Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Maharsha denounced black hats

The Gemara Sotah 22b discusses false piety. The Maharsha says that this includes people who wear black clothing. Wink, wink, vehamevin yavin et cetera et cetera.

Okay, that's only a joke. In the Maharsha's time wearing black was done for mourning or for penitence. One who wears it insincerely, namely to show how pious he is that he dresses in mourning for the Beis Hamikdash, then he is like those fake Pharisees Sotah 22b lists. The Maharsha does not mean black hats. Although perhaps he'd have included people who wear black or black hats to appear pious when they are not...

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