Q 2. (See prior question) If I don't bake the shlisel chalah this year, do I have to be “matir neder” since we have kept this minhag so many years?
A. Although in principle one should always keep the minhogim and traditions of his family (as long as they have an acceptable source), when one finds himself in an unusual hardship and is unable to comply temporarily, he usually does not require Hataras Nedorim (annulment of vows- Y.D. 214:1, Ahavas Olam p. 472,) especially in this type of minhag, that does not involve establishing a particular mitzva or the prevention of prohibitions. (Pri Chodosh 496: 15.) Although by now Shlisel Chala is a relatively widespread and growing tradition, it is in reality kept by only a small minority of the Orthodox Ashkenazi communities (See Leket Hachalacha quoting Horav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit’a, that one that has the minhag to be stringent when the Mishna Berura rules that it is better or proper to be stringent, and due to illness is unable to continue, does not need Hataras Nedarim (ibid.)
Horav Yaakov Hirschman Shlit’a and other Rabbonim I consulted came to the same conclusion.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a has ruled leniently in a number of similar questions. See Q. # 688 in this forum regarding Chanuka gelt and Q. # 560 regarding learning Shavuos all night, where no annulment was required.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
