Ha-Rav
answers hundreds of text message questions a day! Here's a sample:
Falun
Gong
Q:
Should we protest the horrible abuses which Falun Gong is undergoing in
China? After all, we are a small country
and cannot solve all of the world's problems.
A:
We cannot solve them, but we are obligated to protest as well as to act. The fact is that their government fears this
and denies it.
Q:
Why do we care? They are idol worshippers!
A:
It does not appear that Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is idol worship. It is a technique of exercise with a little
meditation and perfecting of one's character traits, such as truth and
compassion. And we should certainly save
them from injustice.
Q:
But there is a swaskita in their symbol, like the Nazis.
A:
G-d forbid, they are not Nazis. The
swaskita is an ancient symbol from the Far East which the Nazis adopted. They are good and ethical people.
Q:
Is it true that in China they take organs for transplant from members of Falon
Gong against their will and they die from this?
This is horrible! This is like
what the Nazis did! Why are we silent?!
A:
Some researchers make this claim but it has yet to be proven by international
organizations. What is certain is that
they abuse them in an extremely cruel manner, make false arrests and torture
them to death.
Talit
which Falls Off
Q:
Does one have to recite another blessing if his Talit falls off?
A:
No. Shemirat Shabbat Ke-Hilchata
1:69. Not like the opinion of the
Mishnah Berurah 8:15.
Segulot
Q:
Is there value in Segulot?
A:
It depends on which. But the best
Segulot are learning Torah and performing Mitzvot (When Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom
Elyashiv had a great-great grandson – he merited having a great-great-great
grandson in his life, which is extremely rare! – people told him that one who
is the Sandek for a great-great grandson will not see Gehinom [see Leket Yosher
Yoreh Deah 52]. Ha-Rav Elyashiv replied:
"I worked my entire life to enter Gan Eden through the main entrance, not
the side door!" Gedola Shimusha of
Ha-Rav Tzvi Weisfish, p. 230).
Woman's
Beauty
Q:
I am a totally unattractive young woman, I am even ugly, and I am not okay with
it. What can I do?
A:
The essential beauty of a person is his inner, ethical and spiritual
beauty. External beauty is
relative. In the eyes of your husband,
you will be the most beautiful in the world. The philosopher Voltaire said: What is
beauty? If you ask a black man, he will
respond: 'A black woman'. If you ask a
Japanese man, he will reply: 'A Japanese woman'. If you ask a bull, it will reply: 'A
cow'. If you ask a toad, it will reply:
'A female toad'. And if you ask a
philosopher, he will answer with Incomprehensible gobbledygook…” We learn in the Talmud (Ketubot 16b-17a):
“What should one sing as he dances before a bride at her wedding? Beit Hillel
said: 'What a lovely, righteous bride!' Bet Shammai asked them: And if she is
lame or blind, should you say, 'What a lovely, righteous bride?' The Torah
says, ‘Distance yourself from a lie' (Shemot 23:7). Beit Hillel replied,
'According to what you say, if someone made a bad purchase in the marketplace,
should his acquaintances praise or disparage it when speaking to him? I would
say that they should praise it.' Based on this our Sages said, 'One should
always attune himself to his fellow's concerns.'" The Maharal in Netivot
Olam, Netiv Ha-Emet comments that beauty and truth are subjective. The groom
doesn't love his wife because she is beautiful. She is beautiful because he
loves her.
Q:
Is it permissible for me to have plastic surgery to remove an unattractive
feature?
A:
Certainly. May Hashem bless you (Tosafot
50b. Shut Igrot Moshe, Choshen Mishpat
2:66. Shut Tzitz Eliezer 11:41. Shut Yabia Omer 8:12).
