העורך Editor

She writes:

Many citizens of Israel are confused on this matter and because of the assimilation of western values and ideals, they feel that so-called “separation of religion and state” should be the desired goal.

However, we are not a state like all others. This is supposed to be a Jewish state built on holy ground. If you want to see what that is supposed to look like, you need only go back to the last time we returned from a stay in the exile. It is most instructive to read the accounts of the first return from exile in the writings of Ezra and Nechemiah.

Count me among the “confused”, then!

Indeed, this is not a state like all others. The question of how exactly to coerce Torah observance and when is important. The knee-jerk response to either side is wrong.

In short, since when does the state get to do Beis Din’s job?!

1. Derech Eretz for the Lavatory
2. The Awesome Hypocrisy of Hurling Slavery Accusations Against the Torah
3. The State of Israel Was Founded to Destroy Judaism?

Do I need to beg?

Skirts: How Long According to Jewish Law?

Published on Oct 14, 2017

Interview with the head of Machon Shilo, Rabbi David Bar-Hayim

Visit us at www.MachonShilo.org

From YouTube, here.

We recently pointed out the counterfactual of there being “too many” men studying in Yeshiva and Kollel (follow the link).

There is a known story the Netziv told about himself, where his parents wished him to be a tailor, since he was unsuccessful in his studies, and he made a firm decision to apply himself and was allowed to return to studying Torah. When later in life he published one of his Torah works, he imagined the path not taken, having become a shoemaker, instead of writing his destined works, and coming to heaven a kosher Jew, who thought he had done all he could be asked, only to be asked where his Sefer was.

I heard a contemporary Torah great remarked some will come to heaven at the end of their lives with their Torah works only to be asked: Where are your shoes?!

In response to my post titled “The Steipler’s Noble Lie”, I received the following from a reader:

I think that you are referring to the Steipler’s Karyana D’igarta, vol. 1, number 113, p. 128. However, the Steipler is not talking about washing flesh but rather about washing clothing which became stained. He specifically mentions Kevisa which refers to laundry.

Yikes!

I have a stay of execution, though, at least until someone (me or another) manages to verify this is the only source for sure.

Update: Indeed, I was wrong. Read this.