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<font size=3>At 01:14 PM 5/23/2011, Reb wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">On Wed, May 18, 2011 at
05:42:06PM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:<br>
> Since Lag BaOmer is almost here, I think that people should be aware
of <br>
> the article<br>
> Cutting A Boy's Hair Without Doing a Chalaka (Upsherin) Please
see <br>
>
<a href="http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/shorshei_hair_cutting.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/shorshei_hair_cutting.pdf</a>
<br><br>
What exactly do you believe is the role of minhag in determining my<br>
practice?</font><br>
<font size=3><br>
Does minhag trump my personal reasoning, as you appeared to advocate<br>
early today when it comes to the siddur?</font></blockquote><br>
I do not understand what you are referring to. What did I advocate
according to you regarding "when it comes to the
siddur"?<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=3>Or does your
reasoning override a minhag, as you appear to be advocating<br>
now?<br><br>
Kindly explain where you draw the chiluq.</blockquote><br>
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.<br><br>
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."
<br><br>
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. <br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
YL </font></body>
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