By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yitzchak Dovber Ushpal OBM, one of the known Chabad rabbis in the last generation, once corresponded with the Lubavitcher Rebbe about whether it is proper for women to attend a funeral.
Ushpal, who headed the Lubavitch Bais Hamedrash in Brooklyn, NY, and author of the sefer Darchei Chesed, suggested to the Rebbe that after a funeral, women should leave the cemetery and stand behind a fence at a distance of 4 Amos (a halachic measurement).
“And even better – they (women) should not attend funerals altogether,” Rabbi Ushpal wrote.
From a note COLlive has received, it appears that the Rebbe opposed the ruling with a clear hand-written answer.
About banning women from funerals, the Rebbe wrote: This is the opposite of customary in Chabad – and see Shulchan Aruch Harav, end of siman 88 – “It will be a big grief for them that all are gathering etc.” (and they are not).
Later, the Rebbe added: But you should not bring such restrictions to Chabad.
(The full wording was: “אין להכנס למחלוקת עם הנוהגים אחרת עד”ז – שהרי מחלוקת לכ”ע אסור מה”ת, אבל לא יכניסו חומרות כהנ”ל לחב”ד. וק”ל”)
Let all the bitter “I want to control and make ossur everything” people see and learn from the rebbes ahavas yisroel.
Very nice; the world is thirsty for the Rebbe’s words! Keep it coming!
I was wondering if it’s from the years (till 5734, 1974), which have Igros volumes and this answer was not printed therein. OR from later years?
Anyone can tell?