Thursday, January 26, 2006

The Solution to the Internet Problem...

... May be to ignore it. Seriously. Since it can't be controlled, more discussion about it at this point brings to diminishing returns. In other words, the more we talk about it, the bigger the problem will get. There are other such social issues facing Orthodox Judaism which have gotten this kind of nonresponse. These are the kind of things which are talked about in the mikva or at the back of the Beis Medrash. I suggest that inappropriate Internet use be added to those issues.

This thought requires a bit of development, but now is not a good time.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello MY Gluck. It's nice to see a familiar face in blogland. I have a blog which I thought might interest you.

3/2/06 10:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I want such sites to become as much as possible, and their number increased with every day!
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31/12/06 6:28 AM  

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Essential Jewish Library

The following seforim should be in every Jewish home. I list the editions I like.

Chumash - Mikra'os Gedolos
I prefer either HaMaor or Mossad HaRav Kook's Toras Chaim. Depends on my mood.

Nach
The new edition with the Malbim is very good. If you get a Malbim Nach, make sure it has the five Megillos - not all editions include it.

Mishnayos
The New Yachin U'Boaz edition is a pleasure to learn with. (I just finished Zevachim today!)

Shas
This is a tough one, but I think the new Oz V'Hadar edition is best. I don't know if the whole Shas has been published yet in this edition.

Rambam
The R' Shabsi Frankel edition of the Rambam is almost complete, and it is by far the best out there.

Tur
Compared to the old edition, Mechon Yerushalayim's edition is astounding in its clarity. Very much worth the extra money.

Shulchan Aruch
This is very subjective, but I think the new Friedman edition is best. The problem is that it is the most expensive, and it hasn't been completed yet. I buy each volume as I learn that topic.

Mishna Berurah
The old Blum edition is clearest, I think.

Igros Moshe
This is a very important sefer because it both demonstrates how to apply Halacha to current situations, as well as demonstrating the proper way to decide Halachic issues.

Minchas Yerushalayim Siddur
It could be a little more user-friendly, but I think this is the most complete siddur there is.

3 Comments:

Blogger defen said...

I've owned a Minchas Yerushalayim Siddur since I turned the cute little age of twelve.

As for the rest... I'll wait until there's a spouse in my life. :)

26/1/06 3:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shulchan Aruch

Friedman does not have Even Haezer.You have to add the Rosh Pina edition as the best shulchan aruch for that chelek.

14/2/06 5:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice blog. The Toras Chaim Chumash is exellent if you don't have the individual issues of the Rishonim which have excellent footnotes and lead to further research, etc. I would add the Machon Yerushalayim Minchas Chinuch and the Mossad HaRav Kook Ritvas. If you can splurge, go for the new edition of the Tur for the same reason. These sefarim are superb editions that definitely anyone's ability to learn these important works . The Mimchas Yerushalayim Siddur is nice for all of the halachos, etc but I find the all Hebrew ArtScroll Siddur and its Machzorim very user friendly.

24/2/06 10:10 AM  

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Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Internet in Lakewood

No, this isn't your typical post, either demeaning the ban or praising it. (By the way, it wasn't a ban. But that's for a different post.) This post is about the Internet in Lakewood.
Let's start with a few links:
http://www.yeshivaworld.blogspot.com/
http://yeshivaorthodoxy.blogspot.com/
http://www.kashrut.org/
http://www.shukkers.com/
http://newsfrombmg.blogspot.com/
http://www.jewishissues.blogspot.com
http://www.semgirl.blogspot.com/
http://davidoflakewood.blogspot.com/
http://www.esefer.blogspot.com
http://yudelstake.blogspot.com/
http://voiceoflakewood.blogspot.com/
http://www.pediatricsinlakewood.com/

All these are based in, or mainly coming from, Lakewood. Post ban. We have to realize that the Internet is here to stay, and that we must deal with it. We aren't doing a very good job of it. Did anyone see the filtering recommendation that the Askanim were supposed to come out with? It was supposed to be announced Sukkos time. Tick, tick, tick... They are dropping the ball.
Additionally, perusing this list of sites makes clear that Lakewood is no way near the one-dimensional town it was even ten years ago. People are standing up, and (for better or for worse) are making noise. We will see ramifications in politics, in Yeshiva and in the school system.
Another thing that will change is the way interaction happens between the Gedolim and the hamon am. Signing a poster doesn't work anymore. Saying a schmuess doesn't work anymore. There has to be an entirely new paradigm for communication.
(It's only partly tongue-in-cheek that I suggest the Roshei Yeshiva start a blog.)
My prediction is that we will see a resurgence in people relying on their local rov, and that the Gedolim will stop making public proclamations. The rabbonim will (of course) still speak to the Gedolim, but da'as Torah will be proclaimed privately.
This is all a direct result of the Internet, which enables the generation to be shofet es shoftav. Ironically, the greatest facilitator of communication in the history of the world, will - in this case - have the effect of curtailing communication.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is likely to lead to a renaissance of the strength of the community rabbi, and supremacy of the mesora. The Yeshiva system has caused the balance of power to shift from the Rov to the Rosh Yeshiva. (Not to criticize - this is just what happened.) This new set of circumstances will cause power to revert back to the Rov.
By the way, the person who had the most to do with causing this whole situation, was Reb Natan Slifkin. When he successfully fought back against the pashkevillin (rightly or wrongly), he changed the paradigm for communication with Gedolim.

8 Comments:

Blogger defen said...

"We have to realize that the Internet is here to stay, and that we must deal with it."

How do you think we could best go about doing this?

18/1/06 4:38 PM  
Blogger defen said...

Oh and btw - you missed http://www.kolbramah.com/

18/1/06 4:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kashrut.org is not from Lakewood.

22/1/06 7:59 PM  
Blogger MYG said...

One of the main contributors, CYA, lives in Lakewood. That's why I wrote "mainly coming from".

22/1/06 8:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One of the main contributors, CYA, lives in Lakewood. That's why I wrote "mainly coming from".

True, however AA, who actually runs the site is certainly not from Lakewood, so to "mainly coming from Lakewood" is inaccurate IMO.

24/1/06 11:25 AM  
Blogger MYG said...

As you wish...

24/1/06 12:01 PM  
Blogger Pragmatician said...

You are right on the mark, banning everything makes it look like we're back in the 1800's.
You have to convince people nowadays, speak to their hearts yes, but also their minds, people are able to think nowadays, something that maybe once upon a time they weren't able to.

1/2/06 4:22 AM  
Blogger Jewboy said...

Shkoach on acknowledging these things. If only the roshie yeshiva felt the same way.

1/2/06 9:33 AM  

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