Re: New mikveh wars in Israel

Don Levey <Don_SCJM@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
moshes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Quoth Don Levey:

: The thread with the Star Wars quote is an excellent example. For
: people immersed in US popular culture, there is no need to explain.
: There's no need for an oral tradition of any organised form. Is it
: possible that at the time of the Torah people knew what a sukkah was?
: Shechita itself ("in the manner I have told you") may also have "just
: been known" without a formal need to transmit certain facts in a manner
: other than simple culture.

But the volume of _detail_ cannot be compared. Everybody has a
general idea what a "sukah" is. But what is the _minimum_ height?
The _maximum_ height? The _minimum_ area? The _maximum_ area? Exactly
what materials may be used for the walls? For the "roof"? Where may it
be built? And that's not even getting into the rules for the "four
species". And Sukkos has much _fewer_ rules than Pesach. "Simple
culture" will _not_ be able to preserve and transmit all these
details.

Moshe, for this I would refer you to Star Trek fans, who for 40 years
have attempted to eke out every detail of the construction of the
star ship Enterprise and various other show-related accessories. After
400 years, could you imagine the detail, the interlocking rules of
supposition created to explain the physics of the show?

What a waste.

But more to the point, you're talking about a self-selected group
who decided on their own to "investigate" this nonesense. BTW, they
are not alone. Ralph Cramden fans have "figured out" his Social
Security number. And the Baker Street Irregulars are still arguing
about Watson's first name (John or James).

But Oral Law is _incumbent_ on _millions_ of people for all time.
It _mandates_ actions. So not to belittle fandom, it's a different
_league_.

Moshe Schorr
It is a tremendous Mitzvah to always be happy! - Reb Nachman of Breslov
The home and family are the center of Judaism, *not* the synagogue.
Disclaimer: Nothing here necessarily reflects the opinion of Hebrew University
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: New mikveh wars in Israel
    ... people immersed in US popular culture, there is no need to explain. ... been known" without a formal need to transmit certain facts in a manner ... Moshe, for this I would refer you to Star Trek fans, who for 40 years ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: New mikveh wars in Israel
    ... :>: The thread with the Star Wars quote is an excellent example. ... :>: people immersed in US popular culture, there is no need to explain. ... culture" to which you both refer, at least in a Jewish context, is the same ... to ensure accurate transmission as it achieved a life of its own. ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: New mikveh wars in Israel
    ... :>: The thread with the Star Wars quote is an excellent example. ... :>: people immersed in US popular culture, there is no need to explain. ... I think my original point was that the oral law, ... to ensure accurate transmission as it achieved a life of its own. ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: New mikveh wars in Israel
    ... :> Quoth Don Levey: ... :>: The thread with the Star Wars quote is an excellent example. ... :>: people immersed in US popular culture, there is no need to explain. ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: Some maudlin Pesach thoughts
    ... Moshe Schorr wrote: ... I believe it can be passed, as a culture and way of life. ... Some years ago i sat in a bus, and was reading a Non Hebrew book, ... Her face in the Mirror, Jewish Women on Mothers and daughters ed, Faye ...
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