Harry Potter and Shabbos

It’s interesting to recall that the reason the Blue Laws (forcing stores to close on Shabbos) were introduced in Israel is because the socialists running the country wanted workers to have a mandatory day off. They chose Saturday for obvious reasons.
Now the children of those socialists are demanding the right to work seven days a week?

This is the reason our enemies are doing so well and we’re not these days. People in Israel are screaming that they have to wait a whole 24 hours extra to get the book. I am sure that (a) Harry Potter will probably not be released in most Muslim countries however (b) if the release date coincided with one of their holidays, not only would they delay the release without question and with the support of the populace but they would also try to firebomb JK Rowling’s house and her publisher’s building for daring to release the book on their sacred day.

As a Harry Potter fan, want to remind you that it takes a few months till HP reaches Steimentsky’s in the HEBREW language. All those rushing to make the purchases on Shabbat, are English readers.

Wonderful point made – People complain about being forced to keep shabbat, so in response suggest forcing a religious a law that would kill people for keeping shabbat if they are not Jewish.

While its obvious that you are joking – its also obvious that you completely do not understand their complaint. You’re telling them that they should be happy we don’t enforce the religious laws (that they do not believe in) that would have others killed.

You put religious coercion in quotes, implying you don’t believe that forcing someone to keep the commerce part shabbat is religious coercion – what then would religious coercion be?

If there is a positive commandment to coerce others to keep Halacha, why draw the line at store closings on Shabbat? Shouldn’t there be a law against driving, public broadcasting, etc.? And, what’s the justification for NOT throwing stones or otherwise stopping people from driving on Shabbat? And why stop at Shabbat? ALL halacha should be enforced, on the pain of imprisonment!

It’s very nice that the Torah itself enjoins one to coerce others to keep Halacha. But what in Israeli jurisprudence enjoins such a thing?

Coersion is a very short-sighted way to spread the keeping of Halacha.

The people who will be michalel Shabbos to buy a book, are for the most part, not keeping Shabbos in any case. There will be an additional number who are weak or on the fence and will fall to temptation.
Maybe we should address this, and missionaries who prey on the weak, in the same way. We can and should protest and try to stop those who are taking advantage, just as long as we do our part in reaching out to bring our more distant brothers closer. Expending our efforts only to stop the commercial or missionary interests is just plain hypocritical.

Bob Miller: Wasn’t witchcraft/sorcery something Jews were commanded to blot out?

Harry Potter is a fantasy that stresses good over evil with much humor and picturesque inventive language…..i.e. someone called “Snape” is surely not someone one wants to get close to and a muggle – the non-wizard on the street- could be any of us whose face(appearance) is exagerated to be something we are not but want others to think we are.

While the occult is not utilized, your word of caution, however, is well taken. Many Christian parents do not permit their children to read these books let alone see the movies. OTOH, some Christian parents (those who I know) permit their children to read the books and see the movies……. but not without an adequate discussion of witchcraft and sorcery from a biblical perspective beforehand and often afterwards.

While this book/movie appears forebidding, things like Ouija boards which are dangerously occultic are sold in toy stores as a fun game.

A wise manager at work, years told me “when in doubt don’t”. I find it holds true in many situations.

What bothers me is the basic lack of self-respect on the part of the book store owners.

Lawrence Kaplan, why do you think they lack self respect? If they’re chilonim, and don’t observe Shabbat in their personal lives, why would they want to close their business on Shabbat?

Shlomo, it was hard for me to digest how central this point really is. I’m an outsider, most of my view of Orthodoxy comes from Web sites like this one. The fact that Halacha requires choices that are personally distasteful isn’t something that’s often talked about, at least in front of strangers. The fact that the choices are personally difficult, yes – but that’s a different matter.

Maybe I should have realized that from the Akeida, Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son, but it’s hard to extrapolate from the patriarchs. The previous Parasha Abraham haggles with G-d – how many modern Jews do that? A few chapters later Jacob fights an angel – how many times have you done that lately?

I am not clear that there is any obligation to coerce – there may be an obligation to prevent sin and possibly to institute legislation that prevents sin. But I would think the issue is pragmatic – if coercion produces resentment and makes people more anti-religious overall, I would think the larger goal trumps the immediate goal. They say that a fellow came to the Chazon Ish and said that his son, who was irreligious, wanted a car, and that he, the father, didn’t want to provide it unless his son would agree not to drive on shabbat. The Chazon Ish told the father that he should give the car with no conditions, because that way he would establish a better relationship and be in a better position to influence his son. We shouldn’t lose sight of the larger goal.