[Avodah] Sleeves that Cover the Elbows

[Micha Berger]

This builds on my previous post (on the thread) "is this ok?". I wrote:
> There is an overlap between taharah and qedushah: Taharah is
> separation from gashmius.
...
> R. SR Hirsch portrays the tamei object as one that causes the illusion
> that man is nothing more than a physical object, an animal, a helpless
> subject to physical forces and physical desires. In reality,
...
> Qedushah is a commitment to avodas Hashem which can only come through
> a separation from competing life-goals. As R' Shimon Shkop writes...

On Thu, Aug 16, 2012 at 12:30:21PM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:
> Perhaps one should classify wearing sleeves that cover the elbow as a  
> Hidur rather than a chumra.
>
> The following is from http://tinyurl.com/btzc4vw
>
>
> Kedusha = Restriction
> by Kedusha
> <http://www.guardyoureyes.com/inspiration/members-chizuk/item/kedusha>

Obviously, from what I just wrote, I do not think this equality holds.
As RSShkop argued, if the Toras Kohanim meant "perushim tihyu" /defined/
qedushah, then what does it do with "ki Qadosh Ani"? What negative things
does HQBH have to be poreish Himself from?

...
> Source: Chiku Mamtakim, volume II p. 121 (translated from the original 
> Hebrew) (emphasis added).
...
> Rav Shlomo Zalman responded: "Why look for stringencies?  There is no  
> need for that.  The main thing is to accept upon yourself to fulfill the 
> Halacha on a Lechatchila level."

Rashi (on "qedoshim tihyu") and Rambam (in his discussions of
"lashon haqodesh" and "sheqel qodesh"), not the Ramban. (As
I mentioned last post, I am referring to something I wrote at
<http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2010/11/qedushah.shtml>.) The Ramban says
the main thing is "qadeish es atzmekha bema shemutar lakh". Apparently
he holds that following the halakhah on the lekhat-chilah level is simply
"lekakh notzarta", and not qedushah.

...
> Since it meant so much to them, Rav Shlomo Zalman acceded to their  
> request and gave them the following advice: "All the Chumros and Hidurim 
> are not worth a single minor Hidur in matters of Kedusha and Tzeniyus.  
> In matters of Kedusha and Tzeniyus, every small Hidur is immeasurable, it 
> raises up, sanctifies, and brings a person close to his Creator, as 
> Chazal say: 'Wherever you find safeguards against ervah, you find 
> Kedusha.'  For someone whose Neshama is thirsty for Ruchniyus, the place 
> to begin and the area that is most important is Kedusha and Tzeniyus."

Notice that unlike the anonymous "Kedhusha"'s understanding, this maaseh
does not say that qedushah *is* restriction any more than qedushah will
perforce (at least for people) require restriction. There is no indication
RSZA disagrees with RSShkop's defimition.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             It's never too late
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Fax: (270) 514-1507                      - George Elliot