7:55 AM
Gil Student
by Joel Rich
Term Paper Outline due: A pulpit Rabbi has realized that yitro was right (navol tivol) and has asked to meet with the community leadership.
I. Please prepare a list of the various rabbinical responsibilities and the % of time that should be spent on each.
1. from the viewpoint of the Rabbi’s aspirational vision
2. from the viewpoint of the community leadership’s aspiration vision
II. Which responsibilities that cannot be completely dealt with by the Rabbi can be outsourced to an assistant?
1. are there any statuses that would cause an individual to automatically be eliminated from an assistant search? (e.g. Cohain)
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Do any shuls have a vision statement that they use in allocating scarce resources (e.g. Rabbi's time, communal funds); how about "job descriptions" to guide time allocations? (please email me at audioroundup613@comcast.net)
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Title for my next IY"H tikkun leil shavuot - "Yehei Shmei Raaba" - Kaddish -its origins, its being said by women, and may her name be Rabbah?
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I’m sure we owe R’Julius Berman a tremendous hakarat hatov for all his efforts (pro bono I would strongly guess) on behalf of the klal over many years, and I know I owe him that for having R’Rosensweig give shiur at his firm, but I especially owe him one for his ode here to R’YBS and trying to ensure his torah is passed on to a new generation. So much so, that I forgive him for the inadvertent dagger to my heart when he spoke of the many in the room who were too young to have attended the yahrtzeit shiurim (the dagger to those who are old enough to have attended but were too busy listening to the call of the night bird to listen to the little songbird).
Short must listen – R’Wieder articulates far better than I, my lecture (boys or JP – What #?) on our most precious resource – time. Includes time allocation (dynamic balance) and recognition of echad hamarbeh (I’m OK, you’re ok, as long as our intent is proper – my haarah – don’t only trust yourself on the intent thing). Only commit to what you can deliver, project plan so you can deliver and triage when needed!
Don’t come late – it’s a chilul hashem (my haarah – it’s discourteous – do you really thing your time is more valuable than those who are waiting for you).
Tips – keep a time log (my haarah – always have a shiur you can listen to or study while you wait).
Serarah (authority?) and gender roles would be enough but “real” reason is transmission of an unchanged mesorah. But don’t we see changes (e.g. Volochin Yeshiva, Beir Yaakov?) Yes, but those are only to restore and clearly for heavenly purposes with a shikul hadaat (judgment). [ahhh! Now I understand]
To give women a heter horaah (whatever you want to call it) would be too radical. Me – At this point I think it’s clear the “debate” is who gets to make the call, unless I’m missing something, why do we all need to keep repeating the same thing. (It’s like when you’re trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your language and you start speaking louder and slower and expect that will make him understand!)
A detailed discussion of Chalav Yisrael starting with the Talmud and ending with current responsa. Particularly interesting discussion of the nature of rabbinic ordinances and their flexibility (or lack thereof) with changing times. Includes Davar Shebiminyan, scope (who and where) of original ordinance and do we really know reasons.
Issue of mirsas (fear of discovery) is key. Interesting chatam sofer that since clal Yisrael “accepted” this, it’s stronger requirement (can’t help but wonder if this is was a meta issue for cs). Chazon Ish wrote government enforcement is sufficient (but some deny he meant that) much like R’MF (it’s not a new category – it’s “chalav Yisrael”)
Baal Nefesh – who qualifies?? And why should you need to avoid?? [I have my theories but…]
Sitting still is the most dangerous position/situation – examples of “sitting” in tanach and medrash (my favorite – Bikesh Yaakov Leisheiv b’shalva – or as my grandmother Z”L used to say – “There’ll be plenty of time to rest in the grave!) Pesach seder is infusing even physical “sitting” with purpose and meaning [and you all thought I was ADHD!]
Two understandings of the importance of davening with a minyan – is it “icing on the cake” or a rabbinical requirement and some implications.
R’Aryeh – note the language of the shulchan aruch “yishtadel” is the same as the Rambam in hilchot tshuva (7:1). Then see Noraot Harav on tshuva P.31 on the meaning of yishtadel, = requires extra effort to overcome (it’s not muchrach but I’m going to use it!)
Beginning of a series on the book of Amos (no Andy). Here an introduction including his lineage and timing and meaning of his prophecy (dark). Discussion of did his background prepare him for prophecy?
First in to a series on shir hashirim. Here an explanation of why the explicit love relationship is the only analogy (or is it metaphor?) that would describe our aspirational relationship with HKB”H.
Discussion of the halachic sources related to end-of-life and how they inform on brain death. The evolution of psak and impact of law of the State of Israel.
Discussion of the position of the Rambam as to what was given at Sinai vs. what was “man made”. Different possible understanding of Rambam on making of law vs. application. Clearly text can only transmit a finite number of applications and will be times and places where it won’t be determinative - Man will need to make the application so maybe text is like constitution and codes are time bound application.
Discussion of personal indicators of a future in Chinuch, difficulties of preaching a non-materialistic lifestyle to the sons of the five towns. Don’t let your career take over your life.
My summary – try not to so full of yourself (me – it’s unlikely you’re really that, that, that special). R’Jesse – good try but I think R’Don McLean got it right. “They would not listen, they’re not listening still, perhaps they never will”
Many topics covered in prior years’ – seder timing, grape juice, size of matzah, carpas, what do brachot cover, interruptions, old hagaddahs received in mail, when is an oat not an oat, machine matzah.
Advanced seminar – detailed discussion of the duraita and drabbannan underpinning and the manifold implications (hard to believe how many different theories and implications). Is concern sexual relations or just touching adoption, # of men, # of women, psychology, deterrents….
One thing is clear. Do not jump off a ski lift to avoid yichud (trick statement IIRC R’Willig holds skiing is prohibited!)
Discussion of how time and place and local conditions impact psak – Ex’s from R’Moshe, the Jewish Press and the four corners (of the world, not of Dean Smith and Phil Ford)
R.D. T. Hoffman (mlamed l’hoel) – anti reform yet reflected local time and conditions in tshuvot (e.g. school on Shabbat, sfira in North, Yom tov sheni and how to relate to Kohanim doctors who were purposefully metameh themselves and sabbath violators in general.
Hebrew mussar related to chametz in the beit hamikdash, pesach and in our lives.
Pshat vs. Drash explanations with a detailed example.
Eat milk then meat – cleaning mouth? Need to wait? Practices on Shavuot when minhag is to eat dairy? Does chicken count as meat for Yom Tov purposes?
R’Kook’s view of the seder and foods representing redemption and elevating oneself
