The Torah Im Derech Eretz Society

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Gerrer Rebbe

"Most interesting is the response of R. Avrohom Mordechai Alter, the Gerrer rebbe. The rebbe did not reply at first to R' Schwab's question, but R. Schwab had the opportunity to meet him personally and asked him the question directly. The rebbe then responded by saying:

כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר אֵלֶיךָ שָׂרָה שְׁמַע בְּקֹלָהּ

R Schwab was understandably perplexed by the rebbe's response until the gabbi clarified matters for him by pointing out that שָׂרָה is an acronym for Shamshon Raphael Hirsch."

Rav Breuer, His Life and Legacy, Kranzler & Landesman, p. 185, footnote 12.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

From Quora.com: Are Germans content to earn 19% less than Americans in 2014?

Ravi Sharma, 5 years in Germany

Yes , I am content. I reach home around six pm and able to spend time with my son who will never be four years young again.

My manager don't expect me to answer any business call after 6 pm.

I enjoy the freedom of unlimited sick leaves and this saves me from lot of stress.

My family is insured and any health issues are handled in cashless systematic way.

At work, I am motivated not by money but excellent colleagues who aim for efficiency, optimization, and a serious drive to improve the status quo.

I forgot to say, I am a foreigner here and haven't managed to pick up the language yet, but the system here ensured my integration and provided me with opportunities to do so.

It's not a perfect world, but Germany is focused on doing important things right."

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Widsom from the gentiles: Dr. Seuss

"You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.

"You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go."

Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

That we may become holy

"Before the person called to the Torah recites his own blessing, the entire congregation is reminded that the Law of God, the Holy One, was given us in order that we, too, may become holy, that it affords us instruction, wisdom, serenity, and enlightenment for all the concerns and desires of our souls, that it seeks to inure us against all temptation and that it is designed to cause us to dwell together in peace by teaching all of us to live in harmony with our God." Hirsch Siddur, p. 186.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Linked Audio Post: How Many Aravos and Hadassim? by Daniel Adler

listen to How Many Aravos and Hadassim?

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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.