Rav Hirsch/ Kashrut
Question
Dear Rav, I thought you would be interested in this comment from the 1860`s, by Rav Sampson Raphael Hirsch, when asked by some of his congregants to make the communal standards of Kashrut unnecessarily stricter, with extra stringencies, replied “Kashrut comes from the same root as yashrut, or integrity. If you are prepared to accept upon yourselves a range of unnecessary stringencies in your business lives, then I am prepared to see our community accept equally unrequired stringencies in kashrut.” and a writer added, The halachic concept of yashrut is essential for living a proper Jewish life. Our schools( and communities) should put as much emphasis on yashrut as on kashrut. Happy Chanukah, Martin
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiWell said! I remember as a kid, there was a Kiddush in Lakewood in my fathers house/shul Shabbat morning. Somehow, there were no "bechers" (silver drinking cups) on any of the tables. A Yeshivish guy came over to me and asked if I can go upstairs to the house and get him a Becher. I told him that you don't need a Becher, you can use a plastic cup. He said, "you're right Taka, but I'm Machmir (stricter) with myself to use only a Becher. I said to him, "No problem! I'll go up and get you a Becher, but only if you're a Machmir in other areas too. If you give 20% of your income to charity, rather than the base 10%, which is the "Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar" (highest level of the Mitzvah), then I will be honored to go upstairs and get you a Becher." He walked away....... AA