11:17 PM
Gil Student
by Joel Rich
Question - On another blog the poster gushed as to of how all of creation testifies to HKB"H as creator. While I subscribe to this as a matter of belief, does this line of reasoning convince analytical folks who are not yet believers?
A must listen! He repeats the lessons that Avi Mori Vrabbi Zll”hh tried to inscribe on my soul. R’Aryeh Levin of Jerusalem (his grandfather) taught him the very simple lessons of how to relate to other people (great story of R’Y Salanter and the quick Friday night meal at a student’s home – so the housekeeper could get to sleep).
Rails against “the gedolim who knew all of shas by age 2” stories – why can’t they tell the truth (e.g. R’SZA was menachem avel to women and also said mazel tov to them at their smachot).
Yiddishkeit means being normal! We think we need to verbally give others mussar, really need to be examples of what mussar results in – many times more effective.
Click here for more
Nice thoughts on repentance given IIUC at YU – would be notable in any event as per Samuel Johnson on a woman’s preaching J.
Why don’t we (bnai ashkenaz) do it daily? A lot of reasons given that translate IMHO into “we don’t because they (before us) didn’t, even if we don’t know why. We don’t restart because of the GRA and R’Chaim tried to and bad things happened. [me – if it’s chazaka then why didn’t GRA try again? And how did he know it was a bad omen and not the sitra achra?]
Technical discussion of Yfat Toar (war concubine?) – including milchemet mitzvah (required war) vs. rshut (permitted), geirut (convert) , hutrah vs. dchuya (undone vs. set aside).
Analysis of mitzvah of “vinishmartem mikol davar ra” in the context of lashon hara.
1. written in first person – prayer for success
2. asks to go to Yerushalayim
3. build walls, everyone does their part
4. Set up defense (work & defend)
L’david hashem – history – no real early sources – Some interesting Chassidic intrigue.
Good quick summary introduction to shulchan aruch and choshen mishpat. Shouldn’t learn S”A without tur and bet yosef. Discussion of how dayanim function without a real smicha (and in what cases they have authority). [me – the whole issue of trans-generational authorization {shlichitayhu} is interesting, much like minhag avoteinu – how is an earlier generation authorized to bind a later one???]
Yaakov Avinu and the pachim ktanim (small vessels) that he went back for – complete honesty and appreciation of resources granted us is hallmark of our approach.
Tshuva (repentance) as seen by the Rambam, Rabbeinu Yonah and the Maharil. R’YBS on acquittal vs. purification as well as the need for repentance from a culture of sin in addition to individual sin.
3 Voices of Tshuva in slichot
1. 13 attributes – HKB”H taught this prayer – it’s almost vicarious repentance.
2. Psychological/existential – deeper recognition of sin and need to change
3. Historical suffering
Sefer Hamitzvot of Rambam was introduction to Yad Hachazaka. It was severed by printers but must learn both together to understand both. Discussion here includes smicha & yiddush hachodesh. Note: Organizing principle of sefer is not clear (me – wow – the Rambam???).
Focus on whether paired mitzvot are able to inhibit each other.
Biblical models of repentance including Adam, Kayin, Yonah, David… Interesting thought on “Kol haoemer David Chatah eino elah toeh” (anyone who says David sinned is in error) as meaning don’t focus on his sin, focus on his repentance (me – not pshat, but then again IIRC the statement is a single individual’s opinion).
Detailed discussion on slichot, including R’YBS on the nature of slichot as reflected in the priority given to the leader to lead all the other prayers of the day. Mikveh in the AM discussed as well. Not sleeping on Rosh Hashana (money quote – “it’s not the worst thing”). Discussion of Brit Mila on Rosh Hashana as well as eating before tkiot.
Case where R’Yosef Karo paskined against the heavenly being he learned with (GRA refused to learn with heavenly being). [me – so if he went with “rational” why did he learn with the being in the first place?]
Yom Kippur has element of joy – we set our souls to sing by retreating from the physical world and having the quintessential Shabbat experience.
Celebration of our relationship with HKB”H through oral torah given with second luchot on Yom Kippur. [A lchatchila bdeieved? (i.e. we would’ve been better off without oral law but what can you do?)]
Insights on halachic do’s and don’ts in a beit knesset vs. beit medrash and the hashkafic implications of a beit medrash being a bei rabannan (house of Rabbi’s?).
R’E Wasserman on whether Tshuva is midat hadin (justice) or rarhamim (mercy). R’ Kahn says since HKB”H created frail man, then it’s din (justice) that he must allow tshuva (repentance = mercy) to work.
When do you have to listen to your parents? (note: sometimes even if it’s not the mitzvah of Kavod Av V’eim it may be the flip side of the prohibition of not being stupid).
Cases discussed:
Black hat
Aliyah (to Eretz Yisrael – not Teaneck)
Marriage
Question: Why did the Maharik need three reasons to explain why marriage was not covered?
Fulfilling HKB”H’s will is kavod and vice versa. It’s in a way more kaved if initially didn’t listen then did later. This is part of message of “what will the non-baalei Brit say “ in the ultimate redemption. Some Kabbala as well (BTW, I missed Madonna's singing lcha dodi!)
Shem M’shmuel – Yfat toar, ben ahuva and ben sorer teaches the importance of getting off to a good start.
