Ben Levi

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  • in reply to: Child Abuse #790097
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    farrockaway; I find the assertion that “when kids say abuse occured they are right 95% of the time to be quite interesting.

    The following is a qoute from the American Academy of Experts in traumatic Stress”

    “An attempt to make up for decades of ignorance of childrens stories of abuse led to an unfettered and unaxamined acceptance of every childs story as true. By the close of the 1980’s the negative repercussions of this attitude were obvious.

    Now infamous cases such as California vs Buckley (the McMartin Preschool case, 1990) New Jersey vs Michaels (1993) highlight the trauna and tragedy that can and do result from childrens stories being uncritically accepted as valid. The State of Montana saw its own version in Montana vs Harts (1993).

    For a relativley brief period of time, the arguement seemed to revolve around whether children would deliberetley lie about s. abuse. An abundance of research has now disassembled the question when stated this way.

    It has been learnt and amply documented that the issue of truth when applied to childrens statements is multi dimensional.

    The focus on how childrens statements might differ from adults statements has compelled a scientific return to the understanding of child development in moral, cognitive,emotional, and social spheres.

    Many svolumes have recently appeared on the suggestibility of children the creation of false or distorted memories motivation and other aspects of truth telling all of which attempt to explain why some childrens reports of s. abuse are not true even though the the child may appear sincere”.

    I am sorry but the research on the topic gives lie to your assertion.

    I might add, in light of the research currently availible one stands in awe of the wisdom of the Torah in prohibiting the acceptence of a childs testimony in court.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790094
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    First off get one thing out of the way. I am well aware of what Rav Elyashiv has to say on the matter having discussed it personally with several people who have flown to Eretz Yisroel specifically to discuss the matter with him.

    Unfortunatley it seems that you have a real misunderstanding of his opinion.

    As for you being involved.

    Let me note for the record.

    I have brought down real honest to goodness numbers from those who are involved in protecting children. I brought down the real numbers from a study you misqouted, I showed a little bit of how statistics are warped by those who have no understanding of what they are doing, I showed a little bit of the dangers involved in this matter.

    You have been unwilling and dare I say unable to diprove a single one of them.

    Let me just say that parents in the secular world are slowly and with much difficulty learning certain basics.

    They are learning this because those without enough money to send there kids to Private schools are left with a completley destroyed Public School system.

    There are Six cases of child abuse through neglect for every case of child molestation.

    Do you get that?

    6 to 1.

    An elderly Rebbi of young children who was famous for the success he had as a Rebbi told someone going into the proffession.

    “THe success I had as a Rebbi was because the first day of class as every precious neshoma walked into my classroom and I assumed responsibility for their care, I gave each and every one of them a Hug. A real Hug. And then the kids from broken homes, or the ones who had no siblings nebach, or the oes who’s parents had no time for them for any number of reason finally knew there was an adult who loved and cared for them.”

    The rebbi continued.

    “However realistically, If I was teaching today I would never ever dare do such a thing, In fact if I would be a Rebbi, which I doubt, I would be forced to take the same attitude many rabbeim today take no touching what so ever, not a hug, not a friendly pat on the back, nor a knip on the cheek. And yes I know that nebech there will be many a child lost because of this and yes we are already seeing this. What can I do my first responsibilty is to protect my wife and children from the crazy parent or the person who has some vendetta against me.”

    Beware you are playing with fire.

    As a father of young children I have a duty to ensure the chinuch that was availible to me remains availible to my children and the chinuch system that was built up through blood,sweat, and tears by the Yidden who came before me and were determined to raise their children Al Pi Tahros HaKodesh free from the influence of the secular world, does not go the way of the Public Schools.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790092
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    The following is a qoute from the SanDiego Grand jury in the Dale Akiki case in 93-94

    “To recieve Federal Funds, states also must pass laws requiring specific people such as teachers, health care proffessionals and law enforcement officials to report suspected Child Abuse, backed up by penalties for failure to report. In effect this provision has made it a criminal offense for people not to report suspected Abuse. The result has been over-reporting of even the most absurd and impossible accusations”.

    For those who state that people don’t really report falsely well here’s one example.

    In 2002 the state of Illinois referred 3,772 cases of intentionally false reports to the Federal government.

    In 1986 Douglas Besharov the first Director of the National Center on CHild Abuse and Neglect stated “We now face an imminent social tragedy: the nationwide collapse of child protective efforts caused by a flood of unfounded reports”.

    Sadly more the 20 years later he has proven to be correct at least in those communities where unfounded reports were allowed to flourish.

    B’H our adherence to the laws of mesirah and the psukim of courageous Rabbonim Have prevented our communites from self destructing as well.

    Let us Daven that the Rabbonim continue ho have the strength to hold up aginst the extreme pressure being brought on them by well meaning but severly misguided individuals.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790091
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Now for those who wish to know some further details according to a study done by child psychologist Wade F. Horn 9% of all child abuse is done by the mothers live in boyfriend. A further 12% is done by stepfathers.

    Furthermore according to Government Reports a child living with both biological parents is statistically Eight Times less likely to be abused then a child living without both biological parents.

    Oh and that favorite statistic of Advocates that 20% of children will be abused.

    Lets break it down ust a drop.

    There are no seperate stats for molestation the basis for this claim is the fact that the year before this number surfaced Reports were that there were 3.2 million cases of abuse reported in the U.S.A.

    However a closer look at these stats are somewhat startiling

    Roughly One Third of these cases were unable to be substantiated at all, of the remaing two thirds that CPS considered valid only 25% were found out to be real cases of abuse. Thats right only 25% percent meaning 3 out of 4 were not.

    What was the most prevalent form of abuse?

    Emotional Abusewhich were approx. 59% of the allegations

    Only 10.8% were allegations of sexual abuse.

    A further interesting note is that approx. 1 out Five cases of child abuse originated from the internet!

    Again Aries all thaese stats are real and availible to anyone willing to look around a drop online.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790089
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Aries2756

    Why do you insist on misqoutig sources? the source of 400 children per an abuser is a non-ewish orginazation that is dedicated towards fighting abuse due to Yeshiva World policy I cannot list the address however I can list the real numbers.

    70% of child molestors have between 1 and nine victims r”l.

    20% have between 10 to 40 victims r”l

    The remaining 10 percent are considered to be “serial offendors” and they may have as many as 400 victims in their lifetime.

    These are the real numbers check’m up.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790077
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    mw13

    What an impressive post, and quite accurate.

    Let’s just daven that our community continues to show a little bit of brains and does not follow the ways of others who unforunatley are already undergoing many of the trials and tribulations you have so eloquently mentioned.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790072
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    And yes Aries it makes perfect sense that the Agudah comprised of frum yidden many of whom are either fathers or grandfathers as well as many Poskim are less concerned with the welfare of your children then your local DA or precint captain.

    Do you realize how utterly ridiculous that sounds?

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790071
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Sorry Aries2756 but Raglayim L’davar does not mean that one most know for sure rather the closest translation that could be applied is probable suspicion and even that is not wholly accurate as many other things factor in.

    And yes of course someone who was actually molested knows for sure however it is the Beis Din that is Matir him to be Moiser that must be convinced there is raglayim ludvur as in their eyes both the accused and accuser are “reshaim”.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790064
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Shlishi,

    If you wish to dig a little you will find out that not only have there been numerous proven cases of false accuasations. Studies seem to show that a false accusation of child abuse in many cases prove to be ust as detrimental to the child at the heart of the case as a real and actual case of child abuse.

    Google it and you will be amazed (and horrified) I would hope.

    Personally I feel that someone who actually gets beyond the emotions and digs a little to find out the actual numbers and the story behind the numbers will be amazed at the wisdom of the Torah and have a renewed sense of appreciation towards those Rabbonim who have stood couragesly against the tide and fought to protect our communities, families , and yes children from the untold damage and harm that has been done to the children and families in the secular world.

    May hashem give them continued Koach to withsatnd the pressures and monetary benefits being offered to them if they will ust agree to ignore Shulchan aruch and common sense in favor of that which has been proven a disastorous failure.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790061
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Regardng Mandating Reporting Laws.

    A cursory google search on Mandated Reporting laws shows that it is at the very least a highly contoversial law. There is widespread evidence that far from even coming close to solving the issue Mandated Reporting Lawsmade the issue severly worse wherever they were introduced.

    Those who are vocal in their opposition to these Laws include former CPS officials and family rights advocates.

    After spending some time looking into these laws when the issue of the Markey Bill came up I was forced to conclude that it was yet another liberal experiment gone bad.

    Then again considering the fact that the society that the orthodox ewish world has a far better track record of producing normal, healthy and productive adults then the secular world which has a culture that is in complete disarray, I truly havve learnt that in most instances the best advice is to do the opposite of whatever is in style by the secularists.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790058
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Rav Elyashivs Psak is actually written down i Hebrew and published in the Teshuvah Sefer that collects his responsa, He states clearly that there must be reglayim l’davar to allow going to the police as well as further conditions.

    If anyone wants further clarification they can talk to Rav Feivel Cohen shlita a Rov in Brooklyn who is a born and bred American as the Responsa is addressed to him and he has spent hours upon hours discussing the issue with Rav Elyashiv shlita.

    in reply to: Child Abuse #790048
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    I don’t really know what Rabbi Zwiebel can add to this topic as it contains many issues that involve Halacha and must be addressed by Gedolei Poskim.

    If it is the secular viewpoint that is being discussed. My personal feelings are that whatever measures secular authorities have taken to protect children are obviously an abject failure as the secular society is literally falling apart faster the ever.

    As such I really do not care for their opinions what so ever

    in reply to: What can we learn from a tragedy like this? #786985
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    aries2756: The police have stated that it seems he got lost and asked for directions, they have also stated that it seemed the rotzach did not do anything to the child beforehand.

    Personally I heard from an older and wise Rov regarding tragedies that he cannot know for certain what to learn from them as nevuah is botul.

    As such I feel that while we personally may not be able to identify what to learn from this horrible tragedy one thing is obvious.

    I beleive that there is no case in the last 60 years at least of an ostensibly orthodox man having done such a heinous crime.

    Yes, I am aware that people will say that this is different, this man was crazy.

    However crazy people did not just come about, they were always here and yet this did not happen. Period.

    When a person is found dead the ziknei haeir must bring an egla arufah, when a tragedy occured near an Amora chazal tell us that Eliyahu Hanavi did not appear to him for three days since he was held partly responsible that such a tragedy could occur in his vicinty.

    We as a whole must look inside of ourselves and ask how is it that such a tragedy could occur in the heart of our community? How could such a thing happen.

    YES it does mean that we as a whole have sunk one level and we must use it as a wake up call to examine ourselves.

    Lastly I would remark that recently three Gedolei Yisroel were niftar, people said they were old, now that an eight year old little boy has been brutally murdered under circumstances unparelled in history what will we say?

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781306
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Derech hamelech,

    please look it up it’s towards the begining “Rabi Chiya Amar Hifkir Atzmoh K’Sudeh” which the meforshim explain as I wrote earlier.

    For a complete line by line explanation look in Medrash Rabbah Hamevuor.

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781305
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Zahavas Dad;

    First you attempted to state there were specific legal reasons that same gender marriage was pursued.

    That was shown to be false.

    Then you stated that seperate but equal is unequal.

    That is irrelevent because the point here is that throughout history it has been a recognized fact that the relationship beteen two commited persons of the opposite gender is inherently different then two people of the same gender.

    This happens to be an inarguable fact.

    Unless you will somehow show that a man and woman are really the same then you must concede that a relationship between a man and woman in order to last must be different then the relationship between two members of the same gender.

    If you do not understand how this is true I suggest that you consult with a qualified chosson teacher or kallah teacher as to the very real differences between men and women.

    Now you decided to inform people that you realized certain thing because you had a friend who unfortunatley had this machla.

    I hope your friend realizes it is a machla and attempts to get help.

    However I fail to understand how your personal “realizations” have an effect on right and wrong.

    The Torah says that recognizing same gender marriages is wrong.

    Period.

    The vast majority of the world recognizes that it is wrong.

    And logically it is quite easy to understand what the “normal” order is supposed to be.

    What does what you wrote have anything to do with it?

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781290
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Personally I would be worried for Jewish Saftey on account of this bill.

    America by and large is a religous country if you go out in the south or Midwest constitutional amendments banning such “marriages” were passed by wide margins i.e 80% in some cases.

    This fight to make those who feel such behavior is immoral be seen as “racists” is being led by many Frei Jews and the undercurrents of a backlash is already being whispered about.

    In essence there are many irreligous Jews who are attempting to tell the majority of Americans they are racists because deeply held religous views.

    If that is not dangerous I don’t know what is.

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781288
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Zahavasdad;

    That is not why they wanted marriage as they already had all those rights under the civil union law, Any rights they do not have is in regards to federal law because of DOMA (signed by Clinton, incidently) and Federal Law is not affected by the state law.

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781287
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Derech Hamelech,

    It is in Medresh Rabbah on Parshas Toldos, in Parsha Samach Gimmel Siman Yud

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781274
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Gavra-at-work

    The difference between a cheeseburger eater and the recently passed legislation is that the attempt is being made to frame all those who are anti such behaviour as racist and bigots.

    in reply to: Same gender marriage- immoral? #781270
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    There is a Medrash (in Medrash Rabba) on the pasuk that describes Eisav as a man of the fields that discusses same gender relationships.

    The Medrash states that in the End of Days the nations will recognize recognize same gender relationships.

    Klal Yisroel will ask Hakodosh Boruch Hu after all the tzar we have been through in Golus we must have this tzar also to be under a nation that recognizes same gender relationships?

    in reply to: Getting Rid of the Status of Moser #780514
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    I beleive that Rashi in the begining of Parshas mishpotim states clearly that Mesira is ossur and a Chillul Hashem even in cases where the “arkous” (goyishe courts) have the exact same laws as Beis Din.

    In addition I believe that there is a teshuva between Rav Elyashiv shlita and Rav Feivel Cohen shlita in which they both clearly state that from a halachic standpoint Hilchos Mesira are fully applicable in America.

    However I would hesitate to think Mesirah applied in your case since the intent was simply to have the police have the person shut his alarm and not to administer an “oinesh” however please consult your LOR who is knowledgeable in this area of Halacha.

    in reply to: Boro Park Eruv #761054
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    David1999

    First off none of the Four Rabbonim mentioned signed onto that Kol Korah and they all said so publicly.

    The specific reason they did not sign that Kol Koreh is in order to prevent people from BP interfering in Flatbush.

    Again this was stated publicly by Rav Feivel Cohen ( I personally heard it).

    I am unaware of the fact that Lodz or Odessa had shishim riboh, in the case of Warsaw which did have Shishim Ribboh there is a river running through the middle of Warsaw which complicated matters.

    As for your statements about the Mishna Berura.

    First off to say the “we are now aware that the overwhelming majority of Rishonim held of Shishim Ribboh” is comical.

    It’s simply untrue.

    You can try and say that there are a number of Rishonim who did hold like that however the Mishna Berurah’s two main problems (from memory since it’s a number of years since I learnt these inyonim) with it is 1) since it is a machlokes rishonim it should be regarded as safeik d’oiraisa l’chumra 2) The Shulchan Aruch qoutes it as a “yesh Omrim” meaning he did not hold of it.

    Many Gedolei Poskim in fact held that the real reason why people were somech on “shishim ribboh” in Europe was because of “dochak Hashoh” even though it should have been sofeik d’oraisa l’chumra.

    In fact the Psak of the Gra (qouted by an earlier poster) never to rely on eiruvin was based on the fact the Gra held unacceptable kulos had been introduced to eiruvin in account of the great need for them in Europe.

    The thrust of Rav Aaron Kotler’s teshuva on the Eiruv as well if I recall is to show that one cannot rely on shishim ribboh B’zman Hazeh where the need for an eiruv is not “shas hadchak” as in Europe.

    As for Paris Rav Chaim Ozer in consultation with the Chazon Ish in fact paskened that Paris was a Reshus Harabim if not for the sea walls the teshuva was to Rav munk zt”l and is printed in AchiEzer.

    I find it amusing that so far you have deemed the Mishna Berurah followed by Rav Moshe as “misinformed” in order to justify your position.

    As for Rav Wosner’s reaction to his son there are witnesses to it and they were far from the terrorists. Rabbi Simcha Klohr, Ruby Shron, Rav Feivel Cohen among others.

    in reply to: Boro Park Eruv #761044
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    I would point out that the problem that was raised at the start of the thread is one of the very issues that were raised by those oppossed to the initial construction of the eruv.

    Mainly that it is very hard for people to remain aware of the exact boundries of th eiruv which can ( and is alleged here to have done) cause actual Chillul Shabbos.

    While at the time these Rabbonim were laughed at for being so “simpleminded” it seems that there is reason to beleive that it is they who were correct.

    As it is quite well known that the Gedolim of previous Generations were opposed to the building of an Eiruv (For whatever reason) and it would seem that it is only present day Rabbonim who have permitted it one could perhaps see from here the wisdom of Chazal “If the elders say to destroy and the youn ones say to build, then destroy for the destruction of the elders is building and the building of the young ones is destruction”

    Woe to to the Dor that has forgotten the Gedolim who built the Torah World we live in.

    in reply to: Boro Park Eruv #761035
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Feif Un,

    The Letter was signed against the Flatbush Eiruv specifically and was signed by Rav Shmuel Berenbaum zt’l, Rav Aaron Shechter shlita,Rav Hillel David shlita, and Rav Feivel Cohen shlita(Mechaber of Badei HaShulachan).

    Furthermore Rav Feivel Cohen headed a delegation to Rav Elyashiv shlita to present the shaila to him and he gave over the written psak of assur as was circulated at the time.

    All the above Rabbonim hold the Boro Park eiruv is assur however they did not wish to sign publicly against it in order to be able to ensure that the Boro Park Rabbonim who were Pro the Eiruv would not be able to intrude on their “turf” in Flatbush. (This was stated publicly by Rav Cohen shlita in front of his entire shul).

    Rav Moshe wrote clearly that Brooklyn is a Reshus Harabim D’Oraisoh to state otherwise is to simply overlook the fact that it is written in Igros Moshe.

    To state that Rav Moshe “ignored” the Gedolei Achronim is basically admitting that one is a complete Am Ha’aretz.

    Yes there were Eiruvin in Europe.

    Europe was a lot smaller the Brooklyn is today and the need for an eiruv was overwhelming. Meaning it was needed for basic things like going to the bathroom and getting one’s food from the communal oven.

    Do you follow the Mishna Berurah?

    Well the Mishna Berurah himself writes that the eiruvin in Europe were established based on many Kulos and a “Ba’al Nefesh should be Machmir. He makes quite clear that he was not very happy with the stae of Eiruvin in Europe.

    Did the Mishna Berura also ignore the Achronim?

    There are no mainstream competent Flatbush Poskim that I am aware of that hold of the eiruv in Flatbush. It was actually built by a Rov from Monsey who is the son of one of the Gedolei HaDor and when his Father was made aware that he went against the express wishes of all the Rabbonim of the area he was furious. I cannot report the exact exchange that occured since there are conflicting reports suffice to say that his father lent his signature as well against the eiruv. ( I am not stating the identity on the off chance said Rav has done Teshuva)

    in reply to: When young adult leaves to be Frei #776715
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Regarding the Ramabam it’s in Hilchos Teshuva Perek Hey Halacha Hey.

    The Ravad there happens to take a strong stand against what the Rambam seemingly writes.

    Rav Shach in Avi Ezri has a fascinating explanation of that Rambam and continues with a very fundemental explanation of Emunah.

    Rav Shach writes clearly that Belief in G-d is a logical conclusion and not what emunah refers to.

    in reply to: Divorce Rate in the frum community #728543
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Bowwow: You seem to have misinterpeted my statements.

    Of course Divorce is and should always be looked at as legitimate and sometimes needed. As you said quite accuratley the Torah allows for it and in some cases requires it.

    That said the Gemorah also says that over every Divorce the Mizbaiach sheds tears.

    Perhaps if people would be more cognizant of the possibilty of Divorce and the terrible ramifications that go along with it, as well as the fact that their actions as a spouse can and sometimes do lead to this heartbreaking result then they would be more careful in their actions beforehand and thereby eliminating the need for this option.

    in reply to: Divorce Rate in the frum community #728539
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    The satistics on the matter are hard to really rely on and vary wildly ( there are estimates placing the Divorce rate as high as 30 percent and 50 percent among certain age groups in certain communities).

    Most of the info I rely on comes from anecdotal evidence as well as conversations with Rabbonim involved in Sholom Bayis and a writer for a major Jewish Publication who was tasked with investigating the matter.

    in reply to: Divorce Rate in the frum community #728534
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Oomis:Your comment shows a basic lck of knowledge of the divorce scene.

    The Divorce rate among those who are more modern is astronmically higher then the more yeshivish cercles.

    That sid it is undeniable that Yes, the trend among the Orthodox Jewish World is drifting towardss the non-jewish world where there is a Divorce rate of over 50%.

    This poster for one does not know why people would be surprised.

    We Have been subtely told that the Torah is “outdated” and that only those trained by non-jewish sources are “proffessional” and capable of dealing with these matters.

    The result?

    Well when those dealing with certain issues in our communities are the same as those of the wider population, is it ny surprise that slowly the results are mirroring those of the wider population?

    in reply to: Did the political tone influence yesterday's shooting. #727402
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Those who who think that Democrats do not fear Sarah Palin have a basic lack of understanding of the Liberal mindset.

    Linerals Beleive that all woman should be pro-abortion and men who are pro-choice are anti-womans rights.

    Liberals beleive that woman should have careers and “large” families prevent that and those who believe in having large families are anti-womans rights.

    Liberlas believe that Conservatives are inherently cruel and have no pity for minority’s hence have no appreciation for womans rights.

    Libelrals believe that the only People who are conservatives are old white southern males.

    Sarah Palin is a Wife, Mother of Five, Woman and proud conservative hence she shatters the core beliefs of Liberals.

    Hence Sarah Palin is dangerous.

    Now to fight Palin the attempt is being made to construe the woman who had an Israeli flag in her office as an anti-semite.

    And Palin is the unintelligent one?

    in reply to: No Women On The Seruv List? #746857
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Health:

    Of course I don’t rely on the media for details as I already mentioned in my last post.

    In regards to the appeal they did appeal and lost.

    in reply to: No Women On The Seruv List? #746850
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    I have knowledge of the particular case cited by popa as the man is a close relative of a freind and in fact stayed in my house.

    There is currently no Beis Din that has stated that the Man is obligated to give a get rather Bes Din has testified that it was the wife who left Bes Din and was unwilling to work with them.

    The Man in question is being persectuted unfairly and going through a rough time simply because he wishes to maintain a connection with his only son.

    As Rav Yisroel Belsky stated in his letter regarding this case “let those who do not know gittin busy themselves with something else”.

    in reply to: Reading "Fairy Tale" books to our children! #1088584
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Frumladygit,

    I personally do not have any great love for physchology nor for Bruno Bettleheim but the fact remains that he was from the great child physchologists of his era and did much to influence the field.

    And whoever wrote his theory makes no difference as it is quite convincing.

    in reply to: The Liberals' True Face #768592
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    I must admit it is quite amusing to consistently have European countires with tiny populations compared to the U.S.A with a population that dwarfs them.

    Oh and the comparisons stop as soon as you start hitting the midsized economies that collapsed (or are near collapse i.e Greece,Portugal, Spain or have began the move towardsCapitolism to head off collapse i.e Isreal, France, England.

    in reply to: The Liberals' True Face #768590
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    CharlieHall

    1) Just so you know in the 1950’s many isreali’s did starve they were undergoing a depression.

    How do I know?

    My Father was an Isreali child then!

    He still remembers standing in line to recieve US AID which kept many people from starvation.

    2) To state that Isreal’s socialist economy kept it from collapse is laughable till Netanyahu became Finance Minister the Isreali economy was in a perpetual state of collapse, it virtually did not exist rather was proped up by billions in loans from the U.S.A

    3) To state the Gedolim back the wWelfare state is to simplify a complex issue in an extremley naive way. The Gedolim are strenuos in their objections to cutting the Chareidi budget in disproportion to the wider population and not provide legitimate way’s for Charedim to earn a living.

    4) In every place where legitimate competion has been introduced the results have been a better quality product introduced at a lower cost with greater profits provided.

    in reply to: Reading "Fairy Tale" books to our children! #1088576
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    It’s quite interesting that Dr. Bruno Bettelheim (an irreligous jew) who was considered one of the greatest child physchologists of his times wrote an entire book examining childrens fairy tales.

    The essence of his work basically made the point (quite convincingly) that each and every one of the famous fairy tales are lessons designed to give over specific points in parable form.

    For me it was quite eye opening to realize that what I had always been warned of by my Rabbeiem. That even innocent fairy tales that are supposedly just to “entertain” pose hidden risks as they convey hidden messages that are many times in direct contradiction to our mesorah was in fact documented and proven by an independent outside source who most definetley had no idea what he was writing!

    in reply to: The Liberals' True Face #768586
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    MDD:

    It is quite interesting that while those in favor of what are generally conservative positions are able to cite expicit Torah sources and real life examples that have formed and continue to support and inform ours/their worldview.

    However the only counter arguement that you are able to muster up as “Rush Limbaugh is not Da’as Torah” This in spite of the fact that I have yet to have heard someone proclaim him as such or use him as a primary source for thier opinions.

    in reply to: The Liberals' True Face #768584
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    CharlieHall

    It’s great to read your comment right when I just returned from taking an Isreali Meshulach around for an hour and a half trying to help him earn some money to pay off his debts.

    Have you ever wondered why there are so many Isreali Meshulachim here to help pay for medical expenses when they have Socialized medicine.

    Because Socialized medicine does’nt pay for good medical care. Period.

    Oh and yes Isreal had a socialized economy.

    The socilized economy broughty the country to the brink of collapse.

    Then an MIT trained Netanyahu came in and introduced the concept of free markets and soon brought in an American Banker (Stanley Fisher) enouther staunch defender of Capitalism.

    The results.

    Even while the world economy declined. Isreal is expieriencing growth.

    in reply to: Anyone understand how Mishpacha pulls it off? #722854
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    They have gotten a temporary editor and they are in the process of integrating their new Editor

    in reply to: The Liberals' True Face #768566
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    To compare the Torah to liberalism is absolutley ridiculous.

    As popa-bar-abba said quite pointedly liberal philosophy is that the poor man is entitled to the rich mans money, it is not charity that the rich man is giving rather it is simply the poor mans true rights that he is fulfilling.

    In other words the liberal believes that the rich mans money is not really his rather it is the poor mans.

    Now the Chachomim were rather clear about what is the status of someone who feels that someone else’s money is his “Those who say that mine is yours and yours is mine is a an “am haaretz and there are those who say that this is the midda of Sidom”.

    in reply to: Black Friday 2010: Slashing prices like crazy #712541
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    http://www.MyHeadcoverings.com is offering 20% off through cyber monday.

    in reply to: The Stigma On Therapy Etc. #690422
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Sorry Health,

    However I personally tend to agree with that one as well. Yes there is a place for therepy but for the most part it’s Kefira.

    Take a look at the small Kuntrus of Letters from Rav Shlomo Wolbe zt”l that came out on his sheloshim. Rav Wolbe writes that the milchoma of our generation is to push pshycology from our camp. According to Rav Wolbe zt”l much of the root of psychology is Kefira.

    And Rav Wolbe studied psychology.

    in reply to: The Stigma On Therapy Etc. #690420
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Health,

    All JewishCourage did was state the HALACHA it is very quastionable at the very least for any Single man to be the therapist of any single woman.

    in reply to: The Stigma On Therapy Etc. #690416
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    aries2756,

    Your point seems to be that people nowadays do not have a wise and trusted friend. If so a therapist will not help though the importance of a friend has been stated by Chazal “asay Lecho Rav UKinei L’chu Chaver” I higly doubt Chazal were referring to tharapists!

    in reply to: Therapy Stigma #690351
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Jewish Courage,

    I would think that a phycologist in many ways should be compared to a teacher.

    It is prohibited for an unmarried man to teach children because of the fear he may develop a relationship with the mothers who bring them to school (Even HaEzer Siman Chuf Beis) while there is some disscussion about when this halacha is applicable nowadays where we have school buses, I would think it would be quite logucal to infer that it is of sourse prohibited for an unmarried man to expressly treat an adult married woman especially since treatment usually nessacitates building a relationship.

    in reply to: Girls Congregating the Streets on Shabbos #691461
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Women were’nt under the same pressure and stress!?

    Come on!

    HAve you forgotten there were no washing machines, gas ovens, electric heaters, air conditioners, all clothing was sewn by hand, and oh I almost forgot,

    No indoor plumbing.

    nd you think Women were’nt under “pressure” how about someone nowadys trying to run a home like that for a week?

    in reply to: The Stigma On Therapy Etc. #690410
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    Personally I would be hesitant to allow my child to go to therepy as according to research the rate of chid abuse among therepists is quite alarming to say the least. In the report issued by William Donohue Phd. on behalf of the Catholic League (2004)which seems to be very credible and is well sourced the numbers given are between 3 and 12 percent!

    Basiclly if I was convinced that is the ony way to go and the person/child who really need it I would do a grea amount of research and send them but if it was not an extreme case probably not.

    in reply to: Physics – Relativity #790818
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    charliehall,

    Sure Dr. Spencer believes the earth has gotten warmer you cannot debate temperture readings.

    However there are two key points

    1) the warming seems to have “miraculasly” ceased.

    2) Dr. Spencer along with many others beleive that humans have no effect on the earth’s temprature what so ever. As such the proposed “cap and trade” which any economist will tell you will cost real jobs and cause real hardship on people are absolutley ridiculus.

    However it would be hard for scientists who are essentially Kofrim in many (not all but many) cases to admit there is some things that they have no control over,

    As an aside “global warming” beleivers have brought about the ludicrous notion that carbon dioxide is a poluutant in other words every time a human being breaths he is polluting the air and essentially destroying the planet!

    Oh and methane gas is emitted by cows when they belch so again cows belching is polluting the planet and destroying it.

    As Rav Amnon Yitzchok once said you want to beleive in Evolution fine but it was your grandfather who was the monkey not mine and now I’ll feed you bananas!

    in reply to: Physics – Relativity #790801
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    CharlieHall,

    If you want to really be accurate its actually Professor Roy Spencer who is cited interviewed by Rush Limbuagh and he is a climateologist.

    I do admit that I personally feel the entire Global Warming “debate” is somewhat similar to the Dor Hafloga building support struteres for the sky.

    in reply to: Breach in Tznius: Recent affliction attacking Klal Yisroel #1025706
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    WellInformedYid,

    Al tadin es Chaveircha does not mean that one should turn issurim into “maybes” if someone is dressing in anon-tznius manner then it is not tzniusdig and should be addressed as such.

    We should of course be “Dan L’chaf Zchus” that unfortunatley the individual does not know any better or some similar thought (which is often times true). This is far different from saying that tznius is not clear cut

    in reply to: Breach in Tznius: Recent affliction attacking Klal Yisroel #1025697
    Ben Levi
    Participant

    OOMIS1105

    In a way your right and in a way your wrong,

    Yes you can notjudge someone wearing a blue shirt in a locale where bnei torah as well wear blue shirts.

    However if you live in a locale that Bnei Torah do not wear blue shirts then one who so chooses is making a conscious decision not to identify himself with those who wear white shirts. When the one who sees him on the street then assumes he is not a Ben Torah he is not “judging” him rather he is acknowledging the decision the person himself has made.

    In fact such things do have implications L’halacha.

    There is a difference in Hilchos Yichud as to whether a man is considered a “Parutz” or not. Ashkenazim hold that every person is considered a “Kusher”. However Rav Shmuel Wosner (One of the undisputed Gedolei Poskim) holds that if someone owns a television then the person is rendered a “parutz”.

    A prominent Posek in America told me in private conversation that as a whole he does not agree with Rav Wosners ruling in the location that he lives, However in Bnei Brak where Rav Wosner lives he does see merit in the ruling since it is a place where no person who is really a “kusher” has a television so by one simply bringing it into his house he is automatically showing that he does not have the level of a “Kusher”

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