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It Seems Orthodoxy Is Reform, Too
North Miami Beach, Florida 9-30- 2000 Aaron H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
IT SEEMS ORTHODOXY ALLOWS REFORM, TOO
I noted that Steven R. Weisman an Editorial Observer in the New York Times
yesterday wrote that "age-old issues" have been dealt with by reforming the
Jewish law and historical ways of doing things.
The Joseph Lieberman nomination by the Democratic Convention broke with
tradition, too. That was a reform of past canon. Making exceptions reform
tradition. The "Court Jew" or "shtadian", Weisman notes, could work to make
life for the Jews in Medieval European Ghettoes easier by intervening even
if his efforts fell on the Sabbath when work was prohibited because even God
rested on the seventh day. Joseph Lieberman, by this reform, can do his
vice-presidential duties on the day of rest for the same reason on behalf of
all of us.
The old prayer for a male blessing his not being born a woman was also
changed by Lieberman. He is quoted as saying; "For a long time, I've skipped
that one. There's a certain amount of latitude here". And then there is the
issue of answering or using the telephone between Friday sundown to Saturday
sundown. Of course, using the problem of a call coming to the Vice
President on the red phone from one of the world's combative dictators, the
work being done by our vice-leader (or in the event of the death of the
President, our leader) in answering that phone would be O.K. This reform
has long been acknowledged for Orthodox Jews in the event of a
life-threatening situation involving another human being.
Reform has been going on since rules have been carved in stone. "Ultra
pious" people do not note chips in the material. They set themselves up
stone-like and refuse to listen to reasonable explanations why those rules
do not always maintain. It may be obvious that prohibitions against certain
foods could be broken if those foods contain substances that are known to
alleviate pain or save lives. The Kosher laws kept at home in many Jewish
homes are sometimes broken when meals are eaten out.
Orthodoxy like Reform, accepts change when it is reasonable.
Carol's Evaluation: 9 out of 10.
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