The Torah Im Derech Eretz Society

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Rav Hamburger on Timing of Birchos Hatoroh

Why do we say Birchos Hatoroh before Korbunos and not after Asher yutzar as it is printed in most siddurim?

Answer: The minhag has been set by the kadmonim to say all the morning blessings together in shul so that none will be skipped, the proper place for Birchos Hatoroh was before Korbunos which is in itself Torah learning and requires a brocho beforehand. Since we learn immediately afterwards there is no need to add special pesukim or Mishnayos which are printed in the siddurim.

https://sites.google.com/site/beishaknesesashkenaz/beishakneses

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Rachmaninoff plays Piano Concerto 2

Rachmaninoff plays Piano Concerto 2

Perhaps too emotional for classic TIDE - usually I opt for composers of the Baroque era such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi or Classical era Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn. Their music is characterized by discipline and order. But then again, even Beethoven could get pretty excited. Compared to our reckless era, even Rachmaninoff sounds lofty and organized and can elevate us.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Linked Post: A Yeshiva Based on Torah Im Derech Eretz

Linked post to a guest post:

A Yeshiva Based on Torah Im Derech Eretz

"There is a need for a new yeshiva high school for boys. One with the learning that is ostensibly exclusive to the “Charedi” world and with the breadth that is ostensibly exclusive to the “Modern” world. One in which talmidim will be empowered to actively pursue a truly well rounded approach to learning. In short, a Torah Im Derech Eretz (TIDE) yeshiva high school."

continue

Friday, January 2, 2015

Class on R' Hirsch at Torah In Motion in Toronto, Sat. Jan 10.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

R Binyomin Shlomo Hamburger speaking tonight in Lakewood

R Binyomin Shlomo Hamburger, author of the Shorshei Minhag Ashkenaz seforim and head of the Machon Moreshes Ashkenaz, will be speaking tonight in Lakewood at 8:15 PM in Beis Aaron on the Yeshiva Campus.

בעזהי"ת

בשמחה רבה אנו מודיעים

שהרה"ג ר' בנימין שלמה המבורגר נ"י

מבני ברק

בעמח"ס שרשי מנהג אשכנז

ראש מכון מורשת אשכנז

ידרוש במוצאי עשרה בטבת

בשעה שמונה ורבע בערב (8:15 PM)

בחדרי החבורות

בבית אהרן

בענין הלכות ומנהגי נפילת אפים

R' Joseph Breuer, zt'l, 1882-1980

"Anyone who has but a fleeting insight into the life and work of Rav Hirsch will realize that his Torah im Derech Eretz formula was never intended by him as a Horo'as Sho'oh....As for us let us do our best to promote and fulfill the Torah im Derech Eretz ideal in its true spirit and let us protect it from regrettable misuse and interpretation. A personal footnote: on the day before he passed away, my father told me: 'I am firmly convinced that the way shown by Rav Hirsch will be mekarev ha'geulah.' A sacred testament." ("The Relevance of the Torah Im Derech Eretz Ideal")

"The definition of a gadol be'Yisrael is one who is great in Torah and great in piety, one whose personal views and conduct are based exclusively on those twin pillars. Such a person is acknowledged as a peer by the other great men of his era. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch was revered by the Chassidic leaders of Galicia and by the rabbis of Lithuania. That his views did not accord with theirs was immaterial; his philosophy grew out of his G-d-fearing understanding of Torah, and therefore it was legitimate for him. So it was with Rabbi Salomon Breuer and so it was with Rabbi Joseph Breuer. Their greatness transcended community. They belonged to Klal Yisrael, so they were honored by Klal Yisrael, all of it."

R' Shlomo Wolbe

Full article

The brave German Jewish communities

"...in Germany where there was so much assimilation, a number of German Jews decided they are going to fight for the preservation of the Torah. And they built up an Orthodox kehilla that was excellent in every detail. They were machmir in everything. In some respects, they were more frum than the Jews in Russia and Poland were. And they had organized kashrus. Strict hashgacha. Not rabbanim who gave heksherim and were paid for it. No. The kehillias gave hashgacha and were very strict in every detail. And so the minority that withstood the test were a glorious fulfillment of the prophecy that the Am Yisroel will continue forever despite any circumstances."

Rav Avigdor Miller, Recording #855 - "The Kiss of Esav," 11:48

R' Miller on Great Kehillas

"Satmar they are devoted to avodas Hashem. They go all out to serve Hashem. Lubavitch, all out to serve Hashem. No question about that. They are not the only kehillas. I have plenty to say about the German kehillah. I love the German kehillah. As a boy I davened every Shabbos in a German shul. I can sit four hours in the afternoon, Shabbos afternoon, in a German shul. These kehillas we have to appreciate. And all the things that are said against them we have to learn how to refute. Vehitzidku es ha tzadick." R' Avigdor Miller, Loving His People 2, #528 1:06.