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From: samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Halacha as Misnomer?
Message-ID: <511@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 20:06:04 EST
Article-I.D.: sfmag.511
Posted: Thu Feb 28 20:06:04 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Mar-85 21:25:30 EST
References: <16@unc.UUCP> <3780010@csd2.UUCP> <874@cbdkc1.UUCP>, <502@sfmag.UUCP> <273@lcuxc.UUCP> <306@lcuxc.UUCP>
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> References: <16@unc.UUCP> <3780010@csd2.UUCP> <874@cbdkc1.UUCP>, <502@sfmag.UUCP> <273@lcuxc.UUCP>

>>> Would you perhaps like to inform some of us well-intentioned
>>> people of the "extent of the misnomer," i.e., Conservatism using
>>> the term "halacha"?  Try if possible to avoid the comments about
>>> driving to shul on Saturday; counting women in a minyan; and the
>>> RA's admission of women rabbis to membership.  I for one would
>>> like to hear some new variations.  I'd like to know a bit more
>>> about how I imperil my share of the Olam Haba by davening on
>>> Shabbos in a Conservative shul (not temple). (Ken Wolman)

>> The misnomer is roughly similar to calling your remarks
>> "well-intentioned".(Y. Samet)

>That's not an answer.  (Ken Wolman)

Ken-

You sound sincere.

Your question was permeated with a tone of mockery.   The  Talmud
classifies  what's  called "ha shoel al mnas lekanter"  - one who
asks to scorn rather than to understand. It's a waste of time  to
engage in discussion  someone whose sole intention is to mock.

My original statement was:

>To someone who has  invested  years  in   yeshiva,  studying  the
>Talmud,   etc.    the  exploitation  of  the  term  "halacha"  by
>conservativism is a colossal deception. It's like equating "witch
>doctors"  with medical doctors.
>
>Many sincere people, like the writer of the above article,  would
>be shocked to discover the extent of the misnomer.

A thorough discussion of this subject requires and deserves  much
time, which I didn't have.  My alternative was to briefly share a
personal reaction  with other Jews.  Did you expect an  extensive
explanation in response to your mocking?

My concise answer to you hinted at the essence of the issue:

Just as sincerity and mock sincerity are similar on the  surface,
but   true   opposites  in  essence,  so  too  with  Halacha  and
conservative mock-halacha.  One is a vast encyclopedic, normative
discipline  rooted  in  Divine  revelation  as a fundamental, the
other a cheap expedient revolving  around  M*N  and  his  desires
(god-in-search-of-M*N-ism).

Perhaps I'll expand on this  when time allows doing   justice  to
the subject.
                                        Yitzchok Samet