Q&A: Questions About Terminology and in General
Questions About Terminology and in General
Question
Hello Rabbi!
A. What do you think about expressions like “with God's help” or “B"H”? Do you use them? Because as far as I understand, God does not supervise and alter reality nowadays…
B. There are people here who write to you as if you’re their friend, and others who relate to you like an exalted rebbe. Do you prefer to be called Rabbi? Doctor? Michael? Michi? In the first person or third person? Just so I know how you prefer to be addressed.
C. Do you wear tzitzit? Seemingly, wearing tzitzit is like eating bread in order to recite Grace after Meals. Or maybe it falls under “the custom of Israel has the force of law”? By the way, what do you think about that expression?
Thanks in advance!
Answer
A. I’ve been asked about this more than once. I begin every column with “B"H.” I’ve written that this is mainly out of habit. But beyond that, there is help from the Holy One, blessed be He, in that He created nature and my abilities, and thereby made it possible for me to act.
B. Michi is excellent.
C. I’ve only been asked about this just now. There are many halakhic decisors who say there is a special significance to tzitzit because of the story about a time of wrath. But some of the medieval authorities wrote that this is true only if you avoid a four-cornered garment in order to exempt yourself from tzitzit. But nowadays we do not wear such garments at all. So by reasoning, it seems there is no special problem with this. But still, there is a custom to go with tzitzit, and it is no worse than any other good custom. Beyond that, what’s wrong with gaining an extra commandment?