רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר אין עושין נפשות לצדיקים דבריהם הן הן זכרונן
ירושלמי שקלים פ"ב ה"ה
Thursday, April 29, 2010
The more things change...
The following exchange is from the Robert Weltsch archives at LBI. I've always admired Lord Jakobovits, in part because of his ability to respect someone despite "differences in outlook and upbringing".
Quite intresante indeed, Weltschler's observation that a lot of the emphasis on halcahic minutia is tied to commercial interests. When one looks at the booming "bug checking" racket, with all its associated produce and paraphanelia, and of course, the entire kosher supervision industry, one is hard pressed to disagree. [These example, of course, can easily be multiplied.]
Perhaps instead of focusing on our IRA account we should work to ensure that streets are safe from murderers and rapists. But why the false choice? Can't we have both-complete fidelity to Halachah and spiritual growth? It is always the argument of people who don't care for Halachah that we should instead be focused on molesting children, youth at risk, kirruv movement, lowering taxes, or other popular issue.
As long as there is a perception that keeping halacha plays no role in ensuring and promoting morality, much less spiritual growth, critics will not see a point in focusing on both. Why don't we also focus on alchemy? is how it is seen.
As yous say, but it is fascinating how much of what Weltsch wrote (on Israel, on Religion) could be placed in the editorial of any contemporary newspaper. So little changed in 60 years.
Quite intresante indeed, Weltschler's observation that a lot of the emphasis on halcahic minutia is tied to commercial interests. When one looks at the booming "bug checking" racket, with all its associated produce and paraphanelia, and of course, the entire kosher supervision industry, one is hard pressed to disagree. [These example, of course, can easily be multiplied.]
ReplyDeleteDF
Perhaps instead of focusing on our IRA account we should work to ensure that streets are safe from murderers and rapists. But why the false choice? Can't we have both-complete fidelity to Halachah and spiritual growth? It is always the argument of people who don't care for Halachah that we should instead be focused on molesting children, youth at risk, kirruv movement, lowering taxes, or other popular issue.
ReplyDeleteAs long as there is a perception that keeping halacha plays no role in ensuring and promoting morality, much less spiritual growth, critics will not see a point in focusing on both. Why don't we also focus on alchemy? is how it is seen.
ReplyDeleteAs yous say, but it is fascinating how much of what Weltsch wrote (on Israel, on Religion) could be placed in the editorial of any contemporary newspaper. So little changed in 60 years.
ReplyDelete