[Avodah] Upsheren Custom of Hassidim

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://forums.globalyeshiva.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/904606335/m/1061013782

The upsheren custom of Hassidim, which at first glance seems like 
some venerable and ancient custom no good Jew would oppose, is 
actually a controversial new custom which they picked up from certain 
middle eastern Jews called 'mustarbim', which was and is rejected by 
certain great gedolim and communities.
<snip>

A very significant consideration is also the question if there is a 
problem of 'chukos hagoyim' with the custom. While we don't generally 
see it now (in western countries at least), the fact is that in 
certain eastern cultures (e.g. Arab and Hindu / Indian) a great deal 
was/is made of a son's first haircut and it was accompanied by a 
significant celebration. It seems that those Jews who started the 
custom Jews lived among such gentiles.

See the above URL for the entire discussion there.  YL
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20110105/e387e5de/attachment-0001.htm>