As I mentioned, the rules are subject to interpretation (remember: ask two Jews, get three opinions.) Even Shabbos elevators as a whole aren’t without controversy. In some circles, they are considered forbidden because of things like passenger weight altering the motor’s operation, and causing the illumination of the floor light.
4 Likes
What could possibly go wrong?
1 Like
Where I came from, it was both. “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” I think the problem is that people try to place the Other in their own spectrum, according to their own rules, and the NT often defines Christianity in opposition to Pharisaical Judaism (which seems to be the ideological ancestor of Rabbinic Judaism). The distinction is often between the inward and the outward or substance and appearance, rather than faith and works. Jesus criticised Pharisees for being ostentatiously religious, but using this as a mask over their lack of piety:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
In this way, the actions of modern Jews can seem meaningless or hypocritical because they are seen as using loopholes to get around the purpose of the rules (e.g. using hydroponics because you can’t grow on Israeli soil during the Shmita is breaking the principle that you should trust God to provide enough in the other six years (or days) that you don’t have to work the land during the seventh). You have the same on the other side where Christians are said to believe in three gods.
On the other hand, I think some Amish have similar rules, such as that you can’t drive a car, but you can hire a car and driver.
2 Likes
Yeah, maybe now isn’t the best time in the world for picking apart Jewish traditions? Maybe you can save this for when anti-Semitism isn’t suddenly an urgently pressing issue?
2 Likes
I’m not a fan of religiously-based irrationality, and I’m generally for calling out irrationality when it comes up. But, humans are, at their core, irrational beings, as we can see by the recent election results you are referring to. And, yes, I do think it is a good point to note that we need to be wary of hate-based anti-antisemitism in the US now more than ever. I’m not for banning the carrying of keys, on tie clips or otherwise. I’m a firm believer in religious equality, regardless of whether religions are rational. And I think it is the equality for all we need to emphasize in the coming years.
This topic was automatically closed after 5 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
