DAFactory

בס''ד
DAFactory Articles
bullet A Hidden Message
bullet A Sign of Fear
bullet A Lesson From a Dog
bullet Holy Visage
bullet Chapter 24
DAFactory Archives  


Print this pageTHE DAILY DAF MESSAGE OF THE BET ZVI DAFactory

Dorshey Hadaf pages are in loving memory of Sara Stella bat rav Yehuda MarcusShabbos 72



Long Live the Queen


...If when he bowed down to the statue, he accepted upon himself as a deity, he accepted upon himself as a deity, he is a deliberate chatos, not liable to a chatos. And if he did not accept it upon himself as a deity, his bowing is of no consequence, and he is not liable to any punishment... (72b)


When the late British Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovitz zt"l was invited by the Queen of England to accept the title of Lordship, the consensus of the local lay-leaders was that it would be of pivotal importance for a religious Jew to sit in the House of Lords and have a say in the running of the country.

Rav Yitzchak Silberstein Shlita recalls the quandary that the rabbanim of the time had to grapple with. Part of the knighting ceremony involves the noble kneeling on both knees in front of the Queen. Contrary to popular belief it is not forbidden by Halacha to kneel in front of a member of monarchy. But a problem does exist, due to the cross which is part of the royal crown. Since the Queen would be wearing her crown, kneeling would signify an act of subservience to Avoda Zara! What could be done? A novel suggestion was put forward to the royal committee, viz that he be allowed to kneel on one knee only. Kneeling in such a manner would not be an act of Avoda Zara. The suggestion was accepted, and the ceremony passed with the usual aplomb!


Please note that Halacha Lemaaseh should not be derived from this article.
For halachic matters please consult your rabbi.