Torah & Hashkafa Questions (PC Free For All)

[YitzyS]

To quote the Rambam in Hilchos Deios 6:1

דֶרֶךְ בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם לִהְיוֹת נִמְשָׁךְ בְּדֵעוֹתָיו וּבְמַעֲשָׂיו אַחַר רֵעָיו וַחֲבֵרָיו וְנוֹהֵג כְּמִנְהַג אַנְשֵׁי מְדִינָתוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִתְחַבֵּר לַצַּדִּיקִים וִלֵישֵׁב אֵצֵל הַחֲכָמִים תָּמִיד כִּדֵי שֵׁיִּלִמֹד מִמַּעֲשֵׂיהֵם. וִיִתִרַחֵק מִן הָרִשָׁעִים הַהוֹלְכִים בַּחשֶׁךְ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמֹד מִמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם. הוּא שֶׁשְּׁלֹמֹה אוֹמֵר (משלי יג כ) "הוֹלֵךְ אֶת חֲכָמִים יֶחְכָּם וְרֹעֶה כְסִילִים יֵרוֹעַ". וְאוֹמֵר אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ וְגוֹ'. וְכֵן אִם הָיָה בִּמְדִינָה שֶׁמִּנְהֲגוֹתֶיהָ רָעִים וְאֵין אֲנָשֶׁיהָ הוֹלְכִים בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה יֵלֵךְ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֲנָשֶׁיהָ צַדִּיקִים וְנוֹהֲגִים בְּדֶרֶךְ טוֹבִים. וְאִם הָיוּ כָּל הַמְּדִינוֹת שֶׁהוּא יוֹדְעָם וְשׁוֹמֵעַ שְׁמוּעָתָן נוֹהֲגִים בְּדֶרֶךְ לֹא טוֹבָה כְּמוֹ זְמַנֵּנוּ. אוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לָלֶכֶת לִמְדִינָה שֶׁמִּנְהֲגוֹתֶיהָ טוֹבִים מִפְּנֵי הַגְּיָסוֹת אוֹ מִפְּנֵי הַחֹלִי יֵשֵׁב לְבַדּוֹ יְחִידִי כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איכה ג כח) "יֵשֵׁב בָּדָד וְיִדֹּם". וְאִם הָיוּ רָעִים וְחַטָּאִים שֶׁאֵין מְנִיחִים אוֹתוֹ לֵישֵׁב בַּמְּדִינָה אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נִתְעָרֵב עִמָּהֶן וְנוֹהֵג בְּמִנְהָגָם הָרַע יֵצֵא לַמְּעָרוֹת וְלַחֲוָחִים וְלַמִּדְבָּרוֹת. וְאַל יַנְהִיג עַצְמוֹ בְּדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ט א) "מִי יִתְּנֵנִי בַמִּדְבָּר מְלוֹן אֹרְחִים":

I had this on my mind when I wrote my response, but I refrained from quoting the Rambam because I know better than quote a Rambam on a forum full of Chabad chassidim, lest I mistakenly misquote it... 

[ExGingi]

I am far from a Mishpacha fan. I think even less of Ami. However, I think that some people are getting confused here. Neither of these mags/rags claim to be the mouthpiece of any form of Da'as Torah. They are merely Kosher entertainment. Just like there are some Hechsherim that have standards lower than yours, there is kosher reading material whose standards don't match yours. If you don't approve, fine, don't buy it. But if someone else does, why does that bother you?

Who certifies it as kosher?

[Euclid]

What certifies it as kosher?

There's no women.

In all seriousness, there's a rabbinic board (as discussed).

[ExGingi]

There's no women.

In all seriousness, there's a rabbinic board (as discussed).

Any public information as to who is in those Rabbinic boards?

[Euclid]

Any public information as to who is in those Rabbinic boards?

No - someone mentioned above because they don't want the rabbonim to be harassed which would then disincentive them from servicing.

[YitzyS]

Rav Doniel Neustadt was once on their Rabbinic board... until he resigned because they printed stuff he told them they can't print.

[Euclid]

Rav Doniel Neustadt was once on their Rabbinic board... until he resigned because they printed stuff he told them they can't print.

He's still a contributor to the actual magazine
https://mishpacha.com/drivers-ed-2/

[YitzyS]

He's still a contributor to the actual magazine

But AFAIK, he no longer takes any responsibility for the content in the rest of the magazine.

[YitzyS]

No - someone mentioned above because they don't want the rabbonim to be harassed which would then disincentive them from servicing.

There was a picture in the Shvuos issue of the (Israeli) rabbinic board, but it didn't mention their names. It was in an article on the expert in forgeries, and the caption was something like "Mishpacha's rabbinic board looking at the forged seforim in Rabbi Weiss's home".

[shwarmabob]

There was a picture in the Shvuos issue of the (Israeli) rabbinic board, but it didn't mention their names. It was in an article on the expert in forgeries, and the caption was something like "Mishpacha's rabbinic board looking at the forged seforim in Rabbi Weiss's home".

Which Rabbi Weiss?

[Ver hut gazugt]

Any public information as to who is in those Rabbinic boards?

rabbi tuab of ami once said in an article, he is the Rov of the magazine ( not to be confused with shais tuab).
Stopped buying them a long time ago. What got to me is the kids section huge focus on shtusim and very little tochen.

[YitzyS]

Which Rabbi Weiss?

https://mishpacha.com/keep-it-real-2/#:~:text=Mishpacha%E2%80%99s%20rabbinic%20team%20examines%20Rav%20Weiss%E2%80%99s%20evidence.%20(Above)%20A%20forged%20letter%20supposedly%20from%20Rav%20Yechezkel%20Abramsky

[aygart]

there's a rabbinic board (as discussed)..

In all seriousness,  There's no women

FTFY

[yshad]

Who certifies it as kosher?

If it's not certified it's not Kosher?
I live in a community with tens of Thursday night Cholent places, none of which have a Hechsher. I don't buy from them, but obviously they have customers or else they wouldn't be in business. Are all of those customers eating Treif? No, they just have lower standards than I do. (Bad example because Halacha says you can't buy from a business without a Hechsher, but you get the point)

Again, I'm kinda playing Devil's Advocate here, but I just think that it's up to an individual to decide if it meets his standards rather than make blanket statements such as "Don't buy Mishpacha because I don't like their Hashkafos".

[Moshe Green]

If it's not certified it's not Kosher?
I live in a community with tens of Thursday night Cholent places, none of which have a Hechsher. I don't buy from them, but obviously they have customers or else they wouldn't be in business. Are all of those customers eating Treif? No, they just have lower standards than I do. (Bad example because Halacha says you can't buy from a business without a Hechsher, but you get the point)

Again, I'm kinda playing Devil's Advocate here, but I just think that it's up to an individual to decide if it meets his standards rather than make blanket statements such as "Don't buy Mishpacha because I don't like their Hashkafos".

If a Cholent place puts in pork in the Cholent and someone is not Makpid on that Mitzva, then he has no problem with eating it. But its not Kosher.

If the paper constantly (and i mean, every single week) puts in content that goes against the mainstream Torah viewpoint and worldview, then its not Kosher. It could be that there are those who agree with those viewpoints and if so the paper won't be such a problem to him, then go ahead and read it. But that doesnt make it Kosher, it just means that the person isn't Makpid on Kosher Hashkofos.

[yshad]

If a Cholent place puts in pork in the Cholent and someone is not Makpid on that Mitzva, then he has no problem with eating it. But its not Kosher.

If the paper constantly (and i mean, every single week) puts in content that goes against the mainstream Torah viewpoint and worldview, then its not Kosher. It could be that there are those who agree with those viewpoints and if so the paper won't be such a problem to him, then go ahead and read it. But that doesnt make it Kosher, it just means that the person isn't Makpid on Kosher Hashkofos.

Who gives the Hechsher for DDF? Quite a few controversial viewpoints here! Rabbis Dan and JJ?

[AsherO]

Who gives the Hechsher for DDF? Quite a few controversial viewpoints here! Rabbis Dan and JJ?

The pork here tastes much than the port in Mishpacha

[Euclid]

If the paper constantly (and i mean, every single week) puts in content that goes against the mainstream Torah viewpoint and worldview, then its not Kosher.

I'd love for some examples (like 5 or more). Out of curiosity...

[aygart]

The pork here tastes much than the port in Mishpacha

קנקן חדש מלא חדש
Doesn't work well for port

[YitzyS]

Who gives the Hechsher for DDF? Quite a few controversial viewpoints here! Rabbis Dan and JJ?

There is a tremendous difference between a media outlet which professionally presents information and an open forum of people expressing their opinions (though a forum is also not without risks).