Q&A: The Status of Traditional Jews
The Status of Traditional Jews
Question
Regarding the rule that a decree which most of the community cannot abide by has no binding force: are traditional Jews considered part of the “majority of the community”? If so, then most of the Sages’ enactments are not observed by most of the community. [And in Meiri on Avodah Zarah 36 he wrote that even if they accepted the decree and afterward could not abide by it, it can be annulled.] And all the more so decrees of the last generation [such as electricity, according to those who say it is rabbinic]. What is the definition of when someone becomes part of the community? Someone who only observes Yom Kippur? Or is even someone who speaks malicious gossip not considered part of it?
Answer
A decree that spread and was later nullified is a topic already discussed in the Talmud itself (not only in Meiri). Electricity is not a decree of the last generation, since it is subsumed under earlier decrees. Today there is no authority to establish new decrees. Therefore the discussion of a decree that spread and was later nullified does not apply to it.
But regardless of all that, it is obvious that someone who does not observe Torah-level and rabbinic laws is not counted in this tally. After all, if he did not accept the decree, that is not because of a problem with this particular decree itself, but because he does not accept decrees at all.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t know exactly where the line is drawn. There is a gray area, but it has two clear sides. These are Rabbi Yirmiyah-type questions.
What’s the boundary? Until when is a question legitimate, and when does it become a Rabbi Yirmiyah question? 😉
What possible lines of thought could there be for defining such a boundary?
What are the clear sides according to the Rabbi’s view? Is a traditional Jew who does not drive on the Sabbath, does not do homework, does not light a fire, and generally intentionally keeps Torah-level prohibitions still not considered part of it?
Or only someone who is part of a religious community?
Is even someone who speaks malicious gossip not part of this count?
And if someone tries to keep the commandments, but because of lack of knowledge desecrates the Sabbath?