Q&A: Earth and Heaven
Earth and Heaven
Question
Does the Rabbi think there is a problem?
http://forum.otzar.org/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=48038#p581308
Answer
I don’t think there is a problem. People sing it because they think it’s a beautiful song. Nobody intends idolatry, for two reasons: 1. In no song does anyone really pay attention to the words they’re singing. See, for example, enthusiastic celebratory dancing to the song “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me.” 2. This song can be understood as a return to nature, not necessarily idolatry. Especially since in the Hebrew lyrics it is very short and does not contain everything cited there from the English original.
Therefore I don’t see any prohibition here, or even a problem. In terms of content, this is a vague homily devoid of any real meaning. Pleasant enough content, but to find in it some profound idolatrous message sounds to me simply self-righteous and nitpicky.
Discussion on Answer
So when do we actually invoke the law of “the statutes of the gentiles”? And a “Greek song” only if they really intend it for idolatry?
When there is a sensible reason for it (when the song is beautiful and joyful), then it is not “the statutes of the gentile.” True, there are halakhic decisors who disagree about this, but in my opinion it is simple logic.
Beyond that, gentile idolatry is nullified. Once it is no longer used for idolatry, there is nullification that removes the prohibition (as opposed to Jewish idolatry, which is not nullified).
Think about a situation where pants were an invention of a sect of idol worshipers. Would it then be forbidden to wear pants? There is a great irony here. Haredi clothing is more “the statutes of the gentile” than modern dress, since it certainly originated among gentiles (some of whom were also idol worshipers). True, it was not clothing used for idolatry, but rather clothing worn by idol worshipers, yet in terms of the category of “the statutes of the gentile,” it would seemingly fall under it.
There are views according to which the prohibition of “the statutes of the gentile” applies even to gentiles who are not idol worshipers. According to that, almost everything you do would be forbidden.
See for example here: <a href="http://olamot.net/shiur/%D7%91%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%94%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%90-%D7%AA%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%95" rel="nofollow">http://olamot.net/shiur/%D7%91%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%94%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%90-%D7%AA%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%95</a>
Thank you for the answer.
This is a good place to express thanks for the entire site and the responsa system. People get used to it and think it goes without saying. Really, thank you!