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Most of the time these consequences are unfortunately of a negative nature. However, there are rare exceptions when one is able to see that human actions and behavior are positive and beneficial to others even though they were not foreseen when the original law or action, lecture or essay was first promulgated.
This law of unintended consequences is not limited to legislative or executive governmental behavior. Rather, it is present in all areas of human life and interaction between human beings. One never knows the effect of one's words or deeds. Perhaps only decades later do we begin to understand what we have caused by our speech, behavior, and habitual way of life.
It is because of this that the rabbis have warned us that even the wisest of men must be careful with their words and certainly with their deeds because others will learn from them and perhaps misinterpret those words and cause them to have a negative effect on life and society.
Everything in life creates consequences and since many times these consequences may have been unintended and even unimaginable, one must always be cautious and careful in words and deeds and hope that any unintended consequences be of a positive nature.
For many years, I have produced lectures on Jewish history, biographies of great Jews, world events and explanations of the Torah’s value system. By the will of Heaven, these tapes have proven to be quite popular and have been distributed everywhere in the Jewish world. I have always been heartened by the fact that so many people have heard what I have had to say and that it has influenced, directly or indirectly, many to intensify their connection with Judaism and the Jewish people.
That was not really my intent in producing these recordings. I merely wanted that the facts of Jewish history and the stories of the lives of great Jews be known as a matter of erudition and to necessitate a Jewish perspective. I meant them to be ancillary to intensive Jewish education that would be taught in schools, seminaries and yeshivot. However, almost humorously and capriciously, there have been unintended consequences to the production of these recordings and their distribution.
Many years ago, on the streets of Jerusalem, I met a Jew who had been one of the famous dissidents and refuseniks in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. He warmly complimented me on the recordings that he had surreptitiously heard while still in Moscow – tape recordings that somehow had been smuggled into the Soviet Union by visiting American Jews. He then proceeded to tell me that the reason the recordings were so popular was not because of their content but that it helped this group of dissidents become familiar with and learn English! Still, I was flattered because I thought that all in all this was a positive unintended consequence to my lectures.
Last week I heard a podcast interview with an Orthodox Jew, a former yeshiva student, and author of the great self-help book, who is a managing director of one of the great financial firms in New York City. The interviewer asked him where he had acquired his language skills in English, since he had attended Jewish schools that had very weak secular studies programs, if any at all. He replied that he considered me to be his English teacher since he listened to my tapes. When I used words or phrases that he was unfamiliar with, he took the time to look them up and thereby became fluent in English to the extent that he functions very well as a leading financial advisor in today's complicated business world.
Again, I was flattered even though this was a completely unintended consequence of my lectures. But, at least for him it had a positive effect. We should all pray that all of our actions and words have positive consequences that grow from them whether intended or unintended
Shabbat shalom
Berel Wein
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
