Statement of Purpose
This blog is a forum for my thoughts on Torah and other contemporary issues. I will try to keep the ranting to those subjects and not veer off to random annoyances or silliness. Comments are welcome but will not necessarily be answered because I have no need to always get the last word. I will sometimes simply let readers decide who has the better argument or whether a question is just plain stupid.
Who am I?
I am glad you asked.I am going by the name Simcha here but this identity is pseudonymous and very thinly veiled. There will be many hints on this blog as to my true identity but I ask that it remain unarticulated. If you think you know me, e-mail me.
Important Update about who I am.
UPDATE: Gil Student is my real name. Student is, in fact, a real last name.
I am an Orthodox rabbi without portfolio. In other words, I am technically a rabbi but I've sold out to the big-bucks world of finance and do little teaching and no paskening (anything I say about halakhah should be confirmed by your rabbi before being put into practice). I am Yeshiva University-trained but I'm not "one of those" (you know, those on the cutting-edge left). I live in a moderate Haredi neighborhood, attend Haredi synagogues, send my children to moderate Haredi schools but still maintain professional and friendly relations with the Modern Orthodox world.
Transliteration
Hebrew is a difficult language to render into English and the varying schemes of pronunciation make this task even more difficult. I personally speak in a mild form of Ashkenic pronunciation but will be going back-and-forth between different transliteration schemes in an entirely inconsistent manner. Don't bother complaining about it because I don't really care. If something is difficult to understand then ask and I will gladly explain. Otherwise, just grin and bear it. Thank you for understanding.
This blog is a forum for my thoughts on Torah and other contemporary issues. I will try to keep the ranting to those subjects and not veer off to random annoyances or silliness. Comments are welcome but will not necessarily be answered because I have no need to always get the last word. I will sometimes simply let readers decide who has the better argument or whether a question is just plain stupid.
Who am I?
I am glad you asked.
Important Update about who I am.
UPDATE: Gil Student is my real name. Student is, in fact, a real last name.
I am an Orthodox rabbi without portfolio. In other words, I am technically a rabbi but I've sold out to the big-bucks world of finance and do little teaching and no paskening (anything I say about halakhah should be confirmed by your rabbi before being put into practice). I am Yeshiva University-trained but I'm not "one of those" (you know, those on the cutting-edge left). I live in a moderate Haredi neighborhood, attend Haredi synagogues, send my children to moderate Haredi schools but still maintain professional and friendly relations with the Modern Orthodox world.
Transliteration
Hebrew is a difficult language to render into English and the varying schemes of pronunciation make this task even more difficult. I personally speak in a mild form of Ashkenic pronunciation but will be going back-and-forth between different transliteration schemes in an entirely inconsistent manner. Don't bother complaining about it because I don't really care. If something is difficult to understand then ask and I will gladly explain. Otherwise, just grin and bear it. Thank you for understanding.
1:36 PM
Gil Student