Q&A: Boundaries and Framework in the Religious World
Boundaries and Framework in the Religious World
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I wanted to ask where the line is drawn between things that are within the religious and halakhic world (discussion about taking medication on the Sabbath and the like) and discussion and rulings that are outside the bounds (traveling on the Sabbath). Is everything dependent on interpretation, so that seemingly everything can enter the beit midrash discussion and anyone can offer a different interpretation?
Answer
This is too general a question. In principle there is no boundary at all. Anyone can offer an interpretation of anything. If that is what he thinks, then let him do so.
Discussion on Answer
Every text depends on interpretations. Even if you appoint an authorized interpreter, you will still need interpretations regarding his own words themselves. There is no escaping that.
But it absolutely does not mean that a person should do whatever he thinks. Where did you get that from? A person is supposed to do what the Torah commands. But the Torah’s commands depend on interpretation. Suppose I think one must stand on one leg every morning—if I do not find that in the Torah, there is no such halakhic obligation. But when there is a verse in the Torah, its interpretation depends on my understanding, and after I have interpreted it, that is the halakhic obligation for me.
See the example of reverence for Torah scholars in columns 647 and 411.
So that makes it sound not very objective… Meaning, if the idea is that a person should do what he thinks, and God has to accept it because he is doing what he thinks is right, then if a person keeps the Sabbath but doesn’t think he needs to keep it because the interpretation is incorrect, then it’s not valid? If it’s all in your head, then that’s even worse than moving the goalposts to the tune of reality.