By Joel H. Cohen
NEW YORK — A group of Brooklyn pulpit rabbis, heads of yeshivas and prominent laymen has quietly enacted an informal, non-binding agreement to rein-in “extreme” shuckling. The compact applies to themselves, their students and congregants.
The action came in the aftermath of injuries suffered by an unidentified 12-year-old boy, who swayed so vigorously while davening that he hit his head on the reading table in front of him, and suffered injuries to his forehead, nose and chin. There was also collateral damage, as the impact sent holy books on the table flying. Emergency technicians who were called insisted on taking the boy to the hospital for observation. He was examined there and released. The boy’s parents pleaded with authorities to do something to discourage excessive swaying while praying.
In the discussions that ensued, a rabbi opposed to imposing any restrictions said, “Extremism in the defense of davening is no vice,” but a proponent of limiting the intensity of swaying responded, “When weighed against possible serious injury, extreme shuckling has to yield.”
A rumored proposal to manufacture rubber face-guards for intense schucklers was not brought to a vote.
A classmate of the injured boy suggested that the victim’s own competitive nature may have been a factor in the accident.
“He always wants to be the best in anything he does,” the classmate said.
Whatever the factors, the majority felt there should be some regulation. “We’re certainly not opposed to shuckling,” a spokesman or the majority commented, “only to extremism.”
Proponents of vigorous shuckling cited such ancient explanations of the practice as “proof of the excellence of the soul” of the person praying, a reflection of “the light of the candle that flickers and wavers in harmony with the light of the Torah,”
But, despite the powerful arguments, the majority was not, one might say, swayed.
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San Diego Jewish World reminds readers who are new to this column that it is all in fun, and nothing above should be taken seriously. Cohen is a freelance writer based in New York.