Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Chinuch: Divine Providence applies only to man
Child Abuse:October 17 JBAC program - corrected audio links
I have tested several links. All the ones I tested did work.
http://boxstr.net/files/6934834_lpklv/02_Vivian_Skolnick_intro.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934835_ojkyy/03_Elliot_Pasik_intro.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934836_353iv/04_Rabbi_Gedalia_Dov_Schwartz.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934837_ldwqf/05_Mark_Weiss.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934838_gfwcx/06_Pinny_Taub.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934839_j84za/07_Patricia_Sudendorf.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934840_hr2gg/08_Vivian_Skolnick.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934841_ouk4f/09_Rabbi_Mark_Dratch.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934842_d0e16/10_Asher_Lipner.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934843_3jfnw/11_Rabbi_Moshe_Soloveichik.mp3
http://boxstr.net/files/6934844_1ngb5/12_Elliot_Pasik.mp3
Latest medical reversal: High levels of Vitamin D & calcium not needed!
The very high levels of vitamin D that are often recommended by doctors and testing laboratories — and can be achieved only by taking supplements — are unnecessary and could be harmful, an expert committee says. It also concludes that calcium supplements are not needed.[...]
Child Abuse:October 17 JBAC program in Chicago- audio & video download links
Rabbi Eidensohn,
All the video files are on You Tube. Search on "JBACChicago" (one word). Some of the content will not show up unless you create a You Tube Account and are logged in.
anyone who is having technical difficulties to contact us at chicago.awareness@gmail.com,
Here are the links to the video versions of the files. They can be downloaded, but not streamed, from this location. People who want to stream without downloading should use You Tube.Here are the links to the audio versions of the files. These are stored so anyone who has the link below can access them. They can be downloaded (right click on link) or played directly from where they are (left click on link):
Download link Filesize
http://boxstr.net/files/6909461_5zqo9/01_Dorron_Katzin_intro.mp3 2 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909462_gtdvn/02_Vivian_Skolnick_intro.mp3 10 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909463_8ulgt/03_Elliot_Pasik_intro.mp3 23 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909464_fbvjv/04_Rabbi_Gedalia_Dov_Schwartz.mp3 22 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909465_sfeca/05_Mark_Weiss.mp3 25 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909466_hnylq/06_Pinny_Taub.mp3 33 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909467_qpszc/07_Patricia_Sudendorf.mp3 14 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909468_nsjfq/08_Vivian_Skolnick.mp3 20 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909469_cbxm3/09_Rabbi_Mark_Dratch.mp3 25 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909470_ofhd1/10_Asher_Lipner.mp3 19 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909471_9oiul/11_Rabbi_Moshe_Soloveichik.mp3 15 MB
http://boxstr.net/files/6909472_0gnig/12_Elliot_Pasik.mp3 23 MB
Download link Filesize Min Sec
http://boxstr.net/files/6910153_aqqoi/01_Dorron_Katzin_intro.mp4 36 MB 01:22
http://boxstr.net/files/6911461_7mxac/02_Vivian_Skolnick_intro.mp4 180 MB 06:53
http://boxstr.net/files/6911462_lohmu/03_Elliot_Pasik_intro.mp4 69 MB 02:38
http://boxstr.net/files/6911463_agtlg/04_Rabbi_Gedalia_Dov_Schwartz.mp4 411 MB 15:46
http://boxstr.net/files/6911504_4gyfy/05_Mark_Weiss.mp4 474 MB 18:14
http://boxstr.net/files/6911525_umkxz/06_Pinny_Taub.mp4 622 MB 23:56
http://boxstr.net/files/6911708_pr6f9/07_Patricia_Sudendorf.mp4 268 MB 10:14
http://boxstr.net/files/6911709_ffw4k/08_Vivian_Skolnick.mp4 377 MB 14:28
http://boxstr.net/files/6913025_7pjsn/09_Rabbi_Mark_Dratch.mp4 482 MB 18:30
http://boxstr.net/files/6913026_5ta7q/10_Asher_Lipner.mp4 368 MB 14:09
http://boxstr.net/files/6913617_ywrfa/11_Rabbi_Moshe_Soloveichik.mp4 289 MB 11:06
http://boxstr.net/files/6913618_8auhe/12_Elliot_Pasik.mp4 436 MB 16:44
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Israel to build detention center for illegal immigrants
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet approved Sunday a proposal to establish a detention center for illegal migrants on Israel's southern border with Egypt.
As the cabinet prepared to vote on the proposal, which was aimed at curbing the mass numbers of African migrants trying to enter Israel, Netanyahu clarified: "We will not detain refugees of war, but we must stop the massive entry of infiltrators."
"There is a swelling wave threatening Israeli jobs, a wave of illegal migrants that we must stop because of the harsh implications for Israel's character," Netanyahu added. [...]
The problem of social morality during the time of Yeshaya Hanavi:
From the essay "Social Injustice: When Leadership Fails " found here: http://www.marbitz.com/yeshaya.html
Over and over again, as we have now seen, the prophet admonishes his people over their neglect for others - especially others left vulnerable by difficult lives. Clearly, the problem is more than just a relatively isolated weakness in Torah observance (as we might classify a failure to properly observe the laws of, say, kosher food), but stands directly and violently opposed to everything that a Jew is meant to be.
Overwhelmingly, Isaiah's rebukes are delivered in the context of the words "justice" and "righteousness" - משפט וצדק. Before properly understanding the larger subject, we should see if we can't achieve a better understanding of these words themselves.
(This discussion is drawn from "Collected Writings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch" Vol IV, pp 69-70.) The verb "shafet" (שפט) means to bring something to its proper place. Its noun, "mishpat" (משפט) is hence a process which seeks (to paraphrase Rabbi Hirsch) the satisfactory fulfillment of justified demands. In other words, a human being has a right to his lawful property, status and dignity. When he is illegally deprived of these possessions, he has the right to demand their return. The institution of mishpat - justice - is the tool through which his claim should be addressed.
The noun "tzedek" (צדק), on the other hand, denotes the place where things belong. An act of "tzedaka" - righteousness - therefore, involves acting as one should; disposing of assets as God would have them disposed. Or, in Rabbi Hirsch's own words: "doing one's duty...in accord with the will of God...The fulfillment of the Torah...It takes into account the requirements, rather than merely the legal claims, of the person concerned."
Thus, mishpat acknowledges and promotes the legal rights of individuals when they come in conflict with each other or the state. While Tzedaka places the burden of Divinely-inspired perfection directly on the shoulders of each individual and each instrument of the state, regardless of the purely legal strengths or weaknesses of their opponents' claims.
These principles, tzedek and mishpat, are what we mean by the phrase "social justice." Both of these together - the sense of responsibility towards the rights of our fellow human beings and the sense of obligation to the morality of God's Torah - form the only reasonable foundation for a Jewish community. Their absence is inherently corrupting of both communal and private life.
Now, in light of these tzedek and mishpat ideals, let's take another look at the prophet's particular criticism. Nearly all of the examples from our list above involve abuse of privilege: members of society's powerful classes seeking to enhance their own positions at the expense of the poor and weak. There can be no doubt that crime is wrong no matter who commits it and no matter who is the victim. The poor may no more expect a court to wrongly tilt justice towards them than the rich (see Rashi to Deut. 1:17). But, nevertheless, Isaiah largely ignores the Robin Hoods of the Jewish world. While they, too, may be reprehensible thieves, they are not guilty of quite such a grievous form of oppression. Tzedek and mishpat are primarily the responsibility of the powerful. Of leaders.
Who constituted the powerful classes of Isaiah's world? Kings and government officials, judges, the wealthy, large landowners and Torah scholars (for particular reference to Torah scholars and judges, see TB Shabbos 139a)...anyone whose social standing allowed him some control over others and who could call on highly-placed allies when needed. These are the people who are most tempted by crimes of power and it is to these people that Isaiah's message of social morality is addressed.
Yeshiva education causes low self-esteem & susceptibility to Internet addiction
"In yeshivos today there is literally a pandemic of low self-esteem. An outcome of this most horrible condition, is that once a person has achieved a state where self-worth and self-value are diminished, that person is literally open to all foreign pressures, both within and without our community. Once those pressures are given free reign, the outcome is without exception, negative."
Is Yoga avoda zara?
Yoga is practiced by about 15 million people in the United States, for reasons almost as numerous — from the physical benefits mapped in brain scans to the less tangible rewards that New Age journals call spiritual centering. Religion, for the most part, has nothing to do with it.
But a group of Indian-Americans has ignited a surprisingly fierce debate in the gentle world of yoga by mounting a campaign to acquaint Westerners with the faith that it says underlies every single yoga style followed in gyms, ashrams and spas: Hinduism. [...]
Friday, November 26, 2010
Falsely asserting that Rabbinic law is Torah law - to ensure compliance
Permitted
Chasam Sofer (Kovetz Teshuvos #58): I wrote to you previously that “Innovation is prohibited by the Torah.” I did not write that Orlah or Kelayim…but innovation. That is because I understood from our Sages that it is required to be one who preserves the Torah. They warned against those who provide an opening and seek leniencies for the radicals of our people who desire them. If these radicals find a minute crack, they will greatly expand it into a breach…. Therefore, it is best to elevate and exaggerate the nature of the prohibition [and say that Rabbinic prohibitions are Torah prohibitions]… That is because due to our many sins there is a great increase today of people who say they have no concern with Rabbinic prohibitions since G-d did not command them… We find the wicked writing on Shabbos because they claim it is only a Rabbinic prohibition. They have no concern with anything which has been commanded only by our Sages and not by G-d Himself…
Prohibited
Maharetz Chajes (Darchei Hora'ah #6): I disagree with the Chasam Sofer’s ruling that one should say that a Rabbinic prohibition is a Torah prohibition i.e., to upgrade the nature of prohibitions. Even though we see our Sages viewed it permitted to frighten with their descriptions of the seriousness of prohibitions as we see in the Rambam (Sanhedrin 7:4)…They said that certain things are equivalent to murder and worshipping idols. Many other things they have described as deserving of the death penalty. All this is only to frighten and scare. However to say that a Rabbinic prohibition is really a Torah prohibition - the Rambam (Hilchos Mamrim 2:9) clearly states that this itself violates the Torah prohibition of adding to the Torah. Such a practice also violates the Torah prohibition of lying - even if it is done for a good reason. Our Sages were always very concerned to identify and keep separate that which is from the Torah and which are Rabbinical legislation - even if there were no practical halacha involved.
Rav Moshe Feinstein (Dibros Moshe Kesubos Tshuva 3:6): You assert that it is correct to describe something as a Torah prohibition - when in fact it is fully permitted or only a rabbinic prohibition. You make this claim even though you know that the Rambam (Hilchos Mamrim 2:9) views it as a violation of the Torah prohibition of adding to the Torah. You claim that it is permitted when there is an emergency need to establish something and have people accept its validity. Your justification is from the fact that extra-legal punishments are permitted in emergency situations. However, when you give such extra-legal punishments and claim they are from the Torah, the Rambam rules that this is a violation of the prohibition of adding to the Torah. Everybody would agree that there is a prohibition to falsify that which was given at Sinai - whether for a leniency or restriction. The Yam shel Shlomo (Bava Kama 4:9) rules that such upgrading of the prohibition is a form of rejecting the Torah itself and in fact he requires martyrdom rather than to alter the status of a halacha…Obviously he views it as much more serious a transgression than the sin of adding to the Torah…Furthermore even when extra-legal punishment is given for emergency situations it is required that it be openly stated that this punishment is extra-legal…
Krav Maga: Israeli Self-Defense Goes Global
Getting pummeled by three men with kicks, punches and jabs is not how I typically spend my vacation. Yet there I was on Military Base 8 defending myself from a trio of Israeli attackers. But my assailants — brothers Avi and Shlomi Moyal and Haim Sasson — weren't trying to rob me, they were simply doing their job: training me to protect myself via the increasingly hip Israeli self-defense technique known as Krav Maga.
Literally "close contact" in Hebrew, Krav Maga has its roots in 1930s Europe, where its founder, Slovakia-born Imi Lichtenfeld, developed the martial art to protect himself from anti-Semitic street gangs. A decade later, Lichtenfeld had immigrated to Israel, where he introduced his distinctive fighting system to the nation's then fledgling military, which made it part of its combat training. Today, Krav Maga is a veritable international phenomenon, with the Los Angeles–based Krav Maga Worldwide offering instruction to over 230 civilian affiliates in 17 countries and 500 law-enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. Embraced by the FBI and SWAT teams alike, Krav Maga is also a staple of high-end gyms across the globe, where a faster-paced and less-combative version provides a workout that could literally save your life. [...]
Absolute refutations and absolute answers are rare
Ramban (Introduction to Milchemes HaShem): For those who look at my sefer, don’t say in your heart that all my responses to the Ba’al HaMeor are in my eyes absolutely correct and obviously true and would therefore force everyone to acknowledge them. For everyone who studies our Talmud is well aware that concerning disputes between the commentaries that there are no absolute proofs or absolutely unanswerable questions. In fact, in this area of wisdom, things are not clear and unambiguous as we find in mathematical proofs. The main effort is to show that one position is more likely and more reasonable than the alternatives - rather then to show that one is entirely correct and the other is entirely wrong.
Skeptic who also rejects truth worse than fool who believes everything
Maharal :Silencing questions & suppressing dissent indicates a weak religion
Daas Torah page 202
Rabbis who insist that their students are subordinate forever
Maharik (12:62): There are some rabbis who want to dominate their students more than is appropriate and they assert that whoever has been a student even as a child is forever subordinate to them and can never disagree with them in any issue. They claim that this is true even if the student has become their equal or even their superior in learning because they assert that the main factor is where the relationship started not where it is now. They furthermore assert that even if the rabbi has clearly erred or behaves incorrectly, that disagreeing with the rabbi is the same as contradicting G-d and other such claims. The answer to this is that even if the student is forever subordinate to his teacher as these rabbis assert, nevertheless is quite obvious that that is only in relationship to honoring him by standing up for him or ripping his garment irreversibly in mourning for him. However, concerning matters of Heaven e.g., he saw his teacher err in Halacha which is a chilul HaShem - there is no requirement to honor his teacher. This can readily be seen in the many examples in the gemora such as the events with Rabban Gamliel (Berachos 26b)…