Saturday, December 25, 2021

Florida’s second COVID Christmas marred by 320% infection hike

 https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/12/24/floridas-second-covid-christmas-marred-by-320-infection-hike/

In just two weeks, Florida’s seven-day average has gone from 4,200 cases a week to 17,800, according to the data released Friday. The Sunshine State has already surpassed the 16,000 daily cases recorded at the peak of last year’s winter wave and could soon surpass the summer delta wave, which peaked at 25,000 daily cases.

Historical fake news from KA

 It was claimed that Goren liberated the Kosel by convincing Motta Gur to violate his orders

KA said 

He was part of it, and he convinced Mota Gur to take the old City - which was not part of the military plans. In terms of Jewish history, it was Rav Goren who liberated the Temple Mount, and the Kotel. Also Hevron.
The fact is that Goren merely tagged along with the troops that liberated the Kosel. While it is true that initially the plan was not to take the Old City or retake the Jewish Quarter
That change was not because of Goren
Rather as Martin Gilbert noted Eshkol was convinced by Begin and Allon because of the call by the UN for a cease fire. Page 387  Israel A History and Dyan therefore gave orders for the troops to occupy the Old City. Gur was in fact obeying orders 

KA also claimed that Rackman was a pioneer in Kiruv when in fact there is no mention of this anywhere
He claims that Liebman statement that Rackman brought more people to Orthodoxy is proof when it is not clear what Liebman is claiming. KA then said maybe it was as Rabbi or Chaplain- while a totally different claim - and is still not supported by any evidence.


KA also insists that Rakeffet is following Rav Soloveitchik and not Rackman regarding annulment of marriage

Rav Soloveitchik was against the annulling of marriage while Rackman felt it was essential-Rakefet is in favor of annulment as he stated regarding Tamar Epstein - thus he could not be siding with Rav Soloveitchik but with Rackman


We will conclude by citing from a speech delivered by Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik to the Rabbinical Council of America, in response to Rabbi Rackman's proposal:7
36
I have to discharge a duty. Believe me, I do it with much sadness in my heart. You know I never criticize anybody; I have never attacked anybody. But today... I feel it is my duty to make the following statement....

I also was told that it was recommended that the method of afka'inhu rabanan lekiddushin mineih [to annul marriages] be introduced.... Do you expect to survive as Orthodox rabbis? Do you expect to carry on the mesorah under such circumstances? Chaos will replace Torah. I hope that those gathered here will join me in objecting to such discussion at a rabbinical convention. I cannot imagine a Republican National Convention or Democratic National Convention where a symposium would be held as to whether communism should replace democracy in the United States.

Friday, December 24, 2021

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). In truth, I had never spoken to Rabbi Rackman about the issue raised by this writer, although I had myself seen the view of Rabbi Rackman and been troubled by it. In a symposium in Commentary in 1966 entitled “The State of Jewish Belief”, Rabbi Emanuel Rackman wrote:

The most definitive record of God’s encounters with man is contained in the Pentatuch. Much of it may have been written by people in different times, but at one point in history God not only made the people of Israel aware of his immediacy, but caused Moses to write the eternal evidence of the covenant between Him and His people. (Commentary, August, 1966 at page 128)
The sanctity of the Pentatuch does not derive from God’s authorship of all of it, but rather from the fact that God’s is the final version. The final writing by Moses has the stamp of divinity-the kiss of immortality. (Judaism, Spring 1969, page 153)

Flaws in the Proposal of Rabbi Emanuel Rackman

 https://www.sefaria.org/Gray_Matter_I%2C_Grappling_With_the_Problem_of_Agunot%2C_Flaws_in_the_Proposal_of_Rabbi_Emanuel_Rackman?lang=bi

Thursday, December 23, 2021

The Genius and Limitations of Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik z”l

 https://www.cardozoacademy.org/thoughtstoponder/genius-limitations-rabbi-joseph-ber-soloveitchik-zl/

Rav Soloveitchik’s famous argument with Rabbi Emanuel Rackman—renowned Talmudic scholar and thinker, later to become Dean of Bar-Ilan University—is another example of the former’s sometimes extreme halachic conservatism. In several places, the Talmud introduces a rule that states: Tav Lemeitav tan du mi-lemeitav armeluIt is better to live as two than to live alone,[11] which refers to the fact that a woman would prefer to marry almost any man rather than remain alone.

Rav Soloveitchik sees this as a “permanent ontological principle,” which is beyond historical conditions, and that even in our day needs to be applied and cannot be changed. This principle operates under the assumption that even today’s women prefer to stay in a marriage, no matter how unfortunate the circumstances may be. To be alone is worse. This means that a woman cannot claim that had she known what kind of person her husband is, she never would have married him. If she could make this claim, her marriage would be a “mistaken marriage,” which would not even require a get (bill of divorce), since the marriage took place on a false premise and the woman would never have agreed to it had she known. In that case, she was never considered lawfully married and could leave her partner without receiving a get. Since this obviously has enormous repercussions for today’s society, it could help thousands of women.[12] Rav Soloveitchik was not prepared to take that approach and thus blocked the possibility for many of them to leave their partners without a get.

It seems to me that the above-mentioned rabbis were talmidei chachamim no less than Rav Soloveitchik was. Their disadvantages were that they didn’t occupy a central role in Modern Orthodox and Yeshiva University circles, and above all they didn’t belong to renowned Ashkenazic rabbinical families. Had they been called Soloveitchik, their Torah would have received far more attention and would probably have been much more effective.


"Four Dissenting Modern Orthodox Thinkers - Emmanuel Rackman"

Israelis living abroad riot at airport over travel restrictions

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1ufsagsy

According to those who found themselves stranded in Ben Gurion Airport, the riot started after they were made aware that they must fill in and submit a brand new online form and then wait no less than 24 hours until it is processed - despite their flights being mere hours away.

The Public Security Ministry wants us to fill out an online form in Hebrew only and we are not given an answer,” said Dimitri Kiblansky, a resident of Canada who found himself unable to board his flight home.

Security guard who attacked MK revealed as Hamas terrorist

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319137

One of the two security Arab guards who attacked MK Itamar Ben Gvir earlier this week has been revealed as a Hamas terrorist, Israel Hayom reported.

In the past, terrorist Mohammad Shaweeky wrote a post on social media praising Hamas terrorist Ali Shyouky, Israel Hayom added.

Shyouky is a Hamas terrorist from Silwan, who in October 2016 was eliminated after conducting a firebombing.

An ER nurse's message of compassion for the unvaccinated

 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/16/opinions/nurse-audrey-wendt-michigan-covid-message-goldynia/index.html

But, at the end of the day, if you choose not to get vaccinated, I am still going to take really good care of you and give you kindness and treat you with respect. I want anyone who needs care to know that they are welcome here, no matter what. I feel like Republicans and Democrats, and people of all backgrounds and all beliefs can come together knowing that we want the same thing: we want what's best for our family members so that they can live long, healthy lives.

Christian Missionaries Showing up in NY & Lakewood Yeshivos

 https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=150767

A Christian missionary was just in Shor Yoshuv going over to Bochurim and others in the Yeshiva. Nassau Police are currently on scene, escorting the man out. Unfortunately, many Yeshivos in Williamsburg and Lakewood have recently reported similar occurrences.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Rav berl wein describes rav chaim zimmerman

It Belongs to You Too

 https://mishpacha.com/it-belongs-to-you-too/

 Rav Potash’s foray into the world of innovative yeshivah leadership really begins in the Jerusalem apartment of his individualistic, forward-thinking grandfather, the illui Rav Chaim Zimmerman z”l. Rav Chaim, a child prodigy and nephew of Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz of Kamenitz, came to the US at age 15, and it was soon clear that he was versant in the entire Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, as well as Rishonim and Acharonim. After receiving semichah from Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, he taught a Talmud class at REITS, and for many years was a rosh yeshivah at the Hebrew Theological College (Beis Medrash L’Torah) in Chicago, where he often entertained the bochurim with the “pin test” — they’d stick a pin in a random page of Gemara, and he would recite the page, and that very spot, verbatim.

Ghislaine Maxwell's 'Grooming' Behavior Explained by a Forensic Psychologist

 https://www.newsweek.com/ghislaine-maxwells-grooming-behavior-explained-forensic-psychologist-1662100

Turner characterizes grooming by three main elements. The first is isolating victims from their "normal social system" such as family and friends, in order to have them "enmeshed into the social system of the offender," a network that includes other victims, other offenders, and anyone who normalizes these sexual behaviors.

Shas chair reaches plea bargain deal, will resign from Knesset and pay 180,000 shekel fine

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319095

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has reached a plea bargain agreement with Shas party chairman MK Aryeh Deri, Kan News reported..

According to the report, Deri will plead guilty to non-reporting of tax and will pay a fine of about NIS 180,000. In addition, he will resign from the Knesset. The arrangement is expected to be drafted and submitted soon.

As part of the plea bargain agreement between the State Attorney's Office and Deri, he is not expected to plead guilty to tax evasion offenses, but to offenses of reporting without criminal intent only. The investigation against Deri was opened five years ago, and also included a suspicion of bribery, the case on which was already closed at the stage of the police recommendations.