Regarding conservatism
Hello Rabbi Michi
A. As part of an article, I wrote the following passage, I’m curious what you would say about it:
I will illustrate with an example, which I took from Rabbi Michael Avraham, who often uses it. The people of the desert tribe used to wander throughout the hot deserts, dressed accordingly in short, thin clothes. Later, the tribe wandered and happened to come to a very cold area, and a dispute arose among the nomads. Some of them changed their clothes into suitable winter clothes, simply because they were cold. In contrast, the elders of the tribe and others rose up, who sought to maintain their customs devoutly and continue to walk in the clothes of their ancestors despite the current climate. Between these two groups, another group formed that, like the first group, adapted its clothing to the climatic conditions. However, unlike it, they said that they were continuing the custom of their ancestors, who adapted their clothing to the climate around them. And just as they wore summer clothes in a hot environment, here they must wear winter clothes.
Of course, this is an illustration of a simplistic division between Reform, Conservatism, and Orthodoxy, which is related to our subject, but we will not deal with it now.
For our purposes, we will continue with this example and add a fourth group. This group will position itself in the Orthodox view that the same ancestral clothing should be continued. However, the members of the group claim, you did not understand the ancestral clothing. It is true that physically their pants were short, but in reality they were also long – a sister’s robe. It is true that they did not have scarves, but between the brim of their hats and the hem of their robes there are three flaps – a felt. and so on.
on. Is there any attempt to establish an institute that would deal with religion and society, etc. Do you know any young people (for now, ultra-Orthodox) with significant abilities?
Thank you very much.
Hello.
A. I didn’t understand the fourth group’s point. How is this different from the Midrashic Conservatives who adapt their clothing to the weather? Various sermons can be offered to justify the change and see it as a continuation of tradition, but there is no fundamental difference between them.
B. I don’t know. You can try searching the various WhatsApp groups. Good luck. [I assume you know the institutes of Bezalel Cohen and Yehoshua Pepper (who publishes the journal ‘Tarikh Aiyon’) and the like. It sounds very similar to me.]
The difference is that the conservative midrashicists are aware of the change and explain it in the midrash. Then we need to discuss whether it is legitimate to demand principles and whether this is a correct demand. But if this is true, it is clear that wearing short clothes was indeed in accordance with the heat. – And it may be that even if they have stoves and houses, they need to wear winter clothing – in order to continue. Although it may not be because in the desert they would not have air conditioning, etc.’.
In contrast, the fourth group is completely clear that when they went with short clothes, they were not short with continued halakhic. And this is a disguise for a decision in principle. So they say to this group, simply decide what you want to do.
I didn't understand a single word here.
Explain to me in simple terms what the fundamental difference is between someone who claims that tradition says to wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather and someone who says that a short garment is too long for a sister's dress? These are two different midrashim by conservative midrashim.
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