Comments on: Lifnei Iver… Do I put a stumbling block before the blind? http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:31:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Steve Brizel http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54030 Steve Brizel Fri, 12 May 2006 01:08:56 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54030 Having read the essay by Professor Farbstein,I highly reccomend the original or translation of her excellent book on religious leadership and the Holocaust. Professor Farbstein's works should be a fundamental source for any course materials on the Holocaust in yeshivos and seminaries. Having read the essay by Professor Farbstein,I highly reccomend the original or translation of her excellent book on religious leadership and the Holocaust. Professor Farbstein’s works should be a fundamental source for any course materials on the Holocaust in yeshivos and seminaries.

]]> By: easterner http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54029 easterner Thu, 11 May 2006 20:44:58 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54029 i would not include em habanim semeicha, since this is a case of a haredi anti-zionist whose post-holocaust thought toes less to the anti-zionist party line.... i would not include em habanim semeicha, since this is a case of a haredi anti-zionist whose post-holocaust thought toes less to the anti-zionist party line….

]]> By: YM http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54028 YM Thu, 11 May 2006 19:25:45 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54028 I wish Rebbetzin Faberstein's essays were translated into english I wish Rebbetzin Faberstein’s essays were translated into english

]]> By: Jewish Observer http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54012 Jewish Observer Thu, 11 May 2006 05:16:33 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54012 "Blogging has its place, but I worry that it may detract from study" Some reactions: - Is blogging not - or can it not be - study? Pencils can detract from study; unless you use them to support study. - why do you pick on study? What about other mitzvot; i.e. chesed, bikur cholim, levaya, tzedaka, family time, shalom bayit (probably the biggest victim of internet time investment) etc. etc. - why just blogging? what about other "kosher" distractions; chinese auctions, parlor meetings, lectures (even Torah lectures), meshulachim, calls by local Jewish officials to vote, etc. etc. The point is that decisions regarding one's use of time are the responsibility of the individual. You can put stuff out there and let each individual decide what to do with it. It's a big presumtuous to think you can / should be responsible for others' decisions. “Blogging has its place, but I worry that it may detract from study”

Some reactions:

- Is blogging not - or can it not be - study? Pencils can detract from study; unless you use them to support study.

- why do you pick on study? What about other mitzvot; i.e. chesed, bikur cholim, levaya, tzedaka, family time, shalom bayit (probably the biggest victim of internet time investment) etc. etc.

- why just blogging? what about other “kosher” distractions; chinese auctions, parlor meetings, lectures (even Torah lectures), meshulachim, calls by local Jewish officials to vote, etc. etc.

The point is that decisions regarding one’s use of time are the responsibility of the individual. You can put stuff out there and let each individual decide what to do with it. It’s a big presumtuous to think you can / should be responsible for others’ decisions.

]]> By: Drew Kaplan http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54006 Drew Kaplan Wed, 10 May 2006 19:16:32 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54006 While blogging may detract from study, it's most likely not "placing a stumbling-block before the blind" as it you who is taking away the time from yourself and not from others. And even if you're worried about others from reading your posts, etc., there are plenty of other places, as well that people could be reading and commenting. Additionally, have you not learned, gained, or grown from any of the e-discussions in which you have taken part? While blogging may detract from study, it’s most likely not “placing a stumbling-block before the blind” as it you who is taking away the time from yourself and not from others. And even if you’re worried about others from reading your posts, etc., there are plenty of other places, as well that people could be reading and commenting. Additionally, have you not learned, gained, or grown from any of the e-discussions in which you have taken part?

]]> By: ak http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54000 ak Wed, 10 May 2006 16:43:41 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-54000 I know that I waste A LOT of time following this blog (and news from Israel), "religiously. Kol Tuv I know that I waste A LOT of time following this blog (and news from Israel), “religiously.
Kol Tuv

]]> By: Steve Brizel http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-53993 Steve Brizel Wed, 10 May 2006 13:43:46 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-53993 WADR, Ms. Schmidt's post illustrates the good side of the net-as a source of Torah resources and discussions-which by their very nature are not one-sided restatements of discussions. I heartily reccomend Professor Farbstein's work. Would Mrs. Schmidt be kind enough to email the essay by Professor Farbstein? If you are curious in a critique of Daas Torah during this time period, then you should also read R Lawrence Kaplan's articles which I have quote from verbatim in our discussions on this issue as well. WADR, Ms. Schmidt’s post illustrates the good side of the net-as a source of Torah resources and discussions-which by their very nature are not one-sided restatements of discussions. I heartily reccomend Professor Farbstein’s work. Would Mrs. Schmidt be kind enough to email the essay by Professor Farbstein? If you are curious in a critique of Daas Torah during this time period, then you should also read R Lawrence Kaplan’s articles which I have quote from verbatim in our discussions on this issue as well.

]]> By: Ori Pomerantz http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-53990 Ori Pomerantz Wed, 10 May 2006 12:52:23 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/05/10/lifneiiver%e2%80%a6-do-i-put-a-stumbling-block-before-the-blind/#comment-53990 I consider the kind of Internet discussion we have here and on forums.torah.org to be a form of study. Sometimes reading references here sends me back to the original to try and see it in context. Serious Torah study is not always available. I'm at work right now. My boss would have a problem if I had brought a Gmarah and tried to read it for thirty minutes straight. But taking a five minute break for blogging, which relaxes me and lets me write better courses the rest of the time, is perfectly acceptable. I consider the kind of Internet discussion we have here and on forums.torah.org to be a form of study. Sometimes reading references here sends me back to the original to try and see it in context.

Serious Torah study is not always available. I’m at work right now. My boss would have a problem if I had brought a Gmarah and tried to read it for thirty minutes straight. But taking a five minute break for blogging, which relaxes me and lets me write better courses the rest of the time, is perfectly acceptable.

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