Nice move, Yeshiva
December 25, 2009 by Daniel Kaye
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A designated “no study” night at Sydney Yeshiva Center saw books replaced by chessboards as one bocher challenged 30 others to play chess against him simultaneously.
Peter Rona works out his next move
Fifteen players took up the challenge made by Yeshiva member Peter Rona.
The evening was arranged to substitute Torah for chess as the Chabad Lubavitch organisation was following the teachings of the 5th Lubavitch Rebbe that the students should have a night off studying but “not waste time”.
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B”H
Hi!
I’m very surprised at your very disrespectful comment on a Jewish custom practiced for hundreds of years, calling it “supertituos nonsenses” If you wished for an explanation, you could surely shown a bit more good manners and politely asked ” what is the meaning of this custom”?
December 25th is universally celebrated by non-Jews, as the birthday of the person upon whom a dominant non-Jewish religion was founded and who had the Halachic status as a Jew who lures other Jews to idol-worship. A spirit of impurity therefore prevails on that day. Additionally, there was a period when members of that religion used to celebrate this eve by attacking Jews, which led to an enactment against keeping the Yeshivas open during the eve of Dec 25th.
While xmas is a joyful holiday for billions of people, historically, during the medieval era and the centuries that followed, Jews were forbidden to appear on streets and public places on the high Christian holidays under penalty of severe punishment; hence the schools and synagogues were closed on those days
The Previous Rebbe adds, “It is our custom to refrain from studying Torah on Nitel Nacht until midnight. The reason, as the Previous Rebbe heard from his father, the Rebbe Rashab, is not to add spiritual vitality to that person and those who presently follow his views [Christians everywhere] The Hayom Yom (Teves 17) quotes the Rebbe Rashab (Rabbi Shalom Dov Baer Schneersohn of Lubavitch) as saying, I am not fond of those students who begrudge these eight hours and cannot tear themselves away from Torah study
If you don’t understand or agree with something, you do not have to denigrade it, this is our beleif, you asked for an explanation, here it is, please use better manners next time!
Thank you,
Daniel Kaye
you should explain the supertituos nonsenses that brings about the non study night