Rav Wosner and Rav Karelitz: It’s Mitzvah to Report Purim Fireworks Sales

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wosnerRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, senior posek, author of Shailos Uteshuvos Shevet Halevi and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Bnei Brak, and Rav Nissim Karelitz, av bais din of Ramat Aharon and av bais din of Bnei Brak, have issued a p’sak ahead of Purim regarding the use of fireworks and firecrackers, whose sales see an increase around this time of year unfortunately.

The senior posim said that responsible parents may not allow their children from engaging in the use of these fireworks, as it is a matter of pikuach nefesh. Every year, stories are reported of children injured by Purim fireworks.

The gedolim both said that those who observe others selling or distributing firecrackers to youth, which is a violation of the law, should absolutely be reported to the police or other authorities, and that doing so is a mitzvah.

All are urged to utilize great caution and maintain proper supervision of youngsters to ensure that no tragic occurrences take place this year. Likewise, communal leaders have urged storeowners not to sell fireworks in their establishments.

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}


9 COMMENTS

  1. Those in chutz la’aretz should also be vigilant re this matter and other michsholim that can ch”v mar the holiness and simcha of Purim.

  2. “Senior Posek”?

    R’ Wosner is seen in Eretz Yisrael as the “Posek HaDor” (the yidden in America know less of this since people don’t bother him with political shailos or askanus, etc.) He was osek his whole life in paskening shailos and responding to the rabbim much of which is printed in 10 volumes of ShuT demonstrating his gadlus in Torah and Horah. There are many great people in this generation that get the title, he surely deserves to be one of them.

    As well he was responsible for many of the gedolei haposkim across Eretz Yisrael who people can access easily in person or by phone. Few gedolim have had the same zechus to be mamid so many Moreh Hora.

  3. There are many Chazal about not over doing it on Purim. See for instance the famous Gematria of the Maharil (1365 – 1427). The Kol Bo (c. 1400) also forbids drunkenness on Purim. More recently, the Matteh Moshe (1550-1606) also writes at length against it.

    Zei Bebencht

  4. There are many Chazal about not over doing it on Purim. See for instance the famous Gematria of the Maharil (1365 – 1427). The Kol Bo (c. 1400) also forbids drunkenness on Purim. More recently, the Matteh Moshe (1550-1606) also writes at length against it.

    Zei Gebencht

  5. The number of people killed and injured by fireworks in 100 years does not even come close to the number of people who die each year from smoking.

  6. B”H.
    The p’sokim from Rav Wosner, which in NO WAY need anyones haskamas, are fantastic.
    The Rav paskened that someone driving without a license is a Rodef – kal vochomer if someone drives after having a drink. That means that he resists you have a chiyuv to ‘take him out’ by ALL means.
    Now the Rav added that if you sell a dangerous commodity, such as fireworks (or maybe if you sell alcohol to a minor or even offer it to him, as well) you are also a rodef – to be stopped by all means (even b’nafsho, if no other way is available).

    Hopefully the oilom will get the message even if they don’t carry out this p’sak to the letter of the law.

  7. TO REB DOVID:
    FIRST OF ALL DONT CALL YOURSELF “REB” BECAUSE IF A RAV ASURED SOMETHING WE LISTEN NO MATTER WHAT NO MATTER WHO. US YIDDEN DONT LIVE BASED ON STATISTICS WE LIVE BASED ON HASHEM SO DONT BRING RAYIS FROM STATISTICS.

  8. What do fireworks have to do with Purim? Same question regarding smoking?

    Last time I checked the Shulchan Aruch it talked about drinking wine “ad dlo yada bain arur Haman l’baruch Mordechai.” Nowhere does it mention fireworks, smoking or even drinking whiskey.

    Perhaps there should be a strong kol koreh reminding people of the actual mitzvos of Purim which, if done properly, can elevate a person to a higher madraiga than even Yom Kippur (“Yom K’Purim”).

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