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From: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Message to non-ultraorthodox Jews re: fundraising
Message-ID: <1127@cbdkc1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Aug-85 18:03:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbdkc1.1127
Posted: Fri Aug 30 18:03:55 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 09:15:56 EDT
References: <468@ittvax.ATC.ITT.UUCP> <417@mhuxm.UUCP>
Reply-To: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 42

> :
> :
> a European origin, but a Western European origin.  These movements have
> redefined the laws governing Jews.  The Reform state so outright; the
> Conservative attempt to twist the law to make the religion "more in tune with
> the current times."  It should be noted that these reforms have not gained
> total acceptance by all Conservative Jews.

I believe that over the centuries, Jews have interpreted (not twisted) the
law to meet changes in the world.  I think the major difference between
Orthodox and Conservative Jews today, is in deciding just who, if anyone,
is permitted to carry on the tradition of interpreting the law based on
our changing knowledge of the world.

I'm a Conservative Jew, and I agree that not all Conervative Jews accept
all reponsa.   That's fine since, to my knowledge, all Conservative responsa
(issued by the Committee on Jewish Law of the Rabbinnical Assembly) are
permissive, not mandatory.)

> In Israel, religious law governs segments of daily life. The failure to accept
> Rabbis that do not follow the stated law at the very least further divides
> the Jewish people.  It should be noted that the problem areas are those that
> effect not the people involved, but their offspring.  Thus, Israel has chosen
> the Law of Torah as the religious law for Jews.  (It should be noted that
> :

I think the State of Israel has not chosen the Law of the Torah.  I think
they have chosen to follow the politics of a democratic society, but have
passed many laws that resemble what the Chief Orthodox Rabbis of Israel
(and many others) state is Jewish Law.   So, the Law of Return, or laws
stating El Al cannot fly on Shabbat, are political accommodations
to religious factions.  I see little difference between those laws,
and many U.S. laws governing morals, blue laws, abortion laws, etc.

But, getting back to whether the Chief Rabbis follow Torah Law, or
whether they follow the Torah as interpreted and reinterpreted over the
centuries, (I've heard that referred to as rabbinncal law)  they
follow rabbinical law, not the Law of the Torah.   Look at the bitter
arguments between the Ethiopian Jews who do follow the Law of the Torah,
and the Rabbis, who follow rabbinical law.
-- 
Art Kamlet  AT&T Bell Laboratories  Columbus {ihnp4 | cbosgd}!cbrma!ask