Never Kill a Mockingbird - Educate It!

This past Shabbat the Hopkins eruv was down and students had to use the ''Hopkins Mekom Ptor'' to carry their keys. There was some concern as to generating mockery by some people who may not fully grasp the halachic concept. I was not on campus for Shabbat so I do not know of such responses, but I hope that generally this is a false concern. Nevertheless, I think this is a good opportunity to present my argument as far as how to relate to some halachic concepts that may seem - well, let's be honest - simply weird.

Think of a random medieval character travelling in time and landing in some present day western or westernized country. I'm sure that many of the technological advancements that we so closely rely upon during our day-to-day endeavors would seem to him like witchcraft. Who knows how long, if it would at all be possible, it would take to convince this person that all that he sees around him is simply a manipulation of scientific laws of the universe. There are too many prerequisite pieces of information and experiences, which we today view as being mundane, that this person is lacking in order to fully understand what his eyes are seeing.

I say that Jewish law has its own "scientific" dynamic and set of rules. Just as physics and chemistry are a description of laws pertaining to the material world, so too halacha is an expression of spiritual laws that have been revealed through the Torah. I believe this to be true in regards to both biblical and rabbinic laws, as through extensive Talmud study and deep analysis of rabbinic law it can be shown that the rabbis were committed to a consistent set of rules and methods.

It seems that this type of outlook can explain many perplexing rules that we may come across within Jewish law. Among these I would include concepts such as leniencies that may be used only in case of great need or situations that allow what may seem as an attempt to totally bypass halacha. If you understand that these are all part of a systematic structure you may come to accept the notion that just as certain physical reactions may have very different outcomes depending on the surrounding conditions (e.g. underwater explosions compared with those in open air), so too certain halachic actions are permissible in specific circumstance but not in others.

There is much room to elaborate upon this issue and to discuss it at greater length, but I think this is a good start. I can almost hear the words of the great sage Hillel echoing: ''this is the entire Torah, the rest is its interpretation - go and learn!" (Talmud, Shabbat 31a).

Removing a Limb to Save the Body

This is a sad day for the state of Israel. The former president, Moshe Katzav, will be spending the next 7 years in jail after having his appeal rejected by the Supreme Court. In fact, this is not only saddening news but it is quite embarrassing as well.

Deliberately, I haven’t been following the details of the case. I felt no need for that and also think that much of what has been discussed is inappropriate, to state it mildly, for the Shabbat table - just a random measure I’ve set as a way of defining what’s worth listening to. But in my eyes the significance of today’s ruling is way beyond that which Mr. Katzav did or did not do.

Today Israel shows its people, and the entire world as well, that it does not hold a double standard towards any individual regardless of his or her status or contribution to society. Even if one day it will be proven that this whole saga is an awful mistake and that the former president did not commit any crime, we should remember this historic day as a time when Israel, once again, proved itself to be a truly democratic and free country.

Yes, it is expected that the Jewish state act within the highest standards of morality, yet in no way is it to be taken for-granted. Once again we have gotten a glimpse of the beautiful Middle Eastern gem twinkling in the dark. 

Naming No Names

I couldn’t find the source for this, but it is said that a neshama chooses its parents before descending to this world. This is counter-intuitive because we are so used to making every possible choice for infants and it gives parents a mistaken sense of superiority. But in truth we must view children as pure entities that honored us with their trust and are hoping that we won’t let them down.

One of the many choices parents make for their offspring is giving them a name. A person’s name encompasses spiritual energy, identity and a vision. How in the world are parents supposed to choose a name for this neshama that has trusted them with the great task of helping it transition into the materialistic world?!?

Well, the truth of the matter is that this burden isn’t really upon their shoulders. Rav Yitzchak Luria[1] taught that God himself places the name of a child in the parents’ mouth so that people will end up having the name which is most befitting them. In other words, a person is born with a name and the parents simply reveal it.

Another possible explanation as to why parents are in need of prophecy in order to name their children is that it comes to remind them that it is not up to them to determine towards what their descendants should aspire. A child is not a tool with which you can extend your natural reach and achievements, rather a unique neshama with a purpose of its own. You are there merely to provide the surroundings that will be most conducive to assisting them in finding their path.

This is why I believe that although there is room for some rational considerations while thinking of an appropriate name for a child, for instance avoiding giving a name that may cause people to crack jokes or make fun, this process should only be secondary to the natural inspiration that parents are granted during these beautiful and moving times.

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[1] Sha’ar Hagilgulim (Rav Chayim Veetal) 23d introduction.