The “Halacha Uma’aseh” advertising boards have a thin column I peruse whenever I get the chance. It tells us of various odds and ends like a sudden need to check for bugs in certain fruits, or confusing Kashrus labeling.
They recently pointed out a simple but important matter: Don’t place your Siddur on the Chumash.
The Achronim have an obsession — among others — with discovering “Lifnei Iver” everywhere.
I don’t remember the names, but a whole slew of Achronim seriously discuss the possibility one who chooses to die rather than transgress a sin that isn’t on the list of the Big Three commits “Lifnei Iver” toward the non-Jew who kills him (in violation of the latter’s always-ignored “Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach”).
I just saw in Rabbi Nissim Karelitz’s “Chut Shani” one who allows himself to be nudged into selling an item that wasn’t for sale again commits “Lifnei Iver” toward the man violating “Lo Sachmod”. No source needed, either, as though the comparison to Ribbis is obvious.
As the saying goes: הזהרו בבני עניים שמהן תצא תורה (Nedarim 81a). Why do the poor become Torah scholars? Because they lack money to buy Achronim…
Update: Shut “Betzel Hachochma” part 3 siman 50 also denies “Lifnei Iver” applies when bowing to “Lo Sachmod”, and quotes the Minchas Chinuch who agrees. The Merceves Hamishneh Hilchos Gezeilah 1:9 reportedly disagrees, however. See the last page of this book.
There isn’t any. But the state hates competition.
Well, maybe copyright infringement (if copyright law were straightforward, and crimes against the state were possible). [Credit: Gary North]
מחקר מקיף מציאותי והלכתי בענין תקרובת עבודה זרה בפאות
חלק ראשון:
View or Download the PDF / פתח או הורד את הקובץ
חלק שני – מקורות ותשובות למתירים:
View or Download the PDF / פתח או הורד את הקובץ
Reprinted with permission.
He was on a Birthright trip. When I told him he had to marry a Jewish girl he told me that he was dating a non-Jewish girl whom he liked very much.
“We can’t go by what we like. Yes, we have to like the girl we marry, but that’s not enough. Our heads have to rule over our hearts.”
I showed him in the prayer he was reading that Hashem tells us not to follow our eyes and hearts for they will lead us astray. I explained how important it is for the Jewish people to survive and for his family to remain among us.
On and on I gave him reasons to marry only a Jewish girl.
After he read the Shema I had him go stand by the Kotel and pray for his family and then to ask Hashem to guide him in whom he should marry.
Some 10 minutes later he walked back and said that he was going to call up the non-Jewish girl and break off their relationship and that he would look for a Jewish girl to marry.
I said, “Make a promise to yourself that you will marry only a Jewish girl.”
I told him that Hashem had blessed him to make that decision and that he will be thankful his entire life.
“Come back next year with the girl.”
He smiled.
He said that he promised. Please G-d, he will remember.
Thank G-d, (hopefully) we saved a Jewish family from the disaster of intermarriage.