21 November 2005

Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller Gives Talk


Today, Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, director of the UCLA Hillel, spoke to YCT students today at lunch about the two major opinions in Jewish tradition about conquering ארץ ישראל (the land of Israel). His lunchtime שיעור, entitled "The Land of Israel: קדושת הארץ (holiness of the land) - Sanctified Matter or Mythic Space", presented the opinions of רמב"ם (Maimonides) and that of רמב"ן (Nahmanides) as against each other, stemming from the Rambam's omittal of settling the land of Israel and the Ramban's specifically pointing out the need for it, in addition to the latter's comments on ויקרא י"ח:כ"ה (Lev. 18.25).
He went over some sources, including some of Rav Kook's pieces, which seem to follow in line with the Ramban's thinking upon this matter.
Basically, Ramban thought that Israel is the place to be living and doing מצוות (the commandments) and that there is an eternal commandment to conquer and to live on the land, whereas Rambam thought that the commandment to capture the land of Israel was only in force for Yehoshua's time, etc., but not nowadays.
Rabbi Seidler-Feller's ending point was that some people think that we absolutely have to conquer Israel, whereas he wants to show that it's an open conversation, if only at least between the Rambam's and the Ramban's positions.

10 November 2005

2nd Annual Bear Mountain Hike


Today, YCT went on its second annual November hike to Bear Mountain in upstate New York. It was a chilly day, chillier than last year, preventing us from staying up on top of the mountain for too long. Upon our descent down the mountain, we enjoyed some hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and soda, followed with some pastries for a festive meal following our hiking. Unfortunately, due to the cold, we weren't able to really stay around during lunch, as well as davening מנחה (afternoon prayer) on the bus (as it was not as windy and cold). It provided a good day of bonding for the students and faculty who went.

For more pictures, check out my pictures.

03 November 2005

The First Posting

Welcome to the YCT Chevre blog, a blog designed to
inform the world, or at least the blogosphere, about
Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Although the yeshiva has an
official website, we thought people might better be
informed about the ongoing life of the school through
a blog.
One note must be mentioned: We hope for a discussion
undergirded by a sense of דרך ארץ (proper conduct),
נקיות הלשון (appropriate language), and כבוד
(respect).
Thank you for visiting.