Scientists just admitted that they got the age of the earth wrong by 60 million years! because of few crystals found in South Africa nd Australia. and we supposed to take science seriously as a real challenge to our G-d given Torah? I’m all for reconciling Torah and science wherever possible, but give me a break!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/06/14/newser-earth-60-million-years-older/10518499/
Marijuana can make you stupider
-it is frightening how its use among teens is on the increase- an absolute indictment against those who favor its legalization
“people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost an average of 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38”
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Children need to be trained to be passionate Torah Jews in a modern setting, not sheltered from modernity so they cannot face it.
this does not mean that we should expose our kids to everything bad and dangerous in the world- just like we wouldn’t allow them to drive without a driver’s license, or drive through a war-zone even with a license, we have to give our kids sensible boundaries as we train them for life.
Common Sense and much guidance needs to be used in order to find a balance between these two essential goals.
Justifying the unjustifiable
Why do so many people believe that it is a Torah requirement to justify unjustifiable behavior when it is carried out by great people?
The Gemoro I know says “In a situation where there is Chillul Hashem, we do not show respect for a teacher.” – in other words, one does not refrain from criticizing one’s own Rabbi, if Chilul Hashem is involved, even if it seems disrespectful. [Brachos 19b]
It also tells us that the obligation to rebuke one’s neighbor applies even to a student in front of his Rabbi [B.M. 31a]-
I have always asked my students to apply this halocho to me, and they have usually obliged!
obviously humility is needed when criticizing those greater than oneself, but refraining from doing so, or even worse, justifying actions of theirs that are clearly wrong, is not the Torah way- its the way of a different religion
echoes of the past with lessons for the future- we should never take extremist incitement lightly or pass it off as “only fringe lunacy”
May peace come to Israel, from within and without, and to the whole world.
http://www.torah.org/rabin/amital.html
I felt so nauseous over this yesterday, that its was hard to enjoy Shabbos. the very fact that a “Ben Torah” could even say such a thing in
“error”, or as a “joke” is probably reason to tear keriya.
things are getting out of hand and I fear that this incident will be swept under the carpet instead of the roots of the terrible rhetoric being addressed- hopefully, I am wrong
A Mechanech has to love his Talmidim, give them a love of Torah, AND teach them a lot- if he doesn’t do any of these, he is not a mechanech
The low standard of Hebrew in our schools is a cause for great concern.
It is the key to three great pillars of religious Jewish life: learning Torah, davening, and living in Israel, so how can it be so neglected?
Informal Education is an essential but often underestimated part of Chinuch in today’s world
If you ALSO have fun with your students, take them on trips and camps, you will bond better with them and ultimately give them a greater love of Torah.
the same Rabbis who educate in the classroom also have to educate outside the classroom and serve as role models in normal, everyday life.
Whatever money is spent on this is MORE than justified, and those who feel it is a “waste of time and money” suffer from a serious loss of vision.
yoniisaacson.com 