Q&A: The Morality of Jewish Law
The Morality of Jewish Law
Question
Hello Rabbi. In the lecture “On Complex Vision and Harmony,” the Rabbi said that Jewish law and morality do not necessarily have to contradict one another, because God expects us to keep Jewish law and also expects us to be moral, and these are different domains: Jewish law is Jewish law and morality is morality. That is, there can be a halakhic ruling that is not moral. I do not understand the basic assumption. Jewish law is the word of God and His command to us. By definition, shouldn’t it have to be moral? Morality, as I understand it, is what is good or just, and since the Creator of the world is the one who commands, then that itself is the moral thing, isn’t it?
Thank you
Yoel
Answer
Hello Yoel,
See my remarks here:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%A1-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%91-%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%A8-%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8-15/
As I recall, I also explained it in the lecture there.
Discussion on Answer
The command is given for a religious purpose, which is also important. We are not talking about an arbitrary command. Sometimes this conflicts with morality, and then there is a conflict. What is the problem with that? It seems to me that this was explained there.
Thank you. I read the article, and let me sharpen the question. I did not see that the Rabbi addressed the meaning of obedience to Jewish law. As I understand it, morality is that about which one can say good or bad. Jewish law, according to the Rabbi’s formulation, is not a moral matter but a religious, legal one — what I am obligated to do. It is possible that there could be a halakhic ruling that instructs an act that is not good. I did not see the Rabbi explain how it is possible that what the Holy One, blessed be He, tells me to do is bad, and yet I am still obligated to do it. What is the rationale for obeying the Creator’s command if He commands bad things, which would mean that He is bad? Philosophically, doesn’t that contradict the definition of God?