Tuesday 13 May 2014

Shabbat Table 1 - The Issur R'fuah on Yom Tov

Recently one Friday Night, we had an engaging conversation with a young man [Adam] about to graduate YU and is going to Israel next year for advanced studies. Note - Adam has recently completed all of Orach Haim with S"A-Rema and the Aruch Hashulchan.

I then proceeded to ask him for the source for the Issur of R'fuah on Yom Tov.

He answered that indeed there are no specific sources until about the 19th Century on the matter, but that "The practice is not to do it."

I disputed the idea that merely a common practice without a source for about 17 centuries, was sufficient criteria for presuming an issur. [Lo Ra'inu eino Raya]. Unless there had been a g'zeirah like Kitniyyos. EG it could just be Hiddur, or for Ba'alei Nefesh, etc. ...

Also, since we have a Mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov, there has to be more to it than a mere "presumption".

He felt otherwise that the practice is sufficient criteria and a raya that this is assur.

B"H I got more information re: this dispute the very next day at the Shabbat Table. Please Stay tuned for Part 2.
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Shalom and Best Regards,
RRW

"If we cannot end our differences at least we can make the world safe for diversity." ~ John F. Kennedy

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