Q&A: Compromises in Jewish Law
Compromises in Jewish Law
Question
You wrote that you were forced to swallow a few halakhic frogs in order to participate in the conference on free choice.
The meta-halakhic issue of compromises in Jewish law for the sake of an external need has been on my mind lately. I would be glad to know which frogs the Rabbi is talking about and what considerations were involved.
I’d be happy to hear an answer even if these were halakhic considerations rather than external ones.
Answer
The lecturers used a projector, and on the panel there were some who used a microphone. I made sure they would bring one from Tzomet, but there was only one such device. And in my opinion, even the Tzomet permit is not all that broad.
I didn’t ask questions when the respondent was using a regular microphone. I myself spoke on a weekday, and on the Sabbath without any microphone at all.
Even so, cooperating with such an event does involve a problem, even if from a halakhic standpoint it can be permitted. Had I not seen importance in my participation, I would not have gone.
By the way, before the conference I felt that I had a personal stake in the matter, and therefore I asked the opinion of two Jews whom I value very highly. Both approved. And don’t ask me their names, because I won’t answer.