Maharal(Nesivos HaTorah 1:14):.... However, a practical problem arises in learning secular knowledge. It is prohibited to learn from a teacher who is not fit. However, this is not a valid objection since the prohibition applies only to learning from a heretic in person. It is only close personal contact that is prohibited and thus reading a book composed by a heretic would not present this problem. Nevertheless the question remains whether it is permitted to study their books when they contain attacks against the Torah concerning such thing as the Creation of the world, G d’s knowledge, survival of the soul after death and whether the World to Come exists. Perhaps they should be prohibited because they might be a harmful influence? ... However Avos says that one must know how to respond to heretical views and if one has not been exposed to heresy how would it be possible to respond to these views? Obviously, it is necessary to be aware of the views of heretics. However, this is obviously permitted only if the intent is to learn their views in order to be able to refute them.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Kuzari
Kuzari (01:14) Al Khazari: Exactly so; but the human mind cannot believe that God has intercourse with man, except by a miracle which changes the nature of things. He then recognizes that to do so He alone is capable who created them from nought. It must also have taken place in the presence of great multitudes, who saw it distinctly, and did not learn it from reports and traditions. Even then they must examine the matter carefully and repeatedly, so that no suspicion of imagination or magic can enter their minds. Then it is possible that the mind may grasp this extraordinary matter, viz. that the Creator of this world and the next, of the heavens and lights, should hold intercourse with this contemptible piece of clay, I mean man, speak to him, and fulfill his wishes and desires.
"Like negotiating with terrorists”: Ex-Fox producer worried accurate reporting may “insult” audience
"It is so insane but our viewers believe it so addressing again how her stupid Venezuela affidavit isn't proof might insult them," Pfeiffer replied.
Shah suggested that Carlson describe the affidavit as "not new info, not proof" but then quickly "pivot to being deferential."
Pfeiffer, who has since left the network, responded by trashing Fox viewers.
"Like negotiating with terrorists," Pfeiffer wrote. "But especially dumb ones.
Former Fox producer for Tucker Carlson feared truth telling would insult 'dumb' audience
In the course of the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News, legal documents reveal new text messages between a Fox executive and Tucker Carlson's former producer have come to light, revealing how they corresponded about Donald Trump's election lies.
Netanyahu to ministers: No meetings with US officials until PM is invited to White House
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/368721
Three months have passed since the current government was established, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to receive an invitation to the White House to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, after receiving the requests of several government ministers to travel to the United States, Netanyahu allegedly issued a response clarifying that they were not to make the trip until he himself has received an official invitation.
Israeli leaders must step up to the plate to stop the madness
The silent, moderate, and mature majority knows that we have reached a point we are talking past each other. Leaders of the protests are angling for either anarchy or elections. Thus, it would be wise to deny them this pleasure by pre-empting things.
Israelis Are Now Openly Talking About the ‘Total Destruction’ of the Jewish State
For most Israelis, there are no words to describe the consuming fear that, as former Mossad director Tamir Pardo puts it, the country is “on the verge of collapse.” He says his fellow citizens stand at the very precipice of “the total destruction of the state of Israel.”
He is not alone. Former PM Ehud Barak calls Netanyahu’s project “the assassination of the Declaration of Independence, which will turn Israel into a dictatorship.” If a government uses the tools of democratic rule to “destroy it from within,” Barak says, Israelis must prepare to resist. “It is not just the right of citizens; it is, in my judgment, the obligation of citizens to turn unfortunately toward civil disobedience.”
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Tradition meets technology with UK app for halachic questions
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tradition-meets-technology-with-uk-app-for-halachic-questions/
There is now a team of nine rabbis on payroll working full-time fielding questions, which can number as many as 250 a day before major holidays and between 40 and 60 on any given day, via a back-end app – a necessary addition, as the office employee was quickly overwhelmed by the volume of questions.
Override Clause approved in first reading in Knesset
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/368679
Proposal approved by a majority of 61 to 52. The bill stipulates that laws struck down by the Supreme Court can be re-enacted by the Knesset with a majority of 61 MKs.
A Group of Scientists Suggest that Plants Feel Pain
For years, scientists are baffled by the question of whether plants can feel pain or not. A team of scientists from Tel Aviv University may have the answer to that question, as they discovered that some plants can emit a high-frequency distress sound when in environmental stress.
EXPERTS WORRIED RITUAL ROBOTS MAY WORSHIP GODS BETTER THAN HUMANS
https://futurism.com/the-byte/ritual-robots-hinduism-religion
"There are concerns that the proliferation of robots might lead to greater numbers of people leaving religious practice as temples begin to rely more on automation than on practitioners to care for their deities," Waters writes, citing research that has found that younger people are, indeed, going to church less.
Judaism and Vegetarianism
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/858870/jewish/Judaism-and-Vegetarianism
The sages declared that an empty-minded person has no right to eat meat.9 They also taught never to eat meat out of hunger; first satisfy your hunger with bread.10 (On an empty stomach, it is very difficult to keep focus on anything other than stuffing your face.) Only when “eating mindfully,” focusing on our divine mission, are we doing more for the animal than the animal is doing for us.
According to this approach, it may be cruel to not eat meat, because doing so robs the animal of its chance to serve a higher purpose.
Don’t be scared off. Get your act together and focus; the completion of G‑d’s universal plan is at “steak.”
Monday, March 13, 2023
West Bank teacher arrested for sexually assaulting students
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-734211
According to the survey, the rate of victims in the welfare services following sexual abuse is higher among the students of the religious public school stream, who mainly represent people who identify themselves as religious-Zionist. For every 1,000 students in the stream, there are 2.39 students who were treated in welfare services as a result of sexual abuse, higher than in ultra-Orthodox education (1.98), and more than double the amount in the secular public school stream (1.04).