More Rituals of Strictly Orthodox Jews (3)

Everything is foreseen, yet free will is granted…the mystical side of Judaism and life

by Reb Akiva @ Mystical Paths … All images in this article © Yaakov Naumi/Flash90

A Digg grabs a photoset from an interesting photographer, Yaakov Naumi.  Mr. Naumi is a charedi ultra-orthodox Jew from Israel, and specializes in taking news style photographs of charedi life and charedi news events.  It notes that because Mr. Naumi is part of the community, it opens the doors for him to come and take the photos.  I’ve decided to grab a few photos and give interesting details…

This is one is very unusual…

This chassidic charedi man is wearing a partial blindfold, so he can only look down (not to trip).  He’s at the airport.

There is a holy strict Jewish custom called Shemiras Aynayim, which literally means “guarding ones eyes” – meaning one shouldn’t see things that are inappropriate.  Generally this means things like one shouldn’t go to a mixed beach or look at women while walking down the street.

The most extreme version of this is practiced by the kabbalists, the Jewish mystics, and they basically seclude themselves to keep themselves in a holy and pure environment.  A small subsect of certain chassidim, mostly Breslev chassidim, will practice this by literally partially blindfolding themselves whenever going out into public.

This stands out as an unusual and rare practice, as it doesn’t make much sense to attempt to isolate oneself while going through the airport or to stores and in crowds of people.  Regardless of whether I think this makes sense or not, it is a known practice of this narrow sub-sect.

On Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day after Passover, there is a custom to light a bonfire and have a small celebration.  This is in honor of a great sage from history, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, completing his life and leaving this world (and telling everyone to celebrate).

Within Israel there is a small group (small is a few hundred) that believes the creation of the secular State of Israel is delaying the coming of the righteous redeemer, Moshiach tzidkaynu.  Therefore opposing the existence of the State of Israel, whiling living within it’s borders, is part of their religious beliefs.

The above picture, most likely taken in Meah Shearim, Jerusalem, Israel, is them holding their Lag B’Omer bonefire by burning Israeli flags – combinging the religious celebration with their religious objection to the existence of the State.