Should Babies Not Look in the Mirror?

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Question of the Week      My late grandmother once told me not to put my baby in front of a mirror before he has grown his teeth. She said it will effect his development???? She didn't know why or where it comes from. Is there any basis for this?   Answer:   Many dismiss this as a bubbe maiseh, an old wives' tale. But if you heard it from your own bubbe, then perhaps you shouldn't be too quick to laugh it off.   One respected authority, Rabbi Moshe Stern, wrote that this is a valid custom, and it was practiced in his home town of Debrecin, Hungary. He quotes a 13th century Spanish sage, the Rashba, who says that one should never belittle the traditions of grandmothers, because even if we don't know the reasons behind them, they certainly come from a holy place.   I don't know if looking in the mirror will hinder your son's development. But I do know that being disconnected from his roots will. A person needs to know where he comes from. No one is born in a vacuum. We are all a products of our ancestors. And to know who we are, we need to know who they were.   Your son stems from a long line of proud Jews. When you pass down your grandmother's traditions to your children, you are giving them roots, an identity, a clear sense of who they are.   Your grandparents' traditions included much more than just avoiding mirrors. They had a kosher home, celebrated Shabbos and Yomtov, gave charity abundantly and were active in their shul community. They were learned in Torah and loved being Jewish.   Pass these rich traditions on to your son. Then one day, when he is fully developed, teeth and all, he will look in the mirror and say, "I know who I am. I am a Jew."   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   Sources: Shu"t Be'er Moshe 8:36 The exact source of the Rashba is a mystery. It is quoted in Shu"t Veheishiv Moshe 13 (See Igros Kodesh v6 p124). Some have pointed to Shu"t Rashba 1:9 Hear Rabbi Moss interviewed on love and marriage here: wwwthelongshortway.com/itunes or www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-long-short-way  To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au NEFESH MEMBERS CLICK HERE SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 23 September 2016 | 20 Elul 5776 Candle Lighting................................................ 5:34 pm   Mincha............................................................ 5:45 pm Friday Evening Service..................................... 6:00-6:50 pm Followed by Kiddush sponsored by Hermann Tabacnik in honour of his birthday - Mazel tov! 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Monday 8:00-8:45am   VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP SET UP SHUL FOR ROSH HASHANA NEXT SUNDAY MORNING - 1 OCT AT 9:00AM Email RabbiSufrin@nefesh.com.au if you can lend a hand- thanks!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Mendel and Aron Sufrin..................20 Elul/ Friday 23 Sept Nick Hedges................................ 24 Elul/ Tuesday 27 Sept Michelle Samuel.......................... 24 Elul/ Tuesday 27 Sept Lior Hedges................................. 28 Elul/ Saturday 1 Oct   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Morice & Allan Levenstein............ 22 Elul/ Sunday 25 Sept Andrew & Lee-Anne Whitten....... 26 Elul/ Thursday 29 Sept   LONG LIFE TO Sandi Einstein and Michael Martin for their late mother and grandmother Tsira Basa Bas Hirsch Leib ........... 21 Elul/ Saturday 24 Sept Jeanette Kidron for her late father Ken Sorger Menachem Mendel ben Jacob ..... 25 Elul/ Wednesday 28 Sept David Conway and Jeffrey Conway for their late mother Suzanne Conway Rivka bat Yisrael........................ . 25 Elul/ Wednesday 28 Sept David Conway and Jeffrey Conway for their late father Lawrence Conway Eliazer ben Yehuda ha'Cohen...... 27 Elul/ Friday 30 Sept Mark Gindin and Faina Strier for their late mother Yevgenia Gindin Hannah bat Leib......................... 28 Elul/ Saturday 1 Oct

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