07 Feb

GIMMEL AVEIROS REVISITED

Dear Editor:

Last week you responded to a letter by saying, “I personally believe that shaking a woman’s hand is not one of the three aveiros chamuros.” In all due respect to your editor, when we have the p’sak of the Chazon Ish z”tl and the psak of the Steipler Gaon z”tl, your personal beliefs are completely irrelevant and out of place when we are having a halachic discussion. As Torah Jews we have to listen to what the Torah tells us and what the Gedolai Yisroel tell us. We may not do things based on our own personal beliefs that conflict with Da’as Torah.

Editor’s Note: By writing about shaking a woman’s hand in conjunction with the Gimmel Aveiros chamuros I am afraid that people will not accept what you are saying. It’s important not to dramatize halachah because you may then be compared to Chava who told the snake you may not touch the fruit of the tree. The distinction I was trying to convey is not that it is permissible to shake the hand of the opposite gender, but that it is forbidden because it is considered “abizrayu d’arayos” not “the gimmel chamuros.”

PARSHAS HAMON

Dear Editor:

It seems like the minhag of saying Parshas Hamon on Tuesday, Parshas Beshalach has taken over some people’s davening in Shul. It is important to note that davening for parnassa is also a segula for parnassa.

Yishai M.

Editor’s Note: I also heard that a segula for parnassa is actually going out to work and bringing home a paycheck. I also heard that if you say Parshas Hamon by heart you might be paid off the books.

OUTCRY AGAINST OPEN ORTHODOXY

Dear Editor:

Why is there no outcry against Open Orthodoxy. They are just like Reform Jews who choose which halachos fit their lifestyle and then discard those that don’t fit their lifestyle. I feel like that there needs to be more written against them in all Orthodox publications.

Azarya B

Editor’s Note: Thanks for your input. By you writing in about this will help make people aware of this great travesty in Yiddishkeit.

SUPER BOWL 

TICKETS REVISITED

Dear Editor: 

As a Torah Jew I really don’t understand how so many people in the Jewish community can get so caught up in the Chukos HaGoi and unabashedly join Super Bowl parties where pritzus and bittul zman abound. How has this come about? It is very bothersome to me.

Editor’s Note: You make a great point. I feel that those who spend time learning and made a party at that time are the counterforce to the chukos hagoi. I am aware of a Daf Yomi Shiur who made sure to make their siyum on Bava Metziya during the Super Bowl. Ashreihem, V’ashrei Chelkam.

THANK YOU 

SENATOR FELDER

Dear Editor:

Thanks to State Senator Felder we will not be charged five cents per bag when we go shopping. Life is too expensive as it is. I feel they should repeal the five cent deposit on soda bottles and cans since we have to recycle those bottles and cans anyway. It is akin to the city putting a five-cent charge on our old newspapers which we need to recycle anyway.

Yanky Z

Editor’s Note: It is always important to show hakaras hatov. Maybe you should bring up your additional points with your senator or councilman.

 VACATIONS

Dear Editor:

Am I the only parent who wishes we could go back in time to a simpler era where a day off from school meant sleeping a little bit late and enjoying a relaxing day in the comfort of home? The pressure on parents to “DO” things with their children when they have off from school is getting out of hand. The schools and their staff are entitled to have a break just like everyone else needs a break, but how can we minimize the activities that have to fill those days off?

Chanchi Stein

Editor’s Note: I have a feeling most parents agree with you. On the other hand, most students will not agree with you – that is until they become the parents!  Good luck on those days off… no one told you it’s easy being a parent.