Wednesday, September 30, 2009

איסור דלֹא תְחָנֵּם

In a recent, strange post from our friend e, he led us to a discussion on “hashkafa.com” (a site I actually know little of) that gives the impression that some of the laws of Judaism are mean to non-Jews, especially those based on the pasuk of “lo teh’onem”. Is the Torah a “mean” religion? k
k
Well obviously the Torah is very hard on Pagans in Israel who might be influencing the Israelites with their ways. Some of these hard-line rules of the Torah in regards to Israel’s native Pagan inhabitants can be found in the seventh chapter of Deuteronomy. For example verse two tells us not to “show mercy to them” (“לא תחנם”). (The truth is though that this commandment is by far not the “meanest” commandment regarding the ‘seven nations’ .In fact the conquest of Israel in general was to be pretty cruel to the Pagan natives and their religion (for example not to leave women, children, cattle or religious objects alive or unharmed), so I’m not sure why they decided on this command as an example of cruelty to “goyim”.)

The sages of Israel, not only understood this command as applying to further generations, but in accordance with the Verbal Law, listed three more ways to read this verse (based on three variant ways to read the word “תחנם” without making pre-supposed assumptions about what the vowel marks should be): Selling land to Pagans in Israel, giving gifts to Pagans and praising Pagans.

These three laws have been expounded upon in the Talmud and recorded as normative halacha in books such as the Rambam and the Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 151), usually referring to said Pagans as “עכו"ם” (an acronym for “עובדי כוכבים ומזלות”). One huuuuge misunderstanding that gets created with these types of halachot though is the question whether they were said only regarding Polytheists but not monotheistic gentiles or if the word “עכום” in the Shulchan Aruch just a thin, censure-related cover-up for the word “גוי”, which obviously also refers to monotheistic gentiles such as the Muslims and the Sikhs (perhaps some forms of Christianity as well)?

My opinion has always sided with the Rambam in this matter, that it’s quite clear that the agenda of the Torah is not to “be mean to goyim”, but to be very stern with polytheists, especially when they have the potential to influence Jews with their theology, which in most cases, also means influencing Jews with a “pre-monotheistic” set of morals. In other words if someone who was born Jewish becomes a polytheist he is hated in G-d’s eyes and deserves to be killed, just like any other polytheist influencing monotheists (“Jews”), and if someone who wasn’t born into “the faith” becomes monotheistic he is beloved by G-d. The Torah is extremely concerned with theology (in the sense of polytheism vs. monotheism), not at all with race and not really with the religion of the gentiles as long as they’re monotheistic. Now, it’s obviously impossible to say that none of the halachot which were said about polytheists refer to monotheistic gentiles, but certainly not these..

In that case then, there should be no lack of praise and friendly interactions between the Jews and their (not necessarily “Jewish”) fellow monotheists (1). That’s about monotheists, but what about polytheists (such as Hindus) or those who’s monotheistic status can be brought into serious question (such as most Christians) (2)? It is clear from the words of the Rambam that since polytheism in general has lost a lot of its attraction to people, even the laws which deal specifically with polytheists are not necessarily applied to the polytheists of today, since the concerns of the Torah in regards to the ‘seven nations’ of Israel can scarcely be said to apply to polytheistic people from India, China or other parts of Asia.

....to be honest, there’s not a whole lot I really know about e personally, but what I do know is that there are religious institutions that give their students far from enough of a background in halacha and its sources with the excuse that the exclusive study of Gemara is precicely the point that the founders of Chassidut didn’t find favor with in the theology of the pre-Chassidic Jews, and that it’s better instead to spend more time either studying the more spiritual aspects of Judaism or learning halacha with the express intent of becoming a rabbi in some far-flung Jewish community. While I admit the world needs rabbis, and that in many places they would be sorely lacking if not for these efforts, I also admit that quickly skimming over the “sea of the Talmud” can lead to a lack of clarity in regards to the foundations of halacha.

(1) It should be noted though that the terrible treatment of the Jews by their neighbors for the past centuries/millennia has lead many Jews to a understandable amount of bitterness to those who hate them. Yet all many can see is the hatred (or rather "healthy suspicion") of the Jews towards the gentiles, and not the millennia of persecution that the gentiles have wrought upon the Jews.
kk
(2) Some consider the "Monistic Theism" of the Hindus and the "Trinitarian monotheism" of the Christians to be more-or-less legitimate forms of monotheism.

11 comments:

Der Shygetz said...

BS"D

You were on the right track until you got to your Chassidus bashing which is a total non sequitur.

It is precisely those Chassidic rabbis in far flung places who understand full well what loi sechoneim really means as well as what la'or goyim really means. That is because they live in situations where they need to know how to apply halacha that others just learn as an intellectual endeavor. They don't need the Gemara to show them the basis of the halacha; they go out there and find themselves in situations where they must apply it properly. They aren't like some kid who wastes his time on the trailer park of H.com who probably can learn a bit of Gemara but has no experience and even less seichel to know how to apply any halacha other than the most basic ones in real life.

The very same Holtzbergs HYD who probably roundly condemned the culture that surrounded them to the Jews who came to visit were noted for how well they treated their neighbors. Indeed it was only a few voices from among the local Jews, intermarried assimilationists whose gaon Yaakov is completely lost, who had anything bad to say about Chabad in India. (Interestingly enough, their 2 most trusted employees were notzri and Muslim and I wonder if it just happened that way or had something to do with defining Hinduism as A"Z and not wanting ovdei A"Z mamash preparing food and caring for their child).

On the other hand, I actually agree with you to some extent about them not knowing enough Gemara EXCEPT that we are in a situation of distress, and we don't have time to filter the water to put out the fires of assimilation and apathy.

The extra time that would have been spent learning Gemara is indeed better utilized for going out there and being there for Jews who are searching and would otherwise end up in the sewers of New Age cults and who knows what else.

Anyway, hag sameach. This is my last comment on any blog for a while because of the upcoming chag.

הצעיר שלמה בן רפאל לבית שריקי ס"ט said...

Hey, sorry for the delay. Hope you had a good chag.

"They don't need the Gemara to show them the basis of the halacha; they go out there and find themselves in situations where they must apply it properly."- Honestly? They "don't need" the Gemara?

"They aren't like some kid who...probably can learn a bit of Gemara but has no experience and even less seichel to know how to apply any halacha other than the most basic ones in real life."- Listen, I'm no proponent of the “pilpul for he sake of pilpul” ideology of the “litvish” either, but if you’re going to be a rabbi you sure as hell have an idea of what Judaism is based on, and not have just memorized some simanim in the shulchan aruch to get smicha. I mean, even if you’re not becoming a rabbi; that kid of stuff should be taught.

“the very same holtzbergs hyd who probably roundly condemned the culture that surrounded them to the Jews who came to visit were noted for how well they treated their neighbors”- I never intimated that chabad shluchim are mean to people.

“I wonder if it just happened that way or had something to do with defining hinduism as a"z and not wanting ovdei a"z mamash preparing food and caring for their child).”- I’m sure it’s a possibility.

“We are in a situation of distress, and we don't have time to filter the water to put out the fires of assimilation and apathy.”- Yeah, but fire is usually put out with water. I mean, it’s difficult for me to ‘only’ see it in that way, and it’s very easy for me to see the bad inherent in their enterprise as well as the good...

“the extra time that would have been spent learning Gemara is indeed better utilized for going out there and being there for Jews”- Like I said, the presence of chabad can sometimes pose a “kitrug” to the “Litvish”, since their not doing as much kiruv. Still, I don’t know if any of this legitimizes ignorance.....

I hope this is the gist of what I was thinking when I originally read your comment. ..by the way, what’s all this business about “kreedmor”? I’m not sure what’s meant by it..?

Shani said...

No new posts lately? :(

הצעיר שלמה בן רפאל לבית שריקי ס"ט said...

Ha. I'm afraid not. Though I am touched that it makes a difference to someone.

Actually, I was about to write one a week ago but wasn't able to finish it.

It seems I've been experiencing a bout of depression (I hope it's nothing chemical!), and have also been a bit a bit sick and addicted to the show 'Lost'. But don't suppose I have nothing to say. I'll ALWAYS have something to say! (I'm saying that because I once met a blogger who said he stopped blogging because he "ran out of things to say". I just can't imagine that, and that's something I'm afraid of, whether relating to blogs or not...

Shani said...

I'm sorry to hear! I've been experiencing that as well (aren't shidduchim lovely?), so I emphathize greatly.
Vent out in a blog :)...it might help. Really.

הצעיר שלמה בן רפאל לבית שריקי ס"ט said...

"I've been experiencing that as well (aren't shidduchim lovely?)"- Ooh, you're shidduchim age! : P. I don't think I feel as you do about it though; for me any date is a good date! (I'm out very rarely). Anyway, how bad can it possibaly go? You're meeting relatively likeminded young people...that's not worthless.

"Vent out in a blog"- Ugh. I don't "vent". And I don't find "venting blogs" to be very interesting. This blog is about ideas. Thoughts about the world around me...not idle complaints. ..but thanks for the idea.

If you have things you feel like talking about though, you can always start your own blog. It's really not all that difficult...

Shani said...

"Ooh, you're shidduchim age! : P."
Yup. I'm a fan of http://badforshidduchim.wordpress.com/

"I don't think I feel as you do about it though; for me any date is a good date!"
Perhaps men see it differently. Or I'm just a weirdo :D

"If you have things you feel like talking about though, you can always start your own blog."

Oh, I have my own blog...on xanga.com. It's just that, due to various reasons, most of the entries are private. Lots of venting going on there :)

הצעיר שלמה בן רפאל לבית שריקי ס"ט said...

"Perhaps men see it differently. Or I'm just a weirdo"- Or perhaps you're just more date-worthy, so you don't appreciate it as much.

"I have my own blog...on xanga.com. It's just that, due to various reasons, most of the entries are private"- Well isn't that a shame? ..I suppose if it really is only just venting perhaps you feel there's not much others can get out of it anyway...

e said...

good point.

הצעיר שלמה בן רפאל לבית שריקי ס"ט said...

e: Finally! Thanks dude.

הצעיר שלמה בן רפאל לבית שריקי ס"ט said...

Shani: "It's just that, due to various reasons, most of the entries are private"- So what about the rest? ...