On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 11:54 AM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:efpasik@aol.com">efpasik@aol.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Topical to the conversation here about Rav Hirsch, ztl, and the Swiss Alps, within the past year or so, the Jewish Observer had an article about a recent trip Rav Shteinman, shlita, made to various U.S. cities. As his plane was flying over Niagra Falls, his travelling companions were looking out the window, and marveling at this great natural wonder. They urged him to look out the window also. Rav Shteinman was learning gemara, and he said, No. They later asked him, Why? He responded that it was a sheilah as to whether he could make a bracha on seeing Niagra Falls, and therefore, a sheila as to whether he could interrupt his gemara learning.<br>
<br>
Two different hashkafas.<br>
</blockquote></div><br>Wouldn't R' Shteinman's actions be consonant with the ruling in Avos 3:9 regarding not interrupting one's learning to comment on natural beauty? Granted, if my simple reading of the mishnah is correct, I'm not sure why the ability to make a bracha would change things. <br>
<br>Joshua Meisner<br><br><br>