[Avodah] Interlocking the Fingers of the Right Hand with the Fingers of the Left Hand

[Daniel Eidensohn]

On Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 10:23 AM, Chanoch (Ken) Bloom <kbloom at gmail.com>wrote:
>> In any event, I'm not sure anyone has addressed my original query, by
>> what right or mechanism can new Issurim be enacted after Ravina and
>> Rav Ashi? If there is no source in the Torah, Mishna or Gemoro, why
>> doesn't it transgress the prohibition against adding Mitsvos? (One
>> could also ask the same question about the Tzavo'o of Reb Yehuda
>> Hechosid.)

> Because the Zohar is considered a Tannitic text, similar to the
> midrashei halachah. (Though I understand some dispute this, those who
> pasken by the Zohar accept it as a Tannitic text.) So the issue that's
> really at question here is what gives us the right to pasken like the
> Zohar against or in addition to the Bavli. But then you could ask the
> same question about halachot that come from the Yerushalmi or from the
> midrashei halachah (Ma'aser Kesafim is one such example, quoted from the
> Sifrei by Tosafot Ta'anit 9a).

http://revach.net/article.php?id=4871

The Aruch HaShulchan brings L'Halacha (OC 91:7) that in times of Za'am or
raging tzorus, one should daven with his hands clasped together and his
fingers interlocking. However says the Aruch HaShulchan in times of peace
you should not do so because it causes Din Shamayim to be brought down on
you.

The Piskei Tshuvos (95:5) brings that Arizal was makpid that you should
never hold your hands in that manner and it is bad Mazal. Rav Chaim Palagi
writes that one should stop his wife or children from doing this, ever, and
especially in times of sickness or the Aseres Yimei Tshuva.

The Aruch HaShulchan says that although placing one hand inside the other is
the best way to hold your hands by davening, each person is different and
should keep his hands the way he feels comfortable, like on a Shtender or
holding on to a shelf. However he says, make sure not to daven wearing
gloves.


[Email #2. -micha]

Anyone who wants to prohibit should view this video of Rav Eliashiv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dKkwC2YiOw