ALERT: The "Beleaves" brand pre checked vegetables belong to the Eidah of Yerushalayim.

 The Brand name BELEAVES was recently hijacked by Minchas Chinuch Tartikuv and Zichron Shmuel DON'T USE THEM

Shavers

 
The issue of "lift and cut" in electric shavers is a major topic in halachic discussions regarding whether certain shavers violate the Torah prohibition of "lo sakifu"—the prohibition against shaving the beard with a razor (Vayikra 19:27).

Key Background

• The Torah prohibits shaving with a razor where the blade touches the skin and cuts the hair at the root.

• A "lift-and-cut" mechanism involves a dual-action system: one part lifts the hair, and the other cuts it below the skin surface, which resembles the action of a razor and is therefore problematic according to many Poskim.

• Permitted shavers are those that function like scissors (cutting above the skin) and do not have a “lift and cut” feature.

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Rabbi Shmuel Feurst's Position (Chicago)

Rabbi Shmuel Feurst permits only certain shavers. His psak, consistent with many other prominent poskim, is that any shaver with a "lift and cut" mechanism is forbidden, as it is halachically comparable to a razor.

Permitted Shavers (according to Rabbi Feurst and other major poskim):
These typically do not have a lift-and-cut mechanism:

• Panasonic Arc series (wet/dry models) – These use a foil system and do not have the rotary “lift and cut” blades.

• Certain foil shavers without a second cutting mechanism beneath the foil.

• Norelco OneBlade – This is often permitted, as it trims more like a trimmer/clipper, above the skin.

Shavers considered problematic:

• Philips Norelco rotary shavers with Lift-and-Cut (many 3-head rotary models) – These are generally assur.

• Braun rotary models with dual action (if they mimic lift-and-cut) – Need to be checked individually.

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 Summary Psak:

According to Rabbi Shmuel Feurst and others (including Rabbi Belsky zt”l, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l via talmidim):

• Lift-and-Cut = Assur

• Foil shavers acting like scissors = Mutar

• Shavers must be checked model-by-model.

Why are so many Lakewood Yungerleit carrying and pushing strollers in Lakewood on Shabbos

Why are so many Bnei Torah and choshuve Lakewood Youngerleit carry and go with carriages and strollers on Shabbos. It seems it increased exponentially since they started putting up signs in the last few years than one should not carry in the Eruv on shabbos.

 1. Halachic Background:

Lakewood's Eruv has long been subject to serious halachic debate, particularly among senior poskim such as:

• Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l was opposed to making an Eruv in Lakewood.
• Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l and Rav Matisyahu Salomon shlita maintained that the Eruv should not be relied upon.

Lakewood's Eruv is based on leniencies regarding:

• Whether the streets meet the halachic status of a reshus harabbim d’Oraisa.
• The acceptability of tzuras hapesach (posts and wires).
• Gaps in fencing or natural borders, etc.

 2. Why Do So Many Use It Anyway?

Despite the strong halachic resistance by many Roshei Yeshiva and local Rabbanim, more and more families do rely on it. Here are key reasons:

 A. Alternative Halachic Rulings Exist

• Some reputable Eruv experts and Rabbanim permit its use and even maintain it l’mehadrin.
• Baalei battim and even some yungerleit follow poskim outside BMG (e.g., the Eruv in Flatbush is also controversial but widely used).

 B. Practical Pressure

• Young families with many children, especially when both parents go to shul or for meals, feel a strong need for strollers and diaper bags.
• Some rationalize: “If I don't carry, I can't go to shul, or my wife will be stuck home.”

 C. Social Shifts

• Once more people were seen using the Eruv, social pressure flipped. Early users may have felt awkward, but now non-users feel they’re the minority in many neighborhoods.
• Families moving in from other cities with established Eruvin (Monsey, Baltimore, etc.) often come with a default of using it.

 D. Lack of Clear Messaging

• Many young families were never told clearly why not to use the Eruv, or believe it's a personal stringency and not a communal standard.
• Some may be unaware that their Rebbeim do not rely on it.

 3. The Effect of the Signs

Why did use increase after the signs went up?

Many never realized that there was an Erev in Lakewood, but when they see signs about the Erev, they don’t read the entire sign, just the part that there is an Erev.

• Backfire effect: Signs sometimes generate curiosity or a reaction of independence. ("Why are they pushing this so hard?")
• Polarization: It drew attention to the machlokes, and some decided to "side with the lenient view."
• Visibility: More people realized “everyone else is doing it,” even among Bnei Torah.
• Desensitization: Once people saw choshuve families with strollers and bags, the social hesitancy to carry faded.

 4. The Reality Today

• Many choshuve yungerleit carry not because they believe it's 100% mutar, but because they feel stuck between values and realities.
• Others genuinely rely on heterim from Rabbanim they trust.
• Some don’t realize it’s still a serious issue to many Gedolim in Lakewood.

 In Summary:

It’s a complex mix of halachic leniencies, practical pressures, and changing communal norms. But just because “many are doing it” does not mean it’s right or acceptable in the eyes of all poskim — especially those connected to the  mesorah.

 

Update-Due to the questionable kashrus standards in camps, every camp should be under a recognized reliable Hashgocha?

Just in-A gangster running a certain Bais Yaakov revoked a girl's acceptance after the father asked about the kashrus in the kitchen.

Did you inquire as to your childs camp Kashrus standard?
Is it acceptable?

Are there written policies for the acceptable hashgochas?
If yes?, obtain a copy.

What should I ask?
1- Who is in charge? Who sets the standards?
Any shailos that arise, who is the final Rabbinical authority?

Are they using any S. American  beef w/Alle/Mealmart or SBD?

Is there a Qualified Mashgiach in Charge?

2- Are the using "exclusively" pre-checked vegetables?
If yes?, who's vegetables? not most of them, but all brands that are being used!
If no?, Who is checking them?, is he trained? if yes? by whom?
Is it only being rinsed?

3- How about fruit? e.g. strawberries, blueberries, raspberries? What is the standard being utilized?

4- Bishul Yisroel issues- Convection ovens, steam kettles, etc.
Is bishul-yisroel for sfardim being addressed?
Is a shomer shabbos present in the kitchen at all times? [flames, ovens, etc]

5- Is yoshon, cholov yisroel, pas yisroel being strictly observed?
Hafroshs Chalah- who is responsible?

6- Who is responsible to check "all" deliveries coming in for compliance to the standards established?

7- Is there a properly trained experienced Mashgiach in the kitchen at all times?

8- Is the kitchen locked at night, Friday afternoon, etc? Who are all that have the keys?

9- Are the separate areas for dairy, meat, parve, etc? including sinks, etc?

10- Are all pots, utensils, etc clearly marked for dairy, meat, parve,?

11- Who is responsible for everything requiring seals?

12- ETC.?

Aderei Hatorah event- based on an extremely conservative estimate -Dan-Li'kaf-Ze'chus- דן לכף זכות

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the full scope of bitul Torah (loss of Torah learning time) caused by the Adirei HaTorah event, accounting for all known components: travel, preparation, meetings, logistics, and post-event effects.

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 I. CORE EVENT PARTICIPATION

1. Lakewood Yungerleit

• Attendees: ~8,000–10,000
• Time Loss per Person:
• 2 hours travel
• 3 hours at the event
• 1 hour prep/socializing
• 1 hour of lost seder time before or after
• Total: ~6–7 hours
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 8,000 × 6 = 48,000
  → 10,000 × 7 = 70,000
   Range: 48,000–70,000 hours

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2. Lakewood Bochurim

• Attendees: ~3,000–5,000
• Time Loss per Person:
• Night seder missed
• Travel & group logistics (~2 hours)
• Disruption next morning
• Total: ~6–8 hours
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 3,000 × 6 = 18,000
  → 5,000 × 8 = 40,000
   Range: 18,000–40,000 hours

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3. Out-of-Town Yungerleit & Bochurim

• Attendees: ~3,000–4,000
• Time Loss per Person:
• 6–8 hours travel
• Missed sedarim before/after
• Accommodations, fatigue
• Total: ~8–12 hours
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 3,000 × 8 = 24,000
  → 4,000 × 12 = 48,000
   Range: 24,000–48,000 hours

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4. Roshei Yeshiva / Rabbeim / Chavrei Kollel

• Attendees: ~500–1,000
• Time Loss per Person:
• Shiur prep interruption
• Organizational roles
• Travel + attendance
• Total: ~6–10 hours
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 500 × 6 = 3,000
  → 1,000 × 10 = 10,000
   Range: 3,000–10,000 hours

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5. Baale’batim (Working Men Who Learn)

• Attendees: ~10,000
• Time Loss per Person:
• Night chavrusa / shiur
• Disruption to morning seder
• Total: ~1–2 hours
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 10,000 × 1 = 10,000
  → 10,000 × 2 = 20,000
   Range: 10,000–20,000 hours

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 II. INTERNAL BMG LOGISTICS & PREPARATIONS

6. Roshei Chabura Meeting

• Attendees: ~250
• Time Loss per Person: ~3.5 hours
• Central meeting (~1.5 hrs)
• Follow-up calls/emails (~2 hrs)
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 250 × 3.5 = 875 hours

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7. General Yungerleit BMG-Wide Meeting

• Attendees: ~6,000–7,000
• Time Loss per Person: ~2.5 hours
• Attendance at general meeting (~1 hr)
• Pre- and post-discussion with chaveirim (~1.5 hrs)
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 6,000 × 2.5 = 15,000
  → 7,000 × 2.5 = 17,500
   Range: 15,000–17,500 hours

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8. Ticket Purchasing and Coordination

• Families Participating: ~7,000
• Time Loss per Household: ~1 hour
• Buying tickets, choosing seats, arranging for kids, carpools
• Cumulative Loss:
  → 7,000 × 1 = 7,000 hours

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 III. INDIRECT AND FOLLOW-UP LOSSES

9. Post-Event Fatigue and Late Start Next Day

• Applies to many yungerleit and bochurim who return late
• Estimated yungerleit affected: ~5,000
• Time Loss: ~1 hour (missed 1st seder or late arrival)
• Cumulative: 5,000 × 1 = 5,000 hours

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 IV. TOTAL ESTIMATED BITUL TORAH

Category	Minimum	Maximum
Lakewood Yungerleit	48,000	70,000
Lakewood Bochurim	18,000	40,000
Out-of-Town Lomdei Torah	24,000	48,000
Roshei Yeshiva / Rabbeim	3,000	10,000
Baalebatim	10,000	20,000
Roshei Chabura Prep	875	875
General BMG Meeting	15,000	17,500
Ticket Coordination	7,000	7,000
Post-Event Lag	5,000	5,000
TOTAL HOURS	130,875	218,375

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Summary

The Adirei HaTorah event, while a major display of kavod haTorah, directly results in an estimated:

 130,000 – 218,000 hours of bitul Torah

This figure includes:

• Actual event attendance
• Travel
• Internal coordination within BMG
• Meetings and ticket logistics
• Post-event disruptions

Additional Considerations:

• Wives/Mothers: Lose shiurim, seder hours, household stability, especially if husband is away for long.

• Post-event lag: The day after has reduced productivity in many kollelim and yeshivos.

• Prep time for organizers: A select group may lose days or even weeks preparing.

 

UPDATE: Rabbi Hatchual's SBD "NON-GLATT"

 According to the latest from Israeli Rabbanut sources.

The above-mentioned meat should not be considered as GLATT at this time, until the proper changes are made, including Cameras that are monitored online. 

We will advise when the changes are in place.

The root cause of OTD- consuming Rabbi Hatchual's SBD Alle/mealmart S. America and the like.

Sourced from the Rambam, the Ohr Ha'chaiyim, Reb Akiva Eiger, The Chasam Sofer, Rav Zalman Sorotzkin's Oznayim LaTorah , etc. 

UPDATE: Regarding the New halls in Lakewood- Ateres Esther and Ateres Blima, we notified them that we have many serious kashrus concerns with their choice of caterer.

 From a comment: This caterer has some serious kashrus concerns  that are in the areas of chilul Shabbos, Bishul Akum, Bos'ur Shenis'alem, treif utensils, misleading clientele, etc. R"L

We gave them some better choices from a kashrus point and reliability.

Lakewood caterers, restaurants, take-out, pizza stores, food service, etc. establishments do not all have an acceptable kashrus standard.

Some are more reliable from a kashrus standpoint.