Interesting Posts and Articles #211

1. At the Rebbetzin Rocks, she discussed three meshichist tzedakah collectors for the same organization, where they did not make it clear that they were all collecting for the same organization. This seems more troubling to me that the meshichist beliefs.
   
   
2. Is visiting kivrei tzaddikim a form of idolatry? I think a fair argument can be made.
   
   
3. Introducing the Leiman Library, which also includes many articles authored by Rabbi Dr. Shnayer Leiman.
   
   
4. As a followup to the crazy and stupid story of Revital, which threatens death by cancer to those who aren't deemed tznius enough, Rebbetzin Jungreis - well, she says that she will respond to the letters next week.
   

   Special Note: In last week's column I published a tragic letter from a young Israeli girl who was at death's door. Subsequently, I received much e-mail in response to her painful cry, and I will share one of them with you. Next week I will respond to the letters.

   In the meantime publishes another letter, sparked by the Revital story, from a formerly rebellious girl who feels responsible for her sister's punishment. That is, her sister didn't do anything wrong, but she did. And so her sister was punished. And only when this girl did teshuva, at her sister's request, did the sister have a refuah sheleimah. She ends off her letter saying:
   

   I write this letter, not only to share my story, which, Baruch Hashem, has a happy ending, unlike that of Revital, but also because there is a question that keeps bothering me... "Why did my poor sister have to suffer because of me? It's so unfair."

   Mind you, I'm not, chas v'shalom, questioning G-d's justice, but still, I don't understand why someone so innocent and pure should have had to pay for my sins? If you could shed some light on this, I would be most grateful.

   
   We will have to see how the good Rebbetzin replies to this one. I, too, would question this. We read in Ki Teizei (perek 24) that
   
   

   טז לֹא-יוּמְתוּ אָבוֹת עַל-בָּנִים, וּבָנִים לֹא-יוּמְתוּ עַל-אָבוֹת: אִישׁ בְּחֶטְאוֹ, יוּמָתוּ. {ס}

   16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin. {S}

   
   Yet this family's krum and frum hashkafah is that a girl is punished by Hashem for the sins of her sister. Tuvia chata vezigud mangid? Yes, there are instances in the gemara in which chattel is punished, such as children for sins of vowing. But the general worldview that this is what is happening, and the sure arrival at blame for tragedies bugs me. If someone suffers, he or she should inspect their own deeds, not the deeds of others!
   
   
5. Balashon is back, with an analysis of solet.
   
   
6. A cute religious cartoon, about a theme near and dear to our hearts.
   
   
7. ThanBook discusses authentic Judaism times twelve, which echoes a theme Rav Schachter developed as well, as I discuss here on parshablog.
   
   
8. Hirhurim on significant foods to eat on Rosh Hashanah. And the same topic at Yeranen Yaakov. Check out the comment section, about simana milta vs. segulah.
   
   
9. Life In Israel with an inspiring story about someone who missed eating his Shabbos meal.
   
   
10. This xkcd cartoon captures my feelings about the movie version of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
    
    
11. Here at parshablog, why we shouldn't fault Rav Elchanan Wasserman, Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky, and Rambam, for their false messianic prediction.