Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita addressed differences in piskei halacha for Ashkenazim and Sephardim, explaining overall, Sephardim are more meikel.
“We are more meikel” Rav Yosef is quoted by Kikar Shabbos News saying during a shiur, adding “The Shulchan Aruch was ‘Beit Hillel’, preferring כוחא דהיתרא while the Rema was more machmir. This is known”.
The rav surprised participants in the shiur adding “at times, Ashkenazim approach me after my broadcasted shiur. I teach halachos. What is permitted is permitted. After the shiur Ashkenazim come to me, not once or twice, and say ‘Rav, I want to toivel in a mikve and become a Sephardi. Can I be a Sephardi?’ I tell them ‘no, you were born Ashkenazi and will die Ashkenazi and there is nothing I can do’”.
The rav adds that while this is so, a convert or baal teshuvah whose parents are not religious, while being of Ashkenazi decent, may accept the piskei halacha of Maran the Shulchan Aruch for they will not transgress ‘אל תיטוש תורת אמך’ for the mother is non-religious. Hence, a baal teshuvah from a non-religious background has the option to daven with Sephardi pronunciation as does a convert.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
The words of the Rav are taken out of context. Sepahrdim have certain halachot that are Mekel than Ashkenaz and some that are Machmir. A Sephardi Jew is no less of a Jew than an Ashkenaz Jew.
Ashkenazim have additional unnecessary burdens. sephardic jews are definitely no less than ashkenaz. we are all equal.
The Rabbi is just pointing out that people ask him to be Mekel against their custom, and he rightfully tells them that it’s not allowed.
As a side point, I’ve recognized a pattern where Ashkenazim are generally more mekel regarding food (chodosh, bishul akum, sirchos). In almost everything else, they are machmir. Just something I noticed. If anyone has any insight, I would love to hear it.
The farther the Ahkenaz went the harder it was to keep the Torah so to help keep it more gates were made in short just my opinion
The Sefaradim eat this entire week meat and drink wine
I saw yesterday a Rav wearing Bigdey Shabbos on his gson’s WachNacht ind I questioned him I was bambrded with non sence answers today at the Bris I asked a Moreh Horah [The Mohel} and he said ONLY the safrdim are allowed!
#1-does machmir make u a better Jew?
The Sefardim do not eat meat or drink wine all nine days. The Halacha states clearly for Ashkenaz and Sefard that at a Bris, the seuda can be on meat as long as the whole Kahal were there at the Bris. For this reason, no one does meat at Bris during the nine days, just in case someone missed the actual Bris. Also, just for the record, the meat and wine prohibition was instituted by the Geoneem, In times of the Geamra, only Erev Tisha Beav was the prohibition.
kollelman
I think you are mixing Halacha and customs.
You are correct that when regarding customs, Ashkenazim had much more laws , Sayagim, Tekanos proclaimed throughout the ages, including food, e.g.on Pesach – Kitniyos (Sephardim eat) , Thin Matzos (for the fear of there might be unbaked flour), and Chasidim even on Kebrokts, some not eating garlic on Pesach etc.
As for Halacha, there is no pattern; rather, it depends on the Rishonim p’sak of origin. If the Baalei Tosfot or TUR etc will hold one opinion against the Rambam, Sephardim will follow the ruling of the Ramabam yet Ashkenazim will follow the Tosefot etc. (e.g. Ashkenazim relied on Rashi regarding ReShus haRabim needing 600K vs Sephardim did not)
Some “kulos” are derived from certain circumstances from both ends..