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R.MB wrote:<BR>
<<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.>><BR>
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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.<BR>
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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. <BR>
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Kol tuv<BR>
Dov Kaiser<BR> <br /><hr />Got a cool Hotmail story? <a href='http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/' target='_new'>Tell us now</a></body>
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