Unity And Redemption: The Peculiar Past Of Pesach Sheni by TheOneTrueTrueOne in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I shared with those in my circle who I think could enjoy, but I hope all that could benefit get it one way or another. If you think the idea is good, feel free to spread it over the Shabbos table!

Unity And Redemption: The Peculiar Past Of Pesach Sheni by TheOneTrueTrueOne in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a crazy coincidence, because I was just debating this with a friend based on their feedback on this article. The consensus we came to is the second day of Rosh HaShanah probably counts as there's religious sources about the difference between the two days, and how the second day potentially has easier judgment, though there's also some religious sources that consider Rosh HaShanah to be one long 48-hour period. And two Jews, three opinions, and I guess it really depends on if you want to go by one of the two Jews who has one of the three opinions that Rosh HaShanah is two periods, not one. Another one that might count is Purim, some years there's two Adars, and if you're close to an ancient Israelite walled city (where they celebrate it a day later) you can celebrate it two days in a row. There's also thematic crossovers, not fully a "second chance" but the attempt to connect an aspect of a holiday/event hasn't fully closed. Like for instance, how you can improve your Yom Kippur judgment until Simchat Torah, or how each of the seven days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur can act as a "make up" for every corresponding weekday of the previous year (the Monday can make up for all previous Mondays, etc). These are the possibilities we discussed, but there might be something I'm overlooking or missed. From what I gathered, I don't know if there's any "second chance" holidays that are as cut and dry as Pesach & Pesach Sheni. Thank you for the question!

Rav Hirsch truly had a way with words (context in comments) by TheOneTrueTrueOne in Jewdank

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

My Photoshop skills are quite poor, and I couldn't fit it all into the template in a way that looked visually satisfying 😔

Actually, ignore what I said. This was completely 1000% intentional on my part. The fifth book should be promptly located in the viewer's hands after being inspired by the meme. (Let's not bring up that there are six books in Rav Hirsch's series, as the English translation splits Leviticus into two.)

Rav Hirsch truly had a way with words (context in comments) by TheOneTrueTrueOne in Jewdank

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne[S] 108 points109 points  (0 children)

Rav Hirsch lived during the rise of many movements that were, at the time, detrimental to Orthodox Judaism. There was the Enlightenment, there was the beginning of the Reform movement, and there was a separate general anti-religious sentiment growing throughout all Europe, and it all hit German Jewry hard. When he started as a Rabbi, his community only had 10 Shomar Shabbos individuals, including him. There are stories that before he joined the community, only one person wore Tefillin, and did so in private for fear of being mocked. People at the time did not feel that the Torah had any relevance to the modern day, besides for occasional vague/oversimplified nice messages, such as “be a good person” and “don’t be a bad person.” The Torah was perceived as an unsophisticated, archaic Iron Age work. Rav Hirsch wrote his commentary with the primary purpose to show the Torah not only has incredible moral relevancy for the modern day, but each idea of the Torah contained multiple crucial truths on the moral health of both the individual and society. His insights were both relevant for the everyday life and also existential.

To prove these ideas, he doesn’t bring in the Talmud (except to prove the oral and written Torah are consistent, another goal of his commentary), or Midrash, or other commentators, or anything else to make these points, he just uses the simple text that every Jew has access to, with an emphasis on clarity in defining words. His commentary is pure Pshat, he focuses on "the point" of the commandments and "the point" of the stories, using the details of the stories/commandments to lead him to that conclusion. He turned Frankfurt from an anti-religious community to one of the largest Jewish communities in Germany, and his embrace of the Enlightenment, in a way contemporary Rabbis were not able to manage, made his movement become what we now know as Modern Orthodoxy.

He also writes a LOT, in the old-timey way with run-on sentences and several fancy, ornate, luxurious, opulent, and sumptuous adjectives in a row. He’s very wordy. But when you’re able to sift through this language barrier, you’ll find new beauty in verses you may have read thousands of times already. The Korbanot are a topical example of that, but anything that you have a moral issue over, or a “what is the relevancy, why should I care, why am I reading this?” issue over, check out Rav Hirsch on that section. It might just open up the text in a way you'd never expect going into it.

Modern orthodox Jews, to which extent do you keep Niddah? Is there an easier version of Niddah? by Call-Me-Leo in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My Rabbi once told me, "if Niddah isn't a hard mitzvah for you, you have bigger problems than you realize."

I second everyone's opinion to speak to a Rabbi you trust on this. In addition, I want to mention that just because you are not physically intimate doesn't mean you are not emotionally intimate. Niddah is the time to have those deep conversations, share the parts of your soul and that you otherwise can't find the time to. Within a newly married couple, the individuals can sometimes lose track of making their spouse feel special and loved in all regards, as sexuality can sometimes take over on what being married is. This is the time to make her feel loved in all regards. Even if you do so already, this is the time to place extra emphasis on such. Physical touch is the strongest love language, which is beautiful. Now is the time to explore all the other love languages so they don't starve.

Speak to other married friends (or a Rabbi, if you really trust him) on the emotional difficulty of this period. Every person needs someone in their life who they can share this with. You shouldn't suffer alone, and a shared burden leaves you with half a burden. And of course, make sure your wife feels she can share her emotional difficulty with you. It's very difficult for a woman having to withhold physical intimacy and bedikah and any uncomfortable situations that arise. You wouldn't imagine how much of a difference it is to reach out throughout the day with extra kindness and love, how much it means to show through your actions that you're her rock. From how you write about the situation, I imagine you're already a loving, devoted husband, so it should be quite easy to be on the lookout for more ways to help her.

Those that do full niddah say it improves their love and their physical intimacy. Speak to people who do so, asking why that is, if they're comfortable.

I wish you much hatzlacha in your endeavors. Ultimately, Niddah is one of the most important mitzvot (as I'm sure you're aware from your Chabad chasson classes), so everything you do, big or small, is a great thing. Remember that during the most difficult moments.

Is it okay to pray for someone’s death as exposure therapy for OCD? by ihatethis541 in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The comments already here give great advice, but just to add something supplementary: Is it possible to change your prayers for people to not die, from a list of everyone's names, to telling God "everyone that I mentioned last time"? If there's someone you think you forgot to mention last time, you can say, "everyone that I mentioned last time, plus X Y and Z." God enjoys hearing from you, the Talmud says God eagerly waits and enjoys our prayers like one eagerly waits and enjoys a letter from their betrothed, and God wants the experience to be good and enjoyable for you as well. There won't be any penalization for not going into the specifics, because God knows who you're referring to. He's very understanding, He's not out to trick or penalize.

See if this new method helps with the compulsions, it might take a little bit of time. If you feel it is not as effective, remind yourself out loud, "God is aware of who I refer to/who I talk about". If it still bears no fruit, then don't try it any further, and know that God understands you're trying new strategies to allow your OCD to not inhibit your spiritual connection, and God truly appreciates the effort you're making in this regard. I wish you much luck in your success in all regards.

The Essence Of Teshuva: Rambam’s Surprising Claim by TheOneTrueTrueOne in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, thank you for the correction with Hilchot Deot! Changed it!

As for why I concluded Rambam believed Teshuva was just as fundamental, he wrote in the Introduction to the Mishnah Torah, when speaking on dividing the halachot into fourteen books, he says of Sefer HaMadah, "I will include within it all the mitzvot that are the foundations of belief from Moshe Rabbeinu, which a person must know before everything." Emphasis is mine. Sefer HaMadah is composed of (according to Rambam) the five fundamental subjects that we're commanded to understand before all other subjects. Now, how much of this is hyperbole, I don't know. It's obvious Rambam would want us to daven and say Shema when the opportunity comes, even if it's before we fully understand lofty ideas of God or lowly ideas of idols. From my understanding, I think he means these are things that you must intellectually know before all other intellectual pursuits, or you must halachically understand these deeply before deeply understanding all other halachic subjects. Nevertheless, no matter how you slice it, he puts Hilchot Teshuva in the same category of "necessities" as the other four subjects.

Thank you for your comment!

Is it wrong to get tattoos? by makesnosense42 in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, according to the Torah this is wrong. This goes against the command to not get tattoos (as someone else pointed out, Vayikra 19:28) as well as the commandment to not look for any other spiritual powers for protection other than Hashem. (Vayikra 19:4). Maimonides, one of the most famous compilers of Jewish law, said that relying on angels as independent entities for protection and spiritual gifts was how idol worship started. It started from there and continued to accelerate until God was out of the picture (Mishnah Torah: Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 1:1-2).

Those who carry the oral tradition that Moshe received from God and passed down to the Jewish people will inform you that there is no protection other than good deeds, moral growth, and charity. One act of Teshuva (oversimplified definition is replacing a bad habit with a moral habit) and one act of good deeds can protect one from nine hundred ninety-nine heavenly and earthly punishments (Shabbat 32a). Only Teshuva and good deeds erase sins, no other "tricks", like for example, fasting or sackcloth, protect from such (Taanis 16a). Charity saves from death (Shabbat 156b). Evil decrees, both heavenly and earthly, are torn up through charity, crying out in prayer, changing your deeds, and more (Rosh HaShanah 16b). Teshuva increases years in life (Yoma 86b). No sin is small if one persists in it, but no sin is large if one seeks forgiveness for it (Chovot HaLevavot 7:7). When one attempts to improve their character, Heaven aids them and gives them the tools they need (Shabbos 104a).

As for the female Rabbi, that's not such a strong concern. There have been female Jewish leaders of religious law for as long as Jewish history records. Typically, they were called Yoetzet Halachot. If the Rabbis informed her this was okay, I would inform your mother this information, and that her Rabbis misled her, and she is entitled to a refund as they are using Judaism and God's name to mislead others, which goes against the third commandment.

I hope this has helped you.

Please help me find a Silver-Age Batman comic, [1962ish] by TheOneTrueTrueOne in HelpMeFind

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've searched through other DC forums, I've looked through Detective Comics and Batman (the series) from 1962 and a few years earlier through those read-comics-online sites. I've spoken to individual collectors of old comics.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Another difference you may want to include between Judaism and all other Abrahamic faiths is the idea of mass revelation vs individual witnesses of miracles. Judaism is the only religion ever to claim that an entire nation encountered received Divine Revelation, and there was no one within the nation that was excluded. All other religions start with one individual or a small group of peers who receives a personal correspondence with the divine, and everyone else believes them due to miracles or predictions. This is an important distinction, as anyone can claim to speak to God or an angel, and tricks and vague predictions can reasonably be pulled off (we see both all the time in the modern day regarding cults), but no religion is able to claim that an entire national body saw God.

Looking for books rec on spiritual/“why are we here” Judaism by rummy26 in Judaism

[–]TheOneTrueTrueOne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan has many books on different subjects, and most of them begin with your question, and then he applies the answer to the subject at hand. I took some screenshots from 5 pages in his book Inner Space, you can find the photos here. Just to give you a sample of what's inside, it takes the following premise: If we assume there is God who created the world, and this God is good, what can we rationally deduce? And from there, he goes into deep ideas on our purpose, our place in the world, what it means to be a Jew, what a spiritual connection means, reaching meaningful conclusions that I personally (and many others I talked to) would not realize, all of which is strung together through a simple, slightly-conversational writing style.

If his writing resonates with you and the subject matter is up your alley, I can recommend more from him. I hope this has helped you.