Search Results for: grossman

Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky’s Explanation of a Now-Gone Shabbos Chazon ‘Minhag’

At least I think it’s gone…

Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky in his “Emes Leya’akov” on Pirkei Avos p. 67-68 argues the new decree of “אין קורין לאור הנר” arose only due to a decrease in awe for the laws of  Shabbos over time. Likewise, differing customs are due to the needs of different eras and locations. This is why each locality must respect its own customs even though they are unique (unless the minhag is halachically improper). See inside.

Rabbi Kamenetsky adds that the local minhag (instituted by rabbis, says he) in some places against wearing Shabbos clothes on Shabbos Chazon was due to the decrease in mourning in those places for the Churban because the Jews there were rich and at peace. And Vilna was different, so the Gaon changed the custom.

In my humble opinion, it seems there is an actual prohibition here, above time and space. The Gaon was, of course, more interested in Talmudic truth than justifying “מנהגי פוליש”. Why even assume an empirical difference in wealth between davka Vilna and ALL OTHER places in THAT EXACT generation?!

(We have written of a slightly better approach to the topic by the Aruch Hashulchan.)

Jewry’s debt to the Gaon and his followers is unpayable.

HYEHUDI: Popular Posts Recently

Don’t be last!

re: Sure, Rabbi Hershel Schachter Opposes Ascending the Temple Mount…

Rabbi Avi Grossman writes (regarding Rabbi Schachter’s opposition to Jews ascending the Temple Mount):

“But why does the Rabbanut prohibit?”

That is what Rabbi Hershel Schachter should have asked next.

And the answer is that the Rabbanut prohibits because of a combination of politic considerations (i.e. non halachic considerations) and a misguided sense of piety brought about by the exilic mindset: we are not allowed to do anything we haven’t done of late, and that’s the way God wants it.
Both approaches are invalid.