How to Avoid Stranger Danger: The Proactive Wisdom of the Ancient Sage Rabbi Yehoshua

 In the wake of a number of unfortunate and shattering scandals, it is a particularly opportune time to remind ourselves of the traditional Jewish approach, guided by the wisdom of Chazal, as to how we should relate to others.

As opposed to the dangerously naive and delusional idea that "every Yid is a big tzadik", promoted by the TYH nation movement and others, our holy מסורה teaches us, כבדהו וחשדהו. Respect, but remain wary simultaneously.

In this vein, a story is related in מסכת דרך ארץ about how conducting himself in this matter saved רבי יהושע from being the victim of a cunning thief, as follows. A man came to R. Yehoshua, who gave him food, drink, and sleeping accommodations on his roof. During the night, the man stole utensils and turned to abscond with them by descending the ladder, whereupon he fell to the ground, sustaining serious injury. In the morning, when he was discovered in that state, R. Yehoshua rebuked him, saying empty one, did you not realize that we already were on guard against you from yesterday (removing your means of egress)? Whereupon R. Yehoshua taught that לעולם יהיו כל אדם בעיניך כליסטים, והוי מכבדם כרבן גמליאל. People (strangers, according to some) should be viewed as if they were ליסטים (thieves), while simultaneously treated with respect as befitting a great personality.

A further illuminating discussion of the issue can be seen here.

Once again, here we see a great illustration of the wisdom of Chazal, who taught us that לא עם הארץ חסיד, that to be a truly pious person, one must be learned.

May Hashem help us be truly learned and pious.

Lubavitchers Who Don't Put on Tefillin - Chabad Wakes Up To Another Severe Internal Problem

Yes, you read it right. The guys that go around asking people if they put on tefillin, preaching that Moshiach is here, or figuratively at the door, have among themselves their own Chasidim that are skipping this vital and fundamental mitzvah.

As we have reported in the past, despite the massive Chabad-Lubavitch propaganda machine, which is churning out PR constantly, giving people the impression that Lubavitch is great, and leading Klal Yisroel, duping far too many gullible humans into believing as much, the reality is quite different.

May HKB"H open people's eyes, and protect them from being duped by all types of scam artists.

א גוטען חודש

Real Davening - Discarding Mechanical Prayer - Rav Avigdor Miller's Boring, Effective Solution

Recently, at a convention of a prominent Orthodox organization there was a session entitled "From Burn-Out to On-Fire", in which a Neo-Chasidic leader emphatically told the audience that there was no such thing as a Yid who is burned out (around 5:18 into session recording). Well, semantics aside, we know that it is a great problem, and tefillah, the challenge of meaningful davening, is a big part of it. If we could somehow take davening, which to many people is a terrible challenge and a drag (let's not beat around the bush), and transform it into a growth experience, that they might even enjoy, a great advance will have been made, which will have great positive ramifications on people's days and lives.

 With regard to that, I was looking through the weekly Toras Avigdor and saw some very important things, some of which spoke to this matter, addressing it head-on, which I would like to share with you. 

Chazal described davening as being in the category of דברים העומדים ברומו של עולם ובני אדם מזלזלים בהם, things that are very exalted, yet people do not treat them with proper respect (they stated that eons ago. What would they say nowadays, when newer distractions abound, making it even more challenging, and people are routinely said to have shorter attention spans than in the past?).

So what is the solution? To scream the words out loud, as some do? To dance? Take out a guitar and have a musical minyan? 

Rav Miller gives a simple and easy solution. He tells us, 

1) To say a little and think about what you are saying is much more valuable than to just speed through the whole davening. 

2) Take your time. 

3) It is a cancer, this sickness of what we are doing with our davening today, one of the greatest failings in Jewish life.

(Toras Avigdor, Vaeira, p.15)

Strong words indeed. But so necessary to combat this deadly spiritual disease, this soul-threatening emergency.

It seems so simple that some have difficulty accepting it. It seems to be good to be true, too easy (seemingly, on the surface). But it is the way to go. Nowadays there are so many different types of סידורים and פירושים (commentaries) available, that can be consulted to assist in understanding the words of תפילה, if necessary and desired.

Ignore those who claim that you must recite every word in your siddur, because some modern-era printer canonized his own product. They have added on to davening in a way that has been counterproductive for so many. As when the commandment of Hashem was added to in גן עדן, leading to a terrible downfall. 

Listen to the Tur, R. Yosef Karo, and Rav Miller, זכר צדיקים לברכה, who all gave this fundamental instruction, that quality > quantity of davening, and you will be well on the road to a new חיות (vitality), a new געשמאק (pleasure), a new טעם (taste, flavor) in davening, Yiddishkeit, and life.

הצלחה רבה