tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2606399196932045640.post5263131993602950392..comments2024-01-25T09:26:15.915-05:00Comments on Dixie Yid: Discussion About Rabbi Lazer Brody's Letter & Free WillDixieYid (يهودي جنوبي)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03713423988723533390noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2606399196932045640.post-83369094021261524642008-03-26T23:18:00.000-04:002008-03-26T23:18:00.000-04:00I believe we are talking past each other a little....I believe we are talking past each other a little. I agree with what you have wrote just as I agreed with what Rabbi Brody wrote (insofar as I agree with Rabbi Brody that you have summarized his view well).<BR/><BR/>Insofar as he equated their being on her back with negating her free will he <B>did</B> say that they do not have a right, he said no one does. It was <B>that</B> sentence and that one alone that I objected to. I understand that this was a rhetorical choice to underscore the importance of her developing a personal relationship with Hakodosh Baruch Hu and the need for her parents to lay off for her sake. But I believe those points were sufficiently made without the sentence in question and as I have noted above I do not think that framing the argument in such terms is parve.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2606399196932045640.post-26966801682388932512008-03-26T15:24:00.000-04:002008-03-26T15:24:00.000-04:00Yirmiyahu,Of course you're right that her parents ...Yirmiyahu,<BR/><BR/>Of course you're right that her parents *do* have a right to tell her what to do. That goes without saying. But that it also not the issue here. The question is not whether they have the right. The question is *whether* they should exercise it. And that is dependent on whether or not doing so will have a positive or a negative affect on their daughter. And in the case, as described, it appears that it would only have a negative affect at this point in time. So I think what R' Brody was trying to tell her is that it would be good if they did not try to influence her behavior for the time being. It's not that they don't technically have the right. Of course they do. But that doesn't mean it would be the right thing to do in this case.<BR/><BR/>-Dixie YidDixieYid (يهودي جنوبي)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03713423988723533390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2606399196932045640.post-87816761573295258232008-03-20T17:35:00.000-04:002008-03-20T17:35:00.000-04:00B"HBeautiful response, DY. You expressed my outloo...B"H<BR/>Beautiful response, DY. You expressed my outlook perfectly. Blessings to you and your readers for the happiest of Purims, LBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2606399196932045640.post-24411818131045282472008-03-20T11:55:00.000-04:002008-03-20T11:55:00.000-04:00Thank you for your kind words.I mostly agree with ...Thank you for your kind words.<BR/><BR/>I mostly agree with what you have written, as I mostly agree with Rabbi Brody wrote.<BR/><BR/>The problem was the sentence I cited. Free will IS NOT THE ISSUE.<BR/><BR/>It is obvious that this girl needs to choose Yidishkeit for herself and that attempts made by others to get her to conform are unlikely to be effective.<BR/><BR/>Every decision we make effects others and to a certain degree "restricts" their free will. Our decisions and actions limit the options of others directly or indirectly.<BR/><BR/>Telling her that for her own sake he parents and teachers should let up if great. Telling her that her parents have "no right" is inaccurate and could very well prove a great yetzer hara for animosity toward her parents and more rebellion chas v'shalom. If what her parents and teachers where doing would be effective then they would be obligated to do so. <BR/><BR/>Free will does not mean that Yisrael doesn't have the right or responsibility to ensure shemiras hamitzvos and our inability to do so is a sign of our being in galus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com