YUTORAH: R' Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff -- Recent Shiurim Rakeffet-Rothkoff, Rabbi Dr. Aaron

Volozhin Yeshiva. Comparing R' Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) and R' Chaim Soloveitchik. Sukkot in Volozhin. Descriptions of Some of the Students and Their Experiences. Graetz. R' Meir Bar-Ilan. - May 6, 2024 - Monty Michael Nussbaum, ז"ל. Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva: The Postcards. Maharam Shapiro and Ponevezher Rav visit a wealthy Jew in NY. Comparing Netziv to the Rav and Rav Aharon Kotler. Netztiv's shiurim to the general public: What they were like. His explanation of Bereishit being called Sefer Hayashar. How the IDF has made it possible for Torah observant soldiers to feel comfortable. Lack of Chassidic-like joy in Volozhin except for during Sukkot. The pale wasted wealthy student's hidden library including Graetz's history. The Lakewood restaurant. Netziv felt publishing a journal might lead to apikorsut. R' Yitzchak Nissenbaum, darshan of Warsaw worked with R' Shmuel Mohliver and Hibbat Tzion. Minsk monument. R' Nissenbaum's process of entry as a new student into Volozhin. The differing schedule and nature of the shiurim of R' Chaim Soloveitchik compared to Netziv. R' Meir Bar-Ilan. The Rav's mother and the matzot. Netziv and the student who shaved with a razor. Other stories about Netziv. A key source is ישיבות ליטא פרקי זכרונות by עמנואל אטקס, שלמה טיקוצ'ינסקי

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 17:190: How Should We Interact With, Live With or Not Live With, and Try to Succeed in Influencing Non-Observant Jews? - May 5, 2024 - Addressing the Rav in 3rd person – correction to the story. Stephen S. Bressler was devoted to Aish Hatorah, he was a master chef and more. Mishneh Halachot 17:190: Do not maledict Jewish רשעים. The Rav on Reform Jews. Barton's candies problem on Pesach. R' Menashe on his worrying about being misunderstood. Rambam Hilkhot De'ot 6:1: Keep away from resha'im even if one must move to the desert to do this. Shabbat 55a and Ezekiel 9:4: The righteous must rebuke and try to influence resha'im but then not live with them as Rambam says. Who is and who is not a בעל תשובה? Hoshea was taught אסור להלשין reshai'm לקב"ה, to God or ללמד קטגוריה on them. This applies to individuals and also the entire nation. Hoshea was taught by God he must defend them. This Is My God by Herman Wouk. October 7th massacre. Lapid is right, Zionism is in fact Messianic. Belief in משיח led to its success. Being positive toward non-observant Jews is what succeeds. Examples of this happening, including in recent decades.

Special Shiur: History of BMT and the Horwitz Family - Apr 8, 2024 - Video of this Shiur on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/QMwVrKJa13w

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 9:216: May or Should One Institute Takanot Against Jews Who Are Not Sufficiently Observant? In General, How Should We Relate to Less Observant Jews in Modern Times? Long Term Consequences are Crucial. - Apr 7, 2024 - R' Klein's lady editor. R' Moshe: Son must obey father & not go to yeshiva he preferred. London student forbidden to attend BMT came back to observance and Torah. Student whom R' Elchanan told not to attend YC is identified. Should one institute תקנות discriminating against non-observant Jews? What results in the future from such a takanah may be bad. Chatam Sofer, R' Hirsch & Austritt 1876, Würzburger Rav, Netziv, & Rav Soloveitchik dealt with this issue. Chazon Ish on 26a ע"ז. Gentile shepherds & thieves, should not be saved from death. They destroy society. Also execute מינים ומומרים. Rambam, Mamrim 3:2: agrees but only for the original apikorus, not descendants who should be brought back. Golda Meir in Moscow. Chazon Ish: Yoreh Deah, שחיטה ,2:16 states only if השגחה גלויה exists may an apikorus be eliminated. A Life Apart. The greatest rabbis in 1880s, 1940s, & today, made wrong decisions. Use love and inspiration for Torah. Examples of children of non-observant who years later became observant. Sotah 46b & מלכים ב 2:18. Elisha curses 42 children who mocked him & are then killed by bears. Justification is he saw that they & all their descendants were completely non-religious.

Volozhin Yeshiva: R' Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv) is Now Dominant. Descriptions of Some of the Students. What Made Volozhin Special for Them. Writing Biographies. Graetz. Historical Development of Talmud - Apr 1, 2024 - Shabbtai Tzvi, his effect on Sephardim, R' Emden vs. R' Eybeschutz, Cleves get & all of the above, their impact on rise of Reform Judaism. Israeli Post office. R' Friedman regretted contributing to responsum permitting driving on Shabbat. How birth of Conservative Judaism could've been prevented. Netziv is now dominant. His appreciation for haskalah, Zionism, & other areas, but never inside the yeshiva. Why no biographies were written until the 1800s. Solomon Judah Loeb Rapoport wrote biographies. Barbara Streisand. Hesped for R' Aharon Lichtenstein. ישיבות ליטא פרקי זכרונות by עמנואל אטקס, שלמה טיקוצ'ינסקי Rose Lieberman and the 6th Rebbe. The 400 Volozhin students were multi-faceted. Many students appreciated 'History of the Jews,' by Graetz. R' Hirsch did not. The student who was driven away from his wife & child then found solace in Volozhin. The Rav's semikhah. The student who read Graetz and literature at midnight. Individuals who dealt with historical development of the Talmud beginning with 'Darkei ha-Mishnah,' by Zecharias Frankel. The wealthy student's library. R' Melech Schachter's doctoral dissertation. R' Rakeffet's 1972 speech about President of Israel.

R' Menashe Klein: Mishneh Halakhot 9:216: May or Should One Institute תקנות in a Shul Against Jews Who Are Not Sufficiently Observant? In General, How Should We Relate to Less Observant Jews and Do We Expel Such Students from Yeshivot? Sabbateans? - Mar 31, 2024 - Chabad visiting soldiers on Purim. R' Elchonon Wasserman's letter to a student: Do not study at Dr. Revel's yeshiva. Mishneh Halachot 9:216. Should one institute תקנות discriminating against non-observant Jews such as no aliyot nor being שליחי צבור? This might drive them away & make them worse. We appreciate less observant Jews who are dedicated to Israel but it's not sufficient. Does civil marriage require a get? This needs a conference of rabbis. Expelling a student for bad behavior. BMT student. The views of חזון איש וחפץ חיים. Rema vs. Taz. Be'er Heitev & Pitchei Teshuvah. Chabad on relating to intermarried couples. Synagogue Council. Sabbateans and Frankists are to be totally banned (no מחלוקת). Austritt & R' Hirsch. Limud in England. Why Shabbtai Tzvi attracted followers. Each situation is unique. Consider children & grandchildren. Zohar, וירא: From Avraham, we learn it is forbidden to pray for destruction of רשעים such as Terach. R' Theodore Friedman debate: Catholic rabbi. Mordecai Kaplan. The Rav on how to treat Conservative & Reform rabbis. R' Klein doesn't decide. Only גדולי הדור can decide on such תקנות. Each case is unique & needs מתינות גדולה וישוב הדעת of Gedolim.