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B"H
Parshat Lech Lecha, November 9, 2019
This article is dedicated to our veterans.
On Veterans Day, it is our duty to acknowledge and pay tribute to those who bravely fought and fight for our country. As Americans we collectively owe a debt of gratitude to all those who faithfully served in our military regardless if we agree with the motivation of the politicians who made the decision to go to war. Please don’t confuse the two important dates in November. Election Day allows you to state your preference but Veterans Day demands that we ignore those preferences. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Silencing others stems from insecurity. It indicates a fear of allowing for divergent thinking. Freedom of speech is a core value of democracy and stifling that right serves to weaken society and promote ideologies that run counter to our country’s philosophy. Only in the most extreme situation should personal liberties and rights be challenged and never as a means of stymying opposition.
Unbeknownst to many, this dichotomy often wreaks havoc in our religious life, as well. Recently I was shocked when Rabbi Nathan Lopez Cardozo announced he would no longer be able to pay for his office in Jerusalem or send out his weekly internet message. His willingness to expound on topics that most mainstream orthodox rabbis are fearful of discussing caused his name to be besmirched and dried up his funding. This manipulative approach is intended to be a warning shot to all other rabbis to tow the line or risk a similar outcome. Silence may be golden but the silencing of others is unconscionable. If Rabbi Cardozo is wrong, then debate his position and argue against his theories. Instead of disapproval through force and deceit, prove your point through two great Jewish virtues: wisdom and knowledge.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon has taken a foothold in the global Jewish community. There are obviously multiple approaches even within Orthodox Judaism and no single group has dominion over policy or regulatory process. My philosophy is for Judaism to be more attractive to the masses and focus less on restrictive policies. I believe it’s difficult to live as an observant Jew in an alien culture and making it more onerous will push people further away. I think if a leniency can be found within the halachic framework, it behooves us to promote those voices to a wider community. If kashrut and Shabbat observances were more user friendly, more of our children and grandchildren would remain in the fold. Other rabbis may disagree and they have every right to do so, but argue the point and not the person.
The other night (it was actually 3am) I received a phone call from Australia regarding an innovation that could have amazing benefits to the Jewish community had it not been held up due to politics. The issue discussed is complex but nonetheless fascinating. If an animal is slaughtered kosher and has a live fetus inside the womb, then that fetus when grown is kosher and needs no ritual slaughtering. This ruling is referred to as ‘Ben pakua.’ Moreover, if you breed two such animals then the offspring they produce will not require ritual slaughtering as well. Well... a farm has been established that is already producing offspring in sufficient numbers to make it economically viable.
The benefits to the community are exciting:
1. All animals raised on the farm are 100% kosher to the highest standard.
2. The entire animal is deemed kosher, even the hind quarter. Hence, kosher filet mignon is
an option.
3. The animal could be stunned to adhere to the demands of animal rights groups.
4. Kosher slaughter would be deemed humane and be permitted in all countries.
5. The cost of kosher meat would be reduced dramatically as there would be no waste.
If the rabbis decided against using this new innovation based on the complexity of legal issues, I would support their right to do so. They have the prerogative to deny a certificate of kashrut based on their interpretation of kashrut. However, this is not the case. They can’t find flaws in the concept so they undermine the principles involved, deride those who are pursuing this halachic initiative and embarrass anyone choosing to use the meat. They ignore the halachic validity and the issue of animal cruelty and maintain that they and only they have legal jurisdiction over Jewish law. I find any policy that seeks to dismiss contrary views via threats and intimidation as a failed policy.
Is it not time that we followed the biblical ideal: “I will bless those that bless you and those that curse you will be curse”? Perhaps it’s time to start blessing innovations that help other Jews. Perhaps it’s time to start blessing opinions that differ with yours. Perhaps it’s time to realize that dissenting views actually promote growth and brain function. Perhaps it’s time to realize there are already a multitude of people that relish the thought of Jews being cursed, while blessings are in short supply.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Jack
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