(c) Apr 18 2001 RashiYomi Inc. MY COLLECTED & INDEXED MAIL JEWISH POSTINGS-Ver #1
Individual Postings 1st appeared(& were copied in html form) on the Email List Mail Jewish

From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 00:25:52 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Chumrash Mehadrin and Not Embarassing People

A word about CHUMRAS and MEHADRIN. I attended the Ravs (Rabbi
Soloveitchicks) lecture for 7 years.  One Saturday night the Rav
cancelled. So, since I had nothing to do I went and attended the
Bostoner Rebbes (from Har Nof) melaveh malkah. I heard the following
beautiful story which I have never forgotten

It is related of one of the great Chassidic Rebbes (I forget which one)
that he once entered a house and commented that he sensed "Something
special".  Someone suggested that the owner went to a special forest to
get pure water for baking Matzohs every year. "This is important" the
Rebbe said , "but is not what I sensed".

Finally the following story came out: One year after having obtained the
Passover water, the maid of the house accidentally used it for washing
the floor. Upon finding this out the owner was careful, not only not to
embarass her, but did not even explain to the maid what she did! That
passover the Matzohs had ordinary Water.

Yes...Yes... the Rebbe said---this is exactly what I sensed.

The conclusion: It is allright to have chumrahs provided you don't tell
anyone about them and you don't embarass or put anyone down. I don't see
the (halachik) logic of having chumras in Kashruth and modesty if
simultaneously serious Biblical prohibitions of causing anguish to ones
fellow Jew are violated.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/

PS If anyone knows which Chassiden Rebbe the above story is connected
with kindly let us know