, Joe Lieberman came very close to becoming VP in 2000.

Charlie, isolationism might be good for the Jews this time. The US uses its “aid” to Israel as a bludgeon. Moreover, he will not pressure Israel on settlements. In fact, he said in an interview with the London Daily Mail that Israel should “keep going” and “keep moving forward” with settlements. No surprise as his adviser on Israel heads the American Friends of the Bet-el Yeshiva.

Zahavasdad, the Chafetz Chaim told Rav Elchonon in so many words that there would be a holocaust.

Akuperma, his name is Ralph Nader. I do not think that he made a neder.

What about the kedusha of business dealings? This is where the serious chillul Hashem exists.

The Chatam Sofer did not say “Machnisei Rachamim” but did daven for others. He explained that being that all Jews are connected the person is really davening for himself. If he is a talmid chacham he has more merit and davens better. However, angels have no involvement with us (Responsa OC 1:166 -http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14663&st=&pgnum=130) .

Charlie, not correct. The authorities can rely on circumstantial evidence (Guide 3:40). The purpose of the secular criminal justice system, unlike battei din, which are concerned with atonement for the criminal, is to maintain public order(Iggerot Moshe Chohsen Mispat 2:68 and see Ran Derasha 11). In fact, Noahides can be executed for being over on any of the sheva mitzvot. Thus, if a Noahide who has a record longer than our combined arms is executed, even though he did not commit this specific act the only unjust result is that the real murderer thinks he got away scot-free (although really it is just a matter of time until he gets his). In fact, even if a Jew is a three time loser he is locked up in a tower and left there until he dies (Rambam Hilchot Sanhedrin 18:5).

Charlie, if the seller only wants to sell to a gentile or to a Jew why should he not have that right? Besides having overwhelmingly Jewish neighborhoods is good for the Jews.

Feivel, if you mean not muttar l’chatchila that is what I meant, not because I am deciding between the poskim c”v but becuase it might be a safek d’Oraita and anyway it is at least an almost universally accepted hanhaga. However, just as in other areas of Halacha we can rely on lenient opinions in certain situations so too in this matter.

Feivel, the point is that iti s questionable if shaking hands in a business situation is derech hibba v’taava or simply a formality. Rav Herschel Shachter and Rav Aharon Solveichik permitted it – and Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky said in Emmet l’Yaakov on Tur Shulchan Aruch p. 405 note 4 “Regarding returning a handshake to women when they extend their hand first in greeting, not in an affectionate manner, this is a very serious question and it is difficult to be lenient. However, in circumstances where the woman may come to be embarrassed, perhaps one could consider being lenient. This requires further study”. Rav Moshe himself (Iggerot Moshe EH 1:56 at the end) that there are yirei Hashem who shaker hands when women initiate it and suggested that they hold that it is not derech hibba v’taava although he said that it is “difficult” to rely on this.

On the hand, there are issues of embarrassing someone,causing hatred, losing a job or job possibility. These all might be good reasons to rely on lenient opinions.

As for your smart-aleck examples, what is wrong with eating in a gentile home per se? If they offer you unopened certified kosher cold cuts on paper plates with plastic knives and forks and cold drinks in paper cups (although really if their utensils are cold it is not a problem b’diavad) it is totally permitted. The other examples do not deserve a response.

CTlawyer, he is your fellow Jew. That gives him the right (especially if he is over 50). Moreover, if we have the right to voice our own opinions we can also opine as to your priorities. I suggest that you heed Obama’s advice to Howard U grads. Prof. Jonathan Adler wrote in the Volokh Conspiracy that they needed to hear it (another person who advises strangers as to their priorities) and I think you do too.

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????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ???, ????? ?????? ?????? ?????

DY, its use is not prohibited. It is a useless object (muktze machmat gufo) as you cannot use it on Shabbat (unless you are a Chabadnik – the Ball HaTanya allows ripping toilet paper). The reason why it can be used in a case of dire need (altouugh not ripping on the perforations) is that it is an issur d’rabbanan being that you do not care about the exact size of the paper. Kevod haberiot overrides d’rabbanans.

CTlawyer,

1. The point is not what the law is but what it should be. regarding the brokers, IMHO if they were only acting on their own opinions even in the absence of anti-discrimination laws they would have been liable for violating their obligation to obtain the best deals. If they were representing the feelings of the community I would have been glad to discover this and looked elsewhere.

2. The question whether regarding civil unions are acceptable halachically involves whether or not an intimate relationship is implied. For example, no one objects to nominating a friend as one’s beneficiary on an insurance policy as there is no implication beyond a desire to help him financially.

Charlie, women are obligated in “lifnei iver”.

CTlawyer,

1. Oregon may be in the headlines but this is their declared national agenda.

2. Even if the celebration is in another place the baker is compelled to participate in the celebration by providing a cake. If it is a plain cake then you have a case as they are allowed to eat cake. However, putting “Congratulations on your marriage” seems to me to be compelled speech. how SCOTUS will go will depend very much on who are the justices – as Gobitis and Barnette discovered.

3. Please cite the law that obligates them to consider a nomination.

4. Refua sheleima.

CTlawyer,

1. The owner of the hall is certainly a participant. It may well be prohibited as mechazek yadei ovrei aveira. The caterers might not be as they are only selling food. In any case, as there are others who will gladly take money to participate do there is no reason not to grant a religious exception. In any case, the law is requiring them to do something – sell or provide a service for these farces.

2. We were discussing America.

3. If it can tell him that he cannot perform a ceremony (e.g. a polygamous marriage) why can’t it tell him that he must perform one. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. does not preclude the possibility. For that matter, why can’t it revoke tax-exempt status of a shul as with a religious university. Why can’t it stipulate that the person’s license to perform marriages will be revoked? What about religious judges as this is not one of their regular functions? On the other hand, if accomodations are made for taking off on religious holidays why not for this (Prof. Eugene Volokh once suggested this).