סוטה מה

When the חפץ חיים published the ספר that bears that name, on the הלכות of שמירת לשון, he sent a שליח to deliver a copy of the book as a gift to one of the גדולי ישראל. The גדול leafed through the ספר and with a smile asked why רבי ישראל מאיר didn’t also write on שמירת החוטם, guarding one’s nose. The שליח was taken aback but took it as a מילתא דביחותא. When he relayed this to the חפץ חיים, he said: “The גאון is right. It’s possible to sin with the nose as well and it must be guarded. A wrong turn with the nose, a sneer, is enough to cause pain and aggravation. This is why in פרשת ויחי, the תורה says כי באפם הרגו איש.”

06/10/2021