12
votes
Accepted
Agunoth and Mamzerim after the Holocaust
Even though it's an old question, still I would like to answer it, as my native country was heavily involved in this very sad historical event. One of the most important work on the issue is the essay ...
- 8,117
8
votes
R' Desler's Theory Behind the Holocaust
Perhaps you mean vol IV, pg 124:
We are struck dumb at the terrible destruction that has been visited upon us in our generation, and we ask ourselves: For what reason has God done this to us… What ...
- 9,971
7
votes
How many admorim died in the Holocaust?
There's a book (in Hebrew) dedicated to this topic (אדמו"רים שניספו בשואה - מאת מנשה אונגר). If you have access to Otzar HaChochma, the full book is available online here:
Plus a wiki listing ...
- 3,423
7
votes
Gedolim During the Holocaust
Gittin 56b seems the clearest example, and I have heard this quoted in regards to the Holocaust. Raban Yochanan ben Zakai, effectively chief rabbi of the Jews, is negotiating with the Roman Emperor ...
- 136k
6
votes
Why was Yom HaShoah not established as a fast day?
This is because Yom HaShoah is held on the 27th of Nissan, and it is halachically forbidden to establish a fast during the month of Nissan. (the fast of the firstborn does not fall under this ...
- 5,437
6
votes
Why did G-d not stop the holocaust?
Sorry for saying that:
G-d doesn't stop what He started1,2. He didn't "stop" the Egyptian exile, where millions perished, neither He "stopped" the destruction of the two Temples ...
- 28k
4
votes
Why did G-d not stop the holocaust?
Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein briefly addresses this in his book "By His Light" (chapter 8). His general approach regarding the Holocaust is that we simply don't know:
"... it may be preferable to ...
- 10.5k
4
votes
Why did the Piasezcner's students give his writings the title Aish Kodesh?
A little while ago, I found the answer in a 2019 Tablet article by Shaul Magid, "A new history of holy fire" (https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/belief/articles/a-new-history-of-holy-fire). ...
- 183
3
votes
Accepted
The Klausenburger Rebbe's speech and Zionism
The Torah journal to which you are likely referring is called "צאנז, תורה, עבודה וגמילות חסדים" and is listed in the National Library of Israel catalog here.
It is available in the library ...
- 3,423
3
votes
Was God actively involved in bringing out the Holocaust?
I might think that not all would agree on this matter.
However, the psalmist seems very convinced that Jewish defeat and slaughter are very much in the hand of God. My Hebrew skills are not ...
- 1,305
3
votes
Can you attend Purim dressed like Hitler?
This article quotes Otzer Minhagei Chabad (60) based on Likkutei Sichos (p. 280) saying that
One is to prevent children from dressing like Haman in order so they
do not have any similarity to the ...
- 14.7k
2
votes
What has the Holocaust taught us as a people?
A similar sentiment to Shmuel Brin’s answer.
From this interview by Mr. Forst on Rabbi Chaim Michael Dov Weissmandl, transcribed here on pages 65-66.
He says [Rabbi Forst] the nonreligious Jew ...
- 730
2
votes
Why did G-d not stop the holocaust?
THere's another way of looking at the Catastrophe:
Rashi on the Posuk (Gen 45):
וַיִּפֹּל עַל־צַוְּארֵי בִנְיָמִן־אָחִיו וַיֵּבְךְּ וּבִנְיָמִן בָּכָה עַל־צַוָּארָיו׃
With that he [Yossef] ...
- 28k
2
votes
Accepted
Do Jewish historians consider the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE on par with the Shoah/Holocaust?
Jewish Virtual Library in the article entitled 'Ancient Jewish History: The Great Revolt (66-70 CE)' says:' . . . the Great Revolt of 66-70, followed some sixty years later by the Bar Kokhba revolt, ...
- 1,834
2
votes
Can I buy products that are made in Germany?
It is an accepted idea to not buy any German cars, but I never heard of people not buying all German products.
Anyway I don't think it has any halachic reasoning. It's just as a kind of silent protest ...
- 29
2
votes
Studying Holocaust Responsa on Tish'ah BeAv
Rabbi Silber, one of the Rabbonim in Baltimore, included a few responsa from the sefer as part of his kinnos morning shiur/program. (See page 29 of the sourcesheet: https://files.rabbisilber.com/...
- 14.7k
2
votes
Was Nazi sadism a case of "surrender your life if they're trying to stamp out religion"?
quoting from this website:
ההכרעה אם המציאות בתקופת השואה היא בגדר "פיקוח נפש" או "שעת השמד"
הייתה קשה מכיוון שהכרזה על שעה כ"שעת השמד" מחייבת ידיעה של כוונת
המלכות, קרי כוונות הנאצים. אם ...
2
votes
Holocaust Remembrance Fast Day
In his kiruv 20+ CD series, Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky said, "We observe all of the catastrophic tragedies of our nation on one specific day: Tisha B’Av. The loss of our Temple is the root cause of all our ...
- 14.7k
2
votes
Understanding the Shoah
Thank you for your question.
As Al Berko mentioned in his response, the subject of Holocaust has been a difficult topic for many Jewish people. I am myself a grandson of survivors and the subject of ...
- 5,036
1
vote
The nature of the specific Pharoah when we left Egypt, and his relation to Amalek?
With regards to Pharaohs connection with Amalek and the enemies of the jewish people.
During the enslavement in Egypt Bilaam had offered his advice to the pharaoh regarding implementing harsh ...
- 1,669
1
vote
The nature of the specific Pharoah when we left Egypt, and his relation to Amalek?
Right after the exodus, the Torah says
"Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim." (Shemot 17:8).
This is what your pasuk in Devarim
25:17 is mentioning.
Amalek was a nation back ...
- 14.7k
1
vote
Bobover Rebbe Shlomo and Lubavitch Yechidus
It is extremely unlikely that the Bobover Rebbe ever had a period of seriously no longer wanting to be the Rebbe only to be convinced otherwise by the Rayatz.
Rav Moshe Sherer was not a Bobover ...
- 6,164
1
vote
Bobover Rebbe Shlomo and Lubavitch Yechidus
Here is the the story. Considering the first source wasn't mentioned, I hope it is a second.
- 1,773
1
vote
Why was Yom HaShoah not established as a fast day?
Similar to the already answered answers, in the sefer הדור והתקופה page 65 it is brought down that when the Israeli Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Hertzog came to speak to Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, the ...
- 3,836
1
vote
Why was Yom HaShoah not established as a fast day?
In our kinnos (kinnah 25, about the first crusade) the paytan writes: "שימו נא על לבבכם מספד מר לקשרה, כי שקולה הריגתם להתאבל ולהתעפרה, כשרפת בית אלקנו האולם והבירה, וכי אין להוסיף מועד שבר ...
- 979
1
vote
Remove Holocaust tattoos?
Rav Ephraim Oshry addresses this question in his Shailos Uteshuvos Mi'mamakim 5:22 ,and is brought in a summary fashion in the English book "Responsa from the Holocaust". He held that one ...
- 42.7k
1
vote
Studying Holocaust Responsa on Tish'ah BeAv
I would understand that it would be forbidden. The reponsa themselves go through dialetic discussions of halachic topics that are not germane to the seriousness of the day, but rather the intracacies ...
- 152
1
vote
What is the proper greeting for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day)?
Yom hashoa occurs during the month of Nissan. The custom around Nissan is to increase in Joy. While the holocaust is a serious and solemn time to remember it would be inappropriate during the month of ...
- 1,279
1
vote
What has the Holocaust taught us as a people?
Many years ago Rav Kook gave the following speech
Excerpted from the book, "Torat Eretz Yisrael - The Teachings of HaRav Tzvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook,” compiled by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rabbi David Samson,...
- 43.5k
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