On Monday, November 7, 2005 I was asked the following question:

Hi Rabbi Dan

I hope you can answer this for me.

A friend was asked to chant the Haftorah for Yom Kippur and given about one months notice.

A week ago he was told that this honour was being given to someone else without being given a reason. He has spent hours studying and practicing for this honour.

What is the Halacha regarding giving and then taking away this honour?  He is very upset as you can imagine.

Many thanks for your help and L'shana tova for a sweet and healthy year

Yaakov

This was my response:

Shalom Yaacov,

Halacha would be an issue if the honor had been made public and was, now, being rescinded. That would "imply" that your friend was deemed unworthy and as such would fall under Lashon Hara. Aside from being unethical and inconsiderate, that is something that happens quite often during the Yom Taivim. For example, someone may have pledged a donation for receiving this honor, etc.....

Tell your friend to see this as a reflection on the person who gave and then took away the honor.

G'mar Chatima Tova,
Rabbi Dan

If you have questions about a personal matter, or jewish practices and customs, you can submit them to me by e-mail. I answer all queries directly, or through this column, when the question is informative to our community.

Thank you for your kind attention and this opportunity to share with you,
Rabbi Dan S. Wiko
Back to the list