tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.comments2023-05-10T04:43:15.696-04:00Rogue Regimerogueregimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16747123415617348742noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-73853017625328636572016-07-08T17:55:48.982-04:002016-07-08T17:55:48.982-04:00So in effect you can't swim on Shabbat because...So in effect you can't swim on Shabbat because you might come to build a raft and subsequently marry a non-Jew. <br /><br />Have you considered that convoluted, non-sequitur halacha may also cause people to build rafts and marry non-Jews? Balensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17127274609197815542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-33796696327671102882015-05-03T16:42:13.333-04:002015-05-03T16:42:13.333-04:00Wouldn't it be nice if things were that simple...Wouldn't it be nice if things were that simple. Part of being Observant is following Derech Eretz and that is what is commonly accepted and practiced, one does period. The idea is its not a free for all or a large buffet. This free to do whatever I feel works, is the very reason that Reform Jews are so clueless and marry out of the faith 60+% of the time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-48872942749101728022012-09-22T13:51:13.745-04:002012-09-22T13:51:13.745-04:00My "favorite" reason for the prohibition...My "favorite" reason for the prohibition against swimming on Shabbat: "Because you might wring out a towel". Huh? First of all, there weren't towels 2,000 years ago. Second of all, when was the last time you wrung out a towel? Maybe if your bathroom got flooded? How often to bathers WRING OUT THEIR TOWELS? Face it: Shabbat swimming is prohibited 'cause it's fun, and not *shabbesdik*. Yam Erezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11343180272177901839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-26427122266094063492011-12-31T12:53:48.514-05:002011-12-31T12:53:48.514-05:00I grew up in a Christian home and later converted ...I grew up in a Christian home and later converted to Judaism and find what Jesus quoted from Isaiah to be right on topic:<br /> 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines of God the commandments of men" Isaiah 29:13 (Mat 15:3-9).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-23102157210048270332011-06-24T17:01:48.743-04:002011-06-24T17:01:48.743-04:00You can acknowledge that you cannot and probably w...You can acknowledge that you cannot and probably will never do them, because you, like 99% of us, are not a tzaddik or tzaddekes - without rationalizing your actions by putting down the idea of following Judaism in a traditionally strict way. You can think, ok, I don't do these things, and I may not understand them, but that doesn't mean that either they or you are wrong. And feel good about what you ARE doing! Shabbat Shalom!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-32750875877437847942010-11-25T15:59:18.479-05:002010-11-25T15:59:18.479-05:00Anonymous writes: "The bible say's "...Anonymous writes: "The bible say's "remember the sabbath day and keep it holy". I can think of nothing more resting, refreshing, and spiritual than going for a swim in the Lake."<br /><br />All of a sudden you care what the Bible says? <br /><br />-- FrankAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-44580429991920522252010-06-22T17:16:14.912-04:002010-06-22T17:16:14.912-04:00I've heard a couple of things about the gay qu...I've heard a couple of things about the gay question that may be relevant. <br /><br />1) Some believe the "lie with a man as with a woman" refers only to anal sex (and of course it says nothing at all against lesbians). A gay orthodox yeshiva student expounds this view in the excellent documentary "Trembling Before G-d". <br /><br />2) There are many behaviors classed as "abominations" -- homosexuality is not particularly singled out. It's also more in the category of "because God said so" laws. It is therefore simply bigotry for the Christian and Jewish religious right wing to constantly speak out and legislate against gays on religious grounds, while they don't seem to worry about other "abominations" that are equally based on a decree rather than on any self-evident sense of justice or morality. <br /><br />At any rate, the text is still a big problem for me. The "evil inclination" we allegedly have to eat bacon ["decrees against which the evil inclination protests"] is qualitatively different from the "inclination" towards the people we fall in love with and sleep with. It seems ridiculous to place these on the same legal or moral level.<br /><br />As for chukim applying to resident non-Jews, I suppose that would insulate the local Jews from temptation and from accidental breaking of statutes.tcs3600https://www.blogger.com/profile/08406518675639534423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-41870589633230121732010-06-11T14:03:47.269-04:002010-06-11T14:03:47.269-04:00Welcome back to the blogosphere, RR.
In the first...Welcome back to the blogosphere, RR.<br /><br /><i>In the first place, why could there possibly be a difference between delivering a male versus a female baby in terms of the length of post-birth "uncleanliness"?</i><br /><br />Hmmm. . . .<br /><br />J. H. Hertz (<i>The Pentateuch and Haftorahs</i>, p. 460): "There is no satisfactory explanation why the period is doubled when a female child is born."<br /><br />Baruch Schwartz (<i>The Jewish Study Bible</i>, p. 233): "The reason the length of each phase is doubled when a female child is born is difficult to determine."<br /><br />Richard Elliott Friedman (<i>Commentary on the Torah</i>, p. 352): "No one knows the reason why it is double for a female."<br /><br />Clearly, there is a great deal of agreement among commentators on this point!Miles Rindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733605717776262840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-56213931406666403112010-03-21T12:47:30.673-04:002010-03-21T12:47:30.673-04:00Tumah is related to death"
read Freud's ...Tumah is related to death"<br /><br />read Freud's 'Totems and Taboos' to get a more modern understanding of how death played a role in the development of ancient cultures and religions.www.thewaytonothing.blogspot.comhttp://www.thewaytonothing.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-72967028322323960352010-03-21T00:48:17.620-04:002010-03-21T00:48:17.620-04:00> The not eating blood I get, but not to eat fa...> The not eating blood I get, but not to eat fat?!? <br /><br />You wouldn't have a copy of Torat Kohanim hanging around. It's a hard book to find. Now, to answer your question: there are two types of fat in the animal body - shuman and cheilev. There is no special word for either in English - we call both of them "fat".<br />Now, cheilev is the fat offered on the altar and is generally those fats in the body which serve as storage fat, as opposed to shuman which marbles the meat and is mixed in with it. Cheilev represents the energy of the person and offering on the altar symolizes the person dedicating his energy to God.<br /><br />> the thing being hid from the eyes of the assembly <br /><br />The Hebrew word "kahal" means assembly and in the Torah refers to the Sanhedrin. This is a case where the Sanhedrin makes a mistake, rules on matter and permits something which is forbidden and then later realizes its error. Upon realizing it, atonement has to be made.<br /><br />> As a Reform Jew, I'm so used to thinking about there being nothing between me and God <br /><br />Anyone's sin can come between one and God. Yes, in the times when the Temple stood one needed to offer a sacrifice to make proper atonement and for that one needed kohanim. However, as Rav Shimshon Rafael Hirsch points out, the first real act of national repentance, for the Golden Calf, took place in the absence of any Temple or Mishkan. Nothing stands between you and God if your repentance is sincere but for some serious sins, "talk is cheap". The impact of seeing your sacrifice offered is supposed to instill in you a spiritual understanding of where you slipped and how you can make it better.<br /><br />>Issues of ritual impurity are not new to me, but to read about them...is to confront a decidedly outdated, pre-modern view of the world that holds no meaning for me<br /><br />Spiritual impurity, "tumah" is something none of us can understand today in the absence of the Temple. It's like how people only starting noticing how bad body odour was after deoderant was invented. If everyone stinks, no one realizes it. Tumah is related to death. If you look at all the examples, they all revolve around dead things. Menstrual flow, wasted sperm, corpses, etc. all represent a lack of choice because the dead have no free will. That's why it's something to be avoided in a religion that celebrates life and free will.Garnel Ironheartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-62007608171549256022010-03-21T00:36:23.523-04:002010-03-21T00:36:23.523-04:00> Why is the priest charged with slaughtering b...> Why is the priest charged with slaughtering bird sacrifices but not bulls or sheep? <br /><br />The halacha says that slaughtering of an animal can be done by a non-kohen. However, because the bird offering is done on the altar and only kohanim can go up there, he has to do it himself.<br /><br />> First, why do Aaron & Sons get some of the meal offering but not of the other offerings? <br /><br />Actually they get the meat of lots of offering. Go through this and the next parsha and you'll see that.<br /><br />> Second, why is the meal offering in fact "a thing most holy"?<br /><br />You have to remember that there are two classes of sacrifices: kodshim kalim - basic holy, and kodesh kedoshim - most holy. The verse is simply telling you to which group this offering is assigned.<br /><br />> Honey?!? First, why not offer honey? <br /><br />Unless it's called bee honey, the word "d'vash" in the Bible refers to date honey. Secondly, the point of the offerings is to present oneself in all humility to God. Honey represents sweetness, arrogance or puffing up of one's self-worth, something inappropriate when you're standing before the King 'o Kings. It's the same reasoned only matzah and flour go on the altar and not leavened bread.<br /><br />> Salt of the covenant of God!?! To what does this refer? <br /><br />Salt is something which is not only unchanging but which preserves anything stored in it. Remember the context - back then without refrigeration the only way to store food was to salt it. So it symbolizes the permanent and unchaning relationship between us and God.<br /><br />> What is a "peace offering"? <br /><br />These are brought by people who have had some good fortune and wish to share their happiness with God and family. Let's say your kid gets into med school. To say thank you to God, you bring a peace offering. The altar, symbolizing God, gets the fat and blood. The kohanim, God's servants, share the meat with you and your family. Everybody participates in the happiness.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-17913857481781412392010-03-21T00:28:38.455-04:002010-03-21T00:28:38.455-04:00> This word "called" -- vayikra -- ...> This word "called" -- vayikra -- is a curious one.<br /><br />This follows right on how Exodus ends: the cloud of God fills the mishkan and no one can go in. So God calls out to Moshe Rabeinu to come on in so he can speak with him.<br /><br />> It's always interesting to me why he says something here but not there<br /><br />Every major commentator has a theme to his comments. Rashi's is to explain the verse's plain meaning when it isn't obvious or to point out a deeper meaning you might otherwise miss. If something is simple without a further need for basic explanation he lives alone.<br /><br />> and it shall be accepted for him [וְנִרְצָה לוֹ] to make atonement for him <br /><br />No, no, no, you're mssing the point. Actually, a good place to look is in the back of the Artscroll Stone Chumash where they have a table detailing each sacrifice and what it's for. Rashi, in this case tells you: an elevation offering (olah) is brought by someone who failed to perform a positive commandments, for example I fail to put on tefillin when I should have or I put on a four cornered garment but failed to put tzitzis on it. <br /><br />Sin offerings (chatas), on the other hand, atone for capital crimes committed accidentally where the punishment for intentional commission is spiritual excision or the death penalty, for example, if you drive by accident on Shabbos you bring a chatas. <br /><br />Incidentally, there is no obligatory sacrifice for eating non-kosher food but you can bring an olah if you want to make up for it.<br /><br />> Variously mentioned are bulls, sheep, birds, and "meal offerings." <br /><br />Yes. There are elevation offerings (olah), sin offerings (chatas), guilt offerings (asham), free-will offerings (nedavos). Some require a specific animal, some vary with the income of the person. Each has a different, specific purpose.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-37395222052707505832010-03-16T11:01:43.740-04:002010-03-16T11:01:43.740-04:00certain aspects of my faith that I cannot -- and p...certain aspects of my faith that I cannot -- and probably will never -- do?"<br /><br />Like bringing a korban on pesach or kiiling out the amalekiim?<br /><br />Its interesting how Judaism has evolved and that prohibitions now define judaism.<br /><br />How about this: live an authentic, meaningful life while accepting that you are jewish. Like an Italian can live a meaningful authentic life while being Italian.The Wayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450690035446068510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-39129882073404583592010-03-09T17:32:06.434-05:002010-03-09T17:32:06.434-05:00> So crazy that these lines get left out in the...> So crazy that these lines get left out in the Reform telling...<br /><br />I don’t mean to be offensive but Reform Judaism is like parenting without any discipline. Sometimes a parent shows love by being firm with the child and setting limits. Sometimes punishment is needed. A child doesn’t understand this, he wants candy all the time and no consequences for misbehaviour and if you let kids run the world, that’s what kind of laws you’d get.<br /><br />>What "marvels"? Something post-splitting the Red Sea? <br /><br />Originally, before the sin of the spies, the entire conquest of Israel was meant to be on a miraculous basis.<br /><br />>not to "take of their daughters unto thy sons" lest "their daughters go astray after their gods, and make thy sons go astray after their gods"; and (c) not to make "molten gods." <br /><br />Ah yes, the intermarriage thing.<br /><br />> First of all, I can understand (sort of) the need in ancient times to vanquish the inhabitants of a land you want to conquer and possess, but surely this "advice" no longer makes any sense today. <br /><br />Really? Then explain what the Russians are doing in Chechnya, the Chinese in Tibet, the Sudanese in Darfur, the British in Ireland…<br /><br />Heck, how much of Canada and America was cleansed of natives when the Europeans came out here?<br /><br /> The idea that people need to be wiped out in order to avoid their pernicious influences <br /><br />Go further and read the book of Judges. We are a people very susceptible to assimilation. By not wiping out the Canaanites like God said, many bad things happened to our ancestors.<br /><br />>Second, this mention of not letting the non-Jewish women get ahold of the Jewish sons is interesting to me. <br /><br />Actually if you read the wording of the verse carefully, you see that this is where partilineal descent comes from. We don’t worry about the child of a Jewish mother because it’s Jewish, but the child of a Jewish father isn’t and so is lost to the people.<br /><br />>It doesn't say that intermarriage is inherently bad, <br /><br />Well later on it will.<br /><br />>Why specifically mention plowing and harvesting if the real intent of Shabbat were to prohibit many more kinds of work? <br /><br />Rashi’s explanation needs an… explanation. See, I might have thought that since the seventh year is called a Sabbatical year, that I don’t have to observe both the weekly and the yearly Sabbath, just the yearly one during that time. By emphasizing the times of the year, the verse hints that the weekly Shabbos applies at all times.<br /><br />>On the one hand, we have some better evidence here that it was actually the Ten Commandments on the tablets.<br /><br />That’s what most commentators say.<br /><br />Both sets were written by God. However, the first tablets were provided by God while Moshe had to provide the second set. The significance is that the first set were entirely Godly and by accepting them our ancestors would rise to a higher Godly state. The second set were a partnership between man and God and the people therefore remained as they were.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-83512614915247933602010-03-09T17:31:18.184-05:002010-03-09T17:31:18.184-05:00> To my eyes, this seems like the most visceral...> To my eyes, this seems like the most visceral, personal kind of punishment, as if to say, "You like your golden idol...then eat it!" I have a much harder time buying into the "trial by ordeal" aspect implied by Rashi's commentary.<br /><br />Read Rashi again. Only certain people had to drink.<br /> This, frankly, makes no sense. First of all, who are these 3,000 people exactly? The mixed multitude who encouraged the making of the GC in the first place? <br />There were three classes of criminals. Those who had been properly warned before worshipping the calf were executed by Moshe’s court. Those who had no witnesses to warn them were tested by the gold-laced water. The ones who had been warned but not in a way suitable for the court were executed by the Levites.<br />>The people who did not view themselves as being on God's side? <br />The people were passive in preventing the idol worship and remained passive at this point.<br />> Second, this seems like an awfully small number given that we read how everyone -- including women and children -- played a role in the fabrication of the Calf.<br />All the mixed multitude.<br /><br />> Third, and to the point, what was the capital offense? Certainly not wanting to make the Calf; that would have included almost everyone. <br />Actually worshipping it was the capital offence. Again, only a small number actually went that far.<br />>Again, what was the sin for which (a) they did not have to be killed but (b) did need God's forgiveness? <br />The mixed multitude forced them to make an idol and worshipped it in front of them and they did… nothing. They all stood back and thought: not my problem. The allowing of evil to occur and thinking: Well, it’s not my fault so I don’t have to care, is not good.<br />>First, and most important, what is the "book" in question, and what does it mean to be blotted out of it? The Torah? <br />The Book of Life that sits before God.<br />>First, what kind of plague? Did people actually die? <br />The word “plague” generally refers to the disease of pestilence and yes, people died. These were people who had quietly sympathized with the idol worshippers even though they did not show outward support. Only God could know who they were so only He could mete out this justice.<br /> The strange things are (a) no where in this passage is there a description of what actually happens between Moses and the people who come wanting something from God<br /><br />If you look at the time line, he was only there for a couple of days so it probably didn’t happen since he spent those two days begging God for forgiveness.<br /><br /> ; and (b) how is it even possible for God to speak to Moses "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"?!?<br /><br />That’s why Moshe was so great, because he could still function at that level of spirituality. See, you have to understand the Jewish conception of prophecy. It is such a high level of spirituality that all other prophets would go unconscious and receive the prophecy as if in a dream, then they would wake up and have to remember what to say. Moshe Rabeinu was different. He could remain awake and converse normally like two people speaking face to face.<br /><br />> Okay, but then how was it possible just above for God to speak with Moses "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"?!?<br /><br />Based on what I wrote, it should be clear. It’s one thing to remain alert in the state of prophetic revelation, another to be able to withstand the sight of God’s unvarnished gloryGarnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-22352992016053943502010-03-09T17:30:40.453-05:002010-03-09T17:30:40.453-05:00>but it seems to me that the relevance here is ...>but it seems to me that the relevance here is precisely this: to the extent you fail to abide by the norms, laws and beliefs of one's community, you are cut off from them.<br /><br />Yes. As Saadiyah Gaon once wrote – more than the Jew keeps Shabbos, Shabbos keeps the Jew.<br /><br />>How do we actually know what is engraved on these "tables of stone"?!?<br /><br />Different commentators have different opinions on what was written on the first tablets. Some say it was the Ten Commandments. Others say is was all the laws, both those we now have in the Written Torah and the others from the Oral Torah.<br /><br />>First of all, this instruction implies that everyone except men -- including young boys -- wore earrings. Was that true? Seems a bit odd.<br /><br />Even men wore earrings back then. What’s so odd about that?<br />1. "And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron." <br />Depends how you define “people”. Many commentators hold that when the Torah refers to the generic “the people” it’s referring to the non-Jews who accompanied the Bnai Yisrael at the Exodus. It was they who had a hankering for an idol and brought their gold.<br />2. Out of curiosity, why a calf? <br />Aharon didn’t make the calf. Read the text carefully. Now, why a calf? Different animals have different symbolic meanings. A crocodile would have represents the idol worship of Egypt, something they had no further connection to. On the other hand, a lamb represents the passive person who leaves his care to God. A calf is capable of some labour but follows its mother obediently, in other words, a faithful servant.<br />>Are we to understand that the mixed multitude pressured (!) the Israelites into doing something they otherwise would not have done?<br />Yes. History is full of examples of small groups of determined people overriding the better judgement of a more passive majority. How many die-hard communists lived in Russia in 1917 but they took over the country!<br />3. How could Aaron have caved so easily to popular demands for an idol to worship and still have the standing (and the blessing of God) to become High Priest? <br />Again, read the text carefully. He wasn’t asked for an idol but for a replacement for Moshe Rabeinu. He didn’t actually make the idol but said he would hold a holiday for God. His whole strategy was to delay until Moshe returned.<br />Given that the mixed multitude was in the minority (right?), why did Aaron cave so quickly into their demands for an idol? Why not encourage the Israelites to have faith? Surely this was not Aaron's finest hour... <br />Yes, and Moshe criticized him for it. At any rate, the Talmud tells us that the MM’s seized power of a sort, killed Aharon’s assistant Hur and threatened him with death unless he complied. Now, Aharon knew it was just a matter of a short bit of time until Moshe returned so the stalling was all he could do.<br />>The striking thing, to me, is that God complains about how obstinate the Israelites are as if he weren't already aware of that fact. Moreover, God seems to be pretty short-tempered with a people who have only known idolatry most of their lives. <br />1) Who says He wasn’t aware? He was speaking with Moshe and explaining His upcoming actions.<br />2) If you tell your son something is really, really important, and your son looks at you and says “Sure dad, I understand and I’ll never do it” and then 5 minutes later he goes and does it, what would your reaction be? How much more so the nation of Israel which had just been released from slavery by God and which then turned their backs on Him?<br />>but who am I to contradict Rashi, right?<br /><br />And don’t ever forget that.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-89438289980530902422010-03-09T17:29:33.743-05:002010-03-09T17:29:33.743-05:00> In the most basic sense here, something is h...> In the most basic sense here, something is holy because we make it holy -- combining God's instructions with earthly objects and our intentions sanctifies a thing. <br /><br />Remember that the Hebrew root KDSh means separate. Kodesh means holy. A kedeisha is a prostitute. Same root, same underlying idea of separation from average, albeit in two different directions. Some things are intrinsically holy without out input, like Shabbos. Other things we do make holy by setting the item apart for sacred use.<br /><br />> I like the idea that holiness is not intrinsic to some thing or place, <br /><br />Well that’s only the case some of the time. For example, there is a level of holiness on the Temple Mount even though there’s a mosque there now. Israel has a level of holiness despite the lack of a proper Torah-based government. On the other hand, yes it’s nice to know we can make something holy through our efforts.<br /><br /> I kind of like this phrasing: Instead of making Bezalel able to do something, or commanding him to do it. God, in essence, inspires him to create works of art:<br /><br />The commentators explain this as follows: the construction of the Mishkan did not involve simply fabricating the items. They had to be constructed with the proper set of mental intentions as well. Betzalel could build it but he had to have the right thoughts and understanding of the spiritual content as well as the physical content.<br /><br />> Again, nice imagery, though it begs the question: Who are these "wise-hearted" people? Everyone?!? <br /><br />Same thing I told you last week. The experts in each field.<br /><br />every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people." <br /><br />There are two aspects to Shabbos. There is the positive – observe it, receive its holiness, use it to make yourself a closer relationship with God. However, there is the negative – since Shabbos is so holy, rejecting it is like rejecting God, something He doesn’t take kindly to, hence the punishment aspect.<br /><br /><br /> As before, I'm probably soft-pedaling what was actually a capital offense (though it begs the question of how many people were actually executed for violating shabbat...), <br /><br />I doubt anyone ever was. Once you learn about how capital punishment worked, you’ll quickly see that getting a conviction was pretty much impossible.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-27345730783671574952010-03-09T17:28:21.164-05:002010-03-09T17:28:21.164-05:00> In the most basic sense here, something is h...> In the most basic sense here, something is holy because we make it holy -- combining God's instructions with earthly objects and our intentions sanctifies a thing. <br /><br />Remember that the Hebrew root KDSh means separate. Kodesh means holy. A kedeisha is a prostitute. Same root, same underlying idea of separation from average, albeit in two different directions. Some things are intrinsically holy without out input, like Shabbos. Other things we do make holy by setting the item apart for sacred use.<br /><br />> I like the idea that holiness is not intrinsic to some thing or place, <br /><br />Well that’s only the case some of the time. For example, there is a level of holiness on the Temple Mount even though there’s a mosque there now. Israel has a level of holiness despite the lack of a proper Torah-based government. On the other hand, yes it’s nice to know we can make something holy through our efforts.<br /><br /> I kind of like this phrasing: Instead of making Bezalel able to do something, or commanding him to do it. God, in essence, inspires him to create works of art:<br /><br />The commentators explain this as follows: the construction of the Mishkan did not involve simply fabricating the items. They had to be constructed with the proper set of mental intentions as well. Betzalel could build it but he had to have the right thoughts and understanding of the spiritual content as well as the physical content.<br /><br />> Again, nice imagery, though it begs the question: Who are these "wise-hearted" people? Everyone?!? <br /><br />Same thing I told you last week. The experts in each field.<br /><br />every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people." <br /><br />There are two aspects to Shabbos. There is the positive – observe it, receive its holiness, use it to make yourself a closer relationship with God. However, there is the negative – since Shabbos is so holy, rejecting it is like rejecting God, something He doesn’t take kindly to, hence the punishment aspect.<br /><br /><br /> As before, I'm probably soft-pedaling what was actually a capital offense (though it begs the question of how many people were actually executed for violating shabbat...), <br /><br />I doubt anyone ever was. Once you learn about how capital punishment worked, you’ll quickly see that getting a conviction was pretty much impossible.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-7890097548111910762010-03-07T19:05:21.623-05:002010-03-07T19:05:21.623-05:00I don`t have a huge amount of time but lets seem w...I don`t have a huge amount of time but lets seem what I can fit in:<br /><br />. First, this seems a little out of the blue in this context. <br /><br />The silver was used for parts of the Mishkan. The ransom for the soul is a limited English translation. The idea of the donation was to pledge one`s soul to the great soul of the nation.<br /><br />. Where does this number come from? Rashi says that this is the minimum age for serving in the army<br /><br />Women were not counted in this census.<br /><br />. have to call b.s. on some of this. These were really scarce, expensive things back in those days,<br /><br />God would not ask them for things they did not have. At any rate, archeological evidence does suggest there was enough of each in Egypt at the time to make it plausible they had the amounts listed.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-65194370352248507932010-03-03T09:32:13.829-05:002010-03-03T09:32:13.829-05:00> Is this to say they never changed out these...> Is this to say they never changed out these garments? <br /><br />Again, to use a medical example: The surgeon shall wear a set of scrubs in the OR. No one would say it can only be that one set, ever. This is the template for the holy garments but they made lots of sets of them. In different sizes too, if you think about it. And no, they only wear them in the Mishkan. The text makes it clear. Look again.<br /><br />> seven days shalt thou consecrate them." <br /><br />Yes, they went through Shabbos because most elements of the Temple services are performed despite it being Shabbos. One can slaughter an animal for sacrifice on Shabbos, for example, even though one can't for personal consumption, and so on. The Torah even describes much later on special offerings specifically for Shabbos. So no contradiction here.<br /><br />> Now that there is no mishkan, and no Temple...does this mean that God no longer dwells "among the children of Israel"?<br /><br />Another excellent question and one that has filled countless books. God does still dwell amongst us, His presence fills the entire universe so how could He not? However, our perception of His presence is much duller than it would have been for our ancestors in the desert or the time of the First Temple when there were visible manifestations (that's what the Shechinah is) of His presence. However, the Mishkan is not only a microcosm of the universe. According to many commentators, it is also a microcosm of us. The implication is that each of us has a duty to build our physical and spiritual selves into a personal Mishkan through our observance of the Torah's laws. If we do that well enough then God will dwell in each of us personally. That's the goal of Jewish practice.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-89557699696781397712010-03-03T09:26:40.746-05:002010-03-03T09:26:40.746-05:00> if it has any meaning, something really bad h...> if it has any meaning, something really bad has to happen if one is "impure" in the presence of God. But what's the mechanism by which this happens? <br /><br />God is the King of Kings, the essence of truth and purity. If you were going to meet with your President, you'd take a good shower, get a nice haircut and wear a really nice suit. You'd probably also brush your teeth. And that's just to meet a physical President. Now imagine meeting the King of Kings, who is not physical but spiritual. Purity and impurity in the context you're reading is all about one's spiritual state. It's not about physical effects on the body. Therefore if Aharon is going to stand before God he must be absolutely pure or the lack of purity will result in his body being unable to withstand the encounter.<br /><br />> Seems kind of like tefillin with bling. <br /><br />If you're looking at the right pictures, it's not tefillin. They were worn about the tzitz.<br /><br />> actually mean that Aaron always wore this thing on his head?!? <br /><br />No, clearly he didn't. Since it's part of the 8 special garments he wore only when ministering in the Mishkan, like them it was worn only when he was ministering in the Mishkan. Read the text again and you'll see that's was "always" means. It's like if I tell a surgeon "You must always keep your hands clean". I don't care what he does with his hands on a Saturday night. I do care when he's in the OR.<br /><br />> My question is, wouldn't this permanently stain the priestly garments?!? Would they be replaced?!?<br /><br />The Talmud discussed the laundering process these garments went through. Those that could be cleaned were reused. Those that couldn't were replaced. It was never meant to be that only one set would ever be created.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-33149992905497624272010-03-03T09:21:04.962-05:002010-03-03T09:21:04.962-05:00> to what extent the Torah is in fact a narrati...> to what extent the Torah is in fact a narrative tied to its time and place <br /><br />There are two levels at which Terumah and Tetzaveh can be read. One is at the literal level: these are the items and garments of Holy Worship in the Mishkan. The other is to remember that the Mishkan is a microcosm of the universe and the Kohen Gadol and his deputies represent humanity moving within that universe. Thus every item in these two parshiyos have deeper meanings that have timeless relevance.<br /><br />> The discomfort I felt reading about the weath and ostentation involved in the building of the tabernacle <br /><br />As opposed to huge temples with 1000 seats that are only filled two days a year?<br /><br />Also, if you compare the scale and cost of the Mishkan to what was considered standard for most other major religions at the time, ours was actually quite a bargain and very toned down compared to theirs.<br /><br />>This is a curious description, those who are "wise-hearted." <br /><br />Again, you're missing something because you're reading the translation. Wise-hearted is the literal translation of "chochmei lev" but the English equivalent would be "skilled professional". In other words, get the expert weavers, builders, etc.<br /><br />> . Sometimes, it seems, you kind of have to make an educated guess<br /><br />The current accepted understanding is that is was shaped like an apron but worn backwards to the way we wear aprons nowadays.<br /><br />> For example, is the essence of the mitzvah not to eat leavened bread during pesach honored by finding ways to substitute all ingredients <br /><br />This is a very important question. There is the routine and then there is the spirit of the routine. I'll give you another example. Nothing says that I can't set my TV on a timer to come on for the big game on Saturday afternoon. But no one does that? Why? Because it wouldn't feel like Shabbos. So Aharon HaKohen has to symbolically show that his heard, the traditional seat of emotion, is tied to justice - doing the right thing at all times. Emotion cannot be separate on its own or it becomes a destructive force. On the other hand, justice by rote is no longer real justice.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-61475876937698538452010-03-02T16:50:22.674-05:002010-03-02T16:50:22.674-05:00Garnel, I've fallen a bit behind in responding...Garnel, I've fallen a bit behind in responding to comments...but yours are worth taking the time to consider. I'll backtrack over the next few days to take them up...rogueregimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747123415617348742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-35092991132569375672010-02-18T08:32:54.325-05:002010-02-18T08:32:54.325-05:00> I wonder what these things meant to them at t...> I wonder what these things meant to them at the time...<br /><br />The Shechinah, the physical manifestation of the Divine Presence, resided above the ark and rested on them keruvim. In addition, they were symbolic of the love between God and us.<br /><br />> This seems to be riding pretty close to the line for God to speak as if from the cherubim. <br /><br />Keep reading into Vayikra and you will notice that while the Shechinah spoke to Moshe from "above the keruvim", not to keruvim themselves, Moshe himself was always outside in the courtyard of the Mishkan or elsewhere in the camp. The point of having the voice emanate from the Mishkan, the point to having a Mishkan in the first place, is to provide a focal point for the people. God didn't need it, we do because we are physical beings with a need to anchor our perceptions in the physical world.<br /><br />> Seriously, how were they supposed to make something so elaborate in the desert?!?<br /><br />Not all the Bnai Yisrael were field workers in Egypt. They were enslaved in all areas of the country, including the fine metal working. It is quite probably that they had people with the skills to do it. That, and Divine Assistance.<br /><br />> What was the point of being so specific here?<br /><br />Remember what I said earlier. Every single detail of the mishkan and its appurtenances has tremendous symbolism. This is one example where the Torah recounted the physical description and left it to the Oral Law to fill in the details.<br /><br />> Apart from these and other passages in the Torah, is there any independent evidence that the mishkan ever actually existed?<br /><br />No. It was disassembled when Yehoshua took the people into Israel. Certain parts of it remained in use and show up briefly for cameos in the book of Judges but otherwise it disappeared from history. <br /><br />> The tabernacle was a huge thing, with lots of parts, some of which were themselves incredibly large. <br /><br />Actually, it wasn't that big. There's a model of it in a museum in the Old City of Yerushalayim and it's a lot smaller than people think. <br /><br />And yes, it was assembled and disassembled but remember there were lots of Levites whose job that was and who were trained to do it so the process took place efficiently at each stop.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6860099244483925923.post-70066935029104786902010-02-18T08:25:09.465-05:002010-02-18T08:25:09.465-05:00> So what if the men's hearts didn't &#...> So what if the men's hearts didn't 'make them willing' to contribute?<br /><br />That was the point. A mishkan built by forced donations would have gone against the principle of free participation which is what God wanted. Taxes meant forced participation which violates God's demand that we exercise free will.<br /><br />> First, are we to understand that the former Egyptian slaves took all this stuff with them at the time of the Exodus? <br /><br />Yes. Go back and read about the account of their leaving and how they took all the treasures of Egypt with them.<br /><br />As well, you should know that the Hebrew "tachash" was erroneously translated as "seal" by the King James Bible but clearly that's not what they were. The gemara in Shabbos notes that we have no idea what animal it was.<br /><br />> asked to give up the worship of idols would be asked right away to build a religious structure with so much wealth.<br /><br />According to some commentators, this occured after the sin of the Golden Calf. hence the people who have just thrown their gold at building an idol were now asked to do teshuvah by giving their gold to build a mishkan instead.<br /><br />> I wonder what I -- or any Reform Jew -- would make of the mishkan if we could go back in time and bear witness to the rites that took place in it. <br /><br />You probably wouldn't catch 99.9% of the symbolism, to be honest. There are countless books examining the depths of the sympblism involved.<br /><br />First of all, the mishkan wasn't that radical a departure from contemporary worship. The Egyptians used mishkan style structures in worship and it's probably that the mishkan was made to look like that as a point of reference for our ancestors. Rambam points out that God wanted a radical departure in religious worship style but realized the people wouldn't be able to handle it so he arranged for changes to come slowly. Egyptian style structure, but without idols. Sacrifices, but only at a central location. And so on.<br /><br />As for your other comment, what would you think of animal sacrifice? How about slave markets? Leper colonies? That society was completely different and we would not fit into it very well with our 21st century sensitivities. Doesn't mean it was bad, just different.Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com