Q&A: Going to a Religious Court
Going to a Religious Court
Question
According to how the Rabbi presents in “Walking Among Those Who Stand” the relationship between Jewish law and law in general, what is the point of engaging in the study of Jewish law if in any case it is impossible to live by it (of course, in the laws of monetary matters)? Likewise, is there any point in going to a religious court that judges according to the Shulchan Arukh rather than to a civil court that judges according to the proper way to conduct society?
Answer
We do not study in order to implement. The purpose of study is cleaving to the Holy One, blessed be He, and to His will. Much of the Torah is not applicable today, and some of it was never applicable at all (such as the stubborn and rebellious son or the idolatrous city).
Regarding going to civil court, see my article on secular courts and the renewal of Jewish law:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%94-%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A9