Monday, November 14, 2022
Russian Dead and Wounded Passes 100,000 in War's Ninth Month: Pentagon
https://www.newsweek.com/russian-dead-wounded-passes-100000-wars-ninth-month-pentagon-1759179
Can Yoga Be Rendered Kosher? (A Brief Summary)
BS"D
20 Cheshvan '83 / Chayei Soroh / November 14, '22
~~ A public service of Tomim Tih'yeh ~~
The proliferation of Yoga practitioners ("... sprouted up like a crop of mushrooms after a rain," as Rav Belsky put it) - some apparently incentivized via government largesse - raises the question ever more frequently: Is there any way to render Yoga permissible according to Torah Law?
Yoga is a set of ancient, idolatry-infused systems, purporting to be paths to human achievement and perfection. In it's original forms, Yoga is a way to worship their "object of worship," as Rav Belsky put it (see futher). Western New-Age proponents have adapted Yoga to meet the incessant demands for "Spirituality Without Morality." Some in the West have even claimed to secularize Yoga altogether. Yoga involves both theology and practice.
Theology/Ideology:
The Eastern/ Hindu/ New-Age ideology underlying - and often accompanying - Yoga is demonstrably assur (prohibited). Specifically, anything related to the heretical notion of "Prana" (a.k.a. Qi, Ki, Universal Energy, etc.;
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-shitah-of-chi-is-foundational-god.html?m=1;
The Book of Chi, Paul Wildish, p. xi; 3, 5) must be avoided altogether, as articulated by Rav Yisroel Belsky, Rav Dovid Feinstein, OB"M, et.al. in their psak on related concerns. That statement, prohibiting all forms of "energy healing," and the ideology of "universal energy," was published in the book "Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine, New Age Medicine - Energy Healing" (Tzuf/ Judaica Press). At the end of that statement (p. 130), they identify the notion of "Universal Energy" as heresy, "kefira b'ikkar."
Be aware that Yoga ideology, rather theology, is often subtle. There are many ideas that - while not Avoda Zorah (loosely translated as "idolatry") or Kefira (heresy) proper - are nevertheless prohibited to expose oneself to [how much more so to believe] - inasmuch as they could LEAD a person to Avoda Zorah or kefira beliefs themselves. Those ideas fall under the prohibition of "Lo So'ssuru Ach'arei Le'vav'chem" - Zu minnus."*
* See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hil. A.Z. 2:2-3; Sefer HaChinuch 357; SMa"G L.S. 15; Bi'ur Halacha 1:1, the sixth of the constant mitzvos.
Yoga materials, as is the case with most of the information marketed in the holistic health arena, are pervaded with such stealth theology. New Age propagandists specialize in marketing these types of ancient Avoda-Zorah (="A.Z.") and kefira notions as "scientific." It is the New Age movement that serves as the primary conduit of ancient and contemporary A.Z. and kefira into religious homes, under the veneer of alternative means to attain health, serenity, wealth, productivity, self-esteem, and everything else you'd consider paying - or charging - money for.
Practices:
Many Yoga practices, including bowing towards the Sun, lighting candles, chanting mantras (e.g. "OM"), and others, are clearly assur. If fact, certain breathing techniques are a form of worship, specifically "libation," as observed by the academic authority Mercia Eliade in his book "Yoga." (It appears as if every unhinged guru-aspirant markets his own form of Yoga, manifesting their own idiosyncrasies, as in the blasphemous "Kabbalah Yoga," with Alef-Beis postures.) There is also a highly appealing meditative element of Yoga, and an Arayos (indecency) element as well, both of which (apparently somewhat interdependent) are to be shunned.
The only question remaining is whether there is a way to render the strictly physical facets of Yoga kosher, and how so. In short, at the risk of oversimplifying, the answer to that is that even the physical exercises and postures of Yoga are problematic. That's because, if for no other reason, they're modeled after idolatrous forms. Therefore, even if those physical postures etc. have some musculoskeletal benefit, that's not sufficient to permit them. Why perform those specific A.Z.-oriented movements and postures, when the same basic musculoskeletal benefit is available via non-A.Z.-related postures and exercises?
Any claim to render Yoga kosher requires the requisite understanding of the relevant facts, the Avoda Zorah background involved, and the relevant facets of Halacha. One Torah authority who satisfied those criteria was Rav Yisroel Belsky OB"M. See "Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine, New Age Medicine - Energy Healing," p.37-8 (and p. 116-117, Judaica Press ed.). Rav Belsky was opposed not only to Yoga itself, but also opposed the various attempts to ostensibly render Yoga kosher, as evidenced by the audio quoted there [page 37]:
"Indeed, although there are many individuals, including learned and well-intentioned Rabbonim, who will say that there are no problems with certain forms of Yoga when practiced soley as physical exercise, the simple, verifiable fact remains that the very act of assuming a particular posture or movement in Yoga is in itself a supplication to the deity associated with that action - a type of worship through movement and posture."
Moreover, even IF there would be basis to find a practical heter (halachic leniency) for some restricted form of Yoga, it would be difficult to find a practitioner who truly limits themselves to the confines of that hypothetical heter. It's so common to find that a practitioner obtained a heter for some New Age "gem," and practices a highly devolved variant thereof - while continuing to impute to the exploited Rabbi their altered, prohibited practices. What is most disturbing is how so many intelligent people fall for this switch-and-bait marketing fraud.
In any case, what is indisputable is that massive numbers of Jews are stumbling in some of the most serious prohibitions of the Torah -due to ignorance and misinformation. That needs to be alleviated by properly alerting the public so that, at the very least, those seeking the truth may be enabled to find it. "Lo sa'amod al dam rei'echah" applies here.
May we expedite the Final Redemption in the merit of eliminating all of its impediments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shailos and questions may be directed to Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter [preferably between 12:30 and 1:30pm ET, or one may try between 10 and 11:15pm]:
USA: 845-642-1679* «»
* for calls and texts, but not WhatsApp; press * to leave a detailed voicemail, along with the latest time to call back and your contact information.
Israeli Helpline: 03-721-3337
Feel ree to inquire about speaking engagements as well. Those interested in partnership in public awareness work, please notify accordingly. Those whom you save may be closer to you than you'd expect.
_________
For posts on related topics see:
Theological Detoxification:
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/08/bsd-insights-from-parshas-shoftim-on-of.html
(Aug. 20, '20)
--
HK Manual: Energy Permission asked of the "Ch-i," R"L:
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/08/hk-manual-on-energy-permission-asked-of.html
(Aug. 22, '20)
--
Why the very concept of Q-i, Ch-i, K-i, Pra-na, "Universal Energy," et. al. is heretical:
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-shitah-of-chi-is-foundational-god.html?m=1
--
https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/07/is-energy-healing-form-of-avodah-zarah.html?m=1
--
"Neither Alternative, Medical or Halachic:"
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2020/07/neither-alternative-medical-or-halachic.html
###
Sunday, November 13, 2022
Satmar Rebbe: Trumpism has infiltrated Judaism, twisted many minds
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-722025
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Right-Wing Pundit Ann Coulter Tells Trump to Shut Up Forever After Midterm
n Friday, Ann Coulter, the noted conservative pundit and longtime Donald Trump loyalist, had harsh words for the former president in the wake of the midterm election results.
With many predicting blowout wins for the Republican Party this election cycle, the midterms have been surprisingly and historically positive for Democrats. No so-called "red wave" materialized in most parts of the country, with Democrats tipped to retain and potentially grow their Senate majority, with only Nevada and Georgia still up in the air. Democrats also have a small path to retaining the House, with Republicans anticipating a troublesomely thin majority should they retake the lower chamber.
Conservatives Turn On Trump Over Racist Attack on Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday morning in a racist post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump—who views Youngkin as part of the Republican establishment that wants to squeeze the former president out of the GOP—suggested Youngkin’s name “sounds Chinese.”
Friday, November 11, 2022
Ben Shapiro errs in defending Kanye ally Candace Owens - opinion
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-721708
My close friend and one of my great Jewish heroes, Dennis Prager, last week defended his protege, Candace Owens, who has been stalwart in protecting her ally, arch antisemite Kanye West, as he has characterized Jews as being essentially thieves, bloodsuckers and parasites. Why would a great man like Dennis do this?
Before I delve deeper into the story, let’s first seek how Owens rewarded Prager’s friendship and all that he and Ben Shapiro have done to promote Owens’ career.
This is where all this gets rather sickening. What Shapiro is guilty of, as are an increasing number of Jewish Republicans, is putting Conservatism and the Republican Party before decency, fighting hatred and defending the Jewish people. Why is Shapiro putting party before principle and politics before his people? Are we going to see the Daily Wire give West an award for being the foremost pro-life, pro-faith, and pro-Conservative antisemite in America?
Candace Owens calls Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' a 'textbook' while excusing Kyrie Irving's antisemitism
On Wednesday's edition of The Daily Wire's The Candace Owens Show, the namesake right-wing host encouraged her audience to read Adolf Hitler's 1925 autobiography Mein Kampf while complaining about the backlash over Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving's embrace of antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Three-Quarters of Jewish Voters Polled Blame Trump for Rise in Antisemitism
https://www.newsweek.com/three-quarters-jewish-voters-blame-donald-trump-rise-antisemitism-1758824
Adovish Middle East advocacy group has released poll results showing that a vast majority of Jewish voters attribute a recent rise in antisemitism to Donald Trump and his allies in the Republican Party.
J Street on Thursday published the election night poll finding that 76 percent of American Jews believe the former president and his wing of the GOP are responsible for an uptick in antisemitism and white supremacy. The poll also found 74 percent believe Trump and the MAGA movement are "a threat to Jews in America." The poll follows reports of increasing antisemitic incidents and as Trump is expected to announce another bid for the presidency.
The poll was conducted by research company GBAO on behalf of J Street, which describes itself as a "pro-Israel, pro-peace" advocacy group, and included responses from 800 self-identified Jewish voters who cast ballots in Tuesday's midterm elections.
Thursday, November 10, 2022
US midterms: Why a Republican 'wave' never happened
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63569850
"There's an argument to be made here that this was as much a referendum on Donald Trump as it was anything else," he said. "And if you look at the candidates that he supported, particularly the election deniers running for governor, Senate or secretary of state positions, many of them lost. Even if he got a couple of wins, it's not like he expanded any sort of Republican base or majority."
Mr Taylor's assessment was echoed by Alex Heide, a previously undecided 31-year-old voter in Georgia who said he was "really turned off" by Mr Trump's endorsement, in his case of Republican candidate Herschel Walker.
"I don't agree with Democrats on everything," he told the BBC before voting. "But I feel it's significantly more stable than the Republican platform."
Is It True That Every Vote Used To Be Counted on Election Night?
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/election-night-votes-counted/
We're going to dive into reporting on past elections and show examples of how it wasn't true that every vote was counted by election night. Bear in mind that there are multiple examples like the following from each election year and that the certified, or final, vote count always occurs later. For the purpose of keeping this story brief, we have documented only a few of the examples from each past election year.
Democratic meddling in GOP primaries paid off in a big way on Election Day
Democrats' strategy of spending millions to boost pro-Trump candidates in Republican primaries appeared to pay off Tuesday as the party ended the night with a clean sweep of the races in which it chose to meddle.
All six of the Republican candidates who seemingly benefited from the meddling in their primary victories fell to their Democratic opponents. Those races include a number of key House and gubernatorial races, as well as the New Hampshire Senate race.
