tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.comments2023-08-16T11:24:07.170+03:00Chopping WoodUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger477125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-46823867360128347882019-08-30T20:30:06.137+03:002019-08-30T20:30:06.137+03:00As the composer of the infamous "Hard Davenin...As the composer of the infamous "Hard Davening Blues", I felt compelled to ask my rabbi the question i pose in the song - "I'm up to Ashrei, everybody else is up to Barchu. Tell what in the world is a poor slow davener to do?" His response was to get to shul as early as needed and start davening, before the baal tefilah starts, so that you meet him as he begins the Amidah. <br />Dovid Kernerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874044379957824408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-42201025810267425492019-08-29T04:33:42.132+03:002019-08-29T04:33:42.132+03:00In the community to which I moved when I got marri...In the community to which I moved when I got married, a pointed comment by a longtime member of that community regarding Shacharis minyanim there still rings true almost 25 years later: it doesn't matter when we start, it matters when we finish. *** Put another way, I can't control the speed at which a minyan's SHaTZ davens (although, as a ba'al q'riyah, I can influence a small timespan some of the time :)), and even if I'm ready to start davening at the minyan's start time, I almost always have to skip some aspects of the pre-"Bar'chu" seider to sync. up at "Bar'chu"; some phrases prior to the pre-"Shma" q'dushah to sync up at "Qadosh"; and so on....MPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05881354246354816814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-33584884369286036912019-08-27T13:00:38.322+03:002019-08-27T13:00:38.322+03:00Rav Amital always spoke of the importance of the v...Rav Amital always spoke of the importance of the very act of commitment going to minyan sometimes even void of any Kavana at all. <br /> <br />I also almost never finish all of Psukei Dezimra Jerusalemitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17551233122206228407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-40836021089825623842013-04-16T22:13:59.843+03:002013-04-16T22:13:59.843+03:00I am a (big W) Woman of the Wall member. Ignoring ...I am a (big W) Woman of the Wall member. Ignoring the negative and disrespectful tone of this article, I do agree with almost all your points. I too wish the police and others would stop harassing us. We would not go away, although our numbers would certainly go back down to a manageable two digits. We do not need attention for the sake of attention. We want the law changed. So that a person can pray with tallit, tefilin, and read from a sefer torah at the Kotel without getting arrested - even if she is a woman. <br />If you do not understand how our service works, why don't you check our website or ask us? We answer all emails, telephone inquiries and Facebook messages. In short, we are a pluralistic women's only tefilla group. If there are enough women who count themselves as a minyan then we respect that and they (the ones who count themselves) say kaddish and other prayers that require a minyan. Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653221002783556103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-26774386869310746442013-04-09T00:47:44.110+03:002013-04-09T00:47:44.110+03:00Try the Bet Knesset Bet Yakov right off Paran,,,go...Try the Bet Knesset Bet Yakov right off Paran,,,going down the steps to the park. Large shul, outstanding women's section, with a large balconey to see everything. (Quite similiar to the YI of West Hempstead)Caren Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02590832673904257320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-32971846345082535622013-04-08T22:13:47.794+03:002013-04-08T22:13:47.794+03:00We moved to Jerusalem last summer and our grandchi...We moved to Jerusalem last summer and our grandchildren were most impressed that we live right near the park where Assi & Tuvia play. They have actually seen Assi being recorded. They are genuine rock stars in our community. None of our grandchildren have TV's. I don't know who they will be reaching on TV but they have certainly made a hit in our family and on Hanukkah they had their pictures taken with Assi. :-) Risa Tzoharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05012097234847651866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-6229523811666599522013-04-08T20:50:31.365+03:002013-04-08T20:50:31.365+03:00I just have to /wave to Mrs. Codish...
- Avi Shev...I just have to /wave to Mrs. Codish...<br /><br />- Avi Shevin, formerly of Oak Park, MI, now RBS A, Israel.Avihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15987913203857736139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-26761980499613814932013-04-04T08:30:07.419+03:002013-04-04T08:30:07.419+03:00Hi Rachel,
Clearly, you are correct. I should not ...Hi Rachel,<br />Clearly, you are correct. I should not have stated that the situation wouldn't have happened anywhere in the US for obvious reasons. What I can say is that many shuls - pretty much every one that I've ever davened in regularly - built women's sections strongly accounting for the women's prayer experience. <br />I guess when it comes to whether women attend shul in Israel, we have different experiences. But you are correct in the fact that the ezrat nashim here is usually tiny, so that's not saying much.Reuven Spolterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03140606911685229164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-48632710967663137742013-04-04T04:28:23.705+03:002013-04-04T04:28:23.705+03:00Wow. I have had the opposite experience with rega...Wow. I have had the opposite experience with regard to some of statements here. Yes, I agree that women's sections are often "afterthoughts" and not planned well at all. Whether women can see and hear and participate in the davening (by being able to daven WITH the kehilla) is never considered. "You. Go sit in the corner over there." That seems to be the attitude. BUT...let me tell you my experiential differences...<br /><br />You state "It should go without saying that this situation would never, ever happen in an American Modern Orthodox shul." That is NOT true at all. I have been to MANY American modern orthodox shuls in the US where the women's sections are "afterthoughts". In fact, in Monsey, in the shul my parents belong to, the women's section has hard wooden benches for the women to sit on, and the men have plush seats with armrests to sit on. It is MODERN Orthodox shul. I have seen this type of thing elsewhere also. Additionally, you state that women in Ch'L go to shul but not as much in Israel. I have found just the opposite. On Friday nights, in the States, the women's section is mostly empty. On Shabbat SOME women come, the women's section is full but then it is usually much smaller than the mens section. (Is it smaller because fewer women come or do fewer women come because it is smaller???) In Israel, wherever I have gone, I find the shul is FILLED with women both Friday night and Shabbat morning. And yet -- I have been to shuls where women when seated cannot see a thing, when standing have to somehow manage behind a curtain or a lattice work or glass covered with stickers. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01695379623649235980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-20437165912636273732013-04-03T23:16:02.893+03:002013-04-03T23:16:02.893+03:00My small amazing inspirational shul in Ramat Eshko...My small amazing inspirational shul in Ramat Eshkol doesn't even have room for all the men let alone a women's section. My wife was used to Young Israel of West Hempstead before we made aliyah and was upset that our shul didn't have a women's section at all. Luckily the park is right next door where the women usually congregate :)DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16806701543173511556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-51152229261859672402013-04-03T22:57:34.015+03:002013-04-03T22:57:34.015+03:00I completely agree, Risa. In the States, Shabbat s...I completely agree, Risa. In the States, Shabbat services and the kiddush that followed were, in all the Modern Orthodox synagogues I attended (Highland Park, NJ, Oak Park, MI, and Newton, MA) family-friendly occasions where like-minded Jews had a weekly chance to mingle and catch up on news. That's simply not the case here. Outside of Anglo communities, the concept of a kiddush is generally unheard of; men come to daven simply to discharge their obligation, and scratch their heads as to why women would show up at all. In part I think it's because the function of the shul is viewed differently: in the States it functions almost as a community center (and in many cases *is* a community center with classes, a preschool, Bar/Bat Mitzvah prep, etc.) whereas in Israel it's simply a space to daven. And since women have historically not participated in public prayer - why make space for them? So women aren't welcome, but probably because of historical precedents set in Europe, North Africa, Yemen, Iraq, etc. The American MO shul is a wonderful thing, for both women and men, but possibly a historical aberration. Susann Codishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625441742063198092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-22058407227393583772013-04-03T21:18:24.653+03:002013-04-03T21:18:24.653+03:00Several years ago Kolech sponsored a project where...Several years ago Kolech sponsored a project where architects were asked to design a more women friendly shul - but meeting the Orthodox standards. The results were interesting. They all had equally sized men's and women's sections. I don't remember that any had details of the interior so you couldn't really tell what the mechitza would look like. <br />But in Israel women are really not welcome at shul. We are not required to be there and no one is really including us by making it easier to hear or see. In fact the whole concept is to keep me as far away and as out of sight as possible so barring magic one-way mechitzot there isn't much a chance of feeling included. (And I do go to shul as lot, I just don't expect to feel 'included')Risa Tzoharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05012097234847651866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-65714080389124963872013-04-02T18:58:19.486+03:002013-04-02T18:58:19.486+03:00I think you may want to ask "What makes a rab...I think you may want to ask "What makes a rabbi?" first.<br /><br />There are "rabbis," and there are "rabbanim," and there are people being propped up as "rabbis" by the JPost, HaAretz, Ma'ariv, among Jewish papers in the U. S.<br /><br />There are men with pieces of paper calling them rabbis, and there are men who are not concerned with titles, yet whom I gladly call HaRav and stand for them.<br /><br />There are men who give good speeches, and there are men who know halakha, can explain it, and are not afraid of questions.<br /><br />I think you get my point. In case you don't, IMO, not all of the aforementioned individuals described are rabbis, or even "rabbis."Esser Agarothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12853681733864707489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-48105523311639324712013-03-20T17:34:55.770+02:002013-03-20T17:34:55.770+02:00"Another commenter wrote that the Rav attende..."Another commenter wrote that the Rav attended the opera. Sorry, that's not a psak to me, and the fact that individual rabbis allowed (or allow) individual people to attend the opera also doesn't convince me. <br />There's a concept in Jewish law of individuality, and not everything every rabbi tells an individual immediately becomes normative Jewish law. It's well-known that the Rav's wife did not cover her hair. Does that mean that the Rav also didn't believe in kisui rosh? Quote me a shiur, a written article, anything - where the Rav issued a psak allowing men to attend to opera. "<br /><br />There's a huge difference between something the Rav's wife does and something he does himself. There's a huge difference between allowing someone else to do something and doing it yourself. You claim that the Rav thought it was assur to go to the opera, yet he went *himself*?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03683770727190195677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-7533370864485767292013-03-15T00:37:08.657+02:002013-03-15T00:37:08.657+02:00You write:
>This brings me to another comment ...You write:<br /><br />>This brings me to another comment regarding kol isha related to >the Rav. Another commenter wrote that the Rav attended the >opera. Sorry, that's not a psak to me, and the fact that >individual rabbis allowed (or allow) individual people to attend >the opera also doesn't convince me.<br /><br />I think you are discussing two different things here. There is indeed, as you say, a concept in halacha that halacha can be quite flexible for individuals, and that there are piskei halacha for individuals that were never intended to be written in public. But this is not about certain individuals that the RYBS might have allowed to go to the opera, this is about RYBS himself attending the opera (assuming he did). There is a concept in halacha called ma'ase rav, and it carries very great weight. Indeed it is often *the* determining factor in how we rule from the gemora.<br /><br />And this particular case of ma'ase rav cannot be said to be one of halacha v'ain morein ken - ie something that is really the halacha, but we don't teach (because ignoramous's may misunderstand it) - because those are cases where the true halacha is carried out in private. It is hard to think of a more public occasion than going to the opera. Anyone who goes is seen there by hundreds and hundreds of people. So going to the opera would constitute a public demonstration of any rav's position halacha l'ma'ase - because not only does one think the halacha is so, but one acts on it, and one acts on it in public in front of everybody and anybody who might possibly misinterpret it. That is, if anything, an even stronger halachic statement than any teshuva.<br /><br />Now I do think this needs to be distinguished from the case of RBYS's wife. She did not necessarily ask, when she married him, to be the wife of a prominent Rav, with a high public profile, and to be held up as an example to all and sundry. Nor is she the one that people turned to for psak, or the one who would unquestionably know all the ramifications of the halachos of ma'ase rav, and how incumbent it is upon a known and public talmud chacham to behave in ways that do not create a chillul HaShem or lead the halacha to be misinterpreted. Therefore the phrase that is sometimes quoted in her name "my hair, my averah" would seem to be perfectly appropriate. She was a private individual who happened by association to be thrust into a public position. Thus I agree that I don't think you can learn anything out from her actions. The only thing that I think can safely be learnt out of her relationship with RYBS is that it is not incumbent upon a man married to a woman who does not cover her hair to divorce her - because that is what RYBS, by his ma'ase rav demonstrated.<br /><br />But that same cannot legitimately be said about him and his own very public actions. In taking on the level of authority and rabbonos that he did in the American community, he unquestionably put himself within the framework of the ma'ase rav doctrine, and therefore, if he did indeed go publically to the opera, that is a significant halachic statement. You may wrestle with it, and not understand it in the light of the various sources that you have learnt, but I do not think you can discount it as simply as you have done. <br /><br />Chana Luntzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771218035932751267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-18905284934763194912013-03-14T16:03:42.108+02:002013-03-14T16:03:42.108+02:00unless you "shop" for or just pick up ev...unless you "shop" for or just pick up every chumrah in the book...then you are praised and viewed as more frum !<br /><br />shkoyachksilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10623382090942812327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-38936929527105450512013-03-14T04:42:25.364+02:002013-03-14T04:42:25.364+02:00While I don't have the kol ishah restriction o...While I don't have the kol ishah restriction on performing per se, I can certainly relate to the difficulty in finding performing arts venues. This Purim marked the first time I was actually able to find a role on stage since 2000, before I was fully observant. Acting and choral music (and church liturgical music), my main outlets, almost invariably involve at least listening to kol ishah or some other cross-gender problem like touch. I envy a friend who plays in the community orchestra near our home town, but I don't play any orchestral instrument. It's a shame that Orthodox communities don't have more opportunities for performance of the more classical genres like theater and "traditional Western art music." I accept that the critical mass of talent and time is scarce, but it still hurts. (Anyone see the YU production of 1776 a couple years back?)yitznewtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10559815169235725734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-12691241702976424432013-03-14T01:10:47.043+02:002013-03-14T01:10:47.043+02:00Sorry for the delay. I apologize for the way I wor...Sorry for the delay. I apologize for the way I worded my earlier comment. Its tone was indeed a bit hostile and it shouldn't have been. Here is the revised version of my original comment. <br /><br />Your definition of Modern Orthodoxy is not the definition I use. I believe that it is appropriate to distinguish between the wide variety of MOs that comprise MO as a whole... from the left to the right as well as what I call MO-lite. <br /><br />The MO community that I identify with is meticulous in following Halacha and Mesorah. And yes we do ask Shailos.<br /><br />I would add that there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking different Poskim to Paskin a Shaila for you. There is nothing in Halacha that requires you to always ask the same person every Shaila. As long as you don't go shopping for it after you get it you can ask any Posek you want.<br />Harry Maryleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936405163453714823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-38789178807497611322013-03-13T17:30:38.375+02:002013-03-13T17:30:38.375+02:00..."Another commenter wrote that the Rav atte......"Another commenter wrote that the Rav attended the opera. Sorry, that's not a psak to me,"...<br /><br />Actually if I'm not mistaken, the Gemarah is full of halachos derived from observing a Tana or Amora doing or refraining from doing something.Raf's ponderings bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05771833567923672327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-11284489544704415232013-03-13T16:22:33.837+02:002013-03-13T16:22:33.837+02:00I don't recall making any personal attacks... ...I don't recall making any personal attacks... but if you still have it in your moderation page, send it back to me in an e-mail at:<br /><br />hmaryles@yahoo.com<br /><br />...and I'll modify it. IIRC what you may be referring to was what I thought as the angry tone of your post. If I am wrong and misread you, I apologize.Harry Maryleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936405163453714823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-73970221353182672422013-03-13T08:46:03.974+02:002013-03-13T08:46:03.974+02:00Dear Harry,
I don't make personal attacks on m...Dear Harry,<br />I don't make personal attacks on my blog - I am very careful about that. Moreover, I actually agree with the point that you made, so I'd ask that you resubmit the comments without getting personal.Reuven Spolterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03140606911685229164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-39673425078715303032013-03-13T08:13:20.333+02:002013-03-13T08:13:20.333+02:00Or Haym Soloveitchik's famous example of the m...Or Haym Soloveitchik's famous example of the minhag of eating fish on Shabbat. Why would an activity that might cause many many people to be over on borer become a central minhag of Shabbat? Commenter Abbihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07753256568022159103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-1459070823928505572013-03-13T05:43:24.185+02:002013-03-13T05:43:24.185+02:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Harry Maryleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936405163453714823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-80951238015072585362013-03-13T04:30:13.214+02:002013-03-13T04:30:13.214+02:00A really naive question here, but . . . is it poss...A really naive question here, but . . . is it possible that the main issur is on the men hearing it, but not on her singing it?Sholom90https://www.blogger.com/profile/12017982609055299964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7626974447429315601.post-65490099207296948232013-03-13T03:49:36.337+02:002013-03-13T03:49:36.337+02:00The Rav was far from the only gadol in Europe who ...The Rav was far from the only gadol in Europe who attended the opera. Much more "black" gedolim did too.<br /><br />R' Rakeffet (from the Gruss kollel, where I think you may have learned) has cited specific sources regarding this fact in his shiurim on numerous occasions.Gedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03584983440818466249noreply@blogger.com