Silent Night
So much to blog, so little time.
Some people will not be studying Torah tomorrow night. On purpose. There is a custom, not mentioned in Shulchan Aruch, a custom of relatively recent and unclear origin, not to study Torah on Xmas eve. Marc Shapiro writes extensively about this in his 1999 article in the Journal of JewishThought and Philosophy. My father remembers well hearing about this custom in his youth. And I remember well hearing about it from my father. It may be evil spirits. It may be safety precautions of a more immediate nature. It's an interesting custom to be aware of. In recent years a Hebrew sefer has been written on the subject as well, called Nitul.
posted by rabbi neil fleischmann @ 2:26 PM
5 Comments:
sort of like Tisha B'AV?
Tisha B'Av has a clear halacha of a day of aveilut and Torah brings us joy. I didn't think of these as connected.
I remember learning that one reason is because people used to learn late at night in order to counteract the midnight mass. This is similar to the 100kolos (sounds) of the shofar on Rosh Hashana being done to counteract the 101 cries of Sisra's mother.
Since they had to be up so late, then they would sleep earlier in the evening.
Another reason often given is because people were afraid to be out xmaseve as the goyim onthe way to or from church would take the opportunity for a pogrom. Of course the more usual date for a pogrom was Easter.
Just wanted to let you know that your post, Silent Night, is appearing this week on Haveil Havalim #50
I tried to email you but apparently fleischmann@mindspring.com no longer works.
Kol Tuv and Chag Sameach
Sabba H - I thought that it wasn't just not learning, or napping, but they'd gather and gamble.
Daled - Thanks. There's a technical diffuculty with the mindspring account, should be up again in a day.
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