by Joel Rich
Blog -It is true that Torah students are allowed to rely on public funds for their livelihood. However, this permit is not so simple
Me-I think what you’re seeing here is a example of how the human mind resolves cognitive dissonance. One would prefer not to live with the knowledge that one is doing something less than optimal, so one convinces oneself that their less than optimal choice really is optimal. We might be seeing something similar in those who live outside of aretz not pining for the day that they can come home but rather convincing themselves that home is in their own little Jerusalem.
Simi Peters in “Strauss, Spinoza and Sinai”
From a Jewish perspective though indeterminacy is a fact of life, the inevitable consequence of human subjectivity and more significantly a necessary condition for free will. Choices are only possible when there is uncertainty. Freely chosen belief in God and fidelity to the laws of the Torah would not be possible if the existence of God and the truth of Torah could be proven mathematically. Our inability to reduce moral and ethical dilemmas to binary truth values gives us the power to choose, giving us both dignity and opportunity.
At the same time, with power comes responsibility. Those who are capable of choosing are obligated to make choices. And if decision-making is a moral imperative, neutrality is moral cowardice. An unwillingness to take a stand – to truly commit to a value judgment or a course of action-reduces us to helpless victims of circumstances. It regards the spiritual development that comes from striving, sometimes failing, re-evaluating and trying again. The centrality of tshuva (repentance) to Jewish life is a tacit acknowledgement that our fallibility is an inextricable part of our humanity – not a design flaw but an opportunity to evolve to our greatest potential.
The impartiality advocated by postmodernism is possible perhaps within the framework of theoretical discussion but to the Jewish mind it is not a viable option in the real world. Life requires us to make all kinds of decisions and whatever we choose we must deal with the consequences of our choices.
Me-How does this relate, if at all, to the concept of being chosheish for all the shitot?
- Rabbi Jeremy Wieder-Sichah – Adam Ki Yakriv Mikem – The Definition of Sacrifice
Avodah means showing up and being willing to make financial and personal sacrifices for HKBH. One should then both reject sheilaism and complete political self-definition. Be willing to admit you’re wrong.
- Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Rabbi Yitzchok Pindrus,Eli Paley, Yitzchok Weinberg,Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik,Eli Spitzer-4/2/22 – Shiur 365 – The State of World Orthodox Jewry 2022 Interviews with International Askanim
The government in Eretz Yisrael doesn’t care about chareidim or maybe it does. Chareidim care about others now or maybe they don’t. It’s the best of times or it’s the worst of times.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Living in Mitzrayim (Egypt)
If it’s forbidden to return to Egypt, why did many do so (including gedolim)? (spoiler alert – there are reasons!)
- Rabbi Zev Smith-The Potato in Halacha
Potatoes are a relatively recent staple (1600s) and, as a tuber, their bracha rishona status is unclear (shehakol, adama or mezonot?) Is bishul akum an issue? Are they muktzeh on Shabbat? Are potato based produced (powdered potatoes, chips, pringles…) treated as potatoes for bracha purposes?
- Rabbi Yona Reiss-From the Dayan’s Desk #91: Rabbinic Confidentiality
Bal tomar is the source of a halachic non-disclosure requirement (but there’s debate whether it’s duraita). The requirement may be waived either by both the parties or when harm (TBD) may result from non-disclosure.
- Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb-Kavod HaBriyos – Can Sensitivity to Human Dignity CHANGE Halacha?
When may an otherwise straightforward psak be changed by kavod habriyot considerations? (for the person themselves or third parties; drabanana or shev val taseh?) Two classic cases discussed.
Interesting insights from R YBS/R Lichtenstein that due to the chance of abuse, poskim take kavod habriyot into account but don’t put it in writing in their tshuvot.
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-צדקה וכבוד העני: בושה, בזיון, וצער
Is the Rambam’s putting job/business creation at the top of the tzedakah list simply utilitarian (most efficient way to meet societal needs) or indicative of the integral nature of human dignity in tzedakah.
- Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Reb Chaim Kanievsky – Yiddishkeit Is Reality
More insights into R Ck as a role model.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Eating Matzah 30 Days Before Pesach
What is the concern about eating matza before pesach and how does that inform on the time period and types of matza included in the minhag of not eating matza then?
- Rabbi Ephraim Kanarfogel-Af Hen Hayu B’Oto Hanes: A Nuanced Identification of the Views of the Ba’alei ha-Tosafot in Learning and Scholarship
Af heim analyzed with focus on how did the baalei hatosfot understand the theory and thus the application of the concept.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Bava Basra Shiur #64- Dina D’Malchusa
Finishing up kesef and shaveh kesef including paper money status. How does DMD apply to any combination of Jews and non-Jews? Non-monetary cases? Shibud nechasim?
Interesting how the C”I can be perceived to argue on the Shach (is there any monetary case that halaca doesn’t have an opinion on?) without running into the yeridat hadorot objection.
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-עניי עירך קודמים
Are concentric circles priorities in tzedakah a function of efficiency, achrayut or something else? How do we resolve conflicting priority levels (e.g. family, neighbor, talmid chacham)
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-The Obligation, Expectation and Hiddur of Matzah
Perhaps there are three levels of mitzvot: chiyuvit (must do), kiyumit (not required but expected at some level); hiddur (not expected but a way to show you really care?)
- Rabbi Ally Ehrman-May We Use Data Derived From Nazi Experimentation?
Sh”ut pro and con using ill-gotten experimentation data.
- Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz-Q&A- Mechitza, Brainwashing & Shadchanim
Q&A including: teaching kids about marriage, lashon hara, sfard/ashkenaz (pronounce, nusach, minhag ), R Stensaltz, jealousy, R CK, Purim meaning, 7 mitzvot, shadchans, mechitzot for social events, love and romance, women zimun, kibui on yom tov, matanot levyonim, Moshe’s children, asceticism, R Moshe and satmar, ziyuf hatorah, and caring about negative influences.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Maror
Is maror an independent mitzvah or tied to korban Pesach (pre and post churban)? Implications for shiurim, zman, and other nafka minas
- Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank-The War in Ukraine, Gog and Magog, and the Arc of History: A Torah Perspective on Current Events
Don’t focus on calculating Moshiach’s arrival but pine for closeness with HKBH and spiritual achievements.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Parshas Tazria
Parsha thoughts including: birth karbanot, miktzat hayom kkulo, brit-bein hashmashot, tzarat, why don’t Cohanim look at negaim today, cohanai chazaka, learning before marrying, and the sweep of Jewish history.
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Inyanei Pesach 5782
Pesach topics including: sippur yetziat mitzraim, (purpose duraita today, including basics of faith), men and women’s roles, tapuach=citrus, unshalma and actualizing mitzvot, maror (romaine lettuce), matza (oats?), leaning (how?), earliest start time, who pours the wine (grape juice), havdala and sfira.
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-קדימות בצדקה: קרובים, עניי עירך, כבוד, קדושה, אחיך במצוות
Tzedaka priorities – what might we intuit from the various tamudic sources (e.g. your city, eretz yisrael, family) and what are the underlying theories (e.g. effectiveness, relationships)
- Rabbi Aaron Buechler-The Great Air Conditioning Debate
How does a group determine the proper temperature setting for any group gathering? Are heat and a/c subject to the same rules? Do seasonal and/or community norms play a role? Does one’s illness outweigh another’s comfort? Does majority rule?
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Halacha Chabura: Laws of the Seder Night
See his pesach shiur above, pretty much the same topics covered.
- Rabbi Yona Reiss-From the Dayan’s Desk #92: Shadchanus
Shadchanut is a real monetary obligation. Multiple advisers, retained search and local standards all need to be taken into account (me-being yashar is also worth considering). Is it due on engagement or marriage?
- Rabbi Hershel Schachter-Bava Basra Shiur #66- Carrying on Shabbos, Kedushas Ha’aretz, Bar Mitzvah
Topics include: some reshut yachid/rabim rules, why moshe wanted to get into eretz yisrael, kiddush hachodes in ch’ul, kedushat eretz yisrael, chatzi davar and chezkat habatim rules.
- Rabbi Michael Taubes-Parshas Tazria Rejoicing During Sheva Berachos Week: A Torah or Rabbinic Mitzvah?
Proofs and applications concerning whether sheva brachot is duraita or drabanan.
- Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz-Q&A- Tanya, Golden Calf & Genetic Testing
Q&A including: Gra on sason vsimcha, is there any act that HKBH is neutral on, ear lobe and thumb significance, interpreting history, original sin/free will, tanya, climate change, challenges of living in israel, shnayim mikra, HKBH’s anger in the midbar, eating before tfila, tshuva, genetic testing, and Lilith.
- Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig-קדימות בצדקה: איש, אשה, כהן, לוי, ממזר, גר, ש”ץ, ת”ח
What theories underlying horiyot prioritization (e.g. kedusha, class recognition, yichus, value to the community). Perhaps the purpose is to enshrine independent halachic values as a tie breaking algorithm?
- Rabbi Jonathan Bienenfeld-Spending the Seder with Rav Soloveitchik
Hagada insights into: kol dichfin/kol dtzrich freedom from freedom to, harei zeh meshubach, byitziat mizraim, bracha on hagada, and hamakom
- Rabbi Michael Rosensweig-Hashkafa Shiur – 5 ‘פרקי אבות פרק ב
Issues related to schar mitzva. While the severity of the punishment may inform on the severity of the sin, there may also be deterrent and atonement elements.
Haosek/patur may have nothing to do with kal/chamur but simply with being totally mindful of the mitzva you’re involved with.
- Rabbi Ezra Schwartz-Practices of Nissan: Birchas HaIlanos, Buying Meat for “Yom Tov” and Maos Chitim
Birchat hailanot – what is its nature and how does that inform on when it’s said and by whom?
When do you have to be aware of food purchases not appearing to be part of the korban Pesach procedure?
Is maot chitim a din in tzedakah or pesach?
Please direct any informal comments to [email protected].
