Reply To: The status of an unmarried man

The Chofetz Chaim and the Gra were opposed to the minhag that unmarried Ashkenazic men don’t wear the tallit gadol. I think kavod habriyot would be another consideration nowadays towards more strongly considering their opinion on this.

The Sridei Esh suffered a fate we should all be zoche to avoid. He was pressured into marrying a young girl from a rabbinical family, and he was absolutely miserable married to her. He’s a figure I very much empathize with, since he found himself among those whom he struggled to connect with on an intellectual or deeper level.

I’d say never being married is less painful than being widowed or divorced. My aunt lost her husband of over 40 years, and whenever I’m sad about my situation, I just think about what she’s going through. It makes me feel less like Iyov (rational frummie: I find myself feeling more like Iyov than Kohelet, in any event).

Thank you for your prayers, HaKatan.