tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post1511697378253332995..comments2024-03-28T21:21:02.777-04:00Comments on Divrei Chaim: the "bracha" of the punishment of tzara'as Chaim B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02231811394447584320noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-75912987542270733612014-03-30T14:43:28.607-04:002014-03-30T14:43:28.607-04:00I deny the implied classification of myself as an ...I deny the implied classification of myself as an MO. I like to think I am an OFTY [old-fashioned Torah Yid] who antedates the political schisms that corrupt today's Torah world. <br /><br />When I was teaching at Aish and Ohr Somayach in Yerushalaim, one of my classes included my switching from black to knitted to black velvet to Bucharian kippot, and discussing how the ba'al tshuva talmidim reacted. Some of the most honest, dedicated, hard-working bnei Torah I ever met were Merkaz-niks, while, sadly, some of the most corrupt human beings I ever knew with were significant figures in the "chareidi" olam.<br /><br />About the only schism I ever recognized was the Misnaged-Chassid one - and if you think about it, that was just as vicious and polarizing as what is going on today, if not more so. Eventually I started learning Chassidishe torah, just so that at least somebody would understand it. Once I did, the "schism" disappeared into the fog of eliu v'eilu.<br /><br />And that, I think, is the ultimate solution. Rav Wolbe, zt"l, writes that in any dispute, the one who is most probably correct is the one who considers the other side's opinion as well as his own [e.g., Bais Hillel]. Demonizing the other is a classic tactic of Stalinists, Nazis, and Alinsky Democrats. To the extent that we do that to our own, I fear the midah k'neged...<br /><br />Ultimately, I think Reb Micha's point is correct. What is needed is kiruv among those who are intellectually honest enough to think for themselves and seek their truth. Kiruv k'rovim, if you would. I am afraid, however, that there are large segments where it would be kiruv r'chokim, and for that, I see no solution.<br /><br />And with that, I conclude my data dump for today.great Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15728976902210831137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-87677183013599811582014-03-30T11:37:33.810-04:002014-03-30T11:37:33.810-04:00I think that both VBM and YUTorah should get a lis...I think that both VBM and YUTorah should get a listing each. Not only doesn't every MO Jew live on the net enough to know the more famous sites (like Great Unknown), but there are also fence straddlers living in yeshivish communities who have been seeking other opinions than the ever more strident declarations the media carry from the Israeli chareidi gedolim. In my hometown of Passaic, I was approached by several such people. I showed one of them Torah Musings' take on the Rav's thought on "all can return but Acheir" (I had it in hand when he asked) and he presented it -- with citation -- at a Partners in Torah breakfast, and is now making his way through the Rav's oeuvre.micha bergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11612144735431285113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20173285.post-54622432826324325742014-03-30T09:45:42.456-04:002014-03-30T09:45:42.456-04:00Yes you do. I never heard about the Gush VBM.Yes you do. I never heard about the Gush VBM.great Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15728976902210831137noreply@blogger.com