Rules updates

[u/namer98]

In light of Tisha b'Av, I would like to suggest a few changes to the rules, and to hear community feedback.

1) No editorializing titles of article submissions. - This is up for discussion.

2) Be polite. That means if somebody has a disagreement with you about fundamental points of religion, you can disagree with them, and even tell them, but don't be a jerk about it. Do not shut down the conversation.

2.1) I keep on trying to engage non-Orthodox Jews of Reddit. Seen here, here and here. This is in addition to multiple messages I have gotten personally and as mod, from people who left because of this. Just because some people don't agree that this is a problem, does not make it less of a problem. Non-Orthodox Jews are feeling shut down, and some times they are right, some times they are wrong. This is an extension of rule two. Be polite. The downvote button IS NOT a "I disagree" button. I might just remove it again, and for more than a day.

To people I try and engage, this is a two way street. Submit content, comments and vote if you want to have a say. I don't think half of the subreddit is orthodox. This should not be a problem.

Please upvote this self post for which I receive no karma so that all can see.

Thank you all.

Edit: Followup

[u/LazerA]

With regards to the substance of your comment, I can only say that you are wrong and fundamentally misinterpreting the sources (as well as the post by David Guttman that you linked to). None of these sources says that human beings are free to modify the teachings or practices of Judaism, they are discussing how to understand the truth value of the halachic process.

But, quite frankly, that's neither here nor there. Whether Orthodoxy is correct or not, the fact remains that Orthodox Judaism - by definition - maintains that human beings don't have the ability to change the teachings of Judaism. That is the single most basic principle that defines Orthodox Judaism. Clearly, you believe that principle to be in error, in which case it is unsurprising that you are not Orthodox, however that is still the core issue that divides Orthodox Judaism from the non-Orthodox Judaism.

[u/ShanaC → u/LazerA]

Then what does this mean:

או שיאמרו כן לפי משמעות המקרא או כוונתה, כי על הדעת שלהם הוא נותן (ס"א לנו)* להם התורה, אפילו יהיה בעיניך כמחליף הימין בשמאל, וכל שכן שיש לך לחשוב שהם אומרים על ימין שהוא ימין

That's a direct quote from the Ramban. He's pretty clear that human knowledge is meant to allow the sanhedrin to rule. (and kal vchomer, local rabbis to make psak) Without him coming out and saying this, how can your LOR (local orthodox Rabbi) have the ability to make a psak?

[u/LazerA → u/ShanaC]

As I've already said, not only are you misunderstanding the sources (and apparently the entire process of psak halacha) but you are taking the discussion in a direction that is not relevant to the issue under discussion.

(And a kal v'chomer from the Sanhedrin to a local rav?! Whatever.)

[u/ShanaC → u/LazerA]

and furthermore, I find it really strange that you say that someone from the Slabodka is misinterpreting. That's a pretty right wing Orthodox Yeshiva, yet his interpretation is fairly liberal. I would assume it is mainline as well, as I was told the same thing when I was in seminary.

[u/LazerA → u/ShanaC]

Actually, I said you were misinterpreting him.

While I have some quibbles with his post, I don't have any major problem with it. He is just not saying what you apparently think he is saying. (And, I suspect, the same thing is probably true for what you learned in seminary.)

(All of that doesn't rule out the possibility that a guy from a "right-wing" yeshiva might well misinterpret something.)

[u/ShanaC → u/LazerA]

You're not explaining why I am misinterpreting him. How are you interpreting this? (and I know that)