Q&A: Changes in Jewish Law
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Changes in Jewish Law
Question
Rabbi Michi, hello!
Do you think it would be correct to say that one should preserve the object/core of Jewish law, and only change how it is expressed in the day-to-day life of the modern person, or is that just unnecessary pilpul?
Answer
I didn’t understand a thing.
Discussion on Answer
The question is too general. I’ve written quite a bit about these topics and explained what can and should be done, and how.
In my opinion, Rose is trying to ask whether your view is that Jewish law should be adapted to our time by changing the practices in a way that preserves the idea or core ("object," in the questioner’s wording 🤔) of the commandment. That is, that one should disregard the fences, stringencies, and specific practices that were tailored to particular generations, and preserve only what the poet meant at Sinai, if it were being revealed in 2024.
Maybe like in the well-known parable about swimsuits in winter: midrashic conservatism.
P.S. I’m not joining the question, just translating it.
In my opinion, sometimes this is necessary and possible, and sometimes it’s necessary but too anarchic.