by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com When covering the Republican National Convention, the New York Times will also cover the fashion aspects of the convention – kind of as a side commentary.  A Torah based publication should cover the halachic aspects of the convention – with the benefit of it teaching some Torah. According to New York Times fashion editor, Vanessa Friedman, the color red was the predominant color worn by speakers on the opening day of the Republican National Convention. She points out that the color “stood out on the stage flanked by the towering Doric columns of the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., where many of the speeches aired Monday night were recorded.” The color red was worn by: Natalie Harp, who spoke of surviving cancer and the “right to try” Tanya Weinreis, the coffee shop owner whose business was one of the first to receive a Paycheck Protection Program grant in Montana Kimberly Guilfoyle, senior fund-raising official for the Trump campaign, former Fox News host and Mr. Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, as she gave what was the perhaps the most … fiery speech of the night. Friedman describes it as “a flaming red sheath dress” Nikki Haley, wore pink – but not red. This article, as mentioned earlier is not concerned with the fashion aspect of things, but rather the halachic aspects behind the color red. RABBI ADDA BAR AHAVA’S SELF-SACRIFICE The Gemara in Berachos 20a tells us of the self-sacrifice of Rabbi Adda bar Ahava who encountered what appeared to be a Jewish woman wearing a “karbalusah” (red scarf) in the marketplace. He took it away from her and the woman subsequently took Rav Adda bar Ahava to court. He lost and had to pay the rather large sum of 400 zuz. He inquired what her name was and when she responded, “Matun,” he replied: “If only I had listened to your name, Matun (translation: be patient), I would have saved myself 400 zuz.” The Ben Yehoyadah asks: Why does this particular incident constitute mesirus nefesh or self-sacrifice? He answers that Rav Adda bar Ahava was unsure as to whether or not she was a Jewish woman. He felt that it was worth the risk of assuming that she was – in order to ensure that a Jewish girl would not violate a prohibition. WHY DID HE RIP IT? The Aruch and most of the commentaries that discuss the issue write that Rav Adda bar Ahava ripped the article of clothing on account of its apparent lack of modesty in color (it was an overgarment over other clothing). The Maharal (Netzach Yisroel chapter 25) understands that he ripped it on account of it being an article that Jews shouldn’t wear because it is like the gentiles’ way. The Maharal does not understand that the ripping was because it was immodest, but rather because it denotes assimilation. FIVE APPROACHES Regardless as to what the self-sacrifice actually was and why it was ripped, there seem to be five approaches in the commentaries as to what exactly the prohibition would have been in a Jewish girl wearing a karbalusah. Pritzus. The Aruch and Tosfos in Kesuvos 72a explain that it is pritzus — a breach of decency — and brings to sin. The Shach (Y.D. 178:3) further explains in the […]

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