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


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SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO
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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!

Shabbos, 24 September, 2016 |21 Elul 5776
Chassidus Class................................................ 9:00 am
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Children's program......................................... 11:00am
Followed by Kiddush sponsored by Sarah Klain in honour of her mother Nancy Rachel Klain's birthday on 21 Elul - Mazel Tov!

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Pirkei Avos .................................................... Chapter 3 & 4
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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
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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
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