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NEWS
HaRav Dunner: Siyato DiShmayo Every Step of the Way
By A. Tzikinovsky
HaRav Aharon Dovid Dunner, a prominent London dayan
who traveled to India to gather information critical to HaRav
Eliashiv's ruling, told Yated Ne'eman about the
siyato diShmayo during all of his tours and meetings.
Sent to ascertain whether the hair is cut at the actual site
of the temple and whether the haircut itself is part of the
idol-worship, he and his assistants managed to amass
extensive information, including classified information
normally kept hidden from foreigners.
"Tirupati, at an elevation of 800 meters [2,500 feet], is the
site of the largest temple in the world for their religion,
with 50,000 visitors daily. The peak is like Har Habayis to
them, lehavdil elef alfei havdolim, and thousands and
thousands make the pilgrimage in honor of the idol. People
ranging from one-year-olds to the elderly come to shave off
their hair.
"They are not given money, not a cent, but come to shave
their hair as a sign of thanksgiving and with prayers and
requests to someone. The shorn hair is what Maran
shlita ruled is tikroves avodoh zoroh. Men have
their beards shaved off, as well. Some of them have long hair
down to the floor and it indeed appears to be of high quality
for wig production. We tried to speak with the people getting
shaved to ascertain whether they came there lesheim
hakrovoh [to make a sacrifice] or lesheim
hachno'oh [as an act of submission]. Many of them said it
is a gift to the idol because `he loves [their] hair.' An
important point I was asked to verify and which I brought up--
during the haircutting people say prayers out loud or
silently to the idol and repeat them constantly. They also
have a type of teviloh facility where they immerse
themselves after the haircut.
"There were three enormous halls there packed with people,
including 200 barbers each, working three shifts, i.e. 600
barbers per day [in each hall]. The site is kept immaculately
clean and whoever arrives dirty is disinfected. Between the
barber and the person getting his hair cut is an indentation
into which the hair falls. Someone comes around periodically
to gather the hair and put it in an enormous bucket. Although
the idol is not in the hall, it turns out the entire place is
`his home,' for in all of the halls people are asked to take
off their shoes and walk barefoot. I waited to see the hair
being gathered. Afterwards I spoke with the barber and
according to what I gathered, although the barber receives a
salary he is considered their assistant and
shaliach.
"The long hair is tied up and taken in two giant sacks sealed
with wax and taken to the central collection site. The
finished hair is washed and dried. Afterwards it is sorted
according to type and then is sold, with the profits going to
the place of idol worship. We asked to see for ourselves what
they do with the finished hair, but that aroused suspicions.
They perceived us as spies and attached security personnel to
us until we left the site.
"In order to enter these contaminated places I received a
ruling and guidance from Maran, shlita. We had great
siyato diShmayo and our success in reaching the
information Maran wanted to receive was [obtained], in part,
because we knew in advance where to go to and what to look
for, and thanks to our escorts who brought us in as tourists.
With siyato diShmayo we made the clarifications that
made it possible for Maran, shlita, to issue his
psak halochoh on the matter."
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