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Mar 28, 2022
Interesting Psak: notes in the Kotel
Since his passing, a lot of tidbits about Rav Chaim Kanievsky's life and opinions he held are being publicized. Here is an interesting one, and it comes with other opinions ont he topic as well.
The topic raised was putting prayers and requests on notes into the Kotel - is it ok, not ok, acceptable, problematic?
Rav Avigdor Neventzahl,. rav of the Old City of Jerusalem, believed there is no source for this and no need as Hashem hears prayers, He doesn't read prayers.
Rav Bentzion Mutsafi paskened that Hashem does not need notes, He hears prayers, the Kotel is holy and sticking notes into the cracks in the stones or in between the stones can dislodge dirt and stone form the wall and that is a problem of "meila" - misappropriation of something holy.
On the other hand, the Ohr Hachayim Hakadosh was known for having sent a student to put a note int he Kotel on his behalf.
Rav Boaren paskened that it has become a minhag among the jewish people to put notes in so it is ok and even has a valid source.
Rav Shmuel Rabinovitz, rav of the Kotel and Holy sites of Israel, is in favor of the minhag.
Rav Chaim Kanievsky paskened, according to Kikar, that the note is not necessary - Hashem knows without the note. However it seems to me that it is not prohibited, just not necessary, as Rav Kanievsky is further quoted as saying that according to those who prohibit it, they would not be allowed to benefit from this - to me this sounds kind of pareve, saying it isnt necessary but isnt necessarily prohibited. He also said there is no need to specify a list of names specifically (on a note) as Hashem knows without that.
What I dont understand because of the comments of Hashem knows without the note - Hashem knows everything, whether we are explicit or not, whether with the note or with prayers or with anything we might be asking for, so why is there ever a need to ask for something, to daven, to say a prayer for a sick person and mention him/her by name, etc. Hashem knows, so why would I need to say it? And if I do, why is the note any different?
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interesting psak,
Kotel,
Rav Kanievsky
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The Kotel was built by Herod and is a few dozen meters west of the halakhic Har HaBayit; ergo, it has no inherent kedusha and meila wouldn't be a problem.
ReplyDeletejust because it was built by Herod doesnt mean it has no kedusha. If it was part of the mikdash structure it might have kedusha at some level.
DeleteI do know that Briskers and some others wont touch the wall, considering it part of Har Habayit, especially with the recesses in the wall.
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DeleteNo, kedusha could only be added in a time of nevuah, which ended over 400 years before Herod. No neviim, no meila.
DeleteThe Briskers who say that are simply ignorant of geography, archeology, history, *and* the Gemara, which explicitly says that Herod expanded the Temple Mount. You can actually *see* the original wall today on the Har HaBayit.
Since there are two valid reasons for either yes or no, then there is no reason to discontinue this minhag. A minhag of long durations becomes like a law. Afraid that in this era of G-Dlessness, r'l, it would just easily make things worse if this minhag was taken away in these upside down times. It should stand for those who want to put notes in the Wall. Moshiach will, b'ezrat H', soon be here anyway!
ReplyDelete"What I dont understand because of the comments of Hashem knows without the note - Hashem knows everything, whether we are explicit or not, whether with the note or with prayers or with anything we might be asking for, so why is there ever a need to ask for something, to daven, to say a prayer for a sick person and mention him/her by name, etc. Hashem knows, so why would I need to say it? And if I do, why is the note any different?"
ReplyDeleteThe answer to why we daven is for us, not for Hashem. Tefillah makes one realize that you are dependent on Hashem, and articulate your needs so you understand that each thing you need is from Hashem.
R. Chaim's point is that Hashem does not need a written memo. He hears your tefillah wherever you make it.
that doesnt really answer the question. Just like Hashem doesnt need me to verbalize every name of each sick person, for example, but it is "for me" that i say the tefilla and list the names, so when I write the note and stick it in the wall it is also for me. Either I should say/write the names or there is no need to at all. I dont see a difference
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