The Mitzvah observant community owes a great debt of Hakaoras Hatov to former President Donald Trump for unabashedly displaying a special friendship to Eretz Yisroel and the Jewish community here in the United States. The Lakewood community in particular, is most appreciative of the politically brave and hard decisions he made to do what is right in our backyard, and across the world.
Rav Shmuel Blech, Shlita, along with the Vaad, reminds the tzibbur that from a strictly halachic and Torahdike perspective, the Hakoras Hatov he deserves takes priority over our urges to sound off with disparaging political commentary.
In additional to halachic considerations, we do not know what the national political future holds. Vehameivan Yovin.
President Trump has already publicly reacted negatively to the leaders of the [secular] Jewish community for not appreciating his truly outstanding efforts to recognize Yerushalayim for what it is – and what it has always been – the undisputed heart and center of Am Yisroel. He has likewise tried his best to secure a safe Israel and to make a new real kind of Shalom with the Abraham Accords.
Let us not join the frenzy to disparage our friends. Words do hurt and fly across the globe instantly in this electronic media age. Our communications are scrutinized and often are used for fodder by haters and adversaries against us. Let’s all contribute to the Kiddush Hashem of appreciating and thanking our friends and not Chalila the opposite.
Respectfully submitted by Moshe Zev Weisberg, on behalf of the Lakewood Vaad
Likewise let us collectively display hakaros h’tov to the lomedei Torah who protect us in incalculable ways.
And kal v’chomer not to chas v’shalom say anything derogative about any sitting politician v’al achas kama v’kama our illustious President, may he live and be well. (Bava Basra 4a)
@Emes, perhaps you should not say derogatory things about a sitting president, but saying he is illustrious is definitely not the Emes.
Winning by the most votes in the history of america pretty illustrious.
So true! We never know what the future holds, so we can’t be stuck in the moment and post things in a reactionary way that we may regret in 2 or even 20 years. Once something is posted it’s extremely hard to undo. Ever. Think about that, and that thought is not just limited to the political arena.
Oh. how true. V’hameiven Yavin.
Respectfully submitted.
Dear vaad,Please do not tell me what I should or I shouldn’t say.I will say what I want to say.It is called freedom of speech.Noone listens to you guys anyways.
You are sooooo tough and cool!!
I searched in the Torah and did not find the concept of ‘freedom of speech’.
Which religion do you follow?
A real true and honest Askan does not talk like that.
Please change your name.
Please edit:
dear “Mega”Vaad
Thank you.
Rabbi Blech is giving us beautiful advice.
I once heard that Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky (may his memory be blessed) he once said that people should not wear their Tallis on top of their clothing outside. If you want to tell me that the times have changed since then, then I ask, “Did things change 200 million miles in the opposite direction from that Psak of Rabbi Kamenetsky???”
But it’s appropriate to criticize Biden and the Democrats because they have done nothing for the Jewish people?
Well said Rabbi Blech and Rabbi Weisberg.
It’s a pleasure to hear common sense in a very confused world!
Unfortunately, Trump has gone OCD over his election loss.
He has been totally absorbed by his loss (fair or unfair) to the point that he has trouble thinking about anything else making him unfit for another term.
He did much good while in office, but now it’s time for someone else. (Mike Pence perhaps?)
megaaskin: if you are a torah jew then you can be told what to do. that is what the torah is all about if not then you are not a religious jew
No matter what, he’s still a Jew. He’s following some kind of religion. Judaism is not a religion.
I’m not sure who is crazier, Biden or those who defend him !
Thank you Rabbi Blech for guidance and words of wisdom
Please can you possibly remove megaaskans comment which is extremely disrespectful and out of place??
Dear everyone who got so upset by my comment:
“Sam” says that a torah jew can be told what to say.Ofcourse.But only the torah can tell him what he can or cannot say.Not the vaad who is definitely not the torah.Trust me.
“Anonymous” says that I’m so cool.Thank you very much.
“Write a comment” says where does the torah say anything about freedom speech.The torah says that all speech is permitted besides certain speech which is forbidden.I dont see where the torah says not to speak bad against Donald Trump.As a matter of fact it is totally permitted.
“Some Respect” wants me to show some respect.When the vaad starts respecting me I’ll start respecting the vaad.
Megaaskan!! Talmidei Chachomim and Rabbonim, and the Torah are all ONE!! So if the Vaad tell you something, its as if the torah tells you…
Now please accept and take back your previous comments… your words are grossly unacceptable….
1: you should not come out like this when there are very choshuv rabanim that say not like you
2: do you even have any idea who is on the vaad?
3:in chazal they say a person should do miat sicha
4: theres a concept in the torah which is called hakaras hatov. this is not a one time thing that we only have to do at our convenience. it is a mida which forever indebts us. so while you most definately do not have to vote for him, and you may even think that he has terrible middos, but you should not come out and scream adn rant at him.
5: are you a jewish american or an american jew…. stop being so slf centered and conceited
2. GREAT POINT! ?
If one have the gall to challenge the Halachic authority and ruling of one of our most revered and distinguished Torah leaders as Rabbi Blech is, than he can bury his shameful face.
Trump is correct in pointing out how Liberal “Jews” turned their backs on Israel and so on. He should have noted, however, that Orthodox Jews overwhelmingly support him, a fact he is acutely aware of. Unfortunately, it seems that one of his aims is to endear himself further to the American anti-Semites, and hence he omitted this crucial fact. In any event, I would not hesitate to vote for him again.
@megaaskan. First of all I would like to wish you a good nights sleep. And second, when you wake up and feel rested and calm, maybe you can ask a question to the rabbi that was mentioned in the article with a little more respect instead of venting and tantruming the way you did. Have a good night
Free translation:
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the water courses through a stream, He turneth it whithersoever He will”.
Chill everyone, mega askan is just a teenager. You can tell from his comments. No adult says such things.
Dear Lol,I’m 50 years old.And chas vashalom I am not saying anything against Rabbi Bleach.He is a gigantic talmid chacham who I don’t come to the dust on his feet.What I am against is the vaad who (moderated) who think they can tell the whole Lakewood who to vote for,what they can say…..
Rabbi Weisberg from the SCARY vaad is only telling over what Rabbi Blech said. So by stuffing your fingers in your ears, sticking out your tongue and saying “nananukishkish” like a two year old, you are essentially saying that you do not have to listen to Rabbi Blech.
(Unless you do not believe that Rabbi Blech actually said it. Which you never said. You only said you do not have to listen to the vaad.)
And also, Rabbi Blech is a rabbinic guide for the vaad. Everything that they do is according to daas Torah. (I am not sure if only Rabbi Blech, or if there are also other rabbanim that they consult.)
To megaskan:
Maybe do some research into the story of Penina and Chana.
@somerespect
Laughs in gulag
I was under the impression that TLS does not allow comments when quoting Rabonim. This was not a statement from the Vaad. This was a statement from one of our Rabonim. Weather I agree or not is inconsequential.
Thank you
Mega Askan i wanna thank you for bringing up this important mattert,Donald trump was the best thing that ever happened to the Jews so got that reason we shouldn’t bad mouth him,but the Torah never said u can’t bad mouth a king who did nice things I don’t know if u know this but the rasha Herod rebuilt the beis hamikdash does that mean we should respect him??
Mr some respect are u being a self hating Jew???
And of course hakoros hatov to Obama for giving Israel the Iron Dome. Hakoro Hatov to Biden for the child tax credit…. Funny I never here hakoros Hatov for the-iron dome, I know the iron dome saved lives Trumps behavior and actions results still undetermined.
Orpah was rewarded for walking with Naomi in this world. Moshe rabbeinu had hakoros hatov to the nile and the sand so aaron carried out those makos. But those makkos were carried out. Rubashkin should have hakoros hatov to Trump. The argument against Trump comes strongest from the people who witnessed his behavior closest and it way beyond the scope of this website. Don’t worry when the cable news covered Trump’s continued antisemtism they said the Orthodox jews like Trump, great shout out.
The issue of HaKoras HaTov is misunderstood by some people commenting who see it in terms of whether it is a political expedient: ie: we should show appreciation because it is in our best interest just in case Donald Trump (or whichever politician) is back in power in the future. It may be true that it is a good idea, but HaKoras HaTov is right because it is the right thing to do as a Torah observant Jew and good human being. Without practicing gratitude, we can become ungrateful. Yehudi means “one who thanks”. That’s who we are.
As far as the Democrat vs. Republican divide: Rabbi Blech speaks only of one person who displayed exceptional solidarity in his actions for Israel and against anti-Semitism. You will search and not find another President who did nearly as much; not just talk, but actions. While Obama may have done some good for Israel (he requested funding for additional Iron Dome batteries-the technology was developed solely by Israeli companies), but he was also disastrous, even anti-Israel in almost every other policy, in thought, word and deed. He has close associations with some of the worst anti-Semites imaginable.
Democrats as a party are going the way of Obama allowing a very strong anti-Israel and anti-Semitic element to thrive within their party. There is no comparison at all with Republican support for Israel and opposition to anti-Semitism. Democrats are also tearing apart the fabric of the country and taking special aim at its moral, ethical and religious framework.
Yes the Torah teaches us what to and not to say or think. its not the vaad who is saying this, its daas torah. We don’t believe in freedom of speech to the extent of saying whatever whim comes our way.
I was annoyed that one of the weekly’s last week had a disrespectful piece about trump, but I dont even bother fighting these people anymore , its not worth it. Let them realize or not realize their own mistake with time. The same way most rabid anti trumpers pre 2016 adjusted their view some time after he took office, whether or not they’ll admit it.
There is a difference between opinion pieces and facts,
There is a difference between opinion pieces and facts. Also Lakewoodscoop benefits from having traffic posting this opinion does it for them,
It always amazes me how people have an opinion or desire look to the torah to justify it but never apply across the board. No one yet knows long term effect of Trumps decision to move the embassy and pull out of the iran nuclear deal. But absolute truth iron dome saved lives, the money families are getting for their children help them. Instead of saying thank you to “those people” there are some that glorify in the disgusting and juvenile Lets go brandon.” I for one won’t sit with progressives of the democratic party but I certainly won’t support the white supremacist’s favorite candidate. Rabbi saks ZTL was right when he said Jews should not be so out there when it comes to politics. We are in golus, all the terrible things that are happening in the community, and yes Trump’s election and his effect on the world is all part of the plan to hasten moshiach. One can express gratitude in many ways but it should not be in a way that causes harm to people. Send him a thank you card. Trump has shown he likes money, send him a check. Sheldon adelson more than enough thanked him. Although given his psych profile no matter what you do it will never be enough, Put your gratitude in tefillah to Hashem.
President Trump was merely pointing out what has been pointed out before about the liberal leftist Jews. They follow their religion of liberalism and leftism, and only then remind themselves that they might be Jewish. WHATEVER IT IS, WHATEVER THE ISSUE, THEY FOLLOW THEIR LEFTIST LIBERAL IDEOLOGIES.
moderate jews did not vote for trump. Trump has said much more about jews then his recent interview. For a man who does not read he had mean camp as his bedside reading and his hero includes Henry ford…
It is easy and lazy to just throw out terms leftist liberals but it is not true….
lot of people who support Israel did not vote for trump.
I googled the accusation that Trump kept Mein Kampf at his bedside and you clearly are too willing to believe and spread hate about Trump.
His ex wife accused of occasionally reading a book of Hitler’s speeches (not Mein Kampf) and keeping it near his bed while they were going through a sordid divorce . Trump denied it (back then) and said that the book because it was given to him by someone who Trump thought was Jewish . That person confirmed giving it to him