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Jul 1, 2013
Interesting Psak: Wearing a wristwatch is allowed
There was a recently a surprising psak publicized in the name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky according to which he holds, based on the Chazon Ish's opinion, that it is forbidden for a man to wear a wristwatch due it it being considered a female garment or accessory.
According to Bechadrei, Rav Nissim Karelitz was recently asked about that psak of Rav Kanievsky. Rav Nissim Karelitz, nephew of the Chazon Ish and cousin of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, said that there is no way the Chazon Ish considered a regular wristwatch to be a female garment or accessory and he never prohibited its use as such. It is possible, Rav Karelitz explained, that the psak of the Chazon Ish was referring to a specific watch that was more similar to a female piece of jewelry than to a simple wristwatch.
When asked how Rav Kanievsky could say differently, Rav Karelitz responded to go ask Rav Kanievsky, though it is likely the questioner did not understand the response. Rav Karelitz adds that a psak given in private for one situation is not supposed to be applied willy nilly to other situations. Many times the gedolim give a psak for a very specific situation, while other people than take that psak and turn it into a public decree, which was not the intention of the gadol.
Rules:
1. never rely on a psak discovered on the Internet or on a pashkevil without checking it out yourself and confirming its veracity. They make for interesting discussion, and can be a launching pad for questions and discussion, but they are not reliable enough to be acted upon blindly.
2. Ask your own questions, when you have them, and do not rely on "public" declarations of psak.
According to Bechadrei, Rav Nissim Karelitz was recently asked about that psak of Rav Kanievsky. Rav Nissim Karelitz, nephew of the Chazon Ish and cousin of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, said that there is no way the Chazon Ish considered a regular wristwatch to be a female garment or accessory and he never prohibited its use as such. It is possible, Rav Karelitz explained, that the psak of the Chazon Ish was referring to a specific watch that was more similar to a female piece of jewelry than to a simple wristwatch.
When asked how Rav Kanievsky could say differently, Rav Karelitz responded to go ask Rav Kanievsky, though it is likely the questioner did not understand the response. Rav Karelitz adds that a psak given in private for one situation is not supposed to be applied willy nilly to other situations. Many times the gedolim give a psak for a very specific situation, while other people than take that psak and turn it into a public decree, which was not the intention of the gadol.
Rules:
1. never rely on a psak discovered on the Internet or on a pashkevil without checking it out yourself and confirming its veracity. They make for interesting discussion, and can be a launching pad for questions and discussion, but they are not reliable enough to be acted upon blindly.
2. Ask your own questions, when you have them, and do not rely on "public" declarations of psak.
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What matters is that Rav Chaim Kanievsky still maintains that the CI's psak applies today and to all wristwatches forever and that Rav Chaim Kanievsky is nevertheless considered the authoritative "last word" in psak halacha and hashkofa today -- and that his opinion is imposed upon all who wish to introduce any type innovation, whether it's electricity or techeiles.
ReplyDeleteTo add to what i wrote above, i don't understand what you concluded, Rafi.
ReplyDeleteThere was no mistake in the report as to Rav Chaim's opinion, that the psak applies today and forever, and to all wristwatches today and forever.
All Rav Nissim is saying is that he disagrees as to the CI's having had this opinion. Rav Chaim, on the other hand, believes that he knows with certainty that this is what the CI would say today -- it's just that Rav Shach and Rav Elyashiv (and we can now include Rav Nissim) never heard about it.
Interesting that Rav Chaim's verification process did not include checking with Rav Nissim.
Rav Chaim is as much a nephew as Rav Nissim.. maybe he didnt need to check.
Deletethe point is, according to Rav Nissim even rav chaim doesnt hold it is assur to wear a watch,. When he said ti was assur, based on the chazon ish, he was surely talking about a specific watch that was more feminine in style. definitely regular watches are ok, according to chazon ish and rav chaim!
According to rav nissim, his added statement is very important - one cannot take a psak given to an individual in a specific case and turn it into a decree for the world. Rav nissim is saying that rav chaim must have been misunderstood and was not giving a general psak about not wearing wristwatches.
Rav Nissim said "Perhaps the questioner misunderstood."
DeleteCould be, but apparently Rav Chaim has been telling this to people for awhile and we have not yet heard that Rav Chaim that he was only referring to feminine watches. When asked as to how Rav Shach and Rav ELyashiv could have been wearing wristwatches and as to why he himself used to, he did not say "because they were not feminine-looking," but that they had not heard of the CI's psak.
If Rav Chaim held like Rav Nissim, why would he have stopped wearing a watch altogether?
maybe he is like me and stopped wearing a watch because he has no need for one. between wall clocks, digital displays on ovens and walls everywhere, cellphones, and whatever else, who needs a watch? the time is displayed all around us! plus, where is he going or what is he doing that he needs a watch? he sits and learns all day!
Deletejust joking.
I think it's not a joking matter, for it's emblematic of much that is wrong with the state of psak halacha today.
DeleteJust like you should not pasken from the gemara without first seeing the shulchan aruch
ReplyDeleteand you should not pasken from the shulchan aruch without first seeing the mishna brura and all other meforshim
also
you should not pasken from an internet blog without first seeing all talkbacks and comments.