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From yesterday's Hakhel email bulletin<br><br>
<font size=3>The following question is extremely common:<br><br>
I am an Ashkenazi Jew from <i>Chassidish</i> stock. However, we have no
outward appearance of being <i>Chassidish</i>, nor do we have a
<i>Rebbe</i> whom we follow. Also, we send all our children to <i>Litvish
</i>schools. The only manifestation of our <i>Chassidish </i>roots is our
family <i>minhagim</i> (i.e., davening<i> nusach Sephard</i>, standing
for <i>Kiddush </i>and <i>Havdalah</i>, arranging the <i>Seder</i> Plate
according to the Arizal, etc.).<br><br>
For my bar mitzvah, my father bought me Arizal<i> parashiyos</i>, and now
my son’s bar mitzvah is on the horizon. Which <i>parashiyos </i>should I
buy for him – <i>Kesav Arizal </i>or <i>Kesav Beis Yosef</i>?<br><br>
It is well-known that the Steipler Gaon<i> </i>(R’ Yaakov Yisrael
Kanievsky, 1899–1985), and R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky, (1891–1986) used to tell
people the following: “The only type of <i>kesav</i> mentioned in the
works of the <i>Rishonim</i> is <i>Kesav Beis Yosef</i>, which is also
the only <i>kesav </i>that is kosher according to all opinions.
Therefore, by wearing <i>Kesav Beis Yosef</i>, one fulfills his Torah
obligation according to all opinions. So why raise doubt unnecessarily?”
This would seem to be particularly applicable in your situation, where it
appears that you are raising your children in a <i>Litvish
</i>environment. <br><br>
Although one who is unquestionably Sephardi<i> </i>or <i>Chassidish</i>
<b>should</b> follow his <i>minhag</i> (custom); one who is <b>not</b> a
full-fledged Sephardi or <i>Chassid </i>would be advised to purchase
<i>Beis Yosef parashiyos</i>.<br><br>
<b>Question <br><br>
</b>After what you’ve told me, I’m getting a bit nervous. Does this mean
that I should change my own <i>parashiyos</i> to <i>Beis
Yosef</i>?<br><br>
<b>Answer<br><br>
</b><a name="_GoBack"></a>This is a very sensitive subject which has no
clear answer.<i> </i><a name="_GoBack"></a>It is simply impossible to
respond to such a question without knowing the questioner and his family
history. You should consult a Rav who is thoroughly familiar with both
your family and the halachic issues involved to help you reach the right
decision.<br><br>
And from today's Hakhel email bulletin<br><br>
<br>
<b>FROM A READER:</b> Regarding yesterday’s Sta”m Note: “Thank you, Rabbi
Mendlowitz, for addressing this very common scenario, resulting from the
Hashgacha delivering a large number of Sho’ah survivors from Hungary and
Galicia hailing from Chassidishe stock, but whose
children/grandchildren’s American upbringing and chinuch has been
predominantly in the Litvishe tradition. It is interesting to note
that a scion of the Lechovitcher-Koidenover Chassidic School (which,
indeed, was Lita-based), HaRav Sholom of Breihin, Zt”l, writes in his
Sefer Mishmeres Sholom (6; 1) that his practice was to don Tefillin for
reciting Birchos HaShachar and Krias Shma prior to Shacharis. While
his primary Tefillin (that he wore for davening) contained Arizal
Parshiyos, as per the Minhag of his forefathers, followers of the Besht,
Zt’l, his pre-Shacharis Tefillin contained Parshiyos of the Bais Yosef,
in order to fulfill Mitzvas Tefillin in accordance with all
opinions.”<br><br>
YL<br>
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