![Rabbi Oppen of HAFTR with one of his students. [photo credit: The Jewish Star]](http://www.vinnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/haftr-karate.jpg "haftr-karate")
New York – The Jews of Megillat Esther, in exile in the 127 provinces ruled by King Achashverosh, were undisciplined and ignored Mordechai’s warning to stay away from the king’s bacchanalian bash. They lacked self-confidence and unity and were described as a “nation who is scattered and spread out throughout the nations.”
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To underscore the importance of discipline and self-confidence to the 11th graders in his Navi shiur at HAFTR, Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen brought his students to a martial arts class – perhaps the epitome of discipline and self-confidence. In a class at Sensei Warren Levi’s dojo on Central Avenue, Rabbi Oppen’s talmidim discovered that not only is he a talented rebbe and administrator but also packs quite the roundhouse kick.
As far as I can see if you learn torah you get self confidence why karate class
Och mir a Rabbi. Just in for Purim. Maybe a Purim Rav.
ah boosha. not wearing tzitziss.
Open your eyes and minds guys. These aren’t chasidishe kids from Boro Park. These are HAFTR kids. Perfectly good yiddishe children who learn Torah. But they also go in for sports. So taking them to a karate place is quite good. Chanoch lenaar al pi darko.
All Yeshivas should have a Karate program for the kids. The others are the Purim Ravs. And to #1 which planet do you live in?
#7 yes I agree but that was 40-50-60 years ago. I won’t name names here but several top Roshei yeshivos in America were the best basketball players around 50 years ago. Some Raamim of 50 years ago were Golden Glove winners. Etc et al. The black hat yeshivos aren’t like that anymore. So the black hat comments look askance at HAFTR students and rebes who are doing exactly what was done 50 years ago. Maybe Rebbi Yochanan Kohen Godol really wasn’t a tzedoki. Maybe he just lived too long.
Karate Is One Of The Monst Useles Forms Of Self Defense But The Other Forms Of Martial Arts Are Full Of Strange Powers That Smell Of Coiach hatuma Not Something A Frum Jew Should Get Involved In
If you ignoramuses only knew how many Nesahmas Rabbi Oppen saves on a daily basis, you would be lining up begging him for forgiveness.
The only excersize they get in the chasidishe yeshivas is running away from the rebbe who’s trying to cracks em with “The Shteken”. I remeber from personal experience. Maybe if you give all children an outlet whether it’s basketball, baseball or karate we wouldnt hear about all the horribel stories of children losing their yidishkeit. Just food for thought.
I dont think learning gemorah has anything todo with how well Rebbeim play sports, or anything todo with self confidence. And they didnt learn baseball by sitting and shteiging!
Some people have self confidence, some don’t. Some Rebbeim teach it to their talmidim & some don’t. Is seems like Rabbi Oppen is in tune with whom he teaches.
When did martial arts become asur? Why is there always frum opposition to it?
I practice BJJ and its very good for the body and soul.
Physical activities should definitely be more part of a young student’s day.
Knowing how to defend yourself is a good thing.
I am jealous of these kids.
There was a Karate class put together by parents in Lakewood a few years ago. The teacher was a frum Yid from Monsey. The boys loved it . Lo and Behold , some psycho ,radical ,extreme rite wing Jihad yidden put up a big Stink and the class was canceled. Sort of .like strangling our children and not allowing any Healthy outlets for them to burn up calories
Rabbi Oppen is an amazing Rebbe who is doing unbelievable things for the community and klall yisroel. Keep it up R’ Gedalia!
think its good. kids sit in yeshiva basicly the whole day
Awesome Rebbe!!
This is a great thing that the rebbi is doing for them. Karate is very good for boosting self respect, gives a better outlook on life,and discipline. I know from experience as a tutor and instructor, that very irresponsible kids after a few months of hard work become totally different people. Besides, it’s one of the only other activities out there that is actually “Kosher Fun”.
Hey, you people just do a small search on our cylopedia and check out where Martial Arts originated! most of them come from Temple’s, such as the Shaolin temple, or Thai, Bao, Temple’s, some from Buddist Temple’s, martial arts are performed by Monks, they are the first steps for medidation. they are the first steps in performing internal martial arts (Energy), I dont know for sure if its for “Avoida Zoro”, but it sure has a smell of it! they themself dont know where all the styles of martial arts where invented, of course there are hundred of Legends. Most of them are that Mr. so and so Meditaded for so and so years and he got inspired.. do your researh, and them see for yourself why the rabonim are opposed to Martial arts, rather find some other sport.
I think thats a fun way to learn and build character
He is right……someone has to prepare these kids in our days!!!!!!!
“perhaps the epitome of discipline and self-confidence.”
Try looking at a gadol biyisrael that doesn’t speak an extra word. Or one of the prushim that holds by “pas bimelech tochal” There are such people. The fact that they don’t go around bragging about it is part of the discipline. That is a much better example of self discipline. I would even go so far to say that learning nefesh hachaim is better than karate for discipline and I’m a chabadsker.