Menachem Shmei

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  • in reply to: New Brooklyn Eruv: Time to Accept? #2187199
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Crown Heights rabbanim vehemently oppose the eiruv as well

    in reply to: Understanding Lag Baomer #2185991
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Avira: “it’s not only in chabad”

    Yes, I am aware this. I was specifically addressing n0mesorah’s supposed diyuk in the Rebbe’s lashon.

    >”Some simply enjoy…”
    Well said.

    in reply to: Understanding Lag Baomer #2185977
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >I wonder if he really believed it to be.

    The arrogance of ignorance

    (Please state your own opinions. No need to claim the Rebbe supports your claims. If you really care to know the Rebbe’s opinion, you’re going to have to look at a lot more than one translated letter. The Rebbe has THOUSANDS of pages on Lag Beomer. See his opinion for yourself)

    in reply to: Understanding Lag Baomer #2185668
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    n0mesorah,

    Additionally, you seem to be מדייק in the word “Rejoicing of Rashbi” in the Rebbe’s letter.
    This was not the Rebbe’s words (it’s a translation). The Rebbe wrote “הילולא דרשב”י” – which he always uses to describe passing. The yahrzeits of the Chabad rabbeim are often referred to as יום הילולא.

    This is taken from the term which the Zohar uses about the passing of Rashbi: ואתכנשו להילולא דרבי שמעון (Zohar Idrah Zutah 296b).

    in reply to: Understanding Lag Baomer #2185658
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >n0mesora: “The Rebbe was adamant that lag baomer was not the day rashbi died.”

    Sorry, במכ”ת this statement is laughable for anyone who glanced at any of the Rebbe’s hundreds of Lag Baomer sichos and letters. You completely misunderstood the Rebbe’s letter.

    The Rebbe is only commenting that Rashbi couldn’t have died together with the students of Rabbi Akiva.

    The Rebbe stated COUNTLESS times that Lag Baomer is the day of Rashbi’s passing.

    Here is one example (among many) from a letter that the Rebbe wrote TWO YEARS after the aforementioned letter to Rabbi Zevin (Pesach Sheini 5711):
    כמה טעמים נאמרו בשמחת ל”ג בעומר וחגיגתו. ואנו אין לנו אלא האמור בכתהאריז”ל ומובא בדא”ח, אשר יום זה הוא יום הסתלקותו של רבי שמעון בן יוחאי – הילולא דרבי שמעון

    The Rebbe attaches several sources (also makes mention of aforementioned Chida).
    See original letter here:
    https://beta.hebrewbooks.org/reader/reader.aspx?sfid=15951#p=300&fitMode=fitwidth&hlts=&ocr=

    in reply to: The official ASK Chat GPT ANYTHING thread!!! #2185605
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Dear Bot, what are your thoughts on this:

    In what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind ban, more than a dozen rabbanim and dayanim from the Skver chasidus have signed a strongly worded letter assuring the use of AI chatbots.

    The letter, first released on Thursday, mentions OpenAI, the company behind artificial intelligence marvel ChatGPT, but makes it clear that it is not speaking of only that developer’s products.

    “The severity of the danger is not yet clear and obvious to everyone,” the letter states, noting that it poses, in the eyes of the rabbanim, a critical danger to frum yidden.

    AI chatbots provide completely unfiltered access to apikorsus, lewd and perverse content, and all the issurim of “lo sasuru acharei levavchem,’ the kol koreh says.

    The use of AI chatbots is thus in the same category as the “issur hachamur” of using unfiltered internet, regardless of how the chatbot is used.

    “Therefore,” the letter says, “the use of AI is stricly prohibited in every way and form, even on a phone.”

    in reply to: Exciting Facts that we’ll have by Geula #2185496
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Wolf, Bath,

    You are absolutely correct. Torah and mitzvos are eternal. As the Rambam writes (I just learned this in shlosha prokim):
    דבר ברור ומפורש בתורה שהיא מצוה עומדת לעולם ולעולמי עולמים אין לה לא שינוי כו’
    Or, as he writes in Hilchos Megilla, that all of Nach (except Megilla) will be nullified in Yemos Hamoshiach, whereas Chumash and all the halachos will exist forever
    הלכות של תורה שבעל פה שאינן בטלים לעולם

    The problem is that the idea of mitzvos being nullified in Yemos Hamoshiach is not the imagination of some overzealous messianists based on some vague midrashim, rather clear gemoros with halachic implications (not aggada).

    See Niddah 61b: מצוות בטלות לעתיד לבוא (regarding the halacha of בגד שאבד בו כלאים). See Tosfos there, and Rambam Hilchos Kilayim 10:25.
    See שדי חמד כללים מ’ ס”ק ריח for more examples.

    This seeming contradiction is something that Torah scholars have struggled with (though obviously in a respectful way. I am shocked by the audacity of Bath “Anyone who says otherwise, even chazal, is either wrong or a misunderstanding.” עפ”ל עפ”ל)

    Among others, Rav Elchanan Wasserman discusses this at length in Kovetz Shiurim (ח”ב סי’ ט) and proposes two answers.

    The Lubavitchers Rebbe as well has a brilliant pilpul on this sugya. See here: https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=59257&st=&pgnum=206

    Chas v’shalom to dismiss the words of chachamim. If we don’t understand, we must ask and learn.

    in reply to: Teen Violence in Lakewood #2183871
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Gadolhadofi,

    It’s hard for me to tell you, because I don’t personally know any Lubavitchers who are in college (though I assume that there are some).

    Again, the Rebbe was adamantly against any Jew (not just Lubavitchers) going to college (aside from very rare individual exceptions). Therefore, this is considered very taboo in Chabad.

    I guess a chossid who would do this would be viewed like anyone who does something very wrong.

    Google: “chabad dot org no college” for many letters (the less fiery ones) of the Rebbe (mostly to non chassidim) on the matter.

    (For parnosa, there were certain conditions when the Rebbe allowed it bedieved, such as only AFTER MARRIAGE, etc.)

    in reply to: Teen Violence in Lakewood #2183753
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Gadolhadofi,

    No, it’s not ironic. The Rebbe was specifically instructed by his Rebbe and father-in-law to receive that education.

    Just as there were unique exceptions when the Rebbe encouraged certain chassidim to go to college.

    in reply to: Teen Violence in Lakewood #2183695
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Yserbius,

    Not that I know of.

    Though he did address his own attending university in connection with his strong stance against Jews attending university.

    in reply to: reb shayala brother #2183685
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Sam,

    Where do you get the audacity to compare tzaddikim (I assume that’s what you mean by Rebbe’s) to doctors and lawyers (r”l)?

    The ideas that you mock are sourced throughout all areas of Torah.

    P.S. For a beautiful explanation on the concept of asking tzaddikim for brochos, see the Chasam Sofer (among countless others) שו”ת או”ח סי’ קסו

    in reply to: Teen Violence in Lakewood #2183405
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Yserbius123,

    Sorry I’m a bit late, but I would like to set the facts straight regarding your comments on Lubavitch chinuch:

    The Lubavitcher Rebbe was vehemently opposed to studying ANY limmudei chol (English, math, science) at any point of the chinuch system.

    In the chadorim, he only allowed the minimum limmudei chol if there was a risk that the students would otherwise go to less frum mosdos.
    For this reason, many chabad chadorim teach basic English, while many do not teach English at all (such as Oholei Torah in Crown Heights, which the Rebbe founded).

    When it comes to mesivtos, virtually no chabad mesivtos teach limmudei chol (there may be one or two small ones out of more than 40-50).

    in reply to: Dumb Phone #2182368
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    I have a gabb phone and love it. It is an Android system but absolutely no Internet access and no way to download apps (can’t be hacked. I’ve tried).

    However, no hotspot capabilities.

    @ishjew, I had blackberry classic with parental block. Worked amazingly up until last year when the service shut down.

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2181789
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >UJM: Reb Eliezer: Vi shteit?

    זהר ח”א קלט, א

    However, this is only regarding general klal Yisroel.
    It seems that great tzaddikim will rise immediately after the coming of Moshiach.
    ראה יומא ה, ב

    in reply to: The Three Differences #2180026
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    takahmamash,

    This is indeed a deeply profound question. Thanks for giving me some food for thought (no pun intended).

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2180025
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    I completely agree with AAQ.

    This is exactly my point. Couldn’t have said it better. Just check out the countless threads going in circles.

    Gadolhadofi, what exactly will be the outcome of me stating “Yes” or “No” without explaining what I mean by that and why I say that? I don’t think it will help you understand me any better. What, then, is the point?

    in reply to: The Three Differences #2179798
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Another difference (from the Lubavitcher Rebbe):

    חמץ and מצה both share the same letters, aside from the ה and ח

    When someone is haughty (חמץ), he can’t do teshuva because he always blames any wrongdoings on others and he never feels guilty.
    The ח only has an opening on the bottom – the only path such a person will go is downward ר”ל.

    When someone is humble (מצה), he can always do teshuva, for he is quick to recognize his wrongdoings.
    This is symbolized by the ה which has an opening on top to get out of our wrongs and get closer to Hashem.

    This Pesach, let’s try to be matzos. Lowering our ישות will give us an opening to the greatest heights.

    (לקוטי שיחות ח”א ע’ 129 ואילך)

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2179777
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Gadol,

    I will happily follow whomever Hashem appoints to be Melech Hamoshiach, and of course, I will join the rest of Klal Yisroel in accepting him as king.

    Regarding whom specifically Hashem will appoint:
    I do have a belief of whom Hashem will appoint to be Moshiach according to my understanding of Torah in general, and more specifically Toras Hachassidus. This understanding was also confirmed to me by my Torah teachers and by my rebbe.
    Therefore, in my mind this is as definite as the rest of the details and halachos in Torah. This does not mean I don’t respect those who disagree. I respect Shamai even though my teachers taught me that Hashem definitely wants me to increase in Chanukah candles every night.

    I wouldn’t mind going into the specifics of what I understand and where I learn it from if I were talking to someone in person and we were both in a true state of being able to hear and understand each other’s viewpoint.

    However, it would be naïve for me to think that this could be settled on an anonymous online forum (especially when there is a several-hour wait time between each response 😀), as is evident from the COUNTLESS threads repeating the same rhetoric on these topics.

    מחלוקת לשם שמים סופה להתקיים

    To clarify: I understand that I didn’t answer your question. However, I am not beating around the bush. I’m explaining why my answer would be pointless as we wouldn’t understand each other anyway and would just go in circles.

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2179477
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >But i hope we can agree that bakashos . . . are tefilos which are only for Hashem or for tzadikim to bring to Hashem.”

    I definitely agree.

    >many in your community believe that the lubavitcher rebbe is capable of fulfilling an individual’s bakashos.

    I don’t know any Lubavitchers who believe that. No one says that the Rebbe has his own kochos so we don’t need Hashem’s koach (chas v’shalom chas v’shalom. I have never heard such a thing in my life, aside from non Lubavitchers telling me that this is chas v’shalom the opinion of Lubavitchers היל”ת עפ”ל).
    Everyone I know believes that we go to a tzaddik (in this case the Rebbe) to channel HASHEM’s brochos, because a tzaddik has a more direct line (as is explained in many places. There is also an interesting Chasam Sofer that explains the difference in this regard between a tzaddik and a malach (whom it is problematic to ask brochos from).

    Anyone who learns chassidus will tell you that the very meaning of beracha is hamshacha (המבריך את הגפן). We go to a tzaddik to draw down the Hashem’s brochos which already exist limaala.

    When a Lubavitcher says “I did this with the Rebbe’s kochos” and people jump and him and scream “avoda zorah” – I think it comes from ignorance and suspicion of Yidden who are different.
    It is the same as someone saying “I made a great deal for 10,000 dollars yesterday” – no one says that the businessman doesn’t believe in Hashem ch”v, rather they understand that he means that he made a KELI for Hashem’s brochos of $10,000.

    If your mindset is set that a group of people have a certain wrong belief, it can be very easy to misinterpret everything they say to fit your conception of them.

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2179404
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >ths ONLY thing you find chazal advocating is asking for the niftar to daven on your behalf.

    Avira, when I mentioned the poskim I clearly wrote “to intercede on their behalf” – because that is what most of the poskim whom I mentioned discuss.

    However, when I mentioned chazal, I intentionally wrote “various requests” because if you go through those gemaras you’ll see that they did NOT only advocate for the niftar to daven on your behalf, rather they came to ask various other things from the dead (either seeking information (such as with Abaye in Brachos), or for the niftar to move his body (such as with Moshe and Yosef in סוטה יג), or to ask questions in learning, etc.)
    The Rama clearly rules (יו”ד סי’ קעט סי”ד) that one is allowed to ask the neshama of a deceased person to swear that it will come to him and answer his questions.

    This is what I meant by “various requests,” and I stand by what I wrote.

    in reply to: Eating Gebroks on Pesach #2179039
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Beautiful Gebroks story:

    Lubavitch is EXTREMELY makpid on gebroks (aside from Acharon shel Pesach). Even children must eat their matzah in plastic bags, lest a crumb fall on the table. Many Lubavitchers remove all matzah from the table before bringing out the next courses. The Rebbe Rashab wouldn’t eat with a fork on Pesach, lest a matzah crumb remain stuck and become gebroks.

    Once, by a Pesach seuda of the Frierdiker Rebbe (Rayatz), an uninformed guest began dipping his matzah in borscht. The chassidim were shocked and a commotion ensued.

    The Frierdiker Rebbe commented: “It is better that the matzah become red (from borscht) than a Yid’s face redden in shame!”

    in reply to: Erez Yisrael or stay in Galut? #2178890
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    One of the main accomplishments of Melech Hamoshiach is “מקבץ נדחי ישראל” – to return all of the Yidden to Eretz Yisroel (after he builds the Beis Hamikdash).
    There are many mitzvos that are dependent on all Yidden being in Eretz Yisroel (כל ישראל יושבים על אדמתם) and we have to wait till Moshiach comes to fulfill them.
    ראה רמב”ם הלכות מלך המשיח רפי”א

    Rashi tells us (נצבים ל, ג): Kibbutz Goliyos will be tough, but Hashem will כביכול grap each Yid by the hand and shlep them back to Eretz Yisroel.

    May this happen speedily in our days!
    בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין ליגאל

    (P.S. Last Sukkos, all Yidden living in Eretz Yisroel said in musaf “מפני חטאנו גלינו מארצינו”… vidal)

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2178887
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Reb Eliezer, you quoted the Mishna Brurah. However, this is actually a great machlokes haposkim, with MANY poskim clearly ruling that one is allowed to ask deceased tzadikim (their neshamos) to intercede on their behalf.

    For example:
    חמדת ימים, פחד יצחק, פרי מגדים, מנחת יצחק, בצל החכמה, חוות יאיר, מנחת אלעזר, יראים, ועוד ועוד

    These poskim explain clearly why this is not דורש אל המתים.

    The poskim who don’t allow it have many מאמרי חז”ל to answer, where it clearly mentions תנאים ואמוראים (and Kalev) who went to קברים and spoke to the מת with various requests.
    סוטה לד, ב. פסיקתא רבתי ג. ברכות יח,ב. חגיגה כב, ב. ועוד ועוד
    And of course the Zohar.

    Everyone should follow their minhag and their rov.

    in reply to: I don’t like Donald Trump, but… #2174875
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    TRUMP: I WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY – WE MUST SAVE AMERICA! PROTEST, PROTEST, PROTEST!!!

    I think this emphasizes my point in the original post.

    I dislike Trump now even more than before. I personally think he is a lunatic who should not lead this country.

    However, I think the justice system system should leave it up to us to decide that. The amount of random allegations that Trump is accused with on a daily basis points in one direction: the Dems are using every tool at their disposal to shut down Trump.

    This leads me to the question I asked in the beginning:
    If they are so sure that Trump is obviously unfit to lead, why the need for such crooked ways to accomplish their goals?
    Don’t they trust the American citizens to elect the right person?

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2173674
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    If the commenters here want to know the true opinions and answers of Lubavitch – talk to a real life Lubavitcher with brains (there are many such).

    If you want to know the opinion of internet posters on Lubavitch – check out the dozens of threads on YWN about Lubavitch (אין חדש תחת השמש).

    If you’re feeling pained that 3 weeks have gone by already without arguing about Lubavitch – go ahead, continue rehashing all the nonsense. אין לדבר סוף

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2172461
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >Ever see a lubavitcher who first finds out that many gedolim didn’t hold of the rebbe? It gives them a crisis of faith and many go off the derech because of it.

    From the inside I can tell you that this statement is completely baseless and ridiculous on so many levels.

    (Not saying that Lubavitchers don’t go off the derech. Unfortunately, they are afflicted with similar pandemics to the rest of Klal Yisroel. However, the reason you gave is way off the mark. Anyone who knows anything about Lubavitch from the inside can attest to this.

    Unless your basis is books or articles written by those who left the fold. I hope you don’t believe everything you read about orthodoxy by those who left).

    in reply to: Was Albert Einstein a Baal Teshuvah? #2171988
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Dear n0mesora,

    Why would you make up a pshat in Gemara that goes against how way all the rishonim and achronim learn it (I checked) just in order to take away the possibility for a Yid to have done Teshuva?

    (Also, if what you’re saying is true, why does someone have to have הרהור עבודה זרה to be considered a רשע? Maybe even without it he considers himself a רשע, as the Gemara says in Niddah היה בעיניך כרשע?)

    Please point out which Tosfos you are referring to. Couldn’t find it.

    in reply to: Was Albert Einstein a Baal Teshuvah? #2171000
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >Was Albert Einstein a Baal Teshuvah?

    Hopefully before he passed away he had a hirhur Teshuva, in which case he is considered a tzaddik gomur as per Gemara Kiddushin (נעשה צדיק גמור).
    Another source: יש שקונה עולמו בשעה אחת

    in reply to: Bein Hametzarim Trivia Question #2170998
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Good,

    Well we learn the extra happiness of Adar from the 3 weeks:
    כשם שמשנכנס אב ממעטין בשמחה, כך משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה

    Chasidus explains the reason why the Gemara compares them is because our goal is to transform the sadness of golus (Av) into the joy of Geulah v’yeshuah (Adar).

    (Though, honestly, I have no idea why ujm bumped this thread)

    in reply to: Shalach Manos – Is Bourbon a food? #2170999
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Square,

    To the best of my knowledge, those quotes generally were not speaking about Purim

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2170918
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    It would be interesting if someone would go through the thousands of posts about Lubavitch from the CR and put together a comprehensive book on the subject. Maybe several volumes.

    Maybe we can use chatGPT or some other AI software to put this together.

    It would be especially appropriate if it could be printed in honor of Purim!

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2170767
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Impressive! This thread managed to last for SIX DAYS without mentioning the elephant in the room (aside from a lone comment by RSo). B”H, we are apparently more b’achdus then ever before.

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2169760
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >Heretical thinking. Hashem has no use for candidates.

    Join the long list of “heretics” (r”l):
    The yeshivos of Rav Shilo, Rav Yanai, Rav Nachman, etc. (Sanhedrin 98b).
    The Sdei Chemed (“בדרך הזה היה משוער אצלם בכל דור מיהו”).
    Rav Shachnah, the Ramah’s teacher. The Ohr Hachayim.
    And many more.

    in reply to: Shtultz #2169685
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Not sure what the OP means by shtultz, but if it means being proud of our Yiddishkeit and observing the Torah (the translation of the Yiddish “shtultz”) – this is one of the important idea, especially in America, of Geon Yaakov.

    It’s known that one of the greatest nisyonos of our post holocaust America is obeying the first seif of shulchan aruch:
    אל יבוש מפני המעליגים

    This is obviously not the idea of gaava which means being proud of YOURSELF, rather being proud of the Torah that we represent.

    in reply to: The Five Most Likeliest Candidates to be Moshiach #2169686
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Gadolhadorah,

    You missed the fact that the Donald doesn’t check his suits for shatnez. That should disqualify him as well according to the Rambam (“עוסק המצוות כדוד אביו”).

    in reply to: Techiyas Hameisim By 5786/5790 #2169572
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >How do we know what Hashem’s plans are

    Well, how do we know about Techiyas Hameisim all together? Because He told us in His Torah. The same Zohar that says that תחה”מ is 40 years after kibbutz goliyos told us that the Beis Hamikdash must be built beforehand.

    Kibbutz goliyos is a distinctly Jewish concept, Jewish meaning Torah. Kibbutz goliyos does not mean thousands of Jewish children being brought to Eretz Yisroel to have their “simanim” chopped off, nor thousands of Russians pouring into the land without checking who is Jewish – thus mixing thousands of goyim into Klal Yisroel r”l.

    The Beis Hamikdash is a physical building on har habayis where Yidden come to serve Hashem. Not a Muslim mosque l’havdil, and not a Knesset filled with Jews who are embarrassed by the Torah.

    Hashem informed us all of this in His holy books. Go learn them.

    in reply to: Techiyas Hameisim By 5786/5790 #2169322
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    The OP seems to have forgotten what the Zohar writes:

    The Beis Hamikdash is built BEFORE kibbutz goliyos, and kibbutz goliyos is before Techiyas Hameisim.

    I believe that we are on the threshold of Geula, but not because 40 years ago some Jews built a secular state in our holy land. This is not my Beis Hamikdash. This is not my kibbutz goliyos.

    in reply to: Aliens/UFO/Extraterrestrial Beings #2167602
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Avira,
    Indeed, I completely agree with you.

    ujm,
    Bacteria. Unless you don’t consider that a creature. Whatever. (No, I did not mean “dinosaurs” if that’s what you’re asking).

    in reply to: Aliens/UFO/Extraterrestrial Beings #2167497
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    AviraDeArah,

    Just wondering, aren’t there plenty of creatures and other beings that we weren’t aware of for thousands of years and we’re only revealed recently?

    On the contrary, Hashem chose this time to reveal their existence so we can serve Hashem on much greater level with all the new tools (think electricity, radio waves, etc.).

    in reply to: Aliens/UFO/Extraterrestrial Beings #2165841
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Chabad dot org has a nice article on this with many מראי מקומות

    Google: Chabad org is there life on other planets

    For another interesting article on this topic, Google:
    The Rebbe and the scientist: Looking for life on Mars

    in reply to: Melech HaMashiach #2165793
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Square,

    Sorry, wasn’t intentional

    in reply to: Melech HaMashiach #2165429
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Square,

    “Any Jew can claim to be Melech HaMoshiach”

    There are certain qualifications listed in the Rambam that someone must have in order to be considered Moshiach even before starting the actual Geulah. There are other signs he must show to prove that he is definitely Moshiach and the Geulah has begun. Having a son is not listed among either list.

    in reply to: Melech HaMashiach #2165353
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    I would like to point out that most commentaries argue with the Rambam’s opinion here, and in very sharp ways.

    This all follows his opinion that תכלית השכר is a spiritual world and Moshiach will not live forever.

    Most disagree with that approach.
    See the Raavad.
    The Ramban (יגזור הרב ז”ל מיתה על המשיח ועל דורו)
    Avodas Hakodesh: הרמב”ם ז”ל שפט משפט מוות על בני תחיית המתים ועל המשיח ודורו
    And many others.

    Additionally, when Moshiach comes, all מומים and sicknesses will be healed (as ruled by the Rambam as well, הלכות תשובה פ”ט), so I doubt anyone will still be childless. (See also Shabbos 30b)

    Irregardless, throughout the signs that the Rambam gives to identify someone as Melech haMoshiach (הלכות מלכים פי”א ה”ד), he makes no mention of having children.

    in reply to: Release of Flatbush “Kidnapper” #2160782
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Gadolhadorah,

    You obviously didn’t watch the video, instead you are believing the fictional story told by NYP, CBS, Arutz Sheva, etc. (which, to the best of my knowledge, they STILL haven’t retracted).

    The avraich did NOT grab his hand and steer him to the door. He spoke to him, explained him the problem, put his hand lightly on his shoulder, headed in the general direction of the door, left the child there and calmly exited the shul, kissing the mezuzah on his way out.

    No grabbing hands, no shlepping, no running.

    Most of the news story was fabricated. Check out the footage.

    in reply to: The apple logo #2157795
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Regarding the fruit of the עץ הדעת, if I’m not mistaken, the opinions are:

    Wheat
    Grapes
    Figs
    Nuts
    Esrogim

    P.S. Esrog can also be called תפוח

    in reply to: Is the Torah against venting? #2152020
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Not getting into the lashon harah aspect, Torah definitely believes in pouring out your feelings to someone else:
    דאגה בלב איש ישיחנה.

    However, Torah always stresses the terrible effects of כעס, so the “venting” should obviously be done in a calm and collected way, with the intent to fix the problem.

    in reply to: Does Hashem Want Us to Survive? #2143156
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Of course Hashem wants the Yidden to survive! Hashem loves the Yidden like the apple of His eye. The entire world and everything in it was created for the Yidden. Yidden are even more important to Hashem than the Torah itself (תנא דבי אליהו, ועוד)

    As we say in the Haggadah, in every generation they rise against us to annihilate us, but Hashem delivers us from their hands.

    Very soon, Moshiach will come, and we’ll live forever with eternal peace. רמב”ם הלכות מלכים פי”ב, ועוד

    in reply to: world Safety #2134138
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Lilmod,

    How optimistic, Eretz Yisroel is the best place to live because it’s the best place to get killed! (ר”ל)

    OP,

    A fundamental tenent of our belief system is אחכה לו בכל יום שיבוא. No matter how bleak things look, let’s remember that we’re on the threshold to a much better world.

    As the Rambam describes (הלכות מלכים ומלחמות ומלך המשיח פי”ב ה”ה):
    At that time [of Melech haMoshiach], there will be no famine nor war, no jealousy nor competition, and all delicacies will be found like dust… And the world will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as the water covers the seabed.

    in reply to: Game Room In Yeshiva #2134089
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Indeed, this is becoming quite common. Bochurim need a healthy outlet since they are in yeshivah and not using social media, going out to entertainment, etc. (boruch Hashem).

    These are obviously only meant to be used during breaks bein hasdorim, so the more studious bochurim can stay and learn, while the more restless bochurim can play.

    This is especially useful in the winter when it’s hard to play outside, since most yeshiva lack an indoor gym (game room is a cheaper alternative).

    in reply to: Is every Yid a big tzaddik? #2134060
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Akuperma,

    Your suggestion is against Torah.
    Who gave you the right to throw away millions of Hashem’s children, when the Gemara tells us אע”פ שחטא ישראל הוא, and בין כך ובין כך בני הם (which is even referring to a Yid who is משומד לעבודה זרה ר”ל – Rashba Shu”t 1:194)?

    How much more so when we are talking about a person who knows nothing about his own religion (due to lack of education), all he knows is that his nation is the most persecuted in the entire world, yet he show great mesiras nefesh by identifying himself as Jewish, despite not knowing what it means practically.

    In a way, the essential connection that we all have to Hashem is even more visible on such a person than a frum Yid who received a Jewish education.

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