British Jewry, together with the general British public, are mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth.
But for frum Jews who live their lives according to the Shulchan Aruch, the situation has led to some shailos.
According to a B’Chadrei Chareidim report, a kehilla in London asked a shaila of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Dovid Weiss, the Rav of the Satmar kehilla in Antwerp, whether to hold a Hachnasas Sefer Torah on the streets during the days of mourning.
HaRav Weiss responded that it shouldn’t be held and one must avoid showing joy in public such as holding a chuppah or Hachnasas Sefer Torah in the street.
In another p’sak halacha from the Rosh Yeshivas Gateshead, HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Gurwitz, he instructed that a girls’ school should be closed during the funeral and afterward only teach limudei kodesh.
In a letter sent to the parents of the students at the school, the administration writes: “We asked HaRav Avraham Gurvitz regarding opening the school next Monday because of the Queen’s funeral. The decision was not to hold studies during the funeral, and afterward only teach limudei kodeh. Therefore we’re holding lessons in school only between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM in the afternoon, and only limmudei kodesh.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
for the record , the rav changed his mind and said no school all day , in the week after 9/11 that year sefer toras were cancelled here in ny as well , poshut!
in regards to other news, this article implies that British schools do teach limudei chol on all days except royal funerals! Hazak Uvoruch.
Why haven’t they addressed the other שאילה:- Can the Israeli President & British Commonwealth Chief Rabbi enter Westminster Abbey for funeral services? & if yes:- How about their head gear?
How about frum Jews paying their respects at the lying in state of tge queen?
I’m no great talmid chochom or posek, but I find it rather odd that these issues are described as “Halacha” questions. Does the “Royalty” in Britain really have a halachic status of malchus? Doesn’t the designation of Malchus have something to do with the power of the ruler, thus evoking reverence and resultant majesty? From what I see, the only power vested in British royalty is the power to create something to gossip about.
So I would imagine that the sh’alos posed were not of a halachic nature as much as of a sho’el eitzah. Therefore, since British Jewry lives among the goyishe Brits, similar to any Jewish community in galus, it is wise not to publicly celebrate when they are mourning. And by the same token, since apparently schools will be closed the day of the funeral, it is a good idea to not require the secular subject teachers (some or all of who are probably not Jewish or religious) to come to teach when the nation is in mourning. But it is seemingly not a Halacha thing by any means.
no respect for this personage at all, in the Creators’ world she is Queen, therefore in ours , now she no longer exists and I like the 70 years no more or less than Bavel and its fall…..bye bye royalty….the world has changed….thankfully this witch is now deceased and we can move on…..this i have gratitude and I will party and do all I do as usual and more with joy knowing this is FINISHED
Duuuuhhhh…… to be dancing in the streets with a sefer Torah during the national mourning of the queen ….where common people are literally crying in public…..would be about THE dumbest thing I can imagine….
When asking about the public Hachanassos Sefer Torah or Chuppah questions does the writer first inform the Rabbi that they lack any sort of common senses and would not know which way to put on their pants without asking a shailah too? The school question at least may involve some bittul torah so definitely something to ask but the other questions if seriously asked make me wonder if the person asking them could use a few klops on the kup.
frumwhere- I remember reading that the a yeshiva often had their windows open during Shabbos meals and the shabbos after JFK was killed (he died on a friday) they were told not to sing zemiros so it wouldn’t look like they’re celebrating
147:
That’s because it’s not a שאילה: of course they cannot attend a church ceremony in a church.
AAQ, it’s a girl’s school. Where have you ever heard of a girl’s school that doesn’t teach limudei chol?
FrumWhere, the British monarchy is the very epitome of Kevod Malchus. Those poskim who hold that a melech is only one who has the power to condemn someone to death or to grant them life are simply wrong. Maybe that’s the only kind of king they could imagine, but English kings have never had that power, not even in the old days, and the idea that their glory and majesty is somehow diminished thereby is just ridiculous. To state it is to refute it. And that is why British Jews for the last 3 centuries have said the bracha on seeing the king with shem and malchus.
Remember the bracha is about kavod, not koach. It says shenasan mikevodo, not mikocho. And He definitely gave Elizabeth as much kavod as He ever gave any human ruler. Alexander at his height didn’t have more kavod than she did.