[HANASHIR:3561] Re: This List

[BEBWH <BEBWH...>]

In a message dated 7/22/99 6:48:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
siegeljd (at) earthlink(dot)net writes:
 
 I would not presume to tell someone else what they should or shouldn't
 do.... unless they ask.  Even then, I probably would hedge and give
 information rather than commands.

Dear Joel,
That's what Reform Judaism has taught you. There is no right way and nothing 
in Judaism is definite for you. Therefore you're left with no right answer. I 
can't imagine a Judaism that doesn;t ask or require something from me. We 
have to understand we can't give commands because we are not the "Commander." 
We have evolved to a point of forgetting that?  Reform Judaism allowed us to 
feel OK about negating the Commander. If I view the Torah as a history book 
then I'm free to do and observe only the things I like, when I like and how I 
like.  I'm pretty hungry right now. Know why? Check the Hebrew calender. 
Would I rather be doing other things today? Swimming, playing my guitar, 
watching a movie? You bettcha. But the Torah says we can't. Let's not hedge. 
Let;s not pretend there's no Torah and let's certainly not be so arrogant to 
think we can take G-d out of the picture.  
 
 But I think we also recognize that for any religious/spiritual tradition
 to make sense it must set some boundaries, limits beyond which one would
 not go and still say that one was within that tradition.
 The  Economy...

 The trick about Reform is, we are in a process of negotiating where
 those boundaries are, 
How do you set the limits? Who decides? More people with  Reform upbringing 
who also have no connection with tradition?

and although the more "halakhic" movements are
 doing so as well (even Orthodox halakha evolves, although much more
 slowly),
Not true.. .Halacha does not change. Every circumstance is evaluated and an 
answer is given ACCORDING TO HALACHA. Orthodox rabbis don't give permission 
to everyone to drive on Shabbos. When an Orthodox women takes a cab or drives 
a car to the hospital on Shabbos to have a baby that's w/in the Halacha. 

 our "rules" are different.  
What are the Reform rules again. If it;s a secret you can send them to me 
privately. 

 I think it's valuable for the Reform movement to look at what the
 "tradition" has said.  "Halakhically," it is prohibited to kindle fire
 on Shabbat.  Reform (IMHO) should take that seriously and not jettison
 it out of hand because it's not "modern."  Early Reform (again IMHO) did
 far too much of the latter.  But of course neither should Reform take
 the position that it's forbidden, period, end of story.
So what are you saying Reform shoud do? I'm confused. Do Orthodox people 
spend Shabbat in the dark? Do they ever get a hot meal?  How could anyone 
survive like that? Most Reform Jews I know won;t  want to sit in the dark.
 
 So if someone asks what the halakha says, I'll answer if I know (or have
 a decent guess).  If someone asks "is this OK" I'll probably give
 several answers, one grounded in halakha (if I happen to know it) and
 others grounded in other considerations (whatever might be
 appropriate).  This happened to me last week when a friend was deciding
 whether, and *how*, to be in the redwoods with a bunch of environmental
 activists over the Yamim Noraim.
Can we have more details on where and when they will be meeting. I'll bet 
there will be alot of Jews in that bunch. I know some "halachic" people that 
might want to crash that convention.

 B'qitzur, I would like the room to be available on this list to talk
 about what the halakha says about something, but I don't expect too many
 people here to (pardon the expression) take it as gospel :-)
B'kitzer, ask questions and someone will probably give you an answer. Don't 
assume people won't listen. Neshama's are listening.  

 btw, I recognize that not everybody on this list identifies as "Reform,"
Really. I wish I had known sooner.When did that occur? 

 but I also recognize that Hava Nashira is rooted in the Reform movement,
 and I think this list ought to reflect that (somehow!).
I think your letter proves it does.

Joel, May we merit to see the  coming of Moshiach Now. And you and I, and 
EVERY Jew, boy and girl, man and woman (these are the distinctions between 
Jews, not Reform/Conservative/Orthodox etc.) should merit to break the fast 
today in the Third Bais Hamikdash in Yirushalayim. NOW!!!! 
                                        ....a faithful and hungry reader.  
  
 
 
 
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