Ben Niddah
As some of you may be aware, I penned a popular essay discussing the issue of Ben Niddah, which was picked up by others. It appears Rabbi Shafran’s recent essay in the Jerusalem Post was a rebuttal of sorts, something others have detected as well.
I feel his defense is flawed, and have posted an essay on Jewschool explaining why.
9 comments
Well, there is a slight upside to the whole ben Niddah thing. If the cheredi refuse to marry people from outside their own much coveted pedigrees, eventually all of the children will be so inbred that they’ll be mentally and physically defective drooling idiots who can’t reproduce.
much like DK!!!
Great points.
Orthodox judaism is a fun mix of snobbery/innate insecurities/rampant elitism/pious stringencies/distinct distraction tactics now available with new and improved techniques and plenty of those versatile pretend “welcome home” mats . Perfect for sweeping the controversial stuff right under and in the process “welcoming” with open arms/loud comfort foods and smooth jazz arguing, all in the name of distraction.
I think part of the problem with orthodox judaism is they’ve never really mastered the art of the all encompassing group hug. Once they’ve mastered that, they can move on to more important things like it might a brighter idea to master the art of sexual discipline before donning the pious sentiments and related garb.
And then maybe some hardcore neuroscience meets judaism lectures to replace some of those trite and stale program your belief with the new and improved bible codes and or what should be bugging you about bugs and berries lectures.
DK, why are you criticising Rabbi Shafran? He is sending a message to the Charedi community for acting foolish. His message would be far more effective than any message you would send to that community. He is in a way helping your cause and you shoo him away in public. Se pasnished.
“He is sending a message to the Charedi community for acting foolish. ”
In the Jerusalem Post? I think not. It isn’t exactly the Yated or Hamodia is it?
“His message would be far more effective than any message you would send to that community.”
True, but my message is not to the charedi community. It is to the secular and liberal Jewish community. And that message is, “Know this about the charedi community.”
The issue is a non-issue. Both R. Moshe Feinstein and the Steipler paskined that it does not apply in our day and, in fact, if there are justifications of not marrying BT’s, they center on pragmatic considerations, such as incompatibility of backgrounds, in-laws problems etc.
Yes, but what was paskined and the decisions people make regarding their families can be very different. It doesn’t eliminate prejudice.
your right people should only marry who YOU deem appropriate. they should not have a right to made the decision thenselves if they don’t want to marry someone for a stupid reason.
that’s not what I am saying, danny. avakesh, it is an issue — see my first Jewschool piece.
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