ושבעה עשר בתמוז הפך לנו לשמחה ולששון*
The Brisker Rav said in the name of his father R. Chaim, “when Chazal established the four fasts, It was not that they established the fasts and then exempted the חולה (sick) from fasting.
Year: 2025
Idea for a New Brisker Chumra…
Brisker Chumra
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
They established the fasts specifically only for healthy people and not for the sick.
Therefore, there is no point for a חולה to be Machmir in fasting. If one does go ahead and fasts it is not considered participating in the fast”.
Some Poskim** add that according to R.Chaim if חולים are part of and are needed to complete the Minyan then you might not be allowed to Lain ויחל since there is no Minyan of Yidden who are participating in the fast even if all ten are fasting.
Mori V’rabi Harav Hagaon R. Shlomo Miller Shlita said in jest that perhaps we can add one more Brisker Chumra, “not to give an Aliya on a fast day to anyone who might be a חולה.”
From Torah Matzav, here.
How To Check if the ‘Shel Rosh’ Is in Place
Hold your kippa\hat\whatever on the back of the window to create a reflective surface.
Arabs Attack Jews, Then the Regime Expels the Jewish Victims…
Farm demolished hours after shepherd was attacked
Police forces demolished an Israeli farm just a few hours after Palestinian Arabs from a nearby city attacked one of the shepherds.
Israel National News Jan 2, 2025, 1:52 PM
Israeli security forces conducted a raid on a Jewish farm in the Binyamin region this morning. Dozens of border police officers, Civil Administration inspectors, and workers presented a closed military zone order and evacuated the residents, confiscated equipment, and demolished structures.
According to the residents, the forces arrived at the farm through the village of Burqa, passing near illegally constructed Palestinian structures in Area C.
The demolition occurred just hours after residents of Burqa were recorded attacking a Jewish shepherd, injuring him, only a kilometer away from the now-demolished farm. The attack took place near an illegal Bedouin encampment, which, according to local residents, has been involved in similar incidents in the past.
Local residents sharply criticized security forces following the events. “It is unacceptable that after the attack on a Jewish shepherd, security forces ignore the illegal construction around us, choosing instead to demolish a nearby Jewish farm,” they said. “This action encourages Arab terrorism and endangers the security of the residents.”
From Arutz Sheva, here.
I asked Gemini (chatbot) About Hyehudi.org [Then Excised What I Disliked]
One thing that really struck me is how they manage to balance that critical approach with such a deep respect for tradition. It would be so easy to fall into cynicism, but they never do…
It’s like: “We stand on the shoulders of giants, but we have to keep looking forward”.
What differentiates the site from other sites about religion and spirituality?
What’s so refreshing is, they believe that true understanding requires effort, and they respect their readers enough to challenge them.
What strikes you most about their perspective?
Honesty. It’s how much they value intellectual honesty, they challenge everything, even deeply held beliefs.
And they always give reasons, evidence. They don’t just say stuff. They really do try to back up their claims, build a real argument, not just opinions.
Via NotebookLM’s AI-generated podcast. ChatGPT’s answers were far less impressive…