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Shalom Zachar: Difference between revisions
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There is a much-loved Ashkenazi custom to hold a "shalom zachar" in honor of the birth of a baby boy.<ref> Terumat Hadeshen 1:269.</ref> A shalom zachar is an informal gathering which takes place on the Friday night following the birth, usually at home though it may be held in the synagogue or other location. It is customary to serve a variety of refreshments and spirits at this gathering.<ref> Rema, YD 265:12. The shalom zachar custom is actually quite old and even makes an appearance in the Talmud where it is called the "bei shavua haben" or "bei yeshua haben". See the Gemara Bava Kamma 80a.</ref> | There is a much-loved Ashkenazi custom to hold a "shalom zachar" in honor of the birth of a baby boy.<ref> Terumat Hadeshen 1:269.</ref> A shalom zachar is an informal gathering which takes place on the Friday night following the birth, usually at home though it may be held in the synagogue or other location. It is customary to serve a variety of refreshments and spirits at this gathering.<ref> Rema, YD 265:12. The shalom zachar custom is actually quite old and even makes an appearance in the Talmud where it is called the "bei shavua haben" or "bei yeshua haben". See the Gemara Bava Kamma 80a.</ref> | ||
==Reasons for Shalom | ==Reasons for Shalom Zachar== | ||
# The shalom zachar is closely related to the teaching that while a baby is developing in its mother's womb it is taught the entire Torah directly from an angel.<ref> Nidda 30b.</ref> Once the baby is born, however, the angel strikes the baby on its mouth which causes the baby to forget everything it had learned. From that moment onwards it becomes a person's lifetime duty to toil in Torah study in order to reclaim this lost knowledge.<ref> Derisha, YD 264.</ref> | # The shalom zachar is closely related to the teaching that while a baby is developing in its mother's womb it is taught the entire Torah directly from an angel.<ref> Nidda 30b.</ref> Once the baby is born, however, the angel strikes the baby on its mouth which causes the baby to forget everything it had learned. From that moment onwards it becomes a person's lifetime duty to toil in Torah study in order to reclaim this lost knowledge.<ref> Derisha, YD 264.</ref> | ||
# Furthermore, once the baby has forgotten all the Torah it had learned, the evil inclination "gets to work" making efforts to thwart the child from studying Torah or performing mitzvot. So too, it is taught that one of the reasons that a brit takes place eight days after birth is in order to allow the baby to observe shiva, the traditional seven days of mourning, over all the Torah knowledge that he lost.<ref>Derisha, YD 264.</ref> Based on all this, the shalom zachar has somewhat of a mourning aspect to it.<ref> Taz, YD 264:13. See also Brit Avraham cited in Sefer Taamei Haminhagim.</ref> | # Furthermore, once the baby has forgotten all the Torah it had learned, the evil inclination "gets to work" making efforts to thwart the child from studying Torah or performing mitzvot. So too, it is taught that one of the reasons that a brit takes place eight days after birth is in order to allow the baby to observe shiva, the traditional seven days of mourning, over all the Torah knowledge that he lost.<ref>Derisha, YD 264.</ref> Based on all this, the shalom zachar has somewhat of a mourning aspect to it.<ref> Taz, YD 264:13. See also Brit Avraham cited in Sefer Taamei Haminhagim.</ref> | ||
# In fact, it is taught that the name "shalom zachar" derives from the word " | # In fact, it is taught that the name "shalom zachar" derives from the word "zachar", to remember, meaning that the shalom zachar serves to remind us of the Torah which was forgotten and now must be re-learned from the beginning.<ref> Migdal Oz, in the Introduction, paragraph 16</ref> | ||
## As a result of the mourning aspect to the shalom zachar it is customary to serve chick peas at the shalom zachar. Chick peas are associated with mourning as round foods symbolizes the circle of life. <ref> Otzar Habrit p. 89; Zocher Habrit 3:6.</ref> Another reason chick peas are served at a shalom zachar is because the Yiddish word for chick peas is "arbis" which recalls God<nowiki>’</nowiki>s promise to Avraham, "I shall multiply (arbe) your seed like the stars of the Heavens."<ref> Bereishit 22:17.</ref> | ## As a result of the mourning aspect to the shalom zachar it is customary to serve chick peas at the shalom zachar. Chick peas are associated with mourning as round foods symbolizes the circle of life. <ref> Otzar Habrit p. 89; Zocher Habrit 3:6.</ref> Another reason chick peas are served at a shalom zachar is because the Yiddish word for chick peas is "arbis" which recalls God<nowiki>’</nowiki>s promise to Avraham, "I shall multiply (arbe) your seed like the stars of the Heavens."<ref> Bereishit 22:17.</ref> | ||
==Another explanation== | ==Another explanation== | ||
