The Limits Of Merriment
Every Jew has a portion in the world to come!! Eternal bliss for all of us. YEAH!! This is well known. What is not so well known is that there are exceptions to this rule. One of those exceptions is one who disgraces a Talmid Chacham, or a Torah Scholar. Either one. [See Sanhedrin 99b].
On Purim there is a very lamentable custom -מנהג אותיות גהנם - that has taken root, namely that people make fun of, mock and ridicule Talmidei Chachamim. And I ask myself - Why? The Torah still applies - EVEN ON PURIM!! We don't eat unkosher food on Purim, we don't wear shaatnez etc. etc. So why has this terribly serious transgression fallen by the wayside.
One year on Purim the zealots conducted a mock trial and execution of HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook zatza"l. Everyone in that group suffered greatly in their lives until some even went to ask him for forgiveness. [Related in Sefer Hanishkafa Kimo Shachar]
One SHOULD have fun on Purim. But KOSHER fun [Learn Sfas Emes on inyanei purim?]. In Shushan they also had fun at the party. But that is what we are trying to fix anually.
[The Rama says you should always conclude b'davar tov - on a positive note. This post doesn't seem to conclude thusly. But if you read the last four letters you will see something which I personally view as VERY positive].
On Purim there is a very lamentable custom -מנהג אותיות גהנם - that has taken root, namely that people make fun of, mock and ridicule Talmidei Chachamim. And I ask myself - Why? The Torah still applies - EVEN ON PURIM!! We don't eat unkosher food on Purim, we don't wear shaatnez etc. etc. So why has this terribly serious transgression fallen by the wayside.
One year on Purim the zealots conducted a mock trial and execution of HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook zatza"l. Everyone in that group suffered greatly in their lives until some even went to ask him for forgiveness. [Related in Sefer Hanishkafa Kimo Shachar]
One SHOULD have fun on Purim. But KOSHER fun [Learn Sfas Emes on inyanei purim?]. In Shushan they also had fun at the party. But that is what we are trying to fix anually.
[The Rama says you should always conclude b'davar tov - on a positive note. This post doesn't seem to conclude thusly. But if you read the last four letters you will see something which I personally view as VERY positive].
Post a Comment