Volume 22 Number 94
Produced: Thu Jan 25 20:32:08 1996
Subjects Discussed In This Issue:
Books on Jewish Women in History
[Allie Berman]
Hattarat Nedarim when you Marry
[Gershon Klavan]
J.C. False prophet
[Moses Levy]
Kosher Laundry?
[Sam Gamoran]
Moshe's Birthday
[Etan Diamond]
Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis (6)
[Joe Slater, Shaul & Aviva Ceder, Mordechai Perlman, Zale L.
Newman, Shimon Schwartz, Josh Feingold]
Shiluach Ha'Kan
[Roger Kingsley]
York, a correction
[Micha Berger]
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From: <berman@...> (Allie Berman)
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 09:02:49 -0500
Subject: Books on Jewish Women in History
I have read several books on Jewish women. They are of the biography type.
I have enjoyed each one of them. Maybe they will be of interest to you.
Silence is thy Praise by Esther Austern--a biography of Rabbetzin Batya
Karelitz, daughter of the Chazon Ish.
The Soloveitchuik Heritage by Shulamith Soloveitchik Meiselman. A
daughter's memoir.
Daughter of Destiny compiled by Devorah Rubin- The story of women who
revolutionized Jewish life and Torah Education.
ENJOY!
Allie Berman
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From: Gershon Klavan <klavan@...>
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 14:45:20 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Hattarat Nedarim when you Marry
An earlier submission (I forget the volume #) asked about Hattarat
Nedarim when you get married in order to switch to her husbands
minhagim. R.Yechiel Michel Tukichinsky wrote in Ir Hakodesh VeHamikdash
vol 3 page 336 that Hattarat Nedarim is unnecessary as a woman always
expects to switch to her husband's customs, thus any custom that she
takes is always with intentions to switch. This is, however, a relative
chidush, however, as he (I'm not sure, I haven't seen this in print)
does not deal with the gemara in Pesachim (beg of 4th perek) about
"makom shenahagu" which is the basis for all of the discussion in the
later achronim.
R' Moshe in the Iggrot O"C 1 siman 158 mentions this gemara and
explains that since one does not get married with the intention to
divorce, then any custom that she takes on when she gets married falls
under the category of "makom shehalach leshom" which do not require
hattarat nedarim if "ain da'ato lachazor".
However, R' Ovadiah Yosef in Hazon Ovadyah vol 2 mentions that an
Ashkenazit who marries a Sefardi and needs to cook Kitniyot for Pesach
does not require Hattarat Nedarim but for her to EAT Kitniyot it would
be better for her to make Hattarat Nedarim.
(The above was heard at a lecture from Rabbi Dr. Aaron
Rakkeffet-Rothkoff)
Gershon Klavan
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From: <levym@...> (Moses Levy)
Date: 24 Jan 1996 03:11:16 GMT
Subject: J.C. False prophet
Hello,
My name is Moses Levy. I am an orthodox Jew (kosher, shomer shabat
etc...) with some difficult questions.
I have a very good friend who happens to be a catholic. She has asked me
some direct questions which I was unable to answer to her sattisfaction.
She is seeking the "TRUTH" wether or not it conflicts with her beliefs.
She would like to have answers to the following and I hope that someone
out there will be able to help me answer them.
- What were the reasons that the sanhedrin, at the time of jesus,
declared J.C. to be a false prophet?
- What signs did J.C. have or not have that proved that he was not the
Mashiach?
- Where do we find references to the above discrepancies in the Torah.
I am also having trouble convincing my friend of the authenticity of the
Torah Ba'al Peh (oral Torah). How do I explain that this is a major part
of the fundamental Jewish beliefs?
She accepts the idea that the Torah is authentic and it is the word of
G_D, dictated by G_D and written by Moshe. But she has a hard time to
accept that the Torah Ba'al Peh can have the same amount of importance
as the Torah B'ichtav.
I would appreciate all the help I can get.
You can E-mail me at <levym@...> or just post a reply.
Thanks in advance, Moses.
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From: Sam Gamoran <gamoran@...>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 1996 15:09:18 +0000
Subject: Kosher Laundry?
I was reading an article this past Friday in Maariv about the prison
life of Uzi Meshullam - the Yeminite children's activist/terrorist
(depending on your point of view - this posting is NOT about his
politics). The Israel Prison Service gave newspaper reporters an
opportunity to tour his wing of Ayalon Prison in Ramle so all the papers
carried features about it.
One of the things I read in the paper was that his wing, designated
Shomrei Mitzvot Bet (Observant Jews B) and the Shomerei Mitzvot Aleph
wing each have their own washer and dryer. The observant inmates are
not required to send their clothing to the central prison laundry for
fear that they might be mixed with clothing containing Shatnes (the
Torah prohibition against mixed wool and linen garments).
This was an eyebrow-raiser for me. I thought Shatnes only occured if
the linen and wool were permanently attached together as one garment. I
didn't know there was a prohibition of unkosher lint! Isn't one even
permitted to wear linen underwear and a woolen overgarment? How about
sleeping in wool pajamas on linen sheets?
I can imagine carrying this to the extreme: separate washers for
clothing and linen sheets - or - "kashering" the washer/dryer by running
an empty load in-between. Can I convince Israeli customs that I need to
be allowed two washers/dryers tax-exempt :-)
Sam Gamoran
Motorola Israel Ltd. Cellular Software Engineering (MILCSE)
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From: Etan Diamond <aa725@...>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 08:32:06 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Moshe's Birthday
I know that 7 Adar is commonly considered the date on which Moshe
died. Is there a corresponding birth date?
Thanks.
Etan Diamond
Department of History
Carnegie Mellon University
<aa725@...>
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From: Joe Slater <joe@...>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 22:15:41 +1100 (EST)
Subject: Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis
> From: Andy Goldfinger <andy_goldfinger@...>
> I never though that I would write in a public forum about this
> problem, but it has reached the point at which I am desparate. This is
> hard for me to say, but here it is -- my tzitzis unravel.
Admitting the problem is the first step to overcoming it.
I find that the knots in tzitzis will not unravel if you take a basin of
very hot water, immerse the knots until soaked through, and tighten them
as much as you can. The wool will stretch and tighten, and will no longer
come undone.
I believe that the *threads* will not unravel if the ends are dipped in
clear nail polish. Does anyone know if there are Halachic problems with this?
jds
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From: Shaul & Aviva Ceder <ceder@...>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 96 19:21:04 PST
Subject: Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis
Not that I have any solution, but I'll just let Andy Goldfinger know
that I have the same problem with tzitzis unraveling, and I'm sure the
problem is a lot more widespread than Andy may have guessed. Any
solutions, anybody?
Name: Shaul and Aviva Ceder
E-mail: <ceder@...>
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From: Mordechai Perlman <aw004@...>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 06:18:10 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis
Nothing to be ashamed, except perhaps not asking sooner. :)
A fellow in my shul, a chemist, developed a liquid bonding
substance which basically provides two benefits. The tzitzis are dipped
in to this liquid, the stuff is squeezed off, and the tzitzis will never
unravel again, permanently. Also, which is especially good for
children's tzitzis, they don't break off as easily. There is one
drawback that I have found (although the inventor didn't experience
this), the tzitzis need to be washed frequently, as otherwise the
tzitzis start to change colour from white to some blackish spots.
Probably dirt attaches itself more readily now. But if you wash your
tzitzis often (and now one need not worry about unraveling) it should be
fine.
This stuff is sold at only one location that I know of. It's
Seforim Warehouse in Toronto, 2801 Bathurst St. (rear). The phone
number is (416) 789-1311. Store Hours are Sun-Wed 10 AM-6 PM, Thurs 10
AM-8 PM, Fri 10 AM-2 PM. The inventor took the stuff to a big posek
here in Toronto, Rav Shlomo Miller sh'lita, who said that the stuff
could be used, it involved no halachic problems, and used it on his
tzitzis as well.
Mordechai Perlman
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From: Zale L. Newman <ce125@...>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 18:01:36 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis
Your problem is our problem. I spoke to a chassidishe fellow here in
Toronto and he informed me that the best way to stop tzitzis from
unravelling is to hold the 2 ends tightly (good idea to wrap each end
around a pencil) and hold the tzitzis over the steam generated by a
steaming kettle.If this is done for a few minuyes, he assures me that the
tzitzis will no longer unravel. Furthermore, this is a good way to
strighten out tzitzis as well. I think the problem comes from the type of
fine material that your tzitzis are made from. Of course, it is a good
idea to tighten ALL f the knots every day except SHABBOS when doing so
would be an issur. Hope this works......Zale Newman (waiting for info on
Nefesh as my wife is a family therapist)
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From: Shimon Schwartz <shimmy@...>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 10:53:53 -0500
Subject: Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis
I'm not certain whether Andy means (a) the end-knots (against the tallit
or on the free end) untie, or (b) the middle threads loosen. In the
first case, the knots should be square (double overhand) knots. There
are two ways to tie such a knot. One, the proper square knot, holds
fairly well (though not perfectly). The second, the "granny knot," is
notorious for untieing itself. I cannot explain the difference well via
textual e-mail. I suggest--in all seriousness--that Andy get hold of
either "Chapman's," a well-known seamanship book, or a Boy Scout manual.
A live Boy Scout would be even better (don't bother looking for
Chapman).
Re (b): The key to keeping the interior windings secure is a tight
shamash. I am referring, OF COURSE, to the overlong thread that is
wound about the other seven. After winding a section of the tzitzit,
before making the next knot, tighten that section of shamash by pushing
it around from the most recent knot to the free end. Then slide the
shamash section back towards the knot, which should produce some slack.
Tighten and slide again. Then complete the section with a proper square
knot.
Hatzlacha. --Shimon
Steve (Shimmy) Schwartz
http://www.access.digex.net/~shimmy/
With Rebecca, Forest Hills, NY: <shimmy@...>
NYNEX Science & Technology, Inc., White Plains, NY: <schwartz@...>
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From: <AlterTFD@...> (Josh Feingold)
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 13:58:43 -0500
Subject: Problem with a Mitzvah; The case of the Unravelling Tzitzis
I too, once had a similar problem and found it very disturbing. You
must be extremely corageous to address this embarrassing issue in a
public forum.
I spoke to a representive at American Wool, and he gave me some good
advice. If you soak the knot in water, when it dries, it will tighten.
(This also works with shoelaces.) Good luck.
Josh Feingold
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From: Roger Kingsley <rogerk@...>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 96 21:59:26 +0200 (IST)
Subject: RE: Shiluach Ha'Kan
I have just seen Carl Sherer's posting on this in mail-jewish #69.
> The Sefer HaHinuch explains the law of sending away the mother
> bird ("shiluah ha-ken") as an educational discipline, to teach us
> the quality of mercy. Here, it seems, we are commanded to
> imitate HaShem ("rahamav al kol ma'asav" - His mercy extends to
> all His creation).
> I've always had trouble reconciling this with the Gemara's
> statement in Brachos that someone who davens "al kan tzipor
> yagiu rachamecha" (that Hashem has mercy on the bird's nest) is
> silenced because Hashem's mitzvos are gzeiros (decrees)
> for which we are not supposed to seek reasons.
I don't actually agree with the explanation of gezeiros as things "for
which we are not supposed to seek reasons". The gemara stops at the
word gzeiros. However, R. Bartenura, giving this explanation of the
mishna, adds the words "{decrees) of a king to his servants." I see
this as explaining the fundamental error of the prayer as being to
suppose that the mitzva is given for the sake of the bird, (Hashem
having mercy on the bird) while in fact the fundamental reason for _all_
mitzvot is the jews who are meant to keep them. This is perfectly in
accord with Sefer HaChinuch.
Roger Kingsley
<rogerk@...>
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From: Micha Berger <aishdas@...>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 06:08:33 -0500 (EST)
Subject: York, a correction
In v22n90, I wrote:
> 2- At least three of the Ba'alei Tosfos died in the fire. It
> effectively ended the era of the Tosafists.
To follow advice given to me by e-mail, let me correct this to, "It
ended the era of Tosafists in England".
Sorry for misleading anyone.
Micha Berger 201 916-0287 Help free Ron Arad, held by Syria 3255 days!
<AishDas@...> (16-Oct-86 - 5-Oct-95)
<a href=news:alt.religion.aishdas>Orthodox Judaism: Torah, Avodah, Chessed</a>
<a href=http://haven.ios.com/~aishdas>AishDas Society's Home Page</a>
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End of Volume 22 Issue 94
