Series on Techeles Playlist 

(as of today, up to part 4)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXhYlGVtIOa9iddf4159uaubpKMndje75

Another New Sefer on Eruvin, by Rabbi Jachter

 

The author, Rabbi Jachter, tells me that I am quoted quite a bit in his chibbur. 

(I also quote him in my chibbur.)

Just in time for the beginning of the learning Masechet Eruvin, Rabbi Jachter has just released a new book Walking the Line: Hilchot Eruvin from the Sources to the Streets.  Learning and mastering Hilchot Eruvin is a daunting challenge. Walking the Line: Hilchot Eruvin from the Sources to the Streets sets forth a practical path to conquer this challenge by bringing Hilchot Eruvin to life. The product of over thirty years of experience helping communities design and maintain their eruvin, Rabbi Chaim Jachter demonstrates how the concepts of Hilchot Eruvin are applied in the field. This work is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in eruvin, whether they are learning the masechet, the Halachah, or are simply interested in helping their community create, expand, or maintain its eruv.

The book may be purchased at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08F9T287Z

 The OU All-Daf presents fifteen recordings of Rabbi Jachter brings Hilchot Eruvin to life by demonstrating how Hilchot Eruvin play out on the streets of actual community Eruvin.  https://alldaf.org/authors/rabbi-chaim-jachter/133897

See the book at the top of the ad, please spread the word. Thanks!

 

Rischa #31, Black Lives Matter

Rischa #31, Black Lives Matter

Rischa Daraiisa-31-Season Finale-The RCA only includes the Master's Voice-Can a Rabbinical Organization sponsor a debate on Black Lives Matter without a person of color represented?

Season 1, Ep. 31

In the last episode before a summer break,the Rabbis debate over debates.

Rabbi Bechhofer believes that it is a mistake for the RCA to sponsor a "debate lishem shamayim" of how our community should relate to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Bechhofer cogently describes why responses like "all lives matter" remains deeply offensive even to blacks who don't necessarily align themselves with the movement.

Having a white man assume the "critical" position and another white man respond from the "sympathetic" side,can only result in a non edifying experience,along with a possible public relations debacle.

Bechhofer notes that a debate by its very nature doesn't result in admission,it is staged to produce a winner,an idea he feels is antithetical to the Torah.

Rabbi Kivelevitz responds with a brief examination of works of art,ancient dialogues,and classic medieval Rabbinic literature that served as a model for Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's most effective works.

These were all written in the form of a "vikuach" - a way to capture interest and bring home issues in a dramatic entertaining way,and lead to a thoughtful nuanced reaction by the leader/listener.

Although Kivelevitz admits it would have been more prudent to have had an African-American involvement,he feels that the RCA deserve credit for tackling the issue while other Torah agencies are silent or openly hostile.

While the speakers and moderator come from a white modern-Orthodox suburban world,Kivelevitz feels that the exercise is comparable to the experiment Jane Elliot administered to her young students in the wake of Dr.Martin Luther King's assassination. The all white Iowa school children were effected by "one of their own" with the aggressive first step out towards racial harmony in the"Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise."

The pair agree over the dearth of solid oratory in the Rabbinic world and both give a thumbs up to the Denzel Washington vehicle-"The Great Debaters".

comments and criticism welcome at

ravkiv@gmail.com

For more information on this podcast visit

yeshivaofnewark.jewishpodcasts.org

Update:

The RCA subsequently changed the format

to include a Jew of Color.

Starting a Virtual Yeshiva

During the period that yeshivos were physically closed, the overwhelming number of them functioned almost fully and to the significant satisfaction of both administration and students on a product called Turbobridge. https://www.turbobridge.com, the refuah with which HKB”H preceded the makkah. Turbobridge is a nearly-free conference audio/visual system that enables main sessions for shiurim and breakout sub-conferences for chevrusos. Rabbeim and Sho’alim u’Meshivim can “pop-in” on the chevrusos announced or unannounced. The Administration receives reports on attendance in all sessions. Shiurim can be recorded for later chazarah. There is a video option as well.

Turbobridge (there are similar competing systems) is the way to open a yeshiva with little or no overhead, with no need for a physical plant, with maximum flexibility and reach.

So, who's in?