samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet) (02/28/85)
From postnews Wed Feb 27 18:40:43 1985 Mr. Abeles - I don't deserve to be a "Subject:" on the net, but it's encouraging that you want me to limit my articles. I hope that Hashem will give me "fortitude", as you called it, to expose anti-Orthodox prejudices, and fight misinformation. > ... I ask Yitzchok Samet the following public questions: > > 1. Do you believe that right-wing Orthodox groups should > attempt to force religious observance upon the 80% of > Israeli society which is not religious? Your question reflects a familiar one-sided perspective which tries to picture Orthodox groups as aggressors, ignoring history, context, and fact. ANTI-religious coercion was practiced against an entire generation of Jews. Children were LITERALLY forced to abandon religious practice and were indoctrinated with anti-religious attitudes and ideas. Those who ignore that well-documented history and scream only about Orthodox "coercion" are biased and hypocritical. The Torah [Rambam, Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah VI,6-9] holds all Jews responsible for their brothers, obliging us to use pragmatic means to convince others to observe the Torah properly. Pragmatically, you cannot "force" Torah observance on individuals. You can try to convince them to accept the Torah and to educate them religiously. Those raised in a society which has drifted from Torah and indoctrinated with other values must be approached with patience and understanding [Rambam Hilchos Mamrim IX]. Personal observance is different, however, from matters which affect the community. The Talmud uses the example of a boat. If one person exercises his "freedom" by drilling a hole in "his part of the boat" we can all sink. In the public arena it is pragmatic (and an important mitzvah) to lobby, and to utilize parliamentary means to further the interests of the Jewish people, as seen from the Torah. It is a sacred duty to fight public policies which threaten the welfare of the Jewish community or nation [Shar Hatziun, Aruch Chaim I], e.g. to fight abortion, to insist on halachic conversions, and to keep reform and conservative imposters out of the rabbinate. People who ignore anti-religious coercion but rail against "forcing religious observance" are understandably upset over losing the political game. Democracy is fine and fair if they are on top, but sour grapes and coercion when the Orthodox gain some power. >2. If you are really Orthodox yourself, why not come >to our mincha minyan which at present is meeting only >twice a week at Murray Hill? You know how to get in touch >with me. We really need people--having not made a minyan >yesterday. Two people are saying kaddish. Mondays & Thursdays. A public challenge of my Orthodoxy, over a personal matter? For the record, I phoned the gabbai of the minyan ( as I wrote you that I would) and it turned out to be totally impractical. Y. Samet "Adam became embarassed over his nakedness when he acquired wisdom." Medrash