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  • in reply to: Problem with Melech HaMashiach from the Dead #2204842
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @RSo I know there’s a ton of criticism against him, and many Litvishe Rabbonim blamed him for the decline of much of Chabad into a bizarre messainic cult while he was alive and well, but I can’t say I’ve heard anyone say he wasn’t a Tzaddik.

    One example: A very very Chareidi Rebbi I knew was giving his requisite “College is terrible” speech, and used as an example “Only three gedolim ever went to college, one started a apikorsus institution, ones followers became a weird Moshiach movement, and only one was OK”. (He was referring to Rav JB Soleveitchik, Rav MM Schneerson, and Rav Yitzchok Hutner). As a Yekke, I asked why he excluded Rav Breuer, and he said that he wasn’t really on the same level (not sure if he meant in terms of gadlus or influence).

    in reply to: Question of an ignorant, closed-minded Lubavitcher #2204841
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @741 It is against the realm of possibility that the Lubavitcher Rebbe will be Moshiach.

    I am basing this in the fact that there’s never any discussion about a dead person being Moshiach before 1996. The Gemaras and ma’amoros that have been brought down are all re-interpretations by Chabadskers. Multiple Gedolim, and pretty much any Rebbi I ever asked has confirmed this, that it is not part of Yiddishkeit that Moshiach has already died.

    There’s a famous story ( I don’t recall who it’s about). In the Alter Heim, a Rosh Yeshiva (or Rebbe) was on a train with his Talmidim/Chassidim and the bachurim were approached by a missionary. At first they humored him, answering all of his questions easily, but he finally stumped them by asking “Your Rabbis were mistaken about Bar Kochba, who’s to say they weren’t mistaken about Yoshke?” The Rov finally approached him and said “What made the Chachamim realize that Bar Kochba wasn’t Moshiach?” “Well, he died.” “Nu?”

    in reply to: Problem with Melech HaMashiach from the Dead #2204584
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @OrthodoxRabbi1995 No talmid chacham or Rov that I know says that the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT”L wasn’t a tzaddik. But I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. He was a Tzaddik and possibly one of the Gedolei HaDor, but there were many greater tzaddikim that preceded him, and he was one of many tzaddikim in his time.

    in reply to: Problem with Melech HaMashiach from the Dead #2204538
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 You are being intentionally misleading when you say “Chassidim”. In this thread, no one is attacking Chassidim, rather certain practices and beliefs that are exclusive to Chabad. You’re trying to hide behind the Misnaged / Chassid machlokes. (there’s a different thread where a user is attacking Chassidishkeit in general, especially the Ba’al Shem. Maybe you have the two confused?)

    But yes, you are correct. Before the tzaddik Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson ZT”L went to the Oilom Ha’Emes, people criticized Chabad for making a huge fuss and telling the world that he was Moshiach (which he explicitly denied and told people to stop, and I’m sure there’s a teretz as to how to interpret that particular response). After he was no longer able to move or respond, and certainly after he was niftar, the frum view of Chabad messianism went from “silly tipshim” to “dangerously close to heresy”.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2204534
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 The Vilna Gaon is who people refer to when saying “The Gaon”. The Rogotchover I don’t believe is ever referred to by that title, he’s always “The Rogotchover Rebbe”.

    in reply to: Question of an ignorant, closed-minded Lubavitcher #2204146
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Magdiel I know you are joking, considering the vast amount of reliance that the kashrus industry has on Chabad, but I know of Roshei Yeshivos that won’t drink wine with a Lubavitch Rav HaMachshir, and many more who would rather daven b’yechidus than in a Beis Chabad.

    That being said, I hold of the tzad that if you can see that a person looks and talks like a Yiras HaShem, you can rely on them for things in times of necessity. So I’m not going to interrogate every Shaliach to see if they hang a picture of a man up on the Mizrach Vant, I’m just going to assume that they are frum.

    All that aside, just because the frum oilom has major issues with Lubavitch haskofo doesn’t mean we hold of them as not frum.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2204136
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @DaMoshe I believe that the taynos against the Besht and Chassidus in general no longer apply today, consider the vast number of misnagdish Rabbonim and Talmidei Chachomim who respect Torah that comes from Chassidus. I don’t believe anyone in the coffee room is even remotely in a position to say anything against sifrei kodesh like Sefas Emes, Yismach Moshe, Shem MiShmuel, or Tanya .

    in reply to: The official ASK Chat GPT ANYTHING thread!!! #2204045
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    Hey giant bank of computers that attempts to predict what the next words in a phrase would be!

    Can you write a sentence containing exactly thirteen words that contains five words that are completely made up and cannot be found anywhere?

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2204044
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Lostspark Can’t speak for everyone, but I will stop when it stops being fun or starts being mean.

    in reply to: Any pet owners here? #2204043
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    A Rov I know accidentally became the animal expert of the local Vaad. He regularly puts out essays on Kosher L’Pesach pet food, animals on Shabbos, and other related issues. He one time told a story about a woman who had been calling the Vaad hotline asking shaylos about her animals. After the third or fourth call, she asked him how many pets he owns, since he seems so knowledgeable. “Umm.. none”.

    in reply to: Trump Voters #2204041
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    Whee! I got a mod edit! 😉

    No, it wasn’t a box or two. According to most accounts, it was a handful of pages with classified markings buried in various folders full of unclassified material. Mah sh’ein kein, Trump had literal boxes labeled “Classified” and “Secret” stacked up in his bathroom and office.

    Handful? Give it another shot, third time’s a charm.

     

    in reply to: Trump Voters #2203918
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Always_Ask_Questions For every ten accusations with nothing behind them, there are another twenty with mountains of evidence. Trump absolutely took home classified documents after his presidency was over, then lied about having them, then reversed his position and claimed that he de-classified them first, then refused to co-operate with the investigation. He also payed for a zoinah with campaign funds. Sure Biden did some bad stuff, like allowing Hunter to use his influence to close some deals in Slavic countries, or have a box or two of classified material in his garage, but it doesn’t even hold a candle to Trump’s wrongdoings.

    Comparing Biden’s crimes to Trump’s is like comparing a guy who shoplifted a pack of gum to a guy who held up a bank.

    A box or two? 

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2203917
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 You are correct. Non Chabadniks do not hold of Chabad seforim in the same esteem that Chabad does. The concepts you mention, like “yechida haklalis”, may originate from something legitimate, like Tzemach Tzedek or Tanya, but it’s a single opinion out of many many other Chassidish, misnagdish, and Sefardish opinions. Futhermore, non-Chabadskers do not have the same interpretation that Chabad has of these concepts, especially considering the influential Messianics who have “interpreted” the late Lubavitcher Rebbe’s letters to explain these concepts in a way that makes their way of life seem in accordance with the Torah.

    in reply to: Question of an ignorant, closed-minded Lubavitcher #2203875
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    It’s two things, I think.

    One is that over here, people are usually anonymous, so can speak with a certain candor you won’t find in the real world. Myself, for instance, the times I’ve brought up the Moshiach question with Lubavitchers was always uncomfortable for both of us and the discussion was quickly dropped. And I’m afraid of losing friendships and alienating people when I find out that they worship a dead man, or they find out that I hold of them as an apikores.

    A second reason could be that the Messianism and Rebbe worship (yes it happens, yes it’s common, no not in the way other Chassidim respect their Rebbe) is what really pushed Lubavitch out of the rest of the frum world. So when a frum person sees a Lubavitcher, one thought is “Huh, this person could really be part of our community but there’s that huge stumbling block in the way” and it really drives the whole relationship. It’s the reason why you won’t find too many mentions of Chabad events in Yated or Hamodia, or why Chabad Rabbonim aren’t speaking at the Siyum HaShas. It’s the 800 pound gorilla in the room and we can’t just ignore it.

    in reply to: Trump Voters #2203872
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @yechiell The problem is that the more lies he says, the more his supporters love him. They will reject reality in favor of whatever Trump is posting to Truth Social and claim that he’s the only one not in the swamp, or whatever.

    in reply to: Problem with Melech HaMashiach from the Dead #2203612
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    All these justifications are saying “Well the Torah never says that Moshiach can’t be dead…” (which, derech agav, isn’t even true, and has unanimously been the consensus until 1996). You may as well say “The Torah never says that Moshiach can’t be a purple monkey!” or “It’s not apikorsus to say that there are sheidim that steal my socks out of the dryer!”

    in reply to: Problem with Melech HaMashiach from the Dead #2203460
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @lakewhut You’re right. There are very few Kara’im around these days and they don’t prostelize. No yid, whether they are frum or not yet, will confuse a Kara’i with a legitimate Torah true Jew and think that they represent frum Jews.

    in reply to: Yeshivish/Chassidish vs Frumkeit #2203236
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @n0mesorah Are talking about the so-called “Orthoprax” people who are outwardly frum only for practical purposes? When I say keep halacha, I mean keep all of halacha. I mean, sheesh, even the most anti-Torah atheist Maskil probably still keeps some traditions, like not eating pork.


    @sechel83
    Again, the opposition to Chabad has nothing to do with misnagdus. The criticisms mentioned in the other thread were also echoed by notable Chassidishe Rebbes.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2203028
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Also, I don’t know what you think “the neshama of yechida haklolis” means, but I can guarantee you that you (and others from Chabad) have a very different interpretation of it than Chassidim and other frum Jews.

    I mean, like I said before. You do you. However, you should be aware as to how strange and abnormal many of your beliefs and practices are to frum Yidden who are not part of Chabad. And again, there are beliefs that are acceptable in Chabad circles that most frum (even Chassidish) places would throw the individual out on their head for expressing.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2203025
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 The overwhelming consensus of non-Chabad Talmidei Chachamim is that the belief that Rav Schneerson ZT”L will be the Moshiach is at best tipshus and many are adamant that it’s outright k’fira. This is the prevailing opinion of frum Jews everywhere, except Chabad. I don’t know if you realize that.

    Now to clarify, believing he is Moshiach, also includes a lot of other people. Like those who say “not sure”, give evasive answers, the enablers who claim not to believe but run institutions where people put up massive Yechi banners, and those who say “well, he could have been…”.

    in reply to: Side Hustle idea for kollel yungerman #2202727
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    I can tell you what not to do. Day trading hasn’t been profitable since the 00’s. Computer algorithms do so many trades so fast, they put an end to any logical trades for short termed gains. From what I hear, app gigs (Uber, Lyft, Door Dash, etc.) require so much time to be profitable, it’s essentially a full time job.

    Absolutely do not fall for any sales job that requires you to put in money upfront (Ambit Energy, Amway, Primerica). These are multi-level marketing companies (MLM for short). They are essentially scams that make money on sellers being forced to pay fees for the products that they are selling and prey on people who are looking for a side hustle. Unfortunately, may kollel yungerlite and their rebbetzins get caught up in it.

    If I can make a suggestion, spend time to learn a trade that can be done at home. Coding/programming is good, along with database management. There are always places looking to contract a part time coder to help with their app or something.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2202663
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Do you believe that your Rebbe, the late and last Rebbe of Lubavitch Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson ZT”L is the one and only Moshiach ben Dovid, yes or no? And how prevalent is that belief among Chabad?

    in reply to: Is there a greater meaning to the Titan accident? #2202662
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    The liberals are very upset that so much focus is put on the Titan accident rather than the refugee boat that capsized in the Mediterranean. I hate to say it, but I kind of agree. What can we learn from a boat full of poor and desperate people trying to get to a better life sinking and drowning?

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2202073
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Did you really just say that “probably only Chabad ever heard of the Zohar”? I’m sorry, you’ve had some “out there” takes on this thread, but that one probably clinches it. So before we continue, let’s enumerate:

    • Litvaks don’t just learn Litvishe Torah, so they don’t have a derech. Chabad is better since they only learn Chabad Torah and ignore everything else
    • No idea who Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsch ZT”L and Rav Ezriel Hildesheimer ZT”L were
    • Likutei Sichos is as important to learn as Gemara
    • Lubavitchers don’t need a living leader since every possible halacha or hashkafa question can be answered from reading Chabad seforim
    • All of Lubavitch believe that the last Rebbe ZT”L can be Moshiach
    • Only Chabad knows what the Zohar is

    I would like you to address at least some of these before continuing.

    Regarding Techiyas HaMeisim, I don’t know all the details, but numerous Rebbeim of mine quoted numerous Gedolei HaDor in stating that the idea that Moshiach is a dead man who will rise again is not a Jewish concept and possibly apikorsus. This isn’t some hot take, it’s the prevailing opinion of the frum world.

    in reply to: Yeshivish/Chassidish vs Frumkeit #2201810
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    And then there’s Chassidish. That also means different things to different people. Mainly it’s about following the BESHT, or following a Rebbe who himself tries to follow the BESHT.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2201808
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Does all of Chabad believe that Rav Schneerson ZT”L can come back and be Moshiach or not? Because most Chabadskers would adamantly deny that Meshichists even exists and laugh at the idea that a dead person can be Moshiach. But here you seem to be saying that all of Chabad believes this?

    This is not me, nor is it @AviraDeArah, nor anyone else on this thread. Numerous Rabbonim and Talmidei Chachamim that are universally respected in the frum world (except amongst some of Chabad) have repeatedly said that the RAMBAM is clear that Moshiach cannot be from the dead and that anyone who argues is guilty of kefira. This isn’t a fringe idea, this is a very prevalent idea in the non-Chabad frum world. The only question is what percentage of Chabad actively believes that a dead tzaddik may wake up and bring the geulah.

    in reply to: Yeshivish/Chassidish vs Frumkeit #2201807
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @n0mesorah Eh, you’re splitting hairs a bit with halacha and frum. No one is keeping halacha for the fun of it, they do so because they are frum. And anyone who is not frum hashkafically, but still keeping halacha, will still be violating some halachas because they have their own interpretation of what Hashem wants and it probably will not shtim with how a frum person would do things.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2201805
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Because a dead person coming back to life is not derech ha’tevah. There is a machlokes if t’chiyas ha’meisim happens before or after Moshiach. There’s no source that it’s a pre-requisite since Moshiach could have been a person who died. When we don’t have a precedent nor source for something not derech ha’tevah happening, we say it cannot happen.

    in reply to: Like Button #2201802
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @SACT5 Like

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2201801
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @n0meorah Go back to the beginning of the thread and read from there. This isn’t about love or hate. This is a discussion about practices and beliefs that are or are not part of Yiddishkeit.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2201684
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Catlover613 No one is failing on being Dan Lekaf Zechus, nor are we posting Lashon Hara. The conversation (and all 4234876 conversations preceding it) is going something like this:

    “The Chabad belief/practice of X is not part of Yiddishkeit and most Rabbonim find it problematic” at which point a Chabasker responds “Well, we believe/do X and it’s perfectly fine because Chabad believes/does X”

    If it’s something bad, they would deny it. But they don’t, they just try and justify it. That’s all.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2201660
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Actually, you don’t have a rebbe. You have books that you like to learn from that are all based on a single person’s teachings. That’s a very different thing.

    Frankly I find you characterizing Litvaks as “not having a clear derech” as offensive. And I don’t even have a Litvish drop of blood in me. What, because a Brisker studies other derachim outside of Rav Chaim that makes him off the derech? Would a Vizhnitzer who paskens based on Iggros Moshe be a fool?

    in reply to: Yeshivish/Chassidish vs Frumkeit #2201661
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    “Frum” means to follow the Torah to the best of your abilities. That’s all.

    “Yeshivish” is a meaningless word and can mean a hundred different things to ten different people under ten different contexts. I think the best place it applies is as a comparative adjective: “That guy is more Yeshivish”, “That’s not as Yeshivish”, “What’s the less Yeshivishe rov say?”.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2201580
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 I mean, you (and the rest of Chabad) do you I guess. However, based on your comments I really don’t think you are aware as to how different this sort of approach is to literally every other approach that Yidden have (or have ever had, for that matter). The whole concept of relying on something an individual wrote as your guide instead of a living breathing person. The idea that said writings are absolutely perfect and contain no mistakes. The writings which often aren’t even from that person, but second hand from someone who wrote it down. Prioritizing those writings over Gemara, Halacha, Rishonim, and other acharonim. It’s all just so different from how most Jews work (yes, even Chassidim), and I’m not sure you aware of that.

    in reply to: Posek HaDor #2201565
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @DaasYochid Nope. Which is why we’re arguing about it in our free time in CR, instead of taking out ads in the Yated and posting petchkvilim to shul bulletin boards.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2201528
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 All this is confirming to me is that you have an extremely narrow view of Yiddishkeit to the point where you didn’t even hear of three of the greatest gedolim of the 19th and 20th century, one of which even had a connection with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. So when people are criticizing you for your views, please stop saying “Just learn Chassidus” and instead maybe go speak with a Litvishe Rosh Yeshiva or Chassidishe Rebbe to understand how the rest of the frum world sees things.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2201346
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 I guess I can sort of understand someone never having heard of Rav Hirsch ZT”L (although it boggles my mind to think it possible). But a Chabadsker who never heard of R’ Azriel Hildesheimer ZT”L? The Rosh Yeshiva of The Hildesheimer Seminar, through whose program the late and last Rebbe of Lubavitch went to the University of Berlin?

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2201312
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Regarding your points

    1) You are wrong. No Yeshiva has a regular seder on the letters of Rav Baruch Ber. The closest comparison is the Brisker Yeshivos that have Gemara shiurim focused on Rav Chaim and the Griz. And that only comes after learning the Gemara and Rishonim. Most Talmidim probably never even saw something written by Rav Chaim outside of the seforim he published in his lifetime. I think some Satmar Yeshivos have regular VaYoel Moshe sedarim, but they take a backseat to Gemara and more general Chassidus. Certainly not three hours a day.

    2) Again, you’re equating Chabad with the rest of Chassidus. The issues I (and others) have with Chabad are exclusive to Chabad and don’t exist in other Chassiduses. We don’t have issues with amount of respect Chabad gives to the late Rav Schneerson ZT”L. The issue is about treating literally every drop of ink he put to paper as if it were direct min HaShomayim. There is chashivus in the writings of a gadol. However, one cannot say that we don’t need a leader because we have this gadols writings. We further cannot infer and pasken halachic shaylos based on something a gadol said in a specific time and place that may (or may not) still be relevant. We certainly cannot say that said writings take on the same kedusha as a blatt Gemara or (Lo Aleinu) Torah She’Bksav. Yiddishkeit in Galus has to be dynamic and has to continuously adjust course so that we can follow Chazal’s teachings the best. For that we need living leaders to guide us.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2201270
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Always_Ask_Questions I didn’t mean for this to be a whole argument. I was just using Rav Hirsch as one example of how frum people don’t just wholesale translate and/or publish every time a Rov sneezes. You mentioned Rav Moshe, that’s a really good example. The last Chelek of Iggros Moshe was put out by his children and not him. Rav Moshe clearly did not want all of his unedited letters public, and there’s now a minor machlokes if the Feinstein family can make the decision as to how Rav Moshe would have wanted the letters released. Notably, his letter on brain death: Rav Moshe Sherer ZT”L insisted that Rav Moshe Feinstein ZT”L reversed his decision later on, but his children disagree.

    Again, I’m not saying we should ignore the writings of dead gedolim. But they should be viewed as the lighthouses that guide us through the sea. But it is our living teachers being the ones who are driving the boat and tell us how and when to turn, and which lights are meant for different people.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2201173
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @n0mesorah I don’t think I was clear on what I was writing. I’m talking about the main Rav Hirsch translators, which has been lead by a group of his descendants (mostly from the Breuer family) since the late 70s. These are people who have grown up learning Rav Hirsch as a family mesorah. They didn’t actually change anything (as far as I know), the biggest challenge is translating the German into modern English in a way that keeps to the original intent. However, they did choose to not publish many letters and speech transcripts for a variety of reasons. There’s no dishonesty, it’s just that things meant for a 19th century German Ba’al HaBatisch audience are not necessarily the type of Torah that resounds today.

    And Rav Yaakov Yosef ZT”L may have dedicated his life to promoting his Rebbe’s teachings, but he did not advocate that everyone do the same. Nor did he have the idea that a Rebbe is no longer needed, since we have his writings and everyone can just learn from them. Yiddishkeit needs teachers. No one can learn Torah from books alone.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2200978
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @n0mesorah My point was that the Rav Hirsch Foundation picked and chose what to publish and a lot of what they left out was because there seemed to be discrepancies between earlier and later writings.


    @AviraDeArah
    And it’s a bad idea. People need leaders to lead them. No modern gadol, no matter how great, can possibly be so perfect that the answer to any potential question can be found in his writings.

    @aposhiteyid @melbournian I feel like you’re just making excuses and moving the goalposts over here. Chassidus, at no point preceding 1996, was ever about spending a massive percentage of your day giving a late Rebbes writings and speeches the same chashivus as a blatt gemara. I don’t know what “Chassidus Chagas” is, but it sounds like something invented specifically to define Chabad in a way so that it still falls under the category of “Chassidus”.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2200966
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @n0mesorah I thought that cars on Shabbos was a thing that Conservative allowed since the early 20th century? I would think that that’s a bigger divide than mechitzas. Especially since at the time many left wing “Orthodox” American shuls didn’t have mechitzas, but no one openly drove.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2200711
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @sechel83 Regarding apikorsim: If the shoe fits…. I mean, all we are saying is that the everyone except Chabad views certain practices as Apikorsus. Chabad does not and in many cases even encourages said practices. All you’ve done so far is attempt to defend those practices, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the g’mar din has already been signed and the frum veldt has made a decision.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2200709
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @seichel You are incorrectly equating Chabad practices and beliefs with “Chassidus”. Vizhnitz, Belz, Satmar, etc. don’t spend three hours a day to go over their late Rebbe’s happy birthday letters.

    @nomesorah This is personal experience and things I’ve been told. In places where Rav Hirsch changed his mind, his earlier writings were not translated. The one well known instance is in “The 19 Letters” he says that he will write a sefer called “Moriah” in which he will define what Talmud Torah im Derech Eretz is. However, he never wrote the sefer and never wrote a clear cut definition of it because later in his life he felt that too specific a definition won’t work for later generations.


    @DaMoshe
    Very well, then a Rebbe is someone appointed by his Chassidim. However, said Chassidim cannot appoint a book to be their Rebbe.

    in reply to: Bridging the Gap Between The Torah World and MO #2200436
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    To add to the Chalav Yisroel discussion, Rav Ruderman ZT”L held that dehydrated milk is l’chatchila Chalav Yisroel and Ner Yisroel would serve OU-D food made with dehydrated milk.


    @AviraDeArah
    Back? I never left! I think that other Rabbonim only agreed to Rav Moshe’s psak as a heter, and they argued on his view that it’s l’chatchila. I don’t think any of his talmidim claim that it’s a heter.


    @coffee-addict
    I’m not sure what to take from that story. Obviously you viewed things one way, but I don’t know the precise circumstances, nor the people involved, to say that it’s an indictment of MO Yiddishkeit. I mean, there are plenty of very public controversial piskei halacha and hadracha to choose from.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2200434
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @adam-neira So who do you believe is Moshiach?

    in reply to: Bridging the Gap Between The Torah World and MO #2200253
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @neville-chaim-berlin I have heard b’sheim Rav Reuven and Rav Dovid (YBCLC) Feinstein that Rav Moshe ZT”L’s psak on Chalav HaCompanies (as you put it) is that we can rely on the USDA to make the food Chalav Yisroel and it’s not a heter.

    I once asked a Rebbi what the definition of “kula” and “chumra” are in regards to modern halacha. He said that it’s simply a matter of who you hold of. Like in general the klal holds one way, and for whatever reason you choose to go according to a minority opinion. Depending on whether the opinion is more machmir or more meikel that would be a kula or chumra.

    Like the Chazan Ish said that the s’chach of a sukkah cannot be held in place by something that itself is pasul for s’chach. He is a very minority opinion on that matter. But if you’re in position to follow it, then kol hakovod to you for making a sukkah that’s kasher according to everyone.

    Similarly, if there’s a something that everyone considers assur, but there’s reasonable minority opinions who say that it’s really allowed, then given extenuating circumstances, it may be allowed.

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2200245
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @lakwhut No, a Rebbe is not forever. A Rebbe goes to the Oilom HaEmes just like all of us. That’s when he leaves his duties to his son or talmid.

    in reply to: RCA Statement Regarding Chabad Messianism #2200244
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Adam_Neira What are you trying to say? That you know who Moshiach is and he is being silenced?

    in reply to: Chabad Inspires all Jews to Yearn for Mashiach #2200024
    Yserbius123
    Participant

    @Always_Ask_Questions You make a good point, however this is one thing you are neglecting from it. Having an oral tradition (Torah sh’Ba’al Peh) means having a Rebbi. We cannot just read books (no matter how holy) and have that be our Rebbi, we need a person who is dynamic and understands his talmid and the world.


    @sechel83
    That is how Chabad chooses to interpret that particular aspect of Chassidus. You should be aware that the rest of the frum world does not. We view Acharonim as Torah that is highly susceptible and open to machlokes from any other Acharon. Divrei halacha and hashkafa especially, since they are are often extremely subjective. I have two very misnagdish examples I can give you from personal experience with the Yekkish community (but this exist in every frum community except Chabad).

    1. The translators of Rav Hirsch ZT”L’s works had to make a lot of decisions as to what would be published and what wouldn’t. The decided to all but ignore anything that wasn’t openly published by him (i.e. they left out letters and speech transcripts). Furthermore, they acknowledged that his views changed over his lifetime, and even his core philosophy of “Talmud Torah im Derech Eretz” differed from how he wrote about it in his 20s to how he wrote about it in his 50s. This affected which works they chose to translate.
    2. A while back, a woman found a stash of letters by her great-grandfather, Rav Eliezer Lipman Philip Prinz ZT”L, a Rav from Antwerp. They were all in Dutch, so she brought them to a relative to translate. The relative said that most of the letters, unfortunately, would have to be omitted since they were paskening halacha and there’s no way to know what the case was and whether it would still apply. One example was that he allowed people to open sidewalk umbrellas on Shabbos (I think the heter had to do with the construction of the umbrella and way in which it was opened, along with the fact that most of the community would still be mechalel Shabbos if he never gave a heter) which would either cause people to falsely think that umbrellas are muttar, or brand him a heretic.
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