Q&A: Commandments Derived from Worldview
Commandments Derived from Worldview
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael,
You have often expressed the view that the sages have no binding authority in matters of faith/worldview, but only in matters of Jewish law.
However, there are quite a few commandments or practices that are derived from a certain worldview in matters of faith. For example, according to Ashkenazic practice, a son says Kaddish for his mother/father for only 11 months, because 12 months is the duration of the judgment of the wicked in Gehinnom (Rema, Yoreh De’ah, סימן 376 סעיף 4, based on the Mishnah in Eduyot 2:10). I believe there are several other such Jewish laws, and this was only an example, but if you accept the authority of the halakhic ruling to say Kaddish for only 11 months, does that also necessarily mean that you accept the worldview that stands behind that Jewish law?
I would be happy to read your opinion on the matter, or if you have addressed this topic, I would appreciate it if you could point me to it.
Thank you very much
Answer
If it is clear to you that the basis of the Jewish law is fact x, and if it is clear to you that x is wrong, then the Jewish law is not valid. Just make sure those two assumptions are indeed clear to you.
But even if one of them is not clear to you, observing the Jewish law still does not require agreeing with x. I can observe it because I am not sure it is wrong, without adopting the assumptions on which it is based.