by Joel Rich
From the Ami Museum (formerly beit hatfutzot)
The Jews of Babylonia did not regard themselves as exiles and made attempts to locate sites of Jewish historical importance in their vicinity that would actually testify to their local roots. That explains how they “discovered” the furnace in which Abraham burned the idols, the gravesite of Daniel the Prophet and other places. Babylonia received a renewed geographical legal definition.
Against that backdrop various traditions also evolved in Babylonia such as the claim that the synagogue in Nehardea was built out of stones taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. There was even a widespread belief that in the future after the coming of Messiach, all the Jews of the world would suffer the birth pangs of the Messiah and only the Jews of Babylon would be exempt from them.
(Me-Interesting assertion, I wonder the source. Any parallel with current diaspora?)
Defining MO! (Me- I guess Lehrhaus could’ve saved a lot of pixels 😊)
This group whose members live in the Diaspora primarily in the United States attaches the greatest important to studying the Babylonian Talmud but also the Torah and its commentaries as well as many books in the field of Jewish philosophy and treatises produced in institutes of Jewish Studies. As a rule, their approach seeks to synthesize Torah and science. Modern Orthodoxy around the world consists of many growing varieties and its followers include academics and professionals.
Segulot thoughts?
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/23780231221084775
Abstract
The authors analyze the 2020–2021 Chapman University Survey of American Fears (n = 1,035), the most recent nationally representative survey to examine fears of and beliefs about supernatural and paranormal phenomena, including ghosts, hauntings, zombies, psychics, telekinesis, Bigfoot or Sasquatch, Atlantis, and extraterrestrial visitation. This research examines how supernatural beliefs vary by race/ethnicity, gender, and education after adjustment for other demographic characteristics and religiosity. There were five gender differences, such that women were more likely than men to believe in or fear all nonmaterial or spiritual supernatural phenomena, as well as Atlantis. People with a bachelor’s degree or higher were less likely to believe in extraterrestrial visitation, hauntings, Bigfoot or Sasquatch, and Atlantis. There were also six beliefs and fears for which racial/ethnic differences emerged. The results highlight how gender, education, and race/ethnicity are strongly related to complex belief systems, including supernatural phenomena.
- Rabbi Nosson Rich-Practical Applications of Lifnei Iver
Is stepping into a crosswalk in eretz yisrael on shabbat a problem of misayea if you cause a car to stop? Major poskim oppose inviting non-frum on Shabbat. What are the workarounds for this case, for giving food to someone that you know won’t make a bracha and for arranging for a taxi right after Shabbat? Some combination of: mazid anyway, offer an alternative, potential benefit/to help them, prevent future sins, and risk/reward. Is lifnei iver action or result oriented?
- Mrs. Nechama Price-Unsolved Mysteries in Tanach: A Case Study, The Death of Nadav and Avihu
Analysis of how the mefarshim came to differing conclusions as to the “sin” of Nadav and Avihu (literary analysis). Two broad categories emerge; totally inappropriate actions or they forgot where they were in the moment (which required a higher than normal standard).
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-די מחסורו: לפרנסו ולא להעשירו
Review of the possible percentage limits (and sources) of tzedakah. Also possible fixed tzedakah amounts (meeting ani’s needs – TBD).
- Rabbi Josh Grajower-A Torah Perspective on Animal Rights
R Kook believed that evolving “animal rights” were appropriate but there were other things to focus on right now.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Bava Basra Shiur #60- Nichsei HaGer, Relationships after Conversion, Mesirah
Who is/are the presumptive owner(s) of family assets and how might that presumption by affected by various specific circumstances (e.g. death?) Also covered – convert who has no inheritors and transferring property or large animal ownership.
- Rabbi Etan Moshe Berman-The Relationship between Drugs and Spirituality
Wine (intoxicants) separate emotion from daat – this is not the road to spirituality.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Parshas Tzav
Parsha insights focused on karbanot and menachot. Also mentioned: kol dtakan rabbanan, what’s bidei shamayim, chatzot duraita or drabanan, kavana, mashkeh vs. maachal, and much more.
- Rabbi Yona Reiss-Can Beis Din Utilize DNA Identification?
DNA as a siman for identification with focus on 9/11 cases. It almost sounded like the reason for not treating DNA as a siman muvhak (highest of 3 levels of simanim) is because of mamzerut concerns (not physical reality).
- Rabbi Sammy Bergman-Challenges to Free Will
Rambam on what happened to Pharaoh’s free will and how the Rambam squares divine foreknowledge with free will (or does he?)
- Rabbi Shay Schachter-Consistency & The Legendary Life of Rav Chaim Kanievsky: Do We Have the Luxury to Mourn?
His day-in day-out consistency is key. R CK demonstrated this in his commitment to torah learning along with other priorities, as do other gedolim (e.g. R H Schacter) {Me – I’m not sure the R Elyashav story demonstrated the same balance but I’ve always thought of it as a dynamic balance – it’s the effort to determine the balance, not the result}. Learning from gedolim is more important than mourning their loss
- Rabbi Reuven Brand-Rav Yitzchak Isaac Halevi Herzog Activism and the Holocaust
R Herzog’s bio from Ireland to the holocaust to eretz yisrael.
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-Satmar Rav: Importance of Supporting Jews in Israel. False Messiahs Applied to Zionism. Various Attacks on Agudath Israel. When Melamaid Zechut on Jews Does Not Apply. Secular Courts in Israel. Effectiveness of Satmar Demonstrations. Corruption of Ag
R ARR is sympathetic to the Satmar rebbi’s concerns about the State of Israel, it’s just the rebbi has less than optimal solutions.
- Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb-An Overview of the Halachos of the Seder
Seder practicum including the sippur, matzah, maror, leaning, afikomen and hallel.
- Rav Asher Weiss-שיעור מקוה
Thoughts on R Ck. Is 40 saah measure for mikveh duraita or derabanan? Are keililm measures different than people’s are?
- Rabbi Steven Pruzansky-Asking Questions
Which areas (e.g. halacha, hashkafa) do you ask for psak and who do you ask? Is daas torah based on seichel? When can you ask a second opinion? When should a rav refer you to someone else? Delay his response? Not answer?
- Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein-Rav Melamed- Taking RISKS or Taking RESPONSBILITY?
R Melamed is an independent, deep thinker.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Bava Basra Shiur #63- Kavana for Kinyan, Dina D’Malchusa
Can a ger katan be koneh something? (Maybe yes with daat makneh, can one have kavana without daat?)
Kesef and shaveh kesef definitions may depend on what country you’re in.
In what circumstances definitions does dina demalchuta apply?
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-צדקה: מעשר, כפי מה שראוי לעני, די מחסורו
Drinking for purposes other than nutrition – bracha rishona? Achrona? Water vs. other liquids?
- Dr. Ari Mermelstein-A Timeless Ritual Through the Lens of a Historian (Part 1)
First in a series. The seder as a response to the trauma of destruction-preserving memory of what we’re missing as well as the mikdash ritual.
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-צדקה וכבוד העני: בושה, בזיון, וצער
The level of dai machsero (is it a chiyuv on any individual or the community?) maybe be a function of the individual and the community standards. Basic needs and self-respect may both play a role. Kavod level may be ok to fulfil, but not taaveh.
- Isadore Twersky, “Rationality and Spirituality: Perspectives on Maimonides”
The Rambam believed that intellectual virtues are the greatest value (and thus the true perfection). Spirituality and moral virtues are seen through that lens.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Parshas Shemini
Parsha insights including: different levels of kohain gadol/mashuach; tvila for duchen/horaah/pre-yomtov/pre-shabbat; when is Torah one large pattern and when do we say a rule is an exception?; kashrut (when do you need a mesorah?, chelev); and much more.
- Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank-How Machlokes Proliferated According to Rambam
The chavot yair’s six questions on the Rambam’s approach to machloket and how the Rambam might answer. There may be two reasons for machloket: 1 lo shimshu – students weren’t devoted enough and 2 no beit din hagadol existed to settle disputes. There may be two types of mesora 1. Purely functional (all the way back) and 2 earlier interpretations (which are subject to human understanding). R YBS sees beit din hagadol’s power as flowing from all klal Yisroel and thus putting their takanot into category 1 mesora if accepted by the klal
- Rabbi Michael Taubes-Parshas Shemini Haircutting and Shaving for a Mourner
Review of sources and rules on haircuts and shaving in aveilut. Are they (and aveilut in general) duraita or drabanan?
- Rabbi Binyomin Hamburger,Rabbi Yechiel Goldhaber,Rabbi Shai Grauche-3/26/22 – Shiur 364 – UKRAINE – NAZI GERMANY: Do we hold on to last generations atrocities, or do we let go? REB CHAIM KANIEVSKY ZT”L, Hear from the inside
Do we hold children responsible for the sins of their parents? Why would anyone stay in Europe anyway?
Stories of R Ck.
- Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Reb Chaim Kanievsky’s Unique Hilchot Shabbat Psakim (Agudat Yisrael)
R Chaim’s Shabbat Tshuvot (not always with explanations) including: chmar medina in eretz yisrael, folding shtenders, blowing up balloons, repairing glasses, playing with legos, ice making, opening packages, security cameras, lice killing, kosheir, cholent with bones, tea making, boreir and much more
- Rabbi Zev Smith-When Is It Permissible to talk During Davening?
Don’t talk during davening especially during shmoneh esrai, (and between tachanun and chazarat hashatz)(itself too)) and leining. There are a number of reasons for this prohibition and few exceptions.
- Rabbi Evan Hoffman-Mayim Achronim
What were the original reasons for mayim achronim and what were the later add-ons? What were the issues with making a bracha on mayim achronim? Why did it fall out of favor and why did it make a comeback?
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-Melamed Leho’il Responsum: Kohen and Gentile Woman Married via Civil Marriage and Their Son Dies and the Wife Desperately Wants to Convert. R’ Moshe Feinstein: Wife of Kohen Wants to Convert but it is the Husband Who Desperately Wants the Conversion
Are there extenuating circumstances under which a cohain can marry (or remain married) to a convert? How do zera yisrael and chilul hashem relate to this question?
Please direct any informal comments to [email protected].
