I'm not sure if Gil, Godol and the others have got this email, but this is the latest pashkevil going around Yerushalayim. This one I can agree to.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
The Gedolim Speak about MUOYG
I'm not sure if Gil, Godol and the others have got this email, but this is the latest pashkevil going around Yerushalayim. This one I can agree to.
Friday, February 18, 2005
No time for bloggin
Well, I've been trying to find some time to post a few words, but Baruch Hashem I've been too busy to blog.
Also, starting next week or so, I won't be able to blog as often, so I will probably cut back to two-to-three blog posts per week. (That is if there is anything interesting to blog about.)
Also, starting next week or so, I won't be able to blog as often, so I will probably cut back to two-to-three blog posts per week. (That is if there is anything interesting to blog about.)
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Rabbinical Retirement and Life Insurance for Rebbes
Two perhaps unrelated issues. (Yet, both are neither about Slifkin or negativity.)
1) Is being a gadol like being on SCOTUS? There are times when we can see that a gadol is no longer acting in such a way as to give us the confidence that he still is, for lack of a better term, 100% all there. BTW, I'm not necessarily talking about the gadol I'm sure you're all assuming I'm talking about. There are others today, and there were others in recent years past. In a somewhat related note; what about if there is a gadol whose claim to fame is that he hates an entire group of people with a vengeance, and he forbids his followers from having anything to do with that group? What if modern science can perhaps reason that this gadol is merely suffering from PTSD and this is his way of dealing with it?
2) Yeshivas and life insurance for their rebbes. Every place I've ever worked had as a benefit a somewhat crappy life insurance policy. Why can't yeshivas do the same? The costs would be so little that a $50 tuition increase wouldn't be a major deal for most people.
1) Is being a gadol like being on SCOTUS? There are times when we can see that a gadol is no longer acting in such a way as to give us the confidence that he still is, for lack of a better term, 100% all there. BTW, I'm not necessarily talking about the gadol I'm sure you're all assuming I'm talking about. There are others today, and there were others in recent years past. In a somewhat related note; what about if there is a gadol whose claim to fame is that he hates an entire group of people with a vengeance, and he forbids his followers from having anything to do with that group? What if modern science can perhaps reason that this gadol is merely suffering from PTSD and this is his way of dealing with it?
2) Yeshivas and life insurance for their rebbes. Every place I've ever worked had as a benefit a somewhat crappy life insurance policy. Why can't yeshivas do the same? The costs would be so little that a $50 tuition increase wouldn't be a major deal for most people.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Why the Negativity?
I have been asked by many people why I constantly harp on the negative.
I will try to answer that question as best as I can.
Firstly, like we are seeing with the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, good news doesn't sell. A post (or a talk) about good stuff happening doesn't really draw much attention or thought.
What am I to post, "Rabbi X. gave a great drasha.”?
Secondly, if there would be nothing negative going on, I would have nothing negative to post about.
With the advent of Jewish blogging, more people now have the opportunity to let their voices be heard. None of the J-Bloggers out there would have had a voice 10 years ago.
In addition, as we saw with Rathergate, the blogosphere is showing that the average, not-wealthy connectionless Jew, still has a voice.
I am not a robot, I think for myself. I don't always think very well but at least it's my thought process that makes me act. For those J-Robots, of course there's no reason to post, or talk, about the negative issues; it's irrelevant. For me and many others out there, it's not just to post about the negative but to also let others know that they are not alone. I feel better knowing that there are Orthodox Jews out there who also feel the pain and sadness in watching what is happening to their religion. (I don’t feel happy knowing that others are in pain rather, I feel happy that others are aware of the problems and could potentially help solve them.)
So, I would love nothing better than to not post about negative issues but when our publications, mouthpieces and rabbis only talk about the good, somebody has to unsweep the carpet.
Yet, all is not lost. I am slowly starting to see a change in people's and rabbi's behaviors. They are more aware that everything they say can instantly be transported to Jews all over the world and they are also aware that there are many people in their communities that never got their robot implants in grade school.
In my mind, it is these implant-free Jews that are the true future of Orthodox Judaism, the ones that think for themselves and still remain Torah True, as opposed to those that are Jewish just by virtue of the fact that they were born Jewish.
I will try to answer that question as best as I can.
Firstly, like we are seeing with the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, good news doesn't sell. A post (or a talk) about good stuff happening doesn't really draw much attention or thought.
What am I to post, "Rabbi X. gave a great drasha.”?
Secondly, if there would be nothing negative going on, I would have nothing negative to post about.
With the advent of Jewish blogging, more people now have the opportunity to let their voices be heard. None of the J-Bloggers out there would have had a voice 10 years ago.
In addition, as we saw with Rathergate, the blogosphere is showing that the average, not-wealthy connectionless Jew, still has a voice.
I am not a robot, I think for myself. I don't always think very well but at least it's my thought process that makes me act. For those J-Robots, of course there's no reason to post, or talk, about the negative issues; it's irrelevant. For me and many others out there, it's not just to post about the negative but to also let others know that they are not alone. I feel better knowing that there are Orthodox Jews out there who also feel the pain and sadness in watching what is happening to their religion. (I don’t feel happy knowing that others are in pain rather, I feel happy that others are aware of the problems and could potentially help solve them.)
So, I would love nothing better than to not post about negative issues but when our publications, mouthpieces and rabbis only talk about the good, somebody has to unsweep the carpet.
Yet, all is not lost. I am slowly starting to see a change in people's and rabbi's behaviors. They are more aware that everything they say can instantly be transported to Jews all over the world and they are also aware that there are many people in their communities that never got their robot implants in grade school.
In my mind, it is these implant-free Jews that are the true future of Orthodox Judaism, the ones that think for themselves and still remain Torah True, as opposed to those that are Jewish just by virtue of the fact that they were born Jewish.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
The Siyum Hashas
First of, let me just start by saying that I don't like the Siyum Hashas. It just strikes me the wrong way.
One of the things I don't like is the whole mechitza business during "davening" parts. Everybody that knows halacha knows that there is no need for a mechitza by a minyan that is not kavua (set). Why is there a mechitza during an event that only occurs once every seven and a half years?
In addition, I don't think we should be telling Jews worldwide to learn a daf a day. Maybe an amud a day would be better. Or, better yet, how about a perek Chumash a day, perek Mishna a day, or what I think Jews, specifically the Catholic Jews of Israel and BP,Flatbush and Willy, need is a good dose of Shulchan Aruch yomi?
In addition, everyone makes a big deal about not giving money to sources that are assur. Well, the Agudah is a member of the United Way. The United Way has members that would be
considered assur to give money to.
Does anybody see anything strange with the way not learning Daf Yomi has become one of the cardinal sins?
Lastly, I just don't want the Agudah involved with anything to do with my life, and certainly nothing to do with my money.
Ad Can Rant.
One of the things I don't like is the whole mechitza business during "davening" parts. Everybody that knows halacha knows that there is no need for a mechitza by a minyan that is not kavua (set). Why is there a mechitza during an event that only occurs once every seven and a half years?
In addition, I don't think we should be telling Jews worldwide to learn a daf a day. Maybe an amud a day would be better. Or, better yet, how about a perek Chumash a day, perek Mishna a day, or what I think Jews, specifically the Catholic Jews of Israel and BP,Flatbush and Willy, need is a good dose of Shulchan Aruch yomi?
In addition, everyone makes a big deal about not giving money to sources that are assur. Well, the Agudah is a member of the United Way. The United Way has members that would be
considered assur to give money to.
Does anybody see anything strange with the way not learning Daf Yomi has become one of the cardinal sins?
Lastly, I just don't want the Agudah involved with anything to do with my life, and certainly nothing to do with my money.
Ad Can Rant.
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