לרפואת חי' יוכבד פייגע בת מיכל יהודית בתיה בתוך שח"י.
רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה.
ראה – הביטה וראה שלא יהיה ענינך על אופן בינוני כמו שהוא המנהג בשאר האומות, כי אמנם אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה – והם שני הקצוות. כי הברכה היא הצלחה יותר מן המספיק, על הצד היותר טוב, והקללה היא מארה מחסרת שלא יושג המספיק, ושניהם ״לפניכם״ להשיג כפי מה שתבחרו.
Pay good attention so that you will not be like the nations of the world who relate to everything half-heartedly, always trying to find middle ground and mediocrity. Remember that אנכי נותן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה, I present you this day with the choice of two extremes, opposites. The ברכה is an extreme in that it provides you with more than you need, whereas the קללה is another extreme making sure that you have less than your basic needs. You have the choice of both before you; all you have to do is make a choice. [Sforno]
Some people hide behind this fiction called "Modern Orthodoxy". Where do we find anywhere in any source that there is something called "Modern Orthodox"? Both words have no source in our holy books. It often [not always] just means that we don't have to take Halacha so seriously. Our children don't have to be taught to strive to be Tzadikim. All that is necessary is a minimal amount of Halachic observance. Coed schools and camps are totally OK. Secular Universities are amazing and Ivy League is a MUCH better option than any yeshiva [except for that period described by the silly term "gap year". It is not a gap year but the only year of one's life that he or she is focused on Emes]. Open, unchecked Internet is fine for us and our children. We have "religion" but we are also people of the world. Hashem is just one facet of our lives. And more along those lines.
Every Jew is equally obligated to keep Halacha. Every [male] Jew has to be serious about learning Torah. Shmiras Einayim and Machshava are absolute obligations for everyone. 3 minyanim a day are not an option but an obligation [barring extenuating circumstances]. Charedim are no holier, more privileged, more chosen or closer to Hashem than anyone else. All that matters is how much a person is invested in his relationship with Hashem. Saying that I am "Modern" is no license to be lax in anything. There are many people who would be defined as "Modern Orthodox" who fully understand this and although they don't wear white and black or learn full time in kollel, are still Tzadikim, Baalei Middos Tovos and fully committed to personal religious growth. Others, however, are fully invested in their mediocrity and strive to remain the same their whole lives [there are many "Charedim" like that too]. THAT is what the pasuk is decrying. Don't be spiritually mediocre. You want to be mediocre? Be a mediocre stock trader. Be a mediocre basketball player. But don't be a mediocre Jew. Be a GREAT Jew. "Great" is defined as the best you can be.
All of these labels "Ultra Orthodox", "Charedi" , "Modern Orthodox", "Conservative", "Reform" etc. etc. are meaningless. Labels, they say. are for cans. We are all equally Jewish and thus equally obligated.
Said Eliyahu Hanavi:
מעיד אני עלי את השמים ואת הארץ בין ישראל בין עכו"ם [!!!!😲] בין איש בין אשה בין עבד ובין שפחה הכל לפי המעשה שהוא עושה כך רוח הקודש שורה עליו.
SWING FOR THE FENCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
