TGIShabbos

The sounds of gunfire on the dangerous Baltimore streets keep me up at night

Reb Eliezer, does the “holy Torah” encourage LGBTQ rights, abortions, climate change, supporting refunding the Palestinians, opening up borders? I think you are just angry because you lost this argument. Right, so I should vote D and not R because I want job training and help with my other needs…. okay…..

Leyzer, it sounds like you’d do better spending Seder night watching spring training baseball on TV. If the Seder night isn’t for children asking questions, then why put in the effort? Kick back, get into slippers, leave the TV on a timer, and get some great ballgames in. And, if you struggle to connect most divrei Torah to our beginnings as a nation by YM, then you have some more learning to do yourself. You can eat all the Matzah and Marror in the world, but after 120 you won’t be asked about how much per pound you spent on Matzah.

You are looking too early. Try next week.

Charlie, and I commend you for having tasteful agreements as well as disagreements with the President. I just can’t find any similarities between the Biden Administration and what the Rabbonim of ancient Persia would have likely wanted from government. Are we thinking they are strong supporters of Climate Change and the Paris Accord? Would the United Nations have helped them (the same love they have for Israel today is very telling)? Would they admire policies such as the Mexico City policy which supports abortions internationally? Maybe Mordechai could have been called a she/her and Esther identified as him/his? All representative of the democratic left in 2021. So Charlie, sure….Biden fits right in the Purim story…… the Purim story according to Women of the Wall types of movements.

CharlieHall, it’s all Democrat= good, Republican=Bad, with you all- all day-every day. Did you read about 9 of Cuomo’s top health officials leave amid COVID-19 vaccine rollout disagreements? You pick and choose the politicians you choose to like or dislike.

huju, that’s kind of like a Reform-Judaism type of thing to do, Shehechianu for nearly anything and everything (a birthday, an anniversary, a new job, a graduation etc). It certainly cheapens the beauty and rarity of the bracha. What I humbly suggest to be more appropriate, and “couples” in with another mitzvah. Give Tzedaka for Hakaros HaTov for Hashem allowing the medical community to discover the vaccine (plenty of shuls and yeshivas would post it in their bulletin that it’s intended for such. A bikur cholim organization that supplies kosher foods at hospitals is a worthy and relevant cause). A perek of Tehillim? Making a Siyum on completing a mesechta, in appreciation for the discovery of the vaccine?

What I don’t understand is, are you planning a marriage or a Bar Mitzvah? Certainly, I’d think it’s appropriate and acceptable for the Chosson and Kallah to make the plans regarding hotel/no hotel, finding an apartment, which shul/yeshiva to belong with, among other facets which mark the beginning of marking their independent stamp in life. I’m not familiar with parents fully planning the wedding night hotel reservations or the honeymoon. Let them live life 120+

Re Eliezer, Charliehall, you 2 are smart men. Certainly you’d know that Presidenrs Obama, Bush, Clinton pardoned more individuals than President Trump. There isn’t any unusual outliers here. Let’s stick with facts.

AriHaleviRosman, I absolutely disagree. I do not believe in Climate Change or secularism, let me first put that out there. You shouldn’t try to reawaken an issue that was discussed about far-leftists/secular Jews a number of years ago regarding Shabbos and Channukah candles. It was of their opinion that by “wasting” wax, oil, wicks for “no purpose” should be discouraged. Don’t even get them started on continuously running hot-water urns, shabbos lamps, hot-plates, fans, crockpots. So, playing “devils’s advocate” I’m going to say that shabbos actually increases carbon emissions.

Gadol, what are you looking forward to most? De-criminizing illegal immigration? Reinstating Palestinian funding? Trying to stack the court with left wing Brandeis educated Jewish #Metoo nominees? Refunding Iran? Getting rid of capital punishment for mass murderers? How about eliminating gasoline? Biden is a centrist and a Democrat like you. The D party as a whole is far more left and radical than your 60′ JFK style of politics. AOC and Saunders are the future of the party, and that’s how I see this “movie”. (Oh, and children in cages? That started under President Obama)

Gadol, watch a ballgame, read a book, take a walk. Let politics have a rest. You will vote for your candidate, I’ll vote for mine. Leave petty stories aside.

I’m surprised no one brought it up— why would you travel hundreds (or thousands) of miles away from your OBGYN, the hospital you plan on delivering in, and away from the resources at home? Forget about asking a YWN coffee room, speak with your medical doctors about your plan.

“What could be the problem”. Umm…. illness, deaths? Perhaps you’re kidding. First off, Purimis Rabbinic, so let’s understand that. I was told that if one is sick and had a choice between hearing Parshas zachur or the megillah, we strive for hearing Zachur, which is d’Orysa on several levels. All the more so, Parties, chaggigahs, and large gatherings have no mitzvah and have no place this particular year. Better to give kavod to protecting life, ensuring shuls and yeshivahs remain open the days after Purim, and we can prepare for Pesach.

Narrow it down by continent

$12/lb round hand Shmurah matzah from Cedar Market Teaneck. I feel that many people spend a lot of time, energy, money, and devotion towards XYZ matzah baked exclusively by Rav XYZ, and similar concept for their wine selection, but forget that (perhaps) the main and largest mitzvah of the night is Magid. I love a great wine at a wedding or restaurant during the year, but the seder is the opportunity for me to spend more time and devotion of resources towards Tzippur yeszias Mitzrayim with my children. Let’s remember what the Ikkur is! {And for those that say you can do both- sure, I don’t doubt you. Just make sure to look forward to the mitzvos of the night more-so than a fine Non-Mevushal Argentinian wine which you’ll forget about in a week}

LOTR92, exactly! Agreed.      edited      Hashgachos are to supervise the kashrus of the food, that is what I am expecting when I dine at a restaurant. If I am uncomfortable with the TV situation, then I dine elsewhere.

Joseph, Apparently you’ve never heard of Chofetz Chaim in Queens. What an insulting statement you made.

I taught this past year at a Reform Temple and won’t continue. I can compromise all the energy I have to try to be “neutral” with their ways and understandings of Judaism, but it truly became impossible. First, (as some others here pointed out) several students were not Jewish (because of an non-Jewish mother)- so they wouldn’t even be allowed alone in a room with a non-mevushal bottle of wine. Second, I kept my politics to my self, but EVERYTHING about that Reform Temple and their clergy is about politics- one way or another. Whether it’s regarding feminism (even though I found it discriminatory that their Temple’s “Rabbi”, Cantor, president, and school leadership were all women, with not one male), or opening our homes and our lives to the disadvantaged one (LGBTQ) and fully open borders (since we were once slaves in Egypt), and being “fair” to Israel and the Palestinians. I’m still not sure how since Yosef Avinu was a stranger in the land, why we must open our homes for LGBTQ non-documented immigrants? Many students told me that religion is something nice to believe in and something to study as an academia, but they don’t believe in the Torah or in a G-D. Third, their entire fiber is falling apart, regarding their school enrollment numbers, their membership, their donations, etc. They blame the low school enrollment on social media and cellphones (but somehow neighboring Frum shuls and yeshivas in neighboring Bergen Co are excelling).

Concluding, I don’t believe they have a future, I don’t believe they are or want to be part of what Judaism has to offer.

Believe me, I know about the sorrows of taxes. I used to live in FL and now live in Northern NJ. With our (NJ, NY, NYC) mayors and governors, I don’t see any silver lining on the horizon to cut the gas taxes. I’m just happy I can still can plastic bags at the grocery store.

Shopping, I have to respectfully disagree with you. Most Jewish music is not enjoyable for me and many of the songs/music begin to sound so generic (and corny, if you will)- but that’s me, I understand some may agree and disagree. For me it doesn’t set me in the right mode for davening. Although when driving I much prefer the AM dial (for Savage, Hannity, sports, news), I really enjoy Big Band Music of the 1940’s including Nat King Cole, Bennet, Sinatra, etc. If after hearing “I left my Heart in San Francisco” causes me or my children to think of aveiros or non-Torah ideals, then we would be seeing both a Rav and a therapist.

Joseph, I had a divorced UK woman for shabbos lunch this past week. Her parents are looking to get out of London because the fanatic Muslim presence is becoming a big challenge for many frum Jews there. Her sheitel was ripped off her head one shabbos (and she was thankful that’s all the harm she experienced)I am not looking to “win” this argument over the growing antisemitism and danger for Jews in many parts of Europe because none of us “win” by those daily realities.

Or how about the South African gentleman in my shul who wears a black hat and jacket for each daily minyan in NJ, and won’t even wear a yarmulka in the streets of Johannesburg, SA.

The many time I’ve visited Israel, not ONCE has a “zionist” police officer or IDF soldier pushed my yarmulka off or made me feel in danger of wearing one. I can’t say the same for Jews in Europe, South Africa.

If a frum Jew experiences physical violence in Israel, the violence and hated is from the radical Muslims and Palestinians. I can watch CNN, BBC, or NBC if I want someone to tell me that it’s the IDF and the Israeli government causing danger for the world.

Chaim Eliezer, regarding the E. European Jews who came to this country during the turn of the last century- you are right that many gave up the fundamentals like shabbos and kosher, however I’d like to wonder how involved they were in Europe with their Yidishkeit. There is nothing wrong with a healthy balance of culture, arts, etc—- but for far too many Jews, the arts and theater became the Ikkur of their lives, not the side dish. We still see the stubbornness today in 2018 with non-observant obituaries where the deceased requests all charities go to the city’s art or music museum and NOT the yeshiva, day-school, or synagogues, or even the local JCC. Reform and Conservative Synagogues can’t be surprised why their funding is becoming limited, when many of their deceased members request donations be sent to the arts.

So from cradle to grave those types of E. European Jews were more involved with culture and arts than with Jewish involvement- can we really consider them FFB?! —- Most likely I’d consider their children BTs (if THEY choose the privilege of becoming frum)

I am an FFB. When I was in Yeshiva way-back-when there were many BTs. Many of the BTs were friends of mine and really enjoyable to be around, however I don’t think I 100% understand all of their ways. I coined the term “more religious than thou”. Many shidduch offerings were not ‘religious enough’ for them, but were somehow suitable for other FFB yeshivish guys who became engaged. Disposing ALL of their colored dress shirts (I didn’t need to go shopping those years). Not wanting to EVER return back to their non-religious home, although they said their parents were respectful and accommodating- dismissing the option of purchasing their own frozen meals and walking to their nearby Chabad on Shabbos. —- Sadly 10 years later, (according to social media) many of these men are no longer religious at all as the pictures reveal bar pictures on Friday nights, no yarmulka, way of dress, type of men/women they hung out with, treif restaurants, etc.

Concluding, life can be very hard for a BT if they don’t maintain reasonable accommodations for themselves and appropriate goals & expectations, as I’ve seen it becomes an “All or nothing” 5-10 years later. No one is going to become the Chofetz Chaim overnight, regardless if one is a BT or FFB. Better to wear the blue dress shirts on Tuesday than to expect to know all of Shas by the summer. Thus, I believe FFB has IT easier than a BT.

laskern, unless I am mistaken does one receive a bigger mitzvah because he spent more time and effort preparing for it? Because, if that’s the case with the channuka menorah- you should be planting the olive trees, picking them, squeezing them into oil, and pouring it in menorah cups with cotton wicks which you also planted and picked. With matzah, you’ll be in the fields for months preparing the harvest, then making the dough, and baking them yourselves.