[Avodah] Upsherin

[Prof. Levine]

At 01:14 PM 5/23/2011, Reb wrote:

>On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 05:42:06PM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:
> > Since Lag BaOmer is almost here, I think that people should be aware of
> > the article
> > Cutting A Boy's Hair Without Doing a Chalaka (Upsherin)  Please see
> > http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/shorshei_hair_cutting.pdf
>
>What exactly do you believe is the role of minhag in determining my
>practice?
>
>Does minhag trump my personal reasoning, as you appeared to advocate
>early today when it comes to the siddur?

I do not understand what you are referring to.  What did I advocate 
according to you regarding "when it comes to the siddur"?


>Or does your reasoning override a minhag, as you appear to be advocating
>now?
>
>Kindly explain where you draw the chiluq.

Almost all of what I post on Avodah is from sources and is not my 
own.  I feel that it is important for people to realize that a lot of 
what is done today has either no basis or the basis is shaky at 
best.  For example, Upsherin has become the "in thing,"  even amongst 
Ashkenazim.  Rabbi Hamburger's writings shed light on this practice, 
and I think that people should be aware that its practice and 
acceptance was far from universal in the past.

Personally,  I am in the following position.  I was not brought up in 
an observant home, and hence I did not have a body of minhagim that I 
am "saddled" with.  While many may think that it is a negative, over 
the years I have come to view it as a plus.  The reason is that  I 
have had to evaluate everything that I do.  I have made conscious 
decisions regarding all of my "minhagim."

Even though my parents were not observant, they did stem from 
non-Chassidic Russian stock.  Hence, while at one time I "flirted" 
with Chassidus, I came to reject it.  My personal opinion is that on 
the whole Chassidus is not a plus for Yahadus.  The more I see 
regarding what is going on today, the more convinced I am that I am 
correct.  I realize that anyone in the "Chassidic camp" will disagree 
with me, but this is my personal opinion based on what I have read and seen.

The more I study the writings of RSRH, the more impressed I am.  They 
speak to me almost every time I read something that he or his 
son-in-law or his grandson wrote.  I also knew Rav S. Schwab, and 
found him a true Adam Godol.  Hence, my strong leanings toward 
Ashkenaz practice.

It is not up to me to tell you what the role of minhag is in 
determining your practice.  However, I do feel that one should make 
informed decisions, not simply say that this is the way my father and 
grandfather did.  This is the reason behind many my posts.

YL
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