By COLlive reporter
That adorable emoji may not be kosher…
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, one of the most prominent rabbis in religious Zionism in Israel, has warned that the use of one of the most popular digital icons goes against the Judaism.
Quoted in the Yedioth Aharonot newspaper, Rabbi Aviner said G-d fearing Jews should avoid using the emoji known as the two hands held together.
“The source is the ancient idols of the Far East and of Christianity,” he stated, recommending that the gesture should not be done electronically or in person. “It’s not good.”
According to emojipedia.org, two hands placed firmly together means please or thank you in Japanese culture. There has also been a theory that the meaning is simply two friends high-fiving.
In an online discussion over the matter, one Twitter user pointed out that when the speak selection is turned on for the iPhone device, the description it gives for this emoji is “Hands folded in prayer.”
The person also noted, “when you high-five someone, your thumbs do NOT both face the same way” and “Isn’t it a little ironic that the two hands are wearing the same color shirt?”
The “hands together” emoji is designed differently on messaging and social media platforms such as Facebook, Android, and Twitter. The “hands together” emoji designed by Microsoft and Samsung show a single person in the form of Christian prayer.
Rabbi Aviner’s recommendation is to steer clear of using any of them all together to avoid the halachic prohibition of “avak avoda zara” (the ‘whiff’ of idol worship).
This rabbi was from the main supporters of the gush katif evacuation.
The Israeli chief rabbinate put out a letter banning him from ruling any Halacha pertaining to women.
ever heard of Sefer Raziel Hamalach? Check that for magen david
Namaste is a Hindu gesture for ‘bowing to the divine in you’. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it is pagan, just that it is a cultural sign of respect. And in reference to the whole Assur and Mussar box – April the first has no pagan origins whatsoever. There isn’t even anything remotely religious about it. Look it up.
Again, I tried researching and could not find any historical or religious context for suffice to say. Can someone who knows otherwise please provide a source? Thank you!
If you have some basic comprehension skills, Rabbi Aviner “recommends not to use it” because this emoji is likely linked to Non-Jewish methods of prayer, and thats not good. And to all those claiming Modeh Ani, lets be real, even at Modeh Ani the hands are a little lower and aside for that I usually dont see Yidden daven all Tefillos like that. Its a non- Jewish way of praying. Also the article has great points regarding the misconception of it being a”high-five”. The thumbs wouldnt be on the same side, and would take a nice coincidence for everyone high… Read more »
Not all pretzels come like that so just get the rods or nuggets
According to The History of Science and Technology, a monk baked strips of dough that he folded into a shape resembling a child crossing its arms in prayer. He would give these treats, which he called “pretiolas” or “little rewards,” to children who had memorized their prayers.
Much of our ‘lingo’ has been shaped by the pulpit. And I don’t mean the shul bima. Why do you think yidden keep their English, when they need to speak it, close to their Yiddish and loshon kodesh?? To keep out AZ intruders like “suffice…”
I am confused- suffice is not the verb form of sufficient? (I learned English as a second language). Suffice to say means it is sufficient to say, that it is enough to say. How could it be made up by priests? It is not an expression with a unique meaning as far as I am aware. Is there something I am missing?
He means וד”ל.
Two hands together have become the international symbol of prayer. It is so generic, I fail to see how it would really be an issue of avodah zarah. R’ Aviner is a big talmid chacham and no doubt has only the purest of intentions but this seems like a non-issue. Makes us look silly, like burning sheitels in bonfires.
Because I once asked rabbi Groner how to say modeh ani and he said with hands together and straight up. Not the way the pictures of rabbi Goldstein are but rather similar to the emoji.
(Doesn’t it say in inyanei shel torahs hachasidus that no tuna can touch the modeh ani of a Jew?)
I too went to a school (in England) where we had separate Jewish prayers, and,yes, the hands together is the symbol of prayer. in fact, it is on the cover of their hymn books. For this reason I found it very hard to put my hands together for Modeh Ani,and when I said this to a prominent Crown Heights teacher,he advised me to raise my hands from the elbows. To #5, how does the sarcasm help?? May you have only good, for which to say Modeh Ani with true Simcha.
“What’s up” (which I am only writing for chinuch purposes) clearly refers to “whose up there for the goyim.” The fact that people not be aware of what it’s origin is doesn’t matter. The proof is R’ Aviner assured the prayer symbol even though most people would never associate it with an idolatrous origin. “Suffice to say” (again, only writing it to help yidden avoid future aveiros) was originated by galechs. We have no business following in their ways. And, to 43, I put the hyphen because I show kavod to H’KBH, but the goyish velt only think of their… Read more »
really??? nothing better to discuss
Why is COL showing the emoji’s if it’s possibly avek avoda zoro?!
To #40
If there was an issue with saying or writing “Thank G-d” because it alludes to anything other H”KBH, you wouldn’t be putting the hyphen in. The same way we say/write Elo*k*im when referring to H”KBH only.
and what’s avodah zara about “what’s up”?
Explain what is ע״ז with “suffice to say”?
Serious post
Now if we can only get people to stop saying clearly avodah zarah expressions like “what’s up?,” or “suffice to say.” Personally,it bothers me to no end that people say “Thank G-d” when they should be saying “Baruch Hashem”. We are yidden! We believe in Hashem. When goyim say “G-d” you know who they are talking about. We need to set the record straight. It starts with emojis but the war against avodah zarah is far from over. Moshiach now!
Why make a Tzimmes out of it? It’s a high five not a prayer!
Definitely looks different than the emoji icon
I thought it was just me who is totally turned off by this emoji. I find it offensive & have never used it, just as I have never said “touch wood” or “fingers crossed” – both have to do with that man who was crucified. I wish frum Jews would realize and stop using it. Use a heart instead!
Thank you for posting the link of R Yossi Goldstein holding up his hands for Modeh Ani. The Frierdiker rebbe showed everyone by a farbrengen how to hold your hands by modeh ani and said how he was told by his father, the Rebbe Rashab, who was told by his father, all the way back until our first father, Avraham Avinu of how to thank hashem every morning. Look at this picture to see how
I’ll start using the cross emoji instead – much better.
not interlacing fingers is actually kabolah not avoda zara
the right hand is midas hachesed and the left had is midas hagevurah and we dont mix the 2
To No 29: What hatred are you accusing me of? And to call me names like despicable yet. The original artical says “Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, one of the most prominent rabbis in religious Zionism…” I brought that up just to show the irony in his position about the emoji, whilst he himself reveres the avoda zora symbol of the hexagram.
To No 32: You are arguing about a side point, Regardless of what people are calling it, the hexagram is a symbol of avoda zora witchcraft. I don’t care if you call it a watermellon.
it is called Mogen David. regardless if there is a connection or not, it is a Jewish symbol dating to previous generations. Who cares what its called. Is Greenland Green?
Just an emoji huh? Oh so if we dont use it for avoda zara its ok? So can you just send people crosses when trying to portray a sword? How about interlocking your fingers, why dont we do that? Isnt it because it is connected to avoda zara? According to you it should be ok if not used for avoda zara am i correct? And many other examples feel free to look it up or ask someone. Before you go bashing a Rabbi who most likely know much more than you.
its offificially a high five emoji, everyone uses it as a prayer emoji but thats not what it was made as
“This religious zionist rabbi”? Shame on you! What would you say if it was a chabad rabbi? Then his words are kodesh? Your hatred is despicable.
This “religious Zionist” rabbi likely reveres the hexagram (als0 known as the mogen David, though it has no historic connection with David hamelech), that appears on the Zionist flag. This symbol is also originally from avoda zora. Will he be telling us next to get rid of that too?
I always assumed it was a high five emoji….
B”H
Thank you so much Rabbi Aviner, for pointing this out.
Although I personally never use the expression, I didn’t realize that saying “Salt of the earth” has Goiyeshe connotations.
I am astonished that so many people just say “no big deal”.
Expressions like “knock on wood” would seem to mean “let us pay allegiance to the cross, and then we will thereby be protected”. Feh. How could so many people say “no big deal”, to the like?
That’s where the problem begins. The emoji,face book, whatsapp,phones in general are a sort of avodah Zora!
I used to hold my hands like this, but now that Rabbi Aviner Shlita has lit up my eyes – I shall desist. He must know better than the Frierdiker Rebbe, after all.
I shall also be removing my Yarmulke, since it is similar to the one worn by Avi Avos Hatuma – the pope.
Just use the book, like for tehillim
But honestly, not such a big deal, is it?
Very shakey ISUR
And we aren’t using for avodah Zara, so what’s the problem ?
If you type thank you into the iPhone on WhatsApp, this emoji will come up as one of the suggestions
Does anyone have a mesora about the way Chassidim hold their hands by modeh ani? Please pay details, and the source of your mesora. Thank you!
It is actually called the clapping emoji
So how do we tilt our hands in modeh ani. Inward or outward?
Oh please
i just sent a post of a link with pictures from rabbi yossi goldstein ob”m how he saw the freirediker rebbe telling how to do it i hope thy post the link
Bs’d I grew up when there was still religion in gentile schools. Even though we Jewish students were excused from prayers, it was impossible not to become familiar with some of the goyishe practices. Holding the hands this way is an intrinsic part of their prayers. There are several old Jewish customs that, having been usurped by the gentiles, we no longer follow.
Can you please post and teach people the right way so they do not make the mistake >
u r correct u dont hold it strait up
Can you [;ease say how we tilt the hands with modeh ani when holding the hands this way?
The F Rebbe did not say to hold the hands that way. Its a common mistake. Holding the hands together but not in that way.
This means thank you as Jews we are meant to do this first thing in the morning. in fact , its interesting, Chabad of Tel Aviv just put a a beautiful short video on this for israeli T.V.It was on Collive! Thank you for sharing.
Maybe those groups copied us like we do with mode ani
Didn’t the Friediker Rebbe tell us to say Modeh Ani this way?
They must have got it from us – like many other things.
Thank you Rabbi for your spectacular insight in this vital and critical matter.
You have saved the world with the wisdom you have shared with us.
The world is a much better and safe place now.
Toda Rabba.
Samuel Fishbein.
We tilt our hands because it’s meant to be different from what the goyim do
This is not factually so. It may be tru that Xians hold their hands that way when praying, but so do many Jews, including some Chassidic rebbe’s. More likely that the Xians took it from us than the other way around. Rav Aviner is well known for making sensationalist pronouncements.
Why do we do this for modeh ani in the morning…….?
its the thank you emoji