R. Asher Siev z"l

I received this via e-mail about R. Asher Siev (I, II), editor of the Responsa Rama, biographer of R. Moshe Isserles and longtime Yeshiva College professor:

We regret to inform you of the passing of our distinguished chaver, Rabbi Asher Siev of Teaneck, New Jersey.

The levaye took place on Sunday, January 22nd. Burial is today in Israel.

Shivah is being observed at 612 Maitland, Teaneck, New Jersey, from Wednesday, January 25th until Monday, January 30th.

Here's an interesting story he once told me. He had asked R. Moshe Soloveitchik (d. 1941) whether he could wear a gold watch on Shabbos (in a place where there was no eruv). R. Soloveitchik responded that jewelery is for women, i.e. no. Years later, when the neighborhood had changed significantly, R. Siev asked R. Joseph B. Soloveitchik whether he could wear a gold watch in case he was mugged, so he would have something to give the thief. R. Soloveitchik responded in the affirmative.

I later realized that R. Moshe Soloveitchik's response, that jewelery is for women, was alluding to a ruling of R. Akiva Eiger (glosses to Shulhan Arukh, Orah Hayim 303:18) on which I won't elaborate because he utilizes the concept of "mutav she-yihyu shogegin..." (it is better that people sin unwittingly than intentionally).