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).
Showing posts with label Hopkins Orthodox. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hopkins Orthodox. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
It’s Safer with a Seifer (ספר)
It is quite unbelievable that the second recorded action
that Noah takes after leaving the ark is planting a vineyard. He proceeds to
create wine and eventually gets drunk and sheds his clothes. What’s up with
that?
I think the simple explanation is escapism. After such a
devastating chapter in the history of mankind a man may feel compelled to curl
up in the corner of his tent as close as possible to what may be perceived as a
fetal position: alone, naked and with a total lack of cerebral capacity.
But I believe there is another aspect of Noah’s actions. He
rightfully recognized that, in a sense, the world had been recreated and thus
strived to reach the same state in which Adam had been when he was created.
Noah’s drinking issue was a deep yearning for spirituality.
I honestly think that many of the modern day substance
abusers are searching for some transcendental experience, and in my opinion
they do in fact get what they are looking for. The problem is that this method
is akin to hacking a computer system to extract information. You get what you’re
looking for but you also wreak havoc in the process.
The good news is that there are safer (and legal!) methods
of entering the realm of tranquility and elevation. It is by deep study of
certain texts and through different methods of prayer and introspection that
this can be done. Obviously, there is much room to elaborate on this topic, but
from my stand point what is most important is that people know that it is out
there.
In the words of the great sage Hillel in response to the
person who wanted him to teach all of the Torah while standing on one foot: “go
out and study the rest!”
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Ostriches, Murder and the State of Israel
I sincerely believe that all fast days were instituted not
only as mourning days for past events rather as appropriate times for
introspection and correction in the present. Moreover, I think that each fast
day contains a different guideline as to the specific issues that should be
addressed. What should we be examining on the Gedaliah fast?
Gedaliah Ben Achikam was the Babylonian-appointed governor
of the small community that survived the destruction of the first temple[1].
Although the Jewish community had suffered a disaster of enormous proportions,
Jewish life continued to a degree. This aggravated many people, some of them
being Jews.
Yishmael Ben Netanya, himself a Jew, was sent by the king of
Ammon to assassinate Gedaliah. The governor was warned of Yishmael’s intent but
did not take defensive action, ruling the claim to be lashon hara (slander)[2].
The tragic end was that Gedaliah was murdered and the small community scattered
into exile.
There is no question that Yishamel Ben Netanya committed an appalling
crime, but never the less the sages criticized Gedaliah for not taking cautious
measures against his killer. The Talmud[3]
teaches that although one should never fully accept slander, when being warned
of someone’s malicious intentions he must take action to avoid the consequences.
This is a complex dynamic to master, but it was expected of Gedaliah - a truly righteous
and capable leader.
When we fast on this day, let us think deeply of
our own ability to grasp halachic and moral complexities. May we attain the
capability to do the right thing even when it may seem counter-intuitive.
The
Gedaliah Fast and the State of Israel
Let us conclude with one more thought to ponder. One of the
main reasons for mourning on this fast is that the last functioning Jewish
community in the land of Israel had been shattered[4].
That group’s circumstances were far from ideal, but we still appreciate its
existence to the point that we commemorate its destruction. So too must we view
the far more vibrant, flourishing and autonomic community that currently
functions in Israel and appreciate its existence as a step towards the complete
redemption!
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