tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post293943578203496657..comments2024-03-18T22:43:28.754-05:00Comments on Beis Vaad L'Chachamim: Chayei Sarah, Bereishis 23:2. Issues of Contributory Negligence, Hesped, Pikuach Nefesh, and Chillul Shabbos in SuicideEliezer Eisenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16036989084122930226noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post-87875617690430517392015-11-08T09:41:21.728-06:002015-11-08T09:41:21.728-06:00As I understand what you're saying, being not-...As I understand what you're saying, being not-maspid is beneficial because a hesped always elicits examination of the truth of what is being said. Although generally Chazal say that a hesped is a big zechus for the niftar, that might not always be the case. If so, it could be that a shorter and less glowing eulogy would satisfy both needs, the need to be maspid for a zechus, and the need to avoid anything that might trigger an "audit." Yasher koach. Very nice. As soon as I get back to Chicago, I'll have to work it in.Eliezer Eisenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036989084122930226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post-81208819939830254932015-11-06T10:32:59.490-06:002015-11-06T10:32:59.490-06:00I enjoyed reading through this discussion, but I a...I enjoyed reading through this discussion, but I am very taken aback by some of the viewpoints cited, especially as the very first braisa cited (from Smachos 2:1) makes it perfectly clear that someone is viewed as a me'abed atzmo only if he expressly stated that his actions are intentionally designed to end his life. Absent such a clear statement of intent, he is not considered a me'abed atzmo, even if his actions are dangerous and risky (e.g.climbing to the top of a roof or tree). Furthermore, from the Aruch Hashulchan that you cited, it is also clear that we go to extreme lengths in order not to categorize someone as a me'abed atzmo. However, perhaps we can say as follows. That the withholding of hesped for a me'abed atzmo is not so much a din in suicide as at is a din in hesped. As is known, when giving a hesped we have to be careful not to exaggerate the maalos of the niftar, as speaking this kind of untruth about him would cause his record to be scrutinized in beis din shel maalah, and when found to be untru, would cause negative results. On this basis therefore, the fact that we don't eulogize someone who was me'abed atzmo is not seen as a punishment for the niftar, but a chesed that we do for him. Please note that if we take this approach it would resolve many of the issues that appear throughout the drasha above, including giving a solid basis for the idea of eulogizing partly but not fully for someone who contributed somewhat to their own demise. It also explains the otherwise puzzling notion of not [fully] eulogizing a tzaddik because of the possibility that they may have contributed to their death by their own austerities, which were undertaken to serve Hashem.Refoel Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post-39099001382587094912015-11-05T21:12:44.718-06:002015-11-05T21:12:44.718-06:00Avi, it would be better to continue this conversat...Avi, it would be better to continue this conversation via email. Eliezere@aol.com <br />Right now I'm driving through Pennsylvania on I-80, but we'll continue tomorrow IYH Eliezer Eisenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036989084122930226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post-20160803020278473332015-11-05T19:40:45.212-06:002015-11-05T19:40:45.212-06:00I'm not so much interested in the decision mak...I'm not so much interested in the decision making process on how to pasken, but rather the process of tracking down sources. Where do you start? For example, when you had a question about whether the mohel needs to be a tsaddik or not, how did you start your research, how did you find the first source that would lead you on a track of finding more mekoros? Is there a methodology that people can use? Is there a "Jewish" search engine where you could type in words like mohel tsadik and it would list sources which you can then look into to see if they were relevant? Avinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post-34643693623146837912015-11-04T20:51:53.023-06:002015-11-04T20:51:53.023-06:00No, it's a very serious thought. But I don...No, it's a very serious thought. But I don't know if it is something that can be given over in writing. The process of ascertaining halacha can either be simple, by finding a direct decision on an identical case, or very very complicated. Even when one is convinced that his case matches a known psak, there are often issues that seem extraneous that turn out to be essential.Eliezer Eisenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16036989084122930226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6453787673476195995.post-16626757701483033592015-11-03T17:09:32.593-06:002015-11-03T17:09:32.593-06:00This might sound like a silly request but would yo...This might sound like a silly request but would you be able to write a post on the method of researching a question in halacha. When you have a question, how do you know where to look for an answer? Do you use a search engine to start? Bar Ilan software? Or do you just use knowledge of some sources that you already know and start tracing it from there? I can't find any post on the internet that discusses a useful step by step process on how to methodically conduct research when investigating a halachic question.Avinoreply@blogger.com