Some suggest that one should be makneh [transfer ownership] his clothes to someone else, and since the clothes are no longer his he is exempt from performing keriah. The Shu”t Madanay Yom Tov (Vol. 1, siman 67 quoting the Steipler, Shevet HaLevi and others) writes that’s it’s not fitting to do tricks to get out of the mitzvah of performing keriah on seeing Yerushalayim, and the Makom HaMikdosh and he brings a number of examples where we see that one shouldn’t do tricks.
We find in Kiddushin (32b) that if one closes his eyes in order to avoid seeing an elderly person so that he doesn’t need to stand up before him, about such a person we say ויראת מאלוקיך – “You shall fear Hashem”, i.e. Hashem knows one’s real intentions, and one should act correctly even if no one else knows his intention as Hashem knows.
We also find in Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah end of 224) that it’s forbidden for a person to make dough in small batches just less than the shiur of challah in order to be exempt from separating challah. See also Shu”t Shevet HaLevi (7:78) who writes: “(Doing such tricks) is not the custom of pious people, and the words of Shas, Tur and Shulchan Aruch go against doing this”.
Whilst we are discussing this topic it’s worth mentioning the words of the Shu”t Peas Sodcha (HaRav Shmuel Dovid Munk, Vol. 1, siman 57) who discuses doing tricks to avoid performing keriah such as being makneh one’s clothes to a friend and he says it doesn’t help. He then concludes with some mussar: “Since Chazal only obligated one to perform keriah every thirty days we see that it is dependent on feelings in the heart, and chas vesholam for one to block off his heart. If one doesn’t have a heart that feels these things, it’s only because he has a lack of love for Hashem Yisborach, and in order that a sinner doesn’t gain, one is obligated to perform keriah, even if the friend was makneh the clothes and says he is very particular that they not be torn. Perhaps this will cause him to feel the pain. However, if one has a closed heart and continues doing such tricks, rachmonah litzlon for his punishment, as he is disgracing the remains of the Beis HaMikdosh and its glory, and he shows no pain for the Shechinah, and for Klal Yisroel, and he removes himself from those who mourn over Yerushalayim ... therefore, there is no allowance for such tricks. “
Being Makneh Clothes to Someone Else, Or Not Going to the Kosel HaMaravi At All
In addition to the above, some say that being makneh clothes doesn’t help, as we learn in Nedorim (48a) that if one is given a present on condition that he can’t be makdish it, it’s not considered a present. Certainly in our case, one can’t be makdish the garment, therefore, it’s not considered a present and the original owner still owns it and he must perform keriah.
R’ Elyashiv zt”l once said about girls who want to go to the Kosel HaMaravi but want to avoid performing keriah by being makneh their clothes to each other, that it’s better for them to stay home, then it is to go to the Kosel HaMaravi and be makneh clothes to each other (R’ Ezriel Auerbach shlita, in his sefer MeNashim B’Ohel pg. 154, see also He’oras of R’ Elyashiv on Mo’ed Kotan 20b, and Shu”t Rivevos Ephraim 8:174, s.k. 1)
The navi Yeshaya declared: שמחו את ירושלים וגילו בה כל אהביה שישו אתה משוש כל המתאבלים עליה - “Exult with Yerushalayim and rejoice over her, all those who love her. Rejoice with her rejoicing all those who mourned over her” (Yeshaya 66:10). “From here we see,” says the Gemara, “that whoever mourns over Yerushalayim will merit to see her happiness, and whoever does not mourn over Yerushalayim will not merit to see her happiness” (Ta’anis 30b).
The Medrash (Medrash Rabbah, Shemos 15:21) teaches that Hashem will bring forth ten new creations in the era of Moshiach:
- He will endow the world with a new light.
- Hashem will create a spring in Yerushalayim whose waters will heal all illness.
- He will create trees that will produce new fruits every month that cure disease.
- All the cities of Eretz Yisrael will be rebuilt, including even Sadom and Amora.
- Hashem will rebuild Yerushalayim with glowing sapphire stone. It will attract all the nations of the world to come and marvel at the beauty of the city.
- The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young will play together (see Yeshaya 11:7). The meforshim dispute whether this pasuk is meant to be understood literally or as a parable for the nations of the earth.
- Hashem will make a covenant with all the creatures of the world and banish all weapons and warfare (see Hoshea 2:20).
- There will be no more crying in the city of Yerushalayim.
- Death will perish forever.
- Everyone will be joyful, and there will be an end to all sighing and worry.
May we all merit seeing these miracles speedily and in our days.
A Unique Vending Machine Near the Kosel Selling Shirts and Where to Find a Large Board With Instructions and the Relevant Pasukim to Recite Near the Kosel HaMaravi
A close family friend and long-time reader of the weekly Limuday Moshe booklets, R’ Meir Eliezer Bergman shlita asked me to publicize the following:
- There is a unique vending machine near the Kosel HaMaravi selling shirts to tear! Each shirt comes with instructions. The machine is outside the row of security barriers, to the left of the old bus stop, below Yeshivat Porat Yosef (attached below are photos).
- There is also now a large board giving instructions for keriah and the pasukim to say. It is on the very right-hand walkway as one walks up from the bus stop towards the security checks (attached below are photos).
I was also asked to share the following Kosel cards, which contain the pasukim that are needed when visiting the Kosel HaMaravi (if you would like to receive these cards, please contact [email protected]).
