Jewish Outreach VERSUS Lifnei Iver: Rabbi Avraham Edelstein

There are several practical applications of the principle of lifnei iver to kiruv situations. May someone be invited for a Shabbos meal when he will inevitably drive there? May one make a shidduch for a couple who will not keep the laws of family purity? May one invite a co-ed group

to a sleepaway weekend that will probably bring about forbidden intimate contact? May one organize a mixed dance to prevent Jews from going to a similar dance that would cause intermingling with non-Jews, and perhaps contain more inter-gender improprieties overall? May one give someone something to drink or eat if he is not going to say a berachah? In Chapter X, we will also deal with the related issue of teaching Torah to a non-Jew.

Due to the complexity of this sugya, we will begin with a summary of the concepts, followed by a more detailed analysis of the mitzvah of lifnei iver. In subsequent chapters, we will then discuss some of the practical aspects of the prohibition of lifnei iver, including inviting those who will drive on Shabbos, making a shidduch between secular Jews, and giving someone to eat who will not make a berachah on the food.

Please click here to continue reading Chapter VI: Lifnei Iver

Please click here to purchase a copy of the Laws of Outreach.

 

Please refer to the archives below for our previously published chapters of the Laws of Outreach:

Preface to The Laws of Outreach

Chapter I: The Mitzvos of Kiruv

Chapter II: Kiruv as a Rescue Mission

Chapter III: Categories of Transgressors and Our Obligations Toward Them

Chapter IV:  Contemporary Non-Observant Jews

Chapter V: Halachic Applications of Tinokos Shenishbu in our Time

 

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OlamiResources.com is honored to present free to the Olami Community and beyond, Rabbi Avraham Edelstein’s new landmark sefer, The Laws of Outreach. We are featuring the sefer to the readership of OlamiResources.com in downloadable installments over the next few months. We are greatly appreciative that Rabbi Edelstein has kindly offered to share this important publication, including extensive Hebrew footnotes, with rabbis, educators and mekarvim worldwide. Please click here to purchase a copy of the Laws of Outreach.

From Olami Resources, here.