[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman]
It is one of those Chassidish Chanukah Minhagim that Litvaks generally don’t really go for. Nonetheless, it is a genuine Minhag that dates back hundreds of years. In a nutshell, this is what is done:
In Chassidish communities of Poland and Hungary, it has been the custom when the Shamash is ready to light the Chanukah candles in shul, for children and others to throw hand towels and other items at him both before and during the lighting.
The custom is still practiced today in numerous Chassidish minyanim.
One can understain why Litvaks would not appreciate this particular custom. The Eliyahu Rabbah writes that talking to someone in the middle of a bracha may constitute Lifnei Iver – certainly throwing items at a person may cause a person to lose focus. There is the other issue of decorum within a shul and Beis Midrash as well.
Yet, on the other hand, is said that the Tzeshinover Rebbe was informed that one city that formerly had the practice had abolished it. He remarked, “Who knows what shall become of this city.” It is brought down that the Jewish community in that city was decimated r”l (See Pninei Chassidus [Vishnitz] page 31).
What is the reason for this custom and where does it come from?
The custom is cited in the name of the Sanzer Rav, but quite feasibly could have dated before this as well. The Halichos Chaim, written by Rabbi Aharon Kluger cites the minhagim of the Klausenberger Rebbe Rav Yekusiel Halbershtam (Chanukah p.18) and explains that the purpose of this custom was to vividly demonstrate how things were during the time of the Greeks and the Hellenists when a Jew wished to perform a Mitzvah. He was laughed and jeered at, unless the Mitzvah was performed in their specific Hellenizing way.
Yet another given for this custom by the Klausenberger Rebbe is that on the chance that the Shamash feels a sense of empowerment and haughtiness in fulfilling this Mitzvah so publicly. The clothing and towels are thrown at him to demonstrate that he has accomplished nothing (See Yehi Ohr 5733 p.67).
Yet a third reason is that both Lag BaOmer and Chanukah are connected to the Neshama of Rabbi Shimon Br Yochai. Tzaddikim are a type of Ohr HaMakif – all-encompassing light, according to the writings of the AriZal. Clothing signify this, therefore the custom is to throw clothing which signifies the all-encompassing light of Tzaddikim in this world (See Ben Yehoyada Sanhedrin 102a as cited in Nachalas Sadeh VaYikrah page 611).
The custom to light in shul only dates to the times of the late Rishonim. It is interesting to note that neither the Rambam, the Rif, the Rosh, the Ohr Zaruah, the Eshkol, Rashi, nor the Machzor Vitri mentions the custom of lighting in shul. The earliest authority to mention the custom is the Baal HaIttur. Indeed, the first to mention that a blessing is recited is Rav Yitzchok Perfet, the Rivash (1326-1408). The Maharam Shick (YD) stated that the Chasam Sofer actually did not recite a blessing when lighting in shul.
As far as lighting in shul in general, there are two reasons brought down. The Chayei Odom (154:17) explains that we light and recite the blessing in the synagogue because of Pirsumei Nisah – publicizing the miracle. The Levush (#8) gives a different reason. He says that it is so that guests who have no place to stay could also see the Chanukah lights. Dayan Weiss (Minchas Yitzchok Vol. VI 65:1) explains that according to the first reason a child who has reached the age of Chinuch may light in the Synagogue; while according to the Levush’s reason he may not. Rav Elyashiv zt”l (as cited in Yashiv Moshe p.86) states that according to either reason a child may not light in shul. Rav Elyashiv made no mention, however, about children throwing towels at the shamash. It is likely that he would not have been happy with this custom.
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24 Responses
What a Chillul Hashem! A bunch of immature babies. What about the fire hazard involved?
How could anyone possibly make fun of a long-established custom to throw flammable things at a person holding fire?
Obviously, they have heavenly protection. Obviously.
(It’s called shomer pisayim Hashem)
This is crazy and it’s a embarrassment ….
This would seem to be a very unsafe minhag to say the least….
This video was posted last year. How about just reposting all the brilliant comments to save time.
You guys above instead of criticizing minhagim how about finding out the reason? This minhag has holy roots and is not silly, embarrassing nor a chillul Hashem. 1 reason for this minhag is to publicize that no one in shul even the one lighting the candle is yotze with this hadlakah and everyone must light Chanukah candles again at home.
I’m sorry to say but this is not a minhag, but craziness. Where is the kovod for the mitsva or kovod haadom? How can it be mutar to throw towels books news papers on someone’s head for five minutes, repeatedly putting out his candle, causing a hefsek in his bracha, this Is a bizayon hamitsva.
Baruch Hashem shelo asani chosid shoite.
The criticizers are only half right;
Whoever ridicules any ancient custom (which was endorsed by ancient Tzaddikim) lacks understanding.
However, unsafe practices are indeed foolish. (Perhaps they shouldn’t aim for the head. Or use orange-peels instead…)
Note:
The writer left out the main reason for this Minhag:
Since we do not fulfill our Menorah obligations with the lighting in Shul, therefore we do pranks in order to specifically make a (sort of) mockery of the lighting, so that everybody will remember that this lighting does not count.
What’s the halachic on mazik or mevazeh chavero? Can they hide behind a misguided minhag? I can’t see it that there is a minhag to abuse someone. Very likely it was something small thrown at the one lighting but not to the degree shown on the clip attached. The person was physically and emotionally abused and there is no room in halacha or minhag for that.
I have seen such things that pass as minhagim and are truly minhagi stut (stupidity) and should be stopped.
I am surprised the author is not aware of REASON #1 of this minhag!
It is to SAVE many poshute yidden from brocho le’Vatole. How? A simple yid, not knowing the haloche, might (upon seeing the lighting in the shul) think that he is yotzei the mitzva! That in turn disqualifies him from lighting his own, which causes his broches at home [along with the ‘umeins’] to be le’Vatole!
So a little ‘Purim’was introduced at the shul lighting that everyone should understand that this is NOT the real mitzva, which needs to be done at home with family.
A freilichin Chanuka!
Ppl. Relax this is not a public shul it’s a yeshivah with some bucherim having fun. All other places it’s you throw 1 or 2 things and that’s it! this is some bucherim out of hand!!! Giving out there energy after learning 5 shaus retzifus
they should just stone him to death by trowing rocks
and get it over with
YWN. You posted this back in 2014 nothing new
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/ywn-videos/276935/watch-interesting-chassidish-minhag-while-lighting-menorah-to-throw-towels-at-person-lighting-candles.html
Putting aside the other commentators throwing off steam with their comments, there is what to question here.
1) The minhag has some interesting kavanos behind it. However, from the looks of it (from the video) it appears that it’s deeper meaning seems to have been lost in time and replaced with latzanus. Putting the halachah of Morei Mikdash aside, there is to ask whether a minhag that has been replaced by laitzanus should e continue. Of course, it would take an Admor to stop this minhag. Anyone else’s words will go on deaf ears.
2) Another issue I saw was Bracha L’vatala. If an action is not done within a certain time span from when the bracha was made the bracha becomes a bracha L’vatala.
3) Of course, there is the serious concern of a fire hazard as well.
I’m not saying to abolish this minhag out right, but it appears to me that the Admorim need to place it upon themselves to clarify this minhag to their chassidim and place guidelines in order to keep things in check and balance so no halachas are violated, nor safety.
Baruch meshane habriyos
Wackos!
Not all Chassidim do this.
There are minhagim shared by chassidish and litvish yidden with much greater adverse public health and safety consequences (think about the types of food routinely served at a Kiddush or simcha because these were the types of fatty, salty foods our grandparents ate in the alte heim)that we have learned to ignore. By definition, a minhag is done for the very reason that someone decided to emulate things done for hundreds of years in the past and likely will be done for hundreds of years into the future. Live and let live. There are greater threat to klal yisroel than throwing towels at the Rav’s gabboim lighting Chanukah licht.
This is a chillul hashem.it could be that in poland the chasidim took this more seriously. today it is a joke
it could be that in poland the chasidim took this more seriously. today it is a joke
When I saw this video it seemed like even the bochurim in the video were laughing. This is no Minhag & even if this Minhag goes back a few hundred years it doesn’t mean people didn’t think of crazy things than either. I have a hard time believing that this is what the Rebbes had in mind when they introduced this Minhag a few hundred years ago.
The “Minhag” was probably started by some bored man in small town and kept doing it every day knowing that if he sticks to it people will be afraid to stop him on the basis of “Minhag Yisroel Torah”, a visitor brought the idea to his town and so forth and thats how the “Minhag” got around. If such an significant reminder is needed to remind people that they are not yotze with this hadlokoh it would probably be better not to light in Shul at all.
(To #23, and all)
It specifically says in שולחן ערוך that candles should be lit in shul for פרסומי ניסא but NOT to be yotzei with it because that needs to be נר איש וביתו.