Hypocrites, including me
I spotted not one, but two guys whipping out combs in synagogue this past Sabbath. These gents scored two sins for the price of one--not only were they carrying in public on Shabbat without an eruv, which is prohibited, but they were also violating the law against tearing, since, if I understand correctly, one is not permitted to comb one's hair on Shabbat lest one accidentally tear a hair (tearing being forbidden under most circumstances).
But I can't say a word, because I'm still taking the subway to synagogue on the Sabbath.
And, given the rate at which we're getting out from under our ever-growing pile of bills--next up are a replacement for my husband's four-year-old laser printer, used for his accounting business, and a new external hard drive for me, substituting for the new computer that we can't afford--I'm beginning to wonder whether we'll ever be able to move to a neighborhood in which I won't have to take a subway on Shabbat to get to a shul where I enjoy davvening.
But I can't say a word, because I'm still taking the subway to synagogue on the Sabbath.
And, given the rate at which we're getting out from under our ever-growing pile of bills--next up are a replacement for my husband's four-year-old laser printer, used for his accounting business, and a new external hard drive for me, substituting for the new computer that we can't afford--I'm beginning to wonder whether we'll ever be able to move to a neighborhood in which I won't have to take a subway on Shabbat to get to a shul where I enjoy davvening.
posted by Shira Salamone at 10:10 AM
11 Comments:
I think that the carrying is a bigger deal. With the comb there is only a possibility of plucking hair out, but carrying without an eruv is totally forbiden. I'm curious, have you ever talked to a Conservative Rabbi about what the C movement's position is regarding carrying on Shabbat? Back when I was C, most people I knew, including rabbis and people who considered themselves shomer shabbat by C standards still carried without an eruv.
Any way, I don't think you are a hypocrite. I don't think people should PUBLICLY violate Shabbat even d'rabannan in a Conservative synagogue. There is a big difference in my mind between what you do as an individual and a congregation implying by toleration that the rules of Shabbat don't apply there.
Do either of your targets hold themselves out as shomer shabbat? If not, are they even aware of the violations you wish to charge them with. And regardless, if they got to shul and participated in the minyan, why are you so hard on them?
your husband should check the rates at H & R Block. they are not inexpensive. it's wonderful that he wants to help people. it's not so wonderful that he isn't willing to charge enough to cover his business overhead. his (and your) other income then must subsidize his good deeds.
this is a common problem, by the way. people don't hesitate to ask the accountant for a lower price because they can't afford it. they wouldn't think of asking their mechanic or dentist the same.
blessings on a successful and prosperous tax season!!
"There is a big difference in my mind between what you do as an individual and a congregation implying by toleration that the rules of Shabbat don't apply there." Anon., that's why object. It's bad enough that people violate Shabbat in public, but must they do so in synagogue?
Steve, both present themselves as Jewishly-learned individuals, and at least one is a yeshiva graduate. I would be surprised if they didn't both know better. So I expect more from them, and the fact that they come to synagogue doesn't suffice. Am I asking too much?
"people don't hesitate to ask the accountant for a lower price because they can't afford it. they wouldn't think of asking their mechanic or dentist the same."
Eliyahu, I remember have gotten quite a lecture from a former blogger, a physician, for complaining about our son's audiologist wanting full payment for our son's hearing aids upon delivery. He wanted to know why a medical practitioner should be expected to extend credit, as if s/he didn't have a family to feed and didn't need the money right away just as we did. I guess that an accountant's clients are similarly looking for a break.
It's not hypocrisy; it's a question of choice of practice.
No matter how punctilious anyone chooses to be in their practice, there will always be someone further along the continuum of observance to tell them that they are not going far enough. Carrying on Shabbat might be pasul, but some authorities will tell you that counting a woman in a minyan is pasul, too. To me it comes down to this: decide on how you're going to practice Judaism, which poskim you follow, and leave it at that. =D
"Carrying on Shabbat might be pasul, but some authorities will tell you that counting a woman in a minyan is pasul, too."
Tevel, I think you are missing the point: the Conservative movement ITSELF says that one can not carry on Shabbat, yet people who consider themselves Conservative (including from my experience some Rabbis) do it.
There is no "opinion" that it is OK to carry on Shabbat. Reform carry on Shabbat becuase they have totally discarded the notion that there is anything forbiden on Shabbat, not that they have any halachic position on the matter.
And as I stated before, if someone wants to break Shabbat, that is totally there business, but one should show proper decorum and not PUBLICLY VIOLATE SHABBAT IN A CONSERVTIVE SYNAGOUGE when the C movement as an insitution supposedly believes in Shabbat observance.
Also, as an Orthodox Jew, I can tell you that 99% of O Jews both laity and Rabbis would feel that counting a women for a minyon is a million times less of a big deal than carrying on Shabbat. Shabbat is one of the ten commandments, not counting a women for a minyan is not.
"decide on how you're going to practice Judaism, . . ."
Good advice, Tevel. There will always be those who are either more observant or less observant than I. Maybe it's just a matter of making a decision about how observant *I'm* going to be.
Anon., as a lifelong Conservative Jew, my personal experience has been that a large majority of laypeople are nowhere nearly as observant as the Conservative rabbinate has ruled that we should be. I suppose what it comes down to is that, if I intend to remain Conservative, I'll simply have to put up with with everyone's inconsistent observance, including mine.
Perhaps the biggest sin of all is that these folks were combing their hair in public. That's just tacky :>)
Ari, I'm agree. I've often wondered whether grooming oneself in public is just a New Yorker sort of thing or whether the culture has just changed since I was a kid. I think my late mother would have been pretty shocked to see women do a complete make-up application while riding the subway. When did grooming oneself in public become acceptable?
"Reform carry on Shabbat becuase they have totally discarded the notion that there is anything forbiden on Shabbat, not that they have any halachic position on the matter." The Reform movement works just as diligently at halachic interpretations and positions. That you might not agree with, support, or endorse their halachic positions doesn't change that fact. =D
Keeping Shabbat is one of the Aseret D'varim, certainly, but the utterances don't say not to carry on Shabbat.
I do completely agree with you, Anon, that one should do everything possible not to offend the halachah and minhag where they're davening. That's flat-out rude, and there's no excuse for it.
A sweet shabbos to all!
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