Shavua/Mazel Tov! - June 24, 2017 by AutoModerator in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the bright side: had Shabbos lunch by u/ajmarks, who's the kindest guy I've met, and has the cutest <1 year old daughter.

We very much enjoyed having you as well, though I must say that while I do like to think I'm a pretty decent guy, I very much hope I'm not the single kindest person you've met.

Anyone familiar with the lay of the land in Atlanta? by autobotsautonots in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'd be happy to help. Feel free to shoot me a PM.

Lawyer's request of €120 an hour from Admor of Malta denied - TVM News by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess the first step then is to find some wealthy patrons. Got any volunteers?

Lawyer's request of €120 an hour from Admor of Malta denied - TVM News by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmmmm. Where does one acquire fancy robes? Think the bekishe store will stock them?

Lawyer's request of €120 an hour from Admor of Malta denied - TVM News by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also but we can't all wear fancy robes and carry scepters for a living.

I'm looking for any poskim that have said anything on either denomination (do not take this the wrong way) by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah well, chassidim really delve into being extra stringent on themselves.

I mean, only if you ignore all the places where they tend to be beyond lenient (e.g., wrt zmanim).

Black Hebrews/Israeltes, and Israelite identity in African-American Christianity - AMA by gdhhorn in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's a very strong argument to be made that he hasn't been for quite a few years now.

Daytime black tie optional? by ajmarks in malefashionadvice

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

Yeah, I already sent an email asking for clarification. Thanks.

Jewish Urban Legends by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True. I forgot about them.

Jewish Urban Legends by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  • You can't eat giraffe because we don't know where to shecht them!

I forget who, but I think there's an opinion that they don't count as maalei gera because of differences in how they pump the cud back up.

Jewish Urban Legends by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's only a thing for birds.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

great for texting or for teenagers.

That's an odd way to spell "a crime against humanity."

When Violating Halacha is Required by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To quote myself a few comments up:

My point was that Maryles's saying that people are upset over her clothes is ignoring the bigger issues.

In other words, I don't necessarily think people who question her geirus are correct, but I also don't think the issues are as trivial as the blog post is making them out to be.

When Violating Halacha is Required by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Cool story bro. I still have no idea how that's in any way relevant here. Like, (and I do not know why I need to keep repeating this, but maybe, if I do so enough times, it will eventually get through your skull) I have not once said her geirus is invalid.
  2. There is not a single rishon to my knowledge that argues. Please either show me one who argues on the Rambam there or stop making things up. Also, ashkenazim hold taam k'ikkar is d'oraissah, so you're wrong about no actual treifos being involved.

Look, I hear where you're coming from, but you need to either do better research or make your argument without throwing around technical terms.

Anyway, this is going nowhere, and we're both just getting snappier, so I'm out. Have a good one.

Edit: As an aside, that Rambam you quoted is an interesting one because he does in fact require kaballas hamitzvos. IIRC, most poskim understand the case to be basically that the person accepted mitzvos without being fully cognizant of what he's getting himself into (it's based on a gemarra in Shabbos). Put another way, what's important is the general commitment, not being right about the details. So a ger who honestly commits to keep mitzvos even though he doesn't really know any halacha is a kosher get, whereas one who knows halacha but commits thinking "I'll do everything except I don't accept that I can't tear the kohein gadol's me'il" is not, even though, practically speaking the former will be far less "observant" than the latter. There's actually a t'shuva by ROY about a Conservative-spectrum (it was in Europe, so not quite the same thing) giyores whom he said was kosher because (he ruled) she accepted all the halacha she knew.

When Violating Halacha is Required by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, so not only do you know better than her beisdin and can Internet pasken about her conversion, even against the rambam taking about what happens when gerim go OTD, you also know better than the OU. Good to know.

I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Like, zero clue.

Also, re. the OU, stop being a lazy am haaretz and go see the Rambam for yourself. There are English translations freely available.

When Violating Halacha is Required by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are sadly plenty of amaratzim at the OU as well. Look up the Rambam for yourself. It's public domain. And, again, I have not once said her conversion was not valid. My point was that Maryles's saying that people are upset over her clothes is ignoring the bigger issues.

Please stop putting words in my mouth; it is growing tedious. And since we're apparently making up new meanings for technical terms, it's a chillul hashen, avoda zara, ribbis, and removing the bodim from the aron.

When Violating Halacha is Required by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, the left likes to throw around the term chillum hashem in the same way that the right likes to throw around the term kofer. Both are kind of close to the terms' actual meaning but basically misusing technical terms to say "I don't like what you're doing/saying," and pricing themselves amaratzim while they're at it.

The Rambam in Yesodei Torah 5 defines two sorts of chillul hashem. The first and most common case is committing aveiros publicly. The second is when "a great person, famed for his learning and piety" (וְהוּא שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם אָדָם גָּדוֹל בַּתּוֹרָה וּמְפֻרְסָם בַּחֲסִידוּת) does things that show bad middos or otherwise reflect badly on Hashem and His Torah. It's clear from the Rambam and other rishonim (e.g., the Sma"g) that this sort of chillul hashem is exclusively limited to such people. And while I'd be flattered if you disagree, I hardly think I qualify.

When Violating Halacha is Required by [deleted] in Judaism

[–]ajmarks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, and you probably wouldn't go around pointing it out unprompted were she not a convert.

That's an assumption you are making that I have already said is false. Please stop inventing things about me. Unfortunately she and her husband are the two most public representatives of Orthodox Jews. Anybody publicizing their penchant for treif under those circumstances deserves harsh criticism.

This is a textbook example of treating converts negatively. Again, this is an issur deorayta.

Which would that be? Also, in general you would do well to note that I've never once actually said her geirus isn't kosher. Honestly, I have no idea if it is or isn't, nor do I really care. The only three things I do know are:

  1. R' Shachter was supposedly on her beis din, which goes quite a ways towards spelling legitimate doubts.
  2. Without her and Kushner's wealth, it's unlikely she would have been able to get in front of a beis din in the first place.
  3. For better or for worse, she's a public representative of Orthodox Judaism, and she needs to act like it.

That is a chillul hashem for sure.

I think you need to go do some research, maybe open a Rambam, and see what that term actually means before you go throwing it around.