Comments on: A Yeshiva’s Success Should be Measured by Its Long-term Impact

By: Sholom DovBer Avtzon

Sholom DovBer Avtzon — Tue, 21 May 2024 03:00:32 +0000

I heard from Rabbi Nissim Mangel the following story many times.
After not receiving food for 2 days, the Germans yimach shemum, gave everyone a piece of Salami.
He did not want to eat something not kosher , but his father told him.it is Pikachu nefesh and he must eat it.
He ate it, but immediately threw up.
However, while the Rov told everyone to eat it, he himself stated I can’t, I won’t be able to chew it.
Yes he sadly was niftar a few days later.

The Frierdiker Rebbe says in Sefer Hasichos that the final fast of behab was on erev lag bomer. The Rabbonim paskened they should end the fast somewhat early.
While Reb Hillel Paritcher also paskened that, he himself didn’t eat.
They asked him why, and he replied, I am afraid I won’t be able to chew it and it will be stuck in my throat

By: Sl

Sl — Tue, 21 May 2024 00:08:15 +0000

In reply to From a talmid.

See gmara eruvin 21 b story of rebbi akiva and tosafos there.
Here is a quote from the sefer לחם שמים
ובזה יישבתי מה ששמעתי מתמיהים על שנמצא בתשו’ רקנטי משם ריב”א ז”ל שהחמיר על עצמו בבעיא דספק נפשות לענין איסור אכילה ביוה”כ דבכרת. דאע”ג דקיי”ל ספק נפשות להקל. היינו מדינא. מכל מקום אינה משנת חסידים וק”ו מנט”י שהיא של סופרים. אף כי יום הכפורים איסור כרת. ואבאר דבר זה אי”ה עוד במקומו:

By: Students of Rabbi Akiva

Students of Rabbi Akiva — Mon, 20 May 2024 23:06:28 +0000

In reply to From a talmid.

This is one great example of where the ‘students of Rabbi Akiva’ of all times can have a disagreement. One says, ‘This is so inspiring – the mesiras nefesh to not be mchalel fasting on Yom kippur’. Another says ‘Being makpid on my health is my way of achieving ultimate connection with Hashem, because my mesiras nefesh is that I WON’T fast, even though I really wish to’.
And another says ‘like this or like that, my inspiration is to seek a way to be more connected to Hashem’…
There’s no right and wrongs, only when we fight and insist our way is it and the only way…
Rabbi Akiva of then and today has diverse students and that is the beauty of it.

By: Yakov Kirschenbaum

Yakov Kirschenbaum — Mon, 20 May 2024 20:11:11 +0000

BH Beautiful… Thank you Reb Gershy for sharing.

By: From a talmid

From a talmid — Mon, 20 May 2024 19:08:24 +0000

I am requesting a makor in the poskim for these stories with Reb Aba Pliskin and Reb Akiva Wagner – where despite the doctors orders they fasted on Yom Kippur “expressing their deep connection to Hashem”.

I don’t want to this to be taken the wrong way, and I have a very deep respect for my dear Rosh Yeshiva, but this story can have very dangerous ramifications with people not taking pikuach nefesh seriously!