tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post1835884452406014223..comments2024-03-28T21:30:33.665+02:00Comments on Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity: Rabbi Vinas replies to criticism IIDaas Torahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-53963923628194158442008-06-18T16:16:00.000+03:002008-06-18T16:16:00.000+03:00Daniel M. Ramos said... Wow, there are many pos...Daniel M. Ramos said...<BR/><BR/> Wow, there are many posts here that have either a false facade of or no humility whatsoever. I have to say that I happened onto this blog completely by chance as I was searching for shiur from Rabbi Soloveichick. I have never seen such troubling speech from the perspective of lashon harah. My Rav just finished giving many lessons specifically about this issue. One of the things people seem to ignore is the fact that speech does not qualify as lashon harah based on whether it is true or not; rather, it is based on the destruction and pain the speech sows. Rabbi Viñas continues to have lashon hara spoken about him in spite of the fact that it is obvious that much pain and emotional damage is being caused by this speech. <BR/>===================<BR/>I am sorry to hear that you completely misunderstand the nature of Torah discussion. If you read the gemora and poskim you will notice that they are constantly questioning the validity of the other's position. Sometimes the even express irritation and take offense at the statment of others. I have never heard that Torah disucssion is lashon harah. Please have your rebbe provide you with sources that the inquiries into the halachic basis of what Rabbi Vinas does constitutes lashon harah.<BR/><BR/>I would agree with you that this blog is not for you since you find open ended discussions upsetting. It obviously that Rabbi Vinas feels the same way. <BR/>Anyone who want to come up with conclusions such as Rabbi Vinas does - and keeps them private and doesn't act on them - is not the object of scrutiny.<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Vinas is very much a public figure as a rav of a shul, who is featured in the New York Times, who is interviewed in Spanish Catholic newspapers regarding the nature of Judaism. He is also involved in promoting the conversion of those he perceives as descendants of anusim. <BR/><BR/>All those public activities - as a Jewish rabbi - bear scrutiny and are legitimately criticized and questioned.<BR/><BR/>I see that you are explicity disagreeing with the psak of the Chazon Ish in these matters. I would suggest that you are the one who is lacking in humility and knowledge of Torah.<BR/><BR/> Please ask your rebbe whether your comments are permitted according to the halacha.Daas Torahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-268860679508111362008-06-18T15:30:00.000+03:002008-06-18T15:30:00.000+03:00Wow, there are many posts here that have either a ...Wow, there are many posts here that have either a false facade of or no humility whatsoever. I have to say that I happened onto this blog completely by chance as I was searching for shiur from Rabbi Soloveichick. I have never seen such troubling speech from the perspective of lashon harah. My Rav just finished giving many lessons specifically about this issue. One of the things people seem to ignore is the fact that speech does not qualify as lashon harah based on whether it is true or not; rather, it is based on the destruction and pain the speech sows. Rabbi Viñas continues to have lashon hara spoken about him in spite of the fact that it is obvious that much pain and emotional damage is being caused by this speech. This is a shame and a travesty for all of us. Rabbi Viñas, I apologize for the manner in which you have been treated in this forum and I hope that others will sincerely follow in suit. Furthermore, it is quite troubling to me that although the poskim of gedolim such as Rabbi Soloveichick and Rabbi Eliyahu are known, and even quoted, that they continue to be ignored and disregarded repeatedly. Humility is lacking. Although I have found Rabbi Viñas' responses to be extremely informative it has come at the cost of personal attacks against him and his family. This is unacceptable. I now must follow Rabbi Viñas' example and stay away from this blog. I wish everybody well and hope that we all maintain our love of Torah.<BR/><BR/>ShalomDaniel M. Ramoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266542243046355084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-84650502366921134892008-06-18T13:14:00.000+03:002008-06-18T13:14:00.000+03:00I don't know that he is correct in this, because I...I don't know that he is correct in this, because I have literally done no research into other opinions other than as in shulchan aruch. But when pressed in an individual case, Rabbi Chaim Tabasky also wrote (under "kaddish for my non-Jewish father"):<BR/><BR/>"The various halachot of mourning do not apply to a gentile. On the other hand, there is no prohibition of sitting in a low chair for seven days, accepting condolences, and other aspects of mourning. Kriah (tearing garment) should not be done as clothing should not be destroyed except for a halachic obligation. The rules of "aninut" (the exemptions from mitzvot during the period before the burial) would not apply.<BR/><BR/>Correct, kaddish is open to dispute, as I indicated earlier."<BR/><BR/>Thus, when pressed, he seems to allow for "sitting in a low chair for seven days, accepting condolences, and other aspects of mourning," which would approximately be shiva. Which is why I wrote "he eventually allows various non-destructive acts of mourning."<BR/><BR/>Kol Tuv,<BR/>Joshjoshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-41360572567726239542008-06-18T03:00:00.000+03:002008-06-18T03:00:00.000+03:00R'Josh Waxman citedhttp://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/e...R'Josh Waxman cited<BR/>http://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/eng/?q=halachot&srch=1<BR/><BR/>Answer:<BR/>The Halachot of mourning (sitting in low chair, torn garment etc.) should not be observed. However, it is proper to set aside a time to accept condolences, and learn Torah in the memory of a non-Jew. One may give charity in their honor and according to some authorities recite kaddish. An orthodox Jew may participate in the funeral of a gentile as long as there is no mass. The anniversary of death may be marked in above mentioned ways.<BR/>Additional answers of Rabbi Chaim Tabasky<BR/>Rav Sternbuch also allows saying kadish under certain circumstances. However this does not constitute keeping shiva and shloshim.Daas Torahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-75590565117360147872008-06-18T02:02:00.000+03:002008-06-18T02:02:00.000+03:00"Please direct me to these sources."Just off a qui..."Please direct me to these sources."<BR/><BR/>Just off a quick internet search, since I am not in the mood to research this. Don't act based on this non-comprehensive, one sided summary:<BR/>"Rav Ovadiah Yosef (Yechaveh Da'at Vol 6 Responsa 60) rules that a ger may say kaddish for his parents and brings a variety of sources."<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Aharon Walkin has a teshuva from the year 1933 obligating kaddish for a Christian father.<BR/><BR/>Also, see this page:<BR/>http://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/eng/?q=halachot&srch=1<BR/>under "aveilut for a non-Jew" and then under "kaddish for my non-Jewish father"<BR/>where distinctions between different acts of aveilut are made, and where he eventually allows various non-destructive acts of mourning.joshwaxmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149022516101476797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-14497767507610257832008-06-18T00:16:00.000+03:002008-06-18T00:16:00.000+03:00"There are plenty of poskim who permit a ger to do..."There are plenty of poskim who permit a ger to do avelus and even say kaddish for a biological parent."<BR/><BR/>Please direct me to these sources. <BR/><BR/>I have been close to a number of gerim who have lost their natural parents. In each case, it was poskened by a Dayyan (Ashk) of our community that the ger cannot sit shiva for his biological parent because the biological parent is not his halachic parent whether or not the parent subsequently converted. <BR/><BR/>We have been taught that one is forbidden to mourn for someone whom one does not have a halachic obligation to mourn for (this came up when many wanted to sit shiva for the Lubavitcher Rebbe who thousands considered their adopted father who brought them up in Judaism. It was forbidden)(There is an assur to sit shiva if you are not an avel YD 376:3 Gemara in Moed Katan Daf 27: and Shulchan aruch.).<BR/><BR/>The halachic relationship between a ger and his biological parents is one of "acquaintance", it is not the biological parent who brings the ger into life as a Jew, he comes on his own. Becoming a ger means becoming an orphan. <BR/><BR/>This is why we say "ger tzedek", because the degree of sacrifice and commitment that is required of a ger k'halacha is beyond the scope of comprehension of most born Jews.<BR/><BR/>A person who is priviledged to know a true ger tzedek is fortunate indeed to be able to be in the presence of a true tzaddik. <BR/><BR/>"Rabbi Eidensohn, although I am someone who generally thinks nearly all comments should be allowed so that the truth gets out, I think there is something unusually wrong in this case. Maybe it's time to disallow this person's comments."<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Eidensohn moderates this blog and allows comments deemed worthy of posting. If Rabbi Eidensohn would prefer I stop posting, I have plenty of other things to do at the computer (like working).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-6233579734284660062008-06-17T21:16:00.000+03:002008-06-17T21:16:00.000+03:00to the former J for J:You are to be commended for ...to the former J for J:<BR/><BR/>You are to be commended for your unyielding search for the truth.<BR/><BR/>Here's a recent news item on Yaffa Batya De Costa:<BR/><BR/>"*_Yaffah daCosta_** *spoke at one session. She was raised as a Roman Catholic, but has since found that her ancestors were probably Portugese Jews that were forcibly converted by the Catholic inquisition. She has 30 years experience working as an adult educator and management consultant, but also produces her own radio talk show teaching Torah to Christians.<BR/><BR/>DaCosta’s message was essentially a book-report on "Jesus the Pharisee" by Orthodox Rabbi Harvey Falk. She asked, "Who are we supposed to exceed in terms of righteousness? The Jews?? No, the scribes and Pharisees" (Matt 5:17-20). DaCosta explained that beginning around 30 BCE, two schools of Pharisees developed, the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai. Shammai said that the only way Gentiles could be in the World To Come was to keep the 613 commandments and all of oral law. Hillel said "no". This same argument was found in Acts 15.<BR/><BR/>DaCosta explained that there were over 350 major arguments between the Schools of Hillel and Shammai. Yeshua nearly always supported the Hillel position. In 70 CE (A.D.), the year the temple was destroyed, the Halachah [offical, binding teaching] was decided in favor of Hillel. Rabbinic Judaism believes that the reason for the destruction was "hatred without cause", which turned out to be the severe hatred the Jews had for the Gentile world, especially the occupying Romans. This hatred was a doctrine of Shammai and abhorred by Hillel. For centuries, most of the Christian world that justified hatred of the Jews from the scriptures did not realize that they were basing their hatred on arguments against the Shammai school which had been long dead. The official Rabbinic position today is to not hate others but to love them, respect them and honor them.<BR/><BR/>DaCosta posed this question: "You Sabbath keepers, you rest from your labors and keep the Sabbath holy, yet you engage in usery and interest, you engage in unjust weights and measures, you make covenants with the ungodly and their gods. Would those who read about this statement 2000 years later consider me to be one from your midst or as an outsider, bashing you?" She said that she would probably be considered an outsider, even though she was here as a part of the group. Similarly, then, daCosta asked: could Jesus have been *less* of an outsider to the Pharisee community than we previously have thought?<BR/><BR/>—Norman Edwards & Norman Arthur"<BR/><BR/>I don't usually see Jewish people teaching lessons by quoting Jesus, and especially not by referring to him as Yeshua, nor by referring to the Rabbis of the age as Pharisees.<BR/><BR/>She is still a Christian. It's not mean or insensitive to say that a person who is born Christian who then teaches Christianity to Christians is still a Christian. <BR/><BR/>Batya's own biography states she is:<BR/>"a lay religious educator in the Jewish Roots Movement of Christianity. She writes a monthly d'var Torah column for non-Jews in the DFW Christian Heritage newspaper and has also been an educator on Christian radio for nearly 7 years"<BR/><BR/>Here's a nice article from the Jews for Jesus website about the Jewish Roots Movement that she has been involved in for many years:<BR/><BR/>http://jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/4_1/jewishroots<BR/><BR/>One notable quote from this article says:<BR/>"they call Gentiles to a Torah-observant and/or festival observant lifestyle as a means of drawing closer to Jesus and being conformed to His image."<BR/><BR/>I stand by my statement. She is a missionary, and her latest mission is convincing Hispanics that they have Jewish roots and should come to Israel.<BR/><BR/>I think everyone likes to think of themselves as a "nice" person. I am trying to understand how it is "mean" to say that a missionary is a missionary. Are you saying that a person who reveals truths that are uncomfortable is inherently bad? <BR/><BR/>I wish you continued success in your journey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-90059680184276603302008-06-17T18:50:00.000+03:002008-06-17T18:50:00.000+03:00The two sat at the head of the Beit Din, which see...The two sat at the head of the Beit Din, which seems odd since those who assume that position must be eligible to rule on capital offenses as well.<BR/>==========================<BR/>IIRC R'YBS posited that when bet din was acting in a non-voting manner (lkiyum hadavar) thena ger could be part of the equation but on voting issues they would not vote.<BR/>KT<BR/>Joel RichAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-4756201343192647082008-06-17T18:37:00.000+03:002008-06-17T18:37:00.000+03:00Bright Eyes,You are an outright liar.You wrote: "I...Bright Eyes,<BR/><BR/>You are an outright liar.<BR/><BR/>You wrote: <BR/>"If you look further at the Kulanu newsletter, you will see that their “Anousim and Jewish-Christian Affairs Coordinator” is none other than Yaffah Batya DaCosta, who is a known missionary. Kulanu, an organization which Vinas supports, says right there in the newsletter that they offer “conversion when requested."<BR/><BR/>I know Yaffa personally and she is NOT a missionary.<BR/><BR/>You better ask Hashem for forgiveness, son!<BR/>Spreading lashon hara like this will take a heavy toll on your self-absorbed nonsense-spewing soul.<BR/><BR/>You must also be a Democrat as you spew lies about what you know nothing about!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-70424340389766217422008-06-17T18:32:00.000+03:002008-06-17T18:32:00.000+03:00Are Bright Eyes & Jersey Girl married, secret love...Are Bright Eyes & Jersey Girl married, secret lovers or simply one & the same person?<BR/><BR/>The amount of hatred put forth by these so-called "religious" Jews sickens me to no end. It is EXACTLY this attitude that drove me into the arms of Christian missionaries. I is because of those like YOU that I prayed and worshiped Jesus as a god!<BR/><BR/>You are full of venom, hate, are judgmental and lack any semblance of common compassion.<BR/>When I, who was born of 2 fully halachic Jewish parents, started to investigate what exactly "TRUTH" was (as my Hebrew School experience in the late 70s failed to do so), I decided to visit newsgroups & chat rooms (back in the early 90s before web pages like this existed).<BR/>Traditional Conservadox, Conservative and Reform had nothing to say to my soul as I grew up that way and I knew from experience how bankrupt that path is.<BR/>The only "Orthodox" Jews who responded to my inquiries were full of disgusting venom and hate, telling me "how dare" I look elsewhere besides our G-d, halacha, & Torah. The overwhelming majority told me to immdiately change my entire lifestyle, reject everything I knew and become Orthodox (their warped version)immediately.<BR/>Then the very warm and welcoming Christian missionaries got a hold of me. They directed me to Hebrew Christian congregations where they have Torah scrolls, arks, tallism, kippot, tzitzis, recite the shema, some of the amidah, say kaddish, and "daven" on Saturdays.<BR/>There was no contest!<BR/><BR/>It took me six long years to break free after realizing that they had enthusiam & ruach but not emes.<BR/>Now I have emes, & I try to infuse my davening and learning with ruach<BR/><BR/>It is my life's goal to bring lost Yidden back to Hashem & Torah. But I do it with compassion, with understanding, with a heart, etc.<BR/><BR/>I rebuke all those who use the techniques and behavior of Bright Eyes & Jersey Girl. You may think what you are doing is correct, but I guarantee to you with NO DOUBT, that all you are doing is driving away lurkers and all those reading your mean posts.<BR/>You will have to answer to Hakosh Boruch Hu yourself when He asks you why you drove hundred of precious Yidden into a life of atheism, Jews for jesus and every other false belief system that gladly & warmly wants to accept Jews as their members.<BR/><BR/>Baruch Hashem there exists wonderful kiruv organizations as well as Chabad (I can imagine how much you love them as well) that think & behave exactly the opposite way you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-61678334482577482182008-06-17T17:40:00.000+03:002008-06-17T17:40:00.000+03:00Jersey Girl,The whackos in your family claim to ha...Jersey Girl,<BR/><BR/>The whackos in your family claim to have been converted to Judaism and then on xmas day (or eve, hwtever) sneak off to their local church for services. If you do have some yichus, it has been offset by the crazies.<BR/><BR/>Those crazies obviously are living a lie. No sincere convert to ANY belief system would do what you say they do (go to church on xmas and easter while secretly living as super-frum Jews all year long).<BR/><BR/>And YOU thrive on insulting others who do not share your neurons and bizarre way of thinking.<BR/><BR/>Sure, you may know some of the halachot. But you behave more like an evil robot, spewing out negativity and not comprehending the fact that you are dealing with live people, with real emotions and heavy-duty issues, which enabled them to travel from the goyishe world (whether a former idoloter like myself or a ger) into the loving arms of HaKadosh Baruch Hu!<BR/><BR/>Baruch Hashem that you aren't the gatekeeper of Hashem's arms, as those metphorical arms would be emptier than my local Reform "synagogue" is every Shabbat morning.<BR/><BR/>It must be that whackos attract one another. Stop being so damn mean and show some compassion for once!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-65884972331333833142008-06-17T17:14:00.000+03:002008-06-17T17:14:00.000+03:00Rabbi Vinas, an excellent author, makes a couple o...Rabbi Vinas, an excellent author, makes a couple of statements here that jump out at me:<BR/><BR/>"1. I was referring to the practice of discouraging a potential convert of non-Jewish origin. What if this person is really Jewish just as he claims? What if it is true that the person has a tradition in his family that remained unbroken just as he said and I discouraged him from returning to Judaism. That would be an avera risk that I am not willing to take. Rather I continue to follow the Takana of Rabbenu Gershom and the work of Rav Aboab de Fonseca and Rav Menashe Ben Israel because I did not see any expiration date on their takanot."<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Vinas would imply that we have 3 categories here: Jew, Gentile, and ‘sort of’ Jew. <BR/>It doesn't work that way. If someone needs to convert, it is because they are a goy. <BR/><BR/>His slick answer makes the reader focus on his "kind heart" rather than his bold proselytizing. <BR/><BR/>The three Rabbeim he refers to based their ruling on the fact that such the people in question could make a legitimate argument that they were actually Jewish because of the short passage of time since they were forced into public acceptance of Christianity. <BR/><BR/>Rabbi Eidensohn asked for a source within the last few hundred years, and this does not meet that request.<BR/><BR/>"2. If I respond just as I did according to the Tosafot (because I was placed during the interview into a position that I was afraid would reflect badly on us by insulting the majority of the readers of that interview who are Catholic or Goyim) then I am accused of being somehow soft on Christianity or worse yet being a christian and promoting christian practice or belief among Jews. Excellently laid trap. Except for one problem – you and your readers see through it. I responded using the Tosafot regarding the idea of the shituf because I wanted to not make the Jewish people and our beliefs odious to others."<BR/><BR/>Here Rabbi Vinas would have us conclude that he was put on the spot in a public debate such as Tosafot. What nonsense! <BR/><BR/>Besides,if you read the interviews in question, you can clearly see he wasn't answering an uncomfortable question in a "politically correct" manner....he was simply preaching...giving a speech. His answer is dishonest and again deflective of the question.<BR/><BR/>He further says: "I am not a Christian. My mother and father were not Christians, the only religion I have ever known was Orthodox Judaism. I went to yeshivot all my life." <BR/><BR/>This is a lie which can be proven with Vinas’ own words.<BR/><BR/>In his own self written biography, Vinas says while describing his 'converso' family customs that "In general, the family considered itself Catholic. We did not consider our customs to be religious; they were simply a way of connecting with our ancestors’ way of life."<BR/><BR/>Later, in the same article, Vinas describes how his family "returned". Before reading this moving story, keep in mind that Vinas just stated for the record that Orthodox Jewish life is all he ever knew:<BR/><BR/>"In the 1970s my sister, who was three years old, was diagnosed with Leukemia. This was a devastating blow to my parents. They had very little money for her treatment and were strangers in a new country, lacking even the ability to communicate with others in English. <BR/><BR/>Along with medical care, they sought the help of God. My father began to visit churches and houses of worship of many denominations.”<BR/><BR/>Note that he visited Churches, but not synagogues yet. Clearly his first inclination is the church. <BR/>Story continues:<BR/><BR/>“One Saturday, as he drove by the synagogue, he decided to enter that place and pray there as well. He felt so comfortable there that he returned many times. During his visits to the synagogue, he saw that the customs that his family had been practicing were incredibly much the same as the ones being practiced by the rest of the congregation. The congregation was officially Orthodox but can best be described by today's standards as a Traditional (Conservadox) congregation. ( The siddur was Orthodox, and men and women sat separately, but there was no dividing wall between them.) He began to learn more, discovering the history of the Spanish Inquisition and what Anousim, or "Marranos," are. He realized that he was home. After my sister’s death our return to Judaism intensified. It is clear to us to this day that the circumstances around her illness were what God had used to draw us near to the Torah and bring us back home to the Jewish People.<BR/><BR/>As part of our strong return to who we are, my parents enrolled us in yeshivot and Jewish Day Schools so that we would be better educated and be able to live fully Jewish lives."<BR/><BR/>The full interview appears here http://www.kulanu.org/newsletters/2003-spring.pdf<BR/><BR/>If you look further at the Kulanu newsletter, you will see that their “Anousim and Jewish-Christian Affairs Coordinator” is none other than Yaffah Batya DaCosta, who is a known missionary. Kulanu, an organization which Vinas supports, says right there in the newsletter that they offer “conversion when requested.”<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Vinas is simply not what he claims to be. If he won't even tell the truth about his own biography, how can anyone trust anything else that he says he does, or justifies?<BR/><BR/>Last, and surely not least, is the matter of his own Jewish status (Rabbi Eidensohn – if you feel you need to cut this sentence, by all means do so…but please keep the rest of the post). I am not aware of a Beis Din of 3 dayanim in Miami whose conversions have been accepted in Israel. By his own statement above, at the time his family was praying in a shul without a Mechitsa. Allegedly his entire family converted. Who would convert an entire family who attends a synagogue that’s not even Orthodox? Would he even count as a Jew in Israel?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-60628413335694271852008-06-17T16:56:00.000+03:002008-06-17T16:56:00.000+03:00Jersey Girl,There are plenty of poskim who permit ...Jersey Girl,<BR/><BR/>There are plenty of poskim who permit a ger to do avelus and even say kaddish for a biological parent. The kesher of human gratitude for a lifetime relationship with a parent is not ended through conversion, even if a formal halakhic relationship is. That lifetime relationship may be mourned in halachic modes, even if a formal halachic obligation to do so is not present.<BR/><BR/>Your insensitive comment is a perfect example of what Chazal meant by the idea of "banu mi-kedushah chamurah li-kedushah kalah" (which is exactly why a ger is obligated in kibbud av va-em according to the Rambam). You seem to "mean" well, but you come across just plain... mean. Really mean.<BR/><BR/>And the people you come across as mean to aren't ignoramuses. Some of them seem to know more Torah than you do.<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Eidensohn, although I am someone who generally thinks nearly all comments should be allowed so that the truth gets out, I think there is something unusually wrong in this case. Maybe it's time to disallow this person's comments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-21227225049914893262008-06-17T16:16:00.000+03:002008-06-17T16:16:00.000+03:00"I was unable to answer your posts earlier due to ..."I was unable to answer your posts earlier due to the fact that my mother was niftar the day before LagLaOmer (Baomer for the rest of you) and I was in Shiva and shloshim for her."<BR/><BR/>I am sorry to hear about your mother. I knew her to be a very nice and kind woman. <BR/><BR/>Manny, you are a ger. Your parents never claimed to be born Jews nor did your mother document maternal Jewish descent for the 500 years in which your family was separated from the Jewish community. <BR/><BR/>A ger does not sit shiva or mourn for the woman who birthed him. <BR/><BR/>There is an assur to sit shiva if you are not an avel YD 376:3 Gemara in Moed Katan Daf 27: and Shulchan aruch and Miparshim where it is clear that mourning more than required is not to be done.<BR/><BR/>The Shulchan Aruch says in Yore Deah Siman 374 #5, a convert who converted with his (biological) sons or a servant who was freed with his (biological) mother, do not sit Shiva on each other. <BR/><BR/>Rambam in Hilchot Avel Perek #2 Halacha #3 that starts off with a case of a Jewish father who has a son from a maid. They do not sit Shiva for each other. <BR/><BR/>While this may seem "unfair" we don't understand aveilut on our human/emotional levels. As we don't understand many other parts of the Torah.<BR/><BR/>This blog is about HALACHA AFAIK. <BR/><BR/>If I have said something that is against HALACHA and someone can cite a reference, I am here to learn just like everyone else. <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, to just hurl out epitaphs such as "ignorance & hatred.....please do continue to rebuke the evil she spews." in response to my citing what I believe to be Torah references and believing in the Divine Origin of the Torah and the Psak of our Rabbis can only be construed as baseless hatred. <BR/><BR/>Have I said anything that I have not tried to support by citing Rabbinical literature? If you disagree with the opinions I cite, then please cite alternative sources. <BR/><BR/>You, Manny Vinas, were asked for HALACHIC sources to support the proselytizing that you do to Gentiles and you have provided nothing. <BR/><BR/>You were also asked for halachic basis for the statements that you made to the Spanish language Press. All you have done is divert the attention away from yourself to the Tobins. <BR/><BR/>Is this a blog about Halacha and Daas Torah or is this the online Spanish Inquisition where the purpose is to denigrate Jews who have belief in the One True G-d, the Divine Origin of the Torah and the Psak of the Gadolim? <BR/><BR/>The so called "whackos" on my family tree include a current Chief Rabbi and two deceased Chief Rabbis (both of my parents are from families of Chief Rabbis). My family is well known and regarded. (I am happy to provide a detailed family tree to Rabbi Eidensohn privately).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-24144236871111273272008-06-17T15:25:00.000+03:002008-06-17T15:25:00.000+03:00Yasher Koach Rabbi Vinas!You are 100% correct."Jer...Yasher Koach Rabbi Vinas!<BR/><BR/>You are 100% correct.<BR/>"Jersey Girl" is a frustrated disgusting person who has a bunch of wackos in her family tree. She judges what the rest of what the world does according to her experiences with these strange people. Ignore her ignorance & hatred. But please do continue to rebuke the evil she spews.<BR/><BR/>Rabbi Eidensohn is trying to do the right thing. He listens and admits when he is wrong. I give him much credit for that.<BR/><BR/>Chazak chazak Rabbi Vilnas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-12698585704569112652008-06-17T09:42:00.000+03:002008-06-17T09:42:00.000+03:00I am speechless. Kudos to Rav Vinas. He should con...I am speechless. Kudos to Rav Vinas. He should continue his holy work which should be unfettered by stigma.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-21347346781348925282008-06-17T09:34:00.000+03:002008-06-17T09:34:00.000+03:00All I can say in response to this post is -- wow!I...All I can say in response to this post is -- wow!<BR/><BR/>I think it is clear that an apology to Rabbi Vinas (and to his gerim) is called for. But I also think it is clear that Rabbi Eidensohn deserves to be seriously commended for having the guts and the honesty to post this on his blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com