There is a minhag some have to say special tefillos (some fast as well) on the day before ראש חודש (on some months it is omitted, e.g. when it is during a Yom Tov, e.g. חנוכה ), as part of Yom Kippur Katan, a custom from the Kabbalistic circle of Tzefas centuries ago.
One sees advertisements in publications at times, calling for observance of this minhag, on the recommendation of Maran Sar HaTorah, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l.
What is interesting, however, is that Rav Chaim himself did not observe it. As reported in the fine Artscroll version of his great work ארחות יושר (p. 458), he followed (as in many other things) the practice of his uncle the Chazon Ish, who did not observe it.
א גוטען חודש
When I was becoming frum I would adopt every Chumra I'd hear about, but gradually I realized that this isn't the correct approach. I wonder how many people who would never consider learning during Nittel learn at other times. Rav Reuven Feinstein said that a Jew has to be normal.
ReplyDeleteThe Steipler DID say it, as stated in ארחות רבנו (edited).
ReplyDeleteLast time I checked most people aren't on the level of the Steipler. One should be in awe of our Gedolim but that doesn't mean we should try to copy them. I knew someone who tried to imitate Rabbi Miller and he was unbearable.
ReplyDelete"The Steipler DID say it". So according to Wolofsky. That ends the discussion. Well according to such logic, no one should wear Tefilin on Chol Hamoed because the Vilna Gaon abstained. We have to learn to be able to accept that not all people follow the same Minhagim or the same Gedolim.
ReplyDelete