I was speaking to a Rabbi I know about Christmas. We got into a whole long discussion, which went on a tangent, and we began to discuss the bad priests, and what a chillul hashem some Rabbi's are (specifically the recent Satmar story). Then he said in an attempt to get back to our original discussion (something about Christmas), he said "You know, Santa is a pedophile, he has little kids sit on his lap all day!"
I started laughing. :-)
Oh boy did I have to share that with my readers. :)
Generally, the Rabbi kept on saying how we are not supposed to learn Torah over Christmas because that gives merit to Jesus (well, he said Yoshka). And I got all annoyed at him. After all, depends on who you hold by, depends on when Christmas is. In the former Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox held Christmas on January 7 I believe, while only Catholics and pretty much the various Protestant Christians keep it the 25th. Does that mean we cannot learn Torah all those days? What bothered me most, and I made this point to him, that by not learning, it doesn't withhold merit, it actually just adds to the meaning behind his existence. By not learning on Christmas (whichever in your minhag...hehe), you're only affirming Jesus' existence.
Why the hell would Rebbeim go out of their way enough to give a darn when he was born? Well... I unfortunately don't even have a theory on that one.
10 comments:
And, for the record, Jesus wasn't actually born on the 25th. That's just the day it's celebrated.
lol. I know. which makes it all the more funny. :). I didn't play on it though. the stupidity ofthe whole thing.
What Jersey said
In my neighborhood there are often extra shiurim and guest speakers on the 25th since most of the adults are off from work that day.
Thought that was a chabad thing. My youngest was actually born Dec. 25th; now what?
..just one more proof Ashkenazim are f--ked up...
This bizarre need to stick it to other religions is one of the most irritating things about Orthodox Judaism.
And, does all the Torah study on April 20 add to Hitler's merits? Stalin was born on December 18. Arafat-- August 24. The list goes on-- we'd better quit this whole Torah study thing before we start adding to the merits of naughty, naughty people.
David- you're right!
Torah study to be banned EVERYDAY!
Everyday is probably the day of some antisemites bday! :)
Plus mom just made a good point, why are tehy going by the goyish calender anyway?
Did they check out Jesus' bday from year "0" on Hebcal?
ok, this one I know an answer too.
It has to do with Nittelnacht. It's the night before when men can't learn.
As I was googling, I saw this quote of the day on my google page, and I thought it was perfect for you:
"A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.
- Sidney J. Harris"
Anyways, back to no learning, this is what I found.
"On Motzei Shabbost, the night before December 25th when most people celebrate the birth of "Oso Ha'ish" there is a custom not to learn Torah from sunset until the mid point of the night (Chatzos). The Rebbe Rashab said "I am not fond of those diligent students who begrudge those eight hours and insist on learning" The reason we do not learn on this night is not to add vitality to the outside forces. In countries where they mark his birth on January 6th or 7th, the custom is not to learn on the night before Jan. 6 or Jan. 7.
This is an age-old custom, but is not really mentioned in most earlier seforim out of fear of the ruling governments of that time.
[Rabbi Yonoson Eibshitz was once asked that if Torah is one of the pillars upon which the world stands, and on this night we do not learn, then what happens to the world. To this he replied that Minhag Yisroel Torah He "A Jewish custom is Torah," thus by observing the custom of not learning on this night, this itself is Torah and the pillar is still firm and strong.]
One should not use out this time for frivolous behavior. Many would play chess on this night.
In many Yeshivos where niteel was observed, the students would go to sleep early and then wake up after Chatzos to learn."
from Hashkafa.com.
babysitter- you're so funny. lol.
I don't buy it one bit...I'm not sure who mentioned it before, but if anything, we should go by his hebrew bday, which doesn't exist, because as Jersey said "That's just the day it's celebrated."
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