Lipman, Lapid Launch Literacy 'Lightenment

We are the people of the book. From time immemorial, the Jewish people have always had a high level of literacy, despite their host country's desire to keep them from attaining higher education.

Along with this desire to keep Jews out of colleges, has been the double edged sword to have them somewhat educated in the basic Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic, so that they could engage in commerce with the natives of the land.

Yet this always received stiff opposition from the rabbis, as the inability to communicate was a safeguard against assimilation. Additionally, any time spent on disciplines other than Torah was suspect and viewed as time wasting.
Many within the Jewish community felt that Jewry would benefit by becoming acclimated to Modern Society, but just as many felt that we must keep our distance for Torah and our way of living to thrive.

This debate raged in 1782 when Rabbi Naftali Hertz Wesseley printed his Divrei Shalom V'Emes, which featured reasons why secular knowledge was necessary, yet his opponents were vehement in squashing his arguments.

Another attempt was made in the 1840's in Russia when Max Lilienthal met with the great Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbis of that era in a vain attempt to get them to update the curriculum.

This debate has been recently renewed in Eretz Yisrael, whereby the Yesh Atid party, under direction of Yair Lapid has directed the Orthodox Ner Israel graduate Dov Lipman to assist in introducing changes to the Chareidi curriculum.

In some ways this mirrors the great debates of yesteryear. But in other ways, not. This is different from Russia trying to Russify their subjects, whereby the Czar should not be telling Volozhin how to run their Yeshiva. In Israel, however, the government is paying for the education, so perhaps they do have a right to dictate how to spend taxpayers money. It seems like they are willing to let them teach what they want, as long as the participants are willing to pay for it.

In any event, RNHW was chastised, Max Lilienthal was run out of the country, and Dov Lipman has earned the contempt of his alma mater.

לא ימושו מפיך ומפי זרעך ומפי זרע זרעך אמר ה' מעתה ועד עולם

Please Provide Post Posek

A recent article in the Yated causes me to ponder: When is it appropriate to publish LH?

The Chofetz Chaim lists 7 conditions that must be met in entirety before one can relate derogatory information about another:

1. Absence of any doubt as to the truth of the incident.
2. Absence of any possible factor to render the action permissible.
3. The necessity to admonish (if possible) prior to relating the incident.
4. The narrative must be accurate.
5. Beneficial intentions.
6. Use another method whenever possible.
7. Punishment must be according to Torah Law.

Several recent incidents have once again shown the power of the internet and how it can be used and abused to further one's agenda.

There was a story about a politician who used the power of an online newspaper to elect/promote himself and downgrade his opponent.

There was a story about a rabbi who promoted his own candidacy for higher power and allegedly concocted stories about great rabbis of previous generations that they orally approved of lenient Halachik practices.

Google recently upgraded and labeled certain parts of Israel as "Palestine".

The upshot of all these shenanigans shows remarkably how much power is the hands of those who hold the reins of the Internet. I have advocated many times that the Agudah should maintain a web presence. Grab onto those reins. I understand their opposition, but I believe that they should - somewhat akin to their position vis a vis present day Israeli elections. "We will oppose the Zionistic state, but now that it has become a reality, we need to deal with it."

Furthermore, I think it is high time we had a "Blog Posek". Similar to Shmiras HaLashon hotlines, one would send questionable posts to be screened prior to posting. Having a picture of the Chofetz Chaim on your blog is nice, but actually keeping away from LH is nicer.

Artscroll Achieves Another Addition (Yeshaya)

Artscroll has published Yeshaya, to complement their ongoing Prophets series. This volume joins with Yehoshua/Shoftim, Shmuel I,II and Melachim I,II.

These volumes are beautiful to behold, as a new translation and new typeset of the classic Meforshim is a welcome addition to any library.

Enjoy!

Boston Bomber Beasts Bared

Several days after a couple of כפוי טוב Bad Boys unleashed terror in the Boston area, the long arm of the law brought them to justice.

The FBI was able to quickly apprehend the perpetrators, using a myriad of technology and good old fashioned police work.


One of the lessons we learn from this incident is that there is an עין רואה that runs 24x7 and records all our actions.

Living in a מדינה של חסד we sometimes forget to appreciate the saying in פרקי אבות that government enables us to go about our daily lives.

The other lesson that was reenforced was that there really is no anonymity on the net.  You can sit at the keyboard in Atlanta or Yerushayim, in Brooklyn or in Chechnya, in Minneapolis or Los Angeles, if you are too Big for your Britches, you will Be Bared.

Sockpuppet Shocker Stuns 'Sphere

This past week was a sad one for the Jblogosphere, as one of the original bloggers did an expose of a prominent Dayan, accusing him of sock puppeting.

Every generation has its challenges, and the new social media generation that we live in is faced with unprecedented avenues to destroy and enhance one's reputation.

Prominent authors have been accused of writing positive reviews to their works on Amazon, politicians have besmirched their opponents on various blogs, investors have pumped and dumped inflated stocks - and businesses have ruined their competition and raised their own worth using fictitious internet postings.

Aside from the Geneivas Daas aspect, is the M'Dvar Sheker Tirchak. Ethics still counts, no?

Hamodia Heralds Holy Headlines

Hamodia newspaper has launched a website.

I am very impressed with their website for a number of reasons:

Primarily because of the professional look, but more importantly, because commenting is not allowed.

This is a milestone in Jewish publishing, in that the website looks and functions like any other secular website, minus the glossy pictures and annoying advertisements.

I can understand that TheYeshivaWorld and Matzav rely on advertisements to support their websites, and they rely on the commenting feature to attract and keep subscribers, but kudos are in order to Hamodia for setting a new standard for the Torah Community.

Magnificent Minister: Madame Margaret (Thatcher)

The Iron Lady has fallen.

Growing up in the Ronald Reagan era, it was always comforting to know that there was a woman across the ocean who believed in the Conservative agenda that eventually brought the Cold War to an end.

Margaret Thatcher will be remembered for her staunch support of the United States and Israel.  Additionally, she did not tolerate anti-semitism and nominated many Jewish constituents to her cabinet.

May the likes of her proliferate in the United Kingdom.