The never ending battle against the outside world. It causes people to talk about glasses and contact lenses and modernity, not Torah. Silly rabbis. (Trids are for kix?)

start going to bars and drinking and smoking and carousing? (Forehead wrinkles, eyes squint)

I like that word: metrosexual, coined in 1994 describing a man (especially one living in a post-industrial, capitalist culture) who displays behavior stereotypically such as a strong concern for his appearance. Far out!!@!

And with such thing they only make us , SANE Israeli Jews , laugh more ! thank you "rabbi" for this joke .

The rabbi then decreed a dictate against all forms of soap stating: "we must avoid smelling as those who sin, we must retain the stink of purity!" as he rode off in his ox cart.

This is bad advice. It lacks any understanding of visual health, and therefore is bad advice. Contact lenses provide better vision and can slow the progression of mypoia (near-sightedness). Lightweight metal frames are easier to wear, and cause less headaches. The reality, that this kind of poor advice continues to be foisted upon those who actually DO listen to these Rabbi's, confirms the Rabbi's are moreinterested in control,rather than actually showing concern for those who trust them. Visual health is important, caring for your eyes is no less pious than dovening. The above information is readily confirmed by your Optometrist, or on many evidence-based health web sites. Health always supercedes in Jewish law.

if that's what they want to do its their business. Why does everybody get upset about it? quite stupid

What is the problem if a Chassidic Rebbe wants to say that. He was talking to his own followers, telling them haw to conduct themselves. He did not go to Tel Aviv and make the speech there. Besides, he spoke for almost an hour, and the 30 seconds of that speech was about glasses.

I've read that contact lenses keep eyesight from getting worse.

refuse most modern ways including social welfare and other benefits of the State. If only the Israeli Charedim would exhibit the same steadfastness of purpose it would be easier to respect them while remaining at odds with their lifestyle.

In my country of origine,most schools had rules how the children should be dressed.No newspaper considered that,as news. PlAstic glasses are lighter and CHEAPER than metal ones.Rabbis are very concerned with the poor,and don t want them to feel complexed because of cheap glasses,so it might be ,they asks that everybody wears them.Criticizong Rabbis is easy and cheap.To be aware, how great prominent Rabbis are,one should read their biogtaphy.It is so uplifting to see how they care for each Jew individually .People s wellbeing is more important than their own.Our leaders can learn from them ,some humanity.

Really, who gives a crap if some rabbi suggests that maybe low-income people should not spend money on designer eyewear. Hey, it's your tax money. If you want all yeshiva bochurs to wear Armani frames, then cough up the shekels. Otherwise, it's the Buddy Holly look for everybody.

Do fill the welfare roles in many Pennsylvania counties. Check with Lancaster County social services.

Ora, At this moment I am wearing an extremely lightweight pair of glasses that I bought, including prescription lenses, for $19 online. The rabbi wasn't advocating for people to be frugal, he was advocating for a particular style, which is frankly silly. G-d is all-powerful. Surely He would have found a way to clearly express her preferences for eyewear to us if He truly wanted to. The Almighty's silence on the matter is instructive.

Why talk abt metal frames and plastic frames? These are all mordern developments.... If your concern if true then go back to magnifying glass ....and round glasses with chain attached to suite..... then i will agreee that you truly meant it....

The Amish work for live...

Let's dispense with all these glasses. To much of a distraction from Torah when you have to pull your mind away to put them on. Why stop there? Doing the laundry is also a modern distraction, so let's wear the same clothes every day. Better yet - no clothes at all. Forget about hygiene, grooming, and bathing (further distraction) - and voila - absolute oneness with the will of the Almighty!

We can also drink out of the bottle.

If the dear Rabbi were so smart as he thinks he is, then he would surely know that metal frames are out now and the fashion, at least in the US, is for most glasses frames to be made from plastic. LOL

Plastic frames can be made to look like metal, wearing contacts look like someone needing no vision correction like a wig looks like real hair. Is there any kind of verbal exchange between rabbis to reach a consensus or does each rabbi in these positions of prestige make their own conclusions and it becomes the rule for their group only? It would be interesting to read what the rest of the remarks were that Rabbi Israel Hager made because in many regards on this topic, the Hasidic are "right on". Explicitly explaining how not to violate any of the sex-related transgressions commanded in the Torah and the laws relating to such transgressions would share pertinent information. It may have been only for the comment on eyeglasses and contact lenses that this article made the news. There's nothing wrong delving into Torah and coming up with viable solutions in perspective to these days. There are other issues of these regards where religious opinions could be well-served.

Judaism is the application of Torah to the modern world; that's what it always has been, and what it always will be. Hasidism is the initial stage of a new religion, something like Christianity was two thousand years ago.

These leaders have every right to issue an opinion, does not make it necessary to follow it. I tell people all the time my opinion on rap music and how the vast majority of it has the proven ability to rot your brain. Does that warrant an article on me and my "backwardness" to the times?

they don't give them penicillin either?

Clearly the answer is laser surgery, so glasses will not be necessary at all. What's interesting to me is that wire frame glasses are as old as glasses themselves, whereas plastic was a "modern" or "fashionable" innovation. It would have been more interesting to limit the amount of money spent on frames, rather than the style, which comes and goes, or perhaps restrict the choices to specific styles.

Penecillin?That s outdated.