Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Coping with Modernity: An interview with Rabbi Emanuel Rackman
https://thejewishreview.org/articles/?id=184
Jewish Review: One of the arguments against the ?modern Orthodox? or ?Torah im derekh eretz? point of view is that it seems to inevitably produce individuals who are less committed to halakha and who are less involved in Jewish learning.? Could you comment on this charge?
Rabbi Rackman: It is true, and there is no doubt that the rabbis of the Talmud recognized this too.? They spoke of four men who went into an orchard (the orchard, presumably, is Greek philosophy); one of them looked and went berserk, another one looked and converted to another faith, and one looked and died.? Only one of the four, Rabbi Akiva, entered in peace and came out in peace.? This indicates that we have always been aware of the danger, and that, therefore, not everybody should feel that all secular learning should be approached through an open door.? This is why many Orthodox parents who send their children to universities encourage them to study accounting, to become businessmen, chemists even, but not to engage in the study of philosophy and psychology.? The threats and challenges to Judaism come from the humanities and the social sciences, not so much from the natural sciences.? Natural science, we know, has no pretense to absolute truth; at best it gives you a good guess, a relative truth, and thus most observant Jews can safely enter its realm.? By the same token it is very important for some people to study the humanities, philosophy and social sciences, because, first, we know that the majority of Jews are going to be exposed to modern culture, and hence our permitting the dual exposure to Torah and philosophy, for example, helps to allow those who want to remain loyal Jews to do so without undue conflict.? In addition, we ultimately discover, for example, that the writings of the Rambam and his successors (including those who frowned upon him and prohibited his works) showed an influence of ?secular? ideas.? There were some ideas which emerged from the encounter of torah and secular thought which are of everlasting religious value.? For example, the writings of Samson Rafael Hirsch are so influenced by Immanuel Kant that we cannot fully appreciate Hirsch without an understanding of Kant, and there are indeed some insights of Hirsch, albeit stemming from a Kantian or Hegelian influence, which are valid despite these influences and have and will outlive (what might be perceived to be) the failure of Kant or Hegel.
Was Rackman an Apikorus?
https://www.torahmusings.com/2011/12/biblical-theology-of-rabbi-emanuel-rackman/
But one writer raised a significant issue and I share his question and my answer to it with the readership of Hirhurim around Rabbi Rackman’s yartzeit. He asked me a question about Rabbi Rackman’s biblical theology and raised the possibility that Rabbi Rackman was a technical heretic in that he did not believe in the Torah being revealed by God at Sinai to Moses (Torah miSinai).
Rabbi Rackman contemplates the possibility that the Torah has in it texts that were written by humans in a different form prior to God taking these text, incorporating them into Torah and then giving that Torah to Moshe in its fully revealed form, word by word to Moshe. This belief violates none of the Rambam’s ikarim. Anyone who claims that this idea by Rabbi Rackman is heretical can only do so by adding dogma to the ikarim that we have accepted as binding through the historical mesorah accepted by the halachic community. I think that just like the contraction of the thirteen ikarim into 12 or 8 or 3 is to be resisted as a violation of that historical mesorah (even as I am well aware that Albo advocates such), so too the expansion of the ikarim into 15, 19 or 613 principles is to be resisted as a violation of that same mesorah (even as I am well aware that Chatam Sofer advocates such).
AI writes
Whether Rabbi Emanuel Rackman (1910–2008) was a heretic is a subject of intense debate within Orthodox Judaism, depending on whether one adheres to strict dogmatic interpretations or a more flexible, modern, and intellectual approach to Jewish law.Viewpoint of Accusation: Critics, particularly from the right-wing Orthodox community, viewed some of his views—such as his approach to Biblical criticism and flexibility in Jewish law—as heretical.Viewpoint of Defense: Supporters argue that Rackman’s ideas did not violate traditional ikarim (principles of faith) and that calling him a heretic stems from an unnecessary expansion of dogma.His Perspective: Rackman himself argued that "concern for a positive Jewish image is no heresy" and that and that throughout history, scholars have re-examined tradition, often leading to unfair accusations from those of a more conservative temperament.
Tzadik is like G-d's Altar
Ramchal (Mesilas Yesharim 26) But for the Holy man who constantly clings to his G-d, whose soul treads freely among true thoughts in love of his Creator and fear of Him, behold, it is considered as if he is walking before G-d in the Land of the Living, while still here in this world. Such a man is himself considered as a tabernacle, a temple and an altar. This is as our sages said "'and G-d went up from him' - the forefathers are the divine chariot". Likewise, they said: "the righteous are the divine chariot". For the Shechina (divine presence) dwells within them just as it dwelled in the Temple. Due to this, the food they eat is like a sacrifice offered upon the fire of the altar, for certainly it was a great elevation for those things to be offered on the altar, since they were offered before the Shechina. The elevation was to such an extent that its kind, all over the world, was blessed, as our sages stated in a Midrash. So too, the food and drink which the holy man eats elevates that food or drink as if it had actually been offered on the altar. This is similar to what our sages said: "one who brings a gift to a Torah scholar is as if he had offered first-fruits ", and "if a man wishes to offer a wine libation upon the altar, let him fill the throat of the Torah scholars with wine". This does not mean that Torah scholars were craving for food and drink, G-d forbid, that one fills their throats like one stuffs a glutton. Rather, the matter is according to the intent I explained. That Torah scholars who are holy in their ways and in all their deeds are actually just like the Temple and the altar, for the Shechina (divine presence) literally dwells upon them as it did in the Temple. Thus, what is offered to them is as offered on the altar, and the filling of their throat is as the filling of the basins. In this way was all use they made of the things of this world. Since they were clinging to G-d's holiness, blessed be He, behold, it was an elevation and an enhancement for that thing which merited to be of use to a Tzadik (righteous person).
Kiruv was started by Whom?
AI answers The modern kiruv (Jewish outreach) movement in America was not started by a single individual, but rather developed from several key post-Holocaust initiatives, with Chabad-Lubavitch recognized as a primary pioneer in the 1950s and 60s. While Chabad established the infrastructure for nationwide outreach, other influential figures and organizations in the 1960s and 70s—including Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, and the NCSY youth movement—played crucial roles in accelerating the movement.Key Founders and Early InfluencesChabad-Lubavitch: Under the guidance of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Chabad pioneered the organized outreach model in the US following the Holocaust. They were the first to focus on non-Orthodox Jews, with emissaries (shluchim) establishing centers nationwide.Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis: She founded the Hineni movement, which became renowned for large-scale, charismatic outreach lectures in the 1960s and 70s.
No mention anywhere crediting Rackman as KA does. No indication of any actual consequences of his speech
KA May 5, 2026 at 8:22 PM
"Rackman starting kiruv in 1960
Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, president of the Rabbinical Council of America, told the 25th annual convention of the Orthodox body here today that there must be “a revitalization of Jewish life in the United States and Israel.
https://www.jta.org/archive/orthodox-leader-calls-for-revitalization-of-jewish-life"
Jews are Skeptics
Rashba (4:234): We learned from our forefathers not to accept something which contains the slightest doubts or uncertainties until it has been thoroughly investigated and the truth is ascertained. This we see concerning the acceptance of Moshe as a true prophet. They were uncertain whether to believe him - even though he came to announce that they were to be rescued from the horrible servitude of Egypt. This is why Moshe said they won’t believe me. This is because it was known that they were inherently skeptical and did not believe anything except that which was unquestionably true. Therefore, even though G d did incredible miracles in Egypt until they were taken out with an outstretched arm and awesome events - it was not sufficient to remove the doubts about Moshe from their hearts. These doubts were caused by the fact that all that occurred in Egypt were possibly just coincidental or natural events or from magical powers. Because of these doubts, they did not have unconditional faith in Moshe until the Splitting of the Sea - as the verse says, “that they now believed in G d and Moshe His servant” This event removed the last vestige of doubt that the miraculous events in Egypt could have been the result of random natural events. It was obviously impossible that the sea could have been split at night and the next day return to its normal state. Therefore, the splitting of the sea removed the doubts from their hearts - for the time being. However soon after the Splitting of the Sea, the doubts returned. They thought perhaps Moshe, who was more knowledgeable than any other man had ever been, knew how to do this by natural means which they couldn’t ascertain. The only remaining option for clarifying the truth of Moshe’s prophecy was by their own prophecy and this is what in fact occurred at the Revelation of Sinai when they final established the truth.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Wife taking care of seriosly ill Husband
Bava Metzia (84b) R. Eleazar son of R. Simeon's fears were not allayed that he had sinned by advising the Roman police. So he undertook a penance. Every evening they spread sixty sheets for him, and every morning sixty basins of blood and discharge were removed from under him. In the mornings his wife prepared him sixty kinds of pap, which he ate, and then recovered. Yet his wife did not permit him to go to the schoolhouse, lest the Rabbis discomfort him. Every evening he would exhort them, Come, my brethren and familiars!’ whilst every morning he exclaimed, Depart, because ye disturb my studies! One day his wife, hearing him, cried out, You yourself bring them upon you; you have already squandered the money of my father's house! So she left him and returned to her paternal home. Then there came sixty seamen who presented him with sixty slaves, bearing sixty purses They too prepared sixty kinds of pap for him, which he ate. One day his wife said to her daughter, Go and see how your father is faring now. She went, and on her arrival her father said to her, Go, tell your mother that our wealth is greater than theirs [sc. of his father-in-law's house]. He then applied to himself the verse, She is like the merchant's ships; she bringeth her food from afar. He ate, drank, and recovered, and went to the schoolhouse. Sixty specimens of blood were brought before him, and he declared them all clean. But the Rabbis criticised him, saying, ‘Is it possible that there was not [at least] one about which there was some doubt!’ He retorted, If it be as I said, let them all be males; if not, let there be one female amongst them. They were all males, and were named Eleazar, after him.
US intelligence indicates limited new damage to Iran's nuclear program
U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that the time Iran would need to build a nuclear weapon has not changed since last summer, when analysts estimated that a U.S.-Israeli attack had pushed back the timeline to up to a year, according to three sources familiar with the matte
The assessments of Tehran's nuclear program remain broadly unchanged even after two months of a war that U.S. President Donald Trump launched in part to stop the Islamic Republic from developing a nuclear bomb.The unchanging estimate of how long it would take Iran to build such a weapon reflects in part the focus of the latest U.S. and Israeli military campaign, the sources said.
While Israel has struck nuclear-related targets, including a uranium-processing facility in late March, U.S. attacks have concentrated on conventional military capabilities, Iran's leadership and its military-industrial base.
New Sefer
I want to publish a sefer dealing with supporting parents, spouses and children who have severe disabilities both the difficulties and the possible benefits. When to do it and when not to get involved. This is a very current issue between the aging of the population and the increasing acceptability of abortion, assisted suicide and government support. I am interested in first person accounts of dealing with these issues to add to the traditional sources.
For example:
When Rabbi Freifeld was sitting Shiva for his first wife. He recalled that he had once received news that a single non religious mother of two had been recently committed to a mental hospital. He said "I was very busy with my yeshiva and my wife was overwhelmed being wife mother and teacher/mentor. Nontheless she said we will take in these children and we raised them."
להזהיר ולהיזהר": הגאון הליטאי ממודיעין עילית בדברים חריפים על ל"ג בעומר
https://www.kikar.co.il/haredim-news/teik7i
"רשב"י לא נפטר בל"ג בעומר", ולמה קבעו את ל"ג בעומר ליום זה? "לא בגלל יארצייט של רשב"י, אלא כי מזג האוויר נח לנסיעות או כי אין אבילות ביום זה" | "צריך להזהיר ולהיזהר, שלא להגיע לידי שיבושים... כאילו מבקשים ומקבלים דברים מרשב"י" | הציטוטים החריפים של הגאון רבי חיים קלופט על ל"ג בעומר (חרדים)
Dina d'malchusa dina AI
"Dina d'malchusa dina" (Aramaic: דינא דמלכותא דינא) translates to "the law of the kingdom is the law." It is a foundational principle in Halakha (Jewish law) establishing that Jews are religiously required to obey the civil laws of the country they reside in, particularly concerning taxes, commerce, and civil administration.The concept originated in the Talmud, introduced by the Babylonian sage Shmuel in the 3rd century.
The Rationale: It was established to prevent lawlessness and maintain good relations with the host country. Some medieval commentators (like the Rashbam) explain that this law is binding because citizens implicitly agree to the government's standard rules.
Taxes and Commerce: The primary and most widely accepted application is the obligation to pay all state and local taxes, as well as to abide by monetary and property laws.Civil vs. Ritual Law: The principle applies strictly to civil, financial, and administrative matters (such as traffic laws or zoning regulations). It does not allow the state to force a Jew to violate a Torah commandment (such as eating non-kosher food or breaking the Sabbath).
Limits to Arbitrary Laws: Most rabbinic scholars stipulate that the rule applies to laws that are general, public, and apply to all citizens equally. Arbitrary, discriminatory, or confiscatory decrees by a ruler are often not recognized as binding under this principle.
Jewish Sovereignty: Many classical authorities, such as the Ran and the Rashba, argued that dina d'malchusa dina applies strictly to non-Jewish or foreign kings. Because every Jewish citizen is considered a stakeholder in the Land of Israel, some poskim argue that this specific law of obedience does not apply to a Jewish sovereign state.
Charting how Trump became a historically unpopular president
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/05/politics/trump-approval-rating-analysis-vis
Trump came into office with his best approval ratings ever, with some polls showing him above 50% in late January 2025. But he had an extremely short honeymoon, quickly shedding several points.
It’s difficult to pin down exactly what caused the quick decline. Trump’s first days back in office were a flurry of unilateral actions. Two likely culprits were his highly unpopular pardons of virtually all January 6 defendants, even those who assaulted police, and the haphazard Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts to government employees and services led by the highly unpopular Elon Musk.
Haredi masses breach Meron, flouting wartime Lag B’Omer restrictions
https://www.timesofisrael.com/haredi-masses-breach-meron-flouting-wartime-lag-bomer-restrictions/
Masses of ultra-Orthodox worshipers crowded onto Mount Meron on Monday night to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer in a show of brazen defiance after authorities attempted to limit the annual festivities at the northern site due to fear of Hezbollah rocket fire.
In footage posted online, crowds could be seen streaming into the complex — traditionally thought to be the resting place of the 2nd-century Jewish sage Shimon Bar Yochai — and gathering around a central bonfire lit outside the tomb.
Police closed all roads leading to Meron on Sunday and erected barriers aimed at preventing any would-be revellers from reaching the area. But as many as 20,000 people were estimated to have already arrived in Meron in anticipation of Monday’s festivities, and no effort was made to clear them from the area.