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My Nom De Plume Exposed

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                             photo credit:wordinfo.info Guest post by R. Michael J. Broyde All credit: torahmusings &  R. Michael J. Broyde   Starting about twenty years ago, I and a friend occasionally used a pseudonym to write about matters of halacha and Jewish public policy. The views expressed were not reflective of an overall joint ideology, but we wished to write together on some matters where we shared a common interest. This pen name — Hershel Goldwasser — had a literary career for about 15 years, and included letters to the editor to various Torah publications as well as other blog comments, publications and emails; he ceased writing substantively a few years ago. We even joined a professional organization that interested us and which we had considered actually joining, and participated in their email list. No malice was ever intended and our participation was always intended to foster vig...
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  From Ego to Bitul to Blessing: A Sefas Emes Perspective on Parshas Korach, Chukat, and Balak The Torah's arrangement of Parshas Korach , Parshas Chukat , and Parshas Balak is far more than a chronological sequence. Together, these three parshiyos trace a profound spiritual progression: from the dangers of ego and self-assertion, to the humility born of accepting Hashem's will, and finally to the revelation that a people who cleave to Hashem cannot be overcome—even by their enemies. Although the Sefas Emes does not explicitly present these three parshiyos as a single thematic trilogy, his teachings on each reveal a remarkable progression built around one central concept: bitul —the nullification of one's own ego before the Divine will. Korach: The Danger of Self-Centered Holiness Korach's rebellion was not a rejection of holiness. On the contrary, he argued that "the entire congregation is holy." His rhetoric sounded noble and egalitarian. Yet the Torah int...
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Ten years since the passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: The leader who shook up Israeli politics

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  He was the greatest and most influential leader of the ultra-Orthodox-Sefardi world, the one whose door the heads of state knocked on, who amazed with moderate and progressive rulings, but who always found time for ordinary people and did not hesitate to lash out at those who angered him. Dudi Fatimer  all credit goes to Dudi Fatimer and Maariv. 12:12 | 29/09/2023 32 Follow us Rabbi Ovadia Yosef | Photo: Flash 90 8 gallery May 1949. Night. Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door of the head of the Ahava Ve'Avva Yeshiva in Egypt, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Immediately afterwards, Egyptian detectives burst into the rabbi's home with drawn pistols and demanded that he hand over the weapons he had. The rabbi, nonchalantly and wisely, led the detectives to the bookcases and told them: "Here, gentlemen, this is my weapon." Fifteen months before this event, the rabbi had visited the palace of the Egyptian King, Farouk, in honor of the king's birthday. This did not help t...
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