Although normally one best fulfills a negative commandments by saying: "It is certainly tempting to do [or enjoy] this bad thing, but what can I do, Hashem forbade me to do [or enjoy] it" [see Rambam, Shemoneh Perakim], this is not the case in regard to chametz on Pesach. Thus, during Pesach a person should not say: "I am certainly tempted to eat and drink chametz, but cannot do so because of Hashem's command." This is because chametz on Pesach is akin to avodah zarah [Zohar 2:182a; see also Pesachim 28a and Shelah, Pesachim, Perek Torah Ohr #13], and concerning avodah zarah the Torah states: V'lo yishama al picha - "It [the name of an idolatry] should not be heard upon your lips." Hence just as it is forbidden to mention, and even think of, an idolatry, so too on Pesach one should avoid mentioning, and even thinking about chametz. Rather, before Pesacha person should say: "How much would I like to eat chametz on Pesach, for it is good and tasty, but what can I do, Hashem forbade me etc."
(Heichal Berachah (Kumarana), Parashas Re'eh on the pasuk: "Ki yirchak mimcha hamakom," cited in Minhag Yisrael Torah, Orach Chaim 469:2)
"V'lo yishama al picha - "It [the name of an idolatry] should not be heard upon your lips." Hence just as it is forbidden to mention, and EVEN THINK of, an idolatry, so too on Pesach one should avoid mentioning, and EVEN THINKING about chametz"
ReplyDeleteI fail to see clearly how the verse which says explicitly "al picha," is meant to extrapolate to "EVEN THINKING" about the issur. And if you CAN explain how somehow it DOES mean that by AZ, then isn't that perhaps too much of ANOTHER step to say "EVEN THINKING" by eating chametz on Pesach too (ie g'zerah l'egzerah)?
Please advise....
Look, to be honest, I am quoting the Kumarner more as an interesting tidbit than as halachah l'ma'aseh. You probably guessed that. But, having said that, there is an inyan by Avodah Zarah of "L'ma'an tefos es Bnei Yisroel b'libban" - that even a machasheves AZ is assur.
ReplyDeleteThis idea fits in beautifully with the concept (found in the Derech Pikudecha amongst others) that the halachos of chometz are a parallel to our teshuvan and cleansing ourselves from the Yetzer Harah, and as we know you cant do teshuva and then say "oh i fell bad that i did that, and i still want to do it again....
ReplyDelete-C
Don't we mention hamez throughout the seder? For instance, ma nishtanna?
ReplyDeleteI assume that the Kumarner would respond that there are also times when the Tanach and Chazal mention Avodah Zarahs by name, and the point is that hav lon d'lo nosif alyhu.
ReplyDeleteOff the topic but I hared from someone who attended your shiur in Chicago that you said that lubavitch discourages neglah learning. The person went to a whole explanation of emunah pshuta. I hope you did not say such things. Additionally, you were quoted as saying "ask any old timer in 770 and he will confirm this" needless to say I asked and they did not confirm. Go to my blog on the post myths and facts negliah it was dedicated to this misunderstanding.
ReplyDeleteIt would be incorrect to say Chabad discourages Nigleh learning - if anything, the Ba'al haTanya, in contradistinction to his immediate predecessors and contemporaries - pushed Nigleh. So I cannot imagine I said that. Indeed, my Uncle Ezra Schochet would prove the opposite as well.
ReplyDeleteI heard it from a responsible person. I will direct him to this post so he can see the truth and stop qouting you as saying such stuff. Thank you for setting the record straight.
ReplyDeleteSomething about which R' Yisrael Salanter took a different position the Rambam.
ReplyDeleteAccording to RYS, kibbush hayeitzer (conquring the desire, ie having the desire but not acting on it) is a lower step and a preparatory one to tiqun hayeitzer (fixing the desire). In the ideal, man's desires should match Hashem's.
Perhaps one would instead say that the Rambam is specifically ranking kibbush hayeitzer above not wanting the prohibited thing for ulterior reasons.
Interesting point by Reb Micha, one I never realized, that there is a machlokes concerning this shittas HoRambam.
ReplyDeleteFor that matter, in Chassidus we find the analog of Reb Yisroel's approach - iskafia is lower ishapacha.