Dialogue Dissects Dubious Dogma - Volume 5 Fall 5775/2014 - Dialogue For Torah Issues & Ideas

Dialogue I
Dialogue II
Dialogue III
Dialogue IV



A Private Conversation - penned by R' Aharon Feldman, offers Hashkafic insights into the recent War in Eretz Yisroel. RAF explains why we can be pro-Israel yet anti the present Israeli government, simultaneously.

The New "Orthodoxy": Open to What? and The Reincarnation of the Conservative Movement, by RAF and R. Avrohom Gordimer respectively, dissect why the "Open Orthodoxy" of YCT is totally un-Orthodox.

May Orthodox Rabbis Permit Women to Don Tefillin?, by R. Meyer Twersky explains why ignoring the Rama's ruling on this issue is contrary to Halacha.

The Corporeality Which Never Was by R. Aharon Lopiansky casts doubts on whether R. M. Taku really believed in a corporeal deity.

Aquatic Perfection: The Fascinating World of Fish and Water, by R. Eytan Feiner is a fascinating essay on this rare topic. It is well documented with a wide array of footnotes.

Educating the Child Jewishly by R. Moshe Einstadter shares insights into Jewish Chinuch.

Where is the Passion? authored by R. Dovid Sapirman tackles a topic that many do not want to speak about, namely allowing youngsters to discuss questions of Hashkafa in an open forum.

Halachic Decision Making: The Factors Involved by R. Moshe Walter.

Moral Resistance in the Concentration Camps by David Adler (Posthumous).

Poor Review: Do Scientific Journals Have Sufficient Oversight? by Yoram Bogacz, is a delightful read that describes the poor process of peer review. [I love the title!]

My only complaints are that there was such a huge time gap in between issues and that there was only one letter to the editor printed in this edition.

Mechaye Meisim Metziah - Mamash!

Seen on many blogs. Thanks to TheJewishSongs for posting this to Youtube.

Betters Bring Born-again Borscht Belt, Billions

The site of the old Concord Hotel in Thompson, Sullivan County, (Borscht Belt Country) has been chosen to host a casino.

I am not sure how long it will last, but one day it will probably be owned by a Yeshiva. May that day come soon.

Rabbis Remove Rashbam's Remarks

Artscroll has decided not to publish the controversial pieces of Rashbam in their new Mikraos Gedolos.

Perhaps they can publish an "RCA Edition" of the new Chumash, like they have done for the siddur. :-)

Miracle Man Mendelevitch Meets "Mother"

The story of Yosef Mendelevitch is inspiring indeed. Yosef was one of the famous refuseniks, who took on the Russian Empire and won. In 1970, together with several others he conspired to hijack a Russian plane and fly to freedom. Unfortunately, the group was imprisoned and several were sentenced to death. In fact, news of the death sentence prompted Shlomo Carlebach to write the famous melody Motzi Asirim.

Yosef was freed in 1981 and came to build a beautiful family in Eretz Yisroel. This past week, he returned to Russia for the first time since his incarceration. This reminds me of another famous refusenik, Anatoly Scharansky, who also went on to build a successful political career in Eretz Yisroel after gaining his freedom. When hearing the famous Safam song, "Mother Russia", he commented dryly...Why is the empire referred to as Mother Russia? No mother should treat her children this way.