When Adding to the Torah Leads to Subtraction!

bs"d

 

Is this post or blog into Rabbi Bashing.  Let me assure you that this is not our objective.  I myself had an excellent Torah education from a Bais Yaakov in Queens (A modern chareidi hashkafa (philosophy)  orientation.   My dear aunt and her family  treated me as their own and even one step beyond when I was in Israel living Kiryat Arba (a "Zionist stronghold").  They happen to be Satmar Chasiddim. My Hakoras Hatov, appreciation to my Satmer aunt knows no bounds and I feel I can never truly repay her for the kindness she did to me when I was living as a Single Girl in Eretz  Yisroel.   She and her husband z"l and their children are beautiful Jews and I am proud to be their relative.    My brother and family are well known and liked in the Chareidi circles.  I admire and I am even envious of the Chareidi lifestyle of unsurpassed enthusiasm for the Yomim Tovim Jewish  Holidays, their lack of distraction of an alien western culture glorifying baseball and football and basketball.  Their lack of exposure to negative influences from TV.  I envy so many fine middos I see in their children, honoring their parents and taking care of their siblings.  Yes I could go on and on... They are the product of a fine Chareidi education. 

 

This having been said, I also see a negative trend that is disturbing to me.

 

 I personally am very disappointed with some of the recent rulings coming from the Chareidi camps in Eretz Yisroel.  They banned a Chasidic Concert with Avraham Fried that was supposed to be separate seating with separate entrances.  They banned Simchas Beis Hashoeiva celebrations also for "tznius" reasons.  This sounds like chumras over chumras (restrictions over more restrictions).  What D'Orayta (Commandment written in the Torah) do we transgress  for this "transgression" of possibly meeting someone of the opposite gender over the Mechiza (Divider between the sexes)?  Or even in the vicinity thereof?   Doesn't the Torah itself specifically calls for Hakhel (a gathering) that includes the entire family, men women and children.  My husband tells me that the halachos (laws) of Mechitza (dividers between genders)  actually come from this sugia (Talmudic passage)  Why be even frumer (more righteous) than the Eybeshter (G-d).  They banned higher education degrees for women.  One that adds to the Torah is bound to detract from the Torah.  On the other hand, so many D-orayta's (Biblical Commandments) were violated with the expulsion of Gush Katif and these Rabbanim were Silent.  Positive expressions of true Simchas Yomtov (Holiday Happiness) were stifled due to these rulings.  If they keep these rulings up, then they and their halachos(rulings, will be irrelevent.  Is Rav Shteinman behind these "modesty" rulings?  I was told by the director of Lev L'achim that when asked how to respond to the expulsion of Gush Katif, Rav Shteinman responded that "its Nisht Inzere Sugia" (Not our Business).  Is this true?  Why is Agudath Yisroel of America choosing to follow the Psak of Rav Shteinman.  Apparently, Rav Eliashiv, is unwilling to give a psak w/o the haskama (agreement) of Rav Shteinman.   Is it forbidden to ask what are the considerations that went into these halachic rulings to be Silent regarding our rights to Eretz Yisroel, and to be Silent when such pain was inflicted on the residents of Gush Katif. The Silence continues now as well when the decree is to divide Jerusalem and disregard the destruction of Har Habayis and to destroy the beautiful flourishing communities of hundreds of thousands of beautiful Jews many times the number of residents of Gush Katif.  How were/are they complicit with the gov't policies.  Did educational subsidies or stipends  have a role in their decision to be Silent.  If so, then isn't the halacha (directives) based on political considerations and not Daas Torah(Torah way)?  A statement for Eretz Yisroel is Daas Torah!

 

The Lubavitch Rebbe addresses these points.  My husband and I are not Lubavitch per se.  But the Rebbe's halacha is logical.  When the Torah talks about Emunas Chachamim (Believing in our Sages) it says specifically that we must not deviate right or left from the Halachos (rulings)  if it's al Pi Tora (According to the Torah).  Why follow a Psak(ruling) blindly if it is quite clear that the Torah itself seems to clearly contradict and prohibits the ruling. We are not allowed to put an intermediary between us and the Torah and replace Torah with a "halachic"ruling that causes a violation in a Biblical Commandment. 

 

These are points of the Lubavitch Rebbe, zt"l

The current situation in Israel is such that the duty to protest falls squarely on the shoulders of the Rabbis. This obligation falls upon all Rabbis who arbitrate practical matters of Jewish law, and especially those Rabbis who have at one time expressed an opinion on this issue, no matter where they are — whether in Israel or in the Diaspora. The ruling must be explicit and definitive, being the result of exhaustive consultation with present military authorities who have actual firsthand knowledge about these issues, and who express their opinions through purely security-oriented considerations, and not political ones. In order to save the Rabbis the trouble of researching the issues which are required for a ruling, the Rebbe informs us that he has already investigated the matter, and the conclusions are: Those involved in military affairs say that surrendering any portion of the West Bank and Gaza, places untold numbers of Jews in danger, G-d forbid. The past is well known (e.g., Golda Meir not listening to the Israeli Military Intelligence prior to Yom Kippur War). A ruling must be issued quickly, and a Rabbi must not wait until he is asked about the matter. Rather, he must see to it that the law is publicized everywhere — to the extent that "there will not be a single individual who has not heard of this ruling." This is because regarding these matters, "he who asks (rather than acts) is a spiller of blood, and the one who waits to be asked is contemptible" for not having publicized his opinion.[35] Similarly, one should publicize the decision of the "Great Assembly" of 1937 [36] which states that "it is forbidden to cede to a non-Jew, even a tiny strip of the Land of Israel." This should be publicised until the entire Jewish people are aware of this ruling. Every Jew, regardless of where he lives, is connected with every other Jews in the rest of the world. Therefore, according to Jewish law, he must protest any action taken by another Jew which is not in accordance with Jewish Law. Protest is required even if the forbidden action took place a great distance from him — because he is still obligated by the command, "Thou shalt not stand idly by thy brother's blood." At times the situation is such that there is nothing left to do but to protest. This is a precise indication that our task in this situation is to protest. The claim that protest will not affect the situation does not absolve any of the Rabbis, no matter where they are, from their obligation to publicize a clear ruling because: Who knows where we would be if no one were to speak up. Regarding the mitzvah to admonish one's fellow man, the Talmud says, "even one hundred times," meaning, if one unsuccessfully gave rebuke ninety-nine times, one is bound by Jewish law to engage in rebuke a hundredth time, for it could well be that the hundredth time will be decisive. The Rabbi must do his job and protest without fear, and without considering the reaction which may follow his ruling (such as being ignored); especially because this is an ongoing matter, which concerns saving Jewish lives. The obligation not to stand idly by while your brother's blood is being spilled, applies in every situation, even when one is uncertain that his protest will have any effect. Even if the chance that protest will assist is only one thousandth of a chance, or a fraction of that, one is obligated to protest, because this is the law in the Code of Jewish Law. Even if the majority remain silent, and those protesting are in the minority, nevertheless, the minority is taken into consideration. The Rabbis who remain silent cause the greatest damage. This is analagous to the Talmudic law concerning seventy Rabbinic judges who rule for or against a certain side, with one judge "abstaining." In such a case, Jewish Law requires the entire trial to be rendered null and void. The Rebbe's opinion is that were there to be a sustained protest, carried out with the greatest intensity — as the present situation clearly demands — it would eventually succeed, in the near future.

Thank you Izzy Kaplan for forwarding the material of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. 

Izzy Kaplan

416 256 2858

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Pruzbul: Letter to Chabad

bs"d
Re: Pruzbul:  A Rabbinic Takana (decree) that allows the Beis Din (A Rabbinic court) to collect debts during the Shemittah year.

 

 

Note: Mention of Rabbinic Leaders in this comment do not necessarily include Chabad Rabbanim who follow the Rebbe's leadership not to give away Eretz Yisroel or other Rabbanim that have come out against any territorial concessions.   To Chabad Chasidim: Perhaps the time has come to move one step further and question whether Pruzbul is the ideal way to observe Shemittah's Kesafim.    Each of our souls were at Sinai and I believe the Rebbe would encourage each and every Jew to be Goleh Amukos, and be Mechadesh Chidushim regarding the Mitzvah of Shemittah which has not been properly observed for thousands of years.  Torah is not static and I doubt the Rebbe would want his Chasidim to remain static with their learning basing everything on just what the Rebbe wrote and not on Torah.  The Rebbe would want to be the conduit for the Study of Torah and not a replacement.

 

Moshe Rabbeinu knew he was not entering the Land.  So he instructed the Nation how to survive without him specifically, in the Land of Israel.   The entire book Devarim  (Deuteronomy) are Mitzvoth that pertain to the Land. It's apparent that the way we are presently observing these commandments are not working.   G-d is true to keep His promises.  Obviously our observance is at fault and not G-d's ability to fulfill His end of His Promise, that of granting us blessings.   I would not  put the blame on the secular or even observant Jews who are not following Shemittah according to halacha.  I would instead focus on the halacha of today as being problematic.  Where is the spirit of Shabbos of sharing and Meain Olam Haba regarding Shemittah observance?  Halachic solutions of today include buying from those that wish to destroy us empowering our enemies and/or selling the Land to the Non Jew.  There are no vegetables to be had from Eretz Yisroel because of Issur of Sfichin (also a Rabbinic addition).  Food is more expensive than before or simply not available.  Where is the year of eating as the Torah describes?  Shemittah is a year of openhandedness.  Today we retrieve our loans being the messenger of the Beis Din. Rather than looking elsewhere let's instead look inward.  G-d is capable of fighting off our enemies... all of them.  I believe that without the help of Hashem, we are unable, no matter how we try, to effectively convince the world and ourselves of the dangers facing us even when they are so obvious, let alone act effectively to combat these threats.  Proof of this is the Silence of our Rabbinic Leaders. They really can't believe that there are threats against our very existence and continue to remain silent to the desecration of Har Habayis and the establishment of a Palestinian State. If we truly kept Shemittah the correct way the Rabbanim would not be so timid.  They would say that the Land belongs to G-d and we are the caretakers.  We kept Shemittah properly.  Is the "peaceful" Palestinian State planning on keeping Shemittah?  Siata Dishmaya (Help from the Above)  will come when it is truly earned.  G-d can save us from these dangers but we in turn  have to  try to the best of our ability to yearn and ACT to keep the Torah commandments such as release of loans and partying in the Shemittah year from fruits of the Land that have Kedushat Shviis without losing track of our ultimate objective.  Our goal is to achieve the Spirit of Shabbath through keeping the halachos of Shemittah.  

 

Pruzbul was instituted by Hillel after Churban Bayis Sheni in response to  weakness in spirit and in Emuna.  In fact Shemittah possibly was never really observed properly. 70 years between Churban Bayis Rishon and Churban Bayis Sheni represent 70 years of Shemittah not kept properly. So not keeping Shemittah properly goes pretty far back.  Before even Bayis Rishon.  Given the catastrophic dangers we are facing today and being in Ikvese De'meshicha, Moshiach times,  let us contemplate what Shemitta year would be like w/o Pruzbul. Once we agree that keeping Torah properly is the key, and focus on all the Mitzvoth read at Hakhel, from Sefer Devarim,(Deuteronomy) perhaps we will be on our way towards earning G-d's favor and sweetening of Judgement.  A catastrophic episode creates chaos and havoc where everyone is forced to share what they have.  Examples are the experiences following the expulsion of Gush Katif, the War in Lebanon and Hurricane Katrina.  If releasing of debts creates chaos, and a communal lifestyle, it also reaches the objective of recognizing what we have comes from the Above.  Everything that we receive is H-ly and from Hashem, and has the status of Kedushat Sheviis. It is my hope and prayer that as a result of this positive Shemittah learning experience we will not need the lessons learned from a catastrophic episode which are basically similar lessons learned but in an extremely painful way.

 

Please visit http://shemitttahrediscovered.blogspot.com

 

 

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Torah observance is the Key to Peace and Prosperity

bs"d

 

It has been suggested to us to lobby Christian Leaders such as Dick Hellman to promote our message on Capital Hill.  Unfortunately, people like Dick Hellman put the Jews to shame because he is not afraid to quote the Torah and Biblical passages.  The same goes for Hagee.  However, we who davan and read the Torah weekly find it difficult to talk about our obligations to keep the Mitzvoth of the Torah and that the Land of Israel is required in  order to do so.  The religious "Torah Community" seem to act as if Eretz Yisroel is not essential to truly be an observant Jew.  (I am not addressing the nonobservant community at the moment but to their credit many have put an emphasis on Eretz Yisroel and called it Zionism).   We wish to raise awareness that complete Torah observance can only be with Eretz Yisroel and we have put blinders on our eyes and continue to act otherwise.  That is what is bringing the security threats against us and the entire world.   Antisemitism comes from a failure on our part to raise the greatness of G-d's Name.  (look at the root of the word antisemitism - anti Shem) It comes from the chillul Hashem (void of G-d's Name) that comes from our failure to claim Eretz Yisroel as our inheritance and our obligations to keep the Mitvoth.  (We are Bnei Brith,  the people of the Covenant. The Covenant between G-d and the Jewish people is that we keep the commandments and G-d brings us blessings) The Torah specifically singles out the observance of the Mitzvah of Shemittah as one that will bring security.  If there was truly a yearning and desire to keep the Mitzva (w/o loopholes like buying from the Arabs or selling the Land or Pruzbul, a loophole for releasing debts) we would simply say that the Land belongs to G-d and that we are the only legitimate caretakers since we observe the commandments such as shemitta.   ( I have yet to hear Shas and UTJ who claim to be Torah observant use this Torah Statement.)  When we observe Torah and Mitzvoth in Eretz Yisroel, this will bring blessings to Am Yisroel and to the entire world.  Our message is to claim Eretz Yisroel as ours based on the Torah and not based on the threats facing us.  Failure to observe the Torah brings on negative consequences such as terror threats.  Even if a democratic peace loving people  were to be our neighbors are they required to keep Shemittah?  The time has come to focus on the real root of our problem which is failure to properly observe the Mitzvoth and to reexamine the Halachic way our Torah Leaders have advised us to keep the Mitzvoth mentioned in Sefer Devarim.  Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy) is Moshe's last message to the Nation of Israel before entering the Land of Israel.  Moshe Rabbeinu knew he was not entering the Land.  So he instructed the Nation how to survive without him specifically in the Land of Israel.   The entire book Devarim  (Deuteronomy) are Mitzvoth that pertain to the Land. It's apparent that the way we are presently observing these commandments are not working.   G-d is true to keep His promises.  Obviously our observance is at fault and not G-d's ability to fulfill His end of our agreement that of granting us blessings.   Instead of looking inward we put all the blame on outside forces.  G-d is capable of fighting them all off.  I believe that we alone are unable, no matter how we try, to effectively convince the world and ourselves of the dangers facing us and act effectively to combat these threats.  It has to be truly earned.  G-d can save us from these dangers but we in turn  have to  try to the best of our ability to yearn and act to keep the Torah commandments such as release of loans and partying in the Shemittah year as  our main concern.   Once we agree that keeping Torah properly is the key, and focus on all the Mitzvoth read at Hakhel from Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy) after the Shemittah year, the Christian world including Hellman and Hagee will have an easier time to convince Congress to act.   We will be a Mamlechet Kohanim VeGoy Kadosh.  Instead of a despised people, we will be a people that the entire world will wish to emulate.

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Re: PLEASE RALLY AGAINST MIDEAST "PEACE" CONFERENCE!

In a message dated 10/7/2007 1:28:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Shainsha writes:

To whom it may concern,
 
It should be evident by now to all lovers of Israel that so-called peace conferences are detrimental to the health of the Jewish people.  The major Jewish organizations were silent on Oslo, silent on the agreement to strangle the Jews of Hebron, and silent on the expulsion of the 9000 residents of Gush Katif; if we continue to remain silent, we will have no Eretz Yisroel, chalilah, to speak up for in the future.
 
We are sleeping while the Har Ha Bayit is being trashed; we slept through the disastrous agreements mentioned above.  Can we afford to remain asleep any longer?
 
Jeanette Goldsmith
NY 
 

To the Readers of my List, amv"sh

 

Jeannette Goldsmith has asked major Jewish Organizations to end the Silence in the face of tragic forces out to destroy Eretz Yisroel   and Am Yisroel and all that we hold dear.

 

Many of you argue but organizations such as Young Israel and Manhigut and others have been outspoken.  The answer to your comments is that unfortunately we are all linked together by our Collective Silence. There is a universal perception of a Collective Jewish Silence even when individual organizations or individuals do speak up.  It is not enough for Young Israel  or Manhigut  or Temple Insitute or Hebron.org or Lehavdil myself  etc. to be outspoken as individual organizations or individuals.  We need to create a louder voice. A Joint voice.  A United Voice. We, (CAJL) have initiated  to collect statements by all the like minded organizations such as Young Israel, Iggud Harabonnim, Hebron, Itamar, Kever Rochel, Manhigut Yehudit, National Union, Temple Institute, Root and Branch etc. etc. etc. to create a LOUD VOICE.  Whether this is a CAJL initiative or an initiative by any other organization or individual activist, it doesn't matter.  This initiative in necessary for our collective survival.  Once WE unite in OUR Torah true message, the chances of influencing organizations such as OU, Agudas Yisroel and even Conference of Presidents is greater.  The Evangelical Christian Right have already proclaimed the right of Jewish Sovereignty in the Land of Israel.   A  strong Jewish Voice combined with a strong Christian Voice will have a strong impact on White House  decisions and government policies.  In the absence of a United Statement based on Torah there is a perception that the majority of Jews are in agreement with the message of the United States of America which is that a Palestinian State is the way to "peace". 

 

The Message of our enemies have been defined and broadcast LOUD  and CLEAR.  Their powerful voice proclaims that  Israel and the Nation of Israel are occupiers.  The deafening void in the  Authentic Jewish Voice has created an environment that breeds the  Mideast "Peace" Conference.  

 

Individuals such as myself  have taken up the challenge to attempt to unite all  believers in the Torah to state our fundamental Belief in a LOUD  VOICE.  But our attempts is being met with fierce resistance. Even you,  our closest allies and friends are resistant to state the obvious in a joint venture. Who will state it first you ask? Why this resistance to this joint venture? Beats me.   I have no idea.  Almost each and every one pf upi including Chareidi Rabbanim say that these points are fundamental to Torah. Perhaps there is an attitude of resignation.  People  say that a public Statement won't make a difference.  Nobody is listening to what I or you say or even what we  collectively say. It doesn't matter what we say.

 

Could you imagine if each voter would say that their vote doesn't make a difference and therefore what's the point of voting?  I would be thrilled if others recognize the need for such an initiative and take it as their own private initiative.  If only like minded people and organizations would be willing to join in a common message,  we have a fighting chance. Our only chance.

 

Defining our Authentic Jewish Message?

 

 There is One G-d.  There is One Torah. The Land belongs to G-d.  The Entire World was created by G-d.  G-d has assigned the seed of Abraham. Issac and Jacob with the Biblical Mandate to be the only legitimate caretakers of the Land of Israel and with obligations to keep the Biblical Commandments associated with the Land. These givens based on the Torah are mutually exclusive with the RoadMap Plan of the Bush Administration and it's spokesperson Condeleeza Rice. One cannot truly believe these statements and work towards the establishment of a Palestinian State.

 

The Jewish position is that territorial concessions deny the purpose of the Nation of Israel and the Land of Israel and the Will of the Creator of the world.  Territorial Concessions destroys any chance of bringing Blessings to the World.  In addition, we proclaim that  Temple Mount is central,  fundamental and integral to the Land of Israel, and  the Jewish Religion.

 

Temple Service is exclusive for the Priests of Israel who are the seed of Aharon and Pinchas from the Tribe of Levi . This is not a racist  concept.  This is Torah.  No foreigners including majority of Jews are allowed into designated  areas of Temple Mount.  The Nation of Israel including righteous converts are the inheritors of the Land of Israel. This is not a racist idea.  It is fundamental to Torah.  This comes in conjunction with the underlying agreement that the Nation of Israel are obligated to keep the commandments in the Torah while all other Nations are obligated with the 7 Laws of Noach and accept Jewish Sovereignty in Israel as not only legitimate but as ideal.. 

 

PLEASE RALLY AGAINST MIDEAST "PEACE" CONFERENCE.  How can this be accomplished? We wish to collect too many to count statements claiming our legitimate rights to the Land of Israel and our opposition to any discussion of a foreign entity within the Boundaries of Eretz Yisroel.  We wish to lobby all believers in the Torah to do the same. We wish to form  an AGUDAH Achas LeAsos Retzon Avinu Shabashamiyim, (a single Unit to effectively counter the force out there to destroy the Nation of Israel, the Torah and the People of Israel). Unity, it can't hurt.  What do we have to lose??????   Please send your statements to faigerayzel@aol.com or Shmuelkoenig@verizon.net.  If you agree with this initiative, simply adopt it as your own.  Hijack the idea.  Ask your list to send their statements to you and then collectively we'll try to coordinate merging all of our statements. The more Statements claiming Eretz Yisroel by individuals or Rabbanim or Organizations, the better.  You, members on my list, not only believe such Biblical statements as mentioned above,  but are living examples of what you believe. Write down what is obvious and basic to you and your faith.  Next ask your fellow Jew wherever they reside,  to do the same and to take an action that shows that their prayers are not simply Lip Service.Ask them to show that they believe that learning Torah is for the sake of keeping Torah and not merely as a spiritual and philosophical exercise. In order to observe Torah one needs the physical Land.  There is no getting around this fundamental truth whether or not one physically lives in Eretz Yisroel or the Diaspora. In order to create light one needs a candle or a lamp.  The all encompassing light of Torah requires the Land of Israel .  The Torah is not given to angels.  Angels wanted the Torah but Moshe asked the angels.  Do you conduct business?  Do you have parents? The Torah is meant to be observed on a material world, on Earth, in the Land of Israel and by human beings. Torah can not be fully observed in the desert, and not even in a Bais Medrash of Lakewood.  We are imperfect humans and we need the Torah as our guide and we need material objects such as the Land of Israel in order to keep the Commandments.

 

This will be posted on http://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com

 

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Simchat Beit Hashoeva is Forbidden - Signs of Times in Yerushalyim

bs"d

This post is a response to the following post regarding latest Hareidi signs posted in Yerushalayim.

http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2007/09/signs-of-times.html

It's a revealing post! Unfortunately those that add to the Torah will eventually detract from the Torah.

What did Am Yisroel (Nation of Israel) do at Hakhel (Communal gathering) following the Shmitta(Sabbatical) year? The Torah says to gather men, women and children. And being a mother, I know it can get quite difficult to handle all the little ones by oneself. Especially with a large family, one needs a spouse to help. Hakhel( Hakhel Gathering) must have been a family outing. A mixed event. So the producers of your sign may argue but they were on a much higher madrega (level) than us in our generation. Our answer is that isn't our Torah binding for each and every generation. Isn't G-d aware of our humanity and human failings and even so, gave this commandment? How can they (sponsors of the sign) add a geder (a rabbinic ruling acting like a fence) that pertains to "tzniut"(modesty), which overrides a d'orayta?(A Biblical commandment) I suppose they are more frum("religious) than the Eybeshtir (G-d).

How about the Mitzvath Asei (positive commandment) of Vesamachta Bechagecha Vehayiso Ach Sameach (Being Especially Happy on the Holiday of Succoth)? and how about all the Mitzvoth D'orayta (Biblical Commandments) of Gezel (theft) and all the Gemorras (portions of the Talmud) related to property ownership such as Baba Metzia and Baba Batra and not say a word when the property of the people of Gush Katif were mamesh (actually) destroyed and residents of Gush Katif, around 10,000 people were uprooted from their homes and left homeless with no means of Parnassa (earning a living)? Where where their signs then????? Not to mention the countless MItzvoth D'orayta (Biblical commandments) regarding, Ger (Convert) Yasom (Orpahns) and Almona (Widows) that were affected, not to mention the desecration of graves who were exhumed by this terrible expulsion decree etc. etc. But I suppose Tzniyut (modesty) for them overrides all these mitzvoth D'orayta (Biblical Commandments) as well! In fact, where in the Torah does it say one must be "Tzniyut" (modest) as per their interpretations of what Tzniyut entails?

I am sorry to say but following blindly is being over (violating) the Mitzvah D'Orayta (Biblical Commandment) of Lo Yehiyeh Lachem Elokim Acharim Al Panei (Thou shalt have no other G-ds before my face)! Since when does a Rabbinic ruling override Biblical Commandments?

My question is how come we are so afraid to expose the Gedoilim (Great Rabbinic Leaders, also translated as excrement for Yiddish speaking children) i.e. the "Halachos" (Rabbinic Law) that are so clearly direct violation of the Torah (Biblical Law).

True such exposure will create chaos in the frum velt (Among very "religious Jews"). When Chas Vechalila (it should be null and void) the Holocaust happened, I believe Jews, all different types, were herded into the ghetto and even cattle cars with no consideration of Tzniut. Of course, the Germans did oblige with Tzniut and separated the men from the women in the death camps. How very frum and tzniusdik!

The terror threats that face us today are very real. Rebbetzin Jungreiss and many others see our times as 1938 Nazi Germany. Perhaps the same Hareidim that made the internet off limits also have no access to newspapers or any kind of news that might show them Current Events.

In my opinion, the dangers facing us are a direct consequence of Am Yisroel rejecting our Covenant with Hashem which is that we are promised Eretz Yisroel (the Land of Israel) on condition that we observe the mitzvoth (commandments) of the Torah in Eretz Yisroel. Yet when we hear of talk of a 2 State Solution and are Silent and when we hear of them talk of giving away Har Habayit and we are Silent then it shows that all of our Tefillos (prayers) were simply Lip Service and all of our Learning Torah was similar to the Learning of Torah of the Miraglim (the Spies) in the Desert. In spite of the Spies superior knowledge of the Torah, it was not to keep Hashem's word that motivated the Spies, but rather to discourage the Nation from entering Eretz Yisroel (the Land of Israel) and from keeping the Torah in Eretz Yisroel. For this, the Miraglim (the Spies) as well as the Nation of Israel were punished severely.

Here is our opportunity, the test of our Generation, not to repeat these tragic errors of the original sin of Lashon Hara. (Evil Talk regarding the Land of Israel)

We shall overcome!

{P.S. I too am a product of a solid Bais Yaakov (religious) education and we send our kids to similar type Yeshivas. Boy, were we turned off when they focused on the lengths of our skirts. B"h (Thank G-d) they didn't too often. In fact, I happened to have had an excellent education. Signs of this kind in Jerusalem, promoting a perverted kind of education in the name of modesty, targeting traditional wonderful Succoth celebrations will eventually be rejected by those that they educate. It's just a matter of time. We are forbidden to have intermediaries between ourselves and Hashem and make a big mistake if we ignore our Holy Torah..

The "Ikveta deMashicha" is a trying time, and not all of the Sages were eager to experience it. Yet Rav Yosef showed great spiritual fortitude, saying, "Let the Messiah come, and may I merit to sit in the shadow of his donkey's dung" [Sanhedrin 98b].

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