[Avodah] Machnisei Rachamim

[Zev Sero]

Micha Berger wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 10:38:26AM -0400, Zev Sero wrote:
> : Micha Berger wrote:
> :> WRT the neshamos of niftarim, it is common during the close of a hesped
> :> for someone to ask the niftar to be a meilitz yosher for us. The Gra
> :> would assur that as well.
> 
> : I very much doubt it, since the Zohar explicitly permits it.
> 
> According to the MB (559:41) the Ari disrecommended going within 4
> amos of a qever aside from the qevurah.

What's that got to do with it?  This is during the kevurah.  And
afterwards, one can easily address the niftar from 4 amos away.


> As for this particular question, we've discussed it before.

Indeed we have.  I'm specifically challenging your assumption that
the GRA would forbid this practise.  Since the Zohar explicitly endorses it, I can't believe the GRA would have a problem with it.



> :                                                               Why
> : would it be a problem, if it wasn't one before the person died?
 
> As I said in the lattermost discussion (v254n25e10):
>> I am not expressing a position where the spectrum is split into issur
>> vs heter, just defining the spectrum. I did mention the Gra's
>> position, which I follow in my own practice -- but also acknowledged
>> that it's a minority opinion that runs counter to common pesaq. It
>>  just is most intuitive to me, so until I can say Shalom Aleikhem and
>> be sure I'm not misunderstanding it in a means that is AZ, I will
>> avoid it. Qua chumrah, not din. As I wrote, I left the din question
>> open.

I don't understand how this addresses my question in any way.  If it
was OK to ask the person to pray for you before he died, why would
it not be OK now?  What has changed?

 
> As for whether meisim have bechirah... The Rogotchover places them
> lemaalah min hazeman.

What has that got to do with bechirah?  Surely they can still either
respond or not respond to our requests; why do they need to be in
some specific moment in order to do that?



-- 
Zev Sero                      The trouble with socialism is that you
zev at sero.name                 eventually run out of other people’s money
                                                     - Margaret Thatcher