22 Elul 5770
September 1, 2010
Rabbi Eliyahu Neiman
It has been three months since the “Shatnez News” section of the JKN first started, and being erev Rosh Hashanah I thought it would be a good time for some introspection.
I would like to ask our readers for some feedback and ideas to improve or enhance the site. I am hoping in the future to have an improved, practical main page with not only the latest shatnez alerts but also a Shatnez garment check-list on what requires checking and what doesn’t. I would also like to include a listing of all certified shatnez lab’s in Israel and worldwide. I intend to keep both lists current and accurate. I also want to post practical as well as in depth halachos of shatnez, and tips on what to look out for when shopping.
I would like to encourage our readers to be proactive in educating your communities to be more aware of kashrus and shatnez problems. I recommend printing out the check list as well as the alerts on JKN and posting them in your shul, yeshiva/kollel or work place.
I have numerous shatnez testing locations in Jerusalem, Ramat Beit Shemesh, and Beitar Illit and I am in touch with others shatnez labs throughout Israel. You may feel free to contact me if you have a garment that you have a question about, or if you need information on where to get a garment tested in a hurry, or you want to know the location of the Shatnes lab nearest you. Or for any other question you may have regarding shatnez. jerusalemshatneznews@live.com
The ten days starting from Rosh Hashanah to until Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.
On Rosh HaShanah, everyone is judged by G-d based on his or her actions during the previous year. The resulting judgment is recorded and a person’s future is determined for the following year. Though that judgment is inscribed, it is not yet sealed and can still be changed for at least another ten days. G-d waits until Yom Kippur to seal the book for the year.
How can a person change their judgment for the better? “Repentance, Prayer, and Charity can remove the bad decree.” G-d looks especially at three areas during the time between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, the Ten Days of Repentance. By doing Teshuvah with true regret for the past and commitment for the future, a person can erase his misdeeds and hence improve his judgment before it is sealed on Yom Kippur. Similarly, by praying with greater concentration before G-d, and by giving Tzedakah with the proper spirit, one can also overturn an evil decree.
Shatnez is a prohibition of the Torah and all year round a Jew must be careful not to transgress. Since prayer is crucial during the days of awe, and its ramifications will be felt throughout the coming year you should be extra careful regarding shatnez during the ten days of Tshuvah.
What is the connection between Shatnez and Tefillah?
The sefer Shalmei Tzibur and others write “Nothing blocks Prayer from ascending on high like wearing a garment of shatnez does, even if it is worn unintentionally! And “Wearing shatnez one day can block tefillos for 40 days!”
Hagoan HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz was Rosh Yeshivah of the Mirer Yeshivah during its sojourn in Shanghai during World War II. When asked what was the biggest miracle he encountered during the ordeal he said over the following incident.
“On weekdays the students wore suits that they brought with them from Lithuania. However, for Shabbos and Yom Tov they were given new suits. One Yom Kippur, a student left the Beis Hamidrash in the middle of davening and returned shortly afterwards. To everyone’s surprise he had changed into his weekday suit. When he was later asked why he had changed his suit, he answered that he found himself unable to pray with his usual kavana (concentration). It occurred to him that his suit might have shatnez in it although it had been checked. “He remembered that the seforim write that shatnez can prevent a person’s tefillos from being accepted and presumably it can likewise stop the person from praying properly. He therefore changed to his weekday clothes, and to his great relief, he felt a big improvement in his abiity to pray. After Yom Kippur his suit was checked carefully and shatnez was in fact found in an unexpected place. It transpired that although the garment was previously checked the shatnez had escaped detection.”
The Mishna in kilayim chapter 9-8 says “You may not wear shatnez – something which is shua (carded), tavui (spun), and noz (woven). Shimon ben Elazar says: He (one who wears shatnez) deviates and causes his Father in Heaven to turn from him.
The sefer Meam Loez, Vayikra page 213 in the name of Maharam Rikanti writes if certain prosecuting angles would join forces they would level very strong accusations against Klal Yisroel. However, Hashem in His mercy holds them apart so that they cannot join forces. This intervention on the part of Hashem occurs when Klal Yisroel themselves keep separate that which they have been commanded not to mix. However, if they wear shatnez and mix together what should have been kept apart, Hashem likewise allows the prosecuting angles to join forces – to the detriment of Klal Yisroel
The Zohar teaches “Shatnez” can be separated into two words “Satan Az,” meaning “the Satan is strong. The Zohar also states that when someone wears Shatnez an “evil spirit” lurks within him, just as in the time of Cain & Abel where the fusion of these two products brought tragedy and calamity.
Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk of Gateshead, England tells over the following true story
The following incident happened to a Kollel Avreich in Gateshead Yeshiva. When he would travel to London in order to raise funds for his Kollel he would periodically visit a traditionally Orthodox couple. Over the years he became very friendly with them. This couple kept Shabbos, taharas hamishpacha and Kashrus to the best of their ability. As time went on they would observe new mitzvos as they learned about them. They had been married for six and a half years but had no children although they were very eager to have a family. They sought the best medical advice available but to no avail. The young woman poured out her heart to their annual visitor weeping bitterly that they seemed to be destined to have no children.
This avreich was very moved and on his return to Gateshead discussed the matter with a good friend. After some thought, the latter recommended that the couple be encouraged to undertake an additional mitzva that they had presumably not kept, in the merit of which they might be blessed with a child. The avreich liked the idea and after some consideration decided to suggest the mitzva of shatnez. The husband’s immediate reaction was that he knew all about shatnez. He had his suits and coats tested for shatnez and they were perfectly kosher. He was then asked whether his wife’s outfits and coats were tested. The husband reacted with surprise. They had been under the impression that this mitzva was only for men and did not apply to women. On realizing their error, they took the wife’s clothes to be tested and on inspection her coat was found to be full of shatnez, the shatnez was promptly removed and the garment rendered Kosher. This incident happened in mid-Elul 5753. In Tammuz 5754, just nine months later, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The delight of the couple was indescribable and they are eternally grateful to Hashem Yisborach for having answered their tefillos. Let us take this story to heart and appreciate the kedusha of a mitzva and the tumah generated by an aveirah even when transgressed inadvertently.
Note: The deeper meaning of this story is as follows: It may be decreed on a couple (for a reason known to Hashem) that they will have children only if a substantial zechus (merit) materializes. The zechus can be in the form of special tefilla, tzedaka, gemilus chasadim( acts of kindness) such as establishing G’mach (free loans), devotion to learning (limud haTorah), the bracha of an outstanding tzaddik and the like. At this point shatnez comes in. Even if a major zechus already exists, shatnez is such a powerful “obstruction” that it can stand in the way and prevent the salvation from materializing. As soon as this “obstruction” is removed, the zechus comes into effect, enabling the yeshuah to materialize quickly.
To all our readers and all Klal Yisroel L’shana tovah tikasvu v’esachasamu, May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.
Eliyahu Neiman jerusalenshatneznews@live.com
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