Women, Havdalah, Wine, Beer and Body Hair

Observing the closing havdalah ritual in 14th-century Spain.
That's a big candle!

I was looking for the origin of the myth that women drinking Havdalah wine will grow either beards or mustaches. This was somewhat urgent, as my little 3 year daughter insists on drinking most of the grape juice I use every week.

This article by Ari Z. Zivotofsky (quite a name) entitled "Wine from Havdalah, Women and Beards" examines the issue in some depth. I recommend you read the entire article, though below I've collected some of the more interesting tidbits from the article:






The origin of women not drinking Havdalah wine (among other halachic reasons he explores):

The reason originally mentioned by the Shla6 is that because the

Eitz Hada’at, the tree of knowledge, was a grape vine7 from which

Chava squeezed wine in order to separate from man, a wish she was

granted via dam niddah, menstrual blood, she does not partake of

the havdalah (separation) wine.

 ...

Despite the widespread mention in later sources attesting to this

custom, it appears to be a custom of relatively recent vintage [Nice Pun!], with

the first written source being the early 17th century. The lack of a

written source does not preclude the possibility that a custom existed

but is simply not attested to in writing.

On the origin of the hair myth:

 The closest written source I have found is a cryptic remark in

the “hashmatot section” of Sefer Matamim (Rav Yitzchak Lipiyatz,

p. 242 in 5753 reprint, p. 144 in 1891 edition) where he explains

that it is because women do not have beards that they are prohibited

(!) from drinking the havdalah wine. He offers no explanation

for this seemingly bizarre connection. But one could imagine that

such a statement could easily lead others to conclude that if she did

drink it, she would grow a beard. However, despite the inclusion of

this statement in Sefer Matamim (originally published in 1891), it

does not seem to have been a widespread idea, and I have been unable

to find it recorded elsewhere.

A possible theory:

the Gemara asserts that drinking beer causes unwanted hair on females, and it was
girls who drank beer who required the use of the described methods
to remove the unwanted hair.

In Eastern Europe wine was a rarity. The Aruch HaShulchan

(OC 182:1) explains that despite the halachik obligation, they did

not bentch over wine simply because it was very expensive.21 According

to all opinions chamar medina may be used for havdalah

(MB 271:56). Because of the difficulty in obtaining wine, it is possible

that in Eastern Europe beer was the beverage commonly used. 

for havdalah and hence women were advised not to drink it because

beer, not the havdalah beverage, causes unwanted hair. This bubba

meise that was originally based on the specific beverage22 was eventually

ascribed to the ceremony, and the legend evolved that women

drinking the havdalah wine grow unwanted hair

Daily Show on Yesterday's US Elections

Don't miss this gem:

Appoint Mitt Romney As US Ambassador To Israel

Foreign Policy has an interesting list of suggestions, what Mitt Romney should do next:

Another outside-the-box idea for how a second-term Obama administration could make use of Romney. For all the talk of who-threw-whom under the bus, there aren't that many differences between the two men on substantive policy toward Israel. Both favor continuing heavy military aid to the Jewish state, both are committed -- at least in public -- to negotiating a two-state solutionfor the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and both favor a mix of sanctions and negotiations with Iran without ruling out the possibility of military action.

But tone and personal connections do matter in diplomacy. Obama and Netanyahu have had a frosty relationship from the start, while Romney and the Israeli prime minister are old friends who share more than a few allies and donors. Preventing a war in the Middle East in the next four years may require reigning in the hawkish Israeli leader, who looks like a lock for re-election. But such a message might be more effective if delivered by someone Netanyahu trusts.

I actually think this is a superb idea. Israelis both love Romney, and distrust Obama. Appointing Romney as the US Ambassador would in one sweep do much to calm twitchy Israeli nerves about the Obama administration.

Habayit Hayehudi Ads - How Not To Do Them

Habayit Heyhudi is having it primaries this week and next. Tomorrow (6.11.12) members will be asked to choose a new party leader between Naftali Bennet, and Zevulon Orlev. After the results of the leadership race are announced, members will choose who will become the party's candidates for the Knesset.

The race between Orlev and Bennet has been long, hard and dirty. Keep that in mind when you look at some of these posters:

This is an ad for Harav Rechamim Nesimi - who I know next to nothing about. However, what caught my eye was his attempt to have his cake and eat it too. The ad talks about "unity" and has the rare photo of both Orlev and Bennet together with Nesimi in a show of unity! Problem? its photoshopped (it says so on the bottom left). Even worse - Bennet has the top spot! Ironically, Nesimi is endorsing Orlev! but but but..he is also calling for people to give Bennet a high placing in MK listing (hence the unity!).











Jeremy Gimpel (candidate for the "young" position) released a cute video - but there is one major problem. He is wearing a BLACK kippah. That is a  major error in the RZ crowd, as Black Kippot are normally signs of American Haredism, Americans, or just Haredim. Also it would have helped if his Hebrew was slightly more polished...




I'll also add that I really hate his campaign slogan "Jeremy brings mandates to the Mafdal". All candidates claim that they bring mandates. The slogan is especially annoying, when everyone else is using some kind of idealistic slogan.

Who Knew?

The New-Yorker has this description of Daniel Craig in "Skyfall", the new James Bond Movie:

Daniel Craig is amusingly single-minded. He has the strange attractiveness—prominent nose, hooded eyes, narrowed forehead—of an intelligent cobra. He’s dry, a little grudging, even, with only the flicker of a smile and no discernible soul. Of course, he doesn’t need a soul. What would be the bloody use of it?, as M. might say. Just as he is, he’s sufficient for his job, his body a frequently unsheathed weapon, alabastered and fast, cutting through cluttered sets and straitened passageways.

George Jonas On Antisemetism Vs Legitimate Criticism

George Jonas puts it eloquently:

Judging by the volume of correspondence last week on the question of whether Israel’s critics are anti-Semites or not, the subject exercises National Post readers a great deal. To me, the answer seems uncomplicated and self-evident. I’ve been offering it for years and will probably continue in years to come. Watch my lips: Some are and some are not.

These six words contain everything one can usefully say about the subject, at least until the art of mindreading becomes more reliable. Some critics of Israel are anti-Semites and some aren’t, and no one can tell in advance which one is and which one isn’t, although one can often make a shrewd guess. No, the mere fact that a critic is Jewish doesn’t preclude him being anti-Semitic

More importantly, knowing the answer still doesn’t tell us whether the critic is right or wrong. The fact that a critic isn’t anti-Semitic doesn’t prove that his criticism is right; the fact that he is anti-Semitic doesn’t prove that his criticism is wrong. I wish it would but it doesn’t.

I personally cringe whenever anyone defending Israel uses the "Antisemitism" argument. I don't doubt in the least that much of the criticism against Israel display a deeper antisemitism, but it is only God (and the shadow) who knows what thoughts lie in the hearts of men. One should only ever accuse another of such a harsh label as an antisemite when you are sure beyond any reasonable doubt.

Bye Bye Bug Free Lettuce..

According to a report in Ynet, Israel's Chief Rabbi, Harav Shlomo Amar has paskened that there is no benefit to eating the "Bug Free" produce (the best known is the Gush Katif) such as lettuce, Mint, Parsley etc..

The reasoning seems to be multiple. The first and most worrying is that the heavy use of pesticides used to create the "Bug Free" produce is a serious health risk. Additionally, the article seems to suggest that Harav Amar is skeptical that the lettuce and other bug free products, are in any way superior to the old fashioned method of washing the lettuce. Lastly Harav Amar blasts the high cost of "Bug Free" produce, and states that people are wasting money they don't have for little benefit.

Since "Gush Katif" has become the halachic norm in many a RZ household, I'm waiting eagerely to see if this cry for sanity will catch on..

Was Abraham Responsible For Sdom's Demise?

In this week's parasha we are told of how Abraham argues with God over the planned destruction of Sdom. However, it is interesting to note that this isn't Abraham's first encounter with Sdom. Famously, Abraham saved all the people of Sdom, during the war of the kings in chapter 14 where Abraham refuses to receive even a "shoe latchet" as a reward.

Is it possible that Abraham ruined God's lesser evil plan? did God originally only mean to send Sdom into exile as punishment for their sins? However, Abraham ruins the plan to send the men of Sdom into exile, and they continue to sin, until their just punishment is no longer exile, but rather death?

Why Are There So Many New Political Parties Being Suggested

If you read the Israeli news, you can't have missed the political craziness of the last few weeks. Almost daily the Israeli public is being told of the possible creation of a new political party - Olmert, Livni, Kahlon, Olmert-Livni, Livni-Kahlon, Kahlon-Amsalem etc. This is a continuation of some political rumors, which have left the theoretical and become a reality - Yair Lapid and the return of Deri.

So why are so many new parties coming into theoretical existence? The simple answer is that it shows how much Israelis are not content with their current political choice. This is most pronounced in the left, where there seems to be a consensus that there is no suitable leader to challenge Netanyahu. However, there might be another simple explanation. It has been 4 very stable years in Israel since the last election. This is quite a rare occurrence  in Israel. The norm for the last 20 years or so, has been merely 2 years between elections. As such many have been politicians, or newcomers have been waiting for this opportunity for quite awhile. Additionally, those who would normally have to wait for the next elections before "stepping up" are worried that they will have to wait, not two but four years before making their move, and have had to act quickly to join "the party".