rabbiofberlin

great questions,leiderLeider..

You have great latitude what to do with your “maaser’ money. Many people buy seforim and you will often see the notation ” bought with maaser money’ in seforim.

I cannot say about tuition but personally, I would include tuition as “maaser”. After all, you support talmidei chachomim. Well, at least part of the tuition.

As far as buying coffee and paying for candles ,check out the “Mi sheberach” before mussaf on shabbos that says explicitly “the ones who give money for candles, wine for Kiddush ,bread for guests and charity for the poor”. I certainly would include coffee,cake, schnapps, etc.. as giving zedokoh and could be given with “maaser’ money.

Well, I haven’t checked hilchos zedakah but logic allows the mentioned charities.

joseph- for a change, on of your postings made me laugh. There is a gemoro quote which goes “nitzchoni” -you have triumphed over me (in talmudic discourse). I must say that your last remark was in that category!

I was not going to comment on the above posting….but Joseph’s last posting,that Torah runs without cash, is so contrary to the mishna that I have to point it out. Avos ,perek Gimmel, Mishna Kof alef (Chapter 3, Mishna 21) : ” Im ein kemach, ein torah, im ein torah, ein kemach”. if there is no food, there is no Torah (and,indeed ,vice versa)

If this is good enough for Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah, it surely is good enough for all of us. To say that that yeshivos thrived in poverty is ridiculous.Yes, yes, I also know the mishna in Perek vov (Pas bamelach tochal,etc) but this is for individuals,not the Klal (BTW-look into the explanation that the Artscroll gives on this mishnah).

All the yeshivos,over the years have tried to make the talmidim’s life better and more comfortable, from R’Meir Shapiro for yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, to the Alter from Slobodka for his yeshiva to all the yeshivos today.

Money is indeed important for any yeshiva or any talmid chochom.

yossele was THE quintessential cantor “from the heart” becuase he was a true “frummer yid”. Kwartin was a wonderful chazzan too – check out his “tiher reb Yishmoel”. I never heard that he was a “secular” jew. I am not sure he was a shomer shabbos but he sure was not a secular jew! And it is said that even the Munkatcher rebbe himself shed a tear when he heard “tiher reb yishmoel es azmo”

This whole takonoh business reminds me of the plaintive request of the obese..Please,please, stop me eating!

Come on, if parents cannot control their own stupidity or think they must keep up with the “Kleins” , why should a Rov make a takonoh that will not even be respected?? Next thing and we will have a takonoh about wha twe can or cannot wear..oops, this takomoh already exists!

Just a very small remark to joseph et al. Look into the actual Declaration of Independence for Israel and guess whose signature you will find there…R”Itshe meir levin’s, the brother-in-law of the Bais Yisroel, the gerrer rebbe zz’l, and the son of the Bendiner Rov zz’l.

Pashute Yid is absolutely correct. Whatever was said or written before the Holocaust has absolutely no relevance to the medinah today. “be=avoinoiseinu horabim”, the Holocaust was a game-changer. And let’s not re-fight the battles of who, when and how. The Seridim of the Holocaust found a refuge in Eretz Yisroel and ,regardless of their philosophical inclinations, recognized that the medinah was here to stay and had to be supported and improved. This is the shittah of the vats majority of chareidm today and all the gedolim of that segment of Yiddishkeit. I am not even talking about the Dati leumi camp.

Living in the US ,it is easy to rant and rave against the medinah- living in Eretz Yisroel, it has become abundantly clear that it is the gift of hakodesh Boruch Huh to our generation. How many jews in israel esposue the extremist (joseph, Itzik,etc) view? A few hundred? A thousand? It is an insignificant part of yidden today.

May we be “zoiche” to build the Bais hamikdosh bimeheru bejomeinu.

Pashute Yid, THANK YOU !! I could never had said it better!!! YASHER KOACH !

To sarah and sarahB: Apart from quoting two very short phrases from my (many) postings, can you show how I have been insulting people? I am not even sure if telling a person that he should crawl back into his hole is insulting…And why do you deny me ,and others, the opportunity of answering in very strong terms what is being bandied on this website, which is “sinas yisroel” to the extreme (including many thousands of chareidim), which endangers six million jews again, which reaches out to ally itself with real reshoim (remember teheran..), and for this, I should remain quiet? Have you ever read a Poster of the Neturei Karta? I suggest you do….actually, all you have to do is read some of the rantings (yes, rantings) posted on this webiste concerning Eretz Yisroel, gedolei yisroel and rabbonim (check out the site on Rav tendler).It might just be a very illuminating read for you…

As the saying goes, if you cannot stand the heat, just leave the kitchen…

To Itzik, as they say in chess, checkmate! You have no answer for anything I said, so you leave the field…Just to offfend sarah-I will say, good riddance!

To lessmodernorthodox- you are entitled to your view and Pashute yid and myself to ours. History will judge!

joseph, please read HIS OWN WORDS. He claims to be a “chossid” but does not associate with chabad today. He has not brought down EVEN ONE ‘maamar” from the Rebbe zz’l to bolster his arguments. he dismisses every baal teshuvah movement ,from breslov to chabad to others. I have NEVER EVER hard such arguments from ANY Lubavitcher shaliach.

He barely knows Rav Teichtal from berlin (whom I know personally) and misquotes him too.

So, to say he is a “Lubavitcher chossid” is just not correct. He may claim some allegiance to the Rebbe’s father-in-law, the sixth rebbe, but clearly he is totally out of the mainstream in present-day chabad.

He may run any number of websites, it does not make him a Lubavitcher chossid. Gut shabbos.

At the risk of entering the fray very late, allow me to make the following statement: Respect all great talmidei chachomim. Whether you can call them “gedolim’ is not important and will always depend upon your allegiance. I agree that the Satmarer rebbe zz’l and Rav Shachz’l were gedolim.mainly because they had many followers. But I also accept Rav Joshe ber Soloveichik z’l as a godol amd I daresay that Rav Kook was one of the greatest ones. Rav Goren z’l knew as much Torah as any other rosh yeshiva in Bnai brak and it is a scandal that he is not respected.

In other words. if people would stop disenfrachising other Gedolim, we could at least be a little bit civil….I am pretty sure ,though,that the above will not be respected, because the one way you can ignore someone’s legitimate argument is by denigrating his greatness and thereby disenfranchising him. Thank Hakodesh Boruch Huh that history has a way of making things right…

As usual, itzik does not respond to reality, but avoids the issues…as I said, you are either ignorant of the facts or distort them deliberately… I do not’ for one moment, believe you that you are a chabadnik. you totally distort reality to suit your own prejudices….

wherever you are, in your dark eastern european hovel, rest assured that all those chabad-lite, breslov-lite,shlomo-lite ,zionist-lite yidden and others, will continue to grow and grow…to spread torah and yiddishkeit, to bring yidden back to their “bashefer” while you continue your bitter and solitary journey to spiritual oblivion…

Well, as I am one of the resident “reshoim” on this website (after all, I do believ in the ultimate good of the “medinah”) and the field has been left open to the ones who woould gladly shake hands with Ahmenidajab and the Hamas leadership, let me just inject some sense in your deranged comments.

To itzik- IF you are a chabadnik-and I have my doubts about this- you totally misrepresent Lubavitch and their position. You certainly misrepresent the rebbe’s position. He was absolutely, totally in support of Israel ( the name you hate so much).His shlichim are everywhere and have actually fought in wars as soldiers. He was implacably opposed to any “giving back’ territory and considered all of Eretz Yisroel OUR land, UNDER the present government.

You are either an impostor or an ignoramus (maybe both) but Lubavitch you surely don’t represent, weherever you are now in “Eastern Europe”.Every one of your rantings has absolutely NO backing or source, as you always add : I am not sure if this can be confirmed. it cannot be confirmed because it is a lie.

To all the other (predictable) medinah- haters: You can write your drivel here as much as you want, we Yidden, who live in our own homeland under our own government, are going “mechoyil el choyil” and, in spite of the many difficulties, are continuing to build a real Yiddishe medinah that will last at “bias goel zedek’ and then we will all dance with Elijahu Hanovih .led by Shlomele z’l and all the other zaddikim as we build a new Bais Hamikdosh! Bimheru bejoenu!

As I said in aother posting, I do believe in a rebbe”s brocho and jeshuo!

To chuck schwab…You say, “brisk is famous for….’ followed by a litany of statements. This may inded be true or not true..Can you provide me with actual written quotations or statements? I know many so-called briskers and I have never heard anything even close to what you are saying. Did Reb velvel even sign a “kruz’ NOT to vote? If yes, this should be easily verified. Please provide written sources.

I am not sure what friendahip has to do with all this. R”Josef Chaimm Sonnnefeld zz’l was very friendly with Rav Kook.He sure disagreed with him on his ideas.

If you think that reb velvel zz’l agreed with the Satmarer shittah, please provide written confirmation.

squeak… thanks for your civil answer (I mean that)

I said “yekkeshi” rather than yekke because my mother-language is yiddish ( If, by any fluke, I will ever meet joseph or others, they would be mightily surprised at me, my levush, my background)

I did not say that 90 percent are reform. The context of my words was about dismissing a large part of Jews, regardless who they are. (Like no kiruv or calling all reform jews, non-jews). I am pretty sure that about 85% (eighty-five)of yidden in the world today are not shomrei shabbos. I suscribe to the view of “veheishiv lev ovos al bonim” and it is incumbent upon us to pave the way for Elijahu hanovi…and if those yidden were born and grew up reform, does that exempt us from trying to bring them back? Personally, I think not.

As far as the first posting. Look at this from the opposite view. Do you think that previous Gedolim refrained from telling the truth even when they were in the minority or overwhelmed by numbers? Absolutely not. Throughout the centuries (from the Neviim onwards),many individuals continued to work for their view of Torah,often in very solitary ways. I happen to believe in ceertain aspects of yiddishkeit and I am just one proponent of them. I do not “shove it in anyone’s face” (have you read the other side’s postings sometimes?) and, just because some people on this website don’t agree with it, there are many others who do. Just resd the many responses!I don’t shrink from telling my side of the story and I would be guilty of cowardice if I let my voice on these issues be silenced.

Laslty, please spare my the appellation of “liberal style acceptance”. What is liberal about espousing Rav Kook’s view on Eretz YisroeL? What is liberal about espousing Lubavitch’s view on kiruv? They may not be universally accepted in some circles but they sure are not liberal…

joseph. last time I looked, R”Chaim Brisker zz’l was niftar in 1920. The medinah was founded in 1948. Enough said.

As far as R’velvel’s words, last time I looked, he and his whole mishpocho found refuge in the “evil medinah” AFTER PARTITION.

As far as the last statement, as you well know, the gemoro in berochos says “yitamu chatoim min hooretz”. The brocho of velamalshinim was made by Shmuel hakoton for a very special purpose. Go chek your gemoro.

well, to answer some of the questions….

To will Hill, you misquoted me. i did NOT say that I will decide whether to accept R’ Avigdor Miller’s words…I said that “we can decide”. This is rather logical,don’t you think? Must we accept every word from every Rov as “halocho lemoshe misinai”? Just because R’Avigdor Miller said it, does it make it right or the law of the land?

And your question about the Chofetz Chaim is irrelevant. First, because plenty of Poskim don’t always pasken like him (would they also be put into the same group of kofrim?)and secondly, this is not a halacha question but a polemical debate. As I said ad nauseum in another posting, I do not believe that, “in milei de’alma’ I am obliged to follow every Godol’s words. You can call me an apikorus and whatever else you want, but I will stick to my beliefs.

All that said, can we have some written sources for all these declarations from R’Avigdor Miller? Abything along the line “he once said” cannot be accepted at face value.

To Joseph, there is a mishna in chelek that you undoubtedly know, about who has a chelek l’olam habo or not. I think I will rely on that mishna before I rely on your words.

to feivel, If you think that I “belittle’ you (or other people) ,I ask you (and others) mechillah. By writing “wax lyrical’, I was not belittling you, just using a pretty common phrase.On another posting some time ago, I undertook to try to be civil to everyone and ,usually, it works (Others seem to ignore this…)

Concerning the mian point. I sadi that it is pretty clear that, juts because someone is reform does NOT make him a non-Jew or a “technical” Jew, but he remains a full jew. If he does anything like marrying a jewish woman, she will need a get. This is incontrovertible. The other problesm you write about have more to do with the process (Kiddsushin,witnesses) that with the fact that he/she is jewish.

I maintained that I do not believe that R”avigdor Miller said anything like this and certainly not lehalocho. I think that the “posters” who espouse this view are guilty of being merachek Jews who should be “mekurov”. This is what Elijahu Hanovi does and what we should try to emulate.

Lastly, intellegent, I havd heard worse things said about the modern orthodox and just because R”Avigdor Miller z’l said it or did not say it, I don’t think that the modern orthodox crowd are quaking in thier boots. The Golus is long for the gemoro’s reason : sinas chinom. Take note, posters!

Joseph, I had to add this comment to our discussions. I had thought that we were “over’ the hateful exchanges about Eretz Yisroel and Zionism. For you to write that ‘service in their name, in any manner, is illegitimate(and dare I say, heresy)” is truly despicable. You do realize that there are millions of Jews, of which hundreds of thousands of chareidim, that rely for their safety and security on those who protect them? For you to intimate that this is “heresy” (a real stupid statement) and that it is “illegitimate” to defend Jews is, dare I say, indefensible.

Joseph, I respect every view and hence, I will answer you with civility,although I vehemently disagree with you.

First, I DID read (learn?) Vajoel Moshe and I was not so nispoel…Yes, the satmarer Rebbe was a tremendous talmid chochom but his arguments are mostly fallacious.So, you are entitled to your view and , in your case, make sure that when the bombs start falling on Meah Shearim ,chas veshalom, they run out with buckets of water to douse the flames.

Secondly, obviously, my very explicit demonstration of sources has left you without any response, so you have to shift the argument to something totally different, which has no bearing on the matter.

Thirdly, the Rambam does not say that “ezras yisroel miyad tzar shebo aleihim” only applies to eretz yisroel, but to ANY place where jews are in danger. so, your reasoning is fallacious as well.

Joseph, you must be blessed with unbelievable great age, because you were obviously there during the time of the Shoftim, the Malchei Yisroel and the Gemoro to know how combat was done in those days. Especially when the Sonei yisroel came to kill every person in a town. For me, I will be happy if hakodush boruch huh gives me 120 years.

I don’t see the relevance of the different groups in a war. The options of returning from war, etc, is only in a milchemet horeshus. In a milchement mitzvah there is no such option!! RAMBAM , hilchos melochim, seventh perek, fourth mishnah. this is where the Rambam clearly says “afilu choson…etc”. Tthere is no “petur” for learning Torah. In a war, EVERYONE must go out! Check out Shiras devorah on the possuk “Oiru meroz”.

there is no Rishon (or Acharon) in the world who frees people from defending Klal Yisroel in times of danger. Please supply real sources if you have them.

to zalman, you ask for mekoros on war and women.

First, I must correct you about what you wrote that “(today)there is no milchemet mitzvah bayom hazeh”. The rambam that you keep on quoting (hilchos melochim, fifth perek, first mishneh) CLEARLY writes that “ezras yisroel miyad tzar sheboh aleihem” as a milchemet mitzvah, just like milchemet amolek and shiva ammamim. “To help Jews from the enemy that is attacking them”. This is the QUINTESSENTIAL milchemet mitzvah. I submit that, today, when the enemies of Israel are so intent in destroying us in Eretz Ysroel and elsewhere, the defense of jews in the world is surely a milchemet mitzvah.

For this, the mishneh says “afilu chosson mechuposio,vekallah mechpusso”. Apart from the obvious symmetry here ,that clearly suggests that both go out to war together,you will not find any Possek who gives the explanation that you give on “kallah mechupusso”.(only the reshash ,as metioned, does that. I do not see a Radvaz on that)

Let’s move on to the Minchas Chinuch- who does say what you said, that the mitzvah of “mechyias amolek'” does not apply to women because men are the ones who wage war.

Well, I wish you had looked at the MINCHAS CHINUCH on that mitzvah who clearly says that this is ‘daas jochid” and that the Rambam paskens differently. He adds(his words); “because in truth, in a milchemet mitzvah, ALL go out to war, even a bride..etc”.

Well, I have only brought down the mishneh and the Rambam and I daresay you will find few Poskim who agree with the Chinuch, as shown by the words of the Minchas Chinuch.

I look forward to your comments.I have other interesting rayos if you so require.

I must say that hearing feivel and joseph wax lyrical about Rav Avigdor Miller z’l, I want to have his EXACT QUOTE about reform. I do not believe that he said this about fellow jews. “Yisroel af al pi shechoto, yisroel huh”. I do NOT believe that he said(as quoted):” they are technical jews but they are not Jewish” What the heck does that mean? if reform jew is mekadesh a woman, she won’t need a get??? preposterous!! so, please ,I want to see EXACT QUOTES and then ,we can all judge what is said and decide whether to accept it.

to zalman, you probably have littel respct for me. THis is OK. i can live without it. Interestingly, I have quite a lot of respect for you and your research/knowledge. It is not always correct but, at least, you seem to know most of the background. For that, I do respect you.

As far as the issue of war and women. I checked and there is no such RADVAZ,At least not on the relevant rambam in hilchos melochim.

Your “rayoh” from the Rambam – sefer Hamitzvos- actually SUPPORTS the contention that women (and kallohs-“afilu kallah mechuposso”) go out to WAR in times of milchemet mitzvos. As you quote: OPTIONAL WARS” OPTIONAL WARS.

I have to check the Sefer Hachinuch but a milchemet mitzvah is clearly NOT a mitzvas ashei shehazman geromo.

I congratulate you that you did find the ONE acharon who seems to change the simple meaning of the mishnah. The Reshash (R’Shmuel Stresson mevilna) indeed writes that. But, as you quoted, his original understanding was that women do go to war in such case-and he writes, “this is a chidush”. He then writes “ulai” MAYBE, this is to prepare the meals,etc. I did not find any rishon or acharon who holds that view.

Lastly, you did not comment on the “Perisha” on talmud torah to women..Look it up..

As the site on “Lubavitch and Rav Belsky’ is closed, I am using this post to answer Zalman’s diatribe agsint me on that post, ref. teaching gemoro to women/girls. I will not, for now, enter into a long discussion of this because it requires a long post,but I would urge you to look at the “Perisha” on the Tur. ( I do hope you know what the Perisha is..)

Anothier thing_ amongst the long posts you wrote , you brought down a Radvaz On the Rambam about milchemet mitzvah (or choivah,according to some sources). You mentioned that the Radvaz -commentary on the Rambam-syas that this does not mean actually going to war but just “leaving her “shevah brochos”. Well , the Radvaz in Hichos melochim does NOT say anything of that kind. Please tell me where you found that statement. From all Poskim , and the gemoro, it is evident that it DOES mean to go to war and waging war(kallah mechuposso..) there is one source that seesm to imply a similar appraoch and I will wait to see whether you know it too….