QUESTION 2 Page 5
9/21/00
Doron, from Tel-Aviv:
Dear Rabbi,
Is it a halacha or just a minhag to put on tefillin on a brit-mila? Can
you please also give the sources of this minag? halacha?
Kind regards,
Doron
Rabbi Costa:
Dear Doron,
Thanks for your question! It is a pleasure to receive a question from an
Israeli!
This idea of involving other mitzvot in the Brit Mila is expressed as
well in the practice of leaving one's tefillin on while the Brit Mila is
being performed. As Shach notes, both tefillin and the Brit Mila are
referred to as "ot," a sign of Hashem's presence in our lives, and thus
we want to show that presence in as many ways as possible.
(Interestingly, one of the reasons given for not wearing tefillin on
Shabbat is because they are both considered to be signs, and thus there
is no need for the sign of tefillin when we have the sign of Shabbat.
This seems to operate in a manner diametrically opposed to the logic
that pervades this custom by the Brit Mila.)
Shavua Tov and A gutten yorr und kaittivah vechittimah tovah
Zay Gezunt
Rabbi David Yehuda Costa
www.AskaRabbi.com
From our Sages - Story # 1 Page 27
Salty Conversation
The Chofetz Chayim and another Rav were eating in an inn renowned for
its standards of kashrus. The innkeeper, realizing that he had two
illustrious guests, did all he could to serve them the finest meal. As
the dessert was being brought out, the innkeeper asked them, "How did
you like the meal?" The Chofetz Chaim complimented the innkeeper and his
cook, and thanked them warmly. The other Rav however mentioned that the
soup could have used a little more salt. The Chofetz Chaim turned white.
"My whole life I have managed to avoid hearing Loshon Hara (bad speech)
and here you have just spoken Loshon Hara."
"What are you talking about?", asked his companion skeptically.
The Chofetz Chaim described the scene that must be going on in the
kitchen right now. "The cook is probably a poor widow and the innkeeper
is chastising her for not putting salt in the soup and thereby ruining
the meal of his illustrious guests. He would be screaming at her and
ready to fire her over the incident. Besides, you have also violated six
injunctions:
1) You spoke Loshon Hara.
2) You caused others to hear it.
3) You caused the owner to repeat it (rechilus).
4) You caused the cook to lie, saying that she did put salt in the soup
in order to save face.
5) The owner caused pain to a widow.
6) You caused an argument."
The other Rabbi smiled. "Surely you are exaggerating."
"Let's go see", said the Chofetz Chaim.
They went together into the kitchen to find the innkeeper berating the
poor cook for her stupid mistake. The second Rav, realizing his blunder,
begged the innkeeper to not to fire the cook, assuring him that the soup
was quite good, and the rest of the meal extraordinary, and promised
that he would always stop to eat at this inn on all his journeys.
QUESTION 31 page 153
10/19/00
Daniela, from Lake Worth:
We just had our first child, a boy. What is the significance of waiting
until a boy is 3 years old for his first haircut? Is there a certain
holiday for this to occur too? Thank you.
Rabbi Costa:
Dear Daniela,
Thanks for your question at askarabbi.com
Mazal tov for your first child !
The "Upsherinish," or first haircut custom is based on the following
biblical verses:
"For a person is like a tree of the field" Deut. 20:19
"When you enter the land and plant any tree bearing fruit,
you must avoid its fruit as a forbidden growth. Three years it shall be
uncircumcised for you, not to be eaten."
"You shall not round off your hair from side to side, and you shall not
shave the edge of your beards." Lev. 19:23,27
Just as one doesn't pick the fruit of a tree for three years, so one
doesn't cut the hair. The haircut is also an opportunity to teach the
child the mitzvah (commandment) of not cutting the payot (sidelocks).
Like the foreskin, the fruit of the young tree is referred to by the
Hebrew word orlah. This word is used in a number of contexts and is best
translated as "unable to function properly".
Some Hassidic communities have the custom of holding this (hair cutting)
on Lag B'Omer, but it is not something mandatory, as far as I know.
Zay Gezunt
Rabbi David Yehuda Costa
www.AskaRabbi.com
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