Israel - Health Ministry: Please Resist the Urge to Kiss Your Rabbi |
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file photoIsrael - Observant Jews who kiss the hands of esteemed rabbis, their own hands after shaking somebody else’s or publicly owned Torah scrolls or holy books out of respect or devotion should tame their urge and avoid this practice for their own and others’ health.
Saliva with the swine flu virus or ordinary seasonal flu strains could easily spread the diseases, according to the Health Ministry’s new director-general, Dr. Eitan Hai-Am, who on Thursday issued an advisory to those who spend time in synagogues, yeshivot and other religious institutions frequented by large numbers of people.
The advisory strangely did not advise avoiding the much-more-common practice of hand-to-mouth kissing of mezuzot, even though people can sneeze or cough on their hand, touch the mezuza and kiss their fingers, making the principle of infection the same. Deputy Health Minister (and Gur hassid) Ya’acov Litzman, asked by The Jerusalem Post two weeks ago about whether mezuza kissing would endanger health, said it would surely not, as the presence of the mezuza on the doorpost “protects all homes.”
However, the commandment is to have a mezuza on all doorposts; kissing the ritual objects is only a custom.
Although Orthodox women do not kiss the Torah, they commonly kiss mezuzot, as well holy books when they close them. Pregnant women in their second and third trimesters are at high risk for complications of the flu, along with smokers and people suffering from chronic diseases and obesity.
Flu viruses are spread by coughs and sneezes and by hand contact with the pathogens. When the High Holy Days begin in a week, synagogues will be packed. The ministry advised that people with the flu should not go to shul but stay at home so as not to infect large numbers of people in a closed space. Only when they have completely recovered should they return to synagogues and yeshivot.
Hai-Am said that sneezes and coughs should be directed to tissues that are quickly disposed of. If no tissue is available, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow, but never into your own hands. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or sanitize them with alcohol gel, especially after sneezing or coughing. Just rinsing the hands by pouring water over them (as in netilat yadayim) is not effective in eliminating the virus.
One may shake hands, but sanitize your hands soon afterwards. In (usually hassidic) communities in which kissing the hands of other men, especially scholars, and kissing one’s own hand after shaking hands, is common, these practices should be avoided. Do not directly kiss ritual objects that are used by others, but one may kiss one’s own phylacteries, prayer book or prayer shawl, the ministry said.
If food is served, anyone with flu symptoms should avoid preparing and distributing it. Synagogues and yeshivot should be regularly aired. Dishes and cutlery should be cleaned carefully with soap and warm water. The use of cloth towels by congregants should be avoided; only paper towels or hot-air blowers (except on Shabbat and other holy days) should be used.
Not only the religious are at risk, according to Dr. Alon Eidelstein, a family physician at Maccabi Health Services. He says that holiday gatherings that involve frequent kissing can also spread the flu. During a festive meal, he adds, avoid contact with others’ cutlery. In addition, if you usually serve nuts or other snacks from one container, instead prepare individual ones to avoid infection. Just one infected person going in to collect a few munchies could infect the rest, he said, adding tongue-in-cheek that this year, “you have an excuse not to kiss your mother-in-law.”
Meanwhile, an H1N1 flu patient who has completely recovered was identified at the ministry’s central virus lab as having a strain resistant to treatment by Tamiflu, the antiviral drug that is being prescribed to swine flu patients at high risk for complications. The same has happened in other countries around the world. The ministry said on Thursday that it is continuing to study the resistant strain and its significance but is not changing its policy on dealing with the virus.
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Read Comments (41) — Post Yours »
1
Sep 10, 2009 at 02:49 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Kissing the hands of anyone, even a grosse tzadik or rebbe is a disgusting habit and more appropriate in the Catholic church where they kiss the Pope's ring. We can show respect without risking our health and well being and those of others. The same for kissing sifrei torah and mezuzot. This minhag has no place at times where the public health risks are so substantial If you insist, use the holywood practice of "air kissing". Its safer and also really "cool".
2
Sep 10, 2009 at 03:25 PM Galitzianer Says:Report as Inappropriate
Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz.
3
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:12 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Kissing the hands of anyone, even a grosse tzadik or rebbe is a disgusting habit and more appropriate in the Catholic church where they kiss the Pope's ring. We can show respect without risking our health and well being and those of others. The same for kissing sifrei torah and mezuzot. This minhag has no place at times where the public health risks are so substantial If you insist, use the holywood practice of "air kissing". Its safer and also really "cool". ”
I take issue with your disdain for the custom of hand kissing. Since we live with the goyim it is only natural that we should project a certain significance to actions and ideas which they consider significant. Litvish people wear hats despite the fact that hats are only considered chosuv because goyim used to consider them chosuv.
4
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:11 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The "urge"...what urge? I do it cuz it's expected of me, I don't enjoy it one bit, let alone have the "urge" to do it.
5
Sep 10, 2009 at 03:54 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz. ”
"Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz"
For the 90+ percent of VIN readers who have no idea what or who is an " Ungarishe gefirechtz" (which also was a mystery to my Google yiddesh to english translator) could you perhaps share the meaning with the rest of us.
6
Sep 10, 2009 at 03:03 PM Gimme a Break! Says:Report as Inappropriate
Shomer Mitzvah lo yeidah davar ra.
7
Sep 10, 2009 at 03:01 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
What about shirayim?
8
Sep 10, 2009 at 02:56 PM ShmirasHaBrius Says:Report as Inappropriate
There's an anecdote told about Rav S. Z. Auerbach Ztzl. He would tahe a shower before and after the mikva. He was asked why. His answer was for two mitzvos. I take a shower before because ahavto l'reicho, so that I don't go into the mikva dirty. I take a shower after because ushmatem meod es nafshoseichem.
9
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:33 PM bayrish Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ "Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz"
For the 90+ percent of VIN readers who have no idea what or who is an " Ungarishe gefirechtz" (which also was a mystery to my Google yiddesh to english translator) could you perhaps share the meaning with the rest of us. ”
ohi.. a tzugikuminer : )
10
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:32 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
about time to apply the same concern with the rebbi's gefilte fish.....passing 100 sets of fingers...
11
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:46 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Money is also a conducter for germs. Perhaps we shouldnt touch money anymore.
12
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:45 PM Anon Says:Report as Inappropriate
Believe me its not the kiss and the shrayim. I have sat and watched people come out of the bathroom and barely wash the hands..Here everyone is so concerned about a kiss on a hand.
13
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:49 PM Galitzianer Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ "Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz"
For the 90+ percent of VIN readers who have no idea what or who is an " Ungarishe gefirechtz" (which also was a mystery to my Google yiddesh to english translator) could you perhaps share the meaning with the rest of us. ”
It means this is a practice of Hungarian Jews
14
Sep 10, 2009 at 05:35 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
What about the sefardim kissing there rabbonim hands.
15
Sep 10, 2009 at 05:35 PM formally Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I take issue with your disdain for the custom of hand kissing. Since we live with the goyim it is only natural that we should project a certain significance to actions and ideas which they consider significant. Litvish people wear hats despite the fact that hats are only considered chosuv because goyim used to consider them chosuv. ”
"Litvish people wear hats despite the fact that hats are only considered chosuv because goyim used to consider them chosuv."
And the same could be said of a strameil
16
Sep 10, 2009 at 05:34 PM formally Says:Report as Inappropriate
maybe the rebbie could sanitize his hands after every kiss
17
Sep 10, 2009 at 05:33 PM what Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz. ”
And I bet you have no problem standing in line to kiss the bride. How about the kissing booths that are at some country fairs still today. Why is it just the kissing of a TZADIKS hand that is problematic.
18
Sep 10, 2009 at 05:26 PM chaim Says:Report as Inappropriate
I'm not sure why u all haven't refuted the 1st comment guy!!!
Halachic speaking we deal with such iisue cause kising on the cheap is a prohibitionin a shull,,, but kissing a gdol's hand is permited
And sice when do u think we copy cathlics?? if anything they copied us!!!!
19
Sep 10, 2009 at 05:11 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Believe me its not the kiss and the shrayim. I have sat and watched people come out of the bathroom and barely wash the hands..Here everyone is so concerned about a kiss on a hand. ”
I don't think the poster was suggesting that anyone comes directly out of the bathroom without washing and then proceeds directly to kiss the hand of a chushave rebbe. This would not be an appropriate kovod for the rebbe.
20
Sep 10, 2009 at 04:59 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
no harm will come to yirei shomayim who want to kiss their rebbe's holy hand.
21
Sep 10, 2009 at 06:54 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Money is also a conducter for germs. Perhaps we shouldnt touch money anymore. ”
most american bills today contain traces of drugs .
22
Sep 10, 2009 at 06:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Shomer Mitzvah lo yeidah davar ra.
”
it isnt a mitzva . get your head out of that sand box
23
Sep 10, 2009 at 06:51 PM FVNMS Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ And I bet you have no problem standing in line to kiss the bride. How about the kissing booths that are at some country fairs still today. Why is it just the kissing of a TZADIKS hand that is problematic. ”
You have no concept of reality and propriety, do you?
24
Sep 10, 2009 at 06:51 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The "urge"...what urge? I do it cuz it's expected of me, I don't enjoy it one bit, let alone have the "urge" to do it. ”
you dont keep the torah because it is EXPECTED of you . you do it because you are jewish and thats what judaism is all about
25
Sep 10, 2009 at 06:49 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz. ”
and so is eating kigel mit kishke !
26
Sep 10, 2009 at 09:55 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I'm not sure why u all haven't refuted the 1st comment guy!!!
Halachic speaking we deal with such iisue cause kising on the cheap is a prohibitionin a shull,,, but kissing a gdol's hand is permited
And sice when do u think we copy cathlics?? if anything they copied us!!!!
”
I see ppl are really confused and ignorant' historically, the whole 'kissing issue' seems like it was nothing but a international world-wide custom of showing respect whether done to a king or bishop, or l'havdil a reish gelisah or Rav, and later Rebbe, later on it diminished but at the religious circles (as in many aspects) it never changed. period. but it has no specific mekor..as particular of judaism or chasidus.
27
Sep 10, 2009 at 10:16 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I would love for an Israeli scientists to do a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of people who kissed the mezzua and those who didn't and see whether it protected them from getting the flu. What stupidity.
28
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:19 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Kissing the hand of a Rebbe is a Ungarishe gefirechtz. ”
And to hav a mavhlokos whith the rebbi is a Galitsianer meshugas
29
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:38 PM Chaver Says:Report as Inappropriate
At the Columbia graduation the dean sanitized his hands after shaking many hands of students
30
Sep 11, 2009 at 04:31 AM Mevakesh Emes Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I take issue with your disdain for the custom of hand kissing. Since we live with the goyim it is only natural that we should project a certain significance to actions and ideas which they consider significant. Litvish people wear hats despite the fact that hats are only considered chosuv because goyim used to consider them chosuv. ”
Everyone used to wear hats, we just never stopped wearing them. The oylom now believes the less clothes you wear, the besser. Shall we adopt that too to gain their "respect"?
31
Sep 11, 2009 at 04:20 AM moshe Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have commented before that the lubavitcher rebbe z"l always just touched the mezuza (at time just looked up at it) paroches on aron kodesh, and sefer torah (and kissed the sefer only via his own tallis). He allowed those who had the custom to kiss his hand. I also would notice that he refrained from touching or holding on to the hand rails when walking up or down the stairs. for all those who know he was the true living example of a live Shulchan Aruch and so his ways may be a psak of "Maaseh Rav".
32
Sep 11, 2009 at 02:30 AM . True Green Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ no harm will come to yirei shomayim who want to kiss their rebbe's holy hand. ”
“no harm will come to yirei shomayim who want to kiss their rebbe's holy hand.”
This comment broke me up; I was having a bad day, but this brightened everything. Now I have a question: Why "their rebbe's holy hand"? Shouldn't it be "their holy rebbe's hand"? Or are all the body parts of a rebbe possibly holy or non-holy individually. Let's say the right hand is "holy", but the left foot is not. And what about the...
33
Sep 11, 2009 at 01:44 AM starwolf Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I would love for an Israeli scientists to do a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial of people who kissed the mezzua and those who didn't and see whether it protected them from getting the flu. What stupidity. ”
Thank you for your suggestion, but we Israeli scientists have more important questions to worry about.
We already know that influenza can spread through saliva contact. Minimizing such contact will help contain the disease. Same goes for kissing at social functions, for those that bring up the topic of weddings. As far as money goes, one hopes that you don't kiss every banknote that comes into your possession, and that you frequently wash your hands.
Nobody is proposing that we take down our mezuzot, or not show are Rabbanim proper respect, or fail to have Kavod for a Sefer Torah. Only that in a time of possible health problems, that you increase your precautions.
It's not rocket science.
34
Sep 11, 2009 at 01:17 AM Yirmiahu Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Kissing the hands of anyone, even a grosse tzadik or rebbe is a disgusting habit and more appropriate in the Catholic church where they kiss the Pope's ring. We can show respect without risking our health and well being and those of others. The same for kissing sifrei torah and mezuzot. This minhag has no place at times where the public health risks are so substantial If you insist, use the holywood practice of "air kissing". Its safer and also really "cool". ”
The Ben Ish Chai discusses the minhag of kissing a chacham's hand. I'm gong to suggest that Iraq wasn't exactly a bastion of Catholic imitation over a century ago.
If you're going to dismiss other people's practices, during Ellul, perhaps a little more research is called for than hasty generalizations.
35
Sep 11, 2009 at 12:24 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Shomer Mitzvah lo yeidah davar ra.
”
Witch mitzvah Is this where is the mkor?
36
Sep 11, 2009 at 07:46 AM HunkieFriend Says:Report as Inappropriate
Yes kissing the hand is a Hungarian custom. But they do that as an honor thing. They kiss their grandparents' hand too, or an old uncle for example. I myself saw a very choshuv Boro Park Rebbe kiss his oldest sister's hand at a chasuna. She is a quite choshuv rebbetzin. This has nothing to do with any religious rite. This is a pure honor rite done by Hungarian Jews. How about a little understanding if not at least tolerance of other people's customs.
37
Sep 11, 2009 at 08:33 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I think i can handle "not kissing my rabbi"
in fact it is quite a relief!!!!
38
Sep 11, 2009 at 11:31 AM Tevye Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Money is also a conducter for germs. Perhaps we shouldnt touch money anymore. ”
lol.
But on a serious note... I don't need the Health Ministry telling I can or can't do this and that!
39
Sep 11, 2009 at 01:17 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Money is also a conducter for germs. Perhaps we shouldnt touch money anymore. ”
you may touch it just don't put it to your mouth...
40
Sep 11, 2009 at 03:15 PM what Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ You have no concept of reality and propriety, do you? ”
What are talking about??. I see here people who have problems because of "germs" in kissing a Rabbis hand. So my question was why don't people have a problem with standing in the line to kiss the "bride" at non-frum or non-Jewish weddings? Why is it only a problem because frum Jews are doing it to their Rebbe's hand?
41
Sep 13, 2009 at 01:48 AM dovid's friend Says:Report as Inappropriate
this article and its urging us to stop kissing the hand of our Rebbe's is pure goyishkeit!