Thursday, January 15, 2015

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What happens if the tzibbur misses a week of Krias Ha-Torah? Can they read 2 parshiyos next week? What about if they miss for two weeks? The magen avraham who forbids 3 parshiyos seems difficult to digest. The whole inyan of reading "just this parsha" is a minhag, as in the old days they would finish the Torah once every three years and read a lot less. So מה לי  read a lot less, מה לי read a lot more? Also, the whole point is to complete the entire Torah so what does it matter how parshiyos we read this shabbos in order to achieve that goal [as the Aruch Hashulchan points out]. I have to look into this more bl"n, time and צלילות הדעת permitting.

What is the relationship between the kiyum mitzvos of women and men and how does this affect halacha li-maaseh in the realm of tzitzis and birkas hatorah? There is a Tzlach on Brachos that he doesn't mention who says that women make a new birkas hatorah each time they learn because they are מסיחות דעת from the last time since they have no obligation to learn constantly.

Using the camp beis medrash for fun and games. Camp is FUN!

Shaking a woman's hand. Very very brief without a comprehensive analysis of the sources but I like his conclusion. I was once present at a shiva where the rabbi initiated the holding of the hand of the widow and her married daughter at length [they seemed a bit surprised but who is going to tell the rabbi what to do] while saying ceremonious words of consolation [seemed awfully fake to me....]. Afterwards, I think I heard him explaining to another rabbi present that it is OK because it is "religious touching". Interesting new halachic category - "Religious Touching". Hmmmm. Prominent rabbi. Making big bucks. Gets lots of kavod, too.

Should I have protested? Put up signs all over town denouncing him? Screamed "negiyah, negiyah"? I remained silent. In New York anything goes.......