The Possibility of External Values

The Rabbi’s Opening Post

The Possibility of External Values

Posted on 10/8/2004

| |

The Possibility of External Values

In light of an exchange with the prodigy known as ‘Meitzitz’ in the thread on ultra-Orthodoxy, the need arose to open a thread on the attitude toward external, or new, values in Jewish law and in the service of God generally.

Accordingly, the starting point is the proposal of Shai A. Wosner (Hebrew Law, Tel Aviv University) in his article in ‘Akdamot’ to regard Jewish law as an ‘advisory’ category. For example, when an actor turns to his physician friend and asks whether to accept an offer to appear in a cigarette commercial, in which he will have to smoke a cigarette. His friend replies that, as a doctor, he must recommend that he not smoke, since it is unhealthy; however, as his friend, he recommends that he accept the offer, since he will receive a great deal of money and that is worth the small health risk.

With respect to Jewish law, if a person wishes to equalize the status of women, he must regard universal morality (as currently accepted) as an additional value system to which he is subject, and then say that although, from the standpoint of Jewish law, this is impossible, and therefore carries a price, from the standpoint of the moral system it is obligatory.

It should be noted that this is not a proposal to change or innovate within Jewish law, but rather a solution outside the framework of Jewish law, and perhaps even outside the Torah framework (this is one of the important points).

This is only a starting point, and more will follow, God willing.

What the heart desires, time steals away

Source (‘Stop Here, Think’ forum): http://www.bhol.co.il/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=1060531&forum_id=1364