Friday, February 28, 2020

Toirah Is De Beste Schoirah



There is a Medrash Tanchuma on this week’s parsha that relates the following incident. The Medrash is brought in connection with the pasuk “For I have given you a good item (lekach tov), do not forsake my Torah” [Mishlei 4:2].

There was a Torah scholar riding on a boat with many businessmen. They all had their wares with them. They asked the Torah scholar, “Where is your merchandise?” The Torah scholar responded, “My merchandise is better than yours.” They searched throughout the boat and could find nothing. They began to mock him.

Pirates attacked the boat. They robbed and plundered all that was on the boat. Everyone was left destitute. When they arrived at the port and entered the country, they were all ‘in the same boat’ – without any merchandise to sell.

The Talmid Chochom [Torah scholar] entered the Beis Medrash and began lecturing. People recognized that he was a great scholar. They treated him with honor and asked that he become their Rabbi, promising him a large salary. This Talmid Chochom was now secure. All of a sudden, the businessmen who had made fun of him on the boat asked him to put in a good word for them with the townspeople. The Talmid Chochom responded, “I told you that my ‘merchandise’ was better than your ‘merchandise’. Your goods can be lost and destroyed; but mine are preserved.”

The Medrash concludes that this is the meaning of the pasuk, “For I have given you a good item, do not forsake my Torah”. [As in the (Yiddish) song, “Torah is de beste Sechora” (Torah is the best business).]

This Medrash has a lesson for all of us. Besides all the tremendous advantages of sitting and learning, of establishing fixed times for Torah study, of the spiritual pleasure that Torah provides to people, there is one other thing about Torah that people must start considering. Everybody plans for retirement. Everyone has their IRAs and their 401K plans and pension programs, and so forth. G-d willing, there will come a day when we will not need to go to work. So what will be then? Torah is the best business.

One who wants to plan for his retirement should “get into” learning. One who is in learning will always have something. He will always have the ‘business’ of Torah. A person may become rich or poor; he may have friends or lose them. But there is one thing that he will always have — Torah! Torah can never be taken away from him!

A Jew once came to the Sefas Emes (1847-1905). He was a widower who had just lost his wife. He had been married for decades and now he complained to the Sefas Emes, “Rebbe, I’m lonely.” The Sefas Emes told him “When a Jew has a page of Talmud, he is never alone.” This is a very penetrating observation. A person can be stripped of his money, of his family, but never of his Gemara. This is the parable of the businessmen and the Talmud Chochom in the Medrash. The best wares belong to the student of Torah.

[Rabbi Frand]

Simman Or Sibbah?

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein ztz"l

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Tolna Rebbe Shlita At Grandchild's Wedding

The Simcha On The Rebbe's Face Best Characterizes His General Disposition

"Those Billionaihs"



It was a bad day to be a billionaire.

As stocks plummeted worldwide Monday on coronavirus fears, the 10 richest people in the world lost a collective $30 billion, according to Forbes.

Amazon boss Jeff Bezos — the world’s wealthiest person despite weathering the costliest divorce in history last year — saw his net worth tumble by $4.8 billion, to just under $123 billion as shares of his e-commerce juggernaut sank 4 percent.

Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie likewise saw $1.7 billion wiped from her fortune — which ranks at No. 23 worldwide, according to Forbes.

Jeff Bezos’ Monday loss was matched only by Bernard Arnault, CEO of French luxury conglomerate LVMH, who saw his net worth dip by the same amount to $100.4 billion.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg also felt the heat as his company’s stock slumped 4.5 percent on Monday, costing him $3.4 billion.

The 35-year-old Zuckerberg did, however, narrowly hold onto his spot as the fifth-richest person in the world, with a $74.4 billion net worth compared to Zara CEO Amancio Ortega’s $73 billion, who himself lost $4 billion on Monday.

Tesla’s 7.5 percent skid — worsened by the company’s reliance on its newly-opened China factory for continued growth — knocked $2.4 billion off of Elon Musk’s fortune.

Bill Gates, who previously held the title of richest person in the world, lost a comparatively small $1.5 billion, and finished the day worth $111.1 billion.

------------

Bernie Sanders alleged reaction:

"YAAAAAYYYYYYYY"!!!!!!!

Ex's On Social Media And The Story Of Lady Gaga

This is a great illustration of what social media does to otherwise rational people. The healthiest way to live life is to focus on your own purpose and tasks and stay out of other people's lives. 

Lindsay Crouse 
NY Times

I was eating bodega grapes at my desk on a recent Monday morning, gearing up to wrangle my inbox, when my phone started buzzing:


“Check Facebook.”


“Check Twitter.”


“Are you OK?”


It was an emergency: My ex-boyfriend, I learned, had a new girlfriend.


Lady Gaga.


“Lolol” if you want. (Everyone I know did.)


But it was true. While I’d been watching the Super Bowl on television in New York, they were together in her private box at the Hard Rock Stadium at Miami Gardens. There were the paparazzi as he escorted her away, her pink hair flowing and sequins pasted around her eyes.

I dated this normal, mystery man for seven years. Our relationship lasted all of college, and then a few years more. (A popular song from back then described being “caught in a bad romance.”)

As you can guess from the fact that you’ve probably never heard of me, I’m not famous.


So suddenly it’s like I’m star-gawking by proxy (yes I know there’s another word for that). But there’s almost no way to avoid it.

Social media in 2020 is so ingrained that it’s no longer a supplement or even an addiction. It’s just an accelerated extension of the way humans have always behaved. We live in a culture of constant updates. You want to unsubscribe? Well, you can’t.


I don’t follow my ex on social media. We were “friends” on Facebook. Then we were “in a relationship” on Facebook. After we broke up, I noticed I was “blocked” on Facebook. And then we moved on. I hadn’t googled him in forever (I promise). But this month I knew everything about his new relationship status, within hours of when it was disclosed.


In some ways this is the natural, if absurd, arc of my generation’s entire adult life. In a vertical cascade of photos, I watch my friends’ ex-boyfriends nurturing the pregnancies of the nice-looking women they married instead. Sometimes I know the names of the resulting children, kids I will almost certainly never meet — but I will know whether they were princesses or pirates for Halloween anyway. I’ve seen their Christmas trees and sand castles and their tablescapes on special occasions. Sometimes they go dark for a period, the dinner parties disappear and they’re single again. I keep following, a passive but not unwilling audience.


We used to obsess about celebrities and then started obsessing about one another. Maybe a decade ago I would have subscribed to US Weekly. Today there’s no need: I have the parade of people in my phone. I mix “real” celebrities with people I know and I can curate it all however I want. Then I scrolled through Instagram and saw a post from Lady Gaga: she was sitting in her new boyfriend’s lap.

Friends from college liked it — along with nearly three million others.

If you’ve ever googled an ex’s new partner (be honest) you’ve probably played a certain game with yourself. You’re either just curious — which is healthy of you — or you want to know how you compare. Ideally the ex’s life didn’t improve too much without you? In this case, though, that’s all upended. How do you compare yourself with Lady Gaga?


Instead of thinking, “Why not me?” when I see them together, I think “That was me.” It pulls the illusion of celebrity down.

At first that was confounding. When one friend called me at my desk that morning to discuss, my voice actually shook. (Who wants to rehash an old relationship at work the day after the Super Bowl?) So I gave myself till noon. And then I thought again.

Lady Gaga is amazing. Comparing yourself with her is incredibly motivational, and I recommend you try it, regardless of how you relate to who’s dating her.


At least, that’s what I did.


For example: I was going to wear a black dress I’d gotten on sale years ago to an event that weekend, for probably the 27th time. But Lady Gaga would never do something like that. I’ve never owned anything that costs more than a week’s worth of groceries — whereas she is a woman who wears pieces of raw meat on the red carpet. I went to a nice store I’d never been inside before and I tried something on. The clerk asked me what the occasion was. I found out from Facebook that my ex-boyfriend was dating Lady Gaga, I told her, and she looked me up and down. “Huh,” she said. “Really?”


Yes.

The dress was too expensive, but I bought it anyway. Why should I accept less than Lady Gaga?

I went to a coffee shop. Did I want a large? Yes. For the event: Did I want my makeup done? I never had, but yes. And yes, I’ll get the lashes too. When I was emailed praise, did I forward it to my boss? Yes. Did I agree to do the work presentation I was anxious about? Yes. Yes, yes, yes.

(I haven’t figured out how to start a multimillion-dollar entertainment empire yet, or a major advocacy campaign, but yes to that, too.)


The point is, Lady Gaga is living the ambitious life that we keep saying women should embrace. A quote I remember reading from her, probably on Instagram, says, “Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.” It’s so easy as you get older to find the best in who you’ve become, to make the most of it — and maybe even to get a little complacent about it. But if Lady Gaga can do what she wants, and even expand on what she wants, why not me, too? Why not let being “exactly who I am” mean trying to be the best I could be? Lady Gaga continues to challenge herself, to try new things, to thrive.


At least that’s what I gather from my phone, the place where we all converge.


Recently someone sent me a photo of my fiancé and me dancing at a wedding, and I posted it on Instagram. I saw Lady Gaga’s boyfriend in the views, and I realized we’re actually all the same: strangers, smiling on a screen.

The Skulener Rebbe And Senator Scoop Jackson


Although Henry "Scoop" Jackson [1912-1983], who served as the senator from the state of Washington for the last thirty years of his life, was not Jewish, his dedication and respect for the Jewish people were remarkable. Rabbi Moshe Londinski, of Seattle, Washington, worked closely with Senator Jackson. He aided him with fundraising and helped to gain community support for the Senator in his political career.

One Sunday afternoon in early June, in the early 1970's, Rabbi Moshe received a phone call from the gabbai (attendant) of the Skulener Rebbe, Reb Eliezer Zusia Portugal. "I am calling on behalf of the rebbe," the gabbai said. "The rebbe must see Senator Jackson tomorrow at nine in the morning. Can you arrange an appointment?"

Miraculously, Rabbi Moshe was able to arrange a meeting with the busy Senator. The Skulener Rebbe had requested that the Rabbi act as an interpreter between the Rebbe and the Senator, so Reb Moshe took the next plane to Washington, D.C.

The rebbe arrived with his attendants in Washington, D.C. They met Rabbi Londinski in the outer office, and they entered the inner office of Senator Jackson together. But instead of speaking to the Senator, the Rebbe whispered something to his gabbai who in turn whispered something to the Rabbi. The latter turned pale. He looked helplessly at Senator Jackson.

"What is the problem?" The Senator asked curiously.

"WelI, ah. .." Rabbi Londinski took a deep breath. "It seems that the Rebbe has not had a chance to complete his morning prayers. He needs a place where he can concentrate. Would he be able to use your office for a little while?"

"Of course, no problem!" said the Senator. The Senator immediately stood up and walked with the Rabbi out of the inner office. The two of them stood in the hall, waiting for the Rebbe to finish.

Twenty minutes went by. By this time, both men were pacing the hall. Rabbi Moshe did not know what to say to the Senator. After all, it was his office! Fortunately, the office door opened just then, and the Rebbe himself beckoned them back inside.

Senator Jackson once again seated himself behind his desk. "Now," he said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

Rabbi Moshe stood next to the Rebbe, ready to interpret every word. The Rebbe opened his mouth to speak. But after just two short words he burst into tears.

"What is wrong?" the Senator asked in concern. "I do not know," the Rabbi said in bewilderment.

The Rebbe was trying to speak through his tears, but Rabbi Moshe could not understand a single word. He stood, waiting for the crying to stop, but the tears continued to pour down the face of the Rebbe.

Senator Jackson beckoned to the Rabbi. "Tell the Rebbe that I know what he wants!" he said abruptly.

"You do?" Rabbi Moshe exclaimed, startled. "How?"

"Just ask the rabbi what he wants me to do about it," the Senator told him.

The Rabbi stared at the Senator for a moment, but then he obediently turned to the Rebbe and relayed the statement of the Senator. The Rebbe stopped crying. "I want it stopped immediately," he said firmly, in Yiddish.

Rabbi Londinski translated the Rebbe's words. "How does he want me to stop it?" the Senator asked.

Again the Rabbi relayed the question to the Rebbe. "The Senator knows which buttons to press," the Rebbe replied.

The Senator consulted his address book, then reached for the phone, punched in a number and began to speak. And as Rabbi Londinski listened, the matter slowly became clear to him. A few days before, the Romanian government had arrested twenty Russian Jews who were then in Romania and falsely accused them of currency speculation. They were imprisoned and due to be executed in a few days.

The whole situation was a ploy by the Romanian government to pressure the United States into giving them 'Most Favored Nation' status, which would bring the country great financial gain. The Senator, as the head of the Foreign Relations Committee, was also very involved with Soviet Jewry, and he had heard about this action by the Romanian government. So he immediately understood what the Rebbe had come for.

The Senator had the Romanian ambassador to the USA on the phone. He said to him slowly and clearly, "As head of the Foreign Relations Committee, I strongly suggest that you immediately call your Prime Minister. Tell him that if those twenty prisoners are not released within forty-eight hours, I guarantee that Romania will never see a cent of American aid. Hair will grow on the palm of their hands before they ever receive the 'Most Favored Nation' status!"

The Senator put the phone down and looked up at Rabbi Londinski. "Tell the Rebbe that it has been taken care of."

The Rebbe smiled and warmly shook the hand of the Senator. Within forty-eight hours, all twenty prisoners had been released and brought to Israel.

Once again, Rabbi Londinski had seen the concern that Senator Jackson had for the Jewish people. He was curious about this, and at an appropriate occasion he finally asked the Senator why he cared so much about the Jews.

Senator Jackson smiled. "Three reasons: One, I was a prosecutor during the Nuremberg trials. I saw how much the Jews had suffered in the concentration camps, and I resolved to do whatever I could to help them.

"Two, my mother, a widow, was a housekeeper for a Jewish family in the town of Everet, Washington. They treated her very well. They even gave her extra food and money during the Depression years to help her raise her family. In her will my mother asked that her children should always be good to the Jews.

"And finally, when I was a young boy, there were a few Jews I would always help out on Saturday. They always treated me nicely."

Senator Jackson did not stop with helping those 20 Jews in Romania. Soon after, he, along with Congressman Charles Vanik of Ohio, introduced an amendment to the trade bill, linking emigration to most favored status. Ultimately, the Jackson-Vanik Amendment of the 1974 Trade Reform Act become law. The implementation of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment made one of the first cracks in the Soviet Iron Curtain.

Later, when Russia suffered a famine, and had to purchase millions of tons of American grain, the Communists were made to allow tens of thousands of Jews to leave the country before the purchase could be agreed to. The doors of freedom had been thrust open and the seeds of freedom began to sprout in Communist Russia.

It is the opinion of many historians that the Jackson-Vanik Amendment significantly contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, thereby forever changing the course of history!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the post in "Shabbos Stories for Acharei Mos 5776," based on Visions of Greatness, p.73 and Reflections of the Maggid, p.104

Biographical note:
Rebbe Eliezer-Zusya Portugal [of blessed memory: 1 Cheshvan 5659 - 29 Av 5742 (1898 - August 1982)], the Skulener Rebbe, immigrated to the USA in 1960, after imprisonment in Rumania and international efforts to secure his release. He was a prominent follower of the Shtefaneshter Rebbe and the author of Noam Eliezer and Kedushas Eliezer, but is best known for his superhuman efforts to rescue Jewish orphans and refugees in Eastern Europe before, during and after WWII and his continuing support of them, and his Chessed L'Avraham network of schools for children that continue until today. Those who merited to be in his presence were astonished by the length of his prayers and the beauty and intensity of the tunes that he composed, many of which have become internationally famous today.

Editor's note:
In the mid-seventies I had the merit and great pleasure to be a sole Shabbat Evening Meal guest of the Skulener Rebbe and his Rebbetzin. Forty-plus years later, I still tremble when I recall the intensity, focus and slow pace with which he recited Kiddush.

The Weakening Dollar

Back in the day, not so long ago, the dollar was worth close to four shekels. They it started descending. It became worth less and less. Now it is at an incredible low of 3.43. Institutions in Israel that are based on the dollar are losing tens and even hundreds of thousands of shekels as the dollar plummets - not to mention all the individuals who are being hit hard. They collect a set amount of dollars that have been progressively and steadily becoming worth less and less. It used to be that you got a hundred dollars and you changed it and got 380 shekels. Now you get 343 shekels. That is a SIGNIFICANT difference. Especially when one doesn't just live on one hundred dollars..... We who are watching ourselves get poorer have zero power to do anything about it. POWERLESS!!!

This is GREAT mussar. People have faith in their money. It gives them a sense of security. But the reality is that there is no true security in money. Money doesn't protect one from illness, divorce, death and countless other tzaros that proliferate in this world.  After 120, ALL of ones money won't help IN THE SLIGHTEST. 

How did דוד המלך put it? 

"אַל תִּירָא כִּי יַעֲשִׁר אִישׁ כִּי יִרְבֶּה כְּבוֹד בֵּיתוֹ. כִּי לֹא בְמוֹתוֹ יִקַּח הַכֹּל לֹא יֵרֵד אַחֲרָיו כְּבוֹדוֹ". [תהילים מ"ט יז-י"ח]

"אל תירא", בל תתירא ולבך אל יהגה אימה, באשר תחשב כי בזה "יעשיר איש" במה "שירבה כבוד ביתו", במה שביתו מלא כבוד מרוב הקנינים והחמודות, אל תחשוב שהיא היא העושר של האיש, לא זאת. "כי" אם "לא במותו יקח הכל", אם אין הקנינים מתעצמים עמו עד שיוכל לקחתם עמו בעת מותו, ע"י שיוציא ממונו לצדקה ומע"ט שאז הקנינים הם שלו גם אחר מותו, כי הצליח בם את נפשו והלך לפניו צדקו, אם לא יוכל לקחת הכל במותו רק ישארו פה ביד זרים, א"כ הלא "לא ירד אחריו כבודו" ואינו כבוד אמתי אחר שלא ישאר אצלו: [מלבי"ם] 


In a word - youcanttakeitwithyou. So invest WELL, in tzdaka and chesed, and make your money last FOREVER!!!


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Shlichus - Din Prati Or Klali: Part 3

We saw in the previous post that according to the Rambam, a שליח is already considered a שליח from the time of appointment and not only when actually carrying out the מעשה קידושין. We can see this from the Rambam in Hilchos Trumos 4-9]:

הָאוֹמֵר לְשֻׁתָּפוֹ אוֹ לְבֶן בֵּיתוֹ אוֹ לְעַבְדּוֹ אוֹ לְשִׁפְחָתוֹ לִתְרֹם. וְהָלְכוּ לִתְרֹם וּבִטֵּל שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְרֹמוּ. אִם לֹא שִׁנָּה הַשָּׁלִיחַ תְּרוּמָתוֹ תְּרוּמָה. וְאִם שִׁנָּה כְּגוֹן שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ תְּרֹם מִן הַצָּפוֹן וְתָרַם מִן הַדָּרוֹם הוֹאִיל וּבִטֵּל שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ מִקֹּדֶם אֵינָהּ תְּרוּמָה:

[The following rules apply when a person] tells his agent, his attendant, his servant, or his maid-servant to separate terumah and they went to separate the terumah, but he nullified their agency before they made the separation. If the agent did not deviate [from the principal's instructions], his separation is effective. If he did deviate, e.g., the principal told him: "Separate from the northern side," and he separated from the southern side, since he nullified the agency previously, the separation is not effective.

Writes the Rogochover:

"ור"ל ג"כ בשביל שמראה לו המקום ואומר לו שמכאן דוקא ותכף שהלך לשם נעשה שלוחו וכן ס"ל להרמב"ם ז"ל בהלכות תרומות פ"ד ה"ט דאם מצוה לו לתרום ממקום פלוני מזמן שהלך להמקום חל עליו שם שליח ואי אפשר לבטל השליחות שלו". 

Since the sender tells the שליח where to go and separate, he immediately becomes a שליח and the sender doesn't have the power to cancel his שליחות. 

Shlichus - Din Prati Or Klali: Part 2

The Rogochover further explains that there is a machlokes between the Rambam and Ramban if a woman appoints a שליח to accept the קידושין and the husband writes a שטר, if this שטר must be written with the knowledge [מדעת] of the שליח [Rambam] or the knowledge of the woman [Ramban]. The Rambam holds that the status of of שליח applies immediately when the שליח starts going in the שליחות of the sender. Since he is already a שליח from the get-go, it is sufficient that the שטר be written מדעתו. The Ramban holds that his status as a שליח begins only when the קידושין is given and not before

"וא"כ צריך שיהיה מתחילה קידושין דהיינו שיהיה מתחילה נכתב לדעתה". 

First it must be written מדעת האשה because at this stage there is not yet קידושין and only when there is actual קידושין is the שליח a שליח. Therefore it doesn't help to write the שטר with the דעת השליח because he is not yet a שליח!!

In other words, this is the Rambam being consistent with his opinion that שליחות is a דין כללי that applies to the whole Torah and thus begins from the time of appointment and we don't require an act of קידושין. While the Ramban holds that it is a דין פרטי that is unique to קידושין and thus begins only with the act of קידושין and not before.


[Looking for sponsors for a forthcoming book on Toras Ha-Rogochover]

Shlichus - Din Prati Or Klali?

לזכות אבי מורי ואמי מורתי
לזכות ידיד נפשי ר' שמואל צבי בן ר' דוד עקיבא וכל ב"ב לברכה והצלחה בכל מעשי ידיהם!!

Says the Rambam [Ishus 3-15]:

כָּל הָעוֹשֶׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַבֵּל הַקִּדּוּשִׁין צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים. אֲבָל הָאִישׁ שֶׁעָשָׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַדֵּשׁ לוֹ אִשָּׁה אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ בְּעֵדִים שֶׁאֵין מָקוֹם לְעֵדִים בִּשְׁלִיחוּת הָאִישׁ אֶלָּא לְהוֹדִיעַ אֲמִתַּת הַדָּבָר. לְפִיכָךְ אִם הוֹדוּ הַשָּׁלִיחַ וְהַמְשַׁלֵּחַ אֵינָן צְרִיכִין עֵדִים כְּמוֹ שְׁלִיחַ הַגֵּט וּכְמוֹ שָׁלִיחַ שֶׁהִרְשָׁהוּ לְהַפְרִישׁ לוֹ תְּרוּמָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁשְּׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם כְּמוֹתוֹ וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ עֵדִים:
When an agent is appointed to receive kiddushin, he must be appointed in the presence of two witnesses. When, by contrast, a man appoints an agent to consecrate a woman, there is no need for the appointment to be made in the presence of witnesses. For the only purpose witnesses would serve with regard to the agency of the man is to make known the truth of the matter. Therefore, if the agent and the principal acknowledge the appointment, there is no need for witnesses, [as in parallel cases, such as] an agent appointed to bring a get or an agent appointed to separate terumah. In all matters, a principal's agent is regarded as the principal himself, and there is no need to appoint witnesses.

The Raavad objects:

אין הנדון דומה לראיה דלענין שליח הגט גטו מוכיח עליו ולענין תרומה אין צריך עדים כלל. אבל בקידושין דאפילו שניהם מודים אינו כלום כי מודו השליח והשולח נמי לאו כלום הוא עכ''ל:

Don't compare קידושין and גיטין!! With respect to גיטין the possession of the גט verifies the שליחות whereas by קידושין it does not. Terumah is also no source because it never requires witnesses. But with regard to קידושין, the admission of the interested parties [the agent and the sender] is meaningless. 

So according to the Rambam, one doesn't need witnesses for the appointment of a שליח להולכה while according to the Raavad witnesses are required. 

Explains Rabbeinu [The Rogochover]:

We learn about the concept of שליחות in various contexts [see Kiddushin 41, Bava Metzia 71b, Chagiga 10] with regard to Kiddushin, Gittin, Terumah and Meilah. 

"אך נ"מ אם זה אח"כ נחלק לפרטים, בכל דין פרט שליח, או נשאר כלל". 

In other words, is the שליח for קידושין a דין and detail in קידושין [and the same question applies to Gittin etc. etc.] or does the concept of שליחות remain a general principal that is applied in different frameworks?

The Nafka Minah would be if the appointment of a שליח for קידושין requires witnesses. If it is a detail and law in קידושין then witnesses would be required because the שליחות is also subsumed under the category of דבר שבערוה thus necessitating witnesses. If it is a דין כללי - a general law, then no witnesses would be required, just as in general we usually don't require witnesses.   

The Rambam maintains that שליחות is a general principal and thus no witnesses are required while the Raavad maintains that שליחות for קידושין is a detail subsumed under the general category of קידושין and thus witnesses are required. 

So why does the Rambam then hold that witnesses are required for the appointment of a שליח לקבלה for the woman?? 

There are two aspects to קידושין: One, the קנין that she is קנויה לו. Two,  the איסור that she is forbidden to the whole world. The GIVING of the קידושין activates the קנין while her RECEIVING activates the איסור. Therefore, her receiving is the primary דבר שבערוה [because it involves a sexual prohibition] and thus requires witnesses for the appointment of a שליח. 

Also, the chidush of the Torah that she can make a שליח לקבלה is that this שליח is like an extension of her hand. That is a חלות that requires two witnesses. 


[Looking for sponsors for a forthcoming book on Toras Ha-Rogochover]

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Open Letter

Dear Mike!! 

You spent 460 million dollars of your own money [!!!! - in the meantime] in your quest to be President. There is no mitzva to be President. But there IS a mitzva to help the poor. Think of how you can match that and spend 460 million to help the homeless and hungry. Unlike your Presidential bid - that would be a DEFINITE winner. 

Jews are generally a merciful and compassionate people. SHOW IT!!! Do it לעילוי נשמת your parents and make their souls dance in heaven!!!

LOVE,

Al

#keepamericagreat 

Black And Female Talmud Scholars

Isaiah Thomas famously said that the only reason that Larry Bird is considered so good is because he is white. If he were black then he would not be considered such a superstar but would be just another player. That set off a firestorm of protest. [Some argued that if he were black, then he would be even better because then he wouldn't be so slow and would be able to jump. Those people received 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 dollars to be paid to the "Black Lives Matter" movement or to fund Al Sharpton's food preferences.] 

I similarly think that the reason I am considered only an average or sub-average Talmud scholar is because I am WHITE. If I were black - I would be a PHENOM!! I would be invited to speak and teach all over. "Shiur on Ktzos Hachoshen from the Black [but beautiful as per Shir Hashirim 1-5] Talmud Scholar Albert Ehrman" [there used to be a cartoon with Fat Albert who was black and fat. I would be Skinny Albert given my narrow waistline]. That would get a lot of curious participants. "Black Rabbi Albert Ehrman on Slavery in The Bible". AWE-SOME! Sign this "broth-ah" up!!! But that would be SILLY. A shiur should be judged on the basis of it's quality and not on the color of skin of the lecturer. [One could argue though that a black Talmud Scholar would have a unique perspective on certain issues]. 

This daf yomi cycle has seen a sudden increase in the number of women giving daf yomi shiurim with much attendant publicity. I say - don't listen to shiur because of the gender of the person giving the shiur. If a woman gives the best shiur - then probably she gets the nod [putting aside tzniyus issues for a moment]. But if there are men out there who are bigger Talmidei Chachomim and/or more experienced Maggiddei Shiur than the women, in the absence of any other compelling reasons - why not listen to the men?

Don't listen because of gender - listen for quality of content!!:-):-)   






Small World

I posted this yesterday having no idea who the protagonist of this story was. It just hit me moments ago that not only do I know him, but he was a good friend of mine. 

Stories like this really happen. 

MASKS!!

When I was in the airport and on the airplane, there were loads of people wearing masks. 

ROSH CHODESH ADAR IS HERE!!!! Even the Goyim know it!






Monday, February 24, 2020

Rebuilding

Here. Incredible strength. 

Evolution of Chassidic Dance

Jews And Not Jews

"Growing up we had a word for Orthodox Jews. We called them Jews. 

For Conservative Jews. We called them Jews.

For Reform Jews. We called them Jews. 

For converts to Judaism. We called them Jews. 

For Messianic Jews. We called them Christians."

Jewish Pride And Jewish Skulls

In both the US and Israel, they have these "gay pride" parades. Why is it a source of pride that one is attracted to members of the same gender? What moral achievement is this?? A man wants to have sex with other men [and will never have biological children] and views this alone as a cause for pride and celebration. Soooo bizzarre!!! 

But there are things in which we SHOULD have pride. One of them is that we are Jewish. We are the source of the moral code of western culture. We are a light unto the nations. We have brought so much benefit to the world in a myriad of ways. We are G-d's Chosen People!! We have SOOO MUCHHHH to be proud of. 

So I am befuddled by the habit of so many religious Jews to refrain from wearing a yarmulke in public. Back in the 1930's, 40's and 50's kids in some circles were taught that a yarmulke is an "indoor garment". Many people from this generation still will not wear a yarmulke in public. People who learn daf yomi, daven 3 times a day with a minyan - but after shul, off goes the yarmulke and on goes the baseball cap. A sort of corrupted "girsa di-yankusa". My generation [growing up in the 70's and beyond] was not raised this way. I was never once told that I shouldn't wear my yarmulke in public. My friends and I all did without even thinking about it. Even Ben Shapiro when he speaks at the most non-Jewish places wears his yarmulke. There is nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary - we should be SOOOOO PROUD to be members of the blessed Jewish people. 

Also, the yarmulke on our head makes us think twice before speaking or behaving in certain ways. Since we know that our behavior will reflect upon so many religious Jews, we are more careful. 

So my call is to proudly display your yarmulke!! And for those who worry about Anti-Semitism - don't! Anti-Semitic incidents are the exception [in most places] and not the rule. I have been walking around the city for the last week plus [and on countless other trips] and not one bad word about me or my yarmulke. [Although on my last trip someone called out to me "Bernie Sanders - First Jewish President". That was pretty bad...].

So caps are great - but make sure they know you are Jewish. Show that "Jew-Cap"!!.  



Sunday, February 23, 2020

Responsibility

You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing, no one to blame.

Jews And Doctors

"Mike Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns sparred Wednesday over which 78-year-old is in better cardiac health."

Going after the Jewish vote, Bloomberg and Bernie will be fighting over who has the best doctor. 

When old people get together the conversation often turns to doctors, medications, health issues etc. etc. Scary that this is the topic of conversation between two of the people who might be our next President. 

Like, Buttigieg is young, in his 30's, but he can't win because he offended so many women when despite being a really good looking guy, he insists that he is not attracted to women. So insulting. He has no chance. 

Can we get a young, healthy, non-socialist, attracted to women [but unlike many of our former Presidents - able to control himself] for President??

Vote For Bernie!

"The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference."

Bernie Sanders

Vote for Bernie and elect our very first Neturei Karta President. 

Those Russians

It's been bothering me for years how bad guys like Achav became king. Now I finally get it.

Russian interference. 

ADON OLAM

Internet And Tefilla

It is not only the number of people who surf the Internet during davening that is shocking. It is the fact that people do it openly and aren't embarrassed. So this is our chizzuk for the day - davening time is for .... davening!!:-):-)!!

We can say about these people as Yaakov Avinu exclaimed "אכן יש א-להים במקום הזה ואנכי לא ידעתי"!!

Gender Dysphoria

There is a line from the Cheers theme song that I never noticed before until now - " ...and your husband wants to be a girl". Now, this song is from the 80's but today this is a very serious problem. A lot of men who want to be girls. I don't know what to say other than ... RACHMANUS!! 

Gender is very much part of a person's identity. We all hope and pray that we identify strongly with our respective genders. It is good for marriage, parenting and overall mental health. 

1010 Wins News

Been listening. They should change their motto to:

You give us 22 minutes - we'll give you the entire gamut of human evil, suffering and misery. 

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Where They Know Your Name


I was in shul this Shabbos on the UWS and a young lady [whom I don't recall knowing or having ever met] says to her little son "This is Rabbi Ehrman. His father's name is Fred. He is a Rabbi who lives in Israel". 

I couldn't help but be flattered that she knew who I am. It is like the Cheers [that I watched religiously on Thursday nights as a youth] theme song - 

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you got
Taking a break from all your worries
It sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
The troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name
You want to go where people know
The people are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name

So the fact is that my father's name is not "Fred" nor has it ever been. My uncle is Fred and people often make that mistake. He is a modern day American Hero who is soon going to finish Shas for the FOURTH TIME [and he only started in his 50's] in addition to the wonderful family he raised, tremendous amount of Tzdaka he has given and work on behalf of the community etc. etc. etc.. So it is an honor to be thought his son. But, I am proudly the son of my Great Father, ר' יצחק יונה בן חנה, may he have a refuah shleima and אריכות ימים ושנים!!! 

I am also not a Rabbi. I am just a guy. 

But she was spot on about the "Ehrman" and "living in Israel" part. 

So, whoever you are - much nachas from all your children and success in all you do!!












Friday, February 21, 2020

82 Thousand People Following A Barber On Instagram - $325 Dollars A Cut

Jayne Matthews thinks that most hairstylists are doing it wrong: “A person takes a pair of scissors and cuts the ends, maybe gives the hair some layers, but in general it’s like a big, shaped block on the head that needs to be blown into a manageable style.” Ms. Matthews — the co-owner of two salons in the San Francisco Bay Area, both called Edo — uses a straight razor as a carving tool instead of scissors. “I can carve petals into hair so it can have length but be lighter,” she says. “I consider it the difference between a hedge and a bonsai tree.”

These organic cuts, as she calls them, have garnered her a cult following of more than 82,000 on Instagram. Her signature look is a modern shag, heavy on the face-framing layers and bangs, inspired by Chrissie Hynde, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Stevie Nicks and Patti Smith. Ms. Matthews, 47, charges $325 for cuts at her salons, the first of which she opened with her business partner, Chri Longstreet, in 1998. At that price, many clients get just one or two trims a year. “When you get these haircuts, they look cool and lived in,” she says. “You can wake up in the morning, maybe tuck it behind the ear, touch the bangs a smidge, and it looks good. The less you do, the better it looks.”

In 2014, after giving birth to a daughter, Ms. Matthews decided she’d try to get better at showing off her cuts on social media, practicing lighting and angles. Salons in Los Angeles and Portland, Ore., were soon asking her to come do cuts and trainings, and clients now routinely fly to the Bay Area to book with her.

-------------

I don't know what to say.... 

Frightening

When I go to shul here I often find myself looking at the "Yizkor board" with the names and ptirah dates of Jews and Jewesses. A thought haunts me - how are these people doing now? Our problems here are all temporal, passing and fleeting. Where they are  - things are eternal. 

I, for one, am frightened.  

Indentured

I feel like an "indentured servant" should be an eved who lost his natural teeth. 

Preserving The Student's Dignity



Parashat Mishpatim begins with the laws of eved ivri – an indentured servant, who is to be released from service after six years, but has the option of remaining beyond six years. If he decides that he prefers the life of a servant and wishes to stay with his master, a special ritual is performed whereby his ear is pierced as a symbol of his status of permanent servitude (21:6). Rashi famously cites the Gemara’s comment (Kiddushin 22b) that the piercing of the servant’s ear is done as a punishment, of sorts, either for the his having stolen, on account of which he was forced to sell himself into servitude (to earn the money to repay what he stole), or for voluntarily extending his undesirable state of servitude.

Chizkuni, after citing and discussing Rashi’s comments, adds a different explanation for why the servant’s ear is pierced, noting that it serves to distinguish him from non-Jewish servants. Whereas Jewish servants must be offered to be released after six years, non-Jewish servants remain permanently in the master’s service unless the master is physically abusive. Therefore, Chizkuni comments, after a Jewish servant chooses to remain permanently in his master’s control, people who see him serving the master beyond six years might mistake him for a non-Jewish servant. For this reason, the Torah requires making a permanent, visible sign on his body that will make it clear to one and all that he is a full-fledged member of the Jewish Nation, despite his state of permanent servitude.

While at first glance it seems that this approach disagrees with Chazal’s explanation cited by Rashi, the Tolna Rebbe suggests that they in truth go hand-in-hand. Even as the servant is punished, he is given a very public reminder that he is still to be regarded as part of Am Yisrael. Although he has done something wrong warranting a painful, punitive measure, nevertheless, he should not be disrespected. Despite his wrong decision and his lowly status, we must nevertheless ensure to treat him with respect and not as an outsider.

The Rebbe added that Chizkuni’s comments remind us about the need to preserve a child or student’s dignity and self-respect even when punitive measures or harsh criticism is warranted. When a child’s “ear” requires “piercing” due to misconduct, he must be reassured that he will still continue to be loved and embraced. Even as he is censured or punished, he must be reminded that he will never be treated as an outsider, that he is still forever cherished and respected. Just as the servant is given a sign of his membership in God’s cherished nation at the very moment he is punished, we, too, must give children reassurance, encouragement and love even when disciplinary measures become necessary.

[Adapted by Rabbi David Silverberg] 

Who Is Honest?

Elizabeth says that Bernie is a liar. 

Bernie says that Elizabeth is a liar. 

I would tend to believe both of them on this one.

Almost everybody lies. Why wouldn't he if he can get away with it? Because it says in this weeks Parsha to stay FAAAARR AWAY from falsehood [מדבר שקר תרחק]? Sorry Vanessa [???] - that doesn't work for most people. I know people who are VERY Frum [or at least dress and act the part] who lie. I know one guy [a principal of a Torah institution] who lied to me recently about 8 times about a serious matter. Now when he talks to me I automatically assume that he is lying. Of course, I don't like talking to him in the first place because he is such a duplicitous liar - יאריך השם ימיו ושנותיו בטוב ובנעימים!!!

When Hashem was about to create the man, the Medrash delightfully relates, "Truth" said NOT to because he is כולו שקרים - complete falsehood.  So it was and so it is. People lie right and left. About small things and about big things. Every culture and religion doesn't like liars and yet every culture and religion are filled with liars. It is a human trait to lie when I can get something out of it and even though most people feel guilty about it, they continue to do it. It is like cheating on a spouse. Everybody agrees it is wrong and yet about the only reason people don't do it is for fear of getting caught [besides those who refrain for religious reasons]. The power of attraction is stronger than some abstract moral code. The need to lie is similarly stronger than any ideal such as honesty. There are exceptions who will never lie. But they are just that - exceptions. The only question is how much a person lies and what motivations he or she needs. Chazal say רובן בגזל - most people steal or are financially dishonest in some way. Just about everyone lies from time to time. Pay attention to your words and you will see how correct I am. Even when asked "How are things" and a person says "great" it is often a lie. Most people are too focused on their problems and what is bothering them to really think that things are great. But they say it anyway.  

We must respect people but suspect them at the same time in order to protect ourselves.  As they say [even though there is no source in Chazal for this - see שו"ת אבני חפץ simman 31] "כבדהו וחשדהו". Respect a person and suspect him at the same time. 

Check out this source from דרך ארץ רבה:

לעולם יהיו כל בני אדם חשובין לפניך כלסטים והוי מכבדן כרבן גמליאל, ומעשה ברבי יהושע שהשכים אצלו אדם ונתן לו אכילה ושתיה והעלהו לגג לשכב, ונטל סולם מתחתיו, מה עשה אותו האיש, עמד בחצי הלילה ונטל את הכלים וכרכן בטליתו – וכיון שביקש לירד נפל מן הגג ונשברה מפרקתו, לשחרית השכים רבי יהושע ובא מצאו כשהוא נופל, אמר לו ריקה כך עושין בני אדם שכמותך, אמר לו רבי, לא הייתי יודע שנטלת את הסולם מתחתי, אמר לו ריקה אי אתה יודע שמאמש היינו זהירין בך. מכאן א”ר יהושע לעולם יהיו כל בני אדם בעיניך כלסטים והוי מכבדן כר”ג עכ”ל. 

See here for more. 

Honor A Person Who Lost His Money- But Not In Court!


"ודל לא תהדר בריבו"


ודל – המקרא משתמש בשלושה ביטויים שונים לציין איש רש חסר־כל: ״אביון״, ״עני״, ״דל״.
״דל״ נגזר משורש ״דלל״, הקרוב ל״טלל״, שממנו מתקבל ״טל״, לחות שיורדת מלמעלה. ״דלל״ קרוב גם ל״תלל״, שממנו מתקבל ״תֵל״, ערימת חורבות (השווה פירוש, לעיל טז, יג). מכאן ש״דל״ הוא אדם שירד מנכסיו, מי שנפל לתוך העוני.
״עני״, משורש ״ענה״ – ״להשיב תשובה״, מציין אדם שתלוי באחרים לפרנסתו.
״אביון״, משורש ״אבה״ – ״להסכים״, מציין אדם שרצונו תלוי ברצון אחרים.
תהדר נגזר משורש ״הדר״, שמציין גילוי חיצוני של נתינת כבוד (השווה ויקרא יט, לב).
אין קורת רוח גדולה יותר לאדם שירד מנכסיו, מאשר לחוש שעדיין נוהגים בו אותו כבוד שרחשו כלפיו בימי עושרו. אין דבר יותר מתאים לרוח המצוה הזו, מאשר להראות שהכבוד וההערכה שאנו רוחשים כלפי הזולת, אינם עולים ויורדים לפי רוב עושרו ומיעוטו. מחוץ לכתלי בית דין אין מצוה גדולה יותר מ״להדר דל״. ואף על פי כן, ״בריבו״ – כאשר הוא עומד לפניך במשפט עם בעל דינו – עליך לנהוג בשני הצדדים באופן שווה לחלוטין, אף בדברים החיצוניים. גם בהתנהגותך החיצונית, המונחית על ידי שיקולי הדרך ארץ והרחמים הגדולים ביותר, אינך רשאי להעדיף את העני יותר מבין שני בעלי הדין.

Be Compassionate With Your OWN Money - Not With Someone Elses

"ודל לא תהדר בריבו"

"Do not favor a poor man in his quarrel" 

[Mishpatim 23-3]


לא תהדר בריבו – שרש הדר בארמית ענינה חזרה לאחור..... והכוונה לא תהיה חרד ונרתע לאחוריך מלחייבו בדינו אם הוא חייב, והנה התורה משתדלת לחזק הרגשת החמלה והחנינה ביחידים ואסרה אותה בשופטים, והטעם כי היחיד נותן משלו והשופט נותן משל אחרים.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Anger - The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly


It is unequivocal that anger is a negative trait. Let us see what the the sefarim say about anger:


The Rambam [who is famous for teaching that one must go to the extreme to stay away from anger] says that the sin of Moshe Rabbeinu at Mei Merivah was anger:

ואתה יודע, כי אדון הראשונים והאחרונים, משה רבינו, כבר אמר לו יתעלה: 'יען לא האמנתם בי'... וחטאו, עליו השלום, היה שנטה אל אחד משני הקצוות במעלה ממעלות המדות, והיא הסבלנות, כאשר נטה אל הכעס, באמרו: 'שמעו נא המורים'. דקדק ה' עליו שיהיה איש כמוהו כועס בפני קהל ישראל... ואיך יראה ממנו הכעס, והוא מפעולות הרע... (הקדמות הרמב"ם למשנה, מהדורת י. שילת, עמוד רמ) 



The Mesilas Yesharim says that one should be completely clean of anger as was Hillel:

ויש עוד פחות מזה, והוא שקשה לכעוס... הנה זה חלק טוב ודאי, כי טבע האדם מתעורר לכעס, ואם הוא מתגבר עליו, שאפילו בשעת הכעס עצמו לא יבער הרבה, ומתגבר עליו, שאפילו אותו הכעס הקל לא יעמוד בו זמן גדול אלא יעבור וילך, ודאי שראוי לשבח הוא... אמנם מדתו של הלל הזקן עולה על כל אלה, שכבר לא היה מקפיד על שום דבר, ואפילו התעוררות של כעס לא נעשה בו, זהו ודאי הנקי מן הכעס מכל וכל. (מסילת ישרים פרק יא)


From the שער הכעס of the אורחות צדיקים 


Gehenom for people who get angry

הכעס הוא מדה רעה, וכאשר הגרב מחלי הגוף, כן הכעס מחלי הנפש. ואמרו רז"ל כל הכועס כל מיני גיהנם שולטים בו, שנאמר "והסר כעס מלבך והעבר רעה מבשרך" (קהלת י"א). ואין רעה אלא גיהנם, שנאמר "כל פעל ה' למענהו וגם רשע ליום רעה" (משלי ט"ז), ולא עוד אלא שהתחתוניות שולטות בו, שנאמר "ונתן ה' לך שם לב רגז וכליון עינים ודאבון נפש" (דברים כ"ח), אי זה דבר המכלה את העינים ומדאיב את הנפש, הוי אומר אלו התחתוניות...




It brings to terrible sins....

ואתה רואה רוב בני אדם, כשהם כועסים ומתחזקים בכעסם, אינם משימים לבם על מה שעושים ברוב הכעס, ועושים הרבה ענינים בכעסם, מה שלא היו עושים בלא הכעס, כי הכעס מוציא שכלו של אדם מקרבו, עד שמרבה דברי הכעס ונכנס במחלוקת וקנטורים, לכן אי אפשר שינצל הכעסן מחטאים גדולים, וכן אמר אליהו לרב יהודה, לא תרתח ולא תחטי (ברכות כ"ט ב'). ואמרו בשלשה דברים אדם ניכר, האחד מהם בכעסו (עירובין ס"ה ב'), כי בעת הכעס אדם ניכר אם יתגבר כעסו על חכמתו ועושה ענינים בעת הכעס בלא הנהגת החכמה, בזה ניכר כעסו, ואם תתגבר חכמתו על כעסו... בזה נכרת חכמתו...


People don't like angry people

הכעסן אין לו חן בעיני הבריות והוא שנוא בעיניהם, ומתוך כך אין מעשיו מקובלים בעיני הבריות, ואפילו אם יש בידו תורה ומעשים טובים, אין העולם למדים ממנו. דרש רב ספרא, רגזן לא עלתה בידו אלא רגזנותו, ולאדם טוב מטעימים לו פרי מעשיו בעולם הזה (קדושין מ"א א')...

He fights with others, isn't compassionate, doesn't have kavana when he davens, his words are often illogical

הכעסן אינו מעביר על מדותיו ואינו מוחל על עלבונו... הכעס מביא אדם לידי מחלוקת... הכעס מונע לב האדם מכל הטובות, כי כשאדם כועס אין לו לב לרחם על העניים... כעס מבטל כונת לב האדם בתפלה, ואין שכינה שורה מתוך הכעס (פסחים ס"ו ב')... הכעסן לא יהיה חכם גדול, כי הכעס מבריח מלבו חכמות, שלא יוכל לענות כהוגן ולא יוכיח כהוגן, וכל דבריו לא בהשכל... כללו של דבר, אין הכעסן מקבל שום מדה טובה אם לא יסיר מלבו הכעס. כמו שאין הכעסן מקבל תוכחה מאחרים, כך אינו יכול להוכיח את אחרים...

Anger makes a person brazen and prevents him from admitting fault

הכעס גורם עזות לאדם, ומחמת הכעס לא יכנע וגם לא יודה על האמת. אמר החכם, כשתרצה להתחבר עם אדם, הכעיסהו, ואם יודה לך האמת בשעת כעסו התחבר לו, ואם לאו עזוב אותו.


Anger causes a person to make terrible mistakes, as it did Moshe Rabbeinu, it is like Avoda Zara [!!]

הכעס מביא לידי טעות, מי לנו גדול ממשה רבינו ע"ה שכעס בשלשה מקומות ובא לכלל טעות... והזהר בך מאד שלא תעשה שום קלקול מתוך כעסך, כי אמרו רבותינו, המקרע בגדיו והמפזר מעותיו והמשבר כליו בחמתו, יהא בעיניך כעובד ע"ז, שכך אמנותו של יצר הרע... (שבת ק"ה ב')

It is accompanied by arrogance:


ודע כי גמר שכלו של אדם הוא שימשל בכעסו, כמו שנאמר "שכל אדם האריך אפו" (משלי י" ). הכעס נוטה מאד אל הגאוה, ואין הכועס נמלט מן הגאוה, וכבר ידעת רעות הגאוה. וראוי לאדם שיתרחק מן כעס, ואפילו על דבר שראוי לכעוס עליו...

ציוו חכמים להתרחק מן הכעס, עד שינהיג עצמו שלא ירגיש אפילו בדברים המכעיסים, עד שיעקר הכעס מלבו, וזוהי דרך הטובה ודרך הצדיקים, הם נעלבים ואינם עולבים... (שער הכעס)


The Maharal has a section called נתיב הכעס. He isn't a big fan. He explains that anger takes one out of the spiritual order of life and he therefore goes to gehenom, loses his wisdom, prophecy etc.

בפרק אלו דברים אמר רבי שמעון בן לקיש, כל אדם שכועס אם חכם הוא חכמתו מסתלקת ממנו... וביאור זה, כבר אמרנו כי הנוח הוא הסדר שאדם מסודר אל השווי, ואם כועס החכמה שלו מסתלקת, ואם נביא הוא הנבואה מסתלקת כאשר יוצא האדם מן הסדר, והוא שינוי, לכך אם יש לו חכמה ויש לו נבואה, כאשר מקבל השינוי הוא יוצא ממה שראוי לו, ובא אחר כך להוסיף לומר, שאפילו פוסקים לו גדולה מן השמים בטל דבר זה, כי מי שיש לו גדולה והוא פרנס צריך שיהיה הנהגתו בנחת, כי הפרנס כל עיקר שלו לדבר העם עד שהם מסודרים, כי זהו עצם המלכות והשררה, וכאשר הוא בעצמו בעל כעס, שהוא יוצא מן הסדר, איך תהיה על ידו הסדר, דבר זה לא יתן השכל, ולפיכך אם גזרו עליו גדולה מן השמים מורידין אותו מגדולתו... ובפרק ד' נדרים אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר רבי יוחנן כל הכועס כל מיני פורעניות של גיהנם שולטין בו, שנאמר והסר כעס מלבך והעבר רעה מבשרך... ואין רעה אלא גיהנם, שנאמר כל פועל ה' למענהו וגם רשע ליום רעה, ופירוש זה, כי מי שהוא בעל חימה הוא ענין הגיהנם, כי הגיהנם לתוקף וגודל כחו מתיחס אל כח אש, ולכך אמרו בכל מקום אש של גיהנם, ומפני שהאדם יש לו נפש רוחני, כאשר הוא כועס ויוצא מן הסדר, כל מיני גיהנם שולטים בו, כי הגיהנם גם כן הוא יוצא מסדר העולם, לכך כל מיני גיהנם שולטים במי שהוא כועס. ומפני כי הנפש שהוא כועס הוא רוחני, והוא יוצא מן השי"ת על ידי הכעס, ולכך הגיהנם שהוא גם כן רוחני והוא יוצא מן השווי שולט בו. אמר רבה בר רב הונא כל הכועס אפילו שכינה אינה חשובה כנגדו, שנאמר רשע בגובה אפו בל ידרוש אין אלקים כל מזימותיו... כי כאשר האדם כועס הוא יוצא מן הסדר הראוי, וכל כך יוצא מן הסדר, עד שאין השכינה נחשבת אצלו מצד גודל השינוי, כי האדם הוא מסודר עם השי"ת, שהוא עילה לו, וכאשר כועס הוא יוצא מן הסדר, ולכך אמר אף השכינה אינה חשובה כנגדו, כי אינו מכיר עילתו יתעלה כאשר יוצא מן הסדר. וזה שאמר גם כן שמשכח תלמודו, כמו שהתבאר למעלה, כי החכמה הוא סדר השכלי, ומצד שהוא יוצא מן הסדר ולפיכך סר ממנו השכל... (נתיב הכעס פרק ב)



Anger is evil for the essence of man

...וכנגד שלא יהיה בעל חסרון בעצמו אמר אל תהא נוח לכעוס, כי הכעס הוא רע לעצמו של אדם, כמו שאמר הכתוב והסר כעס מלבך ורעה מבשרך... (אבות ב י)


Anger causes one to lose his portion in the world to come because of all the sin it generates

וזה אמרו ואל תהא נוח לכעוס, כי הכעס הוא מביא את האדם לידי חטא, עד שהוא מאבד את האדם מן העולם הבא, וכמו שהתבאר, כי בעל הכעס הוא בעל חטא, ולפיכך הכעס הוא שמביא האדם לידי חטא, ולהיות נאבד מן העולם הבא... ואין לך שהוא הגורם והסבה אל החטא יותר מן הכעס... (שם שם יד)

Gehenom is fire and so is anger. That is why one lands there for anger...

כל אדם שכועס כל מיני פורעניות של גיהנם שולטים בו, כי הגיהנם לתוקף וגודל כח שלו מתיחס אל כח אש, ומפני שהאדם הוא עיקר בעולם, וכאלו הוא הכל, לכך חמה שלו הוא פורעניות של כל מיני גיהנם... (שם נדרים כב א)

All true. But is there a good side?


Hashem created EVERYTHING for a reason. If there is a middah called anger then it must have a purpose - quite possibly even a positive one. That may be why Chazal say that one shouldn't placate his friend at a time of anger. Anger has its place and should be allowed to run its course. Look at this:



מנין שאין מרצין לו לאדם בשעת כעסו, שנאמר "פני ילכו והניחותי לך", אמר לו הקב"ה למשה המתן עד שיעברו פנים של זעם ואניח לך - הורנו, שכל המדות שחקק השי"ת בטבע האדם ונפשו, אין בהן אחת שתהא רעה בהחלט, עד שהיתה טובה לנפש בהיותה נעדרת. כי הפועל הטוב פעל הכל לטוב, רק צריך שישתמש בכל אחת כשעתה וכמדתה. מזה יצא שאין לדחוק, אפי' המדה הרעה, יותר מדאי, באופן שלא לתן לה שום מקום. כ"א מקומה המצומצם ראוי לתן לה, ולהשתדל לתקנה. ע"כ בשעת כעסו אין מרצין לו לאדם, שהאדם השלם ג"כ אפשר שיכעוס. ע"כ צריכה מדת הכעס להמצא, וראוי להרצות מיד, אבל לאמר שלא יהי' אל הכעס שום מקום, מורה כאילו כח נברא בנפש להרע, זה לא ניתן להאמר, (ודברי החסיד במסילת ישרים פרק יא, שכתב שמעלת הנקי המעולה היא שלא יעשה הכעס מעולם רושם בו כלל, צ"ע). ומכוון כפי מדת השלמות הראויה להאדם המעלה, יסד המנהיג העליון ית' בהנהגתו הכללית, שישנם כוחות שתכליתם דומה בכלל הבריאה כתכלית הכעס באדם. ואם שאפשר לכובשם ע"י תפילת צדיקים וזכיות, אבל ראוי להניח להם איזה מקום, כי מעשה ד' הכל נברא לתכלית טוב. ע"כ אמר המתן עד שיעברו פנים של זעם, ויפעלו פעולתם באיזה ערך עכ"פ, כי לא לריק נמצאו, ואניח לך. ובהיות המקום הניתן לכעס בהתעוררות האדם המעולה הוא מעט מן המעט, כמו כן ההנחה בההנהגה הכוללת מצד עצמה, בהיותה מתנהגת כראוי בלא יתרון קלקולים אינם טבעיים, היא ג"כ רק חלק מועט וקטן, מכונה בערך רגע, 'כי רגע באפו', וחסד אל כל היום. (עין אי"ה ברכות א, עמוד סד)





WOW!! כי רגע באפו - Hashem is angry [כביכול] if only for a moment. A person should never get angry STAM, just like that. But if there is a positive goal then it is advisable. The gemara [Shabbos 105] says that one should not break things in anger UNLESS it has a constructive purpose [such as establishing discipline]:



ואי עביד למרמא אימתא אאינשי ביתיה, שרי - הכעס הוא דבר ארסי בהיותו מונח בפנימיות הנפש שהוא אל הזר שבגופו של אדם. אבל הפעולות שהן דומות לכעס, והן נעשות למטרה טובה, אין בהן משום הקלקול של הכעס. ולהיפוך יש בהן משום הדרכה עצמית, מאחר שהוא נזקק לעשות מפעל הדומה למפעל היוצא מתוך רתיחת הכעס, ומכל מקום הוא שולט על רוחו, ומנהיג גם את המפעל הזה למטרה רצויה לשם הדרכה מוסרית, הרי זה משובח. (עין אי"ה שבת פרק יג, עמוד 269)



Yes - usually it is poison but not always. Shammai, says the gemara, was a קפדן. He wasn't all smiles and hugs. This was his middah [in contrast to Hillel who was a paragon of love and patience]. For certain great individuals, the מדה of קפדנות is the correct path in life. The masses, however, should choose the path of Hillel:



... זה היה המקום שממנו נתפלגו הכחות האדירים, שהיו למאורים במחנה ישראל, הלל ושמאי. שזה פעל בענותנותו להורות על איכות התכלית שבחיים ועל רוחב כחה, וזה פעל בקפדנותו להורות על הצד הכמותי שבתכלית החיים, להטביע את החותם במקומו הראוי לו... אמנם רק יחידים הנם אלה שאינם צריכים להעמיד להם מופת להיות להם למשל על דרך חייהם, כ"א הם בעצמם כחם רב לצעוד הדרך הישרה שהם רואים בעינם החודרת לטוב להם ולבריות, אבל רובא דעלמא הם צריכים להעמיד להם למופת אנשי הרוח וגדולי הנפש ללכת בעקבותיהם בערך ההשפעה של התויית הדרך לכל אדם. ע"ז הורו לנו חז"ל, ששונה היא מאד מדת הענותנות ממדת הקפדנות: מדת הענותנות היא טובה כשהיא לעצמה במקורה, אצל המקור הגדול הענקי, שממציא לו דרכו ברום ערכה הכביר, וטובה ג"כ בהשפעתה על כל אדם, ג"כ הקטנים הרבה ממנו, שיציגו למשל את המדה הנחמדה ההיא להטות כלפי חסד ולהכריע את הצדדים המרובים שנוטים מן הטוב, אל הטוב והחסד והיושר. אע"פ שלא תעלה ביד הקטן את אשר עלה ביד הגדול, מ"מ הרבה טוב ושלום ישפת בעולם ע"י המדה הטובה הזאת. מה שא"כ הקפדנות, אם היא טובה במקורה, אצל הענק שבהשגחה האלקית הועמד לפלס דרך החיים לפני אדם רב, להראות באצבע על מרכז היושר והצדק הנכסף התכליתי, אבל איננו טוב כ"א באיש הגדול המקורי, אבל אם הקטן יציב לו אורח כזה למופת, הוא יפול למדחפות, הוא בקטנו לא יוכל כלל להבחין את מדת מרכז הצדק ומה הוא הערך של הנטיה הראויה למחאה והתנגדות נמרצה, ונמצא שמדה זאת תביאהו להשחית את מדותיו ולאבד את שלום הסביבה שהוא חונה בה, ותועלתה רחוקה ממנו מהגיע... (עין אי"ה שבת א, עמוד 133-134)

Sometimes, in order to preserve certain spiritual characteristics it is worthwhile to get angry:



...ומזה למדנו, שאמנם לעניין שמירת הקניינים שכבר נקנו ביחיד ובאומה, תעשה מידת ההקפדה וזריקת מרה פעולתה לטובה לפעמים רבות, להרחיק כל פגע המתעורר לבלע ולהשחית. אבל לקנות קניינים חדשים, באיש או בכלל...צריך להיות משתמש בזו המדה של ענוותנותו של הלל, המקרבת תחת כנפי השכינה. (עין אי"ה שבת א, עמוד 148)


There is great kedusha that can emerge from anger. The gemara talks about ריתחא דאורייתא - The anger of Torah. You walk into a Beis Medrash and you see people SCREAMING at each other. Ultimately, they love each other but throughout the process of reaching the Divine truth in the gemara - they are enemies ["SWORN enemies" if they happen to be learning Maseches Shavuos]. However, in an ideal world at the end of days this will all be fixed and only love and serenity will reign. 

כל הכעסנות שבעולם הבאה מצד הדרכה במוסר, באמונה, בדיעות ובמעשים, וכל החסרונות המוכרחות שאי הסבלנות והקנאות עושה בעולם, אף על פי שהרבה חלקים מהם הם מלאים קדושה גדולה, ובאים גם כן מחסידות חשובה וטהרת לבב, מכל מקום אין זה מונע מלהתחשב עם הצד החסרוני שבהם. וסוף כל סוף הדבר מוכרח להיות מתוקן, וכל המבוקש של הקדושה היותר עליונה יבא לעולם בדרך שלום, והדרכה מלאה נחת, שלוה וכבוד. שורש כל זה הוא חטא מי מריבה, וכעסו של משה, אמירת שמעו נא המורים שהביאה הכאת הסלע, במקום שהיה ראוי להיות הרצון והפיוס והדיבור. ובתוכן ההופעה של הדרכה של אמונה, ושל דיוקי תורה נתערב בשביל כך כח הקפדנות, עד שהאב ובנו, הרב ותלמידו, שהם יושבים בשער אחד ועוסקים בתורה, נעשים כאויבים זה לזה. ואם שמכל מקום את והב בסופה כתיב, ואהבה בסופה, אבל אין הרושם של האיבה הארעית הולך לגמרי בלא שום הפסד. תורת חסד היא תורה דלעילא, תורת הסוד המתגלה לישרים על פי אליהו ביסודה, בהתבסמו כבר והרי הוא מוכן לשליחותו לבשר שלום, לעשות שלום בעולם ולהשוות את המחלוקת, לקרב ולא לרחק. והוא בעצמו תוכן פתיחת הפה של משה רבינו, שישוב לדבר אל הסלע במקום ההכאה שעברה, וגילויה של תורת חסד בהתפרשה ברחבה על ידי תלמידי חכמים בדורות אחרונים, אינון דאתיין מסיטריה דמשה, ועל ידה יוחל אור של סוכת שלום להיות הולך ונפרש על ישראל ועל ירושלים, ועל כל המון לאומים, אשר יבאו מרחוק מאפסי ארץ לשם ד' צבאות אלקי ישראל, המלך שהשלום שלו. וכל אותו העומק והדיוק, אותו אש הנשמה, אשר יצא להאיר ולחמם על ידי כחה של הצטרפות ריתחא דאורייתא, של הלא כה דברי כאש נאם ד', יצא אל הפועל, אחרי שכבר שמשו כל אלה התוצאות הטובות שיצאו מזה הדרך, ונסתגלו באומה בעומק נשמתה, וכבר סבלה היא וכל העולם כולו הרבה מרתיחת אש קודש זו, יבא באחרית הימים ביתר שאת ע"י התפשטותה של גבורה רוחנית עליונה מלאה עדינות של שלום ושלות השקט. ודבר שלום לגויים, והוכיח במשור לענוי ארץ. וניצוץ אור שלום זה הולך הוא ומוכרח לבא ביחד עם אותו הניצוץ של קץ המגולה אשר לשיבת ציון ובנינה. (קובץ ג, ט)


Sometimes Tzadikim look at the pathetic spiritual state of the world and it gets them angry. But they have to remember that all of these ירידות will ultimately lead to a more broad and expansive light of Hashem. 

פעמים בא רתחא דאורייתא ממה שאדם המעלה, המשוטט במרחבי הדעה העליונה מוכרח להפגש בצמצומי הקצובות, המוכרחים בהגבלותיהן ממעל לתאות גבעות עולם, והנשמה העליונה מצטערת, ומתעורר ע"י זה כעס הנפש ורתחא דאורייתא. ולפעמים זה בא מפני פגישה פתאומית עם המציאות העומדת בשפלותה בחיי המעשה, מפני ירידת החיים, והנשמה העורגת לנעם ד' ואור אלקי נכבד ומאיר ברב זהרו, מצטערת וסולדת, ומתילד צביון של כעס עצור.

אמנם גבה הרוח, ארך-האף של ההשכלה הרחבה מתרומם על כל אלה, והאדם המסתכל ישכיל איך שכל הירידות עליות הן באמת, והצמצומים וההגבלות מביאות לידי אורה רחבה אלקית עליונה, אז ישוב הנייח האלקי להאיר בנשמה, ויפיק נחת ורצון, ואור צדיקים ישמח. (מידות ראי"ה, ערך הכעס)



And let us not forget the famous gemara 


לעולם ירגיז אדם יצר טוב על יצר הרע [ברכות ה']


The yetzer hatov must ALWAYS be ANGRY at the yetzer hara. Anger has the POWER to vanquish evil.


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From non-Torah sources:


“Our emotional life maps our incompleteness,” philosopher Martha Nussbaum wrote in her luminous letter of advice to the young. “A creature without any needs would never have reasons for fear, or grief, or hope, or anger.” Anger, indeed, is one of the emotions we judge most harshly — in others, as well as in ourselves — and yet understanding anger is central to mapping out the landscape of our interior lives. Aristotle, in planting the civilizational seed for practical wisdom, recognized this when he asked not whether anger is “good” or “bad” but how it shall be used: directed at whom, manifested how, for how long and to what end.


ANGER is the deepest form of compassion, for another, for the world, for the self, for a life, for the body, for a family and for all our ideals, all vulnerable and all, possibly about to be hurt. Stripped of physical imprisonment and violent reaction, anger is the purest form of care, the internal living flame of anger always illuminates what we belong to, what we wish to protect and what we are willing to hazard ourselves for. What we usually call anger is only what is left of its essence when we are overwhelmed by its accompanying vulnerability, when it reaches the lost surface of our mind or our body’s incapacity to hold it, or when it touches the limits of our understanding. What we name as anger is actually only the incoherent physical incapacity to sustain this deep form of care in our outer daily life; the unwillingness to be large enough and generous enough to hold what we love helplessly in our bodies or our mind with the clarity and breadth of our whole being.



What we have named as anger on the surface is the violent outer response to our own inner powerlessness, a powerlessness connected to such a profound sense of rawness and care that it can find no proper outer body or identity or voice, or way of life to hold it. What we call anger is often simply the unwillingness to live the full measure of our fears or of our not knowing, in the face of our love for a wife, in the depth of our caring for a son, in our wanting the best, in the face of simply being alive and loving those with whom we live.


Our anger breaks to the surface most often through our feeling there is something profoundly wrong with this powerlessness and vulnerability… Anger in its pure state is the measure of the way we are implicated in the world and made vulnerable through love in all its specifics.


Anger truly felt at its center is the essential living flame of being fully alive and fully here; it is a quality to be followed to its source, to be prized, to be tended, and an invitation to finding a way to bring that source fully into the world through making the mind clearer and more generous, the heart more compassionate and the body larger and strong enough to hold it. What we call anger on the surface only serves to define its true underlying quality by being a complete but absolute mirror-opposite of its true internal essence.


Conclusion: Anger is a character trait that has it place, time and purpose. אין לך דבר שאין לו מקום [Pirkei Avos]. But is is very dangerous so one must be careful to keep it at bay and under complete control. There is room for ideological anger at the appearance of evil in the world. One may get angry when he hears a crooked svara - How can one distort the Torah of Hashem?? The sefarim say that one may fake anger in order to lay the law down. 


If one gets angry - it is always worth trying to understand why and if it the will of Hashem. Much anger stems from deep pain. In such instances, one should not focus on the external anger but on the deep pain it is expressing. As always, we have to get to the root of middos and not just notice their external manifestations.

Great Man And Bracha Maven

מִשְׁתַּבְּחִין לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן לְרַבִּי זֵירָא [אֶת] בַּר רַב זְבִיד אֲחוּהּ דְּרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב זְבִיד דְּאָדָם גָּדוֹל הוּא וּבָקִי בִּבְרָכוֹת הוּא.
The Sages would praise son of Rav Zevid, brother of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Zevid to Rabbi Zeira, that he is a great man and he is expert in blessings. 

A great man is one who is an expert in Theology. He really "gets" Hashem as much as a human being can. To say brachos means that this knowledge does not remain in the realm of the abstract but can be actualized in a concrete and down to earth way. So he is a great man and the proof is that he is an expert in brachos. 


האדם הגדול אינו מסתפק בעיון שטחי כ"א הוא יורד לעומק העיון, ביחוד באלהות שהוא תכלית שלימות הידיעה האנושית. ע"כ כשביארו לו שהוא אדם גדול, מורה שידיעתו ועומק עיונו הולכים על צד הגבוה שבעניני הידיעה האלהית. אמנם גם האדם הגדול יש שעם עומק עיונו לא ימצא דרך ישרה איך להכניס עמקי רעיוניו בביטוי שפתים, ע"כ אמרו שהוא ג"כ בקי בברכות ויודע לשקול הדברים איך יהיו נאמרים באופן שיכלול הדיבור את עומק הרעיון ומ"מ יהי' ג"כ שוה לכל נפש, כראוי לעניני הברכות שהם חקה אחת לכל עדת ד'.

Hairs To The Throne

I think that Elizabeth Warren should get a new sheitel. It might help her significant falling in the polls. Western culture is big on chitzoniyos. Some new policies might help as well, although to be blunt - most voters don't fully understand the issues [myself included]. Like, we really understand how the economy works and how to best grow it? So start with the sheitel.

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Boi-nie - a toupee maybe? With that huge bald spot how is he going to be Donald who has the most elaborate 'do of any President ever. 

Motzi Vs. Hamotzi

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? — ״הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ״. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר: ״מוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ״.

We learned in the mishna that over bread one recites: Who brings forth bread from the earth. The Sages taught in a baraita: What does one who eats bread recite before eating? Who brings forth [hamotzi] bread from the earth. Rabbi Nechemya says that the blessing is phrased: Who brought forth [motzi] bread from the earth. 

What is the difference between מוציא and המוציא? The Gemara doesn't tell us... 

There are two ways to merit love and fear of Hashem. One is to perceive intellectually that Hashem's fingerprints [so too speak] are EVERYWHERE. The other way is to connect to Hashem's existence and wondrous works on an emotional level. 

מוציא relates more to the ACT of bringing bread out of the earth with less of an emphasis on Who did it. That is the first, more cerebral approach. המוציא with the "ה' הידיעה" places the emphasis on Who took the bread out of the earth. THE "bringer outer". That reflects the second, more emotional approach, relating to how awesome Hashem is. 

ההתבוננות בגדולת השם יתברך כדי להיות זוכה למדת אהבה ויראה אמתית תתכן בשני פנים. האחד הוא בהסתכלות מדעי בפעולותיו ית' השלימות הערוכות בחכמה וחסד וצדק ומשרים. והב' מההסתכלות המדעי תבא הסתכלות הרגשי, להשתוקק לאהבתו ית' ויראת רוממותו מצד עצם כבודו. אע"פ שאין דרך במדע להבין מהותו ית', מ"מ בהשערת הלב וחשק הנפש תתנוצץ חמדה למי שעושה כל אלה המעשים הגדולים. ואיך שיהי' האדם חייב להדריך עצמו, זהו דבר מסופק אם די לו בהסתכלות מדעי בפעולות ד' ית' ודרכיו והתרגשות הנפש הפנימית תבא מאילי', או שמחוייב ג"כ להיות משיב אל לבו כל הערך של המשפט השכלי הבא מהידיעה במעשי ד', ולהוליד בעצמו השתוקקות נעלה מכל מדע וחשבון אל עצם כבוד ד', שלא ניתן להאמר ולהחשב בדעת וחשבון מפני שהוא מרומם מכל חשבון. וזהו החילוק שבין "המוציא" ל"מוציא", ב"מוציא" אין אנו מדברים כ"א על הפועל מצד הפעולה לבדה ואין אנו נוגעים כלל בעצם הפועל, מפני שכל תכלית מדעינו אינה אלא בפעולה. וב"המוציא" בה"א הידיעה, אנו מגיעים ג"כ להרגשת הלב בהשתוקקות הנפש הפנימית לכבוד השם ית' מצד עצמו, שהוא למעלה מכל ההוד המשוער מצד הפעולות. שאובנתא דליבא זאת היא תולדת האור הפנימי שבטבע נפש האדם, היוצאת אל הפועל ע"י מה שמסקלים מפני' את מכשולי הדרכים, והיא עולה מאלי' אל מקום כבודה, כאמורי "צמאה לך נפשי, כמה לך בשרי", וכיו"ב.