Avi K

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 50 posts - 3,301 through 3,350 (of 3,486 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • in reply to: Move to Eretz Yisroel Without Accepting Citizenship #943737
    Avi K
    Participant

    BTW, many Jews in Britain and the Continent, especially, but not only, frum Jews are buying “insurance policy” apartments here as the atmosphere there is similar to that of just before the Holocaust.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852670
    Avi K
    Participant

    Toi, if you really care make aliya, become a citizen and at least vote for change.

    in reply to: Giving A Year To R' Elyashiv #892999
    Avi K
    Participant

    So would I. This sounds like suicide. Maybe he only had one year left. Even if he had 120 it’s suicide by gramma.

    in reply to: Speaking Yiddish #851820
    Avi K
    Participant

    Crazybrit, what about American? Does the common language still separate us?

    BTW, if one wants to discuss anti-religious, the biggest were the Yiddishist Bundists. The stood in front of Orthodox shuls on Yom Kippur and ate ham sandwiches.

    in reply to: Move to Eretz Yisroel Without Accepting Citizenship #943734
    Avi K
    Participant

    CG, I do live in Israel and have not renounced my American citizenship (I hold dual citizenship). As I previously posted the State Dept. makes it virtually impossible to do so. Even Lee Harvey Oswald did not succeed despite having defected to the FSU during the hight of the Cold War. Actually, I haven’t bothered to renew my US passport even though it expired a few years ago. However, I am planning to do as it would be nice to visit my family and not have to request a visa. Also one never knows if one will need to attend to some personal matter at the drop of a hat – as happened when my father z”l passed away unexpectedly. I was referrring to the idea of a passport as an “insurance policy” in case Israel goes down c”v.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852658
    Avi K
    Participant

    ymb,

    1. It’s a sevara. The three shevuot are a package deal. If they do not persecute us “too much” we will not rebel. The Maharsha alludes to this. He also says that not making aliya “like a wall” refers to making aliya by force and building walled cities like Nehemia. The Maharal says (Chiddushei Aggadot) that the three together allow the Galut to exist. Thus, if one falls they all fall.

    2. Your quote was obviously either written before the Balfour Declaration and San Remo conference or was simply a commentary on the pasuk. After these events he said that the walll had been broken down (“HaTekufa HaGedola” pg. 175 quoted in “Torat Eretz Yisrael” pg.289 footnote 28 and “HaTor” second publishing year, third edition quoted there pg. 234).

    in reply to: Americanishe Meshugasim #854164
    Avi K
    Participant

    Bark mitzvas. Separate kitchens for Pesach in private homes. “Glatt kosher” gambling cruises.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852651
    Avi K
    Participant

    I invite anyone who does not understand the difference between a medina, a regime and a government to open negotiations with me as to tuition for Political Science lessons.

    in reply to: Speaking Yiddish #851806
    Avi K
    Participant

    CG, Ivrit is a living language, developing language. Many new words were indeed “invented” by scholars (their religious levels here are as irrelevant as the fact that the Ford Motor Company was founded by one of the more dastardly anti-Semites in American history). So too are all modern European languages as they contain words which were coined by scientists as they made discoveries (generally from Greek). English is a mix of French and German for historical reasons. Yiddish is a mix of Germanic and Slavic with some Hebrew as well as borrowings from other local languages (hence “American Yiddish”).

    Moi aussi, I neither hate nor love Yiddish. It is for me a quaint relic to be dusted off when the great-aunt who gave it visits and then put back in the closet.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852649
    Avi K
    Participant

    Longarkel, Emir Faisal agreed to a Jewish state and even signed an agreement with Weizman. The Mufti messed up everything because of his dream of establishing a Caliphate with himself as head – and was financed by the Nazis.

    in reply to: Move to Eretz Yisroel Without Accepting Citizenship #943728
    Avi K
    Participant

    Bear, today we live in a global economy where everyone depends on everyone else.People who are unhappy here would have also been unhappy there (and I know several). The point is that it is a mitzva to make aliya and participate in some way in Israeli life.As for Israel (some of them “Charedi”) drug dealers, let them lie in jail and stop causing tremendous damage.

    in reply to: Speaking Yiddish #851795
    Avi K
    Participant

    Toi, maybe the problem is with your vorts.

    in reply to: #851480
    Avi K
    Participant

    Rav Mordechai Eliahu zatzal was once approached in a dream by a recently deceased talmid chahcham who told him that he was not being allowed into Gan Eden because he did not repay a debt before being niftar. Rav Eliahu wentto the lender who agreed to rip up the shtar. The deceased then came back in another dream and thanked Rav Eliahu. BTW, I knew a rav who before going into the hospital for a stomach cancer operation paid all his debts. Unfortunately, the operation was not successful.

    in reply to: Speaking Yiddish #851771
    Avi K
    Participant

    Let the dead language rest in pieces (considering all of the dialects).

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852633
    Avi K
    Participant

    Ymb, the three shevuot are null and void (if they ever were obligatory – they are not paskened in any of the halachic codes) for the following reasons:

    1. The Goyim were over several times on their part of the bargain not to persecute us too much (Crusades, Gezerot Tach veTat, pogroms, Holocaust).

    2. They agreed to establish a Jewish state at the San Remo Conference so it is not rebellion against them (Rav Meir Simcha).

    3. The dod has knocked.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852627
    Avi K
    Participant

    Actually, only people who are descended from Yehuda are Jewish.

    in reply to: #851477
    Avi K
    Participant

    147, according to Kabbbala, people do get new bodies even before tehiyat hameitim. This is part of the process of tikkun – and actually telling the neshama that it has to come back here is more painful for it than for a live person to hear that he is dying.In nay case, it is obviously within Hashem’s power to reconstitute a body if He wants so I think that you misunderstood Rav Miller.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852624
    Avi K
    Participant

    Toi, there are two aspects to Jewishness. Nationhood, which is not subject to bechira, and religion, which is. Both Rav Soloveichik and Rav Kuk discuss this.

    in reply to: Move to Eretz Yisroel Without Accepting Citizenship #943703
    Avi K
    Participant

    me, anyone who wants to “keep his options often” as “hishtadlut” is oevr on the Sin of the Spies (unless he is already receiving benefits as a citizen of another counntry and woiuld lose them).You are also incorrect about keeping your US passport current. The only reason for that is to be able to visit your family and friends in America without need of a visa. However, even if it lapses you can renew it if you have proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate issued in the US. It just costs $25 extra if the old passport was not issued within 15 years. In fact, a friend of mine let his passport lapse as after his parents also made aliya he saw no reason to go back – then he was invited to a wedding and decided to go. You are correct, however, regarding America’s acceptance of dual citizenship (the way it is conferred here, ditto doing the Army – apeak to someone at NBN or AACI). In fact, the State Dept. very much does not like to revoke someone’s citizenship and even makes it difficult to repudiate it. On the other hand, without Israeli citizenship one cannot participate in the political process (big mitzva as is doing the Army for a boy) or hold certain jobs.

    in reply to: wouldnt it be great if israel attackes Iran on Purim #851347
    Avi K
    Participant

    oomis, if you want to be technical, he said “Purim-Fest 1946” (in German obviously).

    in reply to: Whose Minhagim to follow!?! #851512
    Avi K
    Participant

    Greatest, according to Rav Yaakov’s Artscroll biography he adopted that minahg because he used it as excuse not to eat by someone without offending or embarrassing him. He then kept it so as not to ahve told a lie. His second wife was Chassidic so that may also have been a consideration.

    in reply to: wouldnt it be great if israel attackes Iran on Purim #851344
    Avi K
    Participant

    Stalin ym”s suffered a stroke on Purim (and died four days later) after having all but signed an order to exile all of the Jews to Siberia and do away with them.

    There is an also an interesting story regarding the Nuremberg trials. In the parasha of the aseret bnei Haman (after Esther asks “the king” on today and tomorrow) there are three letters written very small:?, ? and ?. In ??? twelve Nazi war criminals ym”s were sentenced to hang (despite the fact that military executions were usually by firing squad). One, the efffeminate Hermann Goerring ym”s committed suicide in his cell (= Haman’s daughter?) and the other Martin Bormann ym”s was not present (unknown to them at the time he had also committed suicide in the bunker). When Julius Steicher ym”s mounted the gallows his last words were “today is Purim” although actually it was Heshvan.

    in reply to: Compelling All Jews to Perform Mitzvos and Follow Halacha #852029
    Avi K
    Participant

    Greatest, you remind of the satire of a certain newspaper that carried the headline “if you can’t live in Brooklyn at least be buried there”. What about a Chassidic bet din beating up anybody who eats gebruchts during Pesach and a Litvish bet din beating up anybody who does not? What about Rav Ovadia’s bet din beating up anybody who does not go 100% like the Bet Yosef – including his kulot (Rav Ovadia also oposes the Rema’s chumrot)?

    Health, we are all in the time of the footsteps of Mahich. Slowly in stages (Yerushalmi Berachot 1,1).

    in reply to: Compelling All Jews to Perform Mitzvos and Follow Halacha #852022
    Avi K
    Participant

    Actually, in Israel the Rabbinut batei din can put get refusers in jail as well as take away their drivers licenses and bar them from leaving the country. We are working on a decree that all Jews in Galut pack up and make aliya.

    in reply to: #851464
    Avi K
    Participant

    CG, Ramban says in Shaar HaGemul that after the year is up the neshamot of resha’im for wom Gehinnom is not enough are incinerated and the ashes trampled under the feet of the tzaddikim. What that (as well as the Gemara aboutr the fates of Bilaam,Yushki and Titus) means is another question. as for Levi Aron, it could very well be that he is a shotteh. Soros is probabaly a tinok shenishba. Regarding Dweck (if you a referring to the crook who was machshil rabbanim) I don’t know. When I either get by navi certificate (I still have a few tests to pass) or am hired as Hashem’s accountant (after 120 years) I will let you know, bli neder.

    in reply to: Whose Minhagim to follow!?! #851495
    Avi K
    Participant

    Yungerman, according to the Gra someone who does not eat gebruchts is mevatel simchat Yom Tov (and to drive his point home he used to hang a kneidlach in his window – Rav Soloveichik would eat matza ball soup on his porch in full view of passers-by) so lechora he would not even require a hatart nedarim from someone who wants to change. As to the general question, very often couples combine minhagim where they are not inconsistent. For example, many Ashkenazi/Sephaaradi couples have both a berit Yitzchak (where they read portions on berit mila from the Zohar and make every food beracha) and a shalom zachar.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852603
    Avi K
    Participant

    Health, considering the fact that you only consider people like yourself to be frum that is a tautology. If you are talking about the usual definition you are simply WRONG.

    in reply to: Goyim Copying Yiddishe Minhagim #859390
    Avi K
    Participant

    Anyway, it is almost impossible to say that it was ladaat as almost everyone who does this either does not do so in front of two kosher witnesses (so that maybe it was an accident or a murder meant to lok like a suicide) or is unbalanced. Once a well-known Jewish politician in NYC was found dead, apparently by his own hand, in the middle of a corruption investigation. He was buried in the regular section of a Jewish cemetary.

    in reply to: Compelling All Jews to Perform Mitzvos and Follow Halacha #852001
    Avi K
    Participant

    This is obviously only an official bet din of the type that no longer exists and not any three Jews.

    in reply to: life insurance, Halacha issue? #850614
    Avi K
    Participant

    Both Rav Moshe (Iggerot Moshe, Orach Chayim 2:111; see also Orach Chayim 4:48) and Rav Ovadia (Yechaveh Daat 3:85) say that it is normal hishtadlut. Rav Moshe asks rhetorically if we can say that we have such zechut that we do not have to provide for our families.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852601
    Avi K
    Participant

    We can go on saying “yes it is”, “no it isn’t” until Mashiach comes. I suggest to that whoever decides these things should close this thread.There are none so blind as those who will not see.

    in reply to: Goyim Copying Yiddishe Minhagim #859377
    Avi K
    Participant

    The test is whether the Goyim did it for pritzut (including gaava) or whether there is a logical reason. Thus it is permitted for a doctor to wear a white coat to differentiate imself from a layamn (Rema Yoreh Deah 178:1). Regarding clothing, Rav Moshe says that being that today clothes are manufactured for everyone it can just as well be said that Goyim are wearing Jewish clothing and there is no issur so fra as Gentile clothing is concerned (Iggerot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:81).

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852597
    Avi K
    Participant

    Health,

    1. Convince him to be mitgayer and then come yourself and promote his party.

    2.All of the rabbbanim of our generation with the exception of a small handful agree that we are in atchalta d’Geula.

    3. Nobody in Israel is or was ever forced to work on Shabbat.

    4. Israel is not a treif medina as it is the fulfillment of a mitzva d’Oraita and according to all opinions, even those of Leftists, it has and should continue to have a Jewish character. This or that politician or government has nothing to do with the Medina as a medina.

    5. Rambam says (Hilchot Melachim 5:12) that it is better to live in EY in a city whose majority are idolators than a city in Chutz La’Aretz whose majority are Jews.

    Longarkel,

    Democracy and Tora go hand in hand (Berachot 55a and Heemek Devar Devarim 17:14).

    in reply to: Memoir called "Unorthodox" and its effect on us #868412
    Avi K
    Participant

    Read “Off the Derech” by Faranak Margolese. It seems that most people who leave do so because of negative role-models and a minority because they simply found out that here is another way of life (I personaly once met someone like that). The key to the teshuva movement, on the other hand, is showing people that Judaism has something for every type.

    BTW, regarding the controversy on wives and guests the Chafetz Chaim once invited Rav Meir Shapiro for Shabbat. When Rav Shapiro asked if the rebbetzin sat atthe table the Chafetz Chaim said “I gave her a ketuba so I am obligated to her – to you I am not obligated”. Rav Shapiro regretted the missed oppportunity for the rest of his life.

    in reply to: what does "yeshivish" mean? #850412
    Avi K
    Participant

    I think that it refers to an intellectual approach to Judaism as well as a propensity to use Talmudic reasoning.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852594
    Avi K
    Participant

    Sushe, you misspelled “porshim”.

    Health, the Turks already have a treif leader. Regarding the Geula, see the Yerushalmi (Berachot 1:1) that it comes slowly in stages. BTW, what you wrote about working on Shabbat was in America. Sweatshops had signs “if you don’t come in on Saturday don’t come in on Monday” – and “treife medina” was the nickname given to America by rabbanim who told people not to go.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852587
    Avi K
    Participant

    Longarkel, you are right. When are you going to be a Nachson and make aliya, take on Israeli citizenship and vote?

    Sushe, their statements are on record. They obviously regretted the secularism but they saw the State as the beginning of the Geula.

    Health, as much of Turkey is in the area promised to Avraham Avinu it should be the other way around.

    Nechomah, I cited the places. Rambam at the beginning of Hilchot Chanuka and the Gemara in Sanhedrin 102b regarding Omri (it also praises Achav for supporting talmidei chachamim and refusing Ben Haddad’s demand to turn over the Tora to him – apparently the forerunner of the Kotel contraversy).

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852572
    Avi K
    Participant

    The Chazon Ish was referring to secularism. In fact, he told Ben-Gurion that the religious would eventually take over democratically due to their much higher birthrate. Other talmidei chachamim who saw the Return to Zion as the beginning of the Geula include Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rav Yehoshua Landau (Rabbi of Bnei Brak), Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank , Rav Y.M Tikochinski, Rav Zalman Sorotzkin (famed head of Va’ad Hayeshivot), Rav Yechezkel Sarna (Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron), Rav Shlomo Yosef Zevin, Rav Hillel Posek, Rav Unterman, R. Ovadia Hadaya (author of Resp. Yaskil Avdi) , the Husiaton Rebbe, and Rav Y. S. Kahanaman (Rosh Yeshivat Ponevitz – who flew the Israeli flag on Yom HaAtzmaut) .

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852537
    Avi K
    Participant

    TY,the entitlement has been restored.

    in reply to: What's the argument against having a Madina? #852533
    Avi K
    Participant

    Tora Yid, Rambam in the beginning of Hilchot Chanuka praises the postive accomplishments of the Chashmonaim and the fact that they restored Jewish sovereignty. Moreover, most of the holidays mentioned in Megillat Taanit as no-fasting days were celebrations of their victories. Chazal even have good words for Omri because he built EY (Sanhedrin 102b). The worst things that the secular Zionists did, including the Teimani children (if it actually happened) pale in comparison to what Yannai and Omri did but they are praised for the good things.

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848671
    Avi K
    Participant

    I personallly know someone who heard Rav Moshe misquoted (he had been present when Rav Moshe made the statement in question). In fact, when Rav Mshe was told that someone misquoted the Chatam Sofer he said “I’m still alive and people are misquoting me”. Rav Scheinberg said that if he had a nickel for every time he was misquoted he would be a rich man. Scientific studies have ben done about this phenomenon and can be accessed on scientificamerican.com. Maybe he said “book, shmook” (in Yiddish it would be close, “buch, shmooch”) about some derogatory book about Rav Kook.

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848660
    Avi K
    Participant

    Who was Book? Maybe he said something and was reported in the name of Rav Kook so the Chafetz Chaim said “Kook, Shmook, it was Book”.

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848654
    Avi K
    Participant

    Really, anybody who is familiar with Sefer Chafetz Chaim 7:4 and 8:6 knows that the Chafetz Chaim could not possibly have made such a statement. Certainly not on the strength of something written in a newspaper. Or he meant that he did not believe that the quote was accurate (Kook shmook – Rav Kook did not say exactly what was quoted).

    Here is the quote:

    Compare with:

    ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????. ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????. ????? ???? ??? ????. ?? ???? ???. ???? ???? ??? ????. ??? ???? ??? ??. ??? ??? ??. ????? ??? ?????? ????. ???? ??? ???? ???. ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???. ???? ????? ??? ????. ??? ???? ??? ??. ??? ??? ??. ????? ????? ?? ????. ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????… ??? ??????? ???? ????? ????? “?? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????” (?????? ?, ?) ?? ??? ??? ????.

    ???? ?? ??? ???? ??, ???: ???? ???????? ?? ???? ???.

    (???? ???? ??? ????? ? ??? ?)

    Certain unscrupulous people claimed that Rav Kook allowed sports on Shabbat c”v. This was absolutely untrue and he even rebuffed a deleagtion of soccer players who tried to get a heter from him. All he said was that sports, at the proper time and with the proper intent, develop a healthy body and teach good middot.

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848650
    Avi K
    Participant

    Rav Aharon HaKohen

    Tel Aviv, Eretz Yisrael

    [This is because] [the Rav] [the proper way] [that is] [, the Chafetz Chaim,] and he would turn his eyes with contempt from any posters [disparaging Rav Kook -ed]).
    [words which] [This is because] [And this is especially true regarding] this brilliant and pious [rav] [on this matter] and we must go out and rebuke this humiliation of the Torah, and join ourselves to the protest and great anger of the rabbis and sages of the Holy Land and the exile regarding these words of villainy. [Thus] we should not see [that which is] Holy destroyed, G-d Forbid.

    And may Hashem, may His Name be Blessed, remove the disgrace from the children of Israel and raise the honor of our Holy Torah. These are the words [of one] who writes with a wounded and agitated heart regarding the honor of our holy Torah which is [being] given over to disgrace.

    Aharon HaKohen

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848638
    Avi K
    Participant

    The Satmar Rebbe himself admitted that he was a daat yachid but said that being that the other gedolim did not learn it out with him he did not feel obligated to retract his postiton. BTW, Rav Levin signed Israel’s declaration of independence as head of the Aguda and was a member of the first government.

    in reply to: Attacks on Talmidel Chachomim #847504
    Avi K
    Participant

    Toi, who decides who is an “outcast from a hashkafic norm”?

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848633
    Avi K
    Participant
    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848621
    Avi K
    Participant

    ToraYid, see Chavat Yair 152 (usually it is printed at the end of Sefer Chafetz Chaim). As for the Satma Rebbe, he once was very upset because Rav Aharon Kotler called a certain rabbi an am ha’aretz. He calmed down when someone said to him “the rav says ‘am ha’aretz’ like the rebbe says ‘apikorus'”.

    in reply to: Rav Elyashev Bans Nachal Chareidi #848609
    Avi K
    Participant

    Ms, what can we do, he was the keli Hashem chose. BTW, Rav Kuk explains in his hesped that being that Mashiach ben Yosef’s tafkid is solely concerned with the material this causes him to oppose the spiritual. The opposite is also true. However, again what can we do, Hashem chose to make us material beings in a material world and then raise it up. However, very few people can have two tables. For example, I know someone who is at the top of his profession and very much in demand as a lecturer. However, when he opens his mouth about Tora absolute nonsense comes out.

    in reply to: What is your most controversial opinion? #848689
    Avi K
    Participant

    Do you mean religious or political?

    If it’s religious the I think that the brouhaha on the IDF Chief Rabbinate’s pesak on kol isha is a tempest in a teapot. If it’s political I think that the Likud is the best vehicle in Israel.

Viewing 50 posts - 3,301 through 3,350 (of 3,486 total)