Comments on: Postscript to Parshas Yisro http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:14:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: David Waghalter http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-802 David Waghalter Thu, 03 Feb 2005 22:35:29 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-802 I could understand this kind of comment from a complete non-practicioner of Judaism, but how can someone who consciously keeps any mitzvot at all espouse such views? If we can't know G-d's will, what's the point of even talking about G-d? Or how can anyone say that terrorists who claim to be acting in their gods' names are wrong? I could understand this kind of comment from a complete non-practicioner of Judaism, but how can someone who consciously keeps any mitzvot at all espouse such views? If we can’t know G-d’s will, what’s the point of even talking about G-d? Or how can anyone say that terrorists who claim to be acting in their gods’ names are wrong?

]]> By: Sholom Simon http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-797 Sholom Simon Thu, 03 Feb 2005 16:14:21 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-797 The objection, I hear, over and over again to why "us" and "them" can not meet in a public forum, is that doing so is tantamount to giving recognition to "them." So, your story above begs the question: did any of the Reform listeners actually think that you give sanction to their point of view? And, if not, why the ban? For that matter, why the exception? And, most importantly, if the above was beneficial to, at the least, explaining the O position to non-O's, is it worth doing it more often? The objection, I hear, over and over again to why “us” and “them” can not meet in a public forum, is that doing so is tantamount to giving recognition to “them.”

So, your story above begs the question: did any of the Reform listeners actually think that you give sanction to their point of view? And, if not, why the ban? For that matter, why the exception?

And, most importantly, if the above was beneficial to, at the least, explaining the O position to non-O’s, is it worth doing it more often?

]]> By: Elitzur http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-767 Elitzur Tue, 01 Feb 2005 15:31:23 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-767 The biggest shock to me at the event was hearing an official JTS position that the Torah is not Divine. The most pleasent surprise was R' Yoffie davening Mincha with us... The biggest shock to me at the event was hearing an official JTS position that the Torah is not Divine. The most pleasent surprise was R’ Yoffie davening Mincha with us…

]]> By: Ken Applebaum http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-765 Ken Applebaum Tue, 01 Feb 2005 14:32:49 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2005/02/01/postscript-to-parshas-yisro/#comment-765 Thank you Rabbi Adlerstein for raising the lessons you learned from that Harvard event, an event that I have heard you speak about on more than one occasion when you were the scholar-in-in-residence during a couple of very nice Pesach programs I have attended. Perhaps we allude to this issue in the blessing of Ahava Raba Ahavtanu before S'hma in the morning where we ask Hashem to put in our hearts "to understand (l'havin) and to grasp (l'hasceel) to hear (lishmoa)... all the words of your Torah with love" . When we ask for Heavenly assistance "to hear" the words of Torah, it obviously goes beyond the physical ability to hear and it may refer to assistance in appreciating and coming to the realization that Hashem has given man/woman the ability to understand his will. Thank you Rabbi Adlerstein for raising the lessons you learned from that Harvard event, an event that I have heard you speak about on more than one occasion when you were the scholar-in-in-residence during a couple of very nice Pesach programs I have attended. Perhaps we allude to this issue in the blessing of Ahava Raba Ahavtanu before S’hma in the morning where we ask Hashem to put in our hearts “to understand (l’havin) and to grasp (l’hasceel) to hear (lishmoa)… all the words of your Torah with love” . When we ask for Heavenly assistance “to hear” the words of Torah, it obviously goes beyond the physical ability to hear and it may refer to assistance in appreciating and coming to the realization that Hashem has given man/woman the ability to understand his will.

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