[HANASHIR:9129] Re: HANASHIR digest 1235

[ItaSara <ItaSara...>]

In a message dated 5/19/01 2:59:41 AM, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org writes:

<< > Just because a practice is widespread doesn't mean it's OK. Lot's of 
people
> still smoke cigarettes.
> 
> My two cents. >>

my two cents is that Music (even with instruments)  is good for the soul and 
thus good for one’s health. Smoking is bad for the health and thus interferes 
with Judaism’s zest for life. (I’m not sure the two comparisons make such a 
good analogy.) .  If cigarettes were around during the beginning of the 
rabinical age, perhaps some halacha would have been established for that. I’d 
rather play an instrument on shabbat if it inspires joy and not smoke a 
cigarette. The problem with halacha is in the interpretation.When the psalms 
were written, instruments obviously had some meaning. But when the temple was 
destroyed that meaning was changed. To me Living Judaism means using 
tradition to enhance but not inhibit one’s worship. It is hard for me to 
believe that halacha was meant to be written in stone. That is why there is 
constant discussion and study. If Judaism did not change with time then we 
would all be stuck in archaic thinking, which I think is counterproductive to 
the nature of the human mind.
E. Lerner

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+