thegra

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Viewing 50 posts - 1 through 50 (of 61 total)
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  • in reply to: Talking during davening #1117182
    thegra
    Member

    Sam2: Ha, no you didn’t.

    You said “Interesting. Regardless of how good the idea is, I feel like this is an actual violation Min Hatorah of “Eichah Ya’avdu Hagoyim Ha’eileh Es Eloheihem”.

    Avi: “The Mishna Berura says (124:27) that shul police should be appointed to preevnt this. The Kaf HaChaim says (124:37) that they should be given many punishments and embarrassed in public”

    +1

    in reply to: Info on Smicha Tests #973436
    thegra
    Member

    “There is a sefer that was published with the test and the (author’s) answers.”

    Whats the name of the sefer

    in reply to: Info on Smicha Tests #973434
    thegra
    Member

    So anyone can just learn in advanced, take the test and is a Rabbi? That is a little scary. I guess they should make smicha standard if they are already doing this. That anyone who goes to yeshiva should by default take the test and get smicha.

    in reply to: Any recommended Jewish novels? #1125635
    thegra
    Member

    “ShragaF”: Without going in to too much detail, there are places that one cannot learn Torah”.

    Like where?

    in reply to: Non-Jewish Music #953620
    thegra
    Member

    Perhaps people do not know the history of acher. He went off the derech in part because he listened to non-Jewish Greek music when he was in yeshiva.

    in reply to: Orthodox Jew Won Major Lottery #950398
    thegra
    Member

    I am curious to know if perhaps Hashem provides a means of living through the lottery. It is a way to give without a nes.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949967
    thegra
    Member

    No cop outs, I always have sources to what I say.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949966
    thegra
    Member

    oomis: ha yes that makes the joke funnier.

    HaLeivi: I think it did help it out actually.

    Sam2: Looks like you have a bunch of different screen names. Anyway, you said, “that is such a ridiculous claim”

    I thought that was offensive and rude, which is why I responded that way. Nevertheless, what I said doesn’t change.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949957
    thegra
    Member

    Sam2: Of course there are sources. He was not mattir it stam but in many situations he was mattir it. It was not a blanket hetter of course. Now, I have read many of your other posts. You are the type of poster that will simply never stop no matter what the other person says or what sources you are shown. I do not have the energy or time to get into a long debate with you here. So I will not be responding to you anymore (at least I hope not). as it will do no good. Kol tov

    in reply to: Blemished People #949956
    thegra
    Member

    2qwerty: That is a good analogy.

    Sam2: “In fact, that is such a ridiculous claim” Of course there are sources. Good for you. Try to disprove it ask whoever you want but leave me out of it. I don’t want to get drawn into a long 5 week debate with you in this thread. I have read too many of your other posts. So kol tov and good bye.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949952
    thegra
    Member

    oomis: Also, you missed the punchline of the joke. It goes, “my father was a Kohen, my grandfather was a kohen, I want to be one too!” Then the Rabbi says, “well, in that case, maybe for $100,000 we could make it happen.”

    in reply to: Blemished People #949951
    thegra
    Member

    oomis: I did not mean to hurt your feelings h”v. You seem like a very good person and I am sure you are. I was referring to other sentiments I have picked up here and there. I was really replying to DaasYochid more than you. Rav Moshe was matir many kohanim to go to a bais kevuros based on what I have said btw.

    All the best.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949950
    thegra
    Member

    I think a more accurate parallel is being proud of a specific yichus that rov people cannot lay claim to than being Jewish (the later being open to all).

    Nevertheless, my argument was a halachic one.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949948
    thegra
    Member

    My ancestor actually started one of the oldest and most respected yeshivos in Brooklyn (for that matter in the entire country). I am proud of that yichus. We should all be proud of yichus, just don’t loose track of reality along the way…..

    in reply to: Blemished People #949942
    thegra
    Member

    “Why would she want her family’s special status questioned?”

    But for someone to claim that they are inherently superior to their neighbors and more close to G-d when it is not true is perfectly fine?

    in reply to: Blemished People #949941
    thegra
    Member

    I don’t think I am allowed to say.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949940
    thegra
    Member

    Yes, what motive would she have…..

    in reply to: Blemished People #949939
    thegra
    Member

    “Why would she want her family’s special status questioned?”

    Oh, yes just as Shaul didn’t.

    Now I understand.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949937
    thegra
    Member

    I do wonder why oomis, being the daughter of a Jew who claims to be a Kohen, would have a “vested interest in this”. Being that she has no marriage restrictions as a bas kohen, why would she look at it any less objectively than any other Jew.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949936
    thegra
    Member

    Ha ok, thank you anyway for your ability to see my rational consistency.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949934
    thegra
    Member

    DaasYochid: Thank you, that is correct.

    oomis: Sorry, but that is the reality. In fact, we do have it both ways. We indeed often allow for room in difficult situations because of this: Both in cases when it is difficult for a Jew who does not claim to be a Kohen and for a Jew who does claim to be a Kohen.

    This is not thread for this topic though.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949930
    thegra
    Member

    Like I said, this question i silly. The same thing can be asked about every chok in the Torah. What about a mamzer? How is it “fair” that a mamzer cannot marry a Yisroel? The answer is the same concept. It would be considered a “blemish” for klal yisroel to accept something that is not appealing to the average person, because most people cannot help but look at the product of such a union with a certain lack of respect, just like someone who is ugly or someone missing an arm. This is not an ideal, but is the way unfortunately most people are.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949928
    thegra
    Member

    HaLeivi: “very profoundly about how we are different than the western culture in that we give inherent value to deed and externals.”

    What are you talking about? Christianity along with all religions lehavdeel puts emphasis on deeds and externals. Have you ever walked into the Sistine Chapel? Most Christian organisations lehavdeel put more emphasis on deed than Judaism does. Judaism says talmud torah kneged kulam while other religions focus on acts of kindess and charity instead of prayer. That is why we say tzedaka is a lower form of giving then fasting and davening is. If you read Chovos Halevavos you will see that the ideal is to not be physical but most people in society need the psychical.

    The nature of most people on a low or average spiritual madreiga is that they need the lofty spiritual to be accompanied by the lofty physical. That is why an “ugly” kohen cannot do the avodah. The average non-ideal person unfortunately needs an attractive kohen to do the avodah and not an ugly one to have respect for it.

    Do not confuse the necessary with the ideal and spiritual-superficiality with physical-superficiality.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949916
    thegra
    Member

    DaasYochid: “Source?”

    See Tiferet Yisroel intro to Seder Kodshim

    Kol Tov.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949914
    thegra
    Member

    “Even if he held it was a safek, we clearly don’t pasken that way, as we are satisfied with one, and we say a brachah.”

    We are not satisfied with one. We just don’t have any other choice. Many poskim say the modern day “kohen” should give the money back, even lechatchila, because it is very likely he is not truly entitled to the money as he is very likely not a true kohen. Today, it is even vastly worse than it was 200 hundred years ago regarding who is and who is not a kohen with the entire BT movement- some people mistakenly think they can just look at a gravestone and if engraved within them are are the iconic Kohen hands will say “great, I’m a kohen” and they mistakenly tell their kids this and on goes the cycle.

    Regarding saying the bracha, this is no problem at all. The poskim ask how can it be that modern day “kohanim” are allowed to say a bracha since they are very likely not true kohanim. We say that safek brachos lehakel does not apply to a birchas mitzvah.

    Anyway, I will say it again, this has next to nothing to do with the asker’s question and is not the right place to address this topic.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949911
    thegra
    Member

    Sam: Since you didn’t answer my question I will ask it again. BTW, just out of curiosity, are you a boy or a girl?

    So suddenly after 200 years they magically became kohanim again according to all poskim?

    I’m sure you know the story of the gra with his pidyon haben who went around to all the people who claimed to be kohanim since they were all only safek until he met one family with a shtar.

    The Yam Shel Shlomo I believe states that one reason we do not give kohen challah is because safek kohen.

    I remember reading about this on a thread here not too long ago. Like I said this is not the place for this convo.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949908
    thegra
    Member

    Sam: of course kohanim today are not true kohanim. We don’t give them chala today for that reason. The rest of things kohanim do is only minhag. So suddenly after 200 years they magically became kohanim again according to all poskim? Of course they aren’t.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949901
    thegra
    Member

    There are three people: 1) Yossie 2) Shlomomo and 3) Binyamin. Yossie is a Kohen and can duchen. Shlomo is a “blemished” kohen and cannot duchen. Binyamin is a Levi and cannot duchen. Why do you think it is superficial that Shlomo can’t duchen but do not think it is superficial that Binyamin can’t duchen?

    in reply to: Blemished People #949900
    thegra
    Member

    This question is rather silly. You can ask such a question about everything in the Torah. That fact that a blemished Kohen cannot duchen is problematic to you but the fact that a Levi or a woman cannot duchen is not problematic? The entire concept of kehuna is not a Meritocracy to begin with, it is passed down from father to son. So why does the superficial suddenly bother you?

    (btw, today our kohanim are in nearly all cases not true kohanim but that is a topic for a different thread)

    Daniela: How does what I say further your point? It is completely contrary to what you said.

    in reply to: Blemished People #949897
    thegra
    Member

    Daniela: ”which we thus learn it’s indeed an intrinsec and essential property and not simply an outward cover or a screen which hides reality”

    I do not think you can be more incorrect. A princess once asked a chashuv rav why Hashem had created him so ugly. He told her to put her wine in golden jars instead of wooden ones. She did and it went bad. We see that sometimes being attractive externally will cause the internal to spoil.

    in reply to: Brand Names�Wasting Money #948630
    thegra
    Member

    sw33t: I assure you my statement was in no way intended to attack you so much as what you had passionately professed. Regarding your statement: there is a fine line between disagreeing and disrespecting them by calling what they say “ridiculous”.

    I agree with the others here that flaunting these luxuries and even purchasing them leads to harm.

    What is wrong with giving tochacha to klal yisroel about this? I do not understand.

    in reply to: Brand Names�Wasting Money #948627
    thegra
    Member

    sw33t:

    your “live and let live” attitude is responsible for much destruction in klal yisroel and is in apposition to what gedolim have been trying to change for decades.

    Your statement “And YES I do think that Rabbis telling people how much to spend on their weddings is completely ridiculous and authoritarian.” gives me an incite into your lack of reverence for our gedolim.

    in reply to: Brand Names�Wasting Money #948618
    thegra
    Member

    “For when one regards their elegance and dignity, it is impossible that his lust will not be awakened to desire these things. And even if he will not permit his evil inclination to conquer him, he will, in any event, not escape the battle and its dangers.”

    Seems to me this alone is a raya why people who buy luxry Gucci shoes and luxry cars should be rebuked. They will undoubtedly cause others to either spend more hours at work to attain such vanities or engender within them and their wives and children envy. Mesilas Yesharim says it is IMPOSSIBLE for it not to. So if not in order to give more tzedaka, this alone is of sufficient reason.

    in reply to: Are there too many seforim being published today #945301
    thegra
    Member

    “The answer to your question is yes, but it’s not because of those books. There is no limit to the number of inspirational books you can write.”

    So why is the answer to my question yes?

    in reply to: Haggadah vorts #940604
    thegra
    Member

    If you come to my seder I will tell you.

    in reply to: Having Children Without Money #940530
    thegra
    Member

    “with the understanding that after the several year period he will take a job as a Rebbe or professor”

    Do most people in kollel become a Rebbe today?

    in reply to: Having Children Without Money #940521
    thegra
    Member

    Do you think the above still applies today?

    Many say it no longer applies because the Rambam was referring to a time where: 1) A profitable craft took a very short to learn. 2) A “house” was a lot smaller and easier to attain than it is today. Therefore, to adhere to this ideal is no longer feasible (i.e one should marry and have children before he has acquired a home and a parnasa).

    in reply to: Having Children Without Money #940520
    thegra
    Member

    “the gra: I have a source: Adam and Chava had children before he started earning a living.

    And in the Midbar, our antecedents lived and had children for 40 years. Our job is to live and have children. Hashem gives us the parnasa.”

    Do you have a rishon or achron besides your personal interpreation of pesukim revolving around adam harishon living in gan eden and in the midbar when we received manna from shamayim?

    I will give you one:

    “It is the way of people with understanding that a person should first establish for himself a livelihood (lit., ‘labor’) which supports him, then he should acquire a house, and then he should marry a woman. [This is] as the verses state (Deut. 20:5-7): ‘Who is the man who has planted a vineyard and has not redeemed it [let him go and return to his house lest he die in battle]…,’ ‘…who has built a house and not initiated it…,’ ‘…who has betrothed a woman and not taken her…’

    “However, the fool begins by marrying a woman, and then if he is able he will buy a house and [only] afterwards at the end of his life will he seek [to learn] a craft — or he will support himself from charity. And so too it states in the ‘Curses’ (Deut. 28:15-68): ‘A woman will you betroth [and another man will lie with her]; a house will you build [and you will not dwell in it]; a vineyard will you plant [and you will not redeem it]’ (v. 30). This means to say, [G-d will curse you that] your deeds will be backwards so that your ways will not succeed. Whereas in the blessing what does it state? ‘And David was in all his ways wise (‘maskil’) and G-d was with him’ (I Samuel 18:14).”

    ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ???”? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ???”? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??’ ???

    in reply to: Having Children Without Money #940509
    thegra
    Member

    “Actually, I think that the fact that you are reducing children to a monetary decision is kind of disgusting.”

    Money is essentially food and shelter when boiled down to it. So if I said “for a food and shelter decision” would that change anything?

    in reply to: Having Children Without Money #940457
    thegra
    Member

    What if it is a choice between having two kids who can both go to yeshiva and having eight kids where you cannot afford to send any of them to yeshiva?

    in reply to: Future of Israel's Orthodox Jews #941263
    thegra
    Member

    “We NEVER had mass Kollel learning, In Europe ONLY the top learners kept in yeshiva, the rest went to work.”

    I am not saying you are wrong, but can you please provide a source?

    I personally do not understand the concept of “top learners”. I have never met a “top learner”. All the guys who take their learning seriously are “top learners”. If you want to go back in time why stop at Europe? Why not go to eretz yisroel and bavel where all the “top learners” also worked.

    What comes first the chicken or the egg? Do you not have to work because you are a top learner or are you a top learner because you don’t have to work?

    in reply to: Future of Israel's Orthodox Jews #941259
    thegra
    Member

    “Starting four years from now, only 1800 top learners will be exempted”

    That scares me. We all know that “top learner” is very arbitrary. At only 18 years old, the only thing people will be measuring is raw IQ, like a college SAT. It will not measure yiras shamayim. Some people only start to bloom later in life (at least mid 20’s). With such a close knit society- who your parents are and what connections you have is going to be a deciding factor as well.

    Other posters, please try to limit your posts to the topic at hand.

    in reply to: Jews Resisting the Zionist Draft #940365
    thegra
    Member

    Lakewood fellow: “No, you were, and you called me a liar for disagreeing with you remember?”

    I agree, that is a good point.

    Health: -1

    Lakewood fellow: +1

    in reply to: Future of Israel's Orthodox Jews #941231
    thegra
    Member

    I think we can at least draw the line at being mechalel shabbos befarhesia.

    in reply to: Win for the Charaidim in Eretz Yisroel!! #939324
    thegra
    Member

    As secular as Israel gets orthodox Jews will always have a step up there over other countries because while they are secular they are still biologically Jewish and we share a common history and heritage. That will always count for something.

    in reply to: Rome and Eisav #939134
    thegra
    Member

    talmud: thanks that is very interesting.

    in reply to: Can you trust a Food Company #936171
    thegra
    Member

    I don’t want to give you anymore information sharp because maybe you are only trying to get me to give you the name so you can go buy them for yourself even though they have questionable kashrus.

    in reply to: Can you trust a Food Company #936168
    thegra
    Member

    sharp: “Yes I think you consider Kashrus a game. Now what?

    Now nothing. I don’t know why you would think that and am sorry you feel that way. It’s not about the ice cream. It’s about the halacha.

    Does anyone know the halacha if there is a chezkas kashrus for non-Jews claiming somehting is 100% kosher in this setting? I already have my answer but am curious to know what others think.

    in reply to: Can you trust a Food Company #936166
    thegra
    Member

    “You just want them because they are forbidden to you.”

    Stop going into my head and just answer the question.

    We are commanded to judge others favorably.

    in reply to: Can you trust a Food Company #936161
    thegra
    Member

    thegra: +1 (wow, that’s a lot easier to do than writing a knowledgeable response).

Viewing 50 posts - 1 through 50 (of 61 total)