A Miraculous Tale of Excommunication Prior to Communication

We have written many times of bans and rulings inexcusably issued without the presence of the accused, in blatant contravention of the Torah’s command: שמע בין אחיכם ושפטתם צדק.

When I mentioned this to a certain Jew, he mentioned an interesting legend:

The Maharshal (Rabbi Shlomo Luria) was related to the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), and when he heard of the fantastic claims coming out of Eretz Yisrael, he began sending letters in an attempt to excommunicate the latter, all from his home base in Poland.

So, the Arizal sent him freshly baked Challah from Tzefas. Although it took many weeks of travel, the bread arrived fresh and piping hot. When the Maharshal saw this (and other things) he ceased all opposition.

(For a complete/embellished version of this, see here.)

Of course, even if all this is literal fact, this doesn’t mean it was permitted to act in this fashion…

קול החינוך גליונות #124– #125

יו”ל ע”י ‘ועד הורים’ – בהכוונת גדולי התורה שליט”א

[קול החינוך עוסק במלחמת מדינת ישראל בחינוך יהודי עצמאי.]

* למסירת מידע ומשלוח מסמכים בס”ד 03-691-5752, טלפקס: 6915752@okmail.co.il

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Reprinted with permission.

 

Torah Scholars & the Rich: Who Envies Whom?

This question was presented to R’ Meir Fishels (head of Prague Beis Din while the Noda B’Yehuda was Rav).
Answer: The wealthy envy the Talmidei Chachomim more because they will never get to be both, while Talmidei Chachomim have a chance at gaining wealth, as well.
Note: Rabbi Fishels himself was quite affluent, having Torah uGedula beMakom Echad.

Where Is UK Jewry Headed?

Jewish Schools in the UK will be forced to teach LGBT TOEVAH next year or face closure.

Dayan Krausz of Manchester has publicly declared that this is יהרג ואל יעבור, but God forbid they should even think about leaving that God-forsaken hell hole and come to ארץ ישראל. They are so scared of both the IDF draft and the lack of תורה עם דרך ארץ in ארץ ישראל.
Most British Haredim find Israeli culture far too polarised and intense, which is understandable. Most Haredim from England whom I’ve asked won’t move to Israel mainly because it is very difficult to make a living and taxes are way too high. Plus, Haredim who work are looked down upon unless they make tons of money and donate to yeshivos.
Though they’ll never admit they are partially to blame for this mess by not moving sooner…
There are about 50,000 Orthodox Jews in the UK, so if they all moved to Israel, they could even form an autonomous region and negotiate a mass exemption from the IDF in exchange for opting out of ביטוח לאומי, just like the Amish. Or they can decide to declare war and kill for what they believe in (though good luck in getting Jews to organise militias!)
These are the only realistic options.
Every solution I offer them is met with a different excuse: The Yekkes in England won’t move en masse because they believe that this is what Rav Hirsch holds; others won’t because of the Satmar Rebbe.
But honestly, when both these Rabbis were alive, at least the liberal establishment had not yet become completely insane.