28 JUDAISM
24 DECEMBER 2020
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Dear Rabbi I attended a full on Sephardic Shabbat recently and observed several strange customs beyond just normal ritual. At the end of the Shabbat when reciting the special prayer over wine (Havdalah) I noted how they took the wine afterwards, and put it on their eyes, in their pockets, on the back of their necks, all for good luck. I’ve seen this nonsense elsewhere. It makes me wonder, if I bathe in a tub full of Kedem wine will I have super luck? Alex Dear Alex It’s easy to mock and often funny how the ones with the most to say often know the least. But often people have a basis for their custom – and sometimes that basis is a lot closer to home than you think. The custom to dip one’s fingers in the Havdalah wine and to then place the drops upon one’s eyes is actually cited in Code of Jewish Law. The custom is brought in the name of Rav Amram Gaon (9th century) and also traces its roots to Pirke D’Rebi Elezer (approx. 100 C.E.). The basis for the custom is because the wine was used for a mitzvah, and in addition, is used to extinguish the candle which was also used for a mitzvah. We thus demonstrate how mitzvot are so precious to us in keeping with the verse in Psalms (19:9): “The command of the Lord is clear enlightening the eyes.” I believe it is a particularly Sephardic custom to place the wine on the back of the neck. This is brought in later sources and is based on the tradition that
there is a special bone called the luz and it is from this that the body will be reconstructed at the resurrection of the dead (see Bereishis Rabbah 28:3). The suggestion is that this bone is located at the back of the neck (specifically, at the top of the spinal column - the seventh cervical vertebra – or the protrusion where the knot of the head tefillin goes) and at least one source (Maavor Yabok, Rabbi Aaron Berechiah, d. 1630) suggests that this luz is nourished from the Havdalah wine. Other opinions (Rashi etc.) maintain this luz is the vertebra at the base of the spine (the coccyx) hence in accordance with that view one would not put wine at the back of the neck. What should be appreciated is that whereas Jewish law is derived from the Talmud and is binding upon all Jews, there have always been local customs that emerged over time as well. Some of these customs were eventually adopted universally (e.g. wearing a yarmulke) or almost universally (e.g. monogamy). Others are observed by some major segments of Jewry but not by others (e.g., not eating rice on Pesach). Within this, there are ancient customs which date back to the time of the Talmud and earlier. Such ancient customs that are deeply rooted, even if not adopted by all, shouldn’t be mocked. If you have a problem with it, take it up with the ancient Rabbis. But be careful, because those same Rabbis are often responsible for a lot of the things that you might do. For example, the same Sage to whom the eye/wine custom is attributed to is also the one who was the first to arrange a
Pirkei Avot Beware of those in [positions of political] power, for they only bring a person close to them for their own needs. They appear as friends when it benefits them, but they aren’t there for the person when he is in trouble. Perhaps more than ever before, living in today’s times we can see the value of this Mishnah. Politics dominates front pages around the world on a daily basis, and it is clear to see how words from politicians are often valueless. We were told last week it would be inhumane to lock people down again and
complete liturgy which forms the foundation of liturgies used in Synagogues today. Besides, there are other things you might do that are essentially only customs as well – such as the oldest recorded custom which is the ‘beating of the willow branches’ on Hoshanah Rabbah, dating back to the era of the Prophets! And yes there is disparity in custom also based on origin. Jews of Middle-Eastern and African descent tend to follow a variety of customs that can differ from Jews whose ancestors lived in Central Europe in the Middle Ages. Within these broad categories there are also subgroups (e.g. Lithuanian, Polish, German and indeed Anglo-Jewish customs), and there are sect customs, (e.g. Hungarian based Chasidim will follow different customs than Chabad Chasidim). Families and even individuals might keep to specific customs not followed by others. Beyond custom there is also something called segulah – or a spiritually propitious act. These are already more specific and personal, as well as less binding than a custom. One such segulah is placing one’s wine-dipped fingers into their pockets, as a good omen for financial security. My father once jokingly observed to someone: “Then you shouldn’t be doing it into your Shabbat trouser pockets, rather the ones you’d be wearing during your working week.” Of course it is not the droplets of wine going into your pockets that is going to make you wealthy. But if the correlation between the mitzvah of Havdalah - which marks the onset of your working week, and your
livelihood, focuses your mind on the reality that you are ultimately dependent on a Higher Order for whatever blessings you will receive in the coming week, then that can only be a good thing – and indeed a good omen. So live and let live and learn before you mock.
HOW CAN I COPE?
Dear Rabbi I’ve heard it said, “G-d will only give you what you can handle.” Judging how my life is going at the moment I think He’s made me an exception to that rule. Claudine Dear Claudine Or, you just haven’t dug deep
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For a refuah Shalema for Yitzchak Refoel Chaim ben Rifka a few days later its done. They cannot be trusted to be your friend in a time of need as people in power care solely for themselves. Look how they treat their own friends, sacking them at will when it suits them. There is a story told in the Weiss edition of Pirkei Avot of the Malbim, who needed to speak to some important government officials regarding a communal matter. Before he left for Paris, he asked his local mayor to write him a letter of recommendation to help him with the officials.
On the trip he suddenly thought to himself that he need not rely on human beings, Hashem runs the world of course! He took out the letter and tore it to pieces. His accompanying students were eager to see what the mayor had written, so they took the pieces and put them back together. To their surprise they saw that the mayor had spoken of the Malbim in very disparaging terms, even advising the officials to throw the Malbim out! The words of our sages are truly timeless!
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enough to determine how to handle it. I’m not saying that life cannot be testing and I am sorry for whatever it is you may be going through at the moment. But know this: Every challenge that comes your way is another opportunity to discover a newer, deeper you. There is something you can do that no one else can do. There is someone you can become, that no one else can become. Here’s the bottom line: What you can become, that is preordained from above; whether you become it that is down to your free choice, to how you maximise your potential, to the extent that you grab life with both hands and run with it. So keep calm and move on!
Perek 2: Mishna 3
