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Our schools start teaching Gemara too early without building a strong enough foundation in Tanach, Mishnah, Halachah, and Hashkafah.
It is permissible and probably a positive thing for girls to be learning Gemara (S”A says they receive reward) – as long as they want to do it for lishmah non-feminist reasons, and the time spent learning Gemara is not coming at the expense of the areas of Torah that a woman is chayav in
IMHO, I have heard arguments both ways and the arguments to wear techeiles seem much much stronger than the arguments not to wear it. Nevertheless, and I’m saying this as a YU boy (though not a talmid of R’ Schachter), since most Gedolei Yisro’el don’t paskin to wear it, they must know something that I don’t, and out of deference to them, I don’t wear it. Though, every time I say Shema I do feel guilty and hope that I have the opportunity to wear techeiles one day.
YU doesn’t really have a hashkafah. Supposedly it’s “Torah UMadda” but almost every Rosh Yeshiva defines it differently. Also, the Y and the U don’t really have much to do with each other, other than the fact that they are on the same campus. Basically, YU is a place of high level learning with Roshei Yeshiva who are outstanding talmidei chachamim. You don’t have to waste time traveling to class, and your classes will be all male.
Imho, a white shirt is the uniform that the Yeshivos happened to adopt. A uniform is important for unity and conformity, not wearing the uniform is symbolic that you don’t hold of the institution that you supposedly belong to, but this is only applicable where this is the “accepted” uniform. In most yeshivos, white is the uniform even though it’s not inherently significant, and wearing colored shirts would tell us a lot about that talmid and his values. In places where it’s not the uniform (like YU), then wearing white is much less meaningful, and not wearing white is not a statement at all.
Eh… I don’t see the point. Anyone who is a big enough sports fan to want to follow on Yeshiva World probably checks ESPN or another sports page anyways. I doubt anyone will stop going to those sites to follow on YWN.
golden mom- you miss my point. But G-d didn’t praise EY with raspberries. There are 7 minim (and milk) that G-d praises EY for. It doesn’t make sense that any of these foods should be impossible to eat, because what type of praise would that me? In fact (as I said before) that’s how Chazal knows that milk is kosher, because if it was treif then G-d would not have praised EY with it. That’s like praising EY as the land of bacon, that doesn’t make sense because we can’t eat bacon. So how is EY the land of figs if we can’t eat them?
“Not that this is a halachic sevara at all, but it’s kind of hard to believe that one of the fruits that Hashem praises Eretz Yisroel for is almost impossible to eat halachically.”
(Yes- I know I’m quoting myself) It is a good sevara! Gemara in Bechoros 6b asks how do we know that milk is mutar? Isn’t it eiver min hachai? One of the answers the Gemara gives is that since we know Eretz Yisroel is praised by being called zavas chalav udevash, it must be that chalav is mutar because otherwise why would Eretz Yisroel be praised with something that is assur?
I repeat my question- how could it be that figs are one of the fruits that Hashem praises Eretz Yisroel for, if it is so infested that it is pretty much assur to eat?
I think for tznius reasons, ONLY women should drive:
1. There is so much pritzus in the world that one has to look at if he is driving. Better for a woman to look at it while driving than a man.
2. Issur of bitul Torah- how can a man learn from his Gemara while trying to drive?
3. Much more tznius for a woman to drive her own car then to be out in public transportation.
I one time heard that life insurance is the opposite of an ayin hara. You have more people hoping that you live. Once you get life insurance, the insurance companies hope you live as long as possible.
So, does the belt hold the pants up or do the pants hold the belt up?
HaLeivi- I meant to apply it specifically here where Hashem praised Eretz Yisroel for this food. It would be kind of strange if Hashem showered the land of Israel with praise by calling it the land of bacon, because what kind of praise would that be for the Jewish People who can’t eat bacon? Similarly, Hashem is calling Eretz Yisroel the land of figs (among other things), what’s that supposed to mean to us if we can’t eat them?
I like to eat from the 7 minim in general, especially when I’m in Eretz Yisroel. It’s such a shame that we can’t eat figs. Not that this is a halachic sevara at all, but it’s kind of hard to believe that one of the fruits that Hashem praises Eretz Yisroel for is almost impossible to eat halachically.
The Mesilas Yesharim talks about the value of chumros, and imho, the more the better. However, one has to realize that there are three types of chumros:
1. I’m doing a chumra because I want people to think I’m frum.
2. I’m doing a chumra because I’m an am ha’aretz, I don’t know the halachah, therfore I will be machmir so I don’t make a mistake.
3. I know the halachah, I know the different shitos, and while I know we paskin lekula, I want to be machmir because it will have a positive impact on my avodas Hashem.
Number three is (imho) the type of chumra that the Mesilas Yesharim was talking about. Number one should never be done, and number two should only be done when stuck, and you should look up the halachah as soon as you can.
In addition, if we paskin lekula and a person is choosing to be machmir, his chumras should never be imposed on someone else. Better to be meikil then to be machmir and inconvenience others (forcing others to carry because you don’t want to hold by a perfectly good eruv is an example).
Also, chumras are a choice, an instrument to be a better oveid Hashem, and never should be a source of arrogance. As soon as the chumras are causing you to feel arrogant and/or to look down on others, it’s doing more harm than good and should be stopped.
Come on Mod… you know he meant that they are just made with fleishig equipment and you can be eaten after milk.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with a frum Jew eating Goyish brands (I don’t think a frum Jew should be “digging into” anything). However, there is a halachah that one should buy from Jews before buying from Goyim. That doesn’t mean that if a Jew is selling it at three times the price you have to buy it from him, or you have to buy a brand that you don’t like just because it’s Jewish, but that you’re looking to support Jews before you look to support Goyim.
The way I look at it, if there is a Jewish product that’s more expensive than the Goyish, or there is a Jewish product that you like less than the Goyish version: what would you do if your own brother was selling it? If the difference between the Jewish and Goyish brand is small enough that you would buy the brand you like less if your brother was selling it, then you should buy the Jewish brand. If however the difference is so great that even if your brother was selling it, you would buy the other one, than you don’t have to buy the Jewish brand.
mw13-
As I said before, (I think) Chareidim believe that secular society is dangerous and should only be used when necessary. Insular to the extreme means not using it even when it’s necessary.
I’ve hear stories of people who suffer from substance abuse issues (and I imagine the same story exists for people suffering from psychological problems and family issues) whose families refuse to acknowledge the problem. I was told that one reason for this problem is because the families involved didn’t want to expose their families to secular society who would be able to provide the help necessary. I’m sure there are also people who refuse to get jobs and acquire a parnassah for their family because they don’t want to be involved in secular society. Also, imho, being too insular also goes hand in hand with a lack of respect for the government and its laws (in both the USA and Israel, though I imagine this problem in Israel has far deeper philosophical roots than the problem in the USA).
IMHO, in the theoretical sense, MO and Chareidim are not that different. They both believe in the 13 ikkarim of the Rambam, and are shomrei Halachah kedas ukedin. They value Torah and believe Jews should be different than the Goyim. The main difference is how you view secular society. Chareidim view secular society as dangerous and one should only interact with secular society when necessary. MO believes that while secular society is dangerous, it also has a lot to offer, so we should use secular society for its advantages, and stay away from the negatives.
Unfortunately, significant members of both movements took these values too far. Many Chareidim are insular to the extreme, even to the extent where they are being hurt. Many MO’s use secular society when they shouldn’t, and are exposed and influenced in negative ways.
This is why people think MO is about being excessively meikil and being like the Goyim, but it’s not true. MO is about being Jewish, and distinct from the Goyim while using secular society for its positives. Unfortunately, too many people went too far into secular society, and are giving true MO’s a bad name.
Mod- I also think you’re being harsh. You’re allowed to question psak (though you still must follow it), and so far I haven’t heard a good answer to the question (and it’s one that’s been bothering me for a long time).
It seems the shape of the legs argument only applies to tight pants, but loose pants (and I think they are beginning to lose their status as beged ish) should be just as tzniyus as pants.
I heard people give the slippery slope argument (loose pants lead to tight pants), but according to that logic, women shouldn’t wear skirts because it may lead to tight or short skirts, they shouldn’t wear shirts because it mau lead to short sleeves or worse, maybe they shouldn’t leave the house at all! It’s all a slippery slope!
Another suggestion to number one is not having so many people learn in kollel. The Gemara in Chagigah says that Hashem cries for those who don’t learn Torah and should, and for those who learn Torah and shouldn’t. Full time kollel is not for most people, it is for the individuals. Too many people use kollel as an excuse for not working, and too many people feel entitled to support from their parents and in-laws. The kavod of Torah has gone down because of the way people abuse kollelim. People need to take life more seriously or else there will be no more money for future generations.
Health- the mitzvah could be “al ta’amod al dam rei’echa” “hochei’ach tochi’ach es amitecha” or simply “kol Yisro’el areivim zeh la(ba) zeh.”
The same question can be asked “if you were FFB and you had the opportunity to leave Yiddishkeit, would you?”
I imagine most of us would say no, but it could for one of at least two reasons. “I wouldn’t leave because I know I have the truth,” so for these people, if they can be convinced of the truth if they weren’t frum in the same way that they are convinced now, I imagine they would change their lives for the sake of truth.
But if the answer is “I don’t have the guts to leave” then maybe they have some serious introspection to do, and they probably wouldn’t be fazed religious Judaism to change their lives.
Did they even sell it? I’m not even sure if it’s put on their CD to make money (though I could be wrong). I imagine, if it is illegal to take someone’s tune while changing the words, it’s only illegal if you sell it and make money, not if you just put it on Youtube for everyone’s free enjoyment.
The two answers which I heard (which I’ve seen multiple times here) is that Nissan is happy, and Tishab Be’Av is the national day of mourning.
But don’t we also observe mourning during sefirah on the national level in addition to Tishah BeAv, and it also falls out during Nissan?
The two answers which I heard (which I’ve seen multiple times here) is that Nissan is happy, and Tishab Be’Av is the national day of mourning.
But don’t we also observe sefirah which is a national time for mourning in addition to Tishah BeAv, and it also falls out during Nissan?
I’m happy that there are so many frum Jews, but are we supposed to be celebrating that many of them are content to live in chutz la’aretz? kein yirbu beEretz Yisroel!
I heard one limud zechus is that people wear it more as a form of jewelery than as a tool to tell time. If it’s jewelery, then it’s permitted to wear in the reshus harabim as it is similar to clothing. If it’s a tool, then it would problematic because of carrying. Since most people have a special watch for Shabbos, that might be enough for it to qualify as a jewelery. Though I heard a Rav once say that it’s hard to tell whether it’s more jewelery or tool, and one way to answer up the safek is if the person would be willing to wear his nice Shabbos watch even if it broken and is of no use to tell time.
I also saw in that article about people who need jobs turning down security guard positions. I think this is a terrible trend. The Mesilas Yesharim writes at the end of the midah of nekiyus that one negative midah that we all have to work on is desire for kavod/honor. He explains that one way it manifests itself is people turning down jobs because it is “beneath them.” Iy”H our society will heed the holy words of the Ramchal and not let kavod stand in the way of parnassah.
The great HJS:
Just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand.
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They’re about to announce the lottery numbers.
If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can’t speak English.
I think Smithers picked me because of my motivational skills. Everyone says they have to work a lot harder when I’m around.
sonei matanos yichyeh- one who hates gifts will live. I don’t think this is as easy as many people in the cr are making it out to be. Talmud Torah keneged kulam and the beis medrash is the real life, but being supported is not an ideal. I don’t mean if a kollel is paying someone because those are the wages for a job not a gift. But being supported by parents is a gift and is not necessarily the ideal way to live life. It’s a big clash and it’s something that I struggle with, and it’s something that I feel not enough people struggle with. Taking money is never ideal.
Sem- What do you feel is the most difficult mitzvah for you to keep?
girl- ummm… i don’t know… parah adumah?
I too am bothered by the change, I have asked many people about it and yet I have not been given a good answer. At the end of the day, in terms of authenticity, I find it hard to believe that one is more correct than the other. I think if any of us heard Moshe Rabeinu speak Hebrew it would sound very different. But on the other hand, I think it is important to preserve our mesorah, Ashkenazis for Ashkenazim and Sepharadit for Sepharadim. However, one benefit that havara Sepharadit has is that it doesn’t sound weird to speak with proper havarah (meaning, for most words, emphasis on the final syllable). For all those in here who are devoted to proper pronunciation (at least for Ashkenazim), I say we throw away haVArah AshkeNAzis and start speaking havaRAH AshkenaZIS. Who wants to join the club of speaking AshkenaZIS properly?
I don’t know many details about global warming and I certainly don’t understand why whether it exists is subject to political or philosophical debate. However, I do notice that people tend to focus only on the evidence that seems to support them. While many on this site seem to laugh at global warming because of the blizzard in New York, I’m sitting here in E”Y in probably one of the hottest and driest December’s that E”Y has seen in a long time.
I don’t know much about Torah im Derech Eretz, but I can explain (at least what I think based on my experience in YU) what Torah uMadda is. To be truthful, I don’t think there’s one clear definition of Torah uMadda because I think each YU Rosh Yeshivah shlita has a slightly different definition of what Torah uMadda means, but I’ll give you my opinion what I think it means.
Torah uMadda is the creed of Modern Orthodoxy (I think). Some people think Modern Orthodoxy is about being as much like the Goyim as possible while staying faithful to Halachah. I think that is completely false. I think Modern Orthodoxy/Torah uMadda, at least in its ideal form, is recognizing that while Torah is the absolute ikar, there is what to gain from secular society to enhance the Torah. There’s science, math, music, art, etc… Torah uMadda is about utilizing the positives of secular society to enhance our own Torah and relationship with HKB”H while keeping our identity as Jews (and not trying to mimic the Goyim), keeping the Torah ikar, and rejecting all that is treif in secular society. This is in contrast to the more Charedi perspective which is not to use secular society at all, whether for positive or negative (because the dangers are too great and it’s not worth the risk), unless one needs to use secular society (like for parnassah).
In addition, just because a person is able to live in near poverty to learn, doesn’t mean he should. If his wife and/or kids cannot handle that either, he should rethink being a full time kollel guy.
Anyone can learn full time if they want to and it’s a beautiful thing. But they should expect to live according to very low standards. Anyone who is a frum Jew who values Torah should want to learn all day. If you don’t, it’s a chisaron in how you value Torah. Why doesn’t everyone do it? Because not everyone (in fact most people) cannot handle that life style. Too many people demand to learn all day and expect to be paid like an accountant, etc… They demand money from their parents or in laws, they do things that aren’t yashar (like not legally getting married so they can stay on their parents insurance, selling american products from their back room without paying taxes, etc…), and many are just learning because they don’t want to be looked down on by their friends. There’s a reason why many tried to learn all day like R’ Shimon Bar Yochai said and it didn’t work. Because they couldn’t handle that lifestyle. And THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. Not everyone is cut out to live in near poverty to learn, and those who are… ashrecha.
mdd… i disagree with you. Kollel is not a normal job. If you want to live normal standards then you go into the career world. Kollel are for those individuals who want to live below normal standards in order to learn… aka moser nefesh. The only people who should be living normally in kollel are those whose parents are willing (and not pressured) to give it to them out of the goodness of their heart. Most people cannot have their cake and eat it too.
I think it’s wonderful when a boy or girl’s parents wants to support them financially to learn. The problem is when avreichim think that they are entitled to support from their parents or in laws to learn. No parent has an achrayus to support their married children learning, it’s a chesed if they decide to do it. People don’t understand that every dollar (or shekel) that they receive for learning is a dollar out of the pocket of someone else who worked very hard to earn it.
I guess it’s a little late to post this but it seems like a married man should sleep in the sukkah unless he is particularly uncomfortable about not sleeping in the same room as his wife (I’m assuming the din is the same if the man is okay sleeping in the sukkah without his wife but the wife is uncomfortable sleeping in a room without her husband) (the din of mitzta’er- that’s how the Vilna Ga’on rules as brought down by the Mishnah Berurah). It seems very strange that there would be a whole din about sleeping in the sukkah, to the point that even a temporary sleep outside the sukkah is forbidden (which is much more strict than the halachah is by food where temporary eating is permitted) and the Gemara doesn’t mention that it’s only for the minority of Klal Yisro’el, only for the men who are not married. When the Rama says that a married man doesn’t have to sleep in the sukkah because of teishvu ka’ein taduru (one should live in the sukkah as if he lives in his house, and therefore since one sleeps in the same room as his wife in his house, it should be the same idea for the sukkah), it seems he is only rationalizing for the many married people who don’t sleep in the sukkah, but that’s not necessarily the din lechatchilah.
Quick question… is there something unique about ??? ????? ????? that it was written with ??? ????? or were all the ??????? (like ??”?, ???”?, ??? ????, etc…) also written with ??? ??????
There are two shi’urim on YU Torah (yutorah.org) that discuss techeiles. One is a shi’ur on if the techeiles is real techeiles or not. The second shi’ur is on the topic even if it’s only a safek, should we wear it anyways. It’s by R’ Aryeh Lebowitz in a category called “ten minute halacha” (each shi’ur is about 10 minutes). He brings arguments both ways but he is a talmid of R’ Schachter shlita and wears techeiles (R’ Schachter shlita wears techeiles also) so it might be a little biased towards wearing it.