Jewish Values Online (jewishvaluesonline.org)
is a website that asks the Jewish view on a variety of
issues, some specifically Jewish and some from the world
around us -- and then presents answers from each of the
denominations of Judaism. Nishmablog's Blogmaster Rabbi
Wolpoe and Nishma's Founding Director, Rabbi Hecht, both serve
as Orthodox members of their Panel of Scholars. Nishmablog, over the years, has also featured the responses on JVO by one of our two Nishma Scholars who are
on this panel.
Recently,
the Jewish Values Online website has offered a new service -- a blog
which presents comments on various topics within Judaism and the Jewish
world. See
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/jvoblog/index?aid=0.
Rabbi Hecht is now also a blogger on this site and will be developing a series entitled
The Distinctiveness of Judaism,
His Third post
Sdom: The Mask of Evil
is now available at http://jewishvaluescenter.org/jvoblog/sdom-the-mask-of-evil
A link is also up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JewishValuesOnline?fref=ts
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Monday, 26 October 2015
New RBH Series in Toronto
TORAH VALUES AND WESTERN VALUES
Conflicts and Overlaps
at Adath Israel, 37 Southbourne Ave
Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
Conflicts and Overlaps
at Adath Israel, 37 Southbourne Ave
Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
Second Series: Ethics: The Search for 'The Good'
November 8 - December 13
November 8 What is 'the Good'? Pleasure? Morals?
November 15 Are Ethics About the Other - Love Your Neighbour?
November 22 Are Ethics About the Self - Be The Best You Can Be?
November 29 Ethics as Duties
December 6 Ethics as Rights
December 13 Is the Possible Answer: All of the Above?
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Nishma Policy - Beyond 'Off the Derech' -- Why is Someone Committed?
NISHMA: Policy is devoted to analyzing policy issues within the world of Torah.
I have just uploaded the latest post, entitled Beyond 'Off the Derech' -- Why is Someone Committed?, which we hope will serve as a beginning of an investigation of this important issue.
I invite you to take a look...and comment.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
I have just uploaded the latest post, entitled Beyond 'Off the Derech' -- Why is Someone Committed?, which we hope will serve as a beginning of an investigation of this important issue.
I invite you to take a look...and comment.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
Saturday, 10 October 2015
Of Possible Interest to the Toronto Community: Honest Reporting Canada
37 Southbourne Ave.
Presents
Gary Kenzer
North American
Executive Director
HONEST REPORTING
Israel
is in the midst of a battle for public opinion – waged primarily via
the media. To ensure Israel is represented fairly and accurately
“HonestReporting” monitors the media, exposes cases of bias, promotes
balance, and effects change through education and action.
Gary Kenzer
began working for the organization in Sept. 2006 and was also the
National Director for Magen David Adom US. Gary consults with the
professional association on political advocacy issues and trains over
500 students a year on becoming political advocates.
Wednesday
October14
7:30 p.m.
$15 in advance $20 at the door
635-5340 x308
Refreshments served
Sunday, 20 September 2015
United with Israel: Beyond ‘United with Israel’
A lesson from Yom Kippur that is beyond ‘United with Israel’. Please see http://unitedwithisrael.org/beyond-united-with-israel/
I am sure this will also be up on the UWI Facebook page in the near future. Please feel free to comment here or on one of the UWI sites.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
I am sure this will also be up on the UWI Facebook page in the near future. Please feel free to comment here or on one of the UWI sites.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
Sunday, 13 September 2015
The Psalm and the Shofar: A Thought for Rosh Hashanah
first posted September 24, 2014
Douglas Aronin:
The Psalm and the Shofar: A Thought for Rosh Hashanah | Douglas Aronin | The Blogs | The Times of Israel
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-psalm-and-the-shofar-a-thought-for-rosh-hashanah/
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Douglas Aronin:
«... It was Korach who conspired with Dathan and Abiram of the tribe of Reuben to lead a rebellion against Moses. Dissatisfied with the honor of performing the duties reserved for the Levites, Korach accused Moses of usurping the leadership and priestly roles for himself and his brother Aaron. (Numbers 16:3). As a result of Korach's challenge to the leadership of Moses, the earth opened up and swallowed him and his followers, including Dathan and Abiram and their households (16:28-34).
In telling the story of Korach (Numbers chaps 16-17), the Torah makes no mention of the fate of his sons. Only later in the book, in the course of reporting the results of the census taken of the Jewish people in anticipation of their entry into the Land of Israel, does the Torah mention them specifically. The Torah at that point relates the census of the tribe of Reuben, including the branches of that tribe that would have come from Dathan and Abiram. The Torah then relates: "These are the same Dathan and Abiram, chosen in the assembly, who agitated against Moses and Aaron as part of Korach's band when they agitated against the Lord. Whereupon the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with Korach …The sons of Korach, however, did not die." (26:9-11, JPS translation).
Why didn't the sons of Korach die?»
The Psalm and the Shofar: A Thought for Rosh Hashanah | Douglas Aronin | The Blogs | The Times of Israel
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-psalm-and-the-shofar-a-thought-for-rosh-hashanah/
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Sunday, 6 September 2015
JVO Blog: The Distinctiveness of Judaism -- Sdom in Context (or The Surprising Evil of Ideology)
Jewish Values Online (jewishvaluesonline.org)
is a website that asks the Jewish view on a variety of
issues, some specifically Jewish and some from the world
around us -- and then presents answers from each of the
denominations of Judaism. Nishmablog's Blogmaster Rabbi
Wolpoe and Nishma's Founding Director, Rabbi Hecht, both serve
as Orthodox members of their Panel of Scholars. Nishmablog, over the years, has also featured the responses on JVO by one of our two Nishma Scholars who are
on this panel.
Recently, the Jewish Values Online website has offered a new service -- a blog which presents comments on various topics within Judaism and the Jewish world. See
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/jvoblog/index?aid=0.
Rabbi Hecht is now also a blogger on this site and will be developing a series entitled
The Distinctiveness of Judaism,
His Third post
The Surprising Evil of Ideology (JVO's title which is fine with RBH)
is now available at http://jewishvaluescenter.org/jvoblog/the-surprising-evil-of-ideology
A link is also up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JewishValuesOnline?fref=ts
Recently, the Jewish Values Online website has offered a new service -- a blog which presents comments on various topics within Judaism and the Jewish world. See
http://www.jewishvaluesonline.org/jvoblog/index?aid=0.
Rabbi Hecht is now also a blogger on this site and will be developing a series entitled
The Distinctiveness of Judaism,
His Third post
The Surprising Evil of Ideology (JVO's title which is fine with RBH)
is now available at http://jewishvaluescenter.org/jvoblog/the-surprising-evil-of-ideology
A link is also up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JewishValuesOnline?fref=ts
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Commenting on "Response to Dean David Berger on Open Orthodoxy"
Recently, Rabbi Ysoscher Katz wrote a response, in the Jewish Link of New Jersey, entitled Response to Dean David Berger on Open Orthodoxy, to Rabbi Dr. David Berger's article, also in an earlier edition of the Jewish Link of New Jersey, entitled The Rabbinical Council of America and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah: A Response to Rabbis Avi Weiss and Asher Lopatin. The subject really is the nature and definition of heresy within Orthodoxy and, in many ways, this is a most serious issue which we are now facing. The essentially question is: What is Orthodoxy? -- and it extends even beyond the parameters of this specific issue. It is in regard to this specific issue, however, particularly in regard to Rabbi Katz's response, that I would like to comment. (For the purposes of the further discussion of this specific issue, though, one should perhaps also look at Rabbi Asher Lopatin's Morethodoxy article, Revelation and the Education of Modern Orthodox Rabbis.)
The issue to Rabbi Katz would seem to be the nature of what he defines as Modern Orthodox psak. His argument is that Rabbi Berger's view "displays a simplistic understanding of the philosophy of Modern Orthodox halacha. It also, at its core, reflects a minimalist understanding of the Modern Orthodox enterprise." While it is difficult to hear Rabbi Berger's thought processes described in such terms, the question still is not really the nature of psak itself but the extent one's deviation from another's perception of psak is to be accepted as still within the pale of Orthodoxy. The scholars of Conservative Judaism in its early years believed that they were applying what they believed was the correct process of psak. The argument of Orthodoxy was not simply that it disagreed. Disagreements regarding the process of psak actually abound within Orthodoxy. The argument of Orthodoxy was that this methodology of psak was beyond the pale of Orthodoxy.
Similarly, it is not enough for Rabbi Katz to maintain that he has a thoughtful approach to psak. It also serves no purpose for him to attack Rabbi Berger's methodology. It makes no difference whether Rabbi Berger's process is the most sophisticated Modern Orthodox approach to psak or not. No one is challenging that Rabbi Berger's system is within the pale of Orthodoxy. Rabbi Katz disagrees with Rabbi Berger's method but he never declares it not to be Orthodox. The actual question is whether Open Orthodoxy's system is within the pale.
In a certain way, Rabbi Katz's presentation may actually further the arguments against this. He is clearly stating that he is in disagreement with Rabbi Berger's methodology of psak with the implication that Rabbi Berger would also disagree with his system. That, in itself, is not necessarily a problem - disagreements can exist within Orthodoxy. Disagreement, though, does open the possibility for a determination that a position may be beyond the pale. Rabbi Katz does not address this. He does not present an argument that even if Rabbi Berger disagrees with the YCT position, Rabbi Berger should still recognize it as within the pale. If anything, Rabbi Katz's presentation would, in fact, seem to work otherwise. Rabbi Katz's strong critique of Rabbi Berger would actually seem to even imply a denominational divide. What Rabbi Katz needed to do was to show that even though Rabbi Berger may disagree with YCT's views, there are still reasons to accept these views as within the pale. What he does, though, is show how these views are actually so foreign from those of Rabbi Berger. Could this not be the basis of a definition of a new denomination?
On a technical note, I should also state that I specifically had difficulties with Rabbi Katz's reference to the Binyan Tzion and the Chazon Ish. Those two scholars were not dealing with the issue of heresy per se but rather the culpability and effect connected to heresy. Their issue was how we are to relate to those with heretical views, not the very definition of heresy itself. Does this recognition imply that there are, as such, no disagreements regarding issues connected to heresy? The Slifkin Affair obviously indicated to us that there are. The point is, though, that the Binyan Tzion and the Chazon Ish are not indications that the nature of heresy within Orthodoxy can change over time. Their arguments concern how our approach to those who accept heretical views can change over time. Such arguments, though, would still not extend to accepting one with heretical views in a position of rav. I found it problematic in that I felt that Rabbi Katz was somewhat misleading in this regard.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
The issue to Rabbi Katz would seem to be the nature of what he defines as Modern Orthodox psak. His argument is that Rabbi Berger's view "displays a simplistic understanding of the philosophy of Modern Orthodox halacha. It also, at its core, reflects a minimalist understanding of the Modern Orthodox enterprise." While it is difficult to hear Rabbi Berger's thought processes described in such terms, the question still is not really the nature of psak itself but the extent one's deviation from another's perception of psak is to be accepted as still within the pale of Orthodoxy. The scholars of Conservative Judaism in its early years believed that they were applying what they believed was the correct process of psak. The argument of Orthodoxy was not simply that it disagreed. Disagreements regarding the process of psak actually abound within Orthodoxy. The argument of Orthodoxy was that this methodology of psak was beyond the pale of Orthodoxy.
Similarly, it is not enough for Rabbi Katz to maintain that he has a thoughtful approach to psak. It also serves no purpose for him to attack Rabbi Berger's methodology. It makes no difference whether Rabbi Berger's process is the most sophisticated Modern Orthodox approach to psak or not. No one is challenging that Rabbi Berger's system is within the pale of Orthodoxy. Rabbi Katz disagrees with Rabbi Berger's method but he never declares it not to be Orthodox. The actual question is whether Open Orthodoxy's system is within the pale.
In a certain way, Rabbi Katz's presentation may actually further the arguments against this. He is clearly stating that he is in disagreement with Rabbi Berger's methodology of psak with the implication that Rabbi Berger would also disagree with his system. That, in itself, is not necessarily a problem - disagreements can exist within Orthodoxy. Disagreement, though, does open the possibility for a determination that a position may be beyond the pale. Rabbi Katz does not address this. He does not present an argument that even if Rabbi Berger disagrees with the YCT position, Rabbi Berger should still recognize it as within the pale. If anything, Rabbi Katz's presentation would, in fact, seem to work otherwise. Rabbi Katz's strong critique of Rabbi Berger would actually seem to even imply a denominational divide. What Rabbi Katz needed to do was to show that even though Rabbi Berger may disagree with YCT's views, there are still reasons to accept these views as within the pale. What he does, though, is show how these views are actually so foreign from those of Rabbi Berger. Could this not be the basis of a definition of a new denomination?
On a technical note, I should also state that I specifically had difficulties with Rabbi Katz's reference to the Binyan Tzion and the Chazon Ish. Those two scholars were not dealing with the issue of heresy per se but rather the culpability and effect connected to heresy. Their issue was how we are to relate to those with heretical views, not the very definition of heresy itself. Does this recognition imply that there are, as such, no disagreements regarding issues connected to heresy? The Slifkin Affair obviously indicated to us that there are. The point is, though, that the Binyan Tzion and the Chazon Ish are not indications that the nature of heresy within Orthodoxy can change over time. Their arguments concern how our approach to those who accept heretical views can change over time. Such arguments, though, would still not extend to accepting one with heretical views in a position of rav. I found it problematic in that I felt that Rabbi Katz was somewhat misleading in this regard.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
Monday, 24 August 2015
Live Webcast with President Barack Obama
Next Erev Shabbat
Friday August 28th at 2:10 pm
Next Erev Shabbat
Friday August 28th at 2:10 pm
From: Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman
Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO
Dear Friends,Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO
As announced earlier, President Barack Obama will address the American Jewish community on Friday, August 28 at 2:10 p.m. regarding the agreement between the P5 +1 countries and Iran. The webcast, broadcast live from the White House, is co-sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and Jewish Federations from across North America. Anyone with internet access will be able to access the presentation. To encourage and facilitate participation by your members and affiliates, ads and web banners to help you spread the word via social media are available here.
A question and answer period will follow President Obama’s remarks; questions may be submitted in advance on the webcast registration site.
Please register here to receive the web link information.
SMG
MH
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Mussar: Tearing Others Down
"Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down.~Ann Landers (1918 - 2002)
Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse."
American Advice Columnist
Also see posts on Schadenfreude
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Huffington Post: Oskar Groening's Trial Reveals the Complexity of Morality
The Oskar Groening trial in Germany raised many questions. For some, an issue was simply the very fact that this elderly man was standing trial for something he did many years ago. For others, including myself, we could only wonder how that could even be a question. Simple justice would seem to have demanded this trial regardless of the age of the defendant.
Another issue, though, did present a more complicated problem. It seems that the defendant's crime was only discovered through his involvement in challenging those who denied the Holocaust. It was, thus, his subsequent positive actions that led to his trial and conviction. Should these subsequent positive actions, though, have then mitigated in his favour?
See further on this in my latest Huffington Post blog: Oskar Groening's Trial Reveals the Complexity of Morality.
My original title for the post, btw, was 'The Complexity of Life, Morality and the Human Being' but it was changed by the editors. The present title may actually, though, be the better one.
Please feel free to comment here or there.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
For an interesting Torah article regarding the first issue mentioned above, see
http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/torah-for-today-what-does-the-torah-say-about-oskar-groening/
Another issue, though, did present a more complicated problem. It seems that the defendant's crime was only discovered through his involvement in challenging those who denied the Holocaust. It was, thus, his subsequent positive actions that led to his trial and conviction. Should these subsequent positive actions, though, have then mitigated in his favour?
See further on this in my latest Huffington Post blog: Oskar Groening's Trial Reveals the Complexity of Morality.
My original title for the post, btw, was 'The Complexity of Life, Morality and the Human Being' but it was changed by the editors. The present title may actually, though, be the better one.
Please feel free to comment here or there.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
For an interesting Torah article regarding the first issue mentioned above, see
http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/torah-for-today-what-does-the-torah-say-about-oskar-groening/
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Ivanka Trump happy to be Jewish
The above noted article from the Times of Israel, "Ivanka Trump happy to be Jewish", would seem to be of significance given the position of her father, Donald Trump, in the present polls regarding the U.S. presidency. It speaks to not only a Jewish connection that Mr. Trump will have but also the type of Jewish connection that he will have. This is worth noting.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
Rabbi Ben Hecht
Monday, 10 August 2015
Be there for Chuck! AUGUST 10th at NOON TO 1 PM
Some advocates of the Iran deal are planning a rally outside Schumers NYC office tomorrow. Lets be there with a counter protest. Please spread the word and ask people to come there to support his decision.
Thanks!
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Thanks!
Be at SCHUMER'S OFFICE MONDAY, AUGUST 10th at NOON TO 1 PM
Dear Friends,
If you are in NYC and READY TO TAKE TO THE STREETS over Senator Schumer's decision to vote against the Iran nuclear deal...Peace Action is asking that you join us outside his office on 780 Third Ave in Manhattan (between 48th and 49th Streets) from this Monday, August 10th, from NOON to 1 PM.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.
We will pass out flyers, collect signatures on petitions and postcards and ask people to call Senator Schumer to let him know that he has made the WRONG decision on this one. There will be a lot of people on the streets at lunchtime. The weather prediction is 78 F and sunny for that hour.
If you cannot be there yourself, please pass this call to your group.
Please email me at sallyfeatherstone@gmail.com or call me at 917-362-0897 if you will be there.
Thanks,
Sally Jones
Peace Action NYS
917-362-0897
sallyfeatherstone@gmail.com
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Saturday, 8 August 2015
Mussar: What a Beautiful Thought. To be told how wonderful you are!
https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-0/p480x480/1510505_356378111237968_5966672859934048243_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoiYiJ9&oh=5d5c06274d0f8578da60b9945c99a61d&oe=56538B51&__gda__=1446883512_ce8469842cad0347cd7606695279096d
Comment on FB:
"Imagine if that's what we all did - what a different place this world would be."
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Comment on FB:
"Imagine if that's what we all did - what a different place this world would be."
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Thursday, 6 August 2015
United with Israel: Israel’s Special Unity
This has been a hard time for Klal Yisrael. The essence of our soul was challenged from within -- but we responded with our uniqueness. I expand upon this theme in my recent post on United with Israel. Please see http://unitedwithisrael.org/israels-uniqueness-vs-violence-and-terror/
I am sure this will also be up on the UWI Facebook page in the near future. Please feel free to comment here or on one of the UWI sites.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
I am sure this will also be up on the UWI Facebook page in the near future. Please feel free to comment here or on one of the UWI sites.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
Monday, 3 August 2015
Media: Double Standard
Guest Blogger:
R Ben Blech:
I sent this to the NYTimes letters - but of course they wouldn't print it. It needs however to be stressed by all of us in the aftermath of the horrific stabbing:
Kol Tuv,
RRW
R Ben Blech:
I sent this to the NYTimes letters - but of course they wouldn't print it. It needs however to be stressed by all of us in the aftermath of the horrific stabbing:
«Your headline on the horrific stabbing at the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem begins with the description of the assailant as "Ultra-Orthodox." It would suggest a higher level of piety, a greater expression of Orthodox faith - when any Rabbi or scholar of Judaism would tell you this act was the utmost desecration of every Jewish and biblical value. Extremist, fanatic, perverted come to mind as more appropriate prefixes than "Ultra." The Times is usually very careful not to identify ISIS barbarism as exemplifying traditional moderate Islam. I urge you to be equally careful with descriptions for those who bring only shame and disgust to every religious Jew.»
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Off the Path of Orthodox -
Off the Path of Orthodox --By Talia Lavin in The New Yorker--7/31/15
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/off-the-path-of-orthodoxy
Kol Tuv,
RRW
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/off-the-path-of-orthodoxy
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Thursday, 30 July 2015
Even Ho'Ezer Siman 66
Here is a quick outline of some interesting points we discussed re: denominations with regard to
Kessef M'dina vs. Kessef Tzori
KM vs. KTz
1. Value of coins covers:
A. Even Ho'ezer re: K'tubbah
B. Yoreh Dei'ah re: Pidyon habbein
C. Tangentially; Orach Chaim re: Machatzit Hashekel
2. Q: What is status of Machatzit Hashekel?
A: No D'oraito because we use half of KM as opposed to KTz
B. Not even a D'rabbanan because no B'rachah...
C. Ergo a Zecher l'mikdash b'alma
D. Contrast this to S'firat ha'Omer - which is also a Zecher per most Poskim - yet also has a B'rochoh. So it seems to be at least a full-fledged D'rabbanan or even a D'oraito according to some.
3. What kind of Kessef is a K'tbbah for a B'tulah?
A. Rabbenu Tam: 100% D'oraito ergo KTz
B. Rif, Rambam, M'Chabbeir and others: 100% D'rabbanan ergo KM
C. Rosh, Mordechai, and current Minhag Ashk'naz: while the Rabbanan created the k'tubbah, nevertheless they insisted on d'oraito money - KTz. Perhaps this is due to "assu hizzuk l'divreihem". Ergo it is a hybrid.
D. Sheetat Agudah / Maharil as quoted by Rema - needs more elaboration.
4. Pidyon Habbein -
A. Still Mid'oraito
B. Ergo requires KTz
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Kessef M'dina vs. Kessef Tzori
KM vs. KTz
1. Value of coins covers:
A. Even Ho'ezer re: K'tubbah
B. Yoreh Dei'ah re: Pidyon habbein
C. Tangentially; Orach Chaim re: Machatzit Hashekel
2. Q: What is status of Machatzit Hashekel?
A: No D'oraito because we use half of KM as opposed to KTz
B. Not even a D'rabbanan because no B'rachah...
C. Ergo a Zecher l'mikdash b'alma
D. Contrast this to S'firat ha'Omer - which is also a Zecher per most Poskim - yet also has a B'rochoh. So it seems to be at least a full-fledged D'rabbanan or even a D'oraito according to some.
3. What kind of Kessef is a K'tbbah for a B'tulah?
A. Rabbenu Tam: 100% D'oraito ergo KTz
B. Rif, Rambam, M'Chabbeir and others: 100% D'rabbanan ergo KM
C. Rosh, Mordechai, and current Minhag Ashk'naz: while the Rabbanan created the k'tubbah, nevertheless they insisted on d'oraito money - KTz. Perhaps this is due to "assu hizzuk l'divreihem". Ergo it is a hybrid.
D. Sheetat Agudah / Maharil as quoted by Rema - needs more elaboration.
4. Pidyon Habbein -
A. Still Mid'oraito
B. Ergo requires KTz
Kol Tuv,
RRW
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