Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!philabs!aecom!teitz
From: teitz@aecom.UUCP (Eliyahu Teitz)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: The Mitzvot and Humanistic Judaism - round two
Message-ID: <1226@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Mar-85 14:52:35 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.1226
Posted: Mon Mar 11 14:52:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Mar-85 03:25:10 EST
References: <218@npois.UUCP>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 21


	Just to comment on the humanist problem:  How does a humanist keep
 shaatnez ( the prohibition of wearing wool and linen together, or of 
 grafting trees, or crossbreeding vegetation or animals ) ? Also , what is the
 meaning behind Tzitzit and t'fillin ? There are hundreds of other mitzvot to 
 list but these are a start. Eventually there will be a mitzva without an
 explaination and then the humanist will be up a tree having to decide on 
 observance for observance sake or not following.


> 
> I keep the Mitzvot, as I understand them, because I am a Jew.

	Who says you understand them correctly ? Also, why do you assume that
 we must understand the reasons for all the mitzvot before we do them. As our
 forefathers said when they received the Torah, Naaseh v'nishma, we will do
 and we will listen. Our prinmary concern should be to do, no matter what. 
 Then once we are doing we can try and figure out why exactly we do it. And if
 we cannot find an answer, we do anyway.

				Eliyahu Teitz.