Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site masscomp.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!trb
From: trb@masscomp.UUCP (Andy Tannenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Kashrut and rel. obsolescence - (nf)
Message-ID: <143@masscomp.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Nov-83 11:44:45 EST
Article-I.D.: masscomp.143
Posted: Wed Nov 30 11:44:45 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Dec-83 23:08:30 EST
References: <4218@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: MASSCOMP, Littleton, MA
Lines: 38


In response to Gil Moskowitz (29 Nov), Joe Ahern states:

	I think there is an obvious correlation between the kosher laws
	and personal health.

and he goes on to give a perfectly reasonable sounding explanation
concerning dietary causes of human ill health.  Makes pretty good
sense, what?  Problem here is that just because a solution makes
pretty good sense, and just because there's an obvious correlation,
doesn't in the least mean that the kosher laws are based on personal
health practices.  Consider:

Take a nice healthy piece of 8x11 paper.  For instance, rip ranlib(1)
out of your UNIX manual, it should be built into ar anyway.  Now
crumple it up in your fist, tight.  Now sit the wad on a table.  Watch
it strain and crinkle to rebound, you'd almost think that it was
alive.  Set it afire.  Watch it writhe and blacken in apparent agony.
Is the clump of paper alive?  There is an apparent correlation.
Scientists have called lesser evidence a "sign of life."

My point here is that the kosher laws are Jewish laws, just the same
way that auto speed limits are municipal (or whatever) laws.  They are
not based on Truth, they are simply there.  They live within their
system.  The system of municipal law says that there is a set process for
changing the speeding laws.  Jewish law says that the Jewish laws are
not based on practical considerations; you follow them because you are
a Jew and because Jews follow the Jewish laws.  This blathering about
practical considerations has no basis in Jewish law and I defy anyone
to show me evidence to the contrary.

Sorry to get so abrupt, but it's a bit tiresome to see people making up
Jewish law.  Note that there are rabbis around who stretch the law for
their own (or their assimilated congregants') purposes, I call it the
"Rabbi Siegal makes it Legal" school of Judaism, and that doesn't
count as evidence.

	Andy Tannenbaum   Masscomp Inc  Westford MA   (617) 692-6200 x274