9:28 PM
Gil Student
by Joel Rich
Yes- I do appreciate posters who can identify song references!
Last week R’Gil wrote a post on halacha anthology books – Discuss:
1) Resolved: Authors of halachic anthology books will write in such a away as to favor type I errors (reader won’t understand and do something permitted) vs. type II errors (reader won’t understand and do something forbidden). Result – convergence to stricter positions.
2) Resolved: Without accessing Rabbis with clarifying questions, readers will tend to assume ceteris paribus (all other things equal) when using such books in more complex situations – and they never are equal?
3) Resolved: Anthological halachic works for laymen without mediation by a counselor may encourage focus on less important points of law at the expense of higher priorities (e.g. imho – hat tip phineas – worry about looking at fingernails and palms in proper order during havdalah versus actually benefitting from the light).
4) Question: What underlying need is being met by these books and how might the need be better addressed?
Beginning of a series of giving tochacha (rebuke?). Starts with sources throughout Tanach. General approach here – it’s not judging the person but what to do with your feelings about his sin – get over it/get it out. So once you do it and the person doesn’t listen – can you hate? Can you just go to forgiveness (get over it) without the middle step of rebuke?
Rules of simanim (identifying marks) within object and location for purposes of needing to announce you found something and/or for returning a lost object.
Who is a talmid chochom for purposes of claiming lost object without identifying mark.
When can you assume owner gave up hope? When can you assume he gave up hope immediately? (Something heavy, maybe money?, baby bottle and other things you check for.)
Must you pick something up and keep it if you can’t assume owner gave up hope rather than just leave it? Do you have to leave it on the shelf or can you use it? Lots of opinions on these issues.
Interesting insight – why comparatively so little study of Nach? Because non bnai brit started studying in detail?
Chazal’s formulation of 1/3 Torah, 1/3 Mishnoh, 1/3 Talmud seems ignored as a formula for study time allocation. Why?
1) It was really a formula for equivalent results and thus need to spend more time studying Talmud, which is harder.
2) Rambam – that’s for beginning, but once have solid basis, more time to Talmud.
3) Rabbeinu Tam – “Talmud” Bavli is a good mixture of all (or perhaps allows you to focus where you want).
Very good summary of the issue of grape juice – is it considered wine for purposes of brachot, Kiddush, 4 cups, simchat yom tov….
Question: What percentage of grape juice whose fermentation was stopped by heating (vs. sorbates) would eventually ferment if left uncovered (and thus subject to airborne yeasts)?
Continuing the discussion on what a good Jew believes (answer – it’s complex!).
Chazon Ish thought (except according to revisionists today) that bitachon doesn’t mean HKB”H will come through for me and give me what I want/pray for, etc., but rather HKB”H will do what he thinks best (or how he set the world to operate).
Rabbeinu Yonah says it’s the “good” result if you take world to come into account as well.
Novardak [(R’AB states this is Desslerian – I’m not convinced that this is compelled)] hold if you believe enough you’ll get what you asked for. [me – I’m with the CI on this one – you can’t always get what you want…you might just get what you need]
(Hebrew) Neirot Shabbat for oneg or kavod or shalom bayit. Based on this, is it related to the meal or not?
Comparison to Chanukah candles.
R’AW tears into those who are concerned about lighting Shabbat candles when electric lights are on.
Everything you wanted to know about tzitzit.
Interesting combination of shitot that require us to wear now (it’s not universal!). Another (in addition to the one about not reinstituting daily birchat Kohanim, due to fire in his shul when he wanted to do it) GRA story where maaseh shehayah (actual fact) changed practice [he had asked tzitzit not be pasuled at burial].
Very interesting tcheilet history 1) R’Herzog kept Radzhiner method alive; 2) Tcheilet disappeared at time of gaonim – why? Knots issues.
Written (by a student) vs. oral (family story) tradition as to the Beis Haleivis position on tcheilet (written – it would be ok if could explain why lost [e.g. royal decree against use]; oral – can’t restart mesorah). Leads into great discussion of “need” for mesorah (e.g. birds and beef kashrut)
Introduction to a series on Iyov. Why doesn’t Tanach give timeline – perhaps because story is timeless?
Continues with line by line analysis.
Another excellent halacha l’maaseh summary shiur.
Whose mitzvah is it? (father, child, bet din….) Lots of implications of basic question – is the mitzvah to do the act of mila or to be mahul (circumcised)?
Use of anesthesia (local vs. general), best time (brov am [large gathering] vs. zrizin [soon]) who can do? When doesn’t it push Shabbat aside?
What was given at Sinai – multiple truths (eilu v’eilu) or are these later divergences.
Lots of interesting 20th century American Jewish history. Bottom line – R’H Schachter’s using yehareg v’al gavor when discussing women “Rabbis” (Rabbah’s?) was much like R’YBS on mechitza – it means it’s worth going to the baracades for.
R’ARR feels women can do just about everything but can’t be called Rabbi because that implies all rabbinic functions and there are some women can’t do.
Tzitzit – what is needed (spinning, untangling) in making tzitzit and can machine be used (similar to machine matzah issue?) Talmudic source – water wheel triggered by a person’s actions – when do we ascribe result to that person as well.
2nd in Horiyot series. Covers a number of issues including defining shogeg and ones; differentiating between Horaah and Laasot (judgment to act upon) and toleh al daat beit din (relying on psak of beit din).
History series – here focused RSR Hirsch and TIDE. Notes Chasam Sofer was true innovator due to changing times.
Talmud gives two reasons why honey is kosher: 1) it’s not a bee’s bodily excretion or 2) gzeirat hakatuv. Discussion of Royal honey (me – look for the OU label).
The 4 Tops pasken like reason 2.
