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December 5, 2023 10:25 pm at 10:25 pm in reply to: Chanukah: A Reminder of the Dystopia that Exists in the Frum Community #2244707KuvultParticipant
Perhaps this is what Chanukah is supposed to be? Why does celebrating this way equal “Yevanim”?
I don’t see many Jews following the basic Mitzvah of lighting one candle each night for a half hour. We praise (actually now it’s assumed) those who add a candle every night & buy beautiful Menorahs to enhance the Mitzvah. So why should the non-lighting celebrations of Chanukah be any different?KuvultParticipantAdvances in vehicle safety over the decades has a lot to do with it.
Seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, structural integrity, etc.December 2, 2023 11:29 pm at 11:29 pm in reply to: More Torah being Learned than ever, yet more Troubles #2243901KuvultParticipantMy Ruv spoke about this on Shabbos. He said the reason for all these tsaros are men using smartphones (even with a filter) & women’s lack of tsnius.
He also warned about “Chanukah parties” where often men & women end up socializing in close quarters which goes against Halacha.KuvultParticipantA lot of it is just noise.
Biden (to the surprise of many) made a very strongly worded Pro-israel speech when it happened basically giving Israel the green light that hasn’t changed much.
2 US Naval carrier groups went to the area to warn Iran (& others) not to get involved.
How many Governors (even in heavy Dem states) posted their support of Israel?
The US has been sending planeload after planeload of weapons.
35 states have Anti-BDS laws.
Tlaib was censured by Congress (one step below getting thrown out).
I visit group homes. The majority of residents are Black. More often than not the TV is on the Christian channel which is 24/7 support of Israel.
What percent at the rally in Washington were Non-Jews?
There are definitely problems that need to be addressed. But this notion that “America” has turned on us is nonsense.KuvultParticipantThis was ( it seems what Agudah often does) they played the usual “neither here nor there”
Obviously many of the Frum families in Baltimore are connected to Ner Israel yet even after R’ Feldman’s retraction some schools attended or setup a system for easy notification that they were taking their child out of school to attend the rally.
The lack of clarity can be frustrating but at the same time successful groups tend to go different ways & sometimes the best route is to cater to all by catering to no one.KuvultParticipantAkuperma,
The NYPL is Antisemitic? Lol, That’s why they closed on Sunday.
I better reason is the Chasidish Rebbe’s convinced them to close because they heard some of their more “Open-minded” followers were taking their Kinderlach there & exposing them to all kind of Kefira & Tarfus.
There was quite a kerfuffle at one Cheder when a Rebbe saw a boy had in his bag a book about dinosaurs.KuvultParticipantI don’t waste much time on trolls.
1. MO is not dying in Baltimore because they share space with the Yeshiva people who are not trying to get rid of them.
& No they (as I’ve seen in other communities) are not pushing the Rabbanim to put out a weekly proclamation to move the community more to the right.
2. In short typing, women of the Kollel was OBVIOUSLY referring to the wives. It was also in a SEPARATE paragraph detaching it from my comment about Chumros. A little reading comprehension training can go a long way.KuvultParticipantCommonSaychel,
I agree. Let’s get back to the Chasidim.
My only real point is the people smiling with glee that the MO are dying. But without using labels like RWMO or YM, there is a major group in Baltimore that doesn’t believe in much of the “Chumros of the week” or “We can always be more Frum by….”
As many have written (inc. women from the Chasidish Kollel, who found it so refreshing) it’s very based on live & let live & they mean it.KuvultParticipantUjm,
In Baltimore R” Schwab certainly did. That was the norm & if you know the history of his Shul you’d know that was not something he made an issue about. In that era it was the norm. You can even look at Ner Israel events of the past & they are mixed as well.KuvultParticipantIn Baltimore I don’t think people are conscious about it but I’m sure many in the more Lakewood or Monsey type places would find it odd.
Mixed seating in Baltimore has always been the norm though some places have changed to fit in in the more Yeshivish world. Ner Israel used to have mixed seating at their banquets but no more.
R’ Schwab had to fight the mixed dances the Frum Shuls held but you’re correct that the mainstream never made a big deal about mixed seating.
“Baltimore is R’ Schwab” there’s no question he played a major role in what Baltimore looks like today. (R’ Schwab helped found Bais Yaakov in 1942, with others)
But I think the real driving factor (& very few would argue) of why Baltimore today is what it is were R’ Ruderman & R’ Neuberger. They built a community where Torah & a Torah lifestyle are the most important while (as the article said) insisting people be “Normal” & also live in this world. They kept the “Kanoyim” from taking over & that’s why you can have multiple Shuls & schools were the makeup is Yeshivish & MO without fighting & actually getting along through mutual respect.KuvultParticipantThis reminded me of a beautiful article I read from a Rabbi describing the first Shul I mentioned seeing it from the outside. Halevi this is what all America looks like. What’s the worst that’ll happen? Moshiach would come? Part of the reason no one is “dying” is because in Baltimore the different factions aren’t at war with each other. In fact they help & encourage each other.
“It is definitely a large shul, not a shteibel. Its specialness struck me almost immediately, from the first davening Friday night. There were too many different kinds of Jews there, and they all seem to get along. I wasn’t used to that.”
“Looking around at the congregants, I saw the largest sub-group, which was people of all ages sporting black hats. But this was no black-hat shul, because there were also a sizeable number of kipot srugot, as well as black leather yarmulkes. We shouldn’t forget the folks in Chassidic garb either. How did they all get along? It was like walking into a time-warp.”
“It is an open question, of course, whether the rabbis made the congregants or the congregants had the depth to choose the proper rabbis. (I would have a hard time not assigning at least some of the credit to the presence in Baltimore of Ner Israel, known for its openness, reasonableness, tolerance and embrace of normalcy.) Whatever the case may be, it was hugely refreshing to be in a shul in which the different components of American Orthodoxy continued davening under one roof, hopefully gaining from the mix of perspectives, and certainly creating an example of unity and tolerance that would be well followed by the rest of us.”KuvultParticipantTakka & Ujm,
Modern Orthodox is not dying in Baltimore. It did somewhat in the past & has changed somewhat but is still strong.
The largest Frum Shul in Baltimore is very diverse with the biggest factions being Yeshivish Modern & RWMO. They built a beautiful huge building that is busier than ever.
Behind them is a Shul that’s always been strongly Modern Orthodox that is growing year by year. SOTC is undergoing massive building. The Shul is packed. They have by far the largest Daf Yomi Shiur in Baltimore (& the world).
Interestingly enough there are many “Ner” guys that Daven there due to the amazing MO YU Rabbi. Baltimore has a flourishing MO Coed Religious Zionist school that is doing well
The main boys school has over 1,700 students (the next one has 700). It’s a mix of MO & YM but also includes more modern as well as very Yeshivish & a growing group of Chasidish who I assume want their sons to receive a strong secular education.
The events at this main school (Hascholas Chumash, Mishna, Gemarah, etc) are still mixed seating. Plenty of Yeshivish men sitting with Their wives at a table with other couples.
MO in Baltimore has moved somewhat to the right but between the MO & very blurred line between Frum YU types & working college educated Ner Israel types the “less Yeshivish” community isn’t going anywhere.KuvultParticipantDa Moshe,
I’ll tell you a great way to define OOT (no it’s not perfect).
How many Jews that work M-F in Manhattan live in Monsey, KJ, Lakewood, Teaneck, Passaic, Union City, Westchester or Five Towns? Quite a few.
How many Jews who live in Baltimore do the same? Zero
Baltimore is not part of the NY region (OOT) because it’s impossible to commute daily (without killing yourself).November 19, 2023 4:52 pm at 4:52 pm in reply to: The future of the democracy of the U.S. government #2240826KuvultParticipantSam,
I consider the Pope to be more Hashems messenger than Trump. We need a normal middle of the road candidate. Both sides are destroying America with their extremism.KuvultParticipantBaltimore Maven,
It is not a matter of time. There’s a reason Chasidish Kollel members come & go.
Chasidim are anchored in NY & while for me or you Baltimore is fine for a Chasid it’s quite “Out of town”
Baltimore is not Monsey, KJ or Lakewood where it’s easy to be connected to NYC. How long & exhausting is it to drive from Baltimore to KJ in the summer on a Friday afternoon? Most Chasidim are more family oriented & living in Baltimore means you & especially your children will miss those Vach Nachts, Vorts, & other non-major events & attending the big events is exhausting & requires kids missing school & (if they work) parents missing work.
There are many Baltimore Jews that would be fine relocating to a Memphis or Phoenix, but many would not because they would be missing out on a lot
To many Chasidim Baltimore looks like a Memphis or Phoenix. For proper upbringing of their kids, the way women dress at the Baltimore kosher supermarket is very different than in KJ or Boro Park. They’re constantly exposed to English & are a major minority. I grew up in the Baltimore Yeshiva community of old & we felt very different (& not always in a good way) than the majority of Jews in Baltimore & even within the Orthodox community.
The video guy Shloime Z. is a great example. How does he know how to speak & interact in a positive manner with outsiders? Because as he has explained he grew up in a very small Chasidish community where they had no choice but to interact constantly with Non-Chasidim. If you’re ok with your children growing up like that then great but many are not & will insist on staying close to the NY Chasidish communities.November 18, 2023 11:53 pm at 11:53 pm in reply to: Why aren’t yeshiva’s and girl school’s going to the rally in Washington. #2240646KuvultParticipantOn the local news here they showed girls from a Charedi school holding up signs identifying the school they were from. Not all Charedi schools stayed away.
November 14, 2023 3:40 pm at 3:40 pm in reply to: Why aren’t yeshiva’s and girl school’s going to the rally in Washington. #2239686KuvultParticipantI find this interesting compared to Trump’s Day of Prayer. A Rabbi from the Agudah sat through Xtian prayer after Xtian prayer (Our Lord JC, in the name of JC, etc.) as well as other religions that are possibly Avodah Zara as well as a Xtian Choir of men & women. This was approved by Rabbi S. Kamenetsky & there was no “last minute” declaration against it. This rally seems even more benign then that so why the last minute reversal?
November 12, 2023 10:59 pm at 10:59 pm in reply to: Why aren’t yeshiva’s and girl school’s going to the rally in Washington. #2239059KuvultParticipantAAQ,
Good luck during the day on a bus making it from Lakewood to DC in 3 hours (google maps has it at nite as over 3 hours).
The only major Frum communities where it’s not a big shlep are Baltimore & Silver Spring.November 12, 2023 1:16 pm at 1:16 pm in reply to: Why aren’t yeshiva’s and girl school’s going to the rally in Washington. #2238881KuvultParticipantThose that are old enough remember 1987 when the big rally for Soviet Jewry ended with Yeshiva bochurim & Bais Yaakov Maidlach mixed dancing.
That’s when the Rabbanim co-opted the term “Never Again”KuvultParticipant“It’s going to antagonize all the colleges, non-Jews, and the Muslims.”
Reminds me of the story of a Jew walking to the gas Chambers started singing “Ani Mamim” & the Yidden around him said, “Be quiet! You’ll antagonize the Nazis & make things worse.”November 12, 2023 7:15 am at 7:15 am in reply to: Easy questions to Palestinian “supporters” #2238783KuvultParticipantFinland was terrified of the Soviets trying to take them over as Russia has always wanted.
They allied with the Nazis to save themselves from Russia. This led to an interesting situation where on Finnish army bases you had a building serving as Nazi offices & the building next door was a Shul for the Jewish soldiers. Obviously the Nazis understood they couldn’t do anything to the Jewish soldiers.KuvultParticipantMy family takes hard rock, classic rock, & country rock & turns it into jewish music (as many Rebbe’s of the past & today’s performers do). If you like that kind of music it’s a great way to farbreng or liven up a Simcha.
October 30, 2023 7:42 am at 7:42 am in reply to: moving from Jerusalem to Cleveland – TIPS please! #2235553KuvultParticipantWhy would anyone move to a place where snow & freezing temps is a daily occurrence much of the year?
KuvultParticipantNot everything needs to be said & not everything needs to be made public.
Yesterday Israeli planes bombed 250 Hamas targets & the powers that matter said nothing. If as long as Israel is talking humanitarian temporary ceasefire or waiting for ground war while people negotiates the hostages it seems Biden & others won’t complain about Israel leveling Gaza from the air.
It didn’t take long after WWII for Germans to realize how stupid they were. Hitler promised them the world but instead they ended up with a destroyed Germany, millions dead & the eternal stain of the Holocaust.
Perhaps when Palestinians see the death & destruction Hamas brought they’ll wise up & understand Hamas is not their friend or savior but another Nazi like govt that talks a good talk but on the ground makes the lives of average Palestinians miserable.
One can always hope.KuvultParticipantA Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish & Big Rosh Yeshiva died & went to heaven. Hashem said to the Modern Orthodox, “You were a good Jew go to room 12 but be very quiet when you pass room 8.”
Hashem said to the Yeshivish Jew, “You learned a lot of Torah. Go to room 16 but be very quiet when you pass room 8.”
Hashem said to the Rosh Yeshiva, “You taught so much Torah. Go to room 11 but be very quiet when you pass room 8.”
The Rosh Yeshiva said, “I understand having different rooms but why do we need to be quiet when we pass room 8?”
Hashem answered, “Because the Chasidim are in room 8 & they think they are the only ones here.”KuvultParticipantA Chosid, a Litvak & a Religious Zionist walked into a bar.
The bartender said, “The usual Rav Kook?”October 19, 2023 11:37 pm at 11:37 pm in reply to: Pompadour hairstyle: why do our young men have this? #2233115KuvultParticipantThere are more important issue with kids these days than turning them off over a hair style.
KuvultParticipantI can’t speak about Hatzalah in Israel as I’m not sure.
But Shomrim/Shmira & Chaverim/Chavivim are duplicates. This is a problem which has plagued Yidden since time immemorial.
It’s either a member of an org who thinks he should be in charge that leaves & creates his own copycat service or a group that was rejected by the org so they create their own. Sadly, they often spend more time fighting each other or even calling the cops on each other instead of helping the community. There are videos out there of this happening.
The latest is in the Lakewood area they’re creating a new ambulance service like Hatzalah. There’s so much Lashon Hara going around there that you can’t know who to believe.KuvultParticipantA Frenchman, a German & a Jew were lost in the desert.
The Frenchman said, “I’m so thirsty I must have a glass of wine.”
The German said, “I’m so thirsty I must have a beer.”
The Jews said, “I’m so thirsty I must have diabetes.”KuvultParticipantApukerma,
What gives you the crazy idea that Russia (kinda busy right now with Ukraine) has any interest in “marching into Tel Aviv”?
While Iran would like to, being over 1,000 miles away that’s not really possible.KuvultParticipantSam Klein,
Can you or anyone else explain why when adding the numbers the day numbers are kept together (28 & 24) but when adding the year you separate the numbers (19+39 instead of 1939, 20+22 instead of 2022)? & why split where you did? Perhaps it should be 1+9+3+9?
When you’re allowed to play fast & loose with numbers you can come up with anything.KuvultParticipantUJM, I agree & pointed out how it makes Israel look bad & pathetic. One campaign had a list of items + was asking for toothpaste and deodorant. Seriously? A high tech leader, a leader in agriculture & medicine. A western democratic 1st world country needs American Jews to send these item to their soldiers? Something ain’t Kosher & it ain’t the bacon.
KuvultParticipantAlways Ask,
In the community I’m from this is standard procedure. At Tehillim Asifas the president of the Vaad Harabbonim always calls up Modern Orthodox, Yeshivish, Chasidish & Sephardic Rabbonim to lead the Tehillim. The crowd is also diverse from the entire spectrum of the community.
One Rabbi said about an Asifa, he was so moved seeing “Bare headed” men there Davening with great Kavanah alongside Kipot Serugot, black hats & men in Chasidic garb.
It’s sad it takes a crisis to understand what true Achdus looks like.KuvultParticipant“the respectable and rich Jews who led those organizations did NOTHING to stop anti-Semitism in the USA in 1930s & 1940s.”
This is not true. It was a Jewish judge who called in Lansky & told him to use violence to go after these American Nazis. He told Lansky that he arranged with the police that as long as they didn’t kill anyone they would not be arrested for assault.October 6, 2023 9:07 am at 9:07 am in reply to: Validity of Jewish Marriage where it’s for other reasons #2229698KuvultParticipantPine Lake Park,
I understand I didn’t write that clearly.
She had no children from this marriage. The issue is if the wedding was declared invalid when it was any future Children with a new husband would be Mamzerim.
The difficulty is if you say the Converso marriage was valid to avoid any chance of Mamzerim you are sentencing this 20 year old woman with no children (who gave up so much to live as a Jew) to a lifelong status of an Agunah.October 4, 2023 10:15 pm at 10:15 pm in reply to: Validity of Jewish Marriage where it’s for other reasons #2229353KuvultParticipantI’ll share a real interesting story (though I don’t know the Psak).
2 Conversos got married (no Jewish wedding) in a Christian ceremony in a church. The Priest was a Converso (doesn’t really matter). Some of the guests were also Conversos. The wife (around 20 years old) heard you could live openly as a Jew in N. Africa so she went there. Meanwhile the husband decided he liked his current life as a Christian so he stayed in Spain & would not give a Get.
The question posed to the Rabbanim was, “Did this Christian ceremony witnessed by Conversos count as a valid Kidushin?”
This had very serious consequences. If they said it was valid she’s a 20 year old Agunah. But if they say it wasn’t valid when it was her children would be Mamzerim.
As my Rabbi teaches, if you want to see what Judaism looked like during a certain time period look what kind of Shailos were being asked.KuvultParticipantWhat an amazing way to talk up a Sukkah open to the public. I’m sure children would absolutely choose going to a community Sukkah instead of six flags. Mi Kaamcha Yisroel!
September 20, 2023 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm in reply to: Israel Police: “Bring Your Guns To Shul On Yom Kippur, Sukkos” #2226930KuvultParticipantSo you’re ok with the IDF & US Military shutting down because a Gezeira is a Gezeira?
p.s. If you’re going to say no because we need to do our “Histadlush” how is bringing a gun to Shul any different?September 20, 2023 6:40 pm at 6:40 pm in reply to: Israel Police: “Bring Your Guns To Shul On Yom Kippur, Sukkos” #2226888KuvultParticipantYechiell,
It was a little joke (not to downplay the issue) but the wording of “Bring your guns to Shul…” to me sounded like something a pro baseball team would use to attract fans & sounded even funnier (to me) if Shuls also ran “promo” davenings.
It’s kinda Mel Brooks humor (like the Yiddish speaking Indian Chief in Blazing Saddles). You either appreciate it or you don’t.September 20, 2023 8:33 am at 8:33 am in reply to: Israel Police: “Bring Your Guns To Shul On Yom Kippur, Sukkos” #2226574KuvultParticipantThis sounds like an interesting promotion. In my Shul we run similar promotions.
Shabbos Bereshis we give out mini-globes (or maps for flat earthers)
“Purim Shabbos” where the laypeople shush the Ruv & Gabbai during leining
“Shidduch Shabbos” where single women throw candy over the Mechitza & whichever single man it hits must take them on a date.
If our numbers are correct (which they are) we see a 37% increase in attendance for these Shabbosim & a 12% increase in attendance overall.
p.s. If anyone would like help setting up these programs at their Shul, feel free to contact me.KuvultParticipantI’ll always remember at my Yeshiva in Israel of about 30 guys an American Kollel guy would put up a sign “Please come for any Yom Tov meal (including the 2nd day)”
Even though he didn’t keep the 2nd day because he permanently lived in Israel he still made sure the American Buchrim had a Y”T atmosphere on the 2nd day.KuvultParticipantPekak,
As I stated, “When I was YOUNG & NAIVE”
Also, for many jobs which one can’t be paid we don’t pay them for the job we pay them the money they “Lost” by not being able to work a regular job due to being involved in klei kodesh.KuvultParticipantWhen I was young & naive (I believe Reb Moshe wanted no Kosher kidushin with the Non-Frum to avoid issues with Gittim & Mamzerim) my friend & I would go to a Reform Shul to be aydim. Usually it was the grandparents who insisted on an Orthodox ceremony. The Reform Rabbi (who was from the older generation & actually knew what he was doing) the bride & groom & me & my friend would meet in the Rabbis office where the groom said Harei At & put the ring on her finger & my friend & i would sign the Kesubah. This was the 80’s & we made a quick $10 or $20 for a few minutes work. We left & the Rabbi would perform a Reform wedding in the sanctuary.
September 2, 2023 9:48 pm at 9:48 pm in reply to: Is there a Drug Problem in the “Frum World”? #2222123KuvultParticipantAs one Rabbi so perfectly put it, “We have the same problems as the outside world except our closets are darker & our locks stronger.”
KuvultParticipantA French Catholic Priest, a German Lutheran Minister & a Rabbi were lost in the desert.
The Priest said, “I’m so thirsty I must have wine.”
The Minister said, “I’m so thirsty I must have a beer.”
The Rabbi said, “I’m so thirsty I must have Diabetes.”KuvultParticipantGoldilocks,
He went through a rough patch as a Bochur & having lost control he went into a restaurant & ordered an entire pig.
Just as it was served his R’Y walked by & saw what was going on.
His Rosh said, “What’s going on?”
The Bochur pointed to the pigs mouth & said, “Rebbe, this is the most amazing restaurant. You order an apple & this is how they serve it.”KuvultParticipantA priest asks a Rabbi, “How come you don’t eat ham?”
The Rabbi answers, “It’s against my religion. How come you don’t date girls?”
The priest says, “It’s against my religion.”
& the Rabbi says, “You should try it. It’s better than ham.”KuvultParticipantYou can find whatever you want in Jewish, Christian or Islamic texts. It’s all about interpretation.
We are a strange people. So smart in some areas yet so dumb in others.
In America, 87% of Jews are not Torah observant but we assume 100% of Christians & Muslims follow the strictest interpretations.
It’s common knowledge that alcohol is banned in Islam & yet you can find liquor stores in Ramallah, Jordan & elsewhere in Muslim countries. We know Islam requires women to cover their hair yet in Iran the women are fighting to end it.
Just like we have Orthodox, Conservative & Reform Jews the Christians & Muslims have the same thing.KuvultParticipantThe biggest problem is the kids enjoy being in the “Army”
Studies confirm that boys who grew up with color war are more likely to join the Tzioni Army (Hashem Yirachem). A Frum boy in the clutches of the Evil Atheist Tzionim has very little chance of staying Frum. We need to end color war to keep our children from going down the path of Evil, Atheism, & Zionism.KuvultParticipantI’m very open minded & many of the most irreverent things don’t bother me. But even I found this to be in very poor taste
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