Volume 66 Number 35
Produced: Sat, 01 Apr 23 16:30:19 -0400
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
"Reward" For Learning
[Joel Rich]
Birchot Hashachar
[Joel Rich]
Bracha rishona
[Joel Rich]
Chazal being of more than one mind
[Joel Rich]
Does anyone actually keep two days chagim in Eilat or the Arava?
[Avraham Friedenberg]
Halachic Life Insurance
[Carl Singer]
Kaddish
[Joel Rich]
Ma'aser Sheni - D'mai and Judicial Reform
[David Tzohar]
Parent/child relationship
[Joel Rich]
Rules of psak
[Joel Rich]
Talmudic Arguments: The Use of Insults, Reprimands, Rebukes and Curses
[Joel Rich]
Trials?
[Joel Rich]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Thu, Mar 16,2023 at 03:17 AM
Subject: "Reward" For Learning
To a maggid shiur:
Your recent class was on the topic of reward for sponsoring a shiur is on a
topic that I find fascinating. In particular, it has always seemed to me that
the dedication of already scheduled learning is certainly a charitable act to be
encouraged. Of course, I am not God's accountant, but it doesn't seem that the
reward for learning Torah in that case would be transferable, except perhaps to
the extent that more people attend due to the dedication. I have to wonder
though do any local Rabbis point that out to sponsors?
Your thoughts?
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Wed, Mar 29,2023 at 12:17 AM
Subject: Birchot Hashachar
If one wakes up before alot hashachar, is it best to make all the birchot
hashachar (except lasechvi) and birchot hatora, or to just make the birchot
hatora and learn until alot hashachar and then make all of the birchot hashachar?
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Tue, Mar 7,2023 at 11:17 PM
Subject: Bracha rishona
If a society always eats dessert as part of a meal, do they make a bracha
rishona on the dessert before birchat hamazon?
Kt
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Wed, Mar 22,2023 at 01:17 AM
Subject: Chazal being of more than one mind
Comment to a magid shiur:
I"ve often said what you said at the beginning about Chazal being of more than
one mind on an issue (especially hashkafically) , but that generally seems to be
the absolutely the last answer anybody wants to give. Have you seen any sources
discussing this in any detail?
Comments?
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Avraham Friedenberg <elshpen@...>
Date: Wed, Mar 22,2023 at 12:17 PM
Subject: Does anyone actually keep two days chagim in Eilat or the Arava?
This came up at lunch today with friends who live in Eilat. Does anyone actually
keep two days of the chagim in Eilat or the Arava? I have heard of the practice
theoretically, but is it actually done?
Avraham (Alan) Friedenberg
Be'er Sheva, Israel
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Carl Singer <carl.singer@...>
Date: Sun, Mar 5,2023 at 03:17 PM
Subject: Halachic Life Insurance
In response to Joel Rich (MJ 66#33):
Life insurance is a financial investment - no more, no less.
Carl Singer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Thu, Mar 30,2023 at 02:17 AM
Subject: Kaddish
I'm told that R' Ovadya Yosef had a tshuva specifically dealing with the text of
kaddish that a sfardi who is davening in an ashkenazi miyan should say. Does
anybody have a citation?
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Tzohar <davidtzohar@...>
Date: Mon, Mar 6,2023 at 05:17 AM
Subject: Ma'aser Sheni - D'mai and Judicial Reform
Last week as I was preparing a siyyum (ma'aser sheni yerushalmi) for the azkara
of my daughter Esther Dina A'H, trying to tune out all the background noise of
the constitutional crises about judicial reform here in Israel, I came across an
amazing coincidence. The final sugiya deals with d'mai, the ma'asrot taken from
the public who were not P'rushim [talmidei chachamim]. The answer that the
gemarra gives is amazingly the institution of judicial reform. "Until the days
of Yochanan Cohen Gadol, d'mai which was collected from the Kutim [Shomronim]
was mostly accepted. But in his day he instituted a countrywide system of courts
called "zugot" (because they were made up of pairs of judges) who would decide
whether or not to accept the ma'aser" (Ma'aser Sheni Yerushalmi 59) In other
words the Rabbinic elite called the P'rushim forced their judicial-rabbinic
authority over the ignorant masses. Ma'aseh avot siman lebanim!! I come to the
conclusion there are no coincidences in Jewish history.
David Tzohar
http://tzoharlateivahebrew.blogspot.com/
http://tzoharlateiva.blogspot.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Mon, Mar 20,2023 at 12:17 PM
Subject: Parent/child relationship
I started to put together a list (below) of halachot which depend on the
halachic status of the parent/child relationship (e.g birth mother or genetic
mother).
Additions appreciated.
KT
Joel Rich
Pru urvu/shevet (fulfilled, what if already fulfilled?)
Religion
Tribe
Brit/pidyon
Kavod av
Teaching trade
Finding wife
Swimming
Talmud torah
Chinuch
Child support
Yichud
Yibum
Arayot
Hitting
Cursing
Ben sorer
Inheritance/Mourning
Testimony
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Wed, Mar 29,2023 at 12:17 AM
Subject: Rules of psak
I wanted to ask about yaal kgam and general rules, such as the halacha is we
hold rav yochanan over rav.
In the first case, are we saying that somewhere before the gemara was closed
someone (who?) looked at every difference of opinion, and determined that the
logic of rava was correct except in these six cases?
In the other general rules is it that each case was looked at or it was decided
as a normative approach always to follow that particular rabbi without working
at each specific case? (hanhaga vs birur?)
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Wed, Mar 22,2023 at 03:17 AM
Subject: Talmudic Arguments: The Use of Insults, Reprimands, Rebukes and Curses
In Talmudic Arguments: The Use of Insults, Reprimands, Rebukes and Curses as Part
of the Disputation Process by Hershey H. Friedman, Ph.D
https://www.academia.edu/36323670/Talmudic_Arguments_The_Use_of_Insults_Reprimands_Rebukes_and_Curses_as_Part_of_the_Disputation_Process?email_work_card=view-paper
he has the punchline:
> Regardless of the reason a sage chose to incorporate heavy language, as long as
> no embarrassment or intently personal attacks are found, it can be used. This
> rule is not limited to ancient Babylonia, but it is true to any society where
> dispute carries with it, in a healthy manner, the element of verbal jabs and
> attacks. But do so with caution, because even Rav Huna and Rav Hisda let the
> debate become personal, and even Hashem [God] regrets, as it were, knocking
> someone else down (Dratch, 2014).It is clear that some insults in the Talmud
> caused serious problems and did not end well. In particular, the dispute between
> Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish where the former said:
>
> A robber understands the tools of his trade.
>
> The story of Abdan and Yishmael b. Yosi also had a disastrous conclusion. These
> stories demonstrate that even sages have to be careful when using sarcasm,
> insults, and derision as a tool to enhance the disputation process.
Is this as COGNITIVE DISSONANCE being resolved TODAY OR AN ACCURATE DEPICTION?
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joel Rich <joelirarich@...>
Date: Thu, Mar 16,2023 at 03:17 AM
Subject: Trials?
In Derashot Harav, pp. 116-11, Rav Y.B. Soloveitchik wrote:
> Historically Jews have fared poorly when subjected to the trial of wealth. When
> a Jew acquires excessive wealth, he becomes animal-like. While the nations of
> the world divert a portion of the wealth towards spiritual matters, towards
> culture, towards higher ideals, under similar circumstances the Jew takes on the
> trappings of a vulgar, cynical materialism. Jeshurun became fat and rebelled
> (Deut. 32:15) is the characteristic reaction of the Jew to wealth. For some
> unknown reason a Jew cannot combine the dew of the heavens with the fatness of
> the earth (Gen. 27:28). Having one he cannot have the other. On the other hand,
> when confronted with the trial of poverty or suffering, the Jewish people have
> fared very well. A Jew does not spill blood when he is hungry. When he is
> hungry, he senses the hunger of his fellow; when he is cold, he feels his
> brothers' discomfort.
What can I add? Do you think it's accurate?
KT
Joel Rich
----------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Volume 66 Issue 35
