tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8618294978083421108.post3668290890556458230..comments2022-04-03T14:45:51.739-07:00Comments on Beyond Orthodox Conversion to Judaism: Ethics of our Fathers: Chapter 4 Mishna 3: Our Actions MatterRabbi Chaim Coffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522758685792857868noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8618294978083421108.post-89018067535620823172014-11-23T17:41:58.518-08:002014-11-23T17:41:58.518-08:00Its like this:
the mitzvot of "you will not ...Its like this:<br /><br />the mitzvot of "you will not mistreat an Egyptian, you were a stranger in his land", and "you will not abhor an Edomite, for her is your brother" seem anachronistic in this day and age, but Torah never says commands anything of no value, right? So how can we take it?<br /><br />Well, who were the Egyptians? The Torah and rabbis tell us they were a culture of idolaters and sorcerers. Both idolatry and sorcery bespeak of spiritual confusion and falsehood, and everyone has gone through this, and most will continue to go through it, and thus "you were a stranger in his land". Its telling us not to mistreat or wrong people who are of different (false) religions, or people who are superstitious, small minded (mizraim, after all) or practice questionable moral and spiritual philosophies, since we've all been there at some point.<br /><br />And who were Edomites? Descendants of Esau, but who was Esau? A hunter, a warrior, a hedonist, a glutton, a hot head, prone to violence and bloodshed. Of them it says "he is your brother". How? Everyone gets mad, everyone wants to kill, everyone is fascinated by death, destruction, and conflict, whether they want to admit it or not, everyone wants to binge on good food, good sex, and easy times. Torah says not to overtly despise such people who are captive y their baser selves, because we are every bit like them.<br /><br />Just a theory, please let me know what you think.Elliotthttps://www.facebook.com/elliott.carricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8618294978083421108.post-66625606138741435672014-11-23T17:30:37.246-08:002014-11-23T17:30:37.246-08:00I recently had kind of an exegetical breakthrough,...I recently had kind of an exegetical breakthrough, not sure if its been said before, but my usual teacher is busy at the moment or something, and it relates to what this post, as old as it might be.Elliotthttps://www.facebook.com/elliott.carricknoreply@blogger.com