Q&A: Faith / Belief
Faith / Belief
Question
Hello Rabbi,
if the Torah was given by God, how can it contain commandments that are impossible to live up to? Like guarding one’s eyes and the covenant, or male same-sex relations for homosexuals?
Answer
Who says it contains such commandments? At least some of them are man-made. Beyond that, there are commandments that are very difficult for certain people to keep, and that does not invalidate them. Each person is supposed to try his best, and he is judged according to his abilities and circumstances. “Do not steal” also doesn’t suit kleptomaniacs, and that is not an argument against the prohibition of theft. And finally, in light of this, there may indeed be room for the claim that the prohibition of male same-sex relations was said regarding those who do it only because of the evil inclination, and not those for whom this is their nature. I once raised such a suggestion in the past (especially on the basis of the position of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not place before a person trials he cannot withstand. He concluded from this that everyone can withstand it, but I argued that from that same assumption itself one could infer the opposite), but I am far from convinced by it.
Discussion on Answer
I didn’t argue anything against him. I used his argument to reach the opposite conclusion. If the assumption is correct that we are not commanded in things we cannot withstand, then homosexuals who cannot withstand the commandment were apparently not commanded in it.
But since you asked: the mere fact that we were commanded proves nothing. A kleptomaniac was also commanded not to steal.
A question for Rabbi Michael:
If we believe in free choice, then why assume at all that we cannot withstand this? Surely we can withstand it, at least theoretically, even if we fail again and again.
And also, I don’t think it is harder for a homosexual than for any other man who is asked to avoid physical contact, avoid wasting seed, and not sleep with non-Jewish women or unmarried women. There is no end to it, because each person finds different things difficult according to his circumstances, etc. So why even think to find some leniency for homosexuals? Just as with an aroused adolescent we say, “Don’t watch pornographic content,” so too with homosexuals we should say, “Don’t go with a male.”
Well, that’s exactly the point—if they were commanded, then necessarily they can in fact withstand the commandments and the trial!
?????
I answered, and I see it didn’t register. I’ll answer again.
You can ask this about the Talmudic passage regarding “the urge clothed him,” and about Rabbi Ilai’s saying, “If a person sees that his inclination is overpowering him…” There are situations in which it is clear to us that a reasonable person cannot cope with them. The fact that we have free choice does not mean we have no limitations. The Talmud in Ketubot 33 says that if Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had been beaten, they would have worshipped the idol. They could withstand a threat of death, but not continuous beating.
For a homosexual it is much harder, because it is for his whole life and he has no other option. Besides, his prohibition is far more severe.
Thank you for the answer, but how is this different from evil speech and theft, about which the Talmud says there is no person who does not stumble and sin in them, and yet we have never heard that this is grounds for leniency??
“Who says it contains such commandments? At least some of them are man-made.”
Are you serious? These prohibitions were transmitted to us in the tradition from Sinai, not as some enactment or addition by human beings… I’d appreciate clarification.
I explained everything. Any reasonable person understands that the overwhelming majority of Torah-level laws are not a tradition from Sinai but interpretation by the sages. The opposite of what is a tradition from Sinai is not what is an enactment or addition of the sages, as you assume. That is the opposite of Torah-level laws. The opposite of a tradition from Sinai is legislation (rabbinic laws) or interpretation by the sages (Torah-level laws that are not written in the Torah and were not transmitted from Sinai).
So yes, I’m completely serious. 🙂
Good morning!
I don’t understand the Rabbi’s argument against Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Isn’t it proven by the very fact that we were commanded that we are able to stand up to it?