RSS Feed
Brookline, MA - H1N1 Prompts Modifying Kissing Of The Torah |
|
| |
News Source: CBS News
Text Size
|
|
File PhotoBrookline, MA - On this Jewish New year a centuries old tradition is adjusting for the H1N1 virus.
“There is a custom that the Torah, when it is walked around, removed from the arc that people kiss the Torah. Someone asked me if that’s sanitary, I said, well if you have a problem with it, you can wave at the torah, I think the Torah will understand,” said Rabbi Moshe Waldoks at the Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, Mass.
Beth Zion Temple in is recommending hand sanitizer and dropping the handshake, reports CBS News correspondent Hari Sreenivasan.
“I’m proposing a pleasant Buddhist bow which acknowledges the person in front of you or the good old fashioned Obama fist bump,” Waldoks said.
These are just some examples of the changes taking place in religious services this year. The CDC estimates there have been more than a million cases of H1N1 across all 50 states. Twenty-one states have already seen widespread outbreaks.
Regardless of faith, the CDC says if you have any flu like symptoms is best to avoid large gatherings altogether.
More of today's headlines
“Cutler Bay, FL -Rabbi Yossi Wolff and members of the Chabad of Cutler Bay and Homestead found themselves scrambling an hour before the start of sundown services to find...”
Cutler Bay, FL - Chabad Is Struck By Vandalism an Hour Before Rosh Hashana
Flatbush, NY - Battle Between Orthodox Flock and Charter school is Hebrewing
Total10
Read Comments (10) — Post Yours »
1
Sep 20, 2009 at 08:24 PM Anonymous Says:
Until the flu problem is over, we should stop all this "kissing" of sifrei torah, sidurim, mizuzot, the rebbe's hand etc. We can show respect without physical contact as the article suggests by using a the Bhuddist style bow (which is also the norm in some sephardishe shuls). Othewise, the gabboim should spray the torah covers with sanitizer after every use which is probably not a good idea for the seforim and somehow seems inappropriate.
2
Sep 20, 2009 at 08:38 PM Anonymous Says:
The first and most simple step to take is for rabbonimm to tell everyone in shul to DAVEN AT HOME if they have any flu symptoms. There is no chiyuv to come to shul or bes medrash and possibly infect others. Under halacha davening at home without a minyan is mutar and far better for everyone.
3
Sep 20, 2009 at 09:06 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Until the flu problem is over, we should stop all this "kissing" of sifrei torah, sidurim, mizuzot, the rebbe's hand etc. We can show respect without physical contact as the article suggests by using a the Bhuddist style bow (which is also the norm in some sephardishe shuls). Othewise, the gabboim should spray the torah covers with sanitizer after every use which is probably not a good idea for the seforim and somehow seems inappropriate. ”
Please do not use avodah zorah in describing how to bow. Thank you.
4
Sep 20, 2009 at 08:56 PM Anonymous Says:
“ The first and most simple step to take is for rabbonimm to tell everyone in shul to DAVEN AT HOME if they have any flu symptoms. There is no chiyuv to come to shul or bes medrash and possibly infect others. Under halacha davening at home without a minyan is mutar and far better for everyone. ”
its not muttar its a chiyuv .
5
Sep 20, 2009 at 09:57 PM Anonymous Says:
“ its not muttar its a chiyuv . ”
Are you saying its a chiyuv to stay home if you think you might have the flu or a chiyuv to go to shul to daven with a minyan, nothwithstanding your concerns about possibly having the flu.
6
Sep 20, 2009 at 09:56 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Please do not use avodah zorah in describing how to bow. Thank you. ”
“ Please do not use avodah zorah in describing how to bow. Thank you.”
Unless you cannot read, the article refers to the Buddhist tradition of bowing during their prayers. The poster only mentioned that the same minhag was also common among Sephardeshe yidden.
7
Sep 21, 2009 at 03:17 AM Anonymous Says:
“ “ Please do not use avodah zorah in describing how to bow. Thank you.”
Unless you cannot read, the article refers to the Buddhist tradition of bowing during their prayers. The poster only mentioned that the same minhag was also common among Sephardeshe yidden.
”
I can read very well. It is not proper to reference avodah zoroh when telling someone how to do something. I did not say it is avodah zoroh to bow. I just said it is not proper to reference a minhag of avodah zoroh. Just like it is not proper to use an avodah zoroh as a landmark. Buddhism is avodah zoroh. The reference is improper. Nothing else meant.
8
Sep 21, 2009 at 02:08 AM Shomer P'sayim HaShem Says:
No one EVER got the flu from kissing the Sefer Torah & no one EVER will! These people aren't too fond of the torah anyway.
9
Sep 21, 2009 at 10:29 AM Anonymous Says:
“ No one EVER got the flu from kissing the Sefer Torah & no one EVER will! These people aren't too fond of the torah anyway. ”
Nebach. You wasted whatever time you spent in sul if that is all you can say about other yiddin between yom hadin and tzom gedalia.
10
Sep 21, 2009 at 11:46 AM Shomer P'sayim HaShem Says:
“ Nebach. You wasted whatever time you spent in sul if that is all you can say about other yiddin between yom hadin and tzom gedalia. ”
Nope. Didnt waste time at all. You cant keep walking around saying "Oy, poor people dont get it." Sometimes you have to call it AS YOU SEE IT.