Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Jewish Holidays
- IDF Memorial Day
practices done by other nations, if performed for
a certain benefit, such as to show honor, are
permitted to Jews. To protect Jewish specialness,
Chazal forbade adopting non-Jewish customs in two
categories: 1) If the act is linked to idolatry
or another form of worship (e.g. holding our
hands together or kneeling as is done in church);
or 2) If the act has no apparent reason
whatsoever, as its origin may then stem from an
idolatrous or pagan practice. But where the act
is not religious in nature, & has a definite
purpose, it is allowed. Thus wearing a suit &
tie, marching in a parade, sending a get-well
note to an ill person or standing in respect at a
memorial siren is perfectly permissible – even
laudable. The failure to show honor to the fallen
not only demonstrates a lack of Hakarat HaTov, it
is poraysh mim ha-tzibur, separating the wider
community & promoting disunity & acrimony between
Jews, which in & of itself creates a Chillul Hashem.
The Tallit that Saved Lives
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Iyar 2 5782
Heroes Of Israel Day
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu | Iyar 2 5782
Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) for the Fallen Soldiers of the IDF
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5575
