Tuesday, November 02, 2010

"There is no need to search for specially strict practices to take upon yourself"

Although I recognize that I have a propensity for them, I need to always remind myself of this.

12 Comments:

At November 2, 2010 at 8:59:00 AM EDT, Anonymous Bob Miller said...

Jews take these strict practices on for various reasons, such as these positive ones:

1. Desire to come closer to HaShem

2. Desire to correct specific personal faults

3. Desire to live harmoniously in a community that already has these practices. (On the other hand, doing these practices where they are frowned upon can have the opposite effect)

But, as you quoted from Rebbe Nachman ZY"A, it's best if the Jew can lead a wholesome Jewish life without being unusually strict.

Of course, being extra strict in order to show off would have negative effects.

 
At November 2, 2010 at 12:59:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

interested to know the picture fits the post. not a critiscm just interested to hear the kavonnah

 
At November 2, 2010 at 1:43:00 PM EDT, Anonymous yehupitz said...

To add to Bob's list:

4. Desire to emulate a Tzaddik by following customs s/he practices.

5. Desire to beautify a mitzvah by eliminating 'shortcuts', even when those 'shortcuts' are considered acceptable by halachic authorities. (Hence the term some Chassidim have to Hiddurim in Mitzvos as opposed to Chumros.)

Of course, any new practice needs to consider the collateral relationship changes that may result.

 
At November 2, 2010 at 1:57:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Reply to Bob Miller and Yehupitz:

All this may be true but decisions to take on anything by ones self are not advised. Daas Torah have the depth of knowledge and siata dishmaya to aid a person in accepting upon themselves those things which will help them in avoidas hashem and to not take on those things which will not. today everyone wants to be frummer than the next and take on things which they haven't spoken over with daas torah - this is a problem

Asimplejew is clearly not one of those people and boruch hashem often shares with us his conversations with great rabbonim who advise him.

 
At November 2, 2010 at 2:35:00 PM EDT, Anonymous yehupitz said...

Anon,
I have no problem with what you wrote. I don't see it as negating what Bob or I wrote. I agree: Any thoughts about a next level, stringency, hiddur mitzvah etc., should be shared with and evaluated by someone who fits the "Asei Lecha Rav" (and "Knei Lecha Chaveir") bill.

 
At November 2, 2010 at 5:24:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

yehupitz: wasn't meant to sound as a contradiction to your post, although now i see how it sounds that way, more just an addition

 
At November 3, 2010 at 8:20:00 AM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You do realize that most of what we practice today is by adding on "stricter" practices that was originally given. Unfortunately, in today's frum community, the stricter you are the "better of a jew" you are.

 
At November 3, 2010 at 9:30:00 AM EDT, Anonymous Bob Miller said...

I'm especially concerned about personal or communal one-upmanship in this area. As in scoffing at perfectly acceptable hechsherim and clothing in order to strike a pose.

 
At November 5, 2010 at 12:52:00 PM EDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you know where I can find the mekor for that quote from Rebbi Nachman that you linked to?

 
At November 5, 2010 at 1:21:00 PM EDT, Blogger A Simple Jew said...

Likutey Eitzos, Temimus #4

 
At November 7, 2010 at 10:01:00 PM EST, Blogger Yehoishophot Oliver said...

I'd be interested to hear a Breslov scholar comment on this quote; I find it hard to believe that it's understood literally, to mean that one should never practices chumros.

 
At November 8, 2010 at 6:22:00 PM EST, Anonymous yehupitz said...

R Oliver,
I think it is clear that R Nachman had a different approach to chumros from the Chabad derech.

However, it seems clear that despite the quote, members of Breslov communities do adhere to the hiddurim and chumros that have become part of general chassidic practice.

In any case, the quote seems to be referring to personal additional chumros.

 

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