natsab

We were eating lunch in the ‘upper room’ overlooking the Temple Mount and the Kotel (Western Wall).  Technically, it was the meeting room over The Quarter Restaurant, but ‘upper room’ had a more interesting ring to it considering we were in the Old City of Jerusalem.  As we discussed a plethora of topics, particularly items of consideration before and during the First B’ney Yosef National Congress, Frank Houtz made a comment about the broad latitude within much of the Torah and the freedom we have to be different yet united.

Yesterday, a ‘third rail topic’ came up and it highlighted to me the imperative we have to learn the boundaries and then learn to walk in peace with those who may see things differently than we do.  Let me explain and give an example.

The Torah can generally be divided into to two categories:  ‘DO!’ and ‘Don’t!’  These could be likened to the lines within which we are to color.

Many of these commands, particularly the ‘DO!’ commands, offer a lot of latitude in observance.  This latitude might be likened to the variety of colors that can be used within those lines.

Here is the Scriptural basis for a simplified case study:

³⁷ The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, ³⁸ “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. ³⁹ It shall be a tassel for you ^[a]to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not ^[b]follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, ⁴⁰ so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. ⁴¹ I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God.”

This is a ‘DO’ command that Continue reading →