tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post7729749128739300633..comments2023-10-17T05:01:42.650-04:00Comments on Abandoning Eden: Listen, do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell?Abandoning Edenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12696116071749613265noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-20347642665124847682008-08-24T08:53:00.000-04:002008-08-24T08:53:00.000-04:00I don't see this secrecy in our family really. We'...I don't see this secrecy in our family really. We're "Yekkes" (German Jews). I don't know if that makes a difference.mOOmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440274434662150925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-28928483532747003822008-08-10T11:20:00.000-04:002008-08-10T11:20:00.000-04:00Ang, the internet validates that young earth creat...Ang, the internet validates that young earth creationism makes no sense, for example. <BR/>That is my point. <BR/>I didn't say that the internet is the only cause, but a big reason as anyone asking pertinent questions on the internet will get a plethora of information which more times than not, shows that most basic religious foundations have no actual empirical proof to back them up.Baconeaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11134934827966299989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-21831866778674894862008-08-06T10:49:00.000-04:002008-08-06T10:49:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nomadically Teachinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08069753417703630801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-27997567823308629152008-08-06T08:05:00.000-04:002008-08-06T08:05:00.000-04:00This is the information age, and young leaving rel...This is the information age, and young leaving religion, not just Judaism but every religion. <BR/>The internet is a big cause for this.<BR/>As far as Judaism goes, something that goes on in every Jewish home (even the most secular home) is Jewish guilt. This is what makes saying "you don't buy into God" such a big secret.<BR/><BR/>As far as cognitive dissonance goes. Any Jew who watches <A HREF="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=bibile%20unearthed&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_en___CA215&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv#" REL="nofollow">The Bible Unearthed videos</A> and then still needs to believe the Exodus actually happened, is suffering from it.Baconeaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11134934827966299989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-47422149863883458562008-08-05T14:22:00.000-04:002008-08-05T14:22:00.000-04:00Thanks Anonymous, I'll look into those sources :)Thanks Anonymous, <BR/><BR/>I'll look into those sources :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-22755098635546992342008-08-04T19:38:00.000-04:002008-08-04T19:38:00.000-04:00regarding the permissibility of touching muktza ob...regarding the permissibility of touching muktza objects- <BR/>Sefardim-see Rabbi Josef Karo Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Hilchot Shabbat Siman 308 Siif 42<BR/>Ashkenazim-see Rabbi Moshe Isserles<BR/>Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Hilchot Shabbat Siman 308 Siif 3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-88517588177066561222008-08-04T18:28:00.000-04:002008-08-04T18:28:00.000-04:00>The Torah is not the Constitution.Of course it...>The Torah is not the Constitution.<BR/><BR/>Of course its not THE Constitution. But it works with the premise that the written word is the beginning of interpretation by a ruling body of authority. Only now the second amendment was really interpreted but it could have easily gone the other way. <BR/><BR/>>but when orthodox jews decided to write down the talmud and go into diaspora with no ruling body to continue dishing out new rulings, you have a religious law system that has no power and cannot ammend itself anymore to anything more than loopholes.<BR/><BR/>I agree that the Talmud is indeed problematic, but you do have communities enacting Tikkunim, like the one I mentioned in Tunisia. That is not a loophole.Holy Hyraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704030181702087485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-30806146036648721652008-08-04T16:57:00.000-04:002008-08-04T16:57:00.000-04:00Anonymous, 1) Seeing as I don't know your backgrou...Anonymous, <BR/><BR/>1) Seeing as I don't know your background, and would like to use this info in the future, please provide a source for this claim. <BR/><BR/>2) Sometimes I forget that Judaism is not only a religion but also, as you have implied, a "legal system". That means no seperation of Church and State. That means Justice is not really our top priority since Jews are required to abbide by both Chok and Mishpat (laws with logical and illogical reasons). Y<BR/><BR/>ou guys keep comparing the torah to the Constitution or some other law document, but come on people; The Torah is not the Constitution. The constitution is about rights and freedoms. The torah is so open ended with stories we can't prove actually happened, laws that we can't even translate without tradition (Tefilin), and an entire learning system just to analyze what's really going on behind the scenes (Kabbalah). <BR/><BR/>I agree with your claim that flexibility is needed in any law system, but the Torah is far more than a law system. flexibility in interpretation sounds like a great idea, but when orthodox jews decided to write down the talmud and go into diaspora with no ruling body to continue dishing out new rulings, you have a religious law system that has no power and cannot ammend itself anymore to anything more than loopholes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-17707320396961426102008-08-04T15:43:00.000-04:002008-08-04T15:43:00.000-04:00Just two corrections if I may1) Despite common mis...Just two corrections if I may<BR/>1) Despite common misconception one is permitted to touch muktza items. Some muktza items are prohibited from being moved on shabbat depending on what category of muktza they are and why they are being moved. But touching is always permitted.<BR/>2) The loopholes are not outsmarting G-d. They were intentionally built into the system in order to allow flexibility. Any legal system that has any lasting power must be a combination of flexibility and inflexibility. If it is too flexible it wont last and if it is too firm it wont either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-9927560250687517402008-08-04T11:56:00.000-04:002008-08-04T11:56:00.000-04:00Dys, The lamp is a loophole based on a Geder (fenc...Dys, <BR/><BR/>The lamp is a loophole based on a Geder (fence) around coming in contact with electric devices. <BR/><BR/>Please correct me if I am wrong, but this is how I was taught: <BR/><BR/>Because there is a lav (prohibition) of using electrical devices (I'm not sure if the melacha is "Boneh" for building a circuit or "lo tivaru aish" with the sparks and electrical current), the talmud places a "geder" around the lav by saying orthodox jews can't even come in contact with electrical devices because they might come to actually turn them on. <BR/><BR/>This means that since one is prohibited biblcially from turning on or off a light swirch or turning on a car, they are prohibited talmudically from touching a lightswitch or touching a car. (it is not mechalel shabbat, but it is muktzeh, i think). <BR/><BR/>The way Orthodox Jews get around both prohibitions is by making "shobbas lamp". This lamp is A. always on, so you don't have to break or create cirtuite and B. is made of of 2 seperate pieces. The base has all the electrical parts and the bulb. The top part swivels between a closed wall and a part with a window that lets light in. If you spin the top part around, you can go from dark to light, without ever touching the electrical part of the lamp. <BR/><BR/>To the outside world, this is hilarious. But it is a valid loophole that keeps modern orthodox jews safe from touching something muktzeh (bear in mind ultra orthodox jews will not even use this)<BR/><BR/>as for the non-electrical system in Shaarei tzedek, One of the head rabbis in charge of coming up with ways of circumventing mechalel shabbat spoke at my yeshiva. We actually went on a tour of the facility. For instance, all the light sources in the room are "grama" lamps. meaning, when you turn on a switch, there is a time delay between the you flicking the switch and the ciruit being created. Because of the time delay, there is a loophole that apparently is less of a lav than just simply turning on an "immediate" light switch. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Don't even get me started on "Shinui" (doing it a different way). Many orthodox jews rip toilet paper and paper towels(Prohibition: ripping) with their pinkies or their toes, write with a pen with their non-dominant hand (prohibition: writing two or more letters), clap their hands in a different way, either with the back of the their hand or banging on the table with 1 hand (makah vepatish - banging a hammer). <BR/><BR/>You have to understand, It sounds nice that The rabbis (who invented the "shabbat lamp" anyway??) make all these new loopholes and ways around the laws of breaking shobbas, but let's be serious: Is this what shabbat is all about? coming up with ways to turn on a light withough actually turning on a light, but oh look, the light is on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-21642519374777166092008-08-01T10:08:00.000-04:002008-08-01T10:08:00.000-04:00And the loopholes for sick patients? I think that'...And the loopholes for sick patients? I think that's admirable that we have a halachic system that is flexible enough to adapt to the needs of religious people who are ill. If anything, I think that example is something to admire, not condemn!David Staumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092344925121412070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-22708344122694310252008-08-01T10:07:00.000-04:002008-08-01T10:07:00.000-04:00Joodah,Please explain to me how a shabbat lamp is ...Joodah,<BR/><BR/>Please explain to me how a shabbat lamp is a loophole? It's been a pleasure to be able to read in bed on Friday nights ever since I got one.David Staumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092344925121412070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-38286596794202950012008-07-31T21:34:00.000-04:002008-07-31T21:34:00.000-04:0051 comments on this post! Now, I'm leaving commen...51 comments on this post! Now, I'm leaving comment #52! Your blog has it's own blog! Your blog posts get discussed and debated on other people's blogs! You 'da man, Eden! You 'da blog queen! I'd make your blog a link on mine, but I already get lots of readers who follow the comments I leave here to my blog, and quite frankly, I'm afraid of some of the people who leave comments here!My Other Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03259985544840529549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-12009611160486706262008-07-31T17:48:00.000-04:002008-07-31T17:48:00.000-04:00>In my experience orthodoxy is not as modern as...>In my experience orthodoxy is not as modern as you claim it is. As time goes on it moves farther and farther to the right. Compare modern orthodoxy today to modern orthodoxy of 30 years ago. Teaneck, Far Rockaway, Brooklyn, (Can you tell I’m from the east coast?) have all turned black hat and beyond. if you walk around Monsey or New square with a girl or (chas veshalom) holding a girls hand, you get yelled at or even pushed around. If you go to Meah Shearim with shorts, you get spat on (this happened to a friend of mine). <BR/><BR/>I don't think I am claiming orthodoxy to be a pillar of modernity only that it is not a jihadist cult like you make it out to be, OR how it WILL be. I am merely showing you precedence within our 2000+ legal history that shows judaism (not orthodoxy) isn't a static system. I agree with you that it is going to the right. But if its going to the right, it means it can also go to the left. Orthodoxy is not a tangible object, and if it has been hijacked by those that wish to add more chumrahs, than its up to the rest of us to teach the next generation to fight back.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that there are communities that look down upon holding hands (actually most) but that go out of their way to yell or judge...but there are other communities that don't (yell at least). Orthodoxy is not a monolith. Oh, and Meah Shearim is not an example for anything.<BR/><BR/>>My point is you paint Orthodox Judaism as this open-minded, tolerant system that will turn the other cheek to It's law system if enough people are doing the wrong thing IE. Too much kefirah, or the mamzerim issue you brought up, but is "you simply not asking someone if they're a mamzer", is covering your eyes when you commit the sin a solution? It kinda sounds like a huge loophole, which in my experience is how Orthodoxy deals with modern-day halachic dilemmas. IE. DNR’s, for terminal patients, The shobbas lamp, Shaarei Tzedek’s entire alarm system for sick people, (I’m sure I can think of more, but that will have to do for now. <BR/><BR/>You can call it a loophole if you wish. I think its just a natural phenomenon with how chazal viewed the role of the <I>written</I> law. Each generation needs to look at the law and see how to apply it to them. If there is a national emergency, the law has to be a big lax for the better good of the collective people.<BR/><BR/>I think within orthodoxy, you will find a lot of close minded people, but there is also lots of open minded as well. Look at the new Yeshiva Chovevei TOrah yeshiva for example. If you are looking for western style tolerance, than you won't find it. It's just two different value systems.<BR/><BR/>>So Pinchas basically saved everyone’s lives by killing a Jewish dude making whoopee with a non-Jewish Dudett. <BR/><BR/>To true, but clearly that is a story set in a time that God is an obvious occurrence in their lives and they are warned exceedingly. Also, the story is basically telling the reader that BECAUSE of the immorality, the Israelites were being killed, so one man stood up to end it all. As much as we see that zeolotry immoral, that is only because we are looking at it from the prism of 21st century morality. I don't expect any Jewish court to rule that that behaivor is correct, unless of course, its some national emergency.<BR/><BR/>>But I have also learned that since corporal punishment no longer exists, many Jews believe that this will only increase your punishment in the afterlife. <BR/><BR/>blah blah<BR/><BR/>>Karet(sp?) is a bitch. I've heard different variations of what karet even is, from not taking part in the mass reincarnation (this is a maimonidean idea, right?) to boiling in a pit of your own excretion of semen. <BR/><BR/>blah blah. The fact that there is different opinions means nobody knows. I leave that to God. Karet is not a legal term for the courts. Its something between God and man.<BR/><BR/>>If you eat bread on Passover, if you eat on Yom kippur, if you marry a non-Jew, if you publicly desecrate the Shabbat. If you were witnessed committing adultery; with these laws there is no room for maneuverabity.<BR/><BR/>Well no. There is some room for maneuverablitity. Chazal created those maneuvers. Its not just being witnessed, but being witnessed by kosher witnesses, and you HAD to be warn ahead of time and so forth. Chazal basically made it impossible to be put to death for these sorts of private violations.<BR/><BR/>The point in all this, is that Judaism requires a court. There is no central court hence things are very stuck. I'm sorry if that is an old slogan, but it is very true. I doubt that people will be strangled or stoned for their violations.Holy Hyraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704030181702087485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-14963855103833721982008-07-31T16:02:00.000-04:002008-07-31T16:02:00.000-04:00H.H, In my experience orthodoxy is not as modern a...H.H, <BR/><BR/>In my experience orthodoxy is not as modern as you claim it is. As time goes on it moves farther and farther to the right. Compare modern orthodoxy today to modern orthodoxy of 30 years ago. Teaneck, Far Rockaway, Brooklyn, (Can you tell I’m from the east coast?) have all turned black hat and beyond. if you walk around Monsey or New square with a girl or (chas veshalom) holding a girls hand, you get yelled at or even pushed around. If you go to Meah Shearim with shorts, you get spat on (this happened to a friend of mine). <BR/><BR/>My point is you paint Orthodox Judaism as this open-minded, tolerant system that will turn the other cheek to It's law system if enough people are doing the wrong thing IE. Too much kefirah, or the mamzerim issue you brought up, but is "you simply not asking someone if they're a mamzer", is covering your eyes when you commit the sin a solution? It kinda sounds like a huge loophole, which in my experience is how Orthodoxy deals with modern-day halachic dilemmas. IE. DNR’s, for terminal patients, The shobbas lamp, Shaarei Tzedek’s entire alarm system for sick people, (I’m sure I can think of more, but that will have to do for now. <BR/><BR/>I can't really comment on “din melech” because I don't know enough about it. I'll do some research and get back to you. <BR/><BR/>In response to a large population doing something wrong to the point where we simply accept it: Not too long ago we read about the story of Pinchas. a Jewish prince and a Moabite princess copulate in the midst of a mass inter-copulation between moav and the Jews (on recommendation of Balak, I believe), a zealous man murders them and displays their remains (I'm pretty sure that's how it goes, mark me if I’m wrong) and G-d says that Pinchas was right and should be commended. It's directly from his actions that the "mishchat", essentially a fiery pillar of death and destruction killing everyone regardless of culpability, finally dissipated. So Pinchas basically saved everyone’s lives by killing a Jewish dude making whoopee with a non-Jewish Dudett. <BR/><BR/>I will agree with you that authority is given to the courts on certain issues, just as authority is given to different communities on how long to wait between eating meat and milk, or the situations you mentioned. But I have also learned that since corporal punishment no longer exists, many Jews believe that this will only increase your punishment in the afterlife. <BR/><BR/>Karet(sp?) is a bitch. I've heard different variations of what karet even is, from not taking part in the mass reincarnation (this is a maimonidean idea, right?) to boiling in a pit of your own excretion of semen. <BR/><BR/>If you eat bread on Passover, if you eat on Yom kippur, if you marry a non-Jew, if you publicly desecrate the Shabbat. If you were witnessed committing adultery; with these laws there is no room for maneuverabity. I am fairly certain that since the laws and punishments are directly commanded in the Torah, you're screwed. <BR/><BR/>And again i reiterate, if someone does these things, why would they ever want to be orthodox? Unless of course, they're suicidal, or like being judged/hated/excommunicated/spat on/attacked by their peers and loved ones, which regardless of law will probably happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-404450118554385412008-07-31T13:09:00.000-04:002008-07-31T13:09:00.000-04:00HH,Well put!HH,<BR/><BR/>Well put!David Staumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092344925121412070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-65150127840474180282008-07-31T12:48:00.000-04:002008-07-31T12:48:00.000-04:00JoodahI have to disagree with you. There IS in fac...Joodah<BR/><BR/>I have to disagree with you. There IS in fact an evolution in the halachic process. Obviously, many, if not most things need to have some sort of foundation to them, but no more than a law needs one in the Constitution. And yes like you can ammend the Constitution, we see many incredible changes that have taken place with halacha. For example, the sephardic community in Tunisia (IIRC) created a Tikkun that allowed women, regardless if they have male siblings to inherit property. This was something brand new that was deemed necessary for that community.<BR/><BR/>You even see things listed in the Talmud. If I recall, there was the case of there being too many mamzerim intermixed with the general population. This, halachically, would create a big problem. So how did the court pasken? That in their situation, you simply did not ask if someone was a mamzer and people should continue to get married.<BR/><BR/>You also have halachic principles such as din melech, that a king or ruler can go being the letter of the law for what he deems necassary.<BR/><BR/>You are created such a narrow portrait of what the future might hypothetically hold. We even see in the Talmud that death penalties were thrown out the windows due to their being too much "kfira" going around. By your definition, chazal should have simply executed everyone, right? I mean, it DOES say that in the Torah. <BR/><BR/>The fact is, authority is given to the courts to interpret the law, just like the Constitution gives the supreme court the authority to interpret the law. It is a silly thing to think that all of a sudden, if new sanhedrin were to convene, that they would just agree to one huge fatwa against the majority of the Jewish peopleHoly Hyraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704030181702087485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-73574587997119839932008-07-31T10:15:00.000-04:002008-07-31T10:15:00.000-04:00Joodah,You are entitled to claim that Orthodoxy as...Joodah,<BR/><BR/><I>You are entitled to claim that Orthodoxy as an evolving, living religion</I><BR/><BR/>Note that I never mentioned "Orthodoxy" in my comment. I am not defending established Orthodoxy today, I was just explaing how I live a halachic lifestyle and have some basic beliefs without cognitive dissonance with my western self. However the philisophical compromises I've made with religion as a thinking rational being would probably qualify me as a heretic by traditional Orthodox standards.David Staumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092344925121412070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-47192846554570794372008-07-31T07:49:00.000-04:002008-07-31T07:49:00.000-04:00joodah- i love that you're commenting here! Serio...joodah- i love that you're commenting here! Seriously, we need to hang out soon.<BR/><BR/>congrats- thanks! Although I don't think jewish atheist is being a pussy, I think he is just closer with his parents than I am, and cares about what they think, while I am way past that point. If I had ended up with someone jewish I probably would be in the same situation as him<BR/><BR/>last anon- What is your point exactly? I don't care if his ancestors were nazis and arabs who all killed a bunch of jews...that has nothing to do with who he is.Abandoning Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12696116071749613265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-50616146263930138192008-07-31T02:29:00.000-04:002008-07-31T02:29:00.000-04:00Sicilian>Many Sicilians are actually more Arab ...Sicilian><BR/><BR/>Many Sicilians are actually more Arab than Italian from what I understand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-74745067805038734322008-07-31T00:40:00.000-04:002008-07-31T00:40:00.000-04:00AE:This is a little off topic, but I just want to ...AE:<BR/><BR/>This is a little off topic, but I just want to commend you for how you've handled your wedding. I admire that you're having a wedding that is, most importantly, not religious and true to who you are in other contexts. On top of that, you're at least slightly accommodating your parents' wishes.<BR/><BR/>It's refreshing to see ethnically Jewish, but not religiously Jewish, atheists be forthright in their disbelief and not be pussies like "Jewish Atheist".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-37116600537805915852008-07-30T22:54:00.000-04:002008-07-30T22:54:00.000-04:00Sorry for all the misspells. I just came out of a ...Sorry for all the misspells. I just came out of a 5 mile run and was typing like a bandit. I think you can get the jist of what I'm saying though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-61321690788656905292008-07-30T19:47:00.000-04:002008-07-30T19:47:00.000-04:00Dys (July 30, 2008 11:10 AM), Halacha does not evo...Dys (July 30, 2008 11:10 AM), <BR/><BR/>Halacha does not evolve. Evolution involves change. Orthodoxy merely takes the laws that are already in place and applies them to new situations. But because there is no sanhedrin and Orthodoxy considers talmudic hallacha on par with biblical law in terms of it's divine influence (provided it doesn't contracdict anything de'oraisa), we cannot make any applicable changes to it. Perfect example being the Agunah issue, which is a huge blemish on the Orthodox outlook on women and society. <BR/><BR/>If we had a sanhedrin, what would we have to do with people who publically desacrated the sabbath? people who intermarried, people who commit adultery? We'd most likely have to execute them? what would we have to do if we found out who Amalek is? murder their men, women, children, burn their posessions, etc (for those who claim they never existed, WHO CARES? the fact that the Torah commands us to murder anyone is significant, even if it's a possibly imaginary people).<BR/><BR/>Let's not forget any male homosexuals who act on their desires (IE. fuck)<BR/><BR/>public stoning. strangulation. impalement, hot lava down the throat. have we forgotten what we are commanded to do to those who sin? <BR/><BR/>Orthodox jews pray to be reunited in jerusalem, to rebuild the holy temple. to unite under one leadership. But if this happens, the 75% of Jews (that's a made up number, i bet it's more) will have to answer for their "crimes". Can you blame anyone who does something worthy of execution according to orthodox law from not being orthodox? or not being jewish? who wants to die for the sake of happiness?<BR/><BR/>You are entitled to claim that Orthodoxy as an evolving, living religion, but i say it is Jewish fundamentalism that is one step shy of radical. the only reson why it's not considered as insane as islam is because Muslims unite and hate as one, and Jews are stuck in the diaspora, in mind and body.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-62042002050400227132008-07-30T11:10:00.000-04:002008-07-30T11:10:00.000-04:00I choose to believe in God and in a divine revelat...I choose to believe in God and in a divine revelation. The way I live without cognitive dissonance is that I acknowlege that most of the details of the Jewish religion were created by humans in an evolutionary process over time. Those humans were trying to make sense of a tradition that was based on a divine revelation. So why do I keep halacha? Because I choose to respect and honor the ancient traditions of my ancestors. The fact that it evolved makes me respect it more, not less. I keep mitzvot not because I think a bolt of lightning will strike me down, but because I want to.<BR/><BR/>Is there proof for God? Of course not. Is there any evidence of a divine revelation? No. But there's no evidence against them either, as long as I don't insist on a literal understanding and am willing to incorporate the evidence of current scholarship into my beliefs.<BR/><BR/>(AE, you know I'm not trying to convert you back - I think you should live your life in whatever way makes you happy - I'm just responding to some of the other comments here.)David Staumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04092344925121412070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8552682727548828725.post-42037387926685321222008-07-30T09:38:00.000-04:002008-07-30T09:38:00.000-04:00I converted him while he was taking a nap once. He...I converted him while he was taking a nap once. He's Jewish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com