[Avodah] Timtum Halev

[Dov Kaiser]

R.MB wrote:

<<So I started wondering when the notion of "a mezuzah protects" became commonplace among my fellow Litvaks (and among Yekkes). I think it traces back to the LR's Mezuzah Campaign in the weeks before and during the Six Day War, but I'm not sure. It would seem to be mid- or late-20th cent CE, either way.>>

 

I have to quibble with your lumping together Litvaks and Yekkes.  Having observed older members of my wife's Yekke family, especially the female members, I have noticed that there is a strain of superstition, or interest in segulos (to be more charitable), which is home-grown.  I think it might date back to the chasidei Ashkenaz, who were very mystical.  These family members are very makpid on not eating the end of a loaf, insisting that my pregnant wife bite of the pitom of my esrog, shaliach mitzva gelt, etc. The image we have of the hyper-rational Yekke might have been true for educated men in the cities, but in the towns, and amongst women, I think mysticism still prevailed from mediaeval times.  They are also very into giving berachos (leil Shabbos, motzei Shabbos, before going on a journey).  I am not saying that giving berachos is mystical per se, but the way they do it, I think it is.

 

I certainly agree with you that Chabad has contributed greatly (in the Ashkenazi world) to the mystical approach to heftzei/maasei mitzva that you describe.  Their emphasis on maasei mitzva, especially slapping tefillin on interested but bemused passersby, over appeal to the intellect (e.g. Ohr Somayach, or even Aish), is a sympton of their approach.  I think they approach mitzvos more as the pushing of buttons on the celestial dashboard (to paraphrase R. Aharon Lichtenstein), rather than transformation of the soul of the mitzva-doer, which is a more Litvish approach. 

 

Kol tuv

Dov Kaiser
 		 	   		  
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