Comments for Close To Torah

Comment on Das D’Kedushah by Michael Cholobel

Michael Cholobel — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:06:52 +0000

The very best shyur in musar.

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Comment on Internal World – Parshas Chayei Sarah 5772 by Isaac Balbin

Isaac Balbin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:27:42 +0000

Correlate this with the change of Eliezer’s description from Eved to Ish by the Torah

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Comment on Modern Day Ransoms: Too High a Price? A Halachic Perspective by Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer - author

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer - author — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:21:52 +0000

I recently saw a psak by R. Dov Lior assering that giving back the prisoners is forbidden.

However, I don’t think that such a simplistic analysis is justified.

True, Hamas might try to capture more prisoners. The incentive, if it was ever unclear, is now blatant.

However, the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the army, think that they can deal with the danger. Are they so foolish? Are they only giving in to the stupidity of popular opinion?

Will the released prisoners actually make a difference in the balance of power? Will the incentive to kidnap change things? Perhaps the reverse is true: the exchange will ensure that the IDF and its partners will never permit such a state of affairs to arise.

Rabbanim are not qualified to weigh up all options. We can give basic halachic guidance, which is based primarily on the obligation to save each Jew, together with an eye to future danger. However, the application of these guidelines require the expert knowledge and analysis of those in the know. As laymen, our understanding is limited, and this is perhaps the reason why rabbanim in general have been reluctant to express an opinion.

Their reluctance is all the more understandable in the light of the fact that nobody is asking them. I think we can all be thankful that we don’t have to make such impossibly difficult decisions as those that must be made by Netanyahu.

Best wishes and gut mo’ed

Yehoshua.

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Comment on Modern Day Ransoms: Too High a Price? A Halachic Perspective by Rabbi B. Schlanger

Rabbi B. Schlanger — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:54:57 +0000

Learned Rabbi, Unfortunately, your conclusion is wrong, absolutely wrong. I quote you: “if we isolate the potential danger for the future..” – We cannot isolate danger for the future. Hamas have said explicitly that you WILL capture more captives and will continue their murder of countless Jews.

Where is the outcry from Rabbonim that the actions of the Government of Israel are forbidden, that millions of Jewish lives are in mortal danger?? Where is your updated response TODAY retracting your year old thoughts?

Why was it only the Lubavitcher Rebbe who cried in desperate anguish at the dangers to Jewish life when Gdolim in one voice said “give land for peace’. When will the frume velt recognize the futuristic vision that The Lubavitcher Rebbe was spot on right at a time when he was decried as a lone voice differing from the majority. The Zohar says that Moshiach osid leasova tzaddikaya leteyuvta. All Rabbonim in view of the imminent real danger in Eretz Yisroel must raise their voices NOW, before Moshiach brings them back, to declare the Halacha as it is.

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Comment on Far-reaching Small Hint – Parshas Devarim 5771 by Julane

Julane — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:15:08 +0000

Thank you Rabbi . Well said and timely.
My best to you and yours,
Julane

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Comment on Spiritual Sensitivity – Parshas Pinchas 5771 by Roland

Roland — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:00:42 +0000

I think you have been as usual very informative.However,i s there a mistake in the killing of ‘two’ Jewish People ? I am open to correction,but Pinchas killed only one Jewish man ‘Zimri’ a Prince of the tribe of Shimon and also ‘Kosbi’ a Midianite princess.I think this is a slip of the key-board…Best Regards…Roland and Dalia

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Comment on Baking Milky by Rabbi Elie Schoemann - author

Rabbi Elie Schoemann - author — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:48:10 +0000

To Daniel – The article was only pertaining to the specific issur of Baking milky bread. There are many Milky/Meaty Shailos that arise over Shavuos and were beyond the scope of this article.

With regards to your Question, if the Challah was on the table or handled during the milky meal, the Challah may not be eaten at the meaty meal. However, If the Challah was cut up before the milky dishes were brought to the table and was placed in a basket, if the Challah was not handled during the milky meal, it may be eaten at the meaty meal. The same would be the case with the part of the Challah that was not yet cut up, it may be used for the meaty meal unless it was handled with “milky hands”.

Source: Shulchan Oruch 89:4 and Igros Moshe YD1 38

Kol tuv
Elie Schoemann

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Comment on Baking Milky by Daniel Freedman

Daniel Freedman — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:57:58 +0000

Informative…..however the most important halachos of Parev Challos being used with a milky meal, and then being used later with a meaty meal were not discussed – this is especially relevant to Shavuos when people make Hamotzi, then have a milky appetizer, and then have a meaty meal……

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Comment on Mazel Tov! by Rabbi Yehuda Spitz

Rabbi Yehuda Spitz — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:08:27 +0000

Amen!! We all second the notion! May Rabbi Tropper and his new Kallah be zocheh to build a bayis ne’eman b’yisroel – binyan adei ad!

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Comment on Gedolim Pics by moskovitz

moskovitz — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:59:15 +0000

hi i am looking for pictures of the late bostoner rebbe ztl
than s

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Comment on Chodosh In Chu”l by raizi

raizi — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 08:22:29 +0000

sorry i did not read the whole amazing work above so that is why it is all still confusing to me
when it says cutoff point is oct 22 2011 – means that i can eat the honey nut cheerios from oct 26 2011 or i cant ?
and oreo cookies august 5th 2011
and twizzlers date is rubbed off the 5th of something 2011 lot number 330021

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Comment on What is a Mishkan? A Short Thought on Parshas Terumah 5770 by Parshat Veyakhel Project « Pragmatic Attic

Parshat Veyakhel Project « Pragmatic Attic — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:44:14 +0000

[...] Here is a vort that suggests that the mishkan was like Sarah’s tent [...]

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Comment on A Pure Heart by Shlomo Kimelblat

Shlomo Kimelblat — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:19:50 +0000

I for sure get Chizuk

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Comment on A Perspective On Mourning by Dovid Zauderer

Dovid Zauderer — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:25:57 +0000

Just to add a “Nofech Misheli”. The word Menachem means “comforting” but also means “reconsidering”. As Rav Yochanan Zweig shlit”a points out, Hashem was “vayinachem” about the Dor HaMabul, i.e. He ‘reconsidered’ His ever having created them. The word Aveil means “but” but its primary usage is to mean “In truth” – as the brothers of Yosef said to each other “Aveil – which means “B’emes” in truth – asheimim anachnu”. We could thus say that an Aveil accepts the “truth” of Hashem’s decree on the one hand, but also asks himself, “but” how can i go on without my father etc.? The job of the Menacheim Aveil is to help him “reconsider” and “reconfigure” life without his loved one.

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Comment on Day and Night (Basya) – Letter Vav – Part 2 – The Aishes Chayil Style by Mrs. G.

Mrs. G. — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:39:09 +0000

Thank you–I learned a lot from this post and particularly enjoyed it as our daughter-in-law’s name is Basya. It gave me a real appreciation for the name.

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Comment on Kashering New Pots?! by Jonathan Jaffit

Jonathan Jaffit — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:21:06 +0000

It seems as though some Jews will always look for kulos…

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Comment on Enthusiasm (Leah) – Letter Daled – Part 2 – The Aishes Chayil Style by Julane

Julane — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:47:44 +0000

Dear Rabbi Tropper,
I love your commentaries , thank you for a great
reminder for me.
Perspective, and trust in G-D’s goodness.
Such peace, less inner struggle when I do.
Plus to be able to pass on what I have learned from you,
and other wise people. Thank you.
Hope all is wonderful w you and yours.
Julane

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Comment on Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum – Parshas Shemos by Rabbi Yosef Radner - author

Rabbi Yosef Radner - author — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:51:40 +0000

You can rely on either opinion lemaysah but the bais yosef says that if possible you should do both which seems to be the halachah

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Comment on Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum – Parshas Shemos by ylewis

ylewis — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:42:38 +0000

I am unclear as to the halachic conclusion of what you are saying.

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Comment on Parshas Va’eira: Changing Halachah in a Changing World? by joel schnur

joel schnur — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:32:40 +0000

Elucidating, as always!

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