A first post

As our first post in the 'blogosphere' it's worth considering the risks and , hopefully 'rewards'

of running an online journal.

First of all, this means commitment. Regularity is often a difficult thing to come by, especially if we ask ourselves honestly , "who really cares?" But maybe that is the best reason - we care.We started this community site to be sort of a focal point, an online meeting place - the 'coffee house', the virtual kehilla. And actually , we have been receiving a surprising amount of real traffic and interest.

But nevertheless, maybe it is time to focus less on technical 'bells and whistles', and see if we can give our tzibbur some divrey machshava. After all Montreal is an "Ir V'Em b'Yisrael" - a center of legitimate Yiddishkeit on the Jewish world map. If we want 'Community' , then we need communication and involvement.That is one of the nice things about blogs, viewers can post their comments.We certainly invite comments (when genuine), though we reserve the right to moderate.

The really big issue of course, in a frum community especially ,is "who says you should be on the web at all "? And we can't really argue; those who choose to be insular , "bchol hakoach". At the very best , the web can be a tremendous distraction, not to mention the terrible dirt and relentless thievery so prevalent online.And , on top of that , there exists an unfortunate  'sub-culture' of 'fallouts' who feel  a need to attack yidden to whom the torah is sacred with all sorts of poison , often shamelessly anonymous.

This writer has always been of the opinion that if the Ribono shel Olam has brought into existence such an ever growing and pervasive , but disruptive influence into our lives , perhaps we should adapt and see it's good potential (obviously we don't mean to minimize the serious risks and issues,especially with children at home).And maybe , just maybe , this is part of the process of bringing 'malchus Shakkai' down onto the Earth.

A few weeks ago ,at a parlor meeting for Yad L'achim at at the home of Shmilu Rosenberg,we heard an incredible drasha . Rav Ezriel Tauber of "Shalhevis" said there has never been a generation where the pernicious influence of the street has devestated so many homes, and there really is nothing almost, which one can do. The torah of Moshe Rabbenu he said, is not enough; we need the torah of the Avos, their kedusha , their middos. We can't teach when there is no one to listen ; we must live and do the good  for it's own sake.We must be givers just for the sake of being givers.

"V'omad ragluv al har tzion" , the generation of moshiach is the generation of the 'Regalim ' - the Feet. The Truth is so open for viewing , that there is no 'fluff' at all. The emes  has to be so much into the blood of those who are true to haKodesh Boruch Hu and His Torah, that by our very existence we become ambassadors.

And truth to tell, although Moshe Rabbenu made a special prayer ,'v'niflinu Ani v'amcha,', that there should always be a seperation between ourselves and the peoples of the world, that ruach hakodesh should lie clearly and only on us, but the fact remains that all of humanity are children of adom harishon and this vast growing network has in it the seeds to restore the inherent unity of mankind.

That then is maybe our mission here at 613montreal blog, to polarize , but yet to unify ,in a 'virtual' manner the many divergent strains of legitimate yiddishkeit by which our community is blessed. We can't be just a 'pareve' community site, a directory setup for business, but we must take an active role in dealing with issues which effect and impact us all.

'Yehe raava she divrenu yaaleh chein'

May our words find favour  before haShem and his people.and may we actually serve to hasten the coming of Moshiach tzidkenu.