Monday, February 29, 2016

Are you allowed to advertise on a frum blog or website that has or allows lashon Hora

On the weekly Headlines radio show the following question was asked by Mr. David Lichtenstein to Rav Moshe shternbuch are you allowed to advertise on websites such as Olam Hayeshivos and chadrei chardorim sites that have information  that  spread and publicize lashon hora or sites that allow comments with Lashon Hora. By advertising you create momentum and help the ovrei  aveira are you allowed to do it? Rav Shternbach answers they shouldn't do it they are helping people do an aveira. You are helping people speak lashon Hora. Listen HERE minute 29:00

Saturday, February 27, 2016

BD""H Hagaon Harav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Ponevezh

Hamodia YERUSHALAYIM - The Torah world was plunged into mourning Motzoei Shabbos upon learning of the petirah of Hagaon Harav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz, zt”l, Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivas Ponevezh and Yeshivas Kamenitz.

The Rosh Yeshivah was 83 at his petirah. The Rosh Yeshivah was hospitalized over the last months in the Tel Hashomer hospital, where he was niftar Shabbos morning, in the presence of family members and talmidim.

The name of the Rosh Yeshivah, Harav Chaim Shlomo ben Tzeita Leah, was on the lips of his many talmidim ever since he was hospitalized due to hemorrhaging. At times, it seemed as if his condition was improving, but at the end of the week, his condition took a turn for the worse, and he was niftar on Shabbos.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Agudath Israel of America’s National Board of Trustees Leadership Mission to Washington

Agudath Israel of America’s National Board of Trustees Leadership Mission to Washington, DC, took place this week Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24, 2016. Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman of Agudah Israel’s Board of Trustees served as Mission Chair. The event marked the 55th anniversary of Rabbi Moshe Sherer’s historic testimony at congressional hearings advocating for yeshiva day schools. The event began with dinner Tuesday evening in the Mansfield Room in the U.S. Capitol. Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), engaged with the members of the Board of Trustees. The messages focused on a variety of issues including Homeland Security, School Choice, Religious Freedom, Defense of Israel, and the rise of Global Anti-Semitism. The organization’s federal agenda can be viewed or downloaded here. A Board of Trustees meeting followed. Hamodia.com

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Rubashkin State Labor Case Expunged

Yated.com -In a remarkable but unreported event in an Iowa courthouse a few weeks ago, a judge expunged from the court record Sholom Rubashkin’s entire labor case, including all documents and trial proceedings connected with “The State of Iowa vs. Sholom M. Rubashkin.”

The judge was implementing a new state law that grants a former defendant who was found innocent at trial, or for whom all charges were dropped or dismissed, full erasure of his criminal record. Such an act signals recognition that the case was without foundation, should not be used in any way against the former accused and essentially, should never have been brought.

It’s the closest thing to an apology one can expect from the government for putting someone through the financial and psychological ordeal of a criminal prosecution.

Oy vey iz Mir !

The shiur klali in one of the largest Lithuanian yeshivot in Israel ( 6,000 students! ) Will henceforth be in Ivrit and not Yiddish. This gradual break with a long tradition is mainly due to the increasing lack of Yiddish-speaking students, which convinced the leaders of the Mir yeshiva to take the ivrit as "official language" .

This change was initiated after the death of  , Rabbi Rephael Shmulevitz zatsal . His son, appointed in his place decided to break the tradition of Yiddish in the weekly shiur he gives. A week later , Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel ,  the current rosh yeshiva  also abandoned Yiddish for ivrit .
The leaders of the yeshiva explained that one of the major goals of this historic change will allow even more students can attend classes

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A Letter in 1982 asking to Support Lakewood yeshiva

Letter from Rabbi Joseph Soloveichick

Agudah's project LEARN at white house discussion

AGUDATH ISRAEL’S PROJECT LEARN INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE FOR CONVERSATION ON DISABILITIES IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

On February 18, 2016, Mrs. Leah Steinberg, Director of Project LEARN, the Special Education Affairs Division of Agudath Israel of America, participated in an exclusive discussion group at the White House on the potential for growth in disability awareness and inclusion. What transpired was a spirited conversation on the Jewish community’s need to include their disabled members, and on areas that need improvement.

Mrs. Steinberg said, “I’m proud that I could represent Agudath Israel’s Project LEARN at the White House, and I am hopeful that this opened the door for more top level dialogues that will translate into true inclusiveness in every area of our community. In the conversation, the group agreed that it should become natural for people with disabilities to be accommodated within the community; it should not be seen as a chesed project, but as a matter of course. In recent years, our community has taken that message to heart. While there is still room for improvement, attending this event made me proud of the strides taken for the disabled in the Orthodox Jewish community.”

Friday, February 19, 2016

Baruch Dayan Emes; Rebbetzin Chaya Bluma Hellman A’H

Rebbetzin Chaya Bluma Hellman A’H, wife of Harav Uri Hellman, z”l, the longtime Menahel of Bais Yaakov High School, and mother of yblc”h Reb Moshe Hellman, noted askan and President of Ohel, was niftar on Thursday. The levaya took place on Friday at 9:30am, at Bais Yaakov High School at 15th Avenue and 45th Street in Boro Park. Kevura will be in Eretz Yisrael. shiva at 1379 45th St Apt 2B
bet 13th Ave & 14th Ave. Article below  from Matzav.com

Rebbetzin Hellman embodied the history of Bais Yaakov, a mesorah that started with Sarah Schenirer and continues today, carried on by people like her, a true icon and a link to a generation gone by.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

United Kiruv giving day

GIVING FOR OUTREACH                                 DONATE  HERE
1DaytoSay: Thank you to Kiruv
Welcome! For these 24 hours, thousands of proud Jewish people are uniting to bring record awareness, support and funding to America's vital Kiruv programs.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Rav Chaim Kanievsky on bus tragedy

Rav Chaim Kanievsky was asked about the horrific bus accident that killed 6 Yidden r"l. Rav Chananya Cholak  sin an interview on the kol chai  radio  said in the name of  Rav Chaim that Mashiach is on the way. He asked  Rav Chaim about the many recent tragedies taking place, to which Rav Chaim responded mashiach is not only on the way he is at the doorstep.
חנניה צ'ולק ללביא ב'קול חי': הייתי אצל מרן הגר"ח קניבסקי ואמר לי ש"המשיח בדרך", שאלתי אותו הרב "אבל מה יהיה כ"כ הרבה אסונות" והרב ענה לי "המשיח כבר לא רק בדרך אלא בפתח ממש"

Agudath Israel Asks High Court to Review Major Religious Liberty Case

In an important new case, Agudath Israel of America has submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the High Court to review and reverse a ruling by a U.S. Court of Appeals severely restricting religious liberty freedoms.

The case, Stormans v. Wiesman, involves the State of Washington's insistence that a pharmacy sell drugs designed to destroy fetal life, despite the pharmacy owners' sincere beliefs that selling such drugs would violate their religion. The evidence in the case showed that Washington permitted other pharmacies not to carry such drugs for a variety of non-religious reasons. However, if the pharmacy's refusal to stock such drugs was religiously motivated, state officials would penalize the pharmacy for its refusal. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Washington was within its rights to override the pharmacy owners religious practice.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Tragedy on Mehadrin Bus 402, Six Killed in Truck Collision R"L

Hamodia- Klal Yisrael was plunged into shock and grief on Sunday evening as news of a horrific highway  -accident with multiple deaths and injuries, including several children, suddenly filled the headlines.

Six people were killed and another ten others injured on early Sunday evening when an Egged “mehadrin” bus en route from Yerushalayim to Bnei Brak collided with a truck parked in its path, according to initial reports.

The family of one of the seriously injured, a woman in her twenties, asked the public to daven for Sara bat Dafna.

Dozens of Hatzala and Zaka units from the Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh branches were dispatched to the scene, along with police and ambulances.

“The bus collided with a truck transporting marble plates, which was parked on the side of the road. A part of the bus got ripped in two. People were thrown into the air while the bus was moving,” said ZAKA spokesman Motti Burkchin.

A Time - Shas a thon live

Friday, February 12, 2016

Harav Shmuel Neiman zt”l.

Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim of Queens mourned the passing of its long-time mashgiach and maggid shiur, Harav Shmuel Neiman zt”l. He joined the yeshivah in 1946, and was one of the early talimdim of Harav Henoch Leibowitz zt”l. In 1960, he assumed the position of mashgiach and began delivering a daily Gemara shiur. He is remembered as a master mechanach who built up generations of bnei Torah. (Hamodia)

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Not the online voice of Torah Jewry

Some may have wondered what is going on over at Matzav.com. The website that calls itself "The online voice of Torah Jewry". Recent articles and content published would not fall under the category of Torah Jewry. Feeling competition from other news sites that post anything to get hits such as Simchaspot and Onlysimchas, the editors have lowered the bar and its decline is obvious. Pictures of women now appear daily, they never published them previously, in fact a news article about Condoleezza Rice former Secretary of state had a photo of  rice as in the food that we eat. Following the Superbowl there was a article of the top Superbowl ads and another nonsense article about OJ Simpson and other sports related or tabloid front page news.  In an earlier post here we addressed the double standard in the frum media, still there should be standards online too.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Passing of Rabbi Yisroel Belsky, 78, Leaves Deep Void in World of Kosher

 The passing of Rabbi Yisroel Belsky at the age of 78 last week left a deep void in the world of kosher, as was demonstrated by the outpouring of grief from diverse circles in kashrus. Tens of thousands of people attended his funerals in Brooklyn and Jerusalem. He served as the Rosh Yeshiva (dean) of Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn. “Rabbi Belsky was an irreplaceable man,” said Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of the OU Kosher. Rabbi Belsky, a brilliant Torah scholar, fulfilled many important functions within the Orthodox Jewish world but perhaps none as central as in the world of kosher. In an interview with Kosher Today, Rabbi Moshe Elefant COO of the Orthodox Union Kashrus Division, said that Rabbi Belsky’s “incredible knowledge extended well beyond Jewish law (halacha).” He added: “In great measure, we will be guided in the future with the thousands of halachic papers he wrote on kashrus issues.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Rebbetzin Leah Kagen, a”h

(Hamodia) The Jewish community of Denver deeply mourns the petirah of Rebbetzin Leah Kagan, wife of, ybl”c, Harav Yisroel Meir Kagan, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Toras Chaim, and daughter of Harav Shmuel Ehrenfeld, zt”l, Mattersdorfer Rav. With her deeply rooted ahavas haTorah and ahavas chessed, the Rebbetzin played a key role in building the yeshivah, as well as the city’s kehillah. She was 83.

The Rebbetzin was born in 1933 in the Austrian town of Mattersdorf, where her father served as Rav. Her mother, Rebbetzin Rochel, a”h, was also a member of the Ehrenfeld family, who are direct descendants ofthe Chasam Sofer and Harav Akiva Eiger, zt”l. The Rebbetzin managed to meld an unassuming manner with a regal presence — an unmistakable inheritance from the noble home in which she was raised.

Shortly after the Anschluss, the Ehrenfelds fled Austria and emigrated to the United States. They settled on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where the Mattersdorfer Rav quickly set about establishing Yeshiva Chasan Sofer. Young Leah, together with her mother and siblings, worked tirelessly to help ensure the sustainability of what was then a fledgling mosad.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Jewish Community Mourns David Wichs, z”l

Hamodia-The New York Jewish community was shocked and saddened by the tragic petirah of David Wichs, z”l, 38, who was killed in a crane collapse in lower Manhattan on Friday morning. At his levayah, held on Sunday afternoon, he was remembered for his brilliant mind and giving heart.

“This is understandably unbearably painful for the family and all who love David,” Rabbi Elie Weinstock, Rabbi of Kehillath Jeshurun, where Mr. Wichs and his wife were members, told Hamodia. “David was a genuinely religious and most positive person who made an impact and impression on everyone — everyone — he encountered: family, friends, colleagues, strangers.”

He went on to describe the niftar as someone with “a lot of love and positive energy who was generous and thought of others always before himself.”

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Good bye and Good riddance

To the delight of many the website FM known as failed mashiach or failed messiah will no longer be active. After 12 years of spreading every lashon hora and shmutz about frum Jews the founder has stated he is moving on to work on anti poverty issues. The portrayal of orthodox Jews and chilul hashem that spewed forth from that site was very damaging as many flocked to the site to check out the latest gossip. The many contributors, commenters who sent tips with juicy stories will hopefully realize its time to end this lifestyle and move on to  more productive days. Rumors swirling Shlomo Rechnitz may have played a roll in this
 http://www.onlysimchas.com/news/25874/heavy-speculation-that-shlomo-yehuda-rechnitz-involved-in-closing-of-failed-messiah-blog

Monday, February 1, 2016

A Devastating Blow To Torah Judaism

Hamodia Editorial
 The decision by the Israeli government to establish a mixed-gender, “pluralistic” prayer space at the Kosel handed an unprecedented victory to the Reform and Conservative movements, and dealt Torah Jewry a devastating blow.

Let us not delude ourselves. This battle was never about individuals, but about the sanctity of the holiest place on earth, and by extension about the very soul of our people.

Every individual born of a Jewish mother, or who underwent a halachic conversion, is a bona-fide Jew, and every effort must be made to bring all Jews closer to Hashem and His Torah. But at the same time, it is imperative that it is recognized that the practices and beliefs of the Reform and Conservatives movements are the antithesis of Torah Judaism.

We adhere to a Torah given to us by our Creator on Har Sinai, and therefore the precepts we live by are non-negotiable. Their religion, l’havdil, is a set of beliefs drafted by mortals and continually adapted to suit their comfort level.

Video: Shidduch crisis by the numbers