Volozhin Yeshiva. Comparing R' Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) and R' Chaim Soloveitchik. Sukkot in Volozhin. Descriptions of Some of the Students and Their Experiences. Graetz. R' Meir Bar-Ilan. - May 6, 2024 - Monty Michael Nussbaum, ז"ל. Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva: The Postcards. Maharam Shapiro and Ponevezher Rav visit a wealthy Jew in NY. Comparing Netziv to the Rav and Rav Aharon Kotler. Netztiv's shiurim to the general public: What they were like. His explanation of Bereishit being called Sefer Hayashar. How the IDF has made it possible for Torah observant soldiers to feel comfortable. Lack of Chassidic-like joy in Volozhin except for during Sukkot. The pale wasted wealthy student's hidden library including Graetz's history. The Lakewood restaurant. Netziv felt publishing a journal might lead to apikorsut. R' Yitzchak Nissenbaum, darshan of Warsaw worked with R' Shmuel Mohliver and Hibbat Tzion. Minsk monument. R' Nissenbaum's process of entry as a new student into Volozhin. The differing schedule and nature of the shiurim of R' Chaim Soloveitchik compared to Netziv. R' Meir Bar-Ilan. The Rav's mother and the matzot. Netziv and the student who shaved with a razor. Other stories about Netziv. A key source is ישיבות ליטא פרקי זכרונות by עמנואל אטקס, שלמה טיקוצ'ינסקי

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 17:190: How Should We Interact With, Live With or Not Live With, and Try to Succeed in Influencing Non-Observant Jews? - May 5, 2024 - Addressing the Rav in 3rd person – correction to the story. Stephen S. Bressler was devoted to Aish Hatorah, he was a master chef and more. Mishneh Halachot 17:190: Do not maledict Jewish רשעים. The Rav on Reform Jews. Barton's candies problem on Pesach. R' Menashe on his worrying about being misunderstood. Rambam Hilkhot De'ot 6:1: Keep away from resha'im even if one must move to the desert to do this. Shabbat 55a and Ezekiel 9:4: The righteous must rebuke and try to influence resha'im but then not live with them as Rambam says. Who is and who is not a בעל תשובה? Hoshea was taught אסור להלשין reshai'm לקב"ה, to God or ללמד קטגוריה on them. This applies to individuals and also the entire nation. Hoshea was taught by God he must defend them. This Is My God by Herman Wouk. October 7th massacre. Lapid is right, Zionism is in fact Messianic. Belief in משיח led to its success. Being positive toward non-observant Jews is what succeeds. Examples of this happening, including in recent decades.

Special Shiur: History of BMT and the Horwitz Family - Apr 8, 2024 - Video of this Shiur on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QMwVrKJa13w

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 9:216: May or Should One Institute Takanot Against Jews Who Are Not Sufficiently Observant? In General, How Should We Relate to Less Observant Jews in Modern Times? Long Term Consequences are Crucial. - Apr 7, 2024 - R' Klein's lady editor. R' Moshe: Son must obey father & not go to yeshiva he preferred. London student forbidden to attend BMT came back to observance and Torah. Student whom R' Elchanan told not to attend YC is identified. Should one institute תקנות discriminating against non-observant Jews? What results in the future from such a takanah may be bad. Chatam Sofer, R' Hirsch & Austritt 1876, Würzburger Rav, Netziv, & Rav Soloveitchik dealt with this issue. Chazon Ish on 26a ע"ז. Gentile shepherds & thieves, should not be saved from death. They destroy society. Also execute מינים ומומרים. Rambam, Mamrim 3:2: agrees but only for the original apikorus, not descendants who should be brought back. Golda Meir in Moscow. Chazon Ish: Yoreh Deah, שחיטה ,2:16 states only if השגחה גלויה exists may an apikorus be eliminated. A Life Apart. The greatest rabbis in 1880s, 1940s, & today, made wrong decisions. Use love and inspiration for Torah. Examples of children of non-observant who years later became observant. Sotah 46b & מלכים ב 2:18. Elisha curses 42 children who mocked him & are then killed by bears. Justification is he saw that they & all their descendants were completely non-religious.

Volozhin Yeshiva: R' Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) is Now Dominant. Descriptions of Some of the Students. What Made Volozhin Special for Them. Writing Biographies. Graetz. Historical Development of Talmud - Apr 1, 2024 - Shabbtai Tzvi, his effect on Sephardim, R' Emden vs. R' Eybeschutz, Cleves get & all of the above, their impact on rise of Reform Judaism. Israeli Post office. R' Friedman regretted contributing to responsum permitting driving on Shabbat. How birth of Conservative Judaism could've been prevented. Netziv is now dominant. His appreciation for haskalah, Zionism, & other areas, but never inside the yeshiva. Why no biographies were written until the 1800s. Solomon Judah Loeb Rapoport wrote biographies. Barbara Streisand. Hesped for R' Aharon Lichtenstein. ישיבות ליטא פרקי זכרונות by עמנואל אטקס, שלמה טיקוצ'ינסקי Rose Lieberman and the 6th Rebbe. The 400 Volozhin students were multi-faceted. Many students appreciated 'History of the Jews,' by Graetz. R' Hirsch did not. The student who was driven away from his wife & child then found solace in Volozhin. The Rav's semikhah. The student who read Graetz and literature at midnight. Individuals who dealt with historical development of the Talmud beginning with 'Darkei ha-Mishnah,' by Zecharias Frankel. The wealthy student's library. R' Melech Schachter's doctoral dissertation. R' Rakeffet's 1972 speech about President of Israel.

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 9:216: May or Should One Institute תקנות in a Shul Against Jews Who Are Not Sufficiently Observant? In General, How Should We Relate to Less Observant Jews and Do We Expel Such Students from Yeshivot? Sabbateans? - Mar 31, 2024 - Chabad visiting soldiers on Purim. R' Elchonon Wasserman's letter to a student: Do not study at Dr. Revel's yeshiva. Mishneh Halachot 9:216. Should one institute תקנות discriminating against non-observant Jews such as no aliyot nor being שליחי צבור? This might drive them away & make them worse. We appreciate less observant Jews who are dedicated to Israel but it's not sufficient. Does civil marriage require a get? This needs a conference of rabbis. Expelling a student for bad behavior. BMT student. The views of חזון איש וחפץ חיים. Rema vs. Taz. Be'er Heitev & Pitchei Teshuvah. Chabad on relating to intermarried couples. Synagogue Council. Sabbateans and Frankists are to be totally banned (no מחלוקת). Austritt & R' Hirsch. Limud in England. Why Shabbtai Tzvi attracted followers. Each situation is unique. Consider children & grandchildren. Zohar, וירא: From Avraham, we learn it is forbidden to pray for destruction of רשעים such as Terach. R' Theodore Friedman debate: Catholic rabbi. Mordecai Kaplan. The Rav on how to treat Conservative & Reform rabbis. R' Klein doesn't decide. Only גדולי הדור can decide on such תקנות. Each case is unique & needs מתינות גדולה וישוב הדעת of Gedolim.

Volozhin Yeshiva: What Was Crucially Important to R' Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) & Therefore What Did He Think Should Not Play Any Role Within the Yeshiva. His Broadness Outside the Yeshiva. Why Did R' Chaim Select Volozhin Instead of Vilna. - Mar 18, 2024 - Daniel Peretz, הי"ד & his family. The Rav & במה מדליקין. R' Dovid Lifshitz & his wife. R' Bezalel Naor & Richard Nyer. R' Kook wearing tefillin all day in Volozhin was not appreciated. Split in Mercaz HaRav over teacher's degree option. Netziv was worldly and appreciated Russian Literature, Zionism, & secular studies, but never inside the yeshiva. He opposed divisions within Jewish community. Learn from חזקיהו המלך & bring everyone into the yeshiva, including phonies. They will be influenced by Torah study. Lakewood now has outreach via Kollelim. Avoid discussion of theological questions. Torah observance first, theological questions will be answered later. Example: Uri Zohar. Arik Einstein and his wife Sima. Alternative view as to only Torah studies in the yeshiva: R' Soloveitchik and R' Aharon Lichtenstein. No ghetto mentality today. Synagogue Council & its closing. Haskalah in E. Europe vs. W. Europe. Why R' Chaim selected city of Volozhin: 1) Sha'agat Aryeh was there. 2) In Vilna he would not be able to be as selective about students. 3) Financial support of students worked better there. R' Dovid Lifshitz' broadness. Refusal to imitate the rabbinic seminaries. R' Salanter.

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 6:158: Son Wants to Transfer to Study in a Different School With a Different Rav (Teacher). Father is Opposed and is Worried in the New School With Fewer But Brilliant Students His Son's Learning Will Suffer Badly - Mar 17, 2024 - R' Karmi Gross & derechaim.com. Megillah 3a: Army&Torah study. שבט לוי ומלחמת מצוה. R' Hutner: NY Times. R' Y. Kamenetsky on child carrying tallit on Shabbat. Shabbos goyim of Kew Gardens Hills. Milking cows on Shabbat. Comparing the Rav to R' Ahron Soloveichik as פוסקים. Mishneh Halakhot 6:158: Son wants to transfer to another Rav he feels will be better for him but his father is opposed. The new teacher was like a מלאך. Mothers especially want their children to live nearby. Examples of students changing teachers. Examples of concept that students should especially study what interests them. Importance of everyone NOT being the same. German Rishonim. Terumat Hadeshen, siman 40: Father is frightened by the idea of his son going to a country where Jews are persecuted: Permitted. No Sephardic girls in מכון גולד ומכללה in 1971. Parents were worried. It's permissible to leave Israel & also one's parents in order to study Torah as יעקב אבינו did. Son wants to leave Young Israel shul & daven elsewhere. ש"ע יו"ד 240:25 permits changing schools. כתובות ע"א: Husband forbids wife to go to בית האבל או לבית המשתה because there is promiscuity. R' Rakeffet's vision. Haaretz article on hostages.

Volozhin Yeshiva: What Was Important to R' Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) and Therefore What Did He Think Should be Important Within the Yeshiva Versus What Should not Play Any Role There. - Mar 11, 2024 - Charedim, IDF & concept of: The land shall spit you out. Chatam Sofer: We do put on tefillin in Israel. BMT reunion planned. Netziv. Beit HaLevi leaves for Slutsk & the yeshiva calms down. The role of R' Refael Shapiro. The yeshiva is safe. The Rav & R' Ahron Soloveichik compared to Netziv & Beit HaLevi. Netziv's attitude toward new external movements such as Haskalah, Zionism, & also toward non-Torah studies. Netziv not pleased with lengthy davening & excessive frumkeit. Only intensive Torah studies inside the yeshiva is where extremism is acceptable. R' Kook not totally fitting in at Volozhin. R' Dovid Lifshitz. Mussar movement. Netziv on shemitah & heter mekhirah. Mixed board of rabbis. Development of Torah in U.S., starting in 1886, leads to creation of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon. Observance and theology of early Conservative rabbis. The Rav, R' Silver, and ban on mixed board of rabbis. Comparison of Enlightenment movement in Germany vs. E. Europe. E. Europe Torah observance post WW I. The importance of reading newspapers for the Netziv. His opposition to splitting up the Torah community as was done in Germany. The Rakeffets experience hunger on Pesach in Yerushalayim.

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 10:308: Minor Daughter Doing Blood Test on Mother on Shabbat. 10:309: A Second Opinion: Is it Permissible to Ask a Second Rav One's Halakhic Question, One That is הלכה למעשה? - Mar 10, 2024 - Charedim and IDF: Both must adapt. Names of son-in-law and father-in-law should (not must) differ. Minor daughter doing blood test on pregnant diabetic mother on Shabbat. חבּורה is issue of כיבוד אב ואם. Shabbat violation only if a minimal quantity of blood is taken. Medical test is not necessarily saving a life. Consider bringing in non-Jewish nurse? NB: Mother wants test. Brisker Rav's position on pikuach nefesh. R' Menashe: Community should arrange for permanent Shabbat goy. Dr. Ephraim Shach & his father: Failure or success? Shabbos goy in Kew Gardens Hills & Bnei Brak. R' Fabian Schonfeld helping a colleague. Mishneh Halachot 10:309: May a Rav forbid his congregants to ask שאלות of the Rav of a different קהילה? Kashering frying pan with a blowtorch? Rema חו"מ:כה: It is permissible to ask another Rav. Chazon Ish on newly discovered manuscripts. Discovery of מאירי. Variant texts. Kuntres HaShakh, יו"ד after section 242: Permissible if you tell 2nd Rav the 1st Rav's opinion. R' Menashe Klein: Permissible. Importance of financially supporting a Talmid Chacham, Brachot 34b. However, stop makhloket. 019 cellphone company uses Druze on Shabbat. Venice. Using minor child to do melakhah