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June 2004
On
Tradition and Practice
by Rabbi Mordekai
Shapiro
I am sure that
by now you have all read or heard in the popular media about
recent developments regarding human hair wigs, bugs in the
water and other sundry matters of Jewish law. While I have
never been one to pick up on such items in the popular media
for discussion, the misconceptions generated by these reports
cries out for some comment and clarification. First and
foremost, let there be no misunderstanding about the fact that
the questions raised regarding these matters are serious
halachic issues. They are matters of Jewish law that do
not belong in the tabloids, on television news or on call-in
talk-radio programs. Their discussion belongs in scholarly
journals that deal in matters of Jewish law. It is a
desecration of our sacred Torah to have these issues
discussed, analyzed and bandied about like any matter of news
or gossip by a public that is clueless about the sources for
these laws and even less respectful of their sanctity. It
makes a mockery of our laws and traditions and feeds an image
of Rabbis and practitioners of Jewish law, who in the words of
a popular talk show host are “medieval, nitpicking boors.”
What a provocation of classic anti-Semitism by a self-hating
Jew! We should know better. It is no secret that Talmudic
discussion and dialectic is often picayune and deals in the
minutiae of the law and to the untrained eye and uninitiated
it may remain nothing more than an exercise in mental
gymnastics. In fact, that is precisely what makes our Torah
the timeless document that it is. It is only because our
great Sages of the Mishnah and Talmud analyzed,
dissected and traced every law, as well as every prevailing
custom and practice of their day to a sacred source, that
gives us the ability to apply those principles to the
contemporary issues of any era. It is the basic concept of
emunat chachamim; trust in our Sages, that links us
through the Masoretic tradition to Sinai. This is what our
massorah, tradition, is all about. Every era in Jewish
history becomes inexorably linked in an unbroken chain through
its observance and practice of Jewish law. Maimonides (Rambam),
in his thirteen principles of faith relates 4 of those
principles to our responsibility to Torah, Prophets and
sages.
#6 I believe
with complete faith that all the words of the Prophets are
true.
#7 I believe with complete faith that the prophecy of Moses
our teacher…was true, and that he was the father of the
prophets—both those who preceded him and those who followed
him.
#8 I believe with complete faith that the entire Torah now in
our hands is the same as the one that was given to Moses, our
teacher….
#9 I believe with complete faith that the Torah will not be
exchanged nor will there be another Torah from the Creator,
Blessed is His Name.
I have often been asked to explain why some Rabbis may allow
this or some Rabbis allow that. More often than not those
questions are raised about those practices which are clearly
contrary to Jewish law. The only possible explanations for
those who may allow unrestricted travel on Shabbos,
unrestricted mingling of the sexes at synagogue or social
events, irresponsible authorization of eating establishments,
or a general disregard for common halachic practice is
the ignorance or simple disregard of the fundamentals of
Jewish law and the Shulchan Arukh (Code of Jewish
Law). The observance and practice of Judaism and Jewish Law
is not a “smorgasbord” that allows one a variety of choices
and the right to pick and choose what is desirable or
convenient. It is not to be viewed as a set of ritual
practices that exists separate and apart from the rest of me
and my life. It is a way of life that we have been committed
to since the Revelation on Mount Sinai and has continued
unabated for 3300 years. It is a tradition that governs every
aspect of our existence from the time we rise in the morning
until we rise the next morning, and everything in between. It
governs my business practices, my interpersonal relationships,
my charity giving, as well as synagogue practices and
services. It is a system that requires faith and trust in
Hashem, in the Torah, and in the Sages and scholars
who explain, expound and decide the law. It is the way of
life that is the “light unto the nations” and the hope for the
future of mankind.
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