tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385616632024-03-14T02:15:33.653-04:00Rabbi Pinky SchmeckelsteinWords Of Torah Dripping With Sarcasm and CondescensionRabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.comBlogger618125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-51289983238217282412023-07-17T10:36:00.004-04:002023-07-17T12:31:26.179-04:00On Hillel and Shammai<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;">Rabboisai,</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">I am srry if there are a few misspellngs in this week’s Drasha. I have been busy the last few days paying… ummm… friendly visits to the local Arab villages in the Shoimroin, engaging in… errr… diplomatic outreach to our neighbors and engaging in pro bono remodeling of houses, interior design, auto work, and ummm… medical activities. I have also been engaged in…. errr… editorial work, ripping the pages from Islamic holy books. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">I feel very comfortable doing these activities, as I am following the playbook of the Ukrainian heroes who committed a Pogrom on my grandparents’ Shtetyl in 1902. Those guys really knew how to scare the… ummm… Gedoilim out of people.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">I thank the Reboinoisheoilum that the Israeli governing coalition includes Proud Boys…. err… Proud Jews willing to bravely stand up for Israel and its citizens by attacking the homes and cars of random civilians. What a Kiddush HaShem!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We are now subject to the outcry of the self hating left and the hypocritical Americans, as well as the anti-Semitic leftist Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who ordered the Administrative Detention of a few “sweet boys” from the settlements. Administrative Detention — being held without charges -- is a British Mandatory form of temporary imprisonment used against so-called-Palestinians, not against the citizens of the State of Israel! What do they think: That we are Jews in Eastern Europe? That we are Indians under British rule? That we are the residents of the planet Tatooine living under the rule of the Galactic Empire?</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Throughout Jewish history Jews have celebrated acts of violence. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Every year we recall Shimon and Levy committing a massacre in Shchem. All of Klal Yisroel celebrate the drowning of the Mitzrim in the Yam Suf — while getting inebriated and spilling Kneidlach on your Tashmish Hamitah-ing brother-in-law who won’t stop asking Klutzkashes all night while you are desperate to get on with the meal after smoking some Bsomim while everyone else was busy singing every. single. verse. of Dayenu.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">What are we commanded to do to Amalek — Timcheh Ess Zaycher Amalek or Timcheh Ess Zecher Amalek? Which one is it? Yushka Pandra! We want to kill Amalek so badly we say it in twice - just in case the Reboinoisheloilum is not as smart as we think He is.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">And then, of course, we have the conquest of Eretz Yisroel. We are commanded to commit extensive acts of violence against Cana’an and the various nations. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Why did Shaul lose the Meluchah - the monarchy of Israel? Because he was not brutal enough. What activity spread the fame of David HaMelech prior to his becoming King of the United Kingdom? How was the future leader of the United Monarchy celebrated by Klal Yisroel? As a man of Hakadoishboruchhu? As David Ben Yishai, Avedecha Meshichechah, the present and future Messiah? As a spectacular musician trending on Spotify? No! He was celebrated for being a man of violence:</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“VaTa’anena HaNashim HaMesachaKois VaToimarna, ‘HeeKah Sha’ul Ba’Alaphuv, V’Duvid B’Rivoisuv’.” (Shmuel Aleph, Perek Yud Chess, Pasook Zayin)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“The women danced and sang, chanting ‘Shaul kills by the thousands, and David kills by the tens of thousands’.” (Samuel 1, Chapter 18, Verse 7)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">We are a people who sing about violence and the spilling of blood! Three thousand years ago the predecessors of our grandmothers were cheering on the brutality of King David by handing out pastries to hungry villagers, passing out candies to little children, and taking out their false teeth and providing “in-kind” services to soldiers returning from war and to needy town elders. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">And yet… I am embarrassed to admit that there are many self-hating Jews who oppose using force, whose defeatism has left us in a fragile state. They have forgotten what it means to be a Jew!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Take Avraham Avinu for example. The Aibishter sends messengers to tell him that He plans to destroy Sodom and kill all the Sodomites. And what does Avraham do? Does he volunteer to go and kill Sodomites himself? Does he offer to level the homes of the Sodomites and in their place bring in caravans, automatic weapons, electricity, and a Mikvah? Does he start marching with billboards that say, “A Good Sodomite is a Dead Sodomite”? No! Avraham Avinu negotiates with the Reboinoisheloilum to spare their lives. What the Tashmish HaMitah?!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“VaYoimer Hakadoishboruchhu, Za’akas Sdoim V’Amoirah Kee Rubbuh Ve’Chatoisum Kee Chuvhuh Me’oid.” (Beraishis Perek Yud Chess, Pasook Chuff) “VaYigash Avraham VaYoimar, Ha’af Tispeh Tzadick Im Rasha?” (Pasook Chuff Gimmul)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Ooly Yaish Chamishim Tzadikim BeSoich Ha’Ir…” (Pasook Chuff Daled “…Ooly Yimtza’un Shuhm Arba’im…” (Pasook Chuff Tess) “…Ooly Yimtza’un Shuhm Shloishim…” (Pasook Lammid) “…Ooly Yimtza’un Shuhm Essrim…” (Pasook Lammid Aliph) “…Ooly Yimtza’un Shuhm Esser’…” (Pasook Lammid Beiz)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Shocking, I know. For you AmHaratzim, here it is in English:</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“And the Reboinoisheloilum said, ‘the outburst of Sedoim and Amoirah is soi… errr… so great, and their sins are very severe’.” (Genesis Chapter 18, Verse 20) “And Avraham came forward and asked, ‘will you destroy the righteous along with the evildoers?’” (Verse 23)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Perhaps there are fifty righteous people within the city.” (Chapter 18, Verse 24) “…perhaps there are forty…” (Verse 29) “…perhaps there are thirty…” (Verse 30) “…perhaps there are twenty…” (Verse 31) “…perhaps there are ten…” (Verse 32)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Oh my Hakadoishboruchhu! Did Avraham Avinu lose his mind? Does he not know what it means to be a self respecting Jew? Was he smoking too much hookah in the cool desert evenings?</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">CHAZAL of course address this very question. A beautiful Gemara in Tainiss tells of a Machloikess on the topic of Avraham Avinu’s motive in negotiating to prevent the destruction of Sodom. According to Rish Lakish, Avraham was a self-hating leftist and a traitor to his nation. Asks Rish Lakish, “You issued a message about saving Sodomites? Who do you think you are? The Wagner Group?”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">But Rav Yoichanan disagrees. He suggests that Avraham Avinu tried to save Sodom because he owned a large apartment there that he frequently visited, accompanied by his Man-Servant. As proof he notes that Avraham frequently insists that Damesek Eliezer put his hand “under my thigh”, and cites a Medrish that says that Eliezer began his career as an exotic dancer at a club in Sodom under the stage name “Domestic Eliezer” before Avraham won him at an auction, and they were inseparable ever after.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The Gemara also cites an unnamed Mahn D’Umar who suggests that Avraham was sincere in trying to prevent bloodshed. But as not to embarrass the self hating Amoira who made that idiotic and naive suggestion, the Gemara kept him anonymous. (I personally think that the Amoira should have been named, and that he and his family should have been sent death threats. But Ravina and Rav Ashi, the editors of the Talmud, clearly were also leftists.)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Yankif Avinu is another one of our so-called “forefathers” who was a leftist and a self hating Jew. In the incident with Shchem, it was Shmoin and Levy who were Proud Jews, while Yankif himself opposed the violence. He tells his sons, “Achartem Oisee L’Havishaynee B’Yoisaiv Ha’aretz, BeCana’ani U’VaPreezee, V’Ani M’say Mispar V’Ne’esfu A’laiy V’Heekoonee V’Nishmadtee Ani OoVaysee”. (Beraishis, Perak Lamed Daled, Pasook Lamed) “You have made trouble for me and made me hated among the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzi; and I am few in number, and they will unite against me and attack me, and I and my household will be destroyed.” (Genesis, Chapter 34, Verse 30)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Who the Gehennim does Yankif Avinu think he is? Benny Gantz or Ahmed Tibi? Just because Yankif is the father of the twelve Shvatim, the twelve tribes, and is the person who the nation of Israel is named for, that does not give him the right to express his defeatist, left-wing opinion. Concessions to Shchem one day will lead to concessions in Be’er Sheva the next day, and who knows where else. Lakewood could be next!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Is Yankif Avinu really worried about the destruction of his family? Does he not believe that the Aibishter will protect him? Does he not have Bitachoin? (Note: That means “faith”, not ‘Bitcoin”.) Yankif Avinu is clearly a card carrying atheist in addition to being a leftist.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">But the worst is Moishe Rabbeinu. Seriously, I do not know why the Reboinoisheloilum chose such a Nebach to lead Klal Yisroel. I mean, sure, he got off to a good start by killing that Mitzri, but it went downhill from there. How many times does he plead with Hakadoishboruchhu for the lives of Klal Yisroel? After the Cheyt HaEigel, after the Cheyt HaMeraglim, Ich Vais how many more times... I say, “They sinned? Let ‘em die!”</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">By the way, I’m surprised that the Aibishter could even understand him through that horrible speech defect.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">But can you imagine, standing before Klal Yisroel on the cusp of entering Eretz Yisroel, and he commands Klal Yisroel to seek peace? “Kee Sikrav El Ir Le’Hilachaym Alehah Vakarasa Aylehah LeShaloim.” (Devarim, Perek Chuff, Pasook Yud) “When you approach a city to attack it, you shall offer it terms of peace.” (Deuteronomy, Chapter 20, Verse 10) Of course, this did not apply to the Seven Nations. But still - Peace?!?!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">It’s no wonder that Moishe Rabbeinu was not allowed to enter into Eretz Yisroel. He would have pursued a policy of national suicide.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Sadly, there were others. There’s a good reason why we skipped over NACH in Yeshiva. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">David HaMelech, when he wasn’t killing Phillistines, was fighting alongside them. Shloimoi HaMelech made peace with many surrounding nations, and even gave away territory to another nation, though in his case he was not a self-hating leftist, Chass V’Sholom, but a pervert who aspired to add the daughter of every head of state he met to his harem. Meileh, some people collect stamps…</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">And do not get me started on this so-called Yeshayahu HaNavi. This self hating left wing pacifist causes us so much aggravation to this day. Wolf lying with the lamb? Are they kidding? The next thing they’re going to say is that there are more than two genders!</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Shoyn.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Klal Yisrael has forgotten what it is to be Proud Jews. Do you know who I blame? The Reboinoisheloilam Himself. He dictated the Toirah to Moishe Rabbeinu on Sinai, and not a letter was added or taken away according to Rabbi Akiva. So why exactly did He write: </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“VeGair Loi Sichatz V’Atem Yedatem Es Nefesh HaGair, Kee Gairim Heyeesem B’Eretz Mitrayim.” (Shmois, Perek Chuff Gimmul, Pasook Tess)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">“Do not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul of the stranger, for you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus, Chapter 23, Verse 9)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Rabboisai, this one Pasook is bad enough. But the Aibishter does not stop there. There are multiple similar Psukim in Shmois, Vayikra, and Devarim! And there are similar references elsewhere in TANACH. What the Tashmish HaMitah is Hakadoishboruchhu’s problem? I only wish that He loved Klal Yisroel as much as He loves “the stranger”; maybe He would persecute us a bit less.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">——</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Rabboisai, how did Klal Yisroel get so many self-hating leftists? OK, some may have been inspired by self-haters like Avraham, Yankif and others, and took them seriously. Some may have read the Reboinoisheloilum’s leftist propaganda and taken it literally. </p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">But we are surrounded by enemies. We are targeted by enemies. If they commit terror, should we not do the same?</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">There is a famous quote in the Gemara, “Leoilum Yehei Adam Anvatan KeHillel, V’Al Yehei Kapdan KeShammai”, “A person should always be moderate/ modest/ patient (עַנְוְותָן) like Hillel and not impulsive/ short-tempered/ impatient (קַפְּדָן) like Shammai.” (Shabbos, Daf Lamed Amud Baiz, Shabbat, Page 30, Side B)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">I would suggest that our left wing self haters hold like Hillel, who also famously described the essence of Kol HaToirah, all the Toirah, as distilled while standing on one foot, “That which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is commentary. Go study.” (Shabbos, Daf Lamed Aleph Amud Alepg, Shabbat, Page 31, Side A)</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">I imagine that our left wing self haters would suggest that Israel, as the sovereign entity, is entitled to engage in State mandated military and police operations, but is also responsible that such actions be mandated by the elected authorities, not random Israeli actors. Even in the early days of the fragile State of Israel, the retaliatory strikes led by Arik Sharon and many others were ultimately acts of the State, not random actors.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Perhaps our left wing self haters will suggest that Israel and the Palestinians are fated to live side by side - wherever the border is and whoever is in control. Perhaps our left wing self haters might also suggest that our ancestors were persecuted through random acts of violence, so in our own State we want to reflect the values that we aspire to.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Perhaps our left wing self haters will quote Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein, the co-leader of Yeshivat Har Etzion, as describing the recent events as “acts of revenge by lost and misbegotten souls” that are “a moral stain that taints us all”. </span><a href="http://%28https//www.timesofisrael.com/head-of-prestigious-yeshiva-settler-violence-a-moral-stain-contravenes-torah/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">(https://www.timesofisrael.com/head-of-prestigious-yeshiva-settler-violence-a-moral-stain-contravenes-torah/)</a></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">But, unlike these left wing self haters, I do not hold like Hillel. I hold like Shammai who famously said, “Whoever stands by a just cause cannot possibly be called a terrorist”.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">No, wait. That wasn’t Shammai. That was Arafat.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Never mind.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Ah Gutten Shabbos You Minuval</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">---------</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"></p><div style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px;"><hr style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background: var(--color-detail-themed); border: 0px; height: 1px; margin: var(--size-32) 0; padding: 0px;" /></div><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Rosheshiva</strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">----</strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span face="Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji, Segoe UI Symbol" style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">https://substack.com/@rabbipinkyschmeckelstein</span></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">http://rabbi-pinky.blogspot.com/</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">RabbiPinky@Gmail.Com</p>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-59450677159860464302023-06-28T10:48:00.002-04:002023-06-28T11:44:45.589-04:00On Revisiting Our Assumptions<p><span color="var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary))" face="Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></p><p><span color="var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary))" face="Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 19px;">Rabboisai</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the history of Klal Yisroel, all of our national heroes were complex. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I know, I know… that is not what you were taught in Yeshiva. You were taught that Avraham Avinu was a pure Tzadik, as were his son Yitzchak Avinu and his grandson Yankif Avinu. Avraham invented monotheism, circumcision, and the incandescent lightbulb. Yitzchak was so holy he never left Eretz Yisroel, though he did once take Rivkah Imeinu on a long weekend to Cyprus for their tenth anniversary, along with a hot Shifchah, two pairs of Tefillin and a Gartel. Yankif fathered twelve sons, Kenainah Harrah, and only one daughter, Baruch Hashem, which is exactly why they named a network of girls’ Yeshivois after him. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moishe Rabbeinu was a Groisse Anav, a very modest person, who spoke with a speech impediment and was married to a woman who looked like Lizzo wearing a Shpitzyl. Aroin HaKoihain fathered the entire Kehuna, the traditional priestly class, who till this day insist on having their hands washed by others before getting up in the front of the Shul and casting spells like Harry Potter, Hermione Ginsberg, Ron Weaselstein and Rosheshiva Dumbledore. (“Avadah Kedavrah V’Yishmarechah!”) </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Miriam HaNeviya was such an inspiring figure that more than a millennium later the Reboinoisheloilum dated someone named after her. And together they had a son...</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Duvid HaMelech was the founder of the royal dynasty that held the monarchy of Yehuda, Judah, throughout the First Temple period, whose name we invoke as we pray for the arrival of the Moshiach, a central pillar of Jewish consciousness and culture for two millennia. How many times does his name appear in Davening every single day? Between the Shmoineh Esrei and various Tehillim, recitation of the name “Duvid” permeates the Davening. And how about the licensing and the merchandise? And don’t forget the naming rights. Can you imagine what kind of royalties his estate gets?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">His son Shlomoi HaMelech was uniquely wise and successful. Brilliant. With his renowned wisdom he even invented an innovative non-invasive method of birth control - the Retroactive Abortion: Take a live baby and cut it in half using an AR-15. Ad HaYoim HaZeh, until this day, this remains the one form of abortion that the Republicans approve of and even encourage.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They were all picture-perfect role models.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Unless, of course, you actually bother to read the Toirah when you are sober, you Menuval! Then you discover that the reality is Nisht Azoy Pashut, it is not so simple. The truth can be jarring and uncomfortable. It is very much like the time you found out that your sweet, very Frum mother who always wears a big Shaytel once had a serious boyfriend whom she almost married instead of your father because he was better at finding her Gimmel-Spot.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When we really read about the Avois, Moishe, Aroin and Miriam, and Duvid and Shloimo, and examine the text with open eyes, we discover that these heroes were far from perfect. The Toirah details, almost shouts, the flaws and errors of the individual heroes, even as it tells us an idealized national narrative. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Avraham of course was the founding figure of Klal Yisrael. He also prostituted his wife with two political leaders and attempted to slaughter his own son. Hey, it may make for a great metaphor on Rosh Hashana, but if anyone in your family starts talking about hearing God’s voice telling them to slaughter their child… you had better call the police right away and try to have the individual committed to Ted Kaczynski’s psychiatric institution; I hear there is an opening.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yitzchak is the most amorphous, least three dimensional major character in all of the Toirah. He is largely a reactive figure whom some Apikursim would go so far as to suggest was invented to serve as a bridge between Avraham, who is presented as the “patron saint” of the territories in the South, AKA Mamlechess Yehuda, the Southern Kingdom, and Yankif-Yisroel/ Yosaiph HaTzadick/ Menashe & Efrayim, who are the foundational figures of the Northern Kingdom, AKA Mamlechess Yisrael. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So what did Yitzchak accomplish? According to the Toirah, he basically did three things: He consummated his marriage the moment Eliezer arrived with Rivkah to their camp. According to CHAZAL Rivka was 3 years old, so Yitzchak was either a pedophile or CHAZAL were into really disturbing deviant child pornography. (Yes, there is a De’ah, a position, that suggests that Yitzchak and Rivka became engaged when Rivka was 3 years old, but the marriage was only first consummated when she got her first NidahTzait. But that suggestion is in direct contrast with what is written in the Passook.) Like his father, Yitzchak also prostituted his own wife with a local leader. And Yitzchak, the Alter Kacker Fryer, is regarded as a sucker for all eternity because he was so easily made a patsy by his Mechutziff youngest son.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And that youngest son, Yankif Avinu… Honestly, I do not know where to begin. While the Toirah suggests that his name reflects his holding Eisav HaRasha’s ankle (EKV) as they were emerging from their mother’s Erva, it has been hypothesized that the name Ya’akov may have been the name used in early Israelite oral folklore to represent a figure who so blatantly behaves in an underhanded or backhanded (EKV) manner. Yankif cheats his brother out of his rights as a first born. Yankif blatantly lies to his blind father. Yankif also uses trickery to maximize his gains at the expense of his father-in-law Lavan. (Take my advice: Do not ever hold up Yankif Avinu to your kids as a positive example of Kabeid Ess Avicha V’Ess Imecha. It will not end well for your family.)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Does the Toirah deny these abuses? On the contrary - Yankif is punished Midah Kineged Midah, in like fashion, for his behavior. He fools his father by disguising himself as his older sibling. In turn, he is fooled by Leah who feigns being her younger sister in their wedding tent. And Yankif is fooled by the bloodied Coat of Many Colors into believing that his favorite son was killed and eaten by either wolves or Fressers at a local Thursday night Scotch and Cholent Party. As RASHI notes quoting the Medrish in Beraishis Rabbah, “Payback is a bitch”. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Toirah’s extreme ambivalence about Yankif’s behavior is reflected in his being renamed after wrestling with a ManAngelAibishter figure. From that day forth, instead of being known as Ya’akov, EKV, “underhanded”, he is now known as Yisroel, translated by the Toirah as “Hakadoishboruchhu Perseveres”. I would suggest that perhaps the name originally meant “Yashar El”, “The Reboinoisheloilum is Direct/ Honest”. Sure, it is basic rebranding. But it worked for the stock performances of Philip Morris, now Altrea, and Facebook, now Meta. As pointed out by the RAMBAN, early in His career Hakadoishboruchhu — who has an MBA from Harvard Business School — spent two decades working in advertising and product marketing and was a big believer in both qualitative and quantitative market research. So He knew what He was doing. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moishe Rabbeinu of course had anger management issues, which resulted in his not being allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael. Aron HaKoihain, the Minuval, never missed an opportunity to stab his brother in the back, be it in the Maiseh HaEygel, the episode of the Golden Calf, or in badmouthing Moishe Rabbeinu’s wife because she was a Cushite AKA African-Israelite AKA black. And of course, Miriam’s participation in that episode resulted in her getting Tzuhra’as, leprosy, being temporarily cast out of camp, and losing her sneaker deal with Nike, which RASHI describes as “‘Being Kanseled’ B’LA’AZ”.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Duvid HeMelech had a penchant for marrying women whose husbands died mysteriously, except for Bas Sheva’s husband, who was sent to battle with a one way map. Similarly, political rivals also died mysteriously, first and foremost Shaul HaMelech, for whom the Toirah provides a rock-solid alibi for Duvid, proving he was nowhere, nowhere(!) at all near the massacre of Shaul and Yoinasan, even though at that point he was allied with the Plishtim and the text tells us explicitly how Duvid kills the Amalaiki who was the sole witness to their deaths. Says the current Lubatcher Rebbe, Vladimir Putin is a direct descendant of Duvid HaMelech because Maiseh Avois Siman LaBanim - his “leadership style” is similar to Duvid’s, implying a familial relationship. Plus Duvid was known to manically isolate himself from Coivid Yud Tess and to rely heavily on the military support of the Craysee, the Playsee, and the Wagner Group.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shloimoi HaMalech has ten Perakim dedicated to his good deeds in Sefer Melachim, the Book of Kings (Kings 1). But I suggest you read Chapter 11, Perek Yud Aleph. After you read that, you may start looking for the nearest church or mosque to ask for an application. In the words of the TANACH itself:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Min HaGoyim Asher Amar Hakadoishborchhu El Bnei Yisrael Loi Savoi’oo BaHem, Va’Haim Lo I Yavoi’oo Bachem,mu Uchayn Yatoo Es Levavchem Acharei Eloheihem, Bahem Duvak Shloimoi Le’Ahava.” (Passook Baiz)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Vayehee Le’Ais Ziknas Shloimoi, Nashav Heetoo Ess Levavoi Acharei Eloihim Acheirim, V’Loi Hayah Levavoi Shaleim Im Hakadoishboruchhu Eloihav Kilvav Duvid Uhviv</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“VaYeilech Shloimoi Acharei Ashtoiress Eloihei Tzidoinim, Ve’Achareim Milkoim Shikutz Amoinim.” (Pesumkim Daled and Hay)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Uz Yivneh Shloimoi Bamah Le’Chemoish Shikutz Moi’av BaHar Asher Al Pnei Yerushalayim, VeLaMoilech Shikutz Bnei Amoin.” (Passook Zayin)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“VaYissssanaph Hakadoishboruchhu BiShloimoi, Kee Nutuh Levavoi Mei’Im Hakadoishboruchhu Elohei Yisrael. ..” (Passook Tess)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“From the nations of which the Reboinoisheloilum had said, ‘do not join them, and they should not join you lest they turn your heart to follow their deities’, such Shloimoi clung to and loved.” (Verse 2)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“And in Shloimoi’s old age, his wives turned his heart to follow other deities, and his heart was not fully dedicated to the Reboinoisheloilum as his father’s heart had been.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“And Shloimoi followed after Ashtoiress the deity of the Sidonites (Phoenicians), and after Milkom the abomination of the Amonites.” (Verses 4 + 5)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Then Shloimoi built an altar for Chemoish, the abomination of Moi’av, in the mountain facing Jerusalem, and to Moilech, the abomination of Amoin.” (Verse 7)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“And the Reboinoisheloilum was angry with Shloimoi because his heart turned away from the Reboinoisheloilum, the deity of Klal Yisrael…” ( Verse 9)</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Boom! Mike drop. I bet you did not spend too much time discussing this Perek when you were in Yeshiva. Looks like Shloimoi was about as loyal to the Reboinoisheloilum as Trump was to his many wives and Mike Pence. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We are of course not the first generation to ponder these questions. CHAZAL discussed them in the Gemara, and they were a frequent subject of interpretation. They were occasionally the subject of debate with the Sadducees, the Christians, the Karaites and Lubavitch, who would often use the Pashut Pshat, the simple interpretation, to debate the Pharisees/ the Rabbis. Consequently, CHAZAL de-emphasized Pashut Pshat as part of traditional Toirah study. There was a heavy emphasis placed on Drash. There were some, like Ibn Ezra, who preferred to engage with the text directly, but most studied the text through the interpretation of RASHI, which heavily leverages Medrish and frequently turns sophisticated adult text and concepts into an ArtScroll coloring book for developmentally delayed children. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the modern era, with the advent of the restoration of Hebrew as a colloquial language and advances in linguistics, archaeology, sociology and biblical scholarship, it is impossible to ignore the biblical details that have been patiently waiting for us. They are there in the text, and to ignore them is to declare that it is a beautiful day when it is raining outside, that blue is actually yellow even though it is obviously blue, or that Hunter Biden is innocent.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Based on the teachings of Saadia Goyn, we are meant to apply a rational approach to reviewing tradition, and if a claim does not stand up to reason, we need to reassess it. Why do you think that divorce lawyers are so busy?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What should we do when we discover that reality is complicated, that we have been indoctrinated with an idealized view of our national heroes, and that some of our early history has been presented in a glorified fashion? Should we reject our beliefs because our underlying assumptions are wrong? Or is it possible to replant our beliefs informed by our new fact base and yet still retain our basic values.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Or, to paraphrase Reb Yerachmiel Yoisaiph Yishayahu Jessup HaCoihain, can we handle the truth?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">—-</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am reminded of a beautiful Maiseh Shehoya. The MAHARAL and his wife were once woken up by the president of the MAHARAL’s Shul, the Young Israel of Prague, banging on the door in the middle of the night. “Rabbi, rabbi!” The president shouted, “we heard that there is a pogrom coming in a few days. We need you to activate the Goilem!”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I will look into it tomorrow” the MAHARAL called back without opening the door, as he was only wearing boxer shorts, his Arba Kanfois, and a black Homburg.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When the president went away, Rebbetzin MAHARAL asked her husband, “Yehudalah, what was that man talking about?”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Nothing important” the MAHARAL replied. “I paid that 6 foot 8 Sheygitz from down the block a couple of dollars to chase away some Schnorrers, and now people think I have some sort of Frankenstein’s monster on the Shul payroll. Schmucks.”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“So why don’t you tell them the truth?” asked his wife.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Are you crazy? Ever since that Goilem rumor started, Schnorrers no longer ask me for money, Baalhabatim no longer criticize my Drashois, my Talmidim are afraid to fall asleep in Gemara class, and donations to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund are up 32 percent!”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rebbetzin MAHARAL scratched her head. “Nee, but what about the pogrom?”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Very simple” the MAHARAL responded. “One of three things will happen. Either the pogrom never comes, or the pogrom starts but we survive, in which case people will thank the magical Goilem that no one has ever seen. Or we will all die. After all, we are Jews, and this is Central Europe.”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Besides” the MAHARAL continued, “ever since the Goilem legend I have become famous. I am now a major influencer. I even have six million followers on TikTok!”</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">——</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rabboisai,</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Religion is Divinely inspired and fashioned by man. “Toirah Loi BaShamayim Hee”; as understood by the Talmud, stewardship of our tradition lies in the hands of humanity. If the Toirah was written to tell us that people are complex, let’s accept those lessons, not deny them. Let us not whitewash our history and be afraid to ask difficult questions and follow those answers wherever they may lead.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We can handle the truth.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our faith is based on our intellectual traditions, experiential customs, and cultural heritage. It is rich and complex and nuanced, and far more vibrant than any ArtScroll Mickey Mouse cartoonish portrayal of simplistic, one-dimensional caricatures of the leaders that the Toirah actually describes.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, the Midrash exaggerates. But Midrash is a mix of ancient legends and traditions combined with speculative and highly creative conjecture. Be we do not Paskin by a Medrish, you Mechutziff — we do not consider Midrash to be legally binding or to be of equal historical authority as the text of the Toirah itself.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We are similarly not trapped in relying exclusively on the opinions or suggestions of CHAZAL, be they Tanaim, Amoiraim, Rishoinim, Acharoinim, intense Chassidim or cold-as-a-dead-fish Litvaks. We are allowed to entertain other ideas, old and new, as the Toirah is a living tradition, not a relic that died at Auschwitz or in the mass execution pits of Europe.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is an infamous quote attributed to Charles Duell, the head of the US Patent Office, in 1898 “Whatever can be invented has been invented”. There are two problems with this quote. The first is that the statement is Tashmish HaMita-ing stupid. The second is that the quote is apocryphal and was never actually said. It is a form of circular logic designed to perpetuate a status quo and is disproven every single day. Kal V’Choimer, let us not be trapped in similar circular thinking, but be open to new understandings and new ideas even as we maintain our traditions and heritage, because “Toirah Loi BaShamayim Hee”. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">-----------</span></span></p><p><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></strong></p><div style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-size: 19px;"><div class="available-content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex;"><div class="body markup" dir="auto" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin-bottom: var(--size-16); width: 728px; word-break: break-word;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rosheshiva</span></strong></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">http://rabbi-pinky.blogspot.com/</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span color="var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary))" style="font-family: arial;">RabbiPinky@Gmail.Com</span></p></div></div></div>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-21158976510352679482023-06-15T10:40:00.000-04:002023-06-15T10:40:02.328-04:00On Choosing Klal Yisroel's Role Models<p> <b style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: xx-large;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">====================================================</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Words Of Torah Dripping With Sarcasm and Condescension</span></b></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">====================================================</span></p><p><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;">Blog: http://rabbi-pinky.blogspot.com/</span></b></p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1280" style="background-color: white;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1286" style="font-family: helvetica;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1285">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1287">====================================================</span><br /><b><br />THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</b><br /><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />====================================================</span></span><div class="ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1288" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto; font-size: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><br id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200894893_1711" /></div><div class="ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1288" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Toirah is very clear about how we should treat strangers. One representative Pasuk out of many: “VeAhavtem Essss HaGer, Kee Gerim Heyissssem B’Eretz Mitzrayim” (Devarim, Perek YUD, Pasum Yud Tesssss). “And you should love the stranger, because your were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy, Chapter 10, Verse 19). Such references appear throughout the TANACH. However, the Mitzvah of how to treat the stranger is best illustrated early in the Torah through the example of Avraham Avinu.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At the beginning of Parshas Vayeyra, Avraham Avinu, nursing his swollen Schvantzyl after being Yikunais into Brisoi Shel Himself, rushes to welcome the three strangers that show up at his doorstep. He does not play the sick card, “Saralah, can you do me a favor and give the Schnorrers at the door $18. And don’t forget to get a receipt for our taxes!” He does not outsource to Damesek Eliezer, “Hey, D.E., there are some Mormons or Seventh Day Adventists at the door. Can you please deal with them.” He does not screen them for their Frumkeit, “Before I let you in, do you hold by the Eruv?”, or their affiliation, “Are you Reform, Conservative, Zalie, Aroini, Bobov 45, Bobov 48, Gerrer, Mooncatcher, a Litvak, or, Chass V’Sholom, a Lubavitcher?” He does not ask their sexual orientation, political affiliation, or whether they use a filtered phone. On the contrary, he organizes a meal, including Basar, Chemah V’Cholov, and Oogois for dessert. Only later does he discover that the three guests are either messengers of the Reboinoisheloilum, actual angels, or a flesh and blood manifestation of Hakadoishboruchhu Himself. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How is this possible, and what does this teach us about our own lives?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">RASHI suggests that we learn from Avraham the Mitzvah of hospitality. He cites Midrashim from Beraishis Rabbi, the Midrash Tanchuma, The Little Medrish Says and the Chronicles of Narnia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">RAMBAN holds farkhert. He suggests that we are not required to be hospitable to strangers. Rather, he suggests that Avraham Avinu knew through Ruach HaKoidesh that the guests were neither Shkutzim, nor even worse, liberals. He knew that they were messengers of the Aibishter, sent to deliver an important message, as well as to drop an eighth of Kosher Kannabis (TM).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Sforno agrees that Avraham was not interested in providing hospitality. He disagrees, however, that Avraham knew that the visitors were Malachim. Instead, he holds that Avraham saw an opportunity to make a sale, and prided himself on never missing an opportunity to “pitch” Crypto. As proof, he cites a Braisah that says that Avraham and Sarah deducted the cost of the meal as a tax deduction, labeling the expense as “Cost of Sales”. The Braisah notes that this deduction was raised during a subsequent tax audit, and that, after being found guilty, Avraham was given the choice to either pay a $100 penalty or to go slaughter his own son. He obviously chose the latter, and the rest is history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the existence of multiple opinions on the matter, the general consensus across CHAZAL is that, indeed, Avraham Avinu was a generous host to strangers, and that his hospitality was known far and wide. The Zoihar HaKoidesh suggests that Avraham regularly hosted guests from all over the Middle East: Wise men from Bavel, nomads from Arabia, and even bus loads of cheerleaders from the Canaanite University Lacrosse Team. The Zoihar notes that the presence of strangers brings Divine energies from Binah down to Tiferessss, stiffening the resolve of Yesoid, and preparing Shchina for a week of partying at an all inclusive resort in Gan Eden. VeHamayvin Yavin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rav Yisroel Salanter asks a beautiful Kasha, “Is it indeed possible that Avraham Avinu was so welcoming and so non-judgmental? If that is the case, was he really a member of Klal Yisroel?” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Chasam Soifer answers that in fact Avraham Avinu was not a Jew, and as a result, was Pattur from interrogating people as if he was a member of the Gestapo. He notes that Avraham was originally from Churun, he served his guests milk and meat together, and owned rather than leased his own car. Says the Chasam Soifer, “Of course Avraham Avinu was not a Jew. At most he was either a Ger, a Toishav, or a major investor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But Rav Kook disagrees. He suggests that LeOilum Avraham Avinu a proud member of Klal Yisroel and was indeed a sincere and gracious host to both friends and strangers. He welcomed people to his home. He served meals. He hosted parties. He even had a full sized hot tub installed behind the tent. He provided free parking to the first twenty guests. He had a Keurig so that guests could brew fresh coffee whenever they wanted. According to Rav Kook, Avraham Avinu did not interrogate people to filter out “deplorables”. On the contrary, Avraham Avinu saw the Tzelem Eloikim, the Divine essence, the Pintele Yid in everyone who crossed his threshold. Jew. Non-Jew. Akkadian. Canaanite. Egyptian. Yevusi. Everyone was welcome. As long as they could pay their bill at the end of the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rav Kook points out that we learn from the example of Avraham Avinu that we need to be welcoming to others. We need to be hospitable. Even to that Mamzer across the street, to that Yenta with the really bad Sheytel that looks like blond pompoms up the block, and to those hyperactive children that sometimes come over and insist on touching everything and then refuse to pick up after themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If we look to our day, we can find that the Gedoilim of our day maintain this Mitzvah as a central pillar of contemporary behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During a march through Bnei Brak by thousands protesting against the governing coalition, its judicial reform efforts and its funding of ultra Orthodox institutions, locals — who are closely aligned with the parties in government — responded by handing out water and refreshments to the marchers. (<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/bnei-brak-presents-how-to-turn-a-tense-anti-overhaul-rally-into-a-cholent-party/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.timesofisrael.com/bnei-brak-presents-how-to-turn-a-tense-anti-overhaul-rally-into-a-cholent-party/</span></a>) The refreshments included Kugel and Cholent, which suggests that the locals may have been trying to give the marchers cholesterol and heart disease, but the thought still counts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Elsewhere, some leaders of the ultra Orthodox communities extend their hospitality to going Lifnei Shurassss HaDin, beyond the letter of the law. The Yuntif of Purim is a holiday where the Ikar Mitzvois include reading the Megilla, giving alms to the poor, engaging in festive meals and sharing treats through the exchange of Shalach Manois AKA Mishloach Manot AKA Jewish Trick-or-Treating. It is of course Halacha to exchange two different types of food stuffs - each requiring a different Bracha (benediction) - with another. Traditionally this includes Hamintashen (a Mezoinois), some form of fruit (HaEitz), and a small bottle of wine (HaGafen) or other alcoholic beverage (Shekakol). But, engaging in Hiddur Mitzvah, a common practice in some communities, is to provide cigarettes to children. (<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/cigarettes-for-kids-purim-habit-among-haredim-must-stop-pleads-government-campaign/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.timesofisrael.com/cigarettes-for-kids-purim-habit-among-haredim-must-stop-pleads-government-campaign/</span></a>) And this is not an obscure act by a random communal leader. In the ultra-Orthodox town of Elad , Mayor Yisrael Porush -- the son of Israeli cabinet minister Meir Porush and grandson of legendary Chareidi political figure the late Menachem Porush -- handed out cigarettes to children, suggesting they were prizes for getting answers correct on a quiz of Toirah knowledge (“Hey kids, whoever can recite for me the Arba Misois Bes Din gets a cigarette!”) (<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/mayor-of-ultra-orthodox-city-elad-hands-out-cigarettes-to-children-at-purim-party/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.timesofisrael.com/mayor-of-ultra-orthodox-city-elad-hands-out-cigarettes-to-children-at-purim-party/</span></a>) What a TzadDick!! Not only is he being Mekayaim the Mitzvois of celebrating Purim and Hachnasassss Orchim (entertaining guests), he is also supporting the producer of Marlboro cigarettes and the Israel health system — ensuring that they will have customers for years to come!! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps the most potent example of hospitality is provided by Moireinu V’Rabbeinu President Donald Trump SHLITA, Melech HaMashiach. The Melech HaMashiach has spent his entire career in the hospitality business providing hotels and residencies and golf opportunities to the needy, unlike Biden, who spend the last 50 years in Washington DC accomplishing what? At his properties, the Melech HaMashiach has always served generous meals and a plethora of beverages of all sorts. But we now know that his graciousness has expanded to wisdom: According to the testimony of multiple witnesses, he has also shared Top Secret military and intelligence documents with guests - showing them to others and making them accessible in numerous unsecured locations throughout his properties. He is being Mekayaim the Mitzvois of Hachnasassss Orchim and VeHagissssa Boi Yoimum VaLayla - engaging in sharing important knowledge and wisdom day and night - all in one shot! And THAT is why he is the Melech HaMashaich! You cannot find anyone else in the world who is as giving with strangers!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why, with some female strangers he even very generously “grabs them by the Erva”!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shoyn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have spent much of this Drasha on the treatment of strangers discussing several contemporary examples of hospitality. But, for contrast, what is an example of being inhospitable? And how has this behavior been perceived by the rabbinic authorities of our day?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Imagine the following. A neighbor shows up at your house unexpectedly with a bunch of people. What do you do? Do you welcome them in? Do you offer them coffee or schnapps? Do you give them milk and cookies? Do you apologize that you have no more snacks, and next time, they should give you a little advanced notice? Or do you take out a gun and shoot them, blow them up, and then complain to the world about the visit, the absolute opposite of hospitality???!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A little over a year ago Vladimir Putin and a few of his friends paid a simple visit to the home of Volodymyr Zelensky, a Jew. Did Zelensky open his arms with warm hospitality? NO! He reacted with anger and violence. How should we understand his actions?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fortunately, Nevuah, prophecy, is very much alive and well in our generation!! Chassidic Rebbes have it, Rosheshivas have it, and a few select others have it as well. The leading Navi of our generation on such issues Rabbi Tucker Carlson SHLITA shared the insights gleaned through Ruach HaKoidesh on his new Twitter based video streaming show. Comments Reb Tucker, “Ukraine, as you may have heard, is led by a man called Zelensky… Zelensky is too decent for terrorism. Now you see him on television, and it's true you might form a different impression. Sweaty and rat-like, a comedian turned oligarch, a persecutor of Christians, a friend of BlackRock… Of all the people in the world, our shifty, dead-eyed Ukrainian friend in the tracksuit is uniquely incapable of blowing up a dam. He's literally a living saint, a man in whom there is no sin.” (<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-twitter-video-ukraine-dam-b2352930.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-twitter-video-ukraine-dam-b2352930.html</span></a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What does the prophet Tucker Carlson tell us about the behavior of the Jewish Zelensky? Was it appropriate to deny hospitality to his Russian guests? Should he be considered a model for Klal Yisroel in our day? Of course not! Says Carlson, channeling Nevuah from Hakadoishboruchhu, Zelensky the Jew, is “sweaty and rat-like”, “a persecutor of Christians”, “a friend of (large private equity firm) BlackRock” and “shifty-eyed”. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As clarified by Reb Tucker Carlson, SHLITA, Zelensky the Jew is the classic Christ killer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank the Reboinoisheloilum for Reb Tucker! Had it not been for his unique insights, I might have thought that Zelensky was heroically defending his country against brutal atrocities targeted at civilians by standing up to Putin in the way that absolutely no one in the world has had the Schvantzlach to do for the last 25 years. But no. According to Tucker Carlson, Zelensky the Jew welcomes the opportunity to persecute Christians in the mold of George Soros, the Rothschilds, Fagin, Shylock, and Judas Iscariot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ashrenu — fortunate are we! — that we have such leaders as Reb Tucker Carlson to show us the true path of righteousness! We are indeed a blessed generation!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">——<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, as members of Klal Yisroel, we must in our own lives determine how we want to live and whose example we wish to follow. We can either follow the path of Donald Trump or emulate the behavior of Volodymyr Zelensky.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ah Gutten shabbos, You Menuval.</span></o:p></p><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1287" style="font-family: helvetica;">====================================================</span><br /></div><div class="ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1288" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200839321_1288" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Rosheshiva</b></span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</b></span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Npoj8@Yahoo.com</b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div></span></div>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-79818523449421622692023-05-25T14:21:00.003-04:002023-05-25T18:28:17.616-04:00<p> <b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">NEW — Shavuois Drasha 2023</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Rabboisai,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Shtayt in Pasook, “VaYivrah Eloikim Ess HaAdam BeTzalmoi, BeTzelem Eloikim Barah Oisoi” (Beraishis, Perez Aleph, Pasook Chuff Zayin), “And the Reboinoisheloilum created The Human in His image, in the image of Hakadoishbaruchhu he was created” (Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 27). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">We love this Pasook! We are greater than the animals and the plants and the rest of the known universe, for we were the sole creature created in the image of the Divine. It makes us feel great. It makes us feel that we can reign supreme over the earth. It testifies to our own grandiosity. And it reminds us - or is sometimes used to communicate a message - that humanity was created for a higher purpose (take, for example, the left wing Israeli human rights organization BeTzelem), and therefore you should write a large check. Oh, how superior we are!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">But if we divorce our preconceived sense of superiority… what does it really tell us? What does it really mean that we were “created in the image of the Divine”? How do we even know what the Divine looks like? Do you have a picture hanging in your living room? (Oops. Sorry. That is the only the Rebbe. And he is indeed dead, I am sorry to tell you.) Only Moishe Rabbeinu ever saw the Melech Malchei Hamelachim Panim El Panim, face to face, and even on that detail the Toirah equivocates, as it suggests elsewhere that Moishe only saw the Reboinoisheloilum’s back. (RASHI in fact cites a Medrish that suggests that Moishe Rabbeinu saw the knot at the back of the Reboinoisheloilum’s Tefillin. Look it up, you Menuval.)</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">We have absolutely no idea what Hakadoishbaruchhu looks like! Except, of course, when we are using some of our “special Besamim”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">So… rather than looking to Shamayim to understand the nature of the Aibishter, we must instead look here on earth, at the Creation that is itself the reflection of the Divine, in order to understand the Original that was the template for all humanity. And what do we see?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">For one thing, we can see that the Reboinoisheloilum is a mass murderer. Isn’t it obvious? What other species has caused more non-organic destruction and death? Wars, territorial disputes, power struggles, personal politics, disagreements over how late one can practice in their yard with an AR15 have all been excuses for man to kill his (or her) fellow man. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">“Oy, Reb Pinky!” You will undoubtedly reply, “Hakadoishboruchhu is Our Father Who Art In Heaven! Avinu Malkenu, Mechalkel Chaim B’Chessed! How can you say such things?” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Dude… Really? Have you even read the Toirah beyond what you learned in third grade? Are we not told that the Reboinoisheloilum is “Yoitzer Ohr U’Boirei Choishech, Oiseh Shaloim OoBoirei HaRah, Ani AdoiShem Oiseh Kol Eileh” (Yeshayahu, Perek Arba’im V’Chamaish, Pasook Sheva), “Creator of light and creator of darkness, maker of peace and creator of evil, I am the Aibishter the maker of all of these” (Isaiah Chapter 45, Verse 7)?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Sorry. I guess that complicates things for you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">“OK” you reply, “the Toirah must be talking here about grand developments that impact the earth or large populations, but not about individual human beings. When it speaks of BeTzelem Eloikim, the Toirah must of course be speaking about every single individual human being that ever was born and ever will be born, “Zachor OoNekeivah Barah Oisum”, “male and female, (the Divine) created them.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Perhaps you will continue… “Clearly, we can see Hakadoishboruchhu when we look at our Rosheshiva, or our Rebbe, or our parents, or the kids next door who are so well behaved. They are Erlich and wise and intelligent, and well mannered. They mirror the Reboinoisheloilum through their very nature. Especially if they are male.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Well… you are absolutely correct. The Aibishter is wise and all knowing. He is polite. He wears dark suits. He wears nice felt hats. Point well taken. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">However, my friend, you are thinking like a Litvak — assuming that everything that is important is already known, and that anything that is not already known is therefore not important. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">It is very easy to select examples that confirm our biases, but much more difficult to look at the data, accept it as fact — even when inconvenient — and make sense of it, even when it is challenging, even when the data conflicts with our comfortable narratives. It is much easier to dismiss and ignore that which we do not like and do not understand, than to wrestle within and revisit our assumptions. Just ask Vladimir Putin. We are very comfortable in our small worlds, but are afraid to contemplate complexity, the unpredictable, or the Infinite.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">There are roughly seven billion human beings on this earth. And if you lift your head outside of your bubble -- a very polite way for suggesting that you take your head out of your Chamor Bor— you can learn even more about Hakadoishboruchhu. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">When I look across all of created humanity, I see His reflection manifested across billions and billions of data points. What does this information tell us about the Aibishter?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">The Reboinoisheloilum is a narcissist. If your are reading this then you are probably like me: You believe that HaGaoin Donald Trump Shlita is Melech HaMashiach. He has Made America Great Again, and his success was recognized when he was re-elected to a landslide for his second term. Unfortunately, he was the victim of the Hoax Of The Century and has been wrongfully blamed for the Kiddush HaShem that was January 6, 2021. It was a beautiful day. There was such a nice Kiddush. OK, so a few teenagers got to the Schnapps and made a mess, but it is not like they were encouraged by Reb Donald. Farkhert — He told everyone to go home, and that he loved them! Sure, that was many hours later, but Ain Mukdam Oh Me’Uchar BaToirah when it come to Scripture - or Alternative Facts - we allow a certain degree of flexibility in chronology. But you cannot deny - the ratings were SPECTACULAR!</span> </li></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Hakadoishboruchhu is a pathological liar. Why do you think that so many of His former aides and coalition partners are in the opposition and refuse to negotiate with Him. Hey, you can believe anything you want, especially when it is something that you like to hear. But it is only a matter of time until He lies to you as well, again and again and again, and then you too will sit in the opposition, embarrassed and humiliated, with your constituency disappointed at your own weakness. So believe in all that you want to believe, refuse to compromise, and make believe that the feelings and opinions of others do not matter. But bear in mind: Fifty percent of something is infinitely more than one hundred percent of nothing. Mamleches Yisroel learned the hard way. So did Mamleches Yehuda. The Chashmonaim in Yehuda did spectacularly, until the Aibishter decided to make concessions to the Romans. Klal Yisrael had it great in Bavel, and lived ideal lives in Spain. We did well in Poland and Ukraine, and spectacularly in Germany, until the Reboinoisheloilum decided to abrogate His promises and destroyed and uprooted our ancestors. They all learned the hard way, as did Lieberman, Saar, Bennett, Begin, Meridor and countless others. Hakadoishboruchhu gave us the tools to fend for ourselves, not to be perpetual professional victims and not to be Somchin Al Haness. You’ll see.</span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">The Aibishter is a homosexual. “What, what, what?!?!” you ask, as you get ready to stop reading this Drasha. Think about it: The Reboinoisheloilum created the world in His image. While figures vary, the percentage of human beings who are homosexual - male and female - is estimated to be between five and ten percent of the population, with some homosexuals estimating the percentage to be closer to twenty percent, and some Iranian Mullahs, Skver, and Bais Medrish Gavoiha estimating the percentage to be closer to zero. So either the Melech Malchei HaMelachim willed homosexuals into existence, hardwired into the DNA of humanity as an inseparable part of His world, or the Divine created the human race with a ten percent error rate, in which case He should lose His job and His retirement benefits.</span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Hakadoishboruchhu likes to eat Chazer. And Shrimp. And He absolutely LOVES Shiksas. And who can blame Him? There are literally billions of people on the earth who eat pork and shrimp, and almost every heterosexual male on earth is interested in Shiksas. Consequently these must be very strong characteristics of the Aibishter.</span></li></ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">And so on…</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">When we look at the world with open eyes and see the human population as it truly is, we see a broad and varied set of people and character traits. Some of them we love and relate to, and others we distance ourselves from. However, as they are all reflections of the Divine they must expand our own perceptions of the Reboinoisheloilum and His world, as well as our role in it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">“Yoitzer Ohr U’Boirei Choishech, Oiseh Shaloim OoBoirei HaRah, Ani AdoiShem Oiseh Kol Eileh”. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">I am reminded of a famous Medrish brought down in Shmois Rabbah. We are told by the Toirah that Klal Yisrael camped around Har Sinai, and that when the Reboinoisheloilum spoke, all of Klal Yisrael heard Him recite the Aseres HaDibrois, the Ten Commandments, each to his own abilities. If the individual did not understand Hebrew, he heard Hakadoshboruchhu in his native language. If the individual was smart, he heard the verses of the Toirah, as well as the Toirah She’Baal Peh associated with the Pesukim. If the individual was a Bainoni, he heard the Pesukim themselves. If he was a moron, he heard George Santos, and actually believe him.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Asks Rav Acha, what if the individual was deaf? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">According to Rav Chisda the deaf person “saw” the Ten Commandments, though not the Cecile B. DeMille version. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">However, according to Rav Netura, a person who could not hear could not appreciate the unique majesty of the Divine encounter, and he was expelled from the community.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Asks Rav Yosi, “Why should a deaf person or person without ears be penalized for his physical variant? Was he not created in Hakadoshboruchhu’s image as well?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Rav Netura replies, “Why are you Hocking me a Chinuk about someone with a Moom? Next thing you are going to want to suggest is that women heard the Aibishter at Har Sinai as well, and they, too, are Chayuv for keeping all of the Mitzvois, equal to the men!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">“You are engaging in legalistic casuistry” responds Rav Yosi. “Women were at Sinai and heard the Aseres HaDibrois, just like the men. They are simply not Chayuv for keeping all of the Mitzvois because they lack a Makoim HaMilah, and also bleed for a week out of every month and refuse to die."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">“But” he continued, “we do not penalize deaf people for being deaf any more than we penalize a Bainoni for being a Bainoni, a right handed person for being right handed, or a legless person for not being able to walk. The Reboinoisheloilum created every single person in His image, in His wisdom that we cannot possibly comprehend, and we accept the world as His willed creation. We simply look at these human beings, created Betzelem Eloikim, as holy reflections of the Divine, and we look at their physical and psychological variants as incremental revenue opportunities. There is a lot of cash in healthcare services!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">And so, if humanity is created in the image of the Divine, and is itself fundamentally variable, then those variants are not “Moomin”- flaws - but are part of the Divine design. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">For that reason all of Klal Yisroel is believed to have been present at Sinai, men and women, sighted and blind, hearing and deaf, right handed and left handed, walking and legless, straight and gay. Unless of course you are Yeshiva University, in which case you believe that the only people who were present at Har Sinai were Roishei Yeshivois, milquetoast Talmidim who cannot think for themselves, major donors, and local Latino women from Washington Heights, since the Roishei Yeshivois — created in the image of the Reboinoisheloilum — absolutely LOVE Shiksas too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">Ah Gutten Yuntif You Menuval.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ligatures: none;">-----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Rosheshiva<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">http://rabbi-pinky.blogspot.com/<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">RabbiPinky</span></b>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-46121227420243827132022-09-22T22:07:00.001-04:002022-09-28T11:16:42.094-04:00 NEW Rosh Hashana Drasha – Akeidas Yitzchak In Our Time<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-family: arial;">NEW Rosh Hashana Drasha – Akeidas Yitzchak In
Our Time</span></u></b></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rabboisai,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I have come out of my retirement to offer
thoughts during these trying times for Klal Yisroel in the United States. The
timing of these challenges, right before the Aseres Yemei Teshuva – the Ten
Days of Penitence – screams the significance of the moment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is no time for debate over whether one can
eat cheese with vegetarian rennet, Chass V’Sholom, whether women can wear
trousers or not, Rachmana Litzlan, or whether one is permitted to keep one day
Yuntif when visiting Eretz Yisroel, as absurd at that may sound. Such issues,
rooted in Halachic concerns, reflect Chumras that have emerged over the years
and speak to the practical challenges of living in the Oilum Hazeh, a world
constantly changing and evolving. While I do not personally approve of any of
the above practices, they are, in our day, akin to “strong Minhagim”. I would not
eat at the homes of anyone engaged in such practices and would discourage my
children and grandchildren from entering their homes. Yet I would count such
people in a minyan, especially if they are big donors.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, last week, many core issues were
raised to the level of public discourse, critical issues facing Klal Yisroel,
issues that are so basic they are existential and may be classified as Yehuraig
V’Al Ya’Avor – better to give up one’s life than to make such compromises. For
unlike the Halachic questions above, these topics threaten the very future of
Klal Yisroel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I am of course talking about the hateful cover article
written by the New York Times, Yemach Shemum, suggesting that the Chassidic
Yeshiva educational model should undergo reform, and about the pressure the
State of New York is putting on Yeshiva University to embrace Mishkav Zachor,
homosexuality.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Klal Yisroel is facing a trial akin to nothing
less than Akeidas Yitzchak. Will we succumb to the temptation of “public pressure”,
society, or “the left-wing media”, Chass V’Sholom, and ignore the will of
Hakadoshboruchhu? Or will we stand strong in our faith in the Melech Malchei
HeMelachim and live our principles as defined by our Toirah given to Moishe
Rabbeinu on Har Sinai?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">——</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The report in the New York Times detailed
concerns about the poor performance of a cluster of boys’ schools in the
Chassidic community on a series of standardized tests in English and Math given
by the state. This data was presented alongside numerous interviews with
“survivors” of the Chassidic school systems who have struggled in their adult
lives. Also cited were allegations of corporal punishment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The report also focused on the funds received
by our Yeshivois from the government, and suggested that our Chassidic leaders,
the intellectual — and often genetic — descendants of the holy BESHT, must be
compelled to teach more secular subjects.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Rabboisai</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">As we prepare to bring in the new Yuhr, our
people are facing Shmad, utter destruction. As is well known, the genocidal
intentions of Haman and Achashveiroish in Persia — recognized by the Yuntif of
Purim — are considered to be a lesser evil than the actions of the Yevunim who
brought Avoidah Zorah into the Bais HaMikdash, when efforts at forcing Helenism
onto Klal Yisroel led to a rebellion that culminated in independence —
commemorated by the Yuntif of Chanukah. After all, the Persians, Yemach Shemum,
only wanted to kill us, which would deny us life in the Oilum Hazeh; the
Greeks, on the other hand, wanted to destroy our Neshamas, denying us our Oilum
Habbah. That is what we face today.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The article in the self-hating, anti Semitic
New York Times implies that the Chassidic schools are failing because of very
poor performance on basic English exams relative to the average across the
general population and to every other demographic sub-segment. This claim
reflects the cultural biases of a majority population trying to force its world
view onto our Torah-abiding children. Do we force Latinos to adopt English as
their communal language? Do we compel Chinatown to operate in English? While
the boys attending these skills have poor English language skills, I am confident
that if there was standardized testing in Yiddish language skills, these
students would outperform all other schools.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Underlying the article is the premise that
basic English, Math and Science knowledge are necessary for success in life. That
is a false premise. Moishe Rabbeinu did not speak English. Reb Yehuda HaNasi
did not read English. RASHI translates unclear words in the Torah into Old
French, never into Old English. The RAMBAN never studied science. The BESHT
never took a standardized math test. And yet they all changed the world.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The New York Times cobbles together numerous
anecdotes about individuals in the community who blame their adult struggles on
their Chassidic education. And yet there are myriad examples of professional
success stories that were never shared. There are many entrepreneurs in the
Chassidic community who have built successful business in the worlds of real
estate, technology, and auto leasing. A significant number of Chassidic
entrepreneurs have developed very successful Amazon stores. There are even
large numbers of Chassidim involved in healthcare - In insurance, nursing
homes, home health care, home medical supplies, medical billing, speech
therapy, and Hatzalah.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Yes, there are almost no “doctors” emerging
from Chassidic community, but that title is a misnomer. As is well known,
RAMBAM never went to medical school, but learned everything he knew from the
Gemara and Kabbalah, and he was renowned inside and outside the Jewish world.
Indeed, in the last two and a half years we witnessed the fallacy underlying
the biased premise: While the Goyisheh Velt struggled with the Covid epidemic,
Chassidic medical experts provided alternate approaches to medical care — such
as gargling with salt water, lemon water, or garlic water, using a hair dryer
to blow hot air down one’s throat, and changing Mezuzas — and as a result there
were no casualties from Covid in the Chassidic community. In essence, the
Chassidic community led the country and the world on Covid: Biden recently declared
the Covid crisis to be over; but in the Chassidic community Covid was over two
years ago. Why was this fact withheld by the New York Times?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Finally, let us pause and consider what we want
for our children and grandchildren most of all. That is: To be Menschen. In
comparing Chassidic schools to all other schools and demographics, the New York
Times ignores key facts about the Chassidic community: There is no drug
problem. There are no teen age pregnancies. There is no poverty — reports to
contrary notwithstanding. The Chassidic community is self-sufficient. Chassidic
families are self-sufficient. There are very few on any form of public
assistance be it Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps, or Section 8. There is also no
crime — when was the last time you heard of a Chassid going to jail for any
reason other than being persecuted for being a Jew?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">——</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">And now we turn to Washington Heights. Yeshiva
University is under enormous pressure from the government, spurred on by the
Left, to allow the so-called “Pride Community” to host a student club on
campus, receive school funds, and be recognized and legitimized despite their
commitment to a lifestyle of “abomination” in the eyes of the
Reboinoisheloilum. The new “woke” lifestyle unleashed by the Liberals has
caused children to go astray and explore the Sitra Achra. Never in the history
of Klal Yisrael were there such things as homosexuals. The Toirah never tells
us about individuals who engaged in Mishkav Zachor because they did not exist.
You won’t find an example in all of TANACH of even one homosexual. Similarly,
the Gemara never tells us about any Jew in the time of the Tanaim and Amoraim
who was engaged in homosexuality. They did not exist.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Why, when I was growing up in Brooklyn, there
were no so-called homosexuals in the Jewish community. They did not yet exist. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Homosexuality only began to appear in the
Jewish community in the last thirty years, following the return of the
Democrats to the White House.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">“And yet”, you ask, “if there was no such thing
as a homosexual in the time of the Toirah, why does the Toirah warn us of the
Aveirah?” The Toirah is a timeless set of teachings, never changing, without a
letter being added or taken away. Hakadoshboruchhu anticipated this generation
of Sodom in Washington Heights and provided us with His guidance at Har Sinai.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">And what of the so-called homosexuals in
Yeshiva University? Well, if they insist on maintaining their unnatural
lifestyle, why do they want to study in Yeshiva University? There are hundreds
of other universities they can attend. YU is a religious institution. They are
no more entitled to have their Mishkav Zachor club than if a group of
individuals requested to open a Chazer eating club at YU. I imagine that the
Chazer eaters, upon being told that they cannot convene their club, will
complain about discrimination, about mental health issues, about identity
crises, about the high suicide rates of people forced to eat Chazer in secret,
and about the broader awareness and understanding of the nature of eating
Chazer in 2022. The Chazer eaters may talk about their deep commitment to Klal
Yisroel and to Toirah. They may tout their own accomplishments in learning
Toirah and in doing Gemilas Chassadim. But if they abandon the faith by eating
Chazer, they should be removed from their families and our community. They have
surrendered their Yiddesheh Neshamas.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Similarly, so-called homosexuals should be cast
away from our community. They should be given the boot, not their own club.
They should not be allowed to bring Chazer into the Bais HaMikdash</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">like the Yevanim. While we may feel personal
sympathy at an individual level, we must emulate the call that we make to
Hakadoshboruchhu at this time of year – We must temper mercy with justice.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The homosexuals – all LGBTQ -- should be sent
away so that they can no longer proselytize their destructive alternative
lifestyles amongst the innocent and unsuspecting. In fact, from a Toirah-true
perspective they have the status of Rodaiph. From a Halachic perspective we
have a Mitzvah to kill every Rodaiph. But, Rachmana Letzlan, we cannot put
these Roidphim to death because it is against the law. Once again, we are being
persecuted by a majority population trying to force its world view onto our Toirah-abiding
community.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">——</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">So what should our communities do if they are
pressured by the government to compromise Toirah values?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">During these days when we greet Roish Hashana
and Yoim Kippur with prayer and penitence, we recite Selichois, constantly.
Many of these Selichois were written by early Baalei Toisfois. To cite one
meaningful Kapitul recited this week:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Ooly Yerachaim She’eyris Yoisaiph<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shephalim V’Nivzim, Pesuchei Sheseph<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shevuyei Chinum Mechurei BeLoi Kesef<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shoi’agim Bitfilah Umevakshim Rishayoin<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ooly Yahchois Ahm Unu VaEvyoin, Ooly Yerachaym”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">“Perhaps He (the Aibisher) will have mercy on
the remnants of Yoisaiph</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lowly and disgraced, torn to shreds<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Enslaved without ransom, sold for no money<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Who cry out in prayer and plead for permission<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps He will have mercy on a poor,
persecuted nation, perhaps He will have mercy.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This Selichah was authored by Reb Shmuel
HaKohain, who lived in the eleventh century in Mainz. He was murdered during
the First Crusade, along with his wife and children. The First Crusade was a
turning point in Jewish history - when relative coexistence with the Goyim was
shattered by hatred rising up from the masses, at times against the will of the
Christian and local leadership and residents, many of whom tried to protect
Jews from the rabid hoards. During this period of mass slaughter, many Jews were
forced to covert or die. And many died the death of martyrs. Rather than
succumb to the persecution of the violent masses and accept baptism or be viciously
slaughtered, some chose to take their own lives. There were families who took
their own lives together. There were even mothers who killed their own
children, some reciting a Bracha, rather than surrender their children to
forced conversion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Rather than have the will of the majority
population forced upon them, they chose to end their own lives and those of
their children. Better to be slaughtered in the Oilum Hazeh than to lose one’s
Oilum Habbah.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">We must emulate that generation of Tzaddikim.
If the United States government tries to force our community to change our
approach to education, our community should be prepared to sacrifice our own
lives and, especially, those of our children. We are being persecuted by the
uncompromising masses - the anti Semites and self haters, who want nothing less
than to take away our Toirah. The Toirah tells us that there are three
circumstances under which the a Jew is commanded Yehuraig V’Al Ya’Avor, to
sacrifice one’s life: Avoidah Zorah, Gilui Arayois and Shephichas Damim - idol
worship, adultery, and murder. Kal V’Choimer we should employ the same approach
in response to the Sitra Achra teachings such as English, Math, and Science.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">As we usher in Rosh Hashana, the Aseres Yemei
Teshuva and Yoim Kippur, we must hold steadfast as a community to our Toirah
values. The Toirah is timeless, not changing even one iota in the 3,500 hundred
years since Har Sinai. It was conceived in Shamayim and given to Klal Yisroel long
before the world was created. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The Toirah teaches us “U’Vachartah B’Chaim” — we
should choose life. But if not, we should choose death.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Ah Gutten Yuhr</span></p><p>
</p><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Rosheshiva</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Npoj8@Yahoo.com</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-41553862631785424722020-06-12T17:34:00.000-04:002020-06-12T17:34:30.686-04:00On Impulse and Divinity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On Impulse and Divinity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Baruch Ata Idoin’tknoi Eloiheinu Melech HaOilum Boirei Pri
Ha-Etz! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I hope you said “Umayn” after I finished my Bracha and was
biting into my kiwi. Otherwise you are an Am Ha’aretz who just missed out on an
easy Mitzvah. And you can rest assured that the Reboinoisheloilum has noted
down your behavior, you Mechutziff!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We are grateful to HaKadoishboruchhu for the opportunities
to have such Mitzvois to engage in and in exchange collect Mitzvah Stamps (TM).
(I am planning to redeem mine for the new ArtScroll Erotica series.) As we all
know, Boruch HaShem, part of being a Jew, a member of Klal Yisroel, the Chosen
People, is that the world affords us opportunities every day to sanctify His
name and make His world a better place through specific actions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And what actions are we talking about? There are many sorts
of acts, but the common denominator: These actions reflect our recognition that
the world is the Aibishter’s creation, and we sanctify His eminence over all
existence through small acts that acknowledge His sovereignty. (We akso
acknowledge his sovereignty by paying tens of thousands of dollars in Yeshiva
tuition, Shul membership, Yomi Noraim seats, summer camp, trips to Israel,
Pesach cruises, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Case in point: Eating a kiwi. A Sheygitz can eat a Kiwi. So
can a child who is a SheEinoi Yoideiyah Lish’ol - too young to understand the
cosmic implications of his actions. Or a dog. Or, in the case of a kiwi, a
kangaroo. They see it, they grab it, they bite into it, they swallow it.
Shoyn!! That is the “unthinking” approach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">However, that approach is not what a Jew does! A Jew lives
in the world — HaKadoishboruchhu’s world that includes all matter, energy,
space, time, and physical laws — and adds actions or words that turn even the
most basic act such as eating a kiwi into an acknowledgement of the Omnipresent.
We look at nature as something to build upon, not something to simply accept.
We are not animals; on the contrary, we were created “BiTzelem Eloikim”, in the
image of HaKadoishbiruchhu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This of course is the essence of the concept of Tikkun
Oilum. This concept is based on the teachings of the Ari ZAHL, who describes a
cosmic accident at the time of creation that scattered Divine sparks which
became mixed with the worse aspects of existence. Our mission is to recover
those missing holy sparks, one by one, through good deeds and acts of kindness
- Mitzvois - and through individual and collective acts aimed at making the
world a better place - Tikkun Oilum. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This basic philosophy of purpose extends well beyond
reciting a Bracha before the eating of a kiwi. We kill our food before we eat
it (one of the Sheva Mitzvois B’Nei Noiach) so that an animal should not
excessively suffer. We create legal systems and are commanded by the Toirah to
adhere to such legal systems, as that is the essence of a functioning society.
How many times does the Toirah warn us about the dangers of “false judges” and
the importance of honest witnesses? We do not simply say or do anything that meets
our immediate need of the moment, that satisfies our hunger, that temporary
responds to our impulses. We are not animals; on the contrary, we were created
“BiTzelem Eloikim”, in the image of HaKadoishbiruchhu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And so, it is important that we apply this philosophical
construct consistently across all aspects of our lives. We do not eat pork or shellfish.
They are plentiful, and YUMMY! But we have self imposed limits. We are not
animals...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In this spirit we must address the myriad challenges that
we face today. The Toirah was not given three thousand years ago to be simply placed
on a shelf and dusted off once a week. It is a guidebook to life that we must
bear every single day, either through learning with a Chavrusa in Bais Medrish,
reading from a printed copy in spare moments, or listening to Daf Yoimi on a
smartphone, Chass V’Sholom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Let us start with Coivid Yud Tess. Setting aside the
political overtones that too often grab the headlines, there is no perfect
clarity about what should happen next. Should we open schools and businesses,
and if so, how slowly or quickly? Will there be a second surge and how bad? If
someone has antibodies, will it protect them? Should we be rushing back to Shul
(those of you who have not been attending underground outdoor Minyanim three
times a day, like, ahem... me)?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What is nature telling us to do? And how do we build upon,
and improve upon, nature?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here is an interesting thought experiment. Imagine we lived
before modern medicine. How many people would have died from Coivid Yud Tess? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Somewhere between 40 and 100 million people died during the
Influenza of 100 years ago. What if Coivid was around 400 years ago? Perhaps
30% of people who contracted the virus would have died without modern medicine.
The saving grace would have been the lack of global inter connectivity that we
have today, so perhaps 30% of the local, national or continental population
might have died. But it would not have had the global reach we have now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Let’s say we actually listen to nature. Perhaps nature is
telling us that human society has expanded like a swarm of locusts and it is
time for a population adjustment. Forests have natural forest fires; it is part
of nature’s cycle of balance and renewal. Perhaps nature is engaging in a
normal cycle of destruction for the sake of balance and renewal. Painful but
necessary, like trimming one’s Payis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">So the Shailah is Azoy: How should we respond to this
reality as a society? How should we respond as Jews? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Should we consider the Machalah Coivid Yud Tess to be the
will of the Reboinoisheloilum and let nature take its course? Or should we see
this as a cosmic imperfection in which holy sparks are scattered and embedded,
and view this as an opportunity to rescue the holy sparks through actions
designed seek cures and prevent casualties?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">(This is known as a rhetorical question, you Mechutziff, so
please do not wait around for a direct answer. I have dinner plans.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The answer is of course an obvious one, but the debate -
and challenge - lies in the details. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Another question: How should we think about the unrest that
has broken out across the United States following the death of George Floyd at
the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis who was photographed resting his
full weight on the Floyd’s neck for eight minutes after Floyd had already been
restrained? There have been massive protests across the country and, in fact,
across the world, following this latest example of a black man being killed through
excessive force, which this time was captured on video. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">While there have been worldwide statements of revulsion and
calls for large scale change, there are also many who would rather ignore or
dismiss this latest example of brutality directed at someone who did not pose a
physical threat. Many of those people voice partisan positioning. And many in
our own community repeat those words and those sentiments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">How should we respond to this reality as a society? How
should we respond to this as Jews?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Perhaps we should listen to nature. What is nature telling
us? We need only look at societies around the world to understand that
majorities often mistreat minorities. What nation knows this lesson than Klal
Yisroel? Perhaps we should accept this sad reality as an inevitability, just as
we know that night follows day and that gravity keeps all of us anchored to the
ground. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But... we are not animals; on the contrary, we were created
“BiTzelem Eloikim”, in the image of HaKadoishboruchhu. We do not simply
surrender to primal impulses; we do not simply “eat the kiwi”. We do not pursue
the “unthinking approach”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I am reminded of a true story told to me by a friend. This
friend, who studied with me in Yeshiva many years ago, once shared that he was
scheduled to attend a professional event hosted by a Catholic organization. He
recalled how when speaking to his father, he spoke dismissively of priests and
nuns, echoing the tone that many of us grew up with in our strictly religiously
observant upbringing. To his surprise, his father screamed at him, “DON’T YOU
EVER SPEAK LIKE THAT AGAIN!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">His father is a survivor of the Shoah, and like many
survivors (including my own late father), apparently preferred not to talk
about his experiences, perhaps to avoid the pain of revisiting the horrifying
nightmare of his youth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As it turns out, his father and other family members, running
from the Nazis and their collaborators, were sheltered within a Catholic School
and Church complex. Catholics - Priests and Nuns and others - risked their
lives to save them - for the Nazis systematically murdered people who protected
Jews. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">If we were those Priests and Nuns and others, would we have
reconciled ourselves to the Nazi terror and refused to shelter Jews, accepting
the systematic gathering and murder of the Jews as the sad nature of social
reality at that juncture in time? Would we perhaps have turned in the Jews for
a reward? Would we have posted memes and articles mocking Jews? Would we have
posted pictures of Jewish criminals and suggest that all Jews were tantamount to
criminals? Or would we have acted like those brave souls, risking their lives
to save some unknown innocents whose only crime was being born into this world
as Jews?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We are told in the Gemarrah, “Kol HaMekayaim Nefesh Achat,
Ma’aleh Alav HaKatuv KeEelu Eebayd Oilum Mallei”. “Whoever saves a life, it is
considered as if he saved an entire world.” (Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin 22a)
The same sentiment appears numerous times in the Midrash.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Nature often tells us to destroy, or to look the other way.
But the Toirah tells us that even in the bleakest places and at the bleakest
moment there are holy sparks to be rescued.</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ah Gutten Shabbos You Minuval</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">---------</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rosheshiva</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-78323793455861294422020-04-13T21:39:00.001-04:002020-04-13T21:39:53.979-04:00On The Essence Of Leadership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">====================================================</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On The Essence of Leadership</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I am writing this Drasha in my Shul. No, not my big Shul
and Yeshiva on Thirteenth Avenue. That building was closed under the orders of
the anti-Semites in the Board of Health and their allies in the Democratic Party.
But in my new Shul, located in the basement of my apartment building where we
hold Minyan three times a day… unless someone sees a cop. It gets a little crowded
at times, especially around Layning. But it is a real time saver; if I get to Shacharis
early I can pop a load in the wash and have it ready by Aleinu.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Shoyn.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I would like to begin our Chol HaMoed Drasha with a very
basic question, one which you have undoubtedly heard before: Why is it that the
Hagaddah is silent about the role of Moishe Rabbeinu in Yetzias <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk37699752">Mitzrayim</a>? How come during the Seder we speak about
Yankif Avinu and Lavan HaRasha, we speak in great detail about the oppression
of Klal Yisroel in Mitzrayim, including the Egyptian enforced impact on Derech
Eretz – a euphemism for sexuality between husband and wife, and we speak in a
granular fashion about the Exodus itself – the plagues, the expulsion, the
splitting of the sea, etc. – DAYENU! – but we have no mention of Moishe
Rabbeinu’s role in the Exodus, and only passing mention of his name in quoted
Pesukim? What’s Pshat you Mechutziff? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The typical response is posed in many places. The RADAK, Reb
Dovid Kimche, for example, suggests that CHAZAL were concerned that if the
Haggadah emphasized the role of Moishe Rabbeinu, Klal Yisroel might be seduced
into believing in a personality cult, attributing Yetzias Mitzrayim and the
working of miracles to a man, a human being, flesh and blood, and might be
tempted to deify Moishe, Chass V’Sholom, making him the subject of worship and,
essentially, a form of Avoidah Zarah.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But that is not the only response provided by CHAZAL. Many
other responses are offered. The RADAT SHLITA has his own suggestion. He
suggests that the Hagaddah is meant to present the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim in
the most incredibly authentic fashion EVER, without distortions coming from Fake
News or political conspiracies: The Reboinoisheloilum is the greatest, He was
responsible for Yetzias Mitzrayim, and His performance of Nissim, miracles, was
the greatest EVER, and were seen by more Egyptian households than the annual
SuperUrn and the 100,000 Shekel Pyramid combined! Moreover, the only reason why
Klal Yisroel was in Egypt was because of the lack of foresight by Yankif Avinu
(“Lock Him Up!”), the poor economic policies put in place by Yoishaph HaTzadick
(“I would have grabbed Eishess Potiphar by the Erva”, wrote the RADAT), and the
“loser attitude” of Klal Yisroel. According to the RADAT, Moishe Rabbeinu deserves
no credit as he should have gotten Klal Yisroel out of Mitzrayim through better
negotiation skills. Says the RADAT, “’Mild Manned Moishe’ could not lead a Girl
Scout Troop to sell cookies to a group of hungry old ladies who just smoked
Besamim and have the munchies”.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I personally find these Terutzim and many others to be unsatisfying.
After all, the Hagaddah may not speak of the role of Moishe Rabbeinu, but the
Toirah does – Yetzias Mitzrayim and the role of Moishe are the subject of half
of Sefer Shmois and are referenced throughout TANACH many times. Moishe’s
involvement in the Exodus is no secret: We read of it every year, and read more
about Moishe through the rest of Sefer Shmois and in Sifrei Vayikra, Bamidbar
and Devarim. Four fifths of the Chamishei Chumshei Toirah focus on Moishe Rabbeinu,
so if any people were looking for deify Moishe they could find many reasons. As
well, the Toirah portrays Klal Yisroel as “victims”, not “losers”, and
repeatedly reminds Klal Yisroel to be tolerant of strangers “Kee Gerim Hayinu
Ba’Eretz Mitrayim”, we were strangers in the Land Of Egypt. There is no
suggestion in the Toirah that Mitzrayim was the wrong place to go during the famine.
Farkhert - it was our home. Until it was not.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Before suggesting an answer to this Shailah, I would like
to pose a separate but related question: Six months from now we will celebrate
Roish Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. As is well known, the Toirah does not speak
of the New Year at all – It only speaks of a Yoim Teruah, a day of horn blows, at
the beginning of the seventh month. And what is the focus of Kriyas HaToirah on
Roish Hashanah? Do we read extensively about Karbanois, animal sacrifices? Do
we read about Moishe Rabbeinu setting up a justice system? Do we read rules and
regulations about property or morality or religious worship? No, you Mechutziff,
do not even bother looking it up! We read about Avraham Avinu. One might think
that we should read about Avraham at the Bris Bain HaBesarim, the Covenant he
makes with Hakadoshboruchhu regarding the future of Klal Yisroel. Or we should
read about the Aimishteh’s commandment to Avraham that he trim 20% off of his “package”,
if you know what I mean. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But no. We read about the Akeidah, the “Binding of Yitzchak”,
the commandment by the Reboinoisheloilum to Avraham Avinu to sacrifice his beloved
son Yitzchak as a sign of his fealty. “VaYoimer, Kach Lecha Ess Bincha Ess
Yechidecha Asher Ahavta Ess Yitzchak VaLech Lecha El Eretz Hamoiriyah, Ve”Ha’aleihu
Shum LeOilah Al Achad HaHarim Asher Oimar Eilecha” (Beraishis, Perek Chuff Baiz,
Passuk Baiz). “And Hakadoishboruchhu said, take your son, the one son that you
love, Yitzchak, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him as a sacrifice on
one of the hills that I will direct you to.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">How does Avraham respond to this? Does he hesitate for one
second? Does he offer himself as a substitute? Does he try to bargain with the
Aimishteh the way he haggles over the fate of the city of Sodom? Does he even
ask a clarifying question, such as “Hey, Melech Malchei HaMelachim, have You
gone out of your Self-Damned mind? Or are you trying to get me committed to Arkham
Asylum?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">No, you Menuval, he has faith! The Toirah does not mention any
resistance on the part of Avraham, it simply reports that the next morning
Avraham set out with his two lads and his son Yitzchak. It does not even mention
that they ate breakfast, although a Medrish in Beraishis Rabbah notes that they
stopped for coffee at a Starbucks, which caused a delay because Yishmael refused
to order a simply drip coffee, opting for a Grande Vanilla Latte with oat milk
and three Truvia and a dash of nutmeg. My favorite!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">How does Avraham Avinu’s behavior compare with that of Moishe
Rabbeinu? Well, the Toirah tells us that the Reboinoisheloilum comes to Moishe
in a burning bush and reports that He has heard the suffering of Klal Yisroel
in Mitzrayim and He plans to take them out of Egypt and deliver them to the
promised land. Hakadoshboruchhu continues, “V’Atta, Lecha V’Eshlachacha El Paroi,
V’Hoitzei Ess Ami Bnei Yisroel MeMitzrayim” (Shmois, Perek Gimmul, Passuk Yud).
“And now, go where I will send you, to Pharaoh, and take out My nation, the
Children of Israel, from Egypt.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">How does Moishe respond to the Aimishteh’s instruction? Does
he thank the Reboinoisheloilum for the confidence expressed in him? Does he
pack his bags for the road? Does he fill up his tank? Does he download the
latest podcasts to keep him busy during the ride? No, he starts to argue incessantly,
like a Mechutziff:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and that
I shall take Klal Yisroel out of Mitzrayim (Perek Gimmul, Passuk Yud Aleph)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“And when I come to Klal Yisroel and say that
the Hakadoshboruchhu of your fathers sent me, and they will ask me ‘What is His
name’, what will I say to them?” (Passuk Yud Gimmul)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“They (Klal Yisroel) will not believe me, and not
listen to me, for the will say ‘the Aimishteh has not revealed Himself to you”.
(Perek Daled, Passuk Aleph)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Reboinoisheloilum, I am not a man of words,
and never have been, for I am slow of speech and have a heavy tongue”. (Passuk
Yud)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Please, my Lord, send someone else”. (Passuk
Yud Gimmul).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">At that point the Reboinoisheloilum loses his temper, destroys
a few small cities in Mesopotamia, makes a few species of dinosaur go extinct,
and then orders Moishe Rabbeinu to enlist his brother, Aroin HaKoihain, the Menuval,
to serve as his spokesman.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai – What can we learn we learn from the juxtaposition
of Avraham Avinu and the Akeida with Moishe Rabbeinu at the burning Sneh?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">For one thing, we learn that humanity is fundamentally
flawed. Avraham Avinu waits nearly a hundred years for a child, and when Hakadoshboruchhu
asks him to slaughter his son, he says thank you. Perhaps he is some kind of maniac
who likes to commit acts of cruelty to children like Stephen Miller. Moishe
Rabbeinu, on the other hand, when commanded by the Aimishteh to lead his nation
to freedom, to serve as a quasi-messianic figure, argues. He complains. He
kvetches. In fact, he sounds a bit like Chuck Schumer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It is no wonder that the Hagaddah does not talk about
Moishe Rabbeinu. Does the Reboinoisheloilum want to entrust such an existential
challenge – negotiating the exit of Klal Yisroel from the greatest power in the
world -- through appeals, threats and violence – to a human being, who -- by
definition of being a human being -- is fundamentally flawed? No – And that is
why the Hagaddah tells us, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“ V’Avarti B’Eretz Mitzrayim BaLayla Hazeh, Ani V’Loi
Malach; </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">V’Heekasee Kol Bechor B’Eretz Mitzrayim – Ani V’Loi Saraph;
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">U’VeChol Eloihei Mitzrayim Eh-Ehseh Shfatim – Ani V’Loi
HaShaliach. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ani Hakadoshboruchhu – Ani Hoo. V’Loi Acher.” <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“And I passed through the land of Egypt on that night – I, and
not a representative;</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And I smote the first born in the land of Egypt – I, and
not an angel</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And I delivered justice to all of the gods of Egypt – I, and
not a messenger.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I am the Reboinoisheloilum. I am He, and none other.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">-----</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We live at a time when the folly of human leadership is on
display for all to see. We are facing a global crisis, a health scare that is a
one in a hundred-year event. Without modern science and modern medicine, the casualty
rate would be at a minimum twenty percent of the population; that is the approximate
rate at which people diagnosed with the virus require hospitalization. Let’s play
out the numbers: Out of 100 people, 20 people would die. Out of one million,
two hundred thousand. Out of ten million, two million people. And out of five
billion people, one billion.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And who are we relying upon to get us through this moment? Many
of us are relying upon scientists and doctors and mathematicians, the deepest
experts on the topics. They are not perfect, by any means. But they walk in the
footsteps of the RAMBAM, spending their entire lives in laboratories and
hospitals and universities trying to understand the very nature of the world
that Hakadoshboruchhu created. They use knowledge of the human genome, data,
unique chemical compounds, math, and statistics to identify strategies and solutions
to end the pandemic, or at least slow it down to give society more time to learn,
to treat, to heal, and to binge watch Netflix. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But others are relying on people who are unskilled and
untrained, and who wear their ignorance on their chests like a badge of honor.
They were quick to dismiss the risks of social distancing, and continued to encourage
their followers, their families, and their friends to attend Minyan en masse and
participate in weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, and to this day even participate in
packed funerals. They are the same leaders who provide cures to the Covid 19
virus including (I am not making any of this up):</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Consuming lemon water. Seriously. How did Fauci
miss this one?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Consuming garlic water. I do not know if this
will prevent Covid 19, but perhaps will serve as a form of birth control, which
is not a bad thing in Chareidi communities.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Women should stop wearing wigs with long hair,
or wigs in general, and instead should wear Shpitzlach. A Shpitzel (singular)
is a bit of a cross between and oversized swimming cap and the emptied rind of
a cantaloupe. It is another form of birth control.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Placing cut up onions around one’s bed. Looks like
Fauci missed this one as well. Clearly he has a Goyyisheh Kup.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Pointing a blow dryer at one’s open mouth and
blasting hot air down the throat. I swear: I cannot make stuff like this up.
Honestly.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Consuming ginger tea. Apparently there is a
recipe for it in the Zoihar. However, I never saw it there myself; I never got
past the sports section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Who are these people who make such pronouncements, who lead
their flocks to follow in their paths? These are the same people who have
ensured that generations of Ultra Orthodox are cheated out of receiving a basic
secular education and are condemned to a life of economic struggle and government
handouts. These are the same people who encourage children to get married as teenagers
and produce babies at an industrial rate. These are the same people who
tolerate all forms of sexual and emotional abuse of children and adults, as
long as the perpetrators keep up a semblance of religious appearances; if you
do not believe me, Google “Malka Leifer”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">These so-called leaders would have you believe that they bring
Divine Truth through Daas Toirah, when in fact they have led their followers
into an alleyway with no exit. Are they evil? That may not be their intent, but
as we now know, the outcome is evil. The high rates of illness and death in
communities such as Williamsburg, KJ, Bnei Brak, and Lakewood are the absolute
testimony to their folly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our leaders, all of our leaders -- religious, political,
and cultural – are all human beings. They are all flawed. We are all flawed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">However, we can change. By following these human beings who
claim Divine Insight into the abyss, we have missed the critical teachings of Pesach:
Loi Al Yadei Malach. Loi Al Yedei Seraph. Loi Al Yedei Shaliach. Such people
have failed their followers, and in fact are dangerous. They have caused people
to die, and insofar as they continue to advocate false cures, they are
dangerous. Some might even say that they are Rodphim, people who constitute a
mortal threat to others. But at a minimum, they are Avoidah Zarah, and continued
followership is nothing less than idol worship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">How difficult will it be for communities to pursue a new
path? Well, almost overnight I replaced my Yeshivah and Shul with my apartment’s
basement, and my Shtender with the building’s washing machine. And my clothing
has never been cleaner!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But – you may ask --- what of the Rabbis, the elders who
led these communities for decades: How can we replace such people? A very wise
man once told me the answer many years ago, “The cemeteries are filled with
people who were irreplaceable.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ah Gutten Yuntif, You Menuval.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">---------</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rosheshiva</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-74247548928594534542020-04-03T13:36:00.001-04:002020-04-03T13:45:01.701-04:00Epistle For a Mentch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">THE COLLECTED
WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">====================================================</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Epistle For a Mentch,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Shtayt in the Gemarrah, “Hamevoreich Ess
Chaveiroi BiPharhesia, KeilIlui Boirei Ess HaOilam Kooloi”. The Talmud states,
“One who blesses his friend in public, it is as if he has created the entire
world”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I would like to share a few words about a Gadol
as we approach his first Yahrtzeit. A Talmud Chacham, a friend, a loyal
companion, his presence always made others feel spiritually, emotionally and
physically secure, except when he was distracted by the occasional passing
truck. Or a squirrel.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As is the Minhag with every great Ben Toirah,
we do not offer a Hespaid at the funeral, but wait until at least the Shloshim
to share remembrances. So, now, nearly one year later, in the midst of a global
health crisis that likes of which has not been seen in one hundred years since
the Spanish Influenza of 1918, we celebrate his life and try to find meaning
and inspiration for ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Shoyn.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel Kalbasavuah was born in the Deep
South. His father was a Tzaddik, a Lamud Vuvnik and a Goimel Chessed, who had a
very full beard and a spectacular sense of smell. And his mother was a short
haired bitch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel spent his youth with his Sephardic
family. When tensions arose after the family ate Kitniyois on Shavuos, young
Reb Shmiel increasingly spent his time in Bais Medrish. He spent many hours a
day in the company of other Talmidim, Shteiging together. In addition to
becoming masters in Toirah, they proved themselves to be committed and obedient
students. He enjoyed his time there: It was Mamish Gevaldik to watch him with
other Talmidim, going back and forth throughout the day pursuing issues large
and small. And his commitment was recognized and rewarded; after completion of
his studies, Reb Shmiel was certified with Smicha in Yora Yora, Yadin Yadin,
and Roll Oiver.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">When Rebbetzin Feigeh Breinah and I first met
Reb Shmiel, he was looking for a place to settle. “Lech Lecha, MeArtzecha”, he
had left his home to venture north to the heart of the Promised Land: Boro Park.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our initial meeting was awkward. Reb Shmiel
seemed hesitant when I first approached him. We met in a public area. I walked
slowly, my large beard blowing in the wind, my Payis swinging side to side. He
looked nervous and anxious, like a Bar Mitzvah Bochur before reciting Kriyas
HaToirah or a Kallah Meidel before her wedding night,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel and I came to know each other over
time and had many deep discussions over long walks: Parshas Hashavuah. Gemarrah
BeIyun. Daf Yoimi. Hilchois Shabbos. RAMBAM. The RAMBAN. The ROISH. The RI. The
RIF, The RUFF. And then some light topics like the Mishnah Berurah, Igrois
Moishe, and Art Scroll’s Illustrated Halacha Series For Children Hosted By Heshy,
the Magical Flying Parah Aduma. But also current events.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Sometimes we would meet others, and Reb Shmiel
made a few friends. His studious and serious demeanor could at times be
perceived as humorless and austere. But at his core he had a warm soul, even if
what most people saw was a cold nose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel had many interests. He liked to
learn Toirah, and to do acts of Gemilus Chassadim. He loved to learn
BiChavrusa, but was also comfortable being alone. He loved nature, as it made
him feel closer to the Aimishteh. His favorite Mitzvah, perhaps the one that he
has most remembered for, was his commitment to sustainability. He hated waste,
and his personal mission was to prevent Baal Tashchis; he hated when even a
morsel or scrap or food would go to waste. So he always ate everyone’s
leftovers. He even once ate a bagel on Pesach that he found in the street in
one bite. Yes, he was Oiver in a Dioraisa, but his intention was Biyur Chometz,
the destruction of the offensive food; Achilah was purely incidental. What
Mesiras Nefesh! What a Tzaddik!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel was knowledgeable about many areas
of Toirah. He loved learning Halacha as well as Gemara. He also loved learning
TANACH with traditional and modern scholarship. In his learning, he excelled at
understanding complex ideas expressed as very simple statements. For example -
Reb Shmiel never needed to prepare for Shabbos with the same fanfare as other
Talmidim. One word was always enough, especially if the word was “sit”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel was a true Buckie, a deep expert, in
Halachois associated with smells. “When I open a bottle of peppercorns, am I
allowed to smell them without saying a ‘Boirei Minei Besamim?’” “Is that a new
smell? Shall I make a SheHechiyanu?” “Was there someone here before?” “Are
there leftovers nearby that I can save from going to waste?” “Did someone pee
on that tree?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel was once walking with my daughter
Bracha Levatala when they were accidentally hit by a car driven by our
neighbor, Rabbi Schwartz. As Bracha was on the ground, Reb Shmiel, his Tfillin
hand mutilated, stayed with Brachalah until the local Hatzolah ambulance came
to her aid. Reb Shmiel then underwent complicated surgery and experienced a
full recovery. Always a Tzaddik, Reb Shmiel quickly forgave Rabbi Dr. Schwartz
for the accident, although he would occasionally make Pishvasser on his
shrubbery.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel is perhaps best remembered for his
dynamic Machlokessin with Reb Yoissaiph Katzky. They often took very opposite
approaches in their Halachic philosophies. For example, Reb Shmiel believed
that on Sukkois, one should spend every possible waking moment in the Sukkah,
as long as there was food on the table. Or on the floor. But Reb Yoisaiph
believed that one should minimize his presence in the Sukkah to just the Sha’as
Mitzvah, the momentary opportunities to engage in a Mitzvah such as eating,
drinking, sleeping, and killing invading baby squirrels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel Kalbasavuah and Reb Yoisaph Katzky
were not friends, but had a grudging respect for each other. Often, when one
was learning Toirah the other looked on from a distance, not making a sound.
But when they debated it could be raucous. More than one onlooker suggested
that when their engaged in Machloikess they debated like cats and dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel had a different type of relationship
with Reb Betzalel Kupkayk, in many ways quite the opposite of his relationship
with Reb Yoisaph. Reb Shmiel was a mentor to Reb Yehoishaphat, instructing him
in the intricacies of Toirah SheBichsav and Toirah SheBaalPeh. Shmiel and Reb
Betzalel spent much time together learning, and also took many long walks
together. They were so close, they even on occasion made Mei Raglayim under the
same tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What can we learn from the life of such a
Tzaddik?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There is an often quoted Mishnah in Avois that
tells us, “Asei Lecha Rav, U’Knei Lecha Chazer”, “Establish for yourself a
Rebbe, and purchase for yourself a friend”. What does that mean? Does the
Mishah want us to construct an idol out of clay that we can follow blindly, or
hire a Kirva to keep us company?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai, at this complex time in human
history, it seems that the Mishnah is giving us a lesson in essentials. There
are many who lead. There are many who aspire to lead. There are some who take
on leadership roles, but only reluctantly so. Can you follow every leader? What
if a leader gives advice that does not make sense to you, such as attending
Shul or a Simcha during the Coivid 19 epidemic? Should you follow simply
because the person is your elder or an authority figure or was the Rebbe to
your parents going all the way back to Europe??</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Of course not. The Mishnah tells us “Asei
Lecha”, “Establish for yourself”. Following a leader is not presented as a
passive exercise. You do not simply follow someone because he has a long beard
or nice Payis or a beautiful Arba Kanfois. Following a leader is an active
exercise - you mast use your brain, your choice, your free will as to who you
follow. If your Rebbe told you to eat Chazer, would you do it? If your Rebbe
told you to jump off the Empire State Building, would you do it? If your Rebbe
told your wife to wear a Sheytel with long hair, would she do it? If your Rebbe
told you to use a smart phone, would you do it? No - you would get another
Rebbe! So if your Rebbe tells you to meet with a densely populated group of people
during a global pandemic, do you listen? Or do you use your
Reboinoisheloilum-given brain and establish for yourself a different Rebbe, one
who does not have his head all the way up his Bor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Similarly, when it comes to choosing friends,
are we supposed to be friendly with everyone we meet, as if we are putting
Tfillin or perfect strangers on the street? Should we follow the crowd,
especially if the crowd is encouraging you to act in ways that do not make
logical sense? Should we engage in social activities because it is easier
socially to conform? Or should we be more discerning, and if necessary, be
willing to invest in the right friendships and relationships?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel Kalbasavuah was indeed thoughtful in
terms of how he spent his time and who he spent his time with. He was a figure
of few words, but deliberate actions. When he spoke, people heard him. When he
took action, people noticed. He was loyal and thoughtful. He was a grand
companion. He was a scholar. He was an excellent Chavrusa. And he was a Mentch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Shmiel entered Shamayim quietly, as was his
way. Proud and stubborn, slowly being eaten away by a combination of mortal
ailments, even in his last days he was willing to gather his last energies to
prevent someone from being Oiver on Baal Tashchis, Chass V’Sholom. Flesh is
fleeting, life is fleeting, but the good that one does remains as a testament
and model for others in this and future generations.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yehi Zichroi Baruch</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Ah Gutten
Shabbos You Menuval</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">---------</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Rabbi Pinky
Schmeckelstein</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Rosheshiva</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Yeshivas
Chipass Emmess</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></div>
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-14012567786926446982020-03-20T17:28:00.001-04:002020-03-20T17:28:19.901-04:00On Coivad Yud Tess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On Coivad Yud Tess</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The Goyim are having a Mageifah, and as a result are
persecuting Klal Yisroel. They are struggling with a so-called virus named
after a beer, the Vilda Chaya Shikkurs, and now we are being forced to shut our
Moisdois and our Shuls, Rachmuna Litzlan. There go the anti-Semites again, blaming
the Yidden.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">How did we get here?</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">-----</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In this week’s Parsha, Vayakhel Pikudei, we read about the
directive of the Reboinoisheloilum to build the Mishkan in the Midbar. Klal
Yisroel gathers together gold and silver and copper and skins of animals and
yarn and build an elaborately decorated tent, with multiple rooms, a Mizbeyach,
a Kiyyor, and flushing toilets. Plus 5G. All in the middle of the freaking desert.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Well, you Mechitziff, how do you think that Klal Yisroel got
all that gold and silver and copper and skins of animals and yarn in the middle
of the desert? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">From the Goyim, of course.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We read earlier in Sefer Shmois, Perek Yood Bais, Passuk
Lamid Hei:,</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>וּבְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל עָשׂ֖וּ
כִּדְבַ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִםכְּלֵי־כֶ֛סֶף וּכְלֵ֥י זָהָ֖ב וּשְׂמָלֹֽת׃</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“And Klal Yisroel followed Moishe Rabbeiniu’s direction and
borrowed objects of silver and gold, and clothing from the Mitzrim.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Why would the Mitzrim, those Ganuvim, lend their precious
belongings to a hated minority? Were they charging our ancestors interest? Were
they expecting Klal Yisroel to escape with their jewelry, after which the
Mitzrim planned to file an insurance claim? Or, perhaps, did the Mitzrim not hate
Klal Yisroel as much as we thought? Perhaps the Mitzrim were kind of into us,
and were giving us jewelry in an effort to get into our Gatkes.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Well,you Shmendrick, the Toirah actually tells us the
answer in the very next Passuk:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>וַֽיהוָ֞ה נָתַ֨ן אֶת־חֵ֥ן
הָעָ֛ם בְּעֵינֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם וַיַּשְׁאִל֑וּם וַֽיְנַצְּל֖וּ אֶת־מִצְרָֽיִם׃ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“The Reboinoisheloilum made the Mitzrim favorably inclined
to Klal Yisroel, and they loaned their objects to the Yidden, who took
advantage of Mitzrayim.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Just like that. Hakadoishboruchhu snaps His large, hairy
fingers, and the Mitzrim handed us their possessions. Maybe, if we had asked nicely,
they would have given us their houses and their country clubs, and then they
could have had the Groiseh Mitzvah wandering in the desert for forty years like
a group of overeducated nomads.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What were the circumstances that preceded Klal Yisroel
reaching the grand heights of Yetziyas Mitzrayim, taking oynership of the
Mitzrim’s possessions, receiving the Toirah on Har Sinai, walking through the Midbar,
and entering Eretz Yisroel? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">All of this happened following a pandemic that killed the
first born sons of all of Egypt -- Makkas Bechoirois, the Plague of the
Firstborn, when the Mitzrim died while Klal Yisroel went free.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What can we learn from this Parsha, you Menuval? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The Toirah is teaching us that Klal Yisroel is immune to the
Mageifois that plague the Goyim. The world must hide, the world must engage in
Social Distancing, the world must worry about a 3% mortality rate. But Klal
Yisroel is immune, perhaps even strengthened, by continuing to go to Minyan
three times a day, by continuing to learn in Bais Medrish, and by continuing to
hold Simchas attended by the young and old, especially when the band has
already been paid for. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Sure, we can quarantine ourselves... but only if we believe
the lies of the left, the hoax of the media. You can choose to stay at home learning
Toirah while your Bashert is home since the local Bais Yankif was closed down
by the anti Semites and the self-hating Mamzeirim who called for the closure of
all that is holy to us truly Frum Jews: </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Shuls,
where we spend our mornings Davening with two pairs of Tfillin, two pairs of
Tzitzitz, and two smartphones to text on during Shmoineh Esrai; </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yeshivois,
where we spend our days Shteiging in Bais Medrish, toiling over a Gevaldika
Toisfois, while the lazy Am Haratzim idle away engaging in Bittul Toirah at
their jobs;</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Simchois,
where we spend our evenings sharing in the joy of others by eating their food,
drinking their alcohol, and complaining about their speeches; and</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Freilechah
Hoizelach, where we spend our nights Shuckeling with the Kurvahs.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We true believers go about our lives, secure in the
knowledge that Klal Yisroel cannot possibly be affected by a disease that has already
killed thousands of Goyim around the world. We survived the Mitzrim and the
Babylonians and the Persians and the Greeks and the Romans and the Poles and
the Germans and Oibama, so we will get through Coivid Yud Tess Machalah just
fine. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I am reminded of a story about Reb Chaim Bouillabaisse, the
Chief Rabbi of Strassburg during the Bubonic Plague that killed half of the population
of Europe between 1648 and 1651. Reb Chaim was trying to teach a Shiur on the
proper size of the knife used to slaughter the Para Adumah, the Red Heffer,
during the time of the Bais Hamikdash. His Talmidim listened patiently as Reb
Chaim quoted the Talmid Bavli, the Yerushalmi, Reb Sherira Goyn, the RAMBAM,
the RAMBAN, the RIF, the ROISH, the RAN, the ROE, the RABBIT, and the R-Squared,
citing their debates on the size of the handle, the sharpness of the blade, and
the famous Machloikess on whether or not the Koihain Gadol can use an electric
chainsaw Bishas Hadchak. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Suddenly, a young Talmid in the second row named Jacques
raised his hand, “Rebbe, why are we discussing the technical details of an
obscure ritual that has not been performed in almost 2,000 years while people
are dying everyday and the Jewish People are being scapegoated and persecuted?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Chaim paused, and then, after looking at the ceiling for
a moment, responded. “Yankel, do you ever tell you father the tailor how to sew
clothing?”</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“No, Reb Chaim, Jacques responded. “My Papa studied clothing
design at the Sorbonne. He knows better than me.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Yankel, do you every tell your mother how to cook for
Shabbos?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“No, Reb Chaim, Mother studied cooking with some of the
finest chefs in Paris. She does not need my advice.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“So why do you think you should tell me how to teach my
class?”, Reb Chaim asked.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Jacques got out of his chair, went up to Reb Chaim, beckoned
Reb Chaim to lean down, and then whispered something into his ear. He then
promptly left the classroom.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Another Talmid, Pierre, raised his hand and asked, “Rebbe,
what did Jacques say, and why did he leave?’</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Reb Chaim responded. “Pierre… all of you Kinderlach, Yankel
excused himself to go home. He did not have any Emunah. I say ‘Good Riddance’!
Now let’s all take a break and eat some frogs legs and baguettes, and meet back
here in twenty minutes.” After the students left the room to take their break,
Reb Chaim walked over to the desks of each of Talmidim, coughed on their
Gemarras, and spat all over their pencils and pens. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">When the students returned Reb Chaim announced, “Kinderlach,
I want to reassure you that you are perfectly safe from the Goyyisheh Mageifah.
There is a Gemarrah that promises us that Hakadoshboruchhu will never take the
souls of the innocent. I just sent Him a personal reminder of what He has to
lose if He allows the Machalah to spread.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And, in fact, Reb Chaim did save the children from dying a
senseless death in the Bubonic Plague. That Shabboskoidesh, the
Reboinoisheloilum confirmed His commitment to not harm the Strassburg Jewish community
with a pandemic disease. Instead, he mercifully sent the fearful, superstitious
Goyim of the town to slaughter all the Jews of the city – every man, woman, and
child -- in an effort to prevent the plague from reaching the city. But the
joke was on the locals and their Goyisheh Kups: They all got the Bubonic Plague
anyway and died three weeks later. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai, Now is the time to show our Emunah by declaring
our faith. We do not need to hide in our homes! While the Goyim and the nonbelievers
try to hide from the so-called germs, we should all go to our Shuls to recite a
Heimisheh Hallel to Hakadoshboruchhu: </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">“Thank you Reboinoisheloilum for watching over Klal Yisroel.
The Goyim use Webex and Zoom and watch Netflix, while we sing Your praises. The
Goyim stockpile toilet paper, while we engage in Avoidas HaShem. The Goyim show
their lack of faith, while we demonstrate our Emunah. Just please make sure
that we get some of that handout money the Government is planning to send.
After all, we have many mouths to feed, Kenayna Harrah, and the Goyim not including
us in their wealth redistribution scheme would be a terribly selfish and myopic
thing for them to do.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ah Gutten Shabbos You Menuval</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">---------</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Rosheshiva</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-9305103121344715542019-09-05T23:33:00.001-04:002019-09-05T23:36:11.773-04:00NEW -- Damn Liberals!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_7" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_7" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_7" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0 , 0 , 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_3439" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_20" style="margin: 0px;"><div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_273" style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4410" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4411" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_263" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Damn Liberals!</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4409" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4412" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_253" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rabboisai,</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4408" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4407" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_248" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Imagine, if you will, that you are Moishe
Rabbeinu. Toirah Tzivah Luhnoo Moishe Moireshess Kehilas Yankif,</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4406" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4405" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_238" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You climb up to Har Sinai to meet the
Reboinoisheloilum Panim El Panim, face to face. You are the cloisest... errr...
closest that any human being has ever gotten to Hakadoshboruchu. You receive
the Luchois containing the Aseres HaDubrois, the Two Tablets containing the Ten
Commandments. You then receive the rest of the Toirah -- Toirah SheBiChsav and
Toirah SheBaal Peh -- the Written and the Oral Law, all that was, is and will be.
You now know everything there is to know:</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_245" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_231" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">What
is a kosher animal? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4402" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4401" style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_243" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_221" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_216" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">What
should I do if I spill a spoon full of milk into a beef stew - Is it still
Koisher, or is it Treif like Chazer-Schmaltz on Yoim Kippur? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4404" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4403" style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_213" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_200" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_195" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">Will
synthesized meat -- created in a lab -- have the status of an animal, and therefore
should not be eaten with diary? Or will the synthesized meat have the status of
the vegetables, beans and other non-meat products that are its ingredients, and
therefore be permissible to be eaten with dairy, as long as it is certified bug
free and is served on a plate that has a Hashgacha by a waiter who has been
screened for Shatnez? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4432" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_190" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Moishe has received a revelation of the
construct of the world of the Divine. He has achieved perfection.</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_184" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And then, when he descends from the mountain...
Lo and Behold, Klal Yisroel has already strayed from the path of the Aimisheh
and is having wild Tashmish HaMitah parties while smoking Besamim and worshipping
the Eigel HaZahav, the Golden Calf. Even worse – they are eating Triangle K, Rachmuna
Litzlan! And as he comprehends all that he sees, and understands how this all stands
in contrast to the path that he was just shown... he slams the Luchois down and
shatters the Tablets into a thousand pieces and yells out at Klal Yisroel at
the top of his voice, “<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">Reboinoisheloilum-damned
Liberals</span>!”</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_208" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_211" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">------</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_174" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rabboisai, </span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_164" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We are living in a world that has been overrun
by Liberals, Yemach Shmum! Here we are, at a moment in history that is not
unlike Klal Yisroel standing at Har Sinai. It is a moment of perfection:</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_171" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_159" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_154" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">The
State of Israel has never been stronger. It has a population of eight million
or so, has diplomatic relations with most countries in the world, burgeoning
relationships with many others, including Sunni Arab nations, and has even
hosted this year’s Eurovision</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
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<span style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_169" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_144" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_139" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">Toirah
has never been more embraced in all of history. Between Israel, the United
States, and other countries in the world, there are about one million fully
Observant Jews in the world - between Ultra Orthodox Chassidic and Yeshivish
communities, and modern Orthodox. Consequently, there are more Jews engaged in
serious learning in Yeshivas in the different communities than there ever were
in history; not even in the glorious, holy villages and communities in Eastern
Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries did Klal Yisroel enjoy such
scholarship. And if you include Chabad, The Kabbalah Center, and Jews For
Jesus, the number of learned Jews doubles!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
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<span style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_130" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_116" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">We
have in the White House the BEST president the US has ever had. EVER. Period.
That is true across the board, and especially with regard to Israel and Jews!
He recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol, put pressure on the Palestinians,
cancelled US participation in the Iran deal, recognized Israeli authority in
the Golan Heights, closed the PLO office in DC, expelled the de facto
Palestinian ambassador, and removed the PA from the State Department’s
website.<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>What more can you want? Add
into that tax reform, persecuting... errr... prosecuting immigrants -- illegal
and legal, safeguarding the all-important Second Amendment, stacking the
Supreme Court with Conservatives who will eventually save every fetus in
America - but not ensure that as children and adults they have affordable
access to healthcare, trade wars with China, hostile relations with Western
Europe and Canada, excellent relationships with the leaders of Russia and North
Korea, and the great economy, what more could anyone want? Indeed, I have long
said that President Donald J Trump is the Melech HaMoishiach, and, recently, he
admitted as much, noting “I am the Chosen One”. With that, he went farther than
the Lubavitcher Rebbe in that he actually admitted his cosmic role to the world!
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_111" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And yet... despite all of this clear,
demonstrable evidence, there are still people, still Jews who question
President Trump SHLITA’s wisdom and Chosenness. Damned Liberals! Why can’t they
admit when they are wrong?</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4397" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4396" style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_127" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_106" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_101" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">Liberals
believe that Jews should vote for whomever they believe best serves their and
the country’s interests. And yet, those same Liberals will vote for the
Democratic Party. Do they seek a return to the days of Oibama or Clinton?
Oibama was the founder of Al Quaida, and Clinton only tolerated Jews as long as
they let him deposit Zerah on their blue dresses. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4399" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4398" style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_122" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_91" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_86" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">Liberals
believe in global warming -- that human actions are impacting the global
environment and causing climate spikes that are contributing to natural
disasters. And what makes them believe in Global Warming? Science? I suppose
these same Liberals believe the world is more than six thousand years old, that
vaccines are good for you, and that cigarettes are bad for you! Go find me a
Gemara that agrees with those positions! I guarantee you that no such Gemara
exists!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 48px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<span style="color: black; display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_124" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">·<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_76" style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_71" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;">Liberals
believe that the US should have borders open to all. They point to the US as
being a country of immigrants since its founding. But that is not in fact the
case! North America was given by the Reboinoisheloilum to all current American
citizens! How do you know? Because we run the country! Sure, many of our
parents and grandparents came here as immigrants themselves... but that is
quite different. Should they have been denied access to the US? That would have
been anti-Semitism! However, as long as immigrants are not Jews, it is not
anti-Semitism to deny them access to Our Land, especially if they are from
Shithole Countries (TM).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_66" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rabboisai, how should we deal with the
dangerous phenomenon of Liberals in our midst? </span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_61" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am reminded of a famous Gemara in Tainis. The
Gemara brings down a Medrish where Rish Lakish was in a bar with Rav Pappa, and
was regaling Rav Pappa with tales of his days as a roadside thief, a “highway
man”. Rish Lakish talked about the time he held up a convoy of wagons and stole
all of the passengers’ jewelry, beat up a driver, and exposed himself to a
wagon full of women. </span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_56" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“You think you are a tough guy. Is that all you
got?” Rav Pappa asked. </span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_51" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Can you do better, you Mechutziff?” asked Rish
Lakish.</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_46" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rav Pappa, who is well known in the Gemara as
being obese, rubbed his bloated belly as he replied. “Son, I may weigh over 350
pounds, yet I fathered ten sons whose names get recited at every Siyum
(Editor’s note: celebration of completing a single or multiple volumes of the
Talmud), and every time someone does that, Ketching!, I earn a licensing fee.
You risked your life to steal pennies, but people constantly pay me money for
reciting my prose, and then thank me for it! So who is the tough guy now?”</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_41" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rish Lakish smiled at Rav Pappa and said, “Hey,
fatty! I hope you enjoy spending your money as much as I enjoyed Shtupping your
wife and impregnating her ten times.”</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_36" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">------ </span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4390" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4389" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4388" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rabboisai, the Liberals are taking what is
ours! They want our money! They want our guns! They want to dilute our country
with immigrants! They want to kill our fetuses! They want everyone to speak
either Spanish or Canadian, but not English! They want to provide healthcare to
all!</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4395" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4394" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4393" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But you know what? Some of these Liberals have
adopted these positions out of sincerity -- LiShma. So we can perhaps overlook
their deep failings of being Liberals. Shoyn.</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_26" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">However, there are red lines that no one should
ever cross.</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4385" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10.66px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4383" style="line-height: 17.33px; margin: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4381" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To quote President Donald J. Trump SHLITA,
Melech HaMashiach, “Any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat—I think it shows
either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” And how should we handle
such disloyal Liberals? We personally do not need to do anything. After all, there
are “some very fine people on both sides”. And our side has most of the guns.</span></span></div>
</span><div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4379" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_3493" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1567644042135_16" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ah Gutten Shabbos<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_3492" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_3491" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, You Menuval</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_3487" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #3f3f3f; display: block; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_3489" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">---------<br />
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />
Rosheshiva<br />
Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4311" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1.3px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: auto;"></b><i style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: auto;"></i><u style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: auto;"></u><sub style="vertical-align: text-bottom;"></sub><sup style="vertical-align: text-top;"></sup><strike style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: auto;"></strike><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br class="yui-cursor" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1567644042135_4310" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: auto;" /></div>
</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-68580770532853289422019-08-11T00:52:00.002-04:002019-08-11T00:52:52.445-04:00NEW -- Tisha Ba'Av Drasha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">To subscribe, send an e-mail to
NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"<br />
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622<br />
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THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br />
<br />
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />
====================================================</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">NEW – Tisha Ba’Av Drasha<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Rabboisai,</span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">It has been a
long time since I addressed you. And, in truth, it has been more than that
since I wrote to you with a pure heart.</span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The last two
years or so have been trying times for the Schmeckelsteins. Death. Illness.
Professional transition. Monetary concerns. Temptation. Surrender. Shatnez.
Loshoin Harrah. Blood. Frogs. Kinim. Aroiv. And so on.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">You know. All
the things that we spend our whole lives trying to avoid. </span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">At some point,
whoever you are, whatever you do, life throws you curveballs. And then your
true character is measured. </span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">When all is
going well, you face basic life challenges. You think that you are a hero –
especially because that is what you mother tells you – but it is not that difficult.
But when you have a setback - personal or professional - character is when you
pick yourself off the floor, no matter how shitty you feel, and you push ahead.
Character is resilience. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">And that is the
meaning of life.</span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Shoyn.</span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I share this with you because this is a special
time of year. We are currently commemorating Tisha Ba’Av, the saddest day of
the year, outside of April 15. According to tradition, Tisha Ba’Av memorializes
many things in Jewish history:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; orphans: 2; text-indent: -.25in; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="margin: 0px;"></span>·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The
first Bais Hamikdash was destroyed<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span></span>by the Babylonians. And, tragically, Klal
Yisrael were not compensated by insurance. (Indeed, it was Prudential - not
Yirmiyahu HaNavi - who originated the notion that the destruction on the Temple
was an “Act of the Reboinoisheloilum.”</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">The
second Bais Hamikdash was destroyed by the Romans. Well... they actually waited
for all of the Jewish factions to kill each other within Jerusalem and destroy
each other’s food supplies. If Klal Yisroel had only held out for two more
months... we could have combined Tisha Ba’Av and Yoim Kippur, and perhaps celebrated
Shabbos Nachamu with a “special friend” in the Sukkah…</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Moishe
Rabbeinu broke the Luchois when he saw the Jews worshipping the Eigel HaZahav,
the Golden Calf, while eating Chazer sandwiches on bread that was not made from
Yishon flour.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Apostomos
burned the holy Torah. Note: I have absolutely no idea who Apostomus was. If
you want more details, go to the Chabad or Aish website, AKA “Persecution.Com”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Alan
Dershowitz was born, and he would go on to great fame and fortune representing
such upstanding citizens as Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Baruch Lanner,
and OJ Simpson. Mi K’Amcha Yisrael?!?!?!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">How should we think about a
day tinged with national tragedy, especially in a time of relative peace for
Klal Yisroel, relative freedom of religion for Klal Yisroel, relative economic
stability for Klal Yisroel?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I am writing these words from the Shtetyl in
Pittsburgh, having spent Shabbos in the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. It was
in Squirrel Hill that a lone gunman walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue on a
Shabboskoidesh last October and murdered eleven people during Davening. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Squirrel Hill is a quiet,
peaceful, friendly neighborhood, abutting Oakland, home to the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center,<span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><span style="border-image: none; margin: 0px;"> </span>Carnegie Mellon University, and several other
academic institutions, including several Catholic universities. Many of the
Jewish residents of Squirrel Hill are affiliated with the hospital of
universities. It was in many ways an Idyllic community, until...</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When we think about the tragedies that befell Klal
Yisroel which are commemorated by Tisha Ba’Av, it is important to remember that
they too followed periods of stability and security for Klal Yisroel. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">During the late First Temple period Klal Yisrael
experience a renaissance under Yoshiyahu HaMelech, King Josiah, embracing
centralized worship in the Bais Hamikdash and incorporating a newly found “lost
book of the Toirah”, widely believed by both CHAZAL and secular scholars to be
Sefer Devarim. All was well until, a generation later...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">During the Mid-Late Second Temple period the
Chashmonaim, the Hasmonian Maccabees, wrested independence from the Seleucid
Greeks in Syria and the Ptolemaic Greeks in Egypt, and expanded Jewish
sovereignty over many parts of the traditional Land of Israel. But factional
divisions led to the entrance of the Romans into the territory, the loss of
sovereignty, and, eventually, the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, and, finally,
the banishment from Jerusalem and two thousand years of exile.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As Klal Yisroel, we have a rich history of great
political, cultural, academic, economic, and societal achievements. Yet... we
have suffered persecutions in every corner of the globe. What is the secret to
our Jewish survival and, dare I say, success, especially in light of our legacy
of tragedy?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Rabboisai, I am reminded of a famous Maiseh
Shehoya. The third Bobover Rebbe, Reb Shlomo Halberstam, survived the Shoah
after losing his first wife and many of his children to the Nazis – the
original White Supremacists. Upon reaching the shores of America, Reb Shlomo
set about rebuilding his community… and his own life. Reb Shlomo remarried, and
at his second wedding, one of his Chassidim asked him, “Rebbe, how can you
dance, after all of the death and horror that brought you to this point?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Reb Shlomo kept dancing, but leaned his head towards
his Chussid’s ear. Answered Reb Shlomo, “You know, you might be right. Maybe I
should go back to Poland, cover myself in the ashes of my family, and either wait
for them to wake up from the dead, or wait to die in that place. Or, just
maybe, I can try to rebuild my life and our Chassidus. What do you think I
should do, Schmuck?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Reb Shlomo’s Chassid paused for a moment, and then
offered to sell Reb Shlomo a life insurance policy and an unfiltered cellphone.
Reb Shlomo responded by embracing his Chussid and encouraging him to crouch to
do the Kazatzkah. Reb Shlomo then tightened his Gartel, but his hands on his
hips, and kicked his Chussic skver… errr… square in the Shvatzlach.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Shoyn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Reb Shlomo knew that the
secret to Klal Yisroel’s success is resilience. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Rabboisai, at this time of year we are reminded
that even our greatest periods of success can easily transform into painful
tragedy. But at the same time, we commemorate these tragedies on very few days
of the year. Why is that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">To listen to some of our friends
and colleagues, brothers and sisters, one might think that the real Mitzvah is for
Klal Yisroel to be in a national state of mourning 365 days a year. We were
persecuted. They took turns killing us. They are all against us. None of them
are our real friends. Our fate is to suffer -- and suffer we shall every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">But Tisha Ba’Av is only once
a year. Yes, it follows the Three Weeks and the Nine Days, but is one day a
year, and is followed six days later by Tu Ba’Av and Shabbos Nachamu, a
universal time of new beginnings, and the occasional one night stand. We limit
our national mourning to one day a year because Klal Yisroel is founded on
resilience, The Toirah commands us to not forget the past, but wants us to
focus primarily on the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">And so Rabboissai, at the end
of this long fast, after we eat everything not nailed down to the table, after
a period or challenge and disappointment, after a period of pain, we can relax
knowing that the worst is behind us, and the best is yet ahead.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; margin: 0px;">Tzom Kal, You Menuval</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">---------<br />
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />
Rosheshiva<br />
Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: 100%; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-16724194503291688572019-02-01T12:35:00.001-05:002019-02-01T12:35:21.572-05:00On the Performance of Teshuvah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2152" style="color: black;">On the Performance of Teshuvah</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">Rabboisai,</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2150" style="color: black;">I come before you with Viduy, confession, for a sin I caused my entire Kehillah.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2148" style="color: black;">I was Davening Shacharis for the Amud last week, leading the prayer service in honor of the Yuhrtzeit for my long departed cat Baruch Shepatrani, when, as I was finishing Chatzi Kaddish immediately prior to Shmoineh Esrei, a fly landed on the Shtender at which I was Davening. Instinctively, I smacked hard on the Shtender, killing the fly. Unfortunately, this confused all 250 of my congregants, who as a result all recited Yaaleh VeYavoh, even though it was not Roish Chodesh or any other holiday. After Chazaras HaShatz half of the congregants began reciting Hallel. And ten members of the Kehilla ended up manically running home to build their Sukkahs, even though it is the middle of winter.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2168" style="color: black;">I mention this story out of a sense of guilt, guilt for causing the Reboinoisheloilum’s name to be said in vain by the entire Shul. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2198" style="color: black;">Guilt is a terrible burden. We are told of Moishe Rabbeinu that “Loi Kum B’Yisroel K’Moishe Oid”, no other person was ever able to achieve the greatness of Moses – The only man who ever saw God “Panim El Panim”, face to face. And yet the guilt associated with a minor transgression, the smiting of a rock instead of talking to it as commanded by the Aimishteh, was enough to keep Moishe out of the Promised Land, as well as deny him full pension benefits and healthcare for life. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2214" style="color: black;">Sin and guilt are strong components of our Jewish tradition. Guilt runs deep in the psyche. It is a part of the human experience and cycle of behavior: appreciation of wrongs we have committed, and their implications, in order that we may do Teshuvah, perform penitence for our wrongdoings. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">And how does one do penitence?</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2172" style="color: black;">BiZman SheBais HaMikdash Hayah Kayum, at the time that the Temple stood in Jerusalem, penitence was done through animal sacrifice. Someone would commit a sin – say, be MeChallel Shabboskoidesh, violate the Sabbath – and he would repent by engaging a priest to bring a Karban Chatusssss, a penance offering, on his behalf. He would also customarily tip the priest 20 Zuzim and an Apple I-Tunes gift card. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2170" style="color: black;">But after destruction of the Temple when we no longer have animal sacrifice, a man must commit penitence through prayer and fasting and the giving of charity. So, for example, if you, my dear reader, missed Zman Kriyas Shema, you should be Mispallel to Hakadoshboruchhu, fast next Monday, and buy three of my books at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky (and not the goddamned e-books either). </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">Bameh Devarim Amurim – When does this apply? When we are dealing with sins that are Bain Udum LaMakoim – sins that trespass on the precepts of the Reboinoisheloilum. Rules, so to speak, that are linked to the religious cult, but have no impact on other human beings. However, when we discuss Bain Udum LeChaveiroi – sins of man against his fellow man -- bringing a Karban or saying a few prayers is not enough. One cannot say “I am sorry” to Hakadoshboruchhu in order to be forgiven for his sins against another human being. That is like engaging in Tashmish HaMitah and not… errr… completing the Makeh BaPatish. It is an incomplete action – woefully inadequate.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2191" style="color: black;">A Gemarrah in Baba Kamma describes the formula of payments that one must make in order to compensate for damages to another human being. They are: Nezek, Tza’ar, Ripuy, Shevess, and Boishes – Compensation for 1) the actual physical damage caused; 2) pain and suffering; 3) medical expenses resulting from the damage; 4) the loss of time associated with the recovery; and 5) embarrassment and humiliation. Toisfois suggests that a sixth element should be added – compensation for being forced during recovery to stay home and watch Dr. Phil.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2174" style="color: black;">There are of course many types of sins, and many types of sinners. And there are also different kinds of guilt. The RASHBA identifies three kinds of guilt: The guilt of one who commits a crime; the guilt of one who enables a crime; and the guilt of the bystanders who do not help the victim and look the other way, even after the crime has been committed. According to the RASHBA, each of these archetypes must do Teshuvah.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">There is a famous Gemarrah in Moed Katan that tells the story of a Maaseh Shehoya in Sura in ancient Babylonia. In the town of Sura, Reb Baruch was known among his Talmidim as a despot. In his Yeshiva, which had both boys and girls, her would violently abuse the boys by, among other things, kicking them in the schvatzlach. And he would sexually abuse the girls, by allegedly grabbing their…ummm…. Double Daked Tzitz, and doing things like going into their purses, pulling out their Nidah rags, and waving them at the boys in an effort to sexually humiliate the girls. He also perpetually used the abusive and foul Aramaic language instead of the Loshon HaKoidesh expected of someone of his stature.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2058" style="color: black;">One day Reb Baruch was brought before a Bias Din in which many of his Talmidim testified against him. He was, however, supported by many of the Amoraim, his rabbinical colleagues. He was ultimately exonerated of all of the charges, and the RCB (the Rabbinical Council of Babylon ) declared that , “The Bias Din determined that the overall portrayal of Baruch was false, and that many of the charges were great exaggerated or distorted… In light of the P’Sak of the Bias Din, we, the members of the RCB, wish Rabbi Baruch continued success as Rav and Educator.” Shoyn. What a Kiddush Hashem!</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2062" style="color: black;">The only problem was that ten years or so later, the Judean Peoples Weekly published an expose on Rabbi Baruch, based on the testimony of many, many former students. An investigation by the Babylonian authorities ultimately led to Rabbi Baruch going to prison for 3 years. So, it turned out, all of the initial allegations against Reb Baruch were in fact true. The original Bias Din was completely mishandled. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2177" style="color: black;">The Gemarrah goes on to discuss the culpability and Teshuva of all of the members of the Bias Din and the Amoraim who supported Reb Baruch, as well as the impact of the findings on many of his Talmidim. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2060" style="color: black;">Of the members of the Bias Din, Reb Yoisaif did full Teshuvah. He dedicated the rest of his life towards rooting out abuse of children and young adults throughout all of Babylonia. Reb Aaron, upon learning of the tragic error of the Bias Din, expressed extreme regret and died shortly afterwards of a broken heart. And Reb Haman, whom the Gemarrah suggests was allegedly responsible for swaying the initial outcome of the Bias Din, made a public apology after much pressure, and acknowledged that mistakes were made in the trial and that the Bias Din was ultimately flawed since no members of the Bias Din were experts in abuse. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2179" style="color: black;">However, Reb Haman was later involved in another controversial Bias Din trial in which he had a personal conflict of interest. In addition, when a new Rosheshiva that he did not approve of was appointed at the Yeshiva in Sura, he led many Talmidim of the Yeshiva in Sura in saying Tehillim. Nice guy. According to a separately Medrish in Vayikra Rabbah, after 120 year, Reb Haman was sent straight to Gehennim, had a large skewer shoved up his male Erva, had an apple stuck in his mouth, and was roasted over a fire for 1600 years and served to Adolph Hitler for Christmas dinner.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2175" style="color: black;">The Amoraim, too, varied in their forms of Teshuva. Reb Yossi expressed regret in front of his congregation and oriented his own Yeshiva towards operating in a manner where no abuses would be tolerated. Reb Shmuel allegedly denied any knowledge of the case, even though he was a signatory of the RCB letter and was its Sgan Nasi. According to RASHI, Reb Shmuel had perhaps forgotten his involvement in the case. Maybe he smoked Bsomim every day before Shacharis (Duuuuude)? Otherwise, it would be hard to account for such a memory loss. Finally, Reb Binyamin not only did not do Teshuvah, he opened his home to Reb Baruch for an extended period after Reb Baruch’s conviction, and later performed Reb Baruch’s second marriage. The Medrish in Vayikra Rabbah reports that after 120 years, Reb Binyamin went straight to Gehennim and spent the next 1000 years performing Metzitza BiPeh on syphilitic, uncircumcised Romans. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2186" style="color: black;">And what of the Talmidim? Many went on to become the Gedoilim of the next generation, despite their traumas. But some, like Reb Shabtai, lost his faith, and instead of having the joy of learning Toirah all day, was forced to work in a Madison Avenue medical practice and make seven figures every year, Rachmana Litzlan.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">---------------</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2184" style="color: black;">Rabboisai, Klal Yisroel, and in particular Klal Yisroel in America, is going through its Catholic Church moment: All elements of the Orthodox community, from the Chassidic community on one end of the spectrum to the Modern Orthodox community on the other end, are being inundated by reported cases of sexual abuse of minors. But instead of confronting this scourge, much of the community continues to ignore it and has entered into a “circle the wagons” mentality, perhaps to protect their friends, perhaps to protect their institutions.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2182" style="color: black;">And what of the victims --those who have stepped forward, and the many who have remained in the shadows? Where is their Nezek, Tza’ar, Ripuy, Shevess and Boshess? And even worse, what of the future victims? For sexual abusers of minors are serial predators, and every abuser left teaching in a classroom or working in a camp or other such institution is always seeking out more victims.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2049" style="color: black;">Rabboisai, a community and a Rabbinate that does not change its behaviors is a community and a Rabbinate that has not done real Teshuvah. They can Klop as many Al Chayts as they want. They can recite Ashamnu, Bagadnu, Dibarnu Dofi from today until tomorrow, but the Reboinoisheloilum will be as deaf to them as they are to the cries of the past and future victims. They can keep Shabbos and Daven three times a day and keep kosher and say as many Brachois as they want and learn Toirah Yoimum VaLailah – day and night -- but they are simply reciting Hakadoshboruchhu’s name in vain. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2047" style="color: black;">And as a result, like Moishe Rabbeinu, they too will never truly reach the Promised Land.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_2045" style="color: black;">Ah Gutten Shabbos, you Minuval.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1549041798077_1300" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />Rosheshiva<br />Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-17426122131772622612019-01-10T12:51:00.001-05:002019-01-10T12:52:51.553-05:00Sefer Shmois Drasha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1257"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1256" style="font-size: 18px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1255">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1262">====================================================</span><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1264"><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1263">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br /><br />====================================================<br /><br />THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br /><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />====================================================</span></span></span><br />
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Sefer Shmois Drasha</div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_2208" style="color: #212121;">Rabboisai,</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_2206" style="color: #212121;">I would like to start this week’s Drasha by reminding you that we have recently started a new Sefer in Kriyas HaToirah, Sefer Shmois. I know you probably forgot, as you were likely checking out the talent in the Ezras Nashim while the rest of the Shul shouted together “Chazak Chazak VeNisschazayk!!”. You Mechutziff!</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_2223" style="color: #212121;">I always found it ironic that Sefer Beraishis, a single book, covers history from the dawn of creation, four billion years ago... err... six thousand years ago, rather, but then is followed by four long, action packed books that primarily focus on Yetzias Mitzrayim - the exodus from Egypt - and the wandering of Klal Yisroel in the Midbar, roughly a period of forty years.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_2225" style="color: #212121;">What’s Pshat? Avraham Avinu was not as important as Moishe Rabbeinu? Yankif Avinu wasn’t as important as Aharon HaCoihain, the Minuval? Miriam wasn’t as nasty and deceptive as Rivkah Imainu?</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_19" style="color: #212121;">Seriously, shouldn’t the Toirah have taught us a bit more about the hooliganism... err... acts of Chessed of the Shvatim and a bit less about the colors of the paint on the undersides of the bolts used for holding the Mishkan together on the second Tuesday in Sivan in an Ibbur Yuhr?Couldn’t we have had a bit more action that would justify a sequel to Sefer Beraishis? Maybe we could have had a little Mishkav Zachor between Adam HaRishoyn and the snake? Maybe we could learn a bit about the cruise entertainment on Noach’s Teyvah? Were there featured singers and comedians? Were there plumbing issues. Maybe Avraham Avinu ultimately decides to slaughter someone else’s son? Maybe the Shvatim could have sold another of their brothers into slavery in place of some of the laws the Baal Koireh Leyns from the Toirah ad nauseam as we are trying to have a good conversation with our friends?</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_22" style="color: #212121;">Rabboisai, this is indeed the opposite question than what is posed by RASHI when he asks why the Toirah does not start with the first Mitzvah in the Toirah instead of feeding us Bubbah Maisahs about talking snakes, towers built into the sky, and several generations of brothers who constantly try to screw each other over.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_2194" style="color: #212121;">The RASHBA responds to RASHI, noting that Sefer Beraishis is included as the first Sefer Toirah specifically to warn us to never trust any of our brothers, whether they come from different mothers, or are even hairy identical twins. Our brothers will screw us over every time, so we better make like Yankif Avinu and steal from our brothers first and run away at the first possible moment. The RASHBA notes that this understanding of Beraishis is critical in order for us to comprehend why it is that Moishe Rabbeinu leads Klal Yisroel out of Egypt, through the desert, and to the brink of the Promised Land, but Aharoin HaCoihain, Moishe’s back stabbing brother, gets the Kehunah for his descendants for all eternity. Instead of trying to read his compass while wandering the desert, Moishe should have taken a half hour to review the lessons of Beraishis and made sure that Aharoin, tea Menuval, mysteriously “disappeared” while searching for his golf balls in the sand trap at the Sinai Desert Classic.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_27" style="color: #212121;">But the Sifsei Chachamim hold Farkert. LeOilum, in reality, Beraishis teaches us absolutely nothing about relationships between brothers. Rather, Sefer Beraishis warns us about nasty wives and mothers. Sarah Imainu forces Avraham Avinu to send Hagar and Yishmael to die in the desert. Rivka Imainu prompts Yankif Avinu to lie to his blind father, steal his brother Eisav’s birthright, and borrow his father’s Lexis without permission. And Rochel and Leah: Where do I start? Let’s just say that the subsequent Halacha against one man marrying two sisters was inspired by this very bad idea...</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_30" style="color: #212121;">But the RAMBAN holds that Sefer Beraishis is actually a critical preface to the remaining four books of the Toirah. Sefer Beraishis begins with the creation of the world. The sky. The water. The land. Trees. Insects. Animals. Human beings. But missing from either of the two creation stories at the beginning of the Sefer: Any reference to Klal Yisroel. The world is created by the Aibishter for the benefit of all of its creations. Even when we talk about the Avois and Imahois, we see them living side by side with others, in coexistence. Avram Avinu teams up with four kings to take on five other kings in a game of full court basketball. Egypt, Mitzrayim, is a place of refuge that opens its doors to others, to refugees, during a time of famine. In sum, the world is a place that seeks harmony. I am so inspired by this notion, that If you were here right now, you Vilda Chaya, I would give you a hug.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_33" style="color: #212121;">However, Sefer Shmois begins with a very different view of the world. The open door policy of Egypt accepting Klal Yisroel with open arms turns into enslavement. A Pharoah arises that “knows not Yoseph”; instead of coexistence we have the opposite: Oppression. Antagonism. Hostility.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_36" style="color: #212121;">Says the RAMBAN, if the Toirah only began with Sefer Shmois, we would believe that the world was created for Klal Yisroel and Klal Yisroel only. We would believe that other human beings do not count. We would believe that other elements of the Reboinoisheloilum’s creations - the sky and water and the animals - are unimportant. We would believe that the world is solely ours for the taking. In other words, we would be Republicans.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_39" style="color: #212121;">But, according to the RAMBAN, Sefer Beraishis serves as a counterbalance to the rest of Chamishei Chumshei Toirah. Sefer Beraishis reminds us that all humanity was created in Hakadoishbiruchhu’s image, even you, you Minuval. If Sifrei Shmois, Vayikra, Bamidbar and Devarim teach us the importance of safeguarding our own Yiddisheh society, Sefer Beraishis reminds us that we are not alone on this earth. The eagle and the heron are our brothers (five points if you identify the reference). The Bnei Yishmael are our cousins. And Hagar, Bilhah and Zilpah are hot Shiksas that we can shack up with, as long as our wives agree. In other words, Sefer Beraishis reminds us that it is OK to be Reform Jews. Or even Democrats, Chass V’Shalom.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1547142423451_42" style="color: #212121;">I am reminded of a beautiful Maiseh Shehoya about the Chernobler Rebbe. The Chernobled was giving Shirayim to his Chassidim on a Friday night. He was taking scoops of potato kugel with his hands and tossing them down to his Chassidim sitting around the long table, moving clockwise. As he made his way around the table, he noticed that the next person in line to receive the Shirayim was not a Chassid, but the Shul’s handyman and groundskeeper Piotr Christianovitch. Without hesitation, he scooped up the next bit of potato kugel and tossed it to Piotr.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">Afterwards, his key aide, Reb Menachem Shmaaser, asked him, “Rebbe, how come you have a piece of the holy kugel to the groundskeeper. Isn’t that wasting some of the divine blessing on a non-Jew.”</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">A big smile emerged on the Chernobler’s face, and put his arm around Reb Menachem and have him a hug. He then walked him towards the front door of the Shul, and in an unexpected mood, shoved Reb Menachem out the door, into the frigid -20 degree weather.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121;">“Tell me Reb Menachem”, the Chernobler mockingly asked, “how does it feel outside without the Shabbos Goy to turn on the heat? Do you think that Klal Yisroel can do that ourselves? We cannot even change a light bulb.”</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1515185376463_2308" style="color: #212121;">Reb Menachem responded. “What’s the big deal about turning on the heat. It’s not like if I did it wrong it can cause a nuclear accident...”</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1515185376463_2306" style="color: #212121;">And so, Rabboisai, as we begin Sefer Shmois, let us remember the words “Chazak Chazak VeNisschazeyk”. Our strength is not only grounded in our community, but is also grounded in our collaboration and coexistence with the broader world.</span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1515185376463_2305" style="color: #212121;">Shoyn.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1547142423451_1304" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />Rosheshiva<br />Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-59295206412072756812019-01-01T21:01:00.001-05:002019-01-01T21:01:56.559-05:00NEW: The Peoples Democratic Republic of Yidden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1698"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1697" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 18px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1696">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1701">====================================================</span><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1706"><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1705">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1707">====================================================</span><br /><br />THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br /><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />====================================================</span></span><div class="ygrps-yiv-1741177140ygrps-yiv-1311567226ygrps-yiv-1431538063ygrps-yiv-1345106889ygrps-yiv-1647322209ygrps-yiv-2116572898ygrps-yiv-1110322338ygrps-yiv-1686313986ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_1708" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 18px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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NEW: The Peoples Democratic Republic of Yidden</div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_2525" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_541" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabboisai,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_528" style="font-size: 18px;">While I was away on my four-month hiatus... I received several notes of concern. Several. Only several. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_2520" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_515" style="font-size: 18px;">What the Tashmish HaMitah is wrong with you people? I prepare Toirah for you, day in and day out, בשבתכי בבתי ובלכתכי בדרכי, בשכבכי, ובקומי... And all I get are “several”? You Menuvals!!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_2551" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_502" style="font-size: 18px;">You should all be ashamed of yourselves. You call yourselves Talmidim? Did you at least recite Tehillim to Hakadoishboruchhu for me? Or give money to Tzedakah in my Zchooossss? Or travel to Eretz Yisrael and place a little Kepitl into the Koisel, asking for a Bracha from the Reboinoisheloilum on my behalf? Or travel to Uman and make a LeChaim while chanting to the Aimishteh at the Kever of Rebbe Nachman? Or travel to Mecca to offer an animal sacrifice to Allah? Or visit the Vatican to light a candle and pray to Yushka? Or travel to India to light incense and chant in praise of Lord Shiva. Or travel to Woodstock and smoke some Besamim LeShame Shamayim while listening to some serious Rock? Or travel to Washington DC to tell President Trump that he is the BEST PRESIDENT EVER!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_489" style="font-size: 18px;">How could you know that I was off on the adventure of a lifetime. Traveling. At times undercover. At times appearing as the Erlichah Yid I am as I write this Drasha, and at other times appearing as a secularist with humanistic sensibilities combined with a strong Jewish identity that recognizes the critical importance of national and “tribal” self-determination, potato kugel, and having a clean towel at the Mikvah.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_476" style="font-size: 18px;">Ich Vais.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_463" style="font-size: 18px;">It started in Labor Day, early September. I received a call.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_450" style="font-size: 18px;">“Hello”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_437" style="font-size: 18px;">“Mr. Schmeckelstein!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_424" style="font-size: 18px;">“That is Rabbi Schmeckelstein to you!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_411" style="font-size: 18px;">“Okay. Mr. Schmeckelstein, How would you like to do something special for your people?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_398" style="font-size: 18px;">“Sir, I do not know who you are, but I have already given lot of Tzedakah this year. (At this point I jingled a handful of change in front of the phone.) How would YOU like to do something special for YOUR people?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_385" style="font-size: 18px;">“No, Mr. Schmeckelstein, we are not asking for money. We would Iike to discuss you joining an organization that does very important work for the nation, where activities are strategic, and where your actions can make a significant contribution to the national future.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_372" style="font-size: 18px;">“Listen, I am not into the whole Chabad Tanya thing. My liver cannot handle all the vodka. And that whole ‘wearing the Rebbe’s shirt under the Chupah’ thing is a little too pagan for my taste. But I am happy to make a donation to the Moshiach fund, to help pay for a full page ad in the New York Times. That will certainly bring about the redemption, because I know that I would change my entire lifestyle and religious beliefs after seeing an ad in the paper. It happens to me at least three times a week!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_359" style="font-size: 18px;">“No, not that nation. Your other nation.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_346" style="font-size: 18px;">“You mean the US government? I already contribute to the US economy by stealing less federal education funding that most other Yeshivas. I deserve a reward!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_333" style="font-size: 18px;">“No. No. Not that nation.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_320" style="font-size: 18px;">“Do you mean the State of Israel? Hey - I am a Jew, but not a citizen of Israel. I think it is terrible that the Zionist Toirah Haters are trying to force Erlicheh Yeshiva boys to abandon their rigorous Talmudic studies in order to sit lazily on the borders of Lebanon and Gaza and be Mevatel Toirah all day. In fact, all female soldiers - secular and religious - should leave the army immediately and join seminaries. And all the men should abandon their units and study Toirah Yoimum V’Layla. Israel needs an army of Toirah scholars, not an army of soldiers. Did Klal Yisrael have soldiers in Eastern Europe? Of course not! And that brought our people centuries of the most profound Toirah scholarship! Gosh I miss those days...”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_307" style="font-size: 18px;">“Mr. Schmeckelstein, That is closer to what I was discussing. Although it is not for the State of Israel. On the contrary. Our institution is committed to religious study for many years, later followed by military service. We believe that people cannot serve as soldiers for a great cause unless they have a solid spiritual foundation. So they must study for months, if not years. But they must also go through military training and activity on the ground to reinforce that training.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_294" style="font-size: 18px;">“Makes sense. I am in.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_281" style="font-size: 18px;">“Great! We will send you plane tickets in the mail. We will have a member of the leadership of the Army of God pick you up at the airport!!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_268" style="font-size: 18px;">“I already told you. I am not into Lubavitch. I do not need a Tzivas Hashem guy to pick me up in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv!!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_255" style="font-size: 18px;">“Who said anything about Tel Aviv? You will receive your tickets in the mail to Beirut International Airport, and a member of Hezbollah will be there to pick you up!!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_242" style="font-size: 18px;">Shoyn.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_229" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabboisai - Maybe the Hezbollah and the Mullah’s in Iran are on to something... Maybe the Jewish answer to our cultural clash between tradition and modernity should be the intentional meshing of both. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_216" style="font-size: 18px;">And so, I would like to officially announce the new mandate of Yeshivas Chipass Emess. Once and for all, we are going to bring about the world as it should be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_203" style="font-size: 18px;">I will be officially relocating my Yeshiva from Brooklyn, in Eretz HaKoidesh, to a new homeland in Eretz HaCana’anim. My new Yeshiva will be located in the Jewish Quarter… Which is wherever I lay my Shtreimel! It is from there that we shall announce the establishment of a new Jewish entity - to be called “The Peoples Democratic Republic of Yidden” or the “PDRY” or, simply, “Memsheless Yidden”. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_190" style="font-size: 18px;">As Rosheshiva of Yeshivas Chipass Emess, I will be the Supreme Religious Leader of Memsheless Yidden. I will also serve as its new Supreme Political Leader.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_177" style="font-size: 18px;">What will we stand for in Memsheless Yidden? Well- of course! Ruling a modern state requires Rules of the Community:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_164" style="font-size: 18px;">First off - We will be for law and order!! The Toirah tells us to keep Shabboskoidesh, and by Reboinoisheloilum we will keep Shabboskoidesh! And if someone is Mechallel Shabbos... Law and Order! Skilah for a DeOiraisa. Makkois for a DeRabbanan. Lots of Makkois!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_151" style="font-size: 18px;">And when someone is guilty of Kurais... a punishment from Shamayim... let’s just say that we will “help” the sinner get to Shamayim a bit early... I am the Supreme Religious Leader, after all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_138" style="font-size: 18px;">Second - We will be for security! As we all know - “Yisrael Betach BaShem” - We are secure because of our relationship to the Reboinoisheloilum. And how do we ensure that security? Through learning Toirah and performing Mitzvois. So... in Memsheless Yidden, all men will learn Toirah every single day! It will be the first Koilel Nation (TM).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_125" style="font-size: 18px;">What will the women do? Why - they will be mothers. And they will teach. And they will be accountants. And work on computers. And do medical billing. And one can be a judge, maybe. And they will also work in medical care... as Mikvah ladies. And they will cook and clean and perform every labor needed to keep their men learning in Koilel, just the way Hakadoishboruchhu likes them to.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_2552" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_112" style="font-size: 18px;">Third - Our homeland stands for modesty. Modesty in thought and modesty in deed. People must be modest and realize that they are just temporary guests on the Aimisheh’s planet. Consequently... they must subjugate their will to... mine. They must commit allegiance to me... by promising to perform my every will, even when they are sick in bed with the flu, stoned, and watching old episodes of Spongebob. Even then they must be willing to get up and fetch me groceries.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_99" style="font-size: 18px;">Fourth - We believe in family. People must marry young. And have lots of babies. Lots of them. And single people? They are the embodiment of the Yetzer Harrah, only with two arms, two legs, and an Erva. They are dangerous, and must be married off immediately upon reaching puberty, or three years of age, whichever comes first.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_90" style="font-size: 18px;">Now, what happens if someone wants to leave Memsheless Yidden? Well, they can go. But they cannot take the children. The children belong to Klal Yisrael - which is now embodied in our Heiligeh community. And if someone tries to take our children away? Well... we will get them back. We have our ways...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_81" style="font-size: 18px;">Fifth – We are all about education! Especially diverse and well rounded education. None of this “All Gemarrah all the time” education. No! We also believe in studying Mishnah and Toseftah. We also like to balance the curriculum with practical subjects, such as how to recognize clothing with Shatnez and how to maximize government benefits. And we also have an athletic program, where students get to practice throwing rocks at cars.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_72" style="font-size: 18px;">Sixth – In the spirit of Kibuv Av, we believe in respect for elders, all elders. So if any of our adults are accused of anything, say… such as sexual abuse… we will make sure that the accused is defended by the best lawyers, and will pronounce his innocence to the world. And is he still is sentenced to jail, we will host a Kiddush in his honor before he heads off to jail.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_63" style="font-size: 18px;">So, you may ask, what is the difference between Memsheless Yidden and Eretz HaKoidesh in Brooklyn and Monsey and KJ, and that place up in Canada, you know, that place where the Chassidim speak Yiddish with a French Canadian accent? Or between The Peoples Democratic Republic of Yidden and Eretz Yisroel?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_54" style="font-size: 18px;">Some might suggest that our little community in Guatemala is a bit of a cult. However, we are just the same as the Toirah communities in Eretz HaKoidesh and Eretz Yisroel. We share the same values: Enforcement of the Rules of the Community instead of civil laws, men learning all day instead of working, modest behavior subjugated to the will of religious leaders, early marriages, denial of secular education, and a culture of protecting abusers. So you will feel right at home.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_2555" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1546394277322_45" style="font-size: 18px;">So please join me in my new community. And if you are one of the first to call, I will make sure that you get a clean towel every time you go to the Mikvah.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1546394277322_2404" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />Rosheshiva<br />Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-73061814627437828342018-12-25T09:44:00.000-05:002018-12-25T09:44:39.759-05:00Pinky Lives! -- Chadash Assur Min HaToirah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1281" style="font-size: 18px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1280"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1279">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1284">====================================================</span><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1289"><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1288">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1290">====================================================</span><br /><br />THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br /><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />====================================================</span></span><div class="ygrps-yiv-1311567226ygrps-yiv-1431538063ygrps-yiv-1345106889ygrps-yiv-1647322209ygrps-yiv-2116572898ygrps-yiv-1110322338ygrps-yiv-1686313986ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1291" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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Rabboisai -</div>
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After a brief hiatus of about four months I am back.</div>
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I cannot go into details now about where I was all of those boring, long weeks when nothing of particular urgency was going on. It has been a quiet time politically in the US, and for Klal Yisroel. The President of the United States has been acting with extreme sensitivity and responsibility. The Prime Minister of Israel has been setting an ethical example for all of our children. The Jews have been safe everywhere, especially in upscale areas of Pittsburgh...</div>
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In other words... I take about four months off and all Gehenim breaks loose.</div>
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We all have many things to think about. Sure, we can worry about the future of the US and its global alliances. We could worry about the State of Israel, with its corroding internal discourse, its continued unresolved conflict with the Palestinians, and the rising regional threats, especially emanating from Iran and Lebanon. We could debate whether or not there is a real rise in anti Semitism in the US and elsewhere, as measured by statistics and horrific acts, even on US soil.</div>
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We can even focus on ongoing social ills within the Jewish Community, including the lack of adequate secular education in Ultra Orthodox circles, the plague of sexual abuse within Jewish communities and institutions, enabled by religious authorities who are unwilling to see their punished, at the expense of more and more helpless victims, and the overall decline of secular Jewish identity in the US.</div>
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But none of these things are critical. They are all Narishkeit. They are temporary. What really matters is the permanent and spiritual. Zman Kriyas Shma. Shatnez. The length of the hair on a woman's Sheytel. Only eating fruit that has a Hashgacha. These are the types of issues that are the anchor of Klal Yisroel. They guided us in Mitzrayim. They guided us in Bavel. The protected us in Europe. And now they will certainly lead to our salvation.</div>
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Shoyn.</div>
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Pinky.</div>
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Chadash Assur Min HaToirah<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rabboisai,<o:p></o:p></div>
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This week I had been planning to share with you the ultimate key to bringing Moishiach, the Shaym HaMephoirash, the ineffable name of Hakadoishboruchhu that has been passed down in my - MY - family, as I am the direct descendant of Moishe Rabbeinu, Eli HaKoihaon, and Yirmiyahi HaNavi. And in invoking the Name in this Drasha, in this large virtual Kehillah, I was going to trigger the Yemai HaMashaich, the Messianic Era and the End Of Days. It's about time, don't you think?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In my role as President Donald Trump's Advisor For Spiritual Afffairs this week, I discussed my plan with President Trump SHLITA, and he though the idea was "Terrific!" He even wanted to know if we could brand the Third Bais HaMikdash as the "Trump Temple".<o:p></o:p></div>
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However. President Trump inadvertently shared the Shaym HaMephoirash with the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador a week ago, and as they tried to use this ultimate weapon in their Zil limousines on the way back to the Russian Embassy, they upset the Reboinoishoilum, who only allows the use of the Shaym once in a generation. So Moshiach-Tzeit, the era of the Moshiach, will have to wait.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Damn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the good news is that some of my investments in Canadian real estate, the defense industry, and privately run prisons will now have time to grow in value. Baruch HaShem.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shoyn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We start today's Drasha with a series of questions. Please bear with me; I know that you have the attention span of a Goilem who just drank six Espressois... errr... espressos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- The Mishnah asks: "Ma'Amusai Koirin Ess Kriyas Shma Ba'Arvin?" From what point can we start reciting Kriyas Shma at night? I am not going to recite to you the entire Machloikess; if you are not intimately familiar with this very basic Mishnah, you should probably stop calling yourself a Jew and start worshipping Yushka, since you are an Am Ha'Aretz and add no value to Klal Yisroel whatsoever. Unless of course you are willing to write a big check, and then we will praise your value as a supporter of Toirah and Klal Yisroel and as a communal leader. Kenayna Hurrah!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- We also have an adage in Klal Yisroel that begins, "Tuhdeer V'She'einoi Tuhdeer..." - When one has to prioritize the order of a liturgy, which comes first - the common or the uncommon? Again, I am not going to tell you the answer. You should know the answer, otherwise you should not be reading this Drasha, because you are not qualified to be a Jew. Instead, you should be fixing cars and doing projects that require sheet rock.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- When someone has a son, he has the opportunity to engage in the greatest Mitzvah in Klal Yisroel - LeHachnisoi Ess Bnei LeBrisoi Shel Avraham Avinu - to connect his son to the eternal covenant that Avraham Avinu forged with the Reboinoisheloilum. How does one do this? By having a Moihel perform a Bris, a circumcision, on the eighth day of life, or as soon after as possible in the event of medical complication. And what does the Bris include? The key ingredients are: Circumcision, Metzitza BiPeh, and and serving bagels and lox.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You may raise concerns about the practice of Metzitza BiPeh, a practice during which the Moihel draws blood from the site of the circumcision with his mouth. Opponents of this practice point to several incidents in which a Moihel with oral herpes passed along this minor disease to the eight day old baby who has no immune system. This has occasionally resulted in the deaths of such children. You may argue that this practice should be waived and possibly be ruled illegal in civil law. But whoever would argue such a thing is either an agent of Yishmael or the embodiment of the Amalek in our day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- When a boy or a girl on the Kehillah is sexually abused by a rabbi or a respected community member or even a member of their own family, we must express sympathy for the victim. And we must do everything in our power - EVERYTHING - to make certain that the perpetrator is not reported to the police. After all, "Lama Yoimru BaGoyim, Ayeh Nuh Eloikaichem". What will the Goyim say?<o:p></o:p></div>
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So what if the abuser goes out and abuses again and again? Hey, the kids will get over it! Or maybe they will leave the community or even commit suicide. That will make the problem go away!<o:p></o:p></div>
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And let's face it, there are a lot worse Aveirois than sexual abuse. Such as Shatnez, shaving with a blade, and, of course, using a smartphone, especially during Chazarass HaSHATZ.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- When a married person loses his or her faith, Chass V'Sholom, what should we as a community do? How should we respond to someone who goes - what is the expression? - OTB?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, we must of course show sympathy and understanding as a community, by banding together socially and economically and ensuring that the Frum parent gets sole custody of the children, and that the non-Frum parent gets visitation, of course - a half an hour a week, max, supervised.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And what if the Frum parent is physically, sexually, or emotionally abusive, or denies giving an Off The Derech wife a Gett? These our not our concerns, as the well being of the children in the Oilum HaZeh is pure Gashmiyus, materialism; as Frummah Yidden we must only worry about Ruchniyus, the Neshamas of the children in Oilum HaBah. And if the Frum parent's treatment of the children leads to their suffering, descent into despair, substance abuse, and early death, why that only means that they will be able to join the Aimishteh in Gan Eden sooner that they otherwise would have. What a Mitzvah we can do as a community!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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You're welcome.<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- Why did the Holocaust happen? Why, that is simple: Because the Reboinoisheloilum was punishing Klal Yisroel. And we know this because the punishment is foretold in the Toirah. Why did Hakadoishboruchhu slaughter all our ancestors? Once again, if you are asking such an obvious question, you do not belong as a member of Klal Yisroel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The general point is as follows: If you do not agree with such "normative" definitions and prescriptions, you are a Menuval; even worse, you are a self hating Jew. In fact, you are more like a Judenrat. Or even worse, a Democrat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Had you been in Egypt, you would not have been let out. Your sons would today be members of ISIS, and your daughters would be belly dancers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rabboisai - We are suffering from a plague. What is this plague? People thinking for themselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a terrible thing which undermines rabbinic political and economic power.. errr... which undermines belief in the Reboinoisheloilum and Hashgacha Pratis, Divine engagement in the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rabboisai, the advent of people having access to the internet on their personal phones echoes the earlier introduction of the internet, which followed the phenomenon of television, the invention of radio, and the root of all evils, the printing press. In general, literacy is causing people to do Aveirois -- that is: Exchange ideas, develop questions, and seek answers. This sometimes leads to people going OTD, or becoming a Meshumad, or leading a secular lifestyle, or being a secular humanist, or affiliating with the Reform or Conservative movements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or, the worst, remaining engaged in the Orthodox community and challenging the community to address areas of concern on the philosophical, theological, social, practical, and Halachic dimensions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our nation is called "the People of the Book". What book does this refer to? I assure you, it refers to Toirah Moshe Rabbeinu, not the works of Darwin or Einstein or Watson and Crick, or Marc Shapiro, or The Economist, or National Geographic, or the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. It refers to the writing of RASHI and Toisfois, not The <a href="http://toirah.com/" style="color: #324fe1; text-decoration-line: none;">Toirah.Com</a>. It refers to the publications of ArtScroll, not to the publications or the Hebrew Union College or the Jewish Theological Seminary, or Koren Publishing or Yeshivasssss Choivevei Toirah, Chass V'Sholom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Orthodox Judaism is called "Orthodox Judaism" because is contains "orthodoxies", basic beliefs. And if you do not subscribe to those basic beliefs, especially as espoused by me and my rabbinic colleagues, then you may as well be building the next Auschwitz because you are promoting questioning which will lead to efforts to change our way of life, to assimilation, and to Shmad. Assimilation is the Holocaust in our generation; I know so, because I saw on Facebook that some rabbi said so. So it must be true.<o:p></o:p></div>
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How does one confront this challenge to the religious hegemony of our Gedoilim? There is a Machloikess on this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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According the Reb Shmiel Kalbasavua, such voices must simply be ignored. Unless of course the proponents of new ideas do not look or smell like us, in which case they should be challenged to a pissing contest, typically next to a fire hydrant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reb Yehoishaphat Catahoula, a rising rabbinical star, holds that we should attack anyone and anything that blocks our path, and tear away at their foundations of credibility as if we were ripping out the insoles of their shoes with our teeth, pulling out their stuffing, and biting at them to make them harmlessly squeak.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maharat Avigail Katievsky holds Farkert, that we should sit calmly around such people, but strike at them with outstretched claws when they least expect it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But her brother Reb Asher Katievsky believes that we should keep our community as far away from such influences, protecting ourselves and our community as much as possible by hiding in hard-to-find places, though occasionally coming out to engage as long as we are properly acknowledged by being stroked behind the ears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, Reb Betzalel Kupkayk holds that we should observe such people by lying in wait, quietly and stealth-fully, until we POUNCE and capture those annoying creatures, torture them, kill them once we get bored, and leave their carcasses on the front steps of the Rebbe's house, as a gift.<o:p></o:p></div>
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----<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rabboisai, Shloimoi HaMelech once wrote that "Ein Chadash Tachassss HaShemesh", "There is nothing new under the sun". So who are these people who would have the Chutzpah to argue with Shloimoi HaMelech?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some may suggest that there are many factors that should be considered in the modern era that should influence our approach in practicing our faith, such as:<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- Knowledge of science, including modern medicine<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- Modern social perceptions, such as the recognition of the fundamental equality of the intellectual capabilities of women<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- Better understanding of the behavior and the brain, including the lifelong negative impact of trauma<o:p></o:p></div>
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-- The rapid evolution of technology and communications.<o:p></o:p></div>
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People who cite such factors may be proud of themselves. They probably overheard conversations while sitting in a public Bais HaKeesay or while on line to register for welfare and unemployment benefits.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But we know better.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the Chassssam Soifer said, "Chadash Assur Min HaToirah", nothing new is permitted by the Toirah. And he knew what he was talking about. He was a modern man, a man of our world; why, he died only a couple of years ago. In 1839. Compared to him, Einstein had the mind of a child, and Mark Zuckerburg was a shoemaker.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Chadash Assur Min HaToirah" means that there have been zero changes in Yiddiskeit since Moishe Rabbeinu drank Espressois with Hakadoshbaruchhu on Har Sinai. He Davened using the liturgy of today, out of an Art Scroll Siddur. He wore a Shtreimel. He used filters on his water tap to keep out microscopic organisms. He used three filters on his iPhone, which he of course needed for professional purposes. He had two dishwashers in his kitchen, plus had a second kitchen for Pesach. He refused to sit next to women every time he sat on a plane. And he had a Nidah App on his iPhone to monitor his wife’s cycle and Mikvah habits.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And while according to the Toirah he preached the importance of honesty in judges and testimony, he made sure that such judges would always favor sexual abusers over their victims, and would deny parental access to children if a male parent decided that he liked to shave with a blade, or a female parent liked to eat Tarfus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Chadash Assur Min HaToirah."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1495200894893_1552">So next time you hear of radical ideas, or have philosophical or theological questions, or worry about the well-being of human victims of Orthodox fundamentalism, get those ideas out of your mind. You have better things to be concerned about, such as Zman Kriyas Shma, which Shmineh Esrei to say first when reciting a Tashlumim, or how much suction to use when performing Metzitza BiPeh.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1545690769960_1325" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />Rosheshiva<br />Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-62970590853230731822018-09-06T20:02:00.001-04:002018-09-06T20:02:03.002-04:00On Teshuvah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1157" style="font-size: 18px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1156"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1155">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1169">====================================================</span><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1171"><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1170">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1172">====================================================</span><br /><br />THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br /><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />====================================================</span></span><div class="ygrps-yiv-1431538063ygrps-yiv-1345106889ygrps-yiv-1647322209ygrps-yiv-2116572898ygrps-yiv-1110322338ygrps-yiv-1686313986ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1173" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_5_1505491596075_83" style="color: black;">On Teshuvah</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_5_1505491596075_86" style="color: black;">Rabboisai,</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_5_1505491596075_89" style="color: black;">There is a famous story in the Zoihar Hakadoish that describes the ritual in Shamayim whereby the Ain Soif delivers an annual report immediately prior to Roish Hashanah before a joint session of the Sefirois, the Malachim, the Tzaddikim, and the Neshsamois of the unborn. The Zoihar also reports that one year, during this annual gathering, Hakadoshboruchhu noted that the world was expected to have a peaceful year, without any additional persecution directed at Klal Yisroel. Suddenly, the spirit of Nosson HaNavi shouted out, “TREASON!” towards the Aimishteh. Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarfon forcibly removed Nosson HaNavi from the room, and after numerous apologies to the Reboinoisheloilum and his Chief of Staff, the Buddha, he was banished to Eretz Yisroel, where he is fated to spend all of eternity as one of the guys who do random ticket inspections on Egged busses.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1855" style="color: black;">There is also a Medrish in Medrish Tanchuma that talks about the annual PYW (Pumbedisa Yeshiva World) Awards. One year Rava was honored with the “Chiddush of the Year” award for his “Yeyush Shehlo Mida’as Loi Havei Yeyush” insight. As he was standing at the Shtender to accept his award, Rav Huna burst onto the Bimah and screamed out to the crowd of Yeshivah-Yingeleit, “Sure, Rava, your Chiddush was okay. But Rav Ashi really deserved the award for his ‘Yoim Toiv Shaynee Shel Goliyois Does Not Apply In Antarctica’ Chiddush. No offense, Dude.” After being booed off the Bimah and having a sandal thrown at his head, Rav Huna apologized for his outburst and blamed his behavior on the Besomim-laced mead he had been drinking all day, and also on the fact that he had not been adequately molested by his Rebbe when he was a teenager.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1857" style="color: black;">Finally, there is a famous story in a Gemarrah in Gittin that describes the detailed ruling associated with the Bavel Open, the annual sporting contest where leading Rabbis would throw turbans at each other across the Bais Medrish in Sura. The Gemara notes how one year Rav Chisda was disqualified in the quarterfinals against Rav Pappa by the line judge, Mar Zutra, when he threatened to “ram his turban so far up Mar Zutra’s ‘Bor’ that Mar Zutra would have to make an Eirev Chatzayrois every time he needed to go to the bathroom on Shabbos-Koidesh.” He later explained that he had been misunderstood, and that he really meant that Mar Zutra would need to make an Erev Tavshilin before eating on a Shabbos following a Yoim Toiv. But Rav Chisda finally apologized to Mar Zutra after Rav Shayshess threatened to make him pay a fine of thirty thousand zuzim and three goats. Shoyn.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_18" style="color: black;">I share this collection of stories as we engage in the spiritual exercise known as Teshuvah – repentance. Every year, after a full twelve months of being Mezaneh with hot shiksas -- at least in your mind you Minuval, after eating pork or shrimp or lobster, or cottage cheese that’s not Cholov Yisroel, Chass V’Sholom, or after murdering your neighbor for 12 dollars in loose change, cutting up his body into little pieces, and burying the pieces in the backyard between the rose bushes and the apple tree, near where you once buried the bunny rabbit that your cat had killed just to shut your children up already, Reboinoisheloilumdammit…. Ummm…sorry. After a year of committing Aveirois, you get in front of Hakadoshboruchhu, and ask Him for forgiveness.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_21" style="color: black;">But, as in the famous stories in the Gemarrah and the cosmic history recorded in the Zoihar, you must ask yourself, “Is my Teshuvah sincere? Do you mean it when you say “Selach Lee Kee Pushahtee”, “Forgive me for I have sinned”, and by implication, you will never do it again? Are you in fact sincere in your Teshuvah, or are you simply reciting a medieval liturgical formula, simply biding your time until the Chazzan finishes reciting the sections where the Aron Koidesh is open, so you can finally sit down and rest your aching feet already?</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_24" style="color: black;">RAMBAM addresses this question in Hilchois Teshuvah of Mishnah Toirah. He notes that sincerity is a prerequisite for real Teshuvah, and he advises all his followers “MiSpharad Ad Mitzrayim”, from Spain to Egypt, to engage in penitence through prayer and acts of mortification, such as fasting and self-flagellation. He states, however, that the Jews of Provence, Ashkenaz and Eastern Europe should, quote, “not bother doing Teshuvah, as Hakkadoshboruchhu can never grant forgiveness to people who have names like Yankel, Berrill, Shprintze and Chraindie, and who sing songs with the lyrics ‘Ai Digi Digi Dai’”.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_27" style="color: black;">The RAMBAN, living in the golden age of Kabbalah, writes that Teshuvah can only be achieved when the Sefirois are aligned, with Kesser, Chochmah, Chessed, Netzach, and Yesoid on one side, and Binah, Da’as, Tiferess, Gevurah, and Malchus on the other. In that way, the cosmic aspects of the Aimishteh are in perfect balance and may collectively engage in the act of forgiveness in the human realm, as well as participate in a pick-up basketball game.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1859" style="color: black;">The MAHARAL, however, disagrees with the RAMBAN, and suggests that before writing his opinion, the RAMBAN must have popped some of the pain killers he always carried in his medical bag for house calls. He suggests that real Teshuvah emanates from purposeful introspection joined with concrete actions. He points to the liturgical reference in the Nesaneh Toikeff on Roish Hashanah and Yoim Kippur “Oo’Seshuva, Oo’Sefillah, Oo’Tzedakah Ma’Avirin Ess Roiyah Hagezeyrah”, “And repentance, and prayer and charity deter the evil decree.” The MAHARAL notes that the juxtaposition of the three words connected by the term “and” highlights the underlying belief that the actions cited must be combined – It is not enough to commit Teshuvah OR Tefilla OR Tzedakah. But to have real impact, they must be committed by a human being as complementary acts of repentance emanating from the soul, prayer emanating the heart, and charity emanating from the bank account (Ed. Note: Preferably in a check made out to “Yeshivas Chipas Emmess”).</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1738" style="color: black;">The Abudraham argues farkhert, that repentance is an inner process, enabled by inward contemplation, prayer, and uniting with the Reboinoisheloilum through Hisboidedus. But he notes that Teshuvah is quite separate from Tzedakah, stating that “The act of giving Tzedakah is an outward gesture, absent the soul. Nu, Bernie Madoff gave lots of Tzedakah, and trust me, you don’t want to be where he is going.”</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1736" style="color: black;">So when we examine the words of Chazal, we discover a range of ideas centered on the notion of exorcising sin from the soul, of sincere Teshuvah as inner commitment. Even prayer is not a substitute for inward change – at best it is a catalyst. This point is clear when we examine the actual words of the liturgy. On Yoim Kippur we spend hours in the Viduy, the Jewish form of “confession”. But do we say “I sinned, I committed Act Aleph, Act Baiz, or Act Gimmul?” No, you ignoramus! We frame our confession in the form of the plural collective: “Ashamnu”, “Al Chaiyt Shechatahu Lifanecha” – “We have sinned”, “(We repent) for the sins which we have committed before You.” The listed sins are formulaic, and include many sins that most of us would never commit, unless we got really lucky. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_31" style="color: black;">So reciting the formulas cannot be equated with personal repentance. Rather, Viduy, listing and repeating these sins again and again and again, is itself an act intended to inspire a mood, to incite an action, to encourage a behavior. It is like porn, but for Yoim Kippur.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1734" style="color: black;">So how else can we ensure sincerity in our Teshuvah? I am reminded of a Maiseh Shehoya. Reb Issur Zalman Meltzer, the Even HaEzer, was once walking home from the Central Synagogue in Slutsk when he was accosted by a group of three Communist youths. “Rabbi”, they teased him, “Who were you just praying to – the boogieman?” They then held Reb Issur Zalman down and forced him to listen to the first two chapters of Karl Marx’s Das Kapital. With every word he heard, Reb Issur Zalman became more incensed. When the brutes finally let him go and turned around to walk away, Reb Issur Zalman attacked them from behind. Using his Masechta Baba Kamma, he crushed the skull of one of his assailants, killing him instantly. He used his Yoireh Dayah to break the jaw and knock twelve teeth out of the mouth of the second assailant. And as the third assailant ran away, Reb Issur Zalman threw his Mikraois Gedoilois at him, hitting his spine, and crippling him for life.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_36" style="color: black;">That night the Reboinoisheloilum came to him in a dream. “Issur Zalman”, Hakadoshboruchhu called. “What do you have to say for yourself?!!”</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1732" style="color: black;">Reb Issur Zalman replied, “Oy, Aimisteh, I am so sorry. I did not mean to really hurt those boys. But all that talk about the redistribution of wealth really upset me.”</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_40" style="color: black;">“No, you Schmendrick” the Reboinoisheloilum retorted. “I am not upset that you killed one of those thugs and mortally wounded the others. Screw them! But you let my holy Chumash fall on the floor and get dirty. And for that you will lose your Christmas bonus this year!”</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1730" style="color: black;">“That’s ok,” Reb Issur Zalman said, his ears turning red with anger, “as long as you share it with the underprivileged Proletariat hordes, you Opiate of the Masses!”</span><br style="color: black;" /><br />Shoyn.<br /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1536277978576_1728" style="color: black;">Rabboisai, real Teshuvah is not easy. If it were, we would not have ten days dedicated to repentance, as well as many long hours in Shul that perhaps could have been better been spent learning Toirah, doing Maiysim Toivim, or embezzling. But our mission at this time of year is to become better human beings. But we cannot become better people simply through empty apologies, no matter how many times they are repeated, and wherever they are repeated – even in Shul or on Oprah. Or in smug press releases or internal reports that ring hollow.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1949" style="color: black;">When we talk about Teshuvah, we are talking about real change, which is ultimately a function of humility. We must realize that we are all fallible, especially you, you Michutziff. We are all simple grains of sand passing through the winds of time. As written by the Paytan, “Kee Heenay KeChoimer BeYad HaYoitzer”, “We are like clay in the hands of the potter.” </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1536277978576_46" style="color: black;">And only when you realize your true insignificance, my beloved Talmid, will you be able to undergo real Teshuvah, real change, and perhaps become a bit more tolerable for the rest of us.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1945" style="color: black;">Ah Gutten Yuhr, You Minuval.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1505491596075_1191" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />Rosheshiva<br />Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-15874110264918218722018-08-03T17:20:00.001-04:002018-08-03T17:20:11.020-04:00On Sacred Secret Traditions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span><span><span><b>On Sacred Secret Traditions</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Rabboisai,</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">I would like to start this week's Drasha by sharing a true story. This past Shabboskoidesh I was engaged in a fundraising trip to a small Shtetyl in Eastern Europe. After Davening, where there was not a complete Minyan, I sat down with three members of the small Kehilla for Kiddush and Moitzee. Discussion spread from comparing Jewish life in the vibrant communities of the United States to the struggles to maintain and sustain a form of Jewish life in a community with only remnants of the robust Jewish life that horrifically disappeared in the Shoah.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">At one point, a senior member of the Kehilla asserted that there are many rabbis who believe that Israel's ongoing struggles with the Palestinians, HAMAS and Hezbollah were in fact the cosmic result of the many Jews in Israel who do not observe the Mitzvois. I retorted that what my new friend stated was a philosophical opinion, one which I do not share. I commented that sitting here in the tiny communal remnant of an Eastern European Shtetyl, the notion was impossible to believe, as it was comparable to stating that my family and six million others were slaughtered because of the Reboinoisheloilum’s anger about the Reform Movement or some other such nonsense occasionally voiced by some Rabbonim. I noted my personal belief and the normative Rabbinic dictum that we cannot understand the nature of Hakadoishboruchhu, His, thoughts, or His actions.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">The debate went on for a 20 minutes or so, in civil voices and an air of mutual respect, with me referring to the RAMBAM's description of the Aimishteh as being beyond comprehension, and the Kabbalists' efforts to illustrate the nature of the Reboinoisheloilum-head as far more complex than the simplistic linear explanation of the Toirah: If the Jews are good, good things happen to us; but if the Jews misbehave, Hakadoishboruchhu "hides His face". For such simplistic logic did not hold true in history any more than it holds true today.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">After Benching, the four of us walked through the traditional Jewish Quarter, and the oldest of the group pointed out the store that was once his mother's bakery, prior to the Shoah.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Shoyn.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Rabboisai</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Klal Yisroel is on a downward spiral. Here we are, in the midst of what many feel is a period of Reishis Smichas Geulasainu, the dawn of our redemption, but Klal Yisroel cannot help itself. Just when Eliyahu HaNavi is circling on his flying ass, looking for a place to land, you Menuvals always seem to find some way to screw it up.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">I was recently visiting some Talmidim from Lakewood. They are Tzadikim - they never miss a Mincha, even behind bars - and they reported that in the federal penitentiary there are Yidden who shave with a blade. A blade!!! Why, that is a Dioraisah!!! What can these people possibly be thinking?!?!</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Similarly, when I walk the streets of Brooklyn and Yerushalayim I see women who go with their hair uncovered. It is difficult enough for a man like me at this time of year to hold off from masturbating like a monkey while walking down the street, but to be tempted by the fruit of a woman's follicles is beyond what I can bear. (I personally think that the federal government should pay for Sheytels - It would likely significantly lower infidelity, and some rabbis even hold that it would decrease breast cancer.)</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">On rare occasions I visit the Goyim in Teaneck. Once upon a time, I refused to drink anything but cold water. But I cannot even do that now, since the Teaneckers do not use filters on their water taps and daily consume microscopic crustaceans, Rachmuna Litzlan. What Am Haaratzim!</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">And recently I saw some data on members of Klal Yisroel going to college. Ah Shandah! What a waste of time when Buchrim are studying Computer Science, Accounting, Medicine, or Law, Chass V'Sholom, instead of learning Toirah all day, sitting in Koilel, and relying on their loving Bashert-lech, the Reboinoisheloilum, and, of course, their father's in law to pay for the house, the cars, the kids, and Pesach on a cruise to the Bahaimas.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Yes, this is a generation that has lost its right to be the Am HaNivchar, the Choisen People.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">We are of course not the first generation in the history of Klal Yisroel to ponder why the actions of Klal Yisroel do not make sense. Shaving with a blade. Oy Vah Voy!! Women not covering their hair properly. Drinking unfiltered water. Jews going to college - for Reboinoisheloilum's sakes, no wonder Moshiach has not yet arrived!!!</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">In the meantime, there are other members of Klal Yisroel causing tremendous distractions and causing others to sin. People complaining about sexual abuse in the community. Where? There is no sexual abuse in the Orthodox community!! Maybe by the Reform, Ich Vais. But all of these false allegations are causing donations to fall... errr... are distracting the focus of the world from the wonderful things that Klal Yisroel do for the community, such as Hatzollah, Toimchei Shabbos, and supporting the local prostitute community.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">There are even Yidden who are complaining about money "donated" by the government to ensure that our Yeshiva Buchrim and their wives and 12 children are all able to live at a respectable standard: Not working, yet collecting Social Security benefits, Welfare, Medicaid, Section 8, Food Stamps and other programs. Hey, we are the Tashmish Hamitah-ing Choisen People, and we deserve to be learning in Koilel, married, have twelve children, collect all sorts of public benefits, and drive a Lexus! What could possibly be wrong with this that people should complain?!?!</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Rabboisai, what I have described above is a clear case of misplaced priorities. Some people are worried about such Narishkeit like sexual abuse and the long term unsustainability and illegality of the lifestyles of many in the Frum community, while instead they should be focusing on the real priorities: Shaving without a blade, women's uncovered hair, unfiltered water, and the dangers of secular education. We need to keep our priorities straight, Hakadoishboruchhu-Dammit!!!</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">It seems to me that Klal Yisroel has lost its way. We have lost the true lessons of the Toirah. We have been focused on the "revealed" Toirah, and have begun to lose our oral Mesoirah. Some have taken seriously such concepts as "V'Ahavtah Le'Reachah Ka'Moichah" (“Love your neighbor as you would love yourself”), "Im Ain Derech Eretz, Ein Toirah" (“If there are no basic human dignity, there can be no Toirah”), and "Dinah D'Malchusah Dinah" (“The rules of the local civil government apply as rules for the Jewish community”), when in fact, those concepts are just a smokescreen for the True Toirah.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Rabboisai, I have recently been reading a book by Professor Moshe Halbertal entitled "Concealment and Revelation - Esotericism in Jewish Thought and its Philosophical Implications". The book focuses on a trend between the 11th and 14th centuries by a series of different schools of thought to expose the "hidden truths" of Klal Yisroel, the esoteric knowledge that reflecting the actual understanding of Toiras Moishe that lay hidden behind the normative TANACH and Talmud. Because of fear of loss of tradition or loss of control or the message, various rabbis and schools revealed key teachings, often conflicting, which in some cases purported to have been handed down secretly by an entrusted elite.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- RAMBAM wrote the Moireh Nevuchim, which together with his other writings, presented a synthesis of traditional Jewish though with Aristotelian philosophy and the Arabic science of the era. He also shared secrets on winning at Blackjack.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- The Ibn Ezra wrote his commentary on the Toirah and other works synthesizing neo-Platonic philosophy, astrology and a strong preference to Pashut Pshat of the Toirah, versus reliance on Midrashic allegories to address textual problems. He also revealed a list to proven pickup lines for men, women and ToomTooms.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- The RAMBAN spent a third of his time arguing with the RAMBAM, a third of his time arguing with Ibn Ezra, and the remaining third of his time making clouded allusions to Kabbalistic belief in his own biblical interpretation. At the same time, he condemned those who were sharing the secrets of the Kabbalah with the masses. And he hinted at ways to satisfy your woman multiple times per night.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- The Kabbalists who decided to explain the Toirah and the all Creation by sharing the secrets of Jewish mysticism. Most famous of these works is, of course, the Zoihar, written or compiled by Rabbi Moses De Leon. (Please Note: If you are going to argue that the Zoihar was written by Reb Shimoin Bar Yochai 1200 years earlier then I will be forced to expel you from my Yeshiva.)</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">What all of these great scholars shared was a commitment to revealing the True Toirah, not the simplistic understanding that an ignoramus like you might derive from your limited knowledge.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Given the crisis within Klal Yisroel today, I, the RAPAS, Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein, have decided that it is time to put in writing the modern hidden truths of the Toirah that have been handed down to me by my father who received them from his father who received them from his father who received them from his step-father; his real father was a well hung blond Cossack. In doing so, I am revealing the Sacred Secret Teachings of the Wise Elders Of Zion, so that these understandings will not be lost to a generation caught up in Narishah Zachen.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Sacred Secret Teaching Number 1: Always obey every single Mitzvah Bain Adam LaMakoim – the commandments between man and the Reboinoisheloilum. That means: Daven three times a day (five, if you are Moslem); put on Tefillin; eat only Koisher food; go to Mikvah; wave a live chicken over your family’s heads Erev Yoim Kippur; never carry on Shabboskoidesh; shake a palm branch and 300 dollar lemon at the sky on Sukkois; do not wear Shatnez, you Shkutz, and if you have to shave, Chass V’Sholom, please use an electric razor, but only after sending the electric razor to my brother-in-law to he can dull the blades to the point where you have get a cleaner shave using a piece of cardboard or dental floss.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Sacred Secret Teaching Number 2: Always judge the religious observance of other people. Since Hakadoishboruchhu is busy dealing with the messes in Syria, the Ukraine, and the Trump White House, it is up to you to ensure that your family, friends, and neighbors are observing the Halachois according to YOUR standards. And if they are not, please tell everyone you know – it is not Loshon Harrah because they are sinners who are going to hell.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Sacred Secret Teaching Number 3: There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to observe any of the Mitzvois Bain Adam LeChaveiroi – the commandments between man and man – as long as you do not get caught.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Overcharge your clients – just don’t get caught.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Try to sleep with your neighbor’s wife – just don’t get caught. (And for Aimishteh’s sakes, wear a… ummm… Kishka Skin.)</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Cheat on your taxes – just don’t get caught.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Illegally file for Welfare, Unemployment, Section 8, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and every other government paid social benefit – just don’t get caught.</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Sacred Secret Teaching Number 4: If you do get caught, Chass V’Sholom, always remember to use one or more of the following responses:</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Blame the victim. (“He seduced me! Yes, he was only 8 years old, but he had the maturity of a Bar Mitzvah Bochur!”)</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Talk about the good that Klal Yisroel do. (“So what if we received a few extra dollars from the government; we take care of our community through Hatzollah, Shoimrim, and Bingo Night.”)</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">-- Blame anti-Semitism. (“This is a specious allegation! Why do you think that there was voter fraud in favor of the Orthodox Jewish judge who will redistrict in favor of Orthodox Jewish real estate developers? So what if the judge got 100,000 votes in a district with only 45,000 registered voters, and none of them are Jewish or could afford housing in the proposed new real estate development! THIS MUST IS ANTI-SEMITISM! Damn that Oibama!!”)</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Rabboisai,</span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.26px;">If we follow these Sacred Secret Teachings that I am passing along to you Talmidim, we can ensure that the Reboinoisheloilum will never “hide His face” from Klal Yisroel again, even when we are sitting behind bars.</span><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1501879305380_2384"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1501879305380_2382" style="line-height: 19.26px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="line-height: 19.26px;">Ah Gutten Shabbos, You Menuval</span></span><span style="word-spacing: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span>Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1501879305380_1532">Rosheshiva</span><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1501879305380_1532">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-59721061232036665972018-07-26T21:54:00.000-04:002018-07-26T21:54:12.984-04:00SPECIAL BONUS DRASHA: On Rabbis and the Employment of Reason<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1143" style="font-size: 18px;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1142"><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1141">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1146">====================================================</span><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1151"><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1150">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1152">====================================================</span><br /><br />THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br /><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />====================================================</span></span><div class="ygrps-yiv-202955707ygrps-yiv-226875128ygrps-yiv-729788711ygrps-yiv-418355074ygrps-yiv-1253050476ygrps-yiv-1431538063ygrps-yiv-1345106889ygrps-yiv-1647322209ygrps-yiv-2116572898ygrps-yiv-1110322338ygrps-yiv-1686313986ygrps-yiv-1919943595ygrps-yiv-1037064109ygrps-yiv-1541352837ygrps-yiv-1669594766ygrps-yiv-1350673121ygrps-yiv-1546787274ygrps-yiv-248471980MsoNormal" id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1153" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;">
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<b id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_2121">SPECIAL BONUS DRASHA: On Rabbis and the Employment of Reason<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Rabboisai,<o:p></o:p></div>
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I would like to start this week’s Drasha by describing the Reboinoisheloilum:<o:p></o:p></div>
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No, there is no typo, you Minuval! I did not fall asleep at my keyboard, or smoke too much Besamim, if you know what I mean. I simply followed the tradition of the RAMBAM who declared that you can only describe Hakadoshboruch by what He is Not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, the RAMBAM of course was a Sefardi, so he was certainly hardly an Erlichah Yid. He worked as a physician to many, including to the principle advisers to Salah A Din, the Muslim conqueror of Eretz Yisroel who chased out the Crusaders Yemach Shmum. So instead of learning thirty hours a day like a good Jew, he was busy engaging in Bittul Toirah by saving lives. What a waste of time! All of his patients are undoubtedly dead by now, so the RAMBAM passed up the eternity of Toiras Moishe Rabbeinu to engage in what was only a temporary fix, at best. This is certainly not the choice any of OUR Gedoilim would have made, of course. Can you possibly imagine Reb Auerbach, SHLITA or Reb Kanievsky, SHLITA stopping leaning over their Gemarrah long enough to wipe up their drool?<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the RAMBAM cannot be all bad. After all, Art Scroll wrote at least one book about him. And he did, of course, only learn medicine from the Gemarrah and while sitting in the Bais HaKeesay. Which is where I developed my Value Investing strategy when I was a teenager: How to take something small and make it bigger until it shoots out a big payoff.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But RAMBAM’s basic premise requires a thoughtful analysis, at least long enough to fit three pages so that I can cross the line “Write a new Drasha” off of my To Do list, and I can get to the next item on my list: “Whatever is in the headlines, blame Hillary and Oibama”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The RAMBAM, in his day, was confronting a reality that was in many ways quite similar to our own. Jews were persecuted in some places, yet found safety in others. Religious traditions within Klal Yisroel were becoming divergent. People were beginning to allow the beliefs of modernity to impact their Emunah in the Aimishteh. And women were beginning to assert their right not to be treated as sex objects by covering themselves with Burkas, donning metal chastity belts, immersing themselves in the Mikvah, and avoiding any man whose last name was “Weinstein”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To the RAMBAM, a key concern was the literalism that had infiltrated the Jewish perception of The Divine. He believed that people who took Biblical references such as “the hand of God” or “the finger of God” as literal walked a treacherous path leading to a form of Avoidah Zarah, idolatry. He believed that anthropomorphism of the Reboinoisheloilum was a falsehood and was, in fact, dangerous, and that Hakadoshboruchhu could never be understood in human terms. He even went so far as to say that most prophetic confrontations with the Aimishteh in the Toirah were not actual encounters, but the product of inspired dreams, perceptual imagination, or LSD flashbacks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the center of the RAMBAM’s focus was the need to find the balance between faith and reason. For the RAMBAM, the Toirah was a one time gift given to Klal Yisroel through Moishe Rabbeinu. The Toirah was not a rule book designed to outline reward and punishment, as these were human concepts. To the RAMBAM, the Reboinoisheloilum exists beyond any human understanding and is outside of the realm of human activity. The RAMBAM believed that the Toirah’s primary purpose was to provide order and structure to society. That was the role of Faith. However, understanding of the Divine, while never fully achievable, was the essential higher objective of mankind. And the only way to approach that understanding was through Reason.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The RAMBAM faced struggle and challenge throughout his life. He was born into the golden age of Islam in Spain, where philosophy, mathematics and the natural sciences complemented his education in Kol HaToirah Kooloih. But his upbringing in the equivalent of the Upper West Side, the Five Towns, or Teaneck was cut short by the rise of a regime practicing an intolerant form of Islam that demanded that Jews convert or die. So the RAMBAM, his father, his brother, and presumably the rest of their family fled for their lives, not unlike many of our own parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Plus they had to shlep their pet dogs, cats, and hamsters, which must have made for a messy exodus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After spending time in Morocco and witnessing the deprivations of the Land of Israel firsthand, the RAMBAM settled in Egypt. He lost his father. He lost his brother. He dealt with depression. But he also became an internationally renowned religious scholar, known for his seminal religious writings: His commentary on the Mishnah; the Mishnah Toirah, which was an audacious attempt at systematizing Halachic scholarship up to that date; and the Moireh Nevuchim, The Guide For The Perplexed, where he laid out his theology and philosophy. He also published medical textbooks. And he wrote a humorous comic strip syndicated in all the major newspapers of Egypt about a tortoise named Menachem Mendel and a hare named Yoili.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Given his knowledge of the science of his day and his keen awareness of the wretched state of Jewish existence, and perhaps troubled by his own personal suffering, the RAMBAM worked to reconcile the equation at the heart of the struggle between faith and reason: The punishment suffered by the Jews did not fit the actions of the masses. So rather than explain away the suffering by attributing blame to the Jewish People, he dispensed with the equation altogether. The Reboinoisheloilum was beyond understanding. There was no linkage between human action and reward and punishment. Hakadoshboruch could not be understood in either physical or rational terms. The world existed as a holistic whole, with its own ebbs and flows, and man’s best path to God was to embrace the Unknowable, through philosophical reasoning. Man could never truly know the Divine. Man could never even describe the Aimishteh. The only way to describe Him was to describe “what He is not”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This view stands in contrast to everything we ourselves have learned since we were little children in kindergarten. (Maiseh Sheyoh: I do not know about you, but at the age of four I had a kindergarten teacher named Moirah Ginzberg who was so scary, the other kindergarten teachers would shit themselves every time she walked into the room. Mamish.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Obviously, RAMBAM’s is not the only Da’ah, the only opinion, on the nature of the Reboinoisheloilum and the broader questions regarding human existential purpose. Indeed, his perspectives were at times considered so controversial, manuscripts of his writing were burned in some Rabbinic circles as heresy. Plus artistic renditions of his likeness were often defaced by Talmidim drawing Groucho Marx glasses, including a mustache and thick eyebrows.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But his is a voice than cannot be easily dismissed. Indeed, the RAMBAM is often cited today when Rabbis, including those engaged in Kiruv, want to highlight Judaism’s rationalist perspectives on issues related to Faith and Reason. Their renditions often shy away from the deeper implications of RAMBAM’s thought, however. But to be honest, Rabbis often shy away from meaningful implications, unless it involves the renewal of their contracts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And what are those implications? The RAMBAM is dismissive of direct Divine engagement in the world, a view which stands in direct contrast to the belief in a world based on the values of reward and punishment in Oilum HaZeh and Oilum HaBah, this world and the next. Yet he strongly believes in a Halachic system, with a strong emphasis on moral laws Bain Adam LeChaveiroi, between human beings, as they are philosophically rational and necessary for an orderly society. And he believes that human engagement with the Divine through prayer and ritual is designed to suit human needs; though for him, intellectual contemplation of the Unknowable is what truly brings human beings closest to the Creator.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the most famous brief pieces of writing of the RAMBAM is his Teshuvah, his Rabbinic responsa, on the status of forced converts. As mentioned above, RAMBAM himself had to flee for his life when an oppressive brand of Islam replaced the progressive leadership of his native Spain. Years later, when consulted by a community in Yemen where some Rabbinic leaders were rejecting people who had converted to Islam under threat of death from returning to the body of the Jewish community, the RAMBAM spoke strongly of the need for embracing the many individuals who had been forcefully compelled to convert to Islam, if only publicly. In his Igeret Teiman, Epistle to Yemen, he strongly chastised those who would close their hearts to their fellow Jews, their fellow human beings, forced to continue to suffer a plight that no fault of their own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1969">If RAMBAM were alive today, I suspect that he would be sorely disappointed by much of our Rabbinic leadership and their unwillingness to act in a manner sensitive to the oppressed, whether the descendants of Jews trapped behind the Iron Curtain for generations, Agunot, sex abuse victims, or those who have chosen a less observant path who are forced to fight to retain access to their own children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1964">For instead of embracing reason, a rational approach to managing an orderly, humane society, too many of our Rabbinic leaders have instead opted for the path of falsehood and idolatry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1177">Ah Gutten Shabbos, You Minuval.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_1_1510324013902_1173" style="font-size: small;"><br />Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />Rosheshiva<br />Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-59742000337642814562018-07-26T12:30:00.001-04:002018-07-26T12:30:50.633-04:00Shabbos Nachamu Drasha <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1763"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1762" style="font-size: medium;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Shabbos Nachamu Drasha </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Rabboisai, </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1829" style="font-size: 18px;">We are standing here mere days after Tisha Ba’Av, the commemoration of all the unspeakable tragedies that impacted Klal Yisroel, including the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdash in 587 BCE, the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdash in 70 ACE, the Spanish Inquisition of 1492, and the Treifing up of the kitchen in Grossingers in 1966. Like our ancestors before us, we seek to make this a time of year for individual contemplation, collective mourning, a chance for group prayer, and the opportunity to check out all the hot Shiksa cleavage on these sweaty summer days. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1831" style="font-size: 18px;">One constant of Klal Yisroel’s collective experience, reaching back to at least Second Temple times, is the aspiration and yearning for the Moshiach, the Messiah. In this context, the era of the Messiah is anticipated as the period when oppression of the Jews subsides, and, perhaps, when world history as we know it comes to an end and the universal clock is reset at a new beginning. This anticipation reflects a spiritual and emotional response for those who have suffered persecution and general misfortune. It has also been the particular hope for the many of Klal Yisroel who are awaiting trial for embezzlement, have built up extensive credit card debt, or have engaged in pre-marital experimentation without using an… errr… kishka wrapper … and now have to explain to their Tatties and Mommies that there may be a little Einikel on the way. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_23" style="font-size: 18px;">This anticipation of the Moshiach, the longing and expectation, helped to justify in the minds of Klal Yisroel the actions, or inactions, of the Reboinoisheloilum in our deepest times of need. Why did Hakadoshboruchhu stand back and let our Bais Hamikdash burn, or let our people be murdered, or let our nation be expelled? Perhaps, one might suggest, He willed it as a punishment upon us for sinning. Of course, this idea poses dangerous philosophical and theological dilemmas: How can the Aimishteh, the fair and almighty, allow innocents – including children – to be slaughtered or tortured or expelled or sexually abused or punished in other terrible ways? Is He cruel? Is He uncaring? Is He impetuous and moody, like a four year old child? </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1752"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1751" style="font-size: 18px;">Or, perhaps, is He indeed truly benevolent, but limited in His powers? As understood by Lurianic Kabbalah (the teachings of the Ari Zahl, you Minuval ignoramus), perhaps He exists within specific constraints and is not quite as almighty as your second grade Rebbe told you He was. </span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_37" style="font-size: 18px;">One reflexive approach of Jewish theology commonly interpreted the various tragedies of Klal Yisroel as “Chevlei Moshiach” – the birth pangs of the Messiah. The logic went as follows: As we in our era (whatever era it was) believe that the Moshiach is impending, the tragedies we face are a necessary suffering that paves the way for the Messiah. This explanation was used in the time of the RAMBAM, as it was in the time of the expulsion from Spain, as it was in the time of the Chmelnitzky massacres. Indeed, one Tanna was quoted in a Braisah in Sanhedrin as follows, “Amar Rabbi Yoichanan, ‘Im Ra’isa Dor SheTzarois Rabbois Baois Alav KeNahar, Chakeh Loi, SheNe’emar, “Kee Yavoi KeNahar Tzar Ve’Ruach Hashem Noisasah Boi,” VaSumich Lei, “U’va LeTzioin Goiel.”’” “Rabbi Yoichanan said, ‘When you see a generation that has suffered many troubles like (the flood of) a river, wait for him (the Messiah), as is written, “When suffering shall come like a river, and Spirit of Hashem shall be aligned against it,” which is followed by, “And the Redeemer will come to Zion.”’” (Sanhedrin, 98a). </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_44" style="font-size: 18px;">So, the message is, the Moshiach is on his way, and we must bear the terrible suffering that will shortly come to an end. And yet, the Moshiach has never arrived. Or has it? </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_51" style="font-size: 18px;">On order to answer this question, one must have a clear understanding of what, in fact, is the very nature of the Messianic era. This is Nisht Azoy Pushit, not so simple, you Minuval. There are many, many ideas and speculations as to what will constitute the Messianic era: </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_58" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION ONE: According to the RAMBAM, the Messianic era will be reached when the Jews regain their independence and all return to the Land of Israel, led by a Messiah king descended from the Davidic monarchy. This will usher in a period of global peace and harmony. This era will be followed by the “end of days”, when all will live in a disembodied spiritual existence. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_65" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION TWO: According to the RAMBAN, the Messianic era will be the Shabbos-Koidesh of creation, after which will begin an era of spirit-infused physical existence. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_72" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION THREE: According to the RASHBA, the Messianic era will start with a period when everyone in the world learns Toirah and performs Mitsvois. This will be followed by an era of pure spiritual bliss, which he compares to “perpetual acts of Maisei Beyuh with beautiful women.” </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_79" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION FOUR: According to Rabbi Yoisaiph Gikatilla, the Messianic era will be a period when we are no longer required to learn Toirah and perform Mitzvois. Rather, all that was forbidden before will now be permitted. Tisha Ba’Av will change from a fast day involving mourning to a festival day involving excessive eating. Instead of eating Matzois on Pesach we will all eat Hostess Twinkies. And we will enter a era of pure joy where every man will be entitled to engage in Maisei Biyuh with 72 virgins, 7 strapping, well endowed Yeshivah Bochrim, and 3 nice fluffy goats. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_86" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION FIVE: The MAHARAL holds quite like Reb Yoisaiph Gikatilla, except that instead of 72 virgins, he suggests that real Moshiach-tzeit will be like doing it with one very talented, very experienced, toothless Pupkeh. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1844" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION SIX: The RIVAM holds that Moshiach-tzeit will neither be like engaging in Biyuh with one Nafka nor with 72 virgins. Rather, it will be like one man engaging with 7 beautiful women at once, with one woman reading to him from Tehillim, one woman serving as the remote control for the 3,000 channel, 65 inch 4K television set, one woman sitting on the man’s face, one woman focusing on his Petzel, two woman focusing on his Schvatzlach, and the last woman available to run to 7-11 to get single malt Slurpies. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1838" style="font-size: 18px;">-- OPTION SEVEN: The ROISH suggests that the Messiah will be ushered in by the ascent of a skinny, bearded rabbi who will lead a new movement towards a more progressive embrace of the Reboinoisheloilum’s love and munificence, as part of a process that leads to global peace and prosperity. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1839" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabboisai, if we look at these various visions for the Moshiach, we can certainly understand the yearning of our ancestors: How could they, in their times of need, ever believe that they had reached the era of the Moshiach? However, in our day, many of these visions of the Messiah have indeed come to pass: </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_106" style="font-size: 18px;">-- There is Jewish sovereignty for the first time in two millennia. In fact, Ivanka just stepped down from her clothing design business to dedicate her full time focus on affairs of state. (In addition, there is also an independent State of Israel, although we would hardly term that as “Jewish sovereignty”, what, with its secular, Arab loving government, its busses and movie theaters running on Shabbos Koidesh, its efforts to draft poor helpless Yeshiva Buchrim into the army, its requirement for Frum people to pay taxes, and its naked women on bus station posters. It’s like the Spanish Inquisition all over again.) </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_113" style="font-size: 18px;">-- There are indeed periods of joyful bliss. In fact, last night, as I lay in bed, I had my Bashert, Feigeh Breineh, dance the Kazatske on my face while two billy goats grazed at the Gan Eden surrounding my Makoim HaMilah. If that’s not Moshiach-tzeit, you tell me what is! </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_120" style="font-size: 18px;">-- There is indeed a man who has been put on this earth to bring love and kindness and peace. He has been known to perform miracles, and has brought many to believe in him. And when he suffers, it is so that the rest of us will be redeemed. Indeed, it is said that many of us are blind to The Truth, that the Messiah has indeed come, and his name is… President of the United States Donald J. Trump. Even greater than turning water into wine or loaves into fish or curing lepers (or whatever the New Testament miracles were – Hakadoshboruchhu knows I never learnt them in Yeshivah while I was growing up), Donald Trump performs the miracle of saying offensive, nonsensical things about race and gender and religion, incites hatred of immigrants - legal and undocumented alike, creates trade wars that harm domestic industries, pushes away our allies and embraces our enemies, has a string of ex porn star and Playboy models implying affairs he had with them while his wife was either pregnant or recovering from childbirth, and yet becomes more popular every day... </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1837" style="font-size: 18px;">Yes, for many, the Moshiach has come, in the shape of prosperity and personal security. Unlike many of our ancestors who lived in filth and poverty and perpetual fear of Pogrom or worse, and turned to superstition for solace, we live in prosperity. We no longer need to look towards the idealized future for salvation. In fact, we no longer need the Aimishteh or the End of Days. We no longer need to help others, or think of the greater good. We no longer need to worry about investing in the long term, or making education more affordable, or fixing healthcare, or managing the deficit. We have it all today, in the form of nice new homes, shiny new cars, and wives with liposuction and $3000 sheytels, and that’s all that matters. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_140" style="font-size: 18px;">Hey - what could possibly go wrong? </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_133" style="font-size: 18px;">Ah Gutten Shabbos You Minuval. </span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1746"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532620915168_1745" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_153" style="font-size: 18px;">Rosheshiva</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532620915168_156" style="font-size: 18px;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-3106901882274290192018-07-19T09:54:00.000-04:002018-07-19T09:54:00.076-04:00Tisha Ba'Av Drasha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532008278266_7"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_979" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_989" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">====================================================</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_983" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_988" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">==================================================================</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_985" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_984" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_993" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">====================================================</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1532008278266_52" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Tisha Ba'Av Drasha</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Rabboisai,</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1793" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">I would like to share with you some thoughts I developed on the topic of Tisha Ba’av.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1791" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Last year, as I sat on the floor in shul on Tisha Ba’av, inhaling the stench of the guy in front of me who took the whole no-bathing thing during the Nine Days a bit too literally, I began to contemplate the relevance of Tisha Ba’Av to our daily lives. Later in the week, I pondered a parallel question: what is the relevance of Shabbos Nachamu, especially for those of us who are not single and have no plans to go up to the Catskills to play sample-the-gefilte-fish with some desperately unmarried third grade social studies teacher from the Bais Yankif of Sheytel Park.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1789" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">At face value, Tisha Ba’Av is a simple concept. Klal Yisroel marks a period of national mourning by engaging in outward rituals designed to prove to the Reboinoisheloilum how sad we are, while we meanwhile pass our many post shul hours surfing porn to distract us from the growls of our empty bellies.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1787" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Yes, these were our ancestors who suffered horrible consequences many centuries ago. And in the great Yiddeshe tradition of compounding suffering, we somewhat arbitrarily link the date with other national tragedies. The destruction of the first Bais HaMikdash, the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdash, the Hadrianic Persecutions, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, etc. In other words, every bad thing that could possibly happen to the Jewish people.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1785" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But how can we feel personal linkages to the various national tragedies that happened long ago and did not impact us in our own lifetimes? And what EXACTLY are we supposed to feel? Empathy with our ancestors? Affinity with Jewish brethren and sistren? Or, as I sometimes feel, sheer panic and a sense that I ought to sign up with another religion as soon as possible, so long as I can avoid future persecution and have access to hot shiksas?</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">This question is at the center of a famous Machloikess Rishoinim between the RAMBAN and the RASHBA on the topic of Soitah. According to the RAMBAN, the Koihan administers the Mei Soitah to a married woman as potential punishment for her sleeping with other men in the past. But according to the RASHBA, the Kohain administers the Mei Soitah the woman as punishment for her not having slept with him.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">As Jews, we are instructed to sanctify the Reboinoisheloilum through time: On Pesach, we re-enact the exodus from Mitzrayim be eating Matzoh until we are hospitalized for intestinal blockage. On Sukkois, we re-enact our sojourning in the desert by making last minute trips to Home Depot for electrical tape. And on Shavuois, we re-enact receiving the Toirah by doing shots with our friends and talking about who has the hottest wives in shul, while our own wives are home putting the children to sleep and probably stroking the schmaltz herring to help them fall asleep, if you know what I mean.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But what are the rational limits of our behavior as we relate to Jewish history? And where do we draw the line between symbolism and reality when we worship Hakadoshboruchhu through time?</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1780" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">It is told of Reb Akiva Eiger that he was very diligent about not using numbers to count people, lest it echo the Avoidah, the ritual Practice, of the Bais Hamikdash, and wrongfully re-enact the past. Every morning in the Great Synagogue of Posen, he would check to see if there was a minyan by counting heads, “Hoshiya, Ess, Amecha, U’Varech, Ess, Nachlasecha, Uraim, Ve’Nasaim, Ad, Oilum.” At a count of Oilum, signaling the number ten, he would begin to say Birchas Ha’Shachar, as well as start whipping the Baal Tefilla with his Tfillin.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But he would not stop there. One Shabbos morning before Kriyas HaToirah, a young boy came up to him and asked, “Rabbi, do you know what the Yankees did last night.”</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Reb Akiva smiled reassuringly and replied, “Shimee, great news! The Yankees beat the Red Sox Uraim to Hoshiya. Jones had Ve’Nasaim strikeouts, and Jackson had Ess home runs.”</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">This practice was not a universally held position. Many of Chazal actually counted using numbers, holding that concern for replicating the historical Avoidah was not relevant in their day – that there were indeed limits to how the history of Klal Yisroel should impact religious practice in their own lives.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">The Baal Shem Tov is recorded by numerous of his Chassidim as having counted using actual numbers. As he traveled from town to town, raising money for his new movement, he would often go the front of a shul and say aloud, “Which of you would like to buy a chelek of Oilum Habah for eighteen zloties?” He would then look out towards the Kehillah and start counting the raised hands. “I see one Yid, two Yidden, three, four… Wow! There are fifteen of you suckers… err… I mean tzaddikim out there.”</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But this practice was not unique to the Chassidic movement. Reb Moishe himself writes in the Igrois Moishe how he once traveled to Florida with his talmidim for spring break, and after being appointed as a competition judge, used real numbers to keep score in a wet tzitzis contest.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">More to the point, the Maharal MiPrague himself addresses these issues directly in his lesser known sefer, Be’er HaGalus. According to the Maharal, Klal Yisroel is distinct from the pagans in that Oivday Avoidah Zorah seek the favor of their deities through the celebration of the forces of nature, which are largely seen as behaving randomly and are fundamentally distant from the work of humanity. But Klal Yisroel worships the Aimishteh, who we view as fundamentally involved in our fate and the workings of our own reality. And since the Reboinoisheloilum acts through history, such as in Yetzias Mitzrayim 3,400 years ago, and through the notion of time, such as through the unique covenantal pillar of celebrating the Shabbos Koidesh, the seventh day, so we must in turn use practices in time, such as practicing commemorative holidays fixed upon the calendar, to worship Hakkadoshboruchhu.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">However, the Maharal goes on to discuss the limits of this principle. Writes the Maharal, “When I was a young bocherul in the Yeshiva, I prayed to the Aimishteh for two things: One, that I would learn Kol HaToirah Kooloh. And Two, that I would win the Prague Pick-Finnif Lottery so I could buy myself a new shtender. I studied day and night, night and day, and mastered the Toirah by the age of nine. I also davened three times a day. And I very strictly kept the Shabbos Koidesh. Plus I never tried to look up my next door neighbor Shayndel’s dress. But did I ever win the lottery? No! Which taught me one thing: No matter what we do, even when we worship the Reboinoisheloilum through time, He has His own master plan. And if our world does not align with His plan, we may as well start praying to Yushka or Buddha or to a giant head of lettuce, because Hakadoshboruchhu is certainly not going to help.”</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Continues the Maharal, “So, conversely, if you are trying to worship the Aimishteh, and the form of worship does not make sense – say, by fasting three days and three nights after a bad dream, or not showering for a week before Tisha Ba’Av, you should probably stop. The Reboinoisheloilum created the world to be peopled by human beings and not angels, and also endowed them with common sense. So if you do something silly, like wear a $400 hat over a $3,000 shaytel, or get filters built into your water system, or only eat uncut fruit that has a Hashgacha, the only thing you have accomplished is convince Hakadoshboruchhu that you are indeed an idiot.”</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">So when it comes to Tisha Ba’Av, we must have appreciation for our history because marking time is inherent to our faith. Fast a little bit. Be a bit somber. Think about the suffering of our ancestors. Get under the bed and hide, so the Goyim cannot find you and persecute you. Try not to knead the flanken for one day, if you know what I mean. It won’t kill you.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1771" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But at the same time, we needn’t instill upon ourselves an intolerable level of suffering. Our ancestors did not seek their own torment – we should therefore limit our own. In fact, given the choice, I can assure you that our ancestors would have much preferred to skip the suffering commemorated by Tisha Ba’Av altogether, and go straight for the cute, zaftig, single third grade teacher at the singles weekend on Shabbos Nachamu.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1774" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Have an easy fast, you Minuval</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">---------</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1776" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Rosheshiva</span><br style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1532008278266_1748" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-55315183734490682612018-07-12T15:58:00.001-04:002018-07-12T15:58:50.169-04:00Parshas Matois<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1531425187444_7"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3863" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3880" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">====================================================</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3876" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3877" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">==================================================================</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3838" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3837" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">====================================================</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3856" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Parshas Matois</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3854" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">In this week's Parsha, Matois, Klal Yisroel strives to emulate the benevolent, merciful, forgiving nature of the Reboinoisheloilum by slaughtering all the nations of Midian.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Like last week, we are faced with a question regarding Klal Yisroel's relationship with Midian: How is it that the nation of Yisro, the man who helped develop Am Yisroel's legal system, so soon became a mortal enemy to be pillaged and plundered, killed to the last man, with all its wealth taken away? According to the Mei Menuchois, the Toirah here is coming to teach an important lesson to lawyers: they are to pledge allegiance to the legal system, but are then encouraged to exploit it, abuse it and devour it like locusts, so long as they are not disbarred.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">However, the Sifsey Chachomim focuses on an even more fundamental question on the Parsha: Why, after Klal Yisroel killed all the adult males of Midian, did Moishe Rabbeinu insist that they kill all the adult females as well?</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">According to the Baal Haturim, Moishe's motivation was that he was a mysogonist. Indeed, a Gemarra in Nedarim attributes to Moishe the Halacha that women can never enter the inner areas of the Bais Hamikdash, not because they were banned from bringing sacrifices, but because of the strict MEN ONLY rules in the Temple's health club.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But the RAN disagrees, referring in his commentary to the Baal Haturim as "Shvantz for Brains." The RAN holds that Moishe Rabbeinu actually loved women, perhaps a little too much. He cites a medrish that says that the reason it took Moishe so long to return to Klal Yisroel from Sinai was that he went three blocks out of his way, where no one he knew would see him, to buy "marital aids." Indeed, the RAN holds that Moishe had the adult women of Midian killed because they "lacked passion", and he didn't dare risk making the Israelite wives any more frigid than they already were, chass v'sholom.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But according to the MAHARAL, Moishe ordered the killing of the Midianite women for as grand a reason as to help Klal Yisroel finally reach the Promised Land.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Klal Yisroel was originally supposed to enter Eretz Yisroel in a matter of weeks after receiving the Toirah on Sinai. However, every time the Jews had a spare moment to make some progress toward reaching The Land, their wives always came up with new chores for them to do. "Moishe, fold the laundry, the Aimishteh can wait." "Aron, go next door to borrow the lawn mower. I don't care if we are moving our tent tomorrow. TODAY the place looks a mess." "Kulayv, watch the children for the next three hours while I get my nails done." "Yehoishua, you can't meet Moisheh to discuss conquest strategy this afternoon; we have a guy coming in to give us an estimate on redoing the kitchen."</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Since Moishe didn't want the males of Am Yisroel to become any more whipped than they already were, he had all the Midianite women put to death.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">I am reminded of a famous story told of the ARI ZAHL. He was once addressing his students in Tzfas, expounding on new, insightful interpretations of the Zohar, and using his deep understanding of the interrelationships of ten Sefirot to bring about the coming of the Moshiach and end Israel's state of exile.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Suddenly, the back door of the Bais Medrish opened, and his eight year old son Pesachya stuck his head in. "Tahti, come home quickly, Mommy needs you right away!" Fearing some horrible disaster, the ARI ended his treatise mid-sentence and ran home. His wife anxiously greeted him at the door. "I need you to do car pool. Shayndl next door is sick, and I have an appointment with the Shaytelmacher." The ARI held his temper and faithfully picked up his daughter Fruma from day camp.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">That night the Reboinoisheloilum came to him in a dream. "ARI, you were about to crack the code and bring about Israel's redemption. Why did you choose your wife over the Moshiach?"</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">"Aimishteh," the ARI answered, "if the Moshiach doesn't come now, he'll come soon. Maybe in ten years, maybe in one hundred, maybe in one thousand. And then we will sit at Your throne and joyfully worship You. But if I piss off my wife, she'll make me miserable for all eternity." The Aimishteh praised the ARI's wisdom and rewarded him by bringing a plague that ended the ARI's life.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">In our day we too are confronted by a similar choice: Lifelong dedication to the Reboinoisheloilum, or splitting loyalty between Him and a wife. Many spiritual groups have different approaches to managing this challenge. The Moslems marry many women in order to counter the aggregation of power by a single wife. The Episcopalians and the Reform allow their wives to become clergy and manage the family's relationship with the Aimishteh, thereby freeing up time for the husbands to play golf. And the Catholics don't marry, but take matters into their own hands, or into the hands of their alter boys, if you know what I mean.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3850" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">But a true Ben Torah accepts his fate, secure in the fact that while his wife wastes her time on such insignificant tasks as supporting the family, paying the rent, filling out school registration forms, planning carpool, packing school lunches, cooking, cleaning, and worrying about birth control, he is off doing the Aimishteh's work by learning in Kolel and contemplating his reward in the World to Come.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">---------</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Rosheshiva</span><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1531425187444_3828" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-51858093838303085562018-07-03T09:37:00.002-04:002018-07-03T09:37:44.020-04:00NEW – Independence Day Drasha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN<br />
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http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br />
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NEW – Independence Day Drasha<br />
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Rabboisai,<br />
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OMG! Like.. WOW! What a week! POTUS DJT led the GOP in another valiant struggle against the MSM at CNN, MSNBC, PBS, CBS, NBC, ABC, and few other letters. Thank G-D for FOX or I would have to rely on the guy who sits in the back of Shul to get my news!!<br />
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(As an aside... did you ever wonder how there is always a guy in Shul who knows all of the headlines and sports scores, even on Yoim Kippur SheChol Lihiyois BaPesach. I do not mean to be Choishaid BiKsheirim... but I wonder if his wife also engages in Maisei Shiksalach, if you know what I mean...)<br />
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But I do not want to talk about current events. Not this week. I want to pick up on a topic - far more serious than the relationship between the US and North Korea, the Arab-Israeli conflict, or the emerging trade war between the US and China, between the US and Canada, between the US and Europe, and between the US and... hmmm... every country but Russia. Although, there was ABSOLUTELY NO COLLUSION!! EVER! AND THERE WAS NO RUSSIAN TAMPERING WITH THE ELECTION. PUTIN HAS ASSURED ME, AND I TRUST HIM FAR MORE THAN I TRUST EVERYONE IN THE US INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY!!!<br />
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No. I want to talk about the most important Mitzvah, the most important commandment, in Yiddishkeit. What is it?<br />
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Hava Amina, I might have thought that it is one of the Aseres HaDibrois, the Ten Commandments given to Moishe Rabbeinu and all of Klal Yisroel at Har Sinai, as well to Charlton Heston and a cast of thousands on the Universal Studios lot: There is one Reboinoisheloilum. Do not worship idols, unless they wear long black coats, have long black beards, and have beautiful curly-Q Payis. Keep/ remember the Shabboskoidesh. Honor your parents (and by extension, send checks to your Rebbe). Do not kill. Do not steal... in any way that is traceable. Do not covet my wife or any of my other property, etc.<br />
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However... I am not certain that any of the Ten Commandments is the “anchor” Mitzvah of Yiddishkeit. Of the Aseres HaDibrois, the latter commandments are Bain Adam LeChaveiro, social laws in the human domain, which means that they are universal and can be derived through rational thought. But they are not unique to Klal Yisroel.<br />
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But the earlier commandments, the Bain Adam LeMakoim commandments, the Mitzvois that govern mankind’s relationship to the Reboinoisheloilum are unique to Klal Yisroel, the Jewish People. However, they imply ia fundamental question: If these Mitzvois are so damned important, why weren’t they given to all of mankind? If they are so damned obvious, why aren’t they also accessible through logic and deductive reasoning?<br />
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Rabboisai, I have on numerous occasions engaged in speculation on the meaning of life, the nature of Hakadoshboruchhu, and what my neighbor looks like in her Gatkas. But, in the end, I am not certain that any of these are the most important questions. Let’s face it: People can speculate all they want. But speculating on the “unknowable” is about as useful as Schvantzlach on a Meideleh.<br />
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And the Mitzvois are commandments regarding actions. They are core expectations of each and every one of us. (Unless, of course, you are a woman, in which case the core expectations of you are to work three jobs and bear and raise ten children while your husband is learning Toirah twenty seven hours a day.)<br />
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So what is the most important Mitzvah in Yiddishkeit? And what is it that makes that Mitzvah “most important”?<br />
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These of course are amazing Shailois! Indeed, they have for millennia been the source of speculation amongst CHAZAL. What else do you think they talked about in the Mikvah while waiting for the towel boy?<br />
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According to Reb Saadia Goyn, the most important Mitzvah is Petter Rechem for a donkey - Sanctifying the first born offspring of a donkey by either financially redeeming it through a payment to the Koihain, or by killing the donkey by breaking its neck - as commanded in Sefer Shmois, Perek Yud Gimmil Passook Yud Gimmel (Exodus, Ch.13, Vs. 13 in the Melech HaMashiach Bible)<br />
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But the RAMBAM disagrees, suggesting that Reb Saadia made this pronouncement while he was suffering heat stroke from the intense Babylonian sun. “What is this Shtuss?” asks the RAMBAM, “the donkey is a Treifah Chaya. Maybe Saadia also thinks that putting a Yarmulke on a turtle is another big Mitzvah?” Instead, the RAMBAM suggests that the most important Mitzvah in is banning the Internet. After all, as everybody knows, the RAMBAM was opposed to any sort of secular knowledge whatsoever!<br />
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The RAMBAN, on the other hand, shows his respect and reverence for the RAMBAM by vehemently disagreeing with him on this and every other topic he ever wrote about, referring to him as “that Spanish Egyptian dude with a mail order medical degree”. The RAMBAN notes that the RAMBAM himself was learned in mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences, so banning the internet is hypocritical and silly, especially since the internet would not be invented for another 900 years. The RAMBAN holds that Takkah the internet is Muttar and even encouraged, as long as you purchase the appropriate filtering software from his shell corporation.<br />
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According to the RAMBAN, the most important Mitzvah is Shiluach HaKan, sending away a mother bird from the nest prior to stealing her eggs or chicks to fry on the grill. This Mitzvah is so important that the Toirah promises the same reward as is promised for honoring one’s own parents - long life. So why is this Mitzvah the most important, instead of the Mitzvah of honoring one’s parents? Very simple, says the RAMBAN. Honoring one’s parents makes sense indeed. They may be nice people. They may be leaving an inheritance. And you may need to borrow their car every once in a while. But chasing away a bird from its nest? It makes no sense whatsoever!! You may as well catch the mother bird, skewer it in a stick, and roast it next to its babies. That is completely permissible. But, the Mitzvah is here to tell us that if you are only taking the contents of the nest, you must wave away the mother. So the fact that this silly Mitzvah is highlighted Azoy as so important MUST mean that Shuluach HaKan is the moist... err... most important Mitzvah. It makes perfect sense!!!<br />
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Shoyn.<br />
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Closer to our era, this has remained a topic of debate amongst the Acharoinim, even as social and religious sensibilities have evolved.<br />
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According to the Baal Shem Toiv, the most important Mitzvah is Hisboidedus, meditative unification with the Divine, either during Davening, while engaging in hierogamy with one’s wife on Friday night (look up the word, you Menuval!), or while dropping acid at a nice Farbreingin.<br />
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However, the Vilna Goyn differs vehemently with the Baal Shem Toiv, and insists that the most important Mitzvah is calling the secular authorities to denounce local Chassidic masters for tax cheating, incitement against the government, and shoplifting bacon from the supermarket.<br />
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Reb Yisroel Meir Kagan, the Chofetz Chaim, disagrees with both the BESHT and the GRUH. He says that the most important Mitzvah is avoiding Loshon Harrah, not speaking ill of others. And when asked about the positions of the BESHT and GRUH, he responds that “those two morons wouldn’t know a Mitzvah if it hit them on the head, since they are too busy smoking Bsomim, chasing Meidelach, and texting on Shabboskoidesh... or so I hear...”<br />
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Shoyn.<br />
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Rabboisai, I would like to suggest that none of the above speculation about the most important Mitzvah is correct. And in fact, the most important Mitzvah is not spelled out explicitly in the Toirah but is inferred by all of the various commandments.<br />
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And how many times are we told to love HaKadoishboruchhu, to fear Him, to revere Her, to worship It through all manner of actions, deeds and thoughts? That is the essence of Mitzvois Bain Adam LaMakoim. And, of course, we are also instructed to behave in a manner that preserves an orderly society. The is the essence of the Mitzvois Bain Adam LeChaveiro. Together, these two categories constitute the sum total of all of the 613 Mitzvois.<br />
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I would like to suggest that implicit in these two categories of commandments is the most important Mitzvah: To love ourselves.<br />
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And no, you pervert, I am not suggesting in a sexual or erotic way. Or in a selfish, self-absorbed, way. Please take your right hand out of your pants and your left hand out of your wallet.<br />
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Rabboisai, let me ask you a question: Who was constructed in the Divine image? Mankind, of course! So indeed, if we are commanded to love, fear, revere and worship the Aimisheh, then we are also commanded to love ourselves, in the sense that we respect ourselves and preserve our physical bodies and mental health and personal dignity in the face of the trials of life.<br />
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How many people do you know, you Mechutziff, who engage in self-destructive behavior, through excessive drinking or drug abuse? How many people do you know who are stuck in destructive relationships with their spouses or significant others? How many people do you know who are trapped in all manner of toxic environments - at home, in social circles or at work?<br />
<br />
What does the Toirah tell us to do about such situations? You might say “The Toirah tells us nothing”. But you are a Menuval and an ignoramus!<br />
<br />
The Toirah tells us “Ve-Ahavta LeReacha KaMoicha”, “Love they neighbor as you would love yourself”, and Hillel HaZakain restates this as not doing to others what you would not want done to you. Do you want others to engage in self-destructive behavior, you Vilde Chaya? Do you want other others to be trapped in the cycle of despair in a toxic environment? No! Of course not. So why would you ever want to be in such a situation yourself?<br />
<br />
That is why loving one’s self is the most important Mitzvah in the Toirah. It is a Mitzvah that is derivative of both Mitzvois Bain Adam LaMakoim AND Bain Adam Lechaveiro. It is a Mitzvah that honors the Reboinoisheloilum by honoring the Tzelem Eleoikim in ourselves. And it is a Mitzvah that ensures the proper functioning of society because it promotes the proper functioning of the individual.<br />
<br />
Shoyn.<br />
<br />
Rabboisai - When we love ourselves, when we act in our own best interests, then we engage in what Herzl described as “Im Tirtzu, Ain Zu Agadah”, “If you will it, it is not a dream”. We take the reins of our own fate. This is the ultimate message of self-determination, of independence. As a nation we have spent millennia our own national self-determination. We have lived for it and died for it. We must also do the same for our personal independence. Zman Cheiruseinu, the Time of our Independence is not just once a year. It must be all year round.<br />
<br />
Ah Freilichin Yuntif, You Menuval!<br />
<br />
---------<br />
<br />
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein<br />
Rosheshiva<br />
Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</div>
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-52365293730764678762018-06-22T17:19:00.001-04:002018-06-22T17:19:38.675-04:00NEW: On The Art Of The Compromise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1497" style="font-size: medium;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1454" style="font-size: medium;">========================================================================================================</span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1490"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1489" style="font-size: medium;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2252" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1457" style="font-size: medium;">====================================================</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2257" style="font-size: medium;"> <span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2256" style="color: black; word-spacing: normal;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2260" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br /><br />====================================================<br /><br /></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2300" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2299" style="font-size: 18px;">NEW: On The Art Of The Compromise</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2311" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2310" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabboisai</span></span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_15_0_4_1529702214651_90" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2297" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2296" style="font-size: 18px;">Greetings from somewhere on the southern border of the Unites States. I am on assignment in my role as Spiritual Advisor to His Excellency President Donald J. Trump, SHLITA. I am performing the religious ceremony sanctifying the separation of families of illegal immigrants. It is kind of like a Bar or Bat Mitzvah theme, when the child becomes an “adult” in the eyes of the Reboinoisheloilum, freeing his or her parents from the burden of responsibility. Here we are doing the same thing: “Liberating” children from their parents so that we can enslave them to build our pyramids and the storage cities of Python and Ramses... errr... so that we educate the children on Truth, Justice, and the American way...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">It is actually pretty fun when we rip children out of the arms of their parents. The children cry. The parents cry. But I believe that they are crying for joy... Well, I think that is what they are doing; I do not actually speak Spanish, but that is what my aides are telling me they are doing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Hey... we are just enforcing the law. Where would be without law? The world would be chaos, Tohu VaVohu. And so, in order to ensure an orderly society, we must obey the law. WE WERE ONLY FOLLOWING ORDERS!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">——</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2294" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2293" style="font-size: 18px;">WAIT! STOP THE PRESSES! HOLD THE FORT! PASS THE KETCHUP!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">The President of the United States just signed an executive order that does not allow the enforcement of family separation. OY VEY! How inconvenient!! I have a Drasha half written...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">More significantly perhaps, I must voice my utter disappointment! We were separating those families because they represented a threat to the United States of American. So if we are now allowing the families to be reunited, then we are increasing that level of threat! The President is now endangering our loved ones! He is being weak kneed and spineless, willing to make ideological compromises because of political pressure coming from the mainstream media and the left and the right and everyone else around the world. Has he forgotten that his role is to “Make America Great Again!”? Instead he will now “i haga a América grande otra vez!” This is unacceptable!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Next thing you know, he will be walking arm in arm with a vicious dictator and mass murderer who imprisons his own people in concentration camps! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Oops. Well, that was last week...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">—-</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">So, last week and this week, we have examples of moral and ideological compromises made “for the greater good”. How should we think about such examples? Do they reflect a lack of backbone? Or do they reflect courage to “take risks for peace” and to show flexibility in the face of evolving and emerging facts and sensibilities?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">And if we believe that such moves are justified, such compromises are valid risks, then how can we criticize the decisions of others who have taken such risks in the past, such as... ummm... the Iran Deal? Or establishing a mandate requiring Americans to have health insurance, so that the government will not go bankrupt providing free health care to the uninsured? Or making concessions in trade agreements, such as the recognition of Canada’s desire to preserve a domestic dairy products industry? Or establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba? Or making peace with Libya in exchange for Khadafi giving up his nuclear capability? Or...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">And the thing is... what should be perfectly clear is that compromises do not belong to one side of the political spectrum; both Republicans and Democrats, Democrats and Republicans make concessions. That is how progress against societal challenges is made. It is like “sausage making”; it isn’t a pretty process, but hopefully it results in something that works.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">—-</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">But Nisht Gerferlach. We are Toirah Jews! We are the True Chosen People (TM). We aspire to perfection, and never compromise, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Although...</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">We are told in Pirkei Avois in the name of Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah: Im Ein Derech Eretz, Ein Toirah... Im Ein Toirah, Ein Derech Eretz.” “If there is no worldly occupation, there is no Toirah; if there is no Toirah, there is no worldly occupation.” What does this mean?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Reb Shmiel Kalbasavuah likes to point out that this implies that a Ben Toirah is expected to work, and that he should not be supported by the community. But, conversely, someone who works must set aside time to study Toirah because that enriches his life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">However, Reb Yehoishaphat Katahoulah holds Farkert, that a community MUST support Talmud Toirah, and that Reb Shmiel must have been suffering from Rabies when he interpreted the Mishnah Azoy, using an explanation known as the “Rabbis with Rabies Theory”.</span></span></div>
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<div id="yui_3_15_0_4_1529702214651_90" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2290" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2289" style="font-size: 18px;">So, what was Rebbe Elazar Ben Azariah discussing according to Reb Yohoishaphat Katahoula? Very Pashut! Reb Yehoishaphat quotes a Braisah that tells us that a person is allowed to lie about three issues, one of which is “Derech Eretz”. In that instance “Derech Eretz” does not refer to worldly occupation - a day job, Chass V’Chalilah!! Rather it refers to sexual relations with one’s wife. In other words, if on a Shabboskoidesh morning your friend asks you if your Bashert gave you a little hot adult action on Mitzvah night, you are permitted according to the Toirah to lie, either to avoid embarrassing your wife in front of your friend, or to avoid embarrassing yourself. So instead of saying, “yes, we engaged in relations last night while my wife was reciting Kriyas Shma Al HaMitah for three minutes”, you are permitted to report back, “YES!! We did it three times over six hours, after my Bashert tied me up with my garter, whipped me with my Arba Kanfois, and had the local Mikvah Lady join us for a Mezumin!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Similarly, according to Reb Yehoishaphat, this Mishnah is telling us the importance of sex for the Toirah scholar. “Im Ein Derech Eretz, Ein Toirah” is a declaration that a Toirah scholar needs to get hot adult action regularly. He does not need a job, Chass V’Shalom, but he needs to take a break in his 16 hour days of learning Toirah to be serviced by his wife, after she comes home from her three jobs, feeds and bathes the kids, and milks the cows. She is not “too tired”, that is the Yetzer Hurrah speaking!! “I do not care if you are too tired” he should say, “I am just following the Halacha according to Rebbe Elazar Ben Azariah”. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">(To which my Bashert, Feigeh Breinah, would most certainly respond, “Then he should sleep with you!!!”)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Shoyn. Sorry, I got lost in a tangent.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2286" style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_2285" style="font-size: 18px;">But the point is - whether or not we hold by the interpretation of Reb Shmiel or Reb Yehoishaphat, the main point is the language. We are told that we cannot have A without B. And then we are told the converse. This does not mean that we should live in perpetual conflict. Adarabbah!! It means than we should seek a balance between Derech Eretz and Toirah, and between Toirah and Derech Eretz. It is a balance, a compromise.=</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">As such... according to Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah, we should never view ideological compromise as weakness, but as doing what needs to be done in order to make progress and improve the greater good. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Unless, of course, the person making the compromise is a Democrat, Rachmana Letzlan. In which case he is a spineless week kneed flip-flopper who is bringing about the demise of this country, and is undoubtedly an anti-Semite!</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1521" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529702214651_1519" style="font-size: 18px; word-spacing: normal;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-31897942977642953712018-06-15T18:25:00.001-04:002018-06-15T18:25:43.583-04:00Parshas Koirach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_998" style="font-size: 18px;">====================================================</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1008" style="font-size: medium;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1011" style="font-size: medium;">========================================================================================================</span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1016"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1015" style="font-size: medium;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1019" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: black; word-spacing: normal;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1048" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br /><br />====================================================<br /><br /></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1836" style="font-size: 18px;">Parshas Koirach</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1826" style="font-size: 18px;">In this week's Parsha, Koirach, once again a portion of Klal Yisroel rebels against the Reboinoisheloilum's rule. A group led by Koirach challenges Moishe Rabbeinu's appointment as the Aimishteh's personal representative and business manager. After returning to their tents, Koirach and his minions are swallowed up whole into the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">How stupid are these Mishugayim anyway? How many times do they have to be told that they should shut up and study Toirah instead of asking for food and the right to return to Mitzrayim to visit the pyramids and eat Traifus? And how much abuse does Hakodoshboruchhu have to tolerate before he smites all the minuvals down like cockroaches with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and a really big shoe?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">I know you were asking these questions, you good-for-nothing Amhaaretz, but they are actually stupid questions. I mean, we read this same Parsha every year. It hasn't changed since the Redactor compiled the text in Babylon -- OOPS -- I mean since the Aimishteh dictated the Toirah to Moishe on Sinai.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">No, the real question isn't why the people keep on rebelling. Rather, it is: Why do we, and our wise Rabbinical predecessors, continue to look back at the generation of the Exodus as the paradigm of Jewish virtue, when in truth they were a bunch of Vilda Chayas? Compared to them, a band of marauding rabid water buffalo are cooperative.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1831" style="font-size: 18px;">Indeed, this paradox is highlighted in the following Maiyseh Shehoyo: In the late 1950s, the Bobover Rebbe was sitting in first class on an airplane next to the famous playwright Arthur Miller. The playwright observed the care and reverence with which the Bobover Chassidim escorted their Rebbe through the airport, got him settled on the plane, and checked on his well-being periodically. Miller turned to the Rebbe and asked, "Rabbi, how come it is that when I lecture at a university, a pillar of secular knowledge, I am treated casually by the students, even with disrespect, while you, teaching an archaic tradition, are treated with respect, almost as a beloved surrogate parent, by your followers?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">The Rebbe smiled, and replied, "It is very simple -- you, a secular person, tell your students that they are descended from monkeys, so when they look at you, they see a person one generation closer to their primitive ape past. We tell our students that they are descended from the generation at Sinai, so when they see me, they see a person one generation closer to the face to face encounter with the Aimisheh."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Arthur Miller stroked his chin and thought for a moment. And then he responded, "That may be true, but I am sleeping with Marilyn Monroe, so who cares?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">The Bobover Rebbe, recognizing that he had lost the argument, never traveled by airplane again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">The Tanna Kamma alludes to this question in a Mishnah in Maseches Nidah, Perek Gimmul. He suggests that the reason the Aimishteh enacted restrictions on "relations" with one's wife during her natural cycle (Zman Nidasa) is so that 50% of Klal Yisroel will always be so frustrated they will be ready to go to war over a missing paper clip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">However, The Zoihar tells a tale of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai sitting around a campfire with his female students and giving them life advice. He said, "When your husband calls you an idiot, it is the best news you have had all day." This is understood as a reference to the Kabbalistic understanding of the relationship between the Aimishteh and Klal Yisroel. The Aimishteh is seen as the groom, and the Jews as the bride. And what what could be more natural, or even healthy, than occasional bickering, or even a good knock-down-drag-out argument over who takes out the garbage or whose turn it is to do the dishes. Or in the case of Klal Yisroel, dancing around the Eigel Hazahav while eating traifus. Rather than leading to divorce, this keeps the marriage vibrant and stimulates the senses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">I am reminded of my own wedding day to my Bashert, Feige Breinah. As I stood under the Chuppah waiting for her to join me, I wished that the earth would open underneath my feet, just as it had for Koirach. Would I be a good husband? Could I manage a strong Jewish household? Would I be able to consummate my marriage that night without the ritual twenty minutes of begging?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">The moment of introspection was broken by my bride. As she walked down the aisle and circled me seven times, she softly whispered, "wipe that stupid look off your face; the video camera is running!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">So a little tension between bride and groom is quite healthy. Klal Yisroel in the desert understood this, which is why they frequently rebelled, about leadership, about idols, about what to eat, and about leaving the comforts of Egypt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">In honor of the generation of the Exodus, we too must keep the vibrance and energy of the relationship with the Aimishteh alive. Consequently, we are compelled to eat the occasional Traifus and watch the occasional game on Shabbos. We are supposed to have unclean thoughts and covet the property of others. For if we do not, we will fail to live up to the heritage of our forefathers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Ah Gutten Shabbos, You Minuval</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1529101402022_1044" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px; word-spacing: normal;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38561663.post-39484392783009085812018-06-08T19:40:00.000-04:002018-06-08T19:40:18.499-04:00Parshas Shlach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1147" style="font-size: 18px;">To subscribe, send an e-mail to NPOJ8@YAHOO.COM with the word "Subscribe"</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1140" style="font-size: medium;">Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rabbi-Pinky-Schmeckelstein/621655891273622</span></div>
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<b id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1155"><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1154" style="font-size: medium;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1170" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1173" style="font-size: medium;"> <span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1172" style="color: black; word-spacing: normal;">THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1191" style="color: #3f3f3f; font-size: 18px;"><br />http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Rabbi_Pinky<br /><br />====================================================<br /><br /><br /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_238" style="color: black;">Rabboisai,</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_241" style="color: black;">Before I deliver my weekly Drasha, I would like to respond to several comments sent my way over the last two weeks. "Why" people have asked, "have you not published in the last two weeks? Have you become a Meshumid, or even worse, a Reform Jew?"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_244" style="color: black;">Well, truth be told, there is a simple answer: I WORK FOR A LIVING!!</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_247" style="color: black;">And do you know why? Because you, my beloved Talmidim, are a bunch of good-for-nothing Mamzerim! How many of my books have you bought? How much have you contributed to my Yeshivah? It breaks my heart, especially when I read about the great wealth accumulated by several charlatans... err... great Rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/forbes-presents-the-richest-rabbis-in-israel-1.435748" id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_250" style="color: #6728b2; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/forbes-presents-the-richest-rabbis-in-israel-1.435748</a><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><a href="http://www.forbes.co.il/rating/list.aspx?en6v0tVq=EE" id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_253" style="color: #6728b2; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.forbes.co.il/rating/list.aspx?en6v0tVq=EE</a><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_256" style="color: black;">Rebboinoisheloilumdammit! I expect you Talmidim to be buying my books and sending me checks left and right so can make this list next year!</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_259" style="color: black;">Otherwise I will no longer pray to Hakkadoshboruchhu on your behalf, hand out magical amulets, or give out Red Bendeleh strings to wear around your Schvantzyls (or your wrists, if you are a woman, Chass V'Sholom). Instead, I will daven for you to have erectile dysfunction or sagging Tzitzim.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_262" style="color: black;">Pinky</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_265" style="color: black;">-----</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_268" style="color: black;">Parshas Shlach</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_271" style="color: black;">This week's parsha, Shlach Lecha, is one of the most confusing Parshiyois in Kol Hatoirah Kooloh. Takkah, I had to read it three times to make sure it wasn't the latest issue of the National Enquirer. Or even worse, a Medrish.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_274" style="color: black;">Moishe Rabbeinu sends twelve spies into Eretz Yisroel to determine the fertility of the land, the vulnerability of the local populations, and the volatility of interest rates. The Meraglim come back and claim at first that the land is fertile, but the locals are too intimidating. They later change their story to say that the land itself does not provide adequate sustenance. Why can't they make up their minds, those Mishagayim? Only Yehoshua and Culayv are optimistic about Klal Yisroel’s ability to conquer the land.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_277" style="color: black;">Confusing point #1: What could these people have been thinking? I mean, why would Yehoshua and Culayv be interested in Eretz Yisroel? How about Madagascar? Or Dubai? What about Miami Beach? Or Brooklyn?</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_280" style="color: black;">Also, as the spies were surveying the Promised Land, why didn't the Meraglim note that the hotels are overpriced; the people are rude; it's hard to find a decent kosher meal in Tel Aviv; oh, and HALF THE POPULATION WANTS TO FREAKING KILL YOU!!!!</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_283" style="color: black;">Takkah, according to a Medrish in Divrei Hayamim Rabbah, the Meraglim never even made it into the heartland of Eretz Yisroel. Unbeknownst to Moishe Rabbeinu and the Bnei Yisroel, the spies secretly went down to Eilat and spent seven days on the beach ogling at the topless Scandinavian women.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_286" style="color: black;">Confusing point #2: When Klal Yisroel, those Behaimas, panic and long to return to Egypt, the Reboinoisheloilum decides to kill them all. Moishe Rabbeinu pleads for their lives by using a somewhat surprising argument: (Bamidbar, Perek Yud Daled, Possuk Tess Vuv-Tess Zayin) “... if you (the Aimishteh) shall destroy this People in a single instance, the nations (of the world) which have heard of you will say, 'Hakadoishboruchhu slaughtered this People in the desert because He was unable to bring them into the Land which he swore to them...'"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_289" style="color: black;">In other words, "What will the Goyim say?"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_292" style="color: black;">What will the Goyim say?!!! Who does Moishe think he is – Bibi Netanyahu or Ivanka Trump? Since when does Moishe Rabbeinu worry about the Goyim? Since when does any Jew worry about the opinions of the Goyim, those anti-Semites? Why, as is well known, in the world to come, the GOOD Goyim will walk around all day holding onto my Tzitzis. And the BAD Goyim are going to be my "bitches", since, according to the Ari Zahl, when Moshiach comes there will no longer be a prohibition of Mishkav Zachar.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_295" style="color: black;">No wonder Moishe was never let into Eretz Yisroel! If he likes the Goyim so much, he should learn to play golf and shave with a blade.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_298" style="color: black;">The RAIVID, when looking at this episode, suggests that Moishe was secretly trying to anger Hakkadoshboruchhu in order to be released from his contract. The Mesopotamians were offering him 50% more per year to be their leader, six weeks of vacation, plus unlimited use of the corporate magic carpet.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_357" style="color: black;">However, the RAMBAN holds that Moisheh made the defensive argument in earnest. And, remarkably, the Aimishteh ultimately relented and did not destroy Klal Yisroel (although He did raise management fees by 50 basis points).</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_354" style="color: black;">What is going on here? I am reminded of a famous story in Gemarrah Yevumois about Rabbi Tarfun. Once, at the end of a three day Yuntif, Rabbi Tarfun went to put out the last of his garbage bags. However, he found that all the garbage cans outside of his house were full. He was about to put the bags into the cans of his Gentile neighbors, when his wife stopped him, and insisted that he get permission first. "Why?" he asked her, as she painted the toe nails of their thirteen daughters.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_351" style="color: black;">She responded, "you never know when you are going to need a Gentile's help." And it came to pass that three weeks later, as he tried to assemble his children’s' new swing set, the Gentile next door was the only person in the entire neighborhood who knew how to change the head of a socket wrench.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_348" style="color: black;">This theme is also addressed in a famous story in the Zoihar. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was sitting in the cave where he hid from the Romans for 14 years. After spending an afternoon meditating, Rabbi Shimon fell asleep. Using his deep Kabbalistic knowledge and the pureness of his soul, he summoned the presence of the Reboinoisheloilum. "What do you want, Reb Shimon? I'm on another call," Hakkadoshboruchhu asked.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_345" style="color: black;">"Aimishteh," Rabbi Shimon responded, "I am getting tired of living in this filthy cave. Can you please take me away from all this suffering, and reward me with land and wealth and lots of spare time for Toirah and day trading? Why do the Goyim have it so good, while I, one of your chosen few, continue to struggle?"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_342" style="color: black;">The Reboinoisheloilum paused for a moment, and then responded in a low monotonous tone that was little above a whisper. "Reb Shimon, how many people in the world are there?" He asked.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_339" style="color: black;">"Why, about six billion" Rabbi Shimon slowly responded.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_336" style="color: black;">Hakkadoshboruchhu continued. "And how many Jews are there in the world?"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_333" style="color: black;">Again, Rabbi Shimon answered, this time quickly, and with more confidence in his voice. "I would guess about twenty million."</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1497635690835_1837" style="color: black;">The Aimishteh then raised His voice. "So do you think that in a world of six billion people, all reality revolves around the actions and the fate of 20 million people, three tenths of one percent of the global population? What kind of reefer are you smoking in that cave, you Michutziff??"</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1497635690835_1839" style="color: black;">So the truth is, whether we like it or not, world opinion does matter. This may not make sense to you, you Am Haaretz, but neither does Shatnez or yeshiva tuition.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_302" style="color: black;">It also doesn't make sense that after witnessing all of the miracles of the exodus from Egypt, the ten plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, and receiving the Toirah, Klal Yisroel continues to rebel against the Reboinoisheloilum at every turn. But they should get over it already, and so should you.</span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_305" style="color: black;">Life doesn't make sense. And if you don't like it, you can always quit the religion and convert to Hinduism. Reboinoisheloilum knows there are a lot more of them. </span><br style="color: black;" /><br style="color: black;" /><span id="yui_3_15_0_4_1497635690835_311" style="color: black;">Ah Gutten Shabbos You Minuval</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1980" style="font-size: 18px;">Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1966" style="font-size: 18px; word-spacing: normal;">Rosheshiva</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1528500983725_1968" style="font-size: 18px; word-spacing: normal;">Yeshivas Chipass Emmess</span></div>
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Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415028859483212296noreply@blogger.com0