OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI 
Issue #248, September 4, 1999 
Parshiot Nitzavim / Vayelech
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In this issue:
1. CORPORATE HEADS 
2. YIDDLE RIDDLE
3. PUBLIC DOMAIN 	
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CORPORATE HEADS

Anonymous wrote:

Dear Rabbi,
I'm 22 and work in a totally non-Jewish business setting in Manhattan where 
I've worked for a year.  I wear a yarmulke to work every day.  I feel that 
wearing a yarmulke here will prevent me from moving up in the company, as 
much of my job involves seeing potential clients and I am starting to think 
that perhaps an outright religious article like a yarmulke might make them 
uncomfortable.  Also, my co-workers treat me differently and do not accept 
me so much.  The "damage" has been done in this office, so I am thinking of 
leaving to another office and not wearing a yarmulke there.  What are your 
thoughts on this, halachically and philosophically?  This has been 
bothering me for a while.

Dear Anonymous,
	To get ahead, or to cover your head:  That is your question.

	The Shulchan Aruch writes that a head covering is an obligation 
during prayer and something that one "should do" at other times.  Some 
later authorities suggest that a head covering has gained the status of 
Torah Law due to the prohibition against "going in the ways of non-Jews," 
because the non-Jews bare their heads as a sign of honor.

	In certain cases, there is room for leniency if wearing a yarmulke 
causes a financial loss.  But let me tell you a story:  The Rabbi of 
Berditchev once saw a man running.  "Where are you running?" he asked.  "To 
my livelihood."  "How do you know your livelihood doesn't lie in the other 
direction and you're running away from it?" said the Rabbi.

	Who knows?  Maybe for every client you "lose" because of your 
yarmulke, you may gain two clients who respect you specifically for the 
integrity and courage you display by wearing a yarmulke.

	A yarmulke is a very powerful reminder of your Jewish identity.  It 
seems to me a major mistake to cast it off, even if only at work.  To wear 
a yarmulke is to proclaim "I'm a proud Jew," and it makes you worthy of 
extra-special Divine protection and blessing, especially today when so many 
Jews are assimilating into oblivion.

Sources:

* Talmud Kiddushin 31a; Shabbat 118b
* Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 8 & 92, and Taz 
* Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Iggrot Moshe, Orach Chaim, vols. 1 & 4; and 
Choshen Mishpat, vol. 1

************

Yiddle Riddle

Last week we wrote:

I am a levi.  There is one thing I have never witnessed in my entire adult 
life, and I never will either.  Yisraelim sometimes see it, so do kohanim, 
but me and my fellow levi'im?  Never!  What is it?

Answer:

I am told that if there is no levi present during the Torah reading, the 
kohen honored by being called first to the Torah stays up and receives the 
second honor as well.  At least that's what I've been told -- I've never 
seen it, though, and I never will!

* Riddle courtesy of Eliyahu Shiffman, Beit Shemesh, Israel 
<sarash1@netvision.net.il>

************

The Public Domain
Comments, quibbles, and reactions 
concerning previous "Ask-the-Rabbi" features

Re:  IN THE FLESH AGAIN (http://www.ohrnet.org/ask/ask246.htm#Q1):

	I think it is only fair to mention that a belief in reincarnation is 
not mandatory.  After all, Sa'adia Gaon did not believe in reincarnation.  
It is one of those optional beliefs that we can embrace if we are so 
inclined.

Michael Katz <M613K@aol.com>


	I was surprised by your reference to reincarnation in Judaism.  I 
thought Hindus were the reincarnists?

Stan <lx2000@ix.netcom.com>


Ohrnet Responds:

Dear Stan,

	We do not discard a belief simply because it is believed by Hindus, 
pagans, or others who subscribe to a false idea system.  As an extreme 
example, we do not discard our belief that two plus two equals four because 
they also believe so.

	Furthermore, note that Abraham, the founder of Judaism, had six sons 
from his wife Ketura to whom he "gave gifts ...and sent eastward to the 
land of the East" (Genesis 25:3-6).  The Talmud explains that these "gifts" 
were gifts of kabbalistic knowledge; therefore, we shouldn't be totally 
surprised to find parallels between our respective idea systems.


Re:  REVENGE OF THE KILLER CHICKENS (http://www.ohrnet.org/ask/ask245.htm#Q3):

	You wrote that "preying on other living things is an indication that 
a bird is non-kosher."  I believe that many kosher birds eat insects and 
worms.

Julie Stampnitzky, Rehovot, Israel <julie@dapsas1.weizmann.ac.il>

Ohrnet Responds:

	The term "preying on living things" needs to be defined.  Halacha 
states that a bird is not kosher if it is "dorais."  "Dorais" basically 
means to trample, but the authorities differ as to its exact halachic 
definition.  Rashi says it refers to a bird that eats its prey while 
stepping on it to keep it from moving.  Rabbeinu Tam says that it refers to 
a bird that hunts animals and eats them live, and bugs, flies and worms are 
not included as "animals" in this regard; Ramban states that "dorais" 
refers to those birds which stick their claws into their prey and trample 
them.  By any of these definitions, chickens are kosher, even though they 
eat worms and bugs.

Sources:

* Rambam Hilchot Ma'achalot Asurot 1:16
* Magid Mishneh Ibid.
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