Today is a very special day for Chasidim. Today is Chai (18th of) Elul, and lots of amazing things happened to the Jewish people, especially the Chasidim. Today is the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, Aka the Besht, Aka Rabbi Israel Ben Eliezer. It is also the day that Alter Rebbe of Chabad, Shneur Zalman of Liadi was born and also the day special Maamers and Chassidius given over through out their lives. Another notable event today, is the Yaharziet of the Heliga Maharal of Prauge, Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel. This is where the Tachnun comes in, or rather doesn’t come in. As a general Chassidic Minhag that I have taken from my Rav, Tachnun is not said on the Yaharziet of Tzaddikim. This is not a Minhag of Chabad, as they even say Tachnun on their Rebbe's Yaharziets, or so I thought. No, it is not a Minhag of Chabad, but like all groups, you always have a rouge. I don’t mean that in a negative way, but it does make me smirk when someone steps out of routine and gets a comment out of the head Rabbi of my Shul.
There is a Chasid at my shul that does things that conflict with what other Chabad Chasidim feel should be done. One of those things is random times when Tachnun should be said and isn’t. Today is one of those days. The last one happened on the date marking the release of the Frierdiker Rebbe from Russian Prison. He was Shliach Tzibur and didn’t say Tachnun and this started a quiet argument as to "What the Rebbe did". Still, Tachnun wasn’t said. Today the Head Rabbi made an announcement, that "Today is Chai Elul, which is a very important day for Chassidim (Went on to list the reasons) and because of this Rabbi So & So probably wont be saying Tachnun, even though there is no source for this."
Now as a non Chabad Chasid davening in a Chabad shul, there are a few things I do different, and one of those is trying to not make it obvious that I'm not saying Tachnun. I have a calendar that is in the process of being marked on which days not to say Tachnun, because sometimes I forget and then realize later. I usually insert some sort of voluntary prayer that is printed after Shachris in the Art Scroll Sefard Siddur instead. Now don’t think I’m one of those Chasidim that goes No Tachnun Buck Wild. I only omit Tachnun when it is the Yaharziet of a Tzaddik who I have learned some sort of Torah from, not if I have just "heard of him".
This brings me to another interesting event that occurred today. Is it only Chabad or do other Chassidim consider Birthday, Yaharziet, or something monumental involving their Rebbes as Yom Tovim? The same Chasid, who doesn’t say Tachnun on these random days, also wishes everyone a "Gut Yom Tov", and wears his Kaputa. I only find this weird because he is the only one and no one else, not even the Head Shliach of the shul wears his.
Today we should learn Chassidus from the Besht, and the Alter Rebbe, as well as Chumash with Gur Aryeh (Maharal of Prague's commentary on the Chumash). May the merit of these Tzaddikim bring forth Redemption and Moshiach and may their Torah inspire us to engage in Tefillah, Teshuva, and Tzeddakah and be judged in favor by Hashem this Rosh Hashanah.
6 comments:
I'm at a chabad school - actually its the one run by the head Rabbi of your shul - and we have a few meshichisten teachers that encourage us not to say tachanun on any day that a Rebbe wasfreed from prison or whateer. But the general opinion that I have heard is that if you really feel touched by the day and on a level of true simcha, then you don't have to say tachanun... but for the rest of us, who dont feel anything because the Alter Rebbe was released for prison, we say tachanun.
BUT, that is only what I have heard and is not neccessarily the correct or generally accepted opinion.
Well that is true, as we dont say Tachnun on days of simcha. That is why we dont say it on Shabbos, Yom Tovim, Chol HaMoed, in front of a bridgroom, a bris, and also some dont say it on Yaharziets of Tzaddikim. There is actually a publication that has a tzaddik yaharziet for every day, which in theory could leave you Tachnun free forever. Chasidim don't like Tachnun because it reminds us that we are nothing and are subject to so many errors and flaws and begging Hashem not to punish us for our sins. This is why I don't omit it for just any reason except for Tzaddikim which I feel attached too. This is why Litvak Jews try to read Tachnun as much as possible, because its Mussar. Since Lubavitch is heavily influenced by Litvaks they say Tachnun the most out of any Chassidim. Meshichists don't count because they arent Poskim, and what they do doesnt dictate anything for Chabad as a whole.
Im not a Lubavitch Chasid, but I feel simcha that any Jew, especially a Chassidic Rebbe is released for prison.
If you want generally accepted opinions I suggest you find yourself a Rav if possible. I can answer questions and so can my wife but we are not Halachic Authorities
These articles are fantastic; the information you show us is interesting for everybody and is really good written. It’s just great!! Do you want to know something more? Read it...: Great investment opportunity in Costa Rica
Nice blog, I really enjoy very much every the time when i go at the beach. Actually i will go frequently after to prove costa rica investment opportunities , i hope my travel at the beach can be possible.
This seems very interesting to me. I was looking for info about this stuff, but I hadn't been able to find exactly what I wanted. I even got more resumes about Viagra than about this theme, can you believe it, I mean, it's so weird isn't it?
This seems very interesting to me. I was looking for info about this stuff, but I hadn't been able to find exactly what I wanted. I even got more resumes about Viagra than about this theme, can you believe it, I mean, it's so weird isn't it?
Post a Comment