אַל־תַּ֣עַן כְּ֖סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּ֥וֹ גַם־אָֽתָּה: Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest even you become like him. Mishle (Proverbs) 26:4 A response to a post by a member of our Shiviti Learning Forum on Facebook Shalom, I hesitated greatly before approving this post. But since you are not the only one to […]
Author: Rabbi Yonatan Halevy
“He who walks in the middle of the roads gets hit from both sides.” In light of our recent post concerning the danger of messianic elements which identify with Chabad, attacks followed from both sides: 1) Some – falsely and viciously – accused us of attacking an entire movement of our brothers and sisters, instead […]
(This article initially appeared as a Facebook post on our official page. For those among us who hate the truth, I beg of you: please don’t read this. Just keep moving on.) The Trigger Question How would you feel if a good friend, a seemingly religious Jew – wears a Kippah and Tzitzit, prays every day, […]
“My friends, this is where Judaism stands today. This is how the rabbinic establishment makes decisions regarding who is “acceptable” and who is “not”. This is how some opinions are championed, while others are not just rejected but are deemed entirely invalid. Whoever is more violent – prevails!” – Rabbi Yonatan Halevy, Rabbinic Violence Part 1 […]
The Jewish community has long had a fear of Halachah. No, I am not talking about those Jewish communities who are honest about their indifference or non-absolute loyalty to Halachah. Rather, I am referring to the community who constantly prides itself as being “Halachically observant” and relishes at any opportunity to judge and critique all […]
I was recently contacted by an individual who responded to my numerous requests from my viewers to do so if they have anything they wish to discuss. Being that this email is about a very important topic, and that it was asked with such tremendous Derech Eretz, I felt obligated to respond. The email has […]
Candid Conversations: A Video Series with Rabbi Yonatan Halevy Episode 10: Hallel or Heresy Question: What is our attitude towards Zionism, the State of Israel, and the celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut? Want to submit the next question? Just send the rabbi an email! Rabbi Yonatan Halevy’s official YouTube channel! Subscribe for the newest audio and […]
Join our Facebook forum by clicking here! Haircuts and Shaving During Sefirat HaOmer Question: Can I shave/get a haircut on Rosh Chodesh? Answer: Maran in the Shulchan Aruch calls the custom to do so an “incorrect” one. But one would first have to establish the severity of the custom not to shave in the first place. In the entire […]
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“Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me— A man of conflict and strife with all the land!” – Yirmiyahu (15:10) “If I am forced to be a man of conflict with the whole world because of the leaning towards truth that is deep in my soul – which [which causes me to […]
My thoughts on a WhatsApp message I received today. The author of the message was not malicious, but instead tried to be nice and apologetic, though my response to it unfortunately cannot be. The context? Yesterday, one of of my wife’s precious students from her years of teaching in Israel tragically took her own life. Brief […]