Yuhara: Difference between revisions

#Sometimes, it is forbidden to do something that is a midat chasidut which draws attention even if one’s intent is completely for the sake of heaven,<Ref>Maharshal (B"k 7:41) based on Bava Kama 81b writes that anyone who is publicly strict about something that is permitted should be excommunicated for yuhara, unless he is well known for being l’shem shamayim. That is codified by the Magen Avraham 63:2, Mishna Brurah 63:6, and Kaf Hachaim 63:5. Shulchan Aruch Hamidot v. 1 p. 125 writes that the explicit implication is that even if one has pure intent, if one isn’t known for his piety he isn’t allowed to be strict in public.</ref> since it appears as a show of arrogance. This is called mechzi k’yuhara.<ref>Gemara Brachot 17b records the opinion of Raban Shimon ben Gamliel that it is forbidden for a chatan the night of the wedding to say that he can say kriyat shema with kavana because of yuhara. Also, Bava Kama 59b records a story in which the rabbis punished someone who wore a black hat to mourn over yerushalayim since that wasn't the practice. The concept of yuhara can be found in S"A (17:2, 34:3, etc). </ref>  

#If one is doing a certain practice because one got a certain pesak from one’s rav or because it is to fulfill the basic halacha, it isn’t considered yuhara even if it isn’t the minhag.<ref>The Mordechai (Brachot n. 1) writes that since Rabbenu Tam held that if one said Shema after Plag Hamincha one fulfilled his obligation if one does repeat it later it appears as yuhara. Bet Yosef 235:1 argues that it isn’t yuhara to repeat Shema since according to many rishonim one didn't fulfill one's mitzvah. This is also his opinion in Shulchan Aruch 235:1 and Mishna Brurah 235:15. Maharil (Mezuzah 1) writes that one should put up a mezuzah in every room in one’s house and it isn’t yuhara even though the minhag was to only put up one for the front door, since that minhag is completely incorrect. Geonim responsa emanuel 161 reiterates this point stating that it isn’t yuhara to wear tefillin since it is a mitzvah even though many people fail to do so. </ref> Nonetheless one can only do so with the intent for the mitzvah and not to be [[arrogant]].<ref> Shulchan Aruch Hamidot v. 1 p. 123 explains that it is always forbidden to do something to show off, as that is a Biblical prohibition of having גאוה even while doing a mitzvah. See Shulchan Aruch O.C. 565:6 who writes that someone who publicizes that he keeps voluntary fasts is punished.</ref>