Holiness on the computer
Hello Rabbi
Should respect be shown in the media of the Bar Ilan project, such as in the Halacha book, and if so, why?
thanks
Hello Omar.
I hope you’ll forgive me for the comment, but when I saw this question I wanted to delete it immediately. It’s clear that you didn’t spend a single second of thought in formulating and clarifying the question. What exactly do you mean? That when the Responsa Project passes between the tables, should one stand up to it? Or should one speak to it or about it in the third person: “The Honorable Responsa Project said so and so,” and not “You said so and so”? Is this serious?
Please take a second to clarify the question for yourself, and then formulate it clearly. It is advisable that you also provide an example of a practical dilemma that arises from it. Then you can raise a question here for response and discussion.
Sorry, I thought it was understandable, I wrote it as if it were a book
The question is whether one should treat it like one would a book, not put things on it, and not throw it on the floor
Because what's the difference because you need a device {computer} to read it, so it's not a book? And if I need glasses
Is it okay to throw the Bar Ilan project on the floor?
I'll tell you the truth. For a long time, I thought it was just like a book of Gemara or Laws, and that's what I did, but they laughed at me, and for me, it's exactly the same book.
And the eyes are just a device for seeing, like a computer.
In principle, you are right. The information found in a holy book is no different from information in a digital database. In both cases, a device is needed to decipher the information and turn it into Torah words (the computer or the eye and brain).
In principle, the formal halachic obligation to respect books is only in books written in ink on parchment (kosher Torah books, or remnants of them). But printed books were also used to be respected. See a review here:
https://ph.yhb.org.il/07-06-05/
In my understanding, the source of the matter is the appropriate attitude towards things that are sacred, not a formal law. And according to this, there is definitely room for respectful treatment of a disk that stores things that are sacred. There is an intuitive tendency to say that this is not the same thing, because we have become accustomed to a printed thing being something sacred (meaning we do not see it as a means from which we can reproduce Torah words, but rather as words of Torah itself), but I think this is just a habit. For example, the poskim wrote that since printed books were created, even though they are not holy in principle, they must be given the same treatment (and this has practical implications, such as saving from burning on Shabbat, etc.). Therefore, from an explanation, there is certainly room to say the same thing with regard to a disk, which is the printed book of our time.
I can understand those who would disagree and say that this is only true for printing and not for storing on a disk, but there is certainly room for your explanation. At least when it comes to a disk that is used only for this purpose, and especially if it is clear from the outside that this is its use. The goal of all this is to create in us the correct treatment of things that are holy (i.e., sacred and not profane), and this also applies to disks.
And the Rema wrote at the beginning of the Och: And do not dry up because of the mockers.
Strong and blessed, Your Honor, thank you very much.
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