בס"ד
Rosh Chodesh Ellul, 5786/ August 13, '26
Rabbossai,
Yet another crucial letter to MonseyMevaser.com appears this week (Parshas Shoftim, '86) on pg.10. It addresses one of multiple Torah-based insights into Wednesday's Solar Eclipse, voting for/ supporting Sodomism proponents, and the looming block-vote scandal.
That lethal bill just went into effect in NY State on Aug. 5th. Even if we would know that we certainly cannot unseat her, we still must make a public protest to send a message to any other politicians who consider promoting such deadly legislation.
As those who fought in the forefront of the Orthodox community against that Assisted "Suicide" bill, we know just how fatal faulty communal priorities have proven to be. If we would have just sent such a message earlier - namely, that morality matters to us more than government money - who knows how much time we could have bought -- on stealth euthanasia; on the pro-LGBT "Dignity (Depravity) For All Students Act" (passed early in 2010); on abortion-at-whim, e.g. Cuomo"s RHA; on the spectrum of LGBTQ legislation; and (in a sense, most monumentally) on Cuomo's Marriage De-definition (passed in NY in June 2011).
Those who would like to partner in our society-salvaging work are asked to contact us ASAP, as below. We could multiply our effectiveness perhaps a thousandfold - provided more labor-sharing from those whose capacity is not yet closely matched by their participation. See Sukka 29b.
Evil prospers when good men respond to it via a moment of silence - instead of with righteously indignant donations.
Whether we tangibly effect the electoral outcome or not, we send a message for future candidates, and to the anti-Torah financial interests within our communities, decimating us from within, just to advance their own financial narcissism.
We need to broadcast that, no, a herd of unelected, self-focused real-estate developers does not represent us, or our Torah principles.
Nor can we allow them to dictate voting or public policy decisions.
We can help do that by exposing their role in misleading/mal-directing block-voting communities to support our worst and most effective enemies - those subversives serving in office, rather than in prison.
Thereby, we also do our part in restoration of the fading legacy of recently departed, authentic Torah sages - who waged war against the selling out of our Torah principles for bribery, legal or otherwise.
The only regret most people will ultimately have is ... that they didn't heed the call to moral action sooner - and far more "energetically."
Thank you in advance.
Good Chodesh.
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
845.642.1679
Direct: 771.215.8892
Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337
torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com
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Below is an expanded version of the published letter:
BS"D
28 Menachem Av, Parshas Shoftim, 5786
Editor,
From a Torah perspective, what perhaps can we learn from the extremely rare, "one in several hundred million” convergence of three Heavenly events on August 12th, overlapping with the Yom Kippur Kotton preceding Rosh Chodesh Ellul? They include a full solar eclipse, along with convergence of six planets, and a meteor shower. Would it not stand to reason that such an astronomically rare heavenly spectacle - coinciding with Erev Rosh Chodesh - of Ellul - should prompt us to both introspection and repentance of a nature a bit more specific than other similar preceding events (one of which was a full solar eclipse striking parts of North America - also on the Yom Kippur Kotton - preceding Nissan, 2-1/2 years ago)?
Based on a few mekoros, I humbly submit the following suggestion - as merely one of many - for the consideration of the esteemed tzibbur.
Chazal teach us that "The Sun is "stricken" (eclipsed) on account of four sins ..." (Sukkah 29a). They include the particular vice being mainstreamed - and even celebrated - by most of the representatives elected regularly in our areas (the act of sodomy).
In fact, that aveirah (sin) is identified by the Maharal on the Gemara in Chullin 92b (which Daf Yomi learned within the past two weeks) as "a To'aiva even amongst To'aivos,"* as indicated by it's uniquely individualized branding in VaYikra (Lev.) 18:22.
* an abomination even among abominations
Many of our politicians even support the type of legitimization of said abomination - namely Marriage De-definition - which triggered the annihilation of civilization by the Mabul in the days of Noach - see Midrash Rabbah 23:9 on VaYikra 18:3 (and the Gemara Chullin 92b).
Now, to answer our question above, please see the Aruch L'Nair on that Gemara Sukka, 29, (including s.v. "Tonu Rabbonon Bi'Zman She'haChamah lokeh"). It's evident that the solar eclipse signals an oncoming period of Divine Judgment, during which said abomination, and the other enumerated sins, are more likely to be punished. How much more so will the aforementioned legitimization of Marriage De-definition subject us to Divine Retribution, for not adequately pushing back against it.
The fact that recently we've all heard of multiple major earthquakes - which similarly strike due to sodomist sin (Jerusalem Talmud, tractacte Brachos, 9:2) - may support our thesis, suggesting a focus on the sin of sodomy, and, how much more so, on its' institutionalization, via Marriage De-definition, educational indoctrination, and the predatory legalization of sodomist "Adoption."
This all should prompt us to introspection and repentance, on both an individual and communal level in regard to these public policy concerns.
One Practical Example:
Let's be concrete. I won't "beat around the ballot." Although, thank G-d, many frum Jews did NOT vote for NY Gov. Hochul - unfortunately, some did.
Ominously, even after Hochul predictably signed the deadly Physician-Assisted Suicide legislation (euphemistically marked as "Medical Aid (sic) In Dying" (sic)) - that just went into effect on August 5th - we have reason to fear that some of the block-vote-led communities will yet again be misdirected into voting for her in November. We cannot allow such a communal Chillul HaShem to be perpetrated by a few wealthy financial interests, who leverage their positions to consistently facilitate thousands of Yidden voting for Greater-Evil candidates (who generally tend to be Democratic).
Without even getting into details about specific positions on important issues, we should acknowledge that having any Orthodox- identified candidate in such a high position is definitely not at all ideal. However, voting for a recidivist proponent of moral and societal subversion is inexcusable, al-pi Halacha.
Public Chillul HaShem:
No amount of government largesse - even if fully permitted otherwise, and truly vital - would permit committing any prohibition (Shulchan Aruch, Yorah Daiyoh, 157:1). How much more so is it prohibited to commit Chillul HaShem, for which there is generally no atonement until death.
And that's even just for individuals. How much more severe is the prohibition of facilitating swaths of entire communities to be herded into voting booths to vote for the abominators of choice, decided on by their community ashkunim.
Moreover, for such a capable and developed Orthodox community to routinely allow thousands of our fellow Jews living in block-vote-directed communities to be manipulated wholesale into doing so is absolutely intolerable.
Narcissistic Achdus:
Face it: when it comes to authentic Achdus (unity) - where it really counts - we talk the talk far more than we walk the walk.
We love feelgood Achdus. However, when the going gets tough - we "keep doing" - doing things other than those we're most needed for. It's called Shochad Mitzvah, aka diversionary Judaism.
Other Races:
It's not just the race for Governor. How many of us wind up voting for morally-degraded candidates for judges, especially for the extremely influential State Supreme Court positions? Even many who will not vote for the greater-evil candidates in well-publicized high- profile races will often mindlessly vote for anti-life, criminal-enabling, anti-Torah, anti-moral judicial candidates. There is no excuse for toleration of such a blight of communal irresponsibility.
It Need Not Be This Way:
Boruch HaShem, this recurring communal disaster is avoidable. A properly funded, scheduled, and executed PR campaign within the frum community could actually save thousands of naive, mal-informed Yidden from voting for the gubernatorial candidate who's voting record confirms that she is clearly the greater evil on the issues that matter most according to Halacha and Da'as Torah, specifically life and death issues, and foundational morality, as articulated by Gedolei HaDor - from across the Orthodox spectrum - for over 45 years. Many such psakim and statements are available. For more information, please email torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com.
Chazal exhort us in Shabbos (54b, 55a) that our responsibilities are proportional to our outreach capacities. In such a well-endowed community, how precisely do we tolerate the ongoing dereliction of duty that perpetuates this ongoing, public Chillul Shaim Shomayim? We can and must do better.
"Ma'arich Apei - VeGovei Dilei."
We cannot say we've not been forwarned.
It's a win-win proposition: even if we fall short of our expectations, we'll gain eternal reward for all of the Yidden we do save from such a terrible aveirah, a rebellion against HaShem.
If we really want to merit to see the Ge'ulah, why would we even consider passing up such a tremendous opportunity to reduce the ongoing desecration of the Divine Name being perpetrated in the name of Torah Jewry? Our inaction suggests that our biweekly Tachanun supplications appealing to HaShem to save and redeem us "LeMa'an Shemo" - For His Name - are cheap lip service.
How much more should we embrace such opportunities when, by taking a stand for authentic Kovod Shomayim, we also protest the very abominations which are, according to Chazal, factors in impeding the Final Redemption. For example, see Mishna Sotah 48a, as quoted in Sefer Yeraiyim, Issur Kishuf; since Z'nus caused the Churban, it impedes the Redemption. How much more so does the communal sanction for institutionalization of the worst of the abominations.
Good Shabbos, and Good Chodesh. Kesivah VeChasimah Tovah,
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
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More details on the aforementioned false attribution to Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky O.B.M.:
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כידוע, בפרשתינו, פר' שופטים, כתוב "וילך ויעבוד אלוהים אחרים ... אשר לא צויתי" (יז:ג). ע' רבינו הספורנו, בפרט מש"כ על "אשר לא צויתי:" [כנר' לפרש לשון 'לא צויתי' - הלא על עצם ע"ז ציוה לאסרו יותר מ40 פעמים.]
"אשר לא מניתי בשום מינוי בחיריי שיוכלו לעשות כרצונם, אבל נתתי להם חוק ולא יעבור, על הפך מחשבת עובדי ע"ז, שחשבו שלכל עיר ועיר יש שר יכול כרצונו ולהיטיב ולהריע, ושהוא מטיב כשיעבדוהו." עכ"ל (מהד' חדש מקר"ג א. בלום). [הוא כתב כמו כן בשאר מקומות בספר דברים.]
לדאבונינו, דעת העובדי-ע"ז הזה כבר חדר לספרות ישראל, להרבה שנים, מאז שהדפיסו את המהדורא הג' "המתוקנת" של הס' "אמת ליעקב" עה"ת. לדאבונינו, התחדש באותה מהדורא ציטוט מסולף של כפירה בענין כח בע"ז - כביכול - להיטיב ע"פ רצון עצמו, עפר לפיהם. והכל בשם רב יעקב זצ"ל, כמובן.
וגם כתבו שם שאמר הגר"י "שהרמב"ן סובר כן" (עפר לפיהם). ודע שהמקורות שהביאו שם בתוך ההערות למטה, לא הוכיחו טענתם כלל, כמובן, כמבואר לכל בודק אחריהם.
הכפירה הבולטת שם מופיעה על פרשת ואתחנן, בדף תע"ד (בענין פסוק בספר שופטים, פרק יא), בסוף טור שני שם:
"... דודאי יש כח לכמוש אלוהיך להוריש לך מה שהוא ר-ו-צ-ה" (עפר לפיהם -נ.ש.ל.)
[Whereas, in reality, no Avoda Zorah can ever help or harm (1) people based on it's (2) own bechirah/ ratzon (will). - NSL]
מה שכתבו בשם הגר"י בסעיף הקודם "שביכולתו לעשות כן" אולי אינו מוכח כל כך שכיוון המעריך לכפירה הנ"ל. אבל מה שכתבו בסוף, בענין רצון, ודאי מוכח כן.
ודע שכפירה זו לא חדר להמהדורות הראשונה ושנייה של הספר "אמת ליעקוב עה"ת" שראיתי, ב"ה.
ובעצם הענין, ע' חזו"א יו"ד סב:יט, שסילוף זה הוא עיקר הסילוף של המאמינים בע"ז, כדמשמע מהספורנו כאן.
יוצא, שעיקר הרעיון שאנו צריכים להתסייג ממנה - להבדל מהעובדי ע"ז לאלפי מיניהם - הופץ בינינו - בשם מי שנודע לגדול בין-לאומי - כמעט לעשרות שנים! והכל בלי מחאה חשובה ומפרוסמת מאת מנהיגי הציבור. והבן זה היטיב.
וצריך להאריך בסיבת ה"סקאנדאל" הזה, ובאמת אכמ"ל. אבל נא הבן שהגענו למצב שמחשיבים מה שנאמר בשם גדול בתורה יותר מיסודות הדת. וע' מש"כ אב זקני הרב נתן נטע לייטער זצ"ל הי"ד, ממלא מקום האב ב"ד לעבוב, הודפס בסוף קונטרוס "דברי חיים אמת," בענין סכנת partisanism.
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וב"ה, "אמת מארץ תצמח," אחר עשרות שנים, הגיע תיקון-חלקי של הזיוף הנורא שעשו אז, אבל רק אחרי כל השנים של הפצת כפירה זו*, ותלייתו באילו גדול. ובסוף, עשו תיקון - אבל רק תיקון במקצת.
{* הפעם הראשון שדיברתי עם המעריך של מהדורא ג',..., היה לפני בערך 21 שנה.}
במהדורת תשפ"ג של "ספר אמת ליעקוב על נ"ך" הביאו מה שכן אמר רב יעקב זצ"ל.
העיקר מה להוציא ממש"כ בשם הגר"י על נ"ך הוא שמבואר שלא אמר רב יעקב כאן מה שכתבו בשמו בהמהדורא הג' עה"ת בענין הע"ז של כמוש, הנ"ל.
ואף אם אפשר - או נצרך - להתווכח על מה שהביאו שם, על נ"ך, מהרב יעקב - עם כל זה פשוט וברור שאין אלו אותן הדברי-כפירה שכתבו בשמו במהדורא ג' עה"ת.
ולענין הרמב"ן בעצמו, בודאי לא כתב הרמב"ן דבר או חצי דבר אפילו דומה לכפירה הנ"ל, עפר לפיהם. ובאמת כתב להפך, כמו שהבאנו בעבר במק"א.
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