Rabbi Dovid

When (A) Jew Controlled The Bank(er) - Story Of The Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s Silent Meeting

Why Aren’t There Women Rabbis? The Role Of Rebbetzins And Shluchos In Observant Jewish Life And Chabad

Many others have addressed the topic of female clergy by diving into why specific roles are more male or more female. Here, I focus on a more foundational premise.

It should be openly acknowledged that Torah philosophy potentially aligns with only the first three waves of feminism. It is at odds with the fourth wave which states there are zero differences between men and women and the fifth wave which denies women exist as a distinct entity.

Never Speak Ill Of The Dead - In Jewish Thought

The prohibition on gossip (Lashon Hara) is well-known in Torah learning. The status of gossiping about the dead, less so.

People often quote ״אחרי מות קדושים אמור״ a cute folk-saying derived from the sequence of three Torah portions. Here we’ll inspect more robust Jewish sources.

To be clear, the calculus is different if the dead is still unburied, at funeral or a righteous sage.

Shabbat Eruv - Is The Wire Around Jewish Communities A Loophole?

This is the shortened version of the video I posted yesterday. For a minute extra of elaboration, check that out.

One of the canards of the willfully ignorant commentators on Jewish life and customs is the Eruv wire. I won’t convince them. The apathy and iq barriers are too high. But many genuinely curious Jews and gentiles wonder similarly, they just assume the opposite tone. So here’s the full explanation.

To be clear, this piece doesn’t address whether a community should or can build an Eruv. It just focuses on its legal mechanics and that it by no means deceives G-d.

Shabbat Eruv - Is This Jewish Community String A Loophole?

One of the canards of the willfully ignorant commentators on Jewish life and customs is the Eruv wire. I won’t convince them. The apathy and iq barriers are too high. But many genuinely curious Jews and gentiles wonder similarly, they just assume the opposite tone. So here’s the full explanation.

To be clear, this piece doesn’t address whether a community should or can build an Eruv. It just focuses on its legal mechanics and that it by no means deceives G-d.

Interrupting The Groom’s Torah Talk - Obscure Jewish Wedding Custom

This custom is the practice of only some Jews, largely ones whose ancestors lived in Poland between 1850 and 1950.

This custom is not a Chabad custom but if a Chabadnik wishes to apply it to the customary Chassidic discourse repeated by Chabad grooms, the Rebbe instructed to respect the discourse by first allowing the groom finish it fully and then start it again and only then to do the interrupting.
Which is less fun, but again, it’s not a Chabad custom.

On Driving To An Orthodox Shul On Shabbat - The Debate, Considerations and Directives

I bring the broad teachings here, but for particular instructions, I recommend contacting your Rav. Especially because each of the quoted Rabbis, were also speaking of particular cases.

Shlomo Carlebach’s Abuse - A Lesson In Jewish Modesty Guidelines

The sensitivity toward modesty manifests in many areas of Jewish law, like Hilchos Yichud, Tznius, Kol Isha, Shemiras Negia and more.

Like all Jewish values, modesty is not all-or-nothing. Increased awareness of and adapting to potential pitfalls, will make the world a more moral place.

Questions regarding separating the art from the artists - is more of an art, and a personal one at that. Speak to your mentors and community for guidance.

A Hasidic Metaphor For Tough Times And Not Seeing G-d’s Plan • From The Rebbe