68 JUDAISM
26 AUGUST 2021
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Dear Rabbi My question pertains to social media. I have always resisted it but it seems to have invaded my home. To be clear we are not an internet free zone in our home and my kids all have mobile phones. But it seems as though this has taken over their lives. One is obsessed with reading everyone’s stream on Instagram, even actually complaining about what she sees some of her friends getting up to and “why can’t we do that?” Another is constantly posting pictures on Facebook with all sorts of captions. I get it that this is some form of entertainment and I know it is better than roaming streets, hanging out in clubs and whatever else worse than that, and my wife insists it is harmless. Personally I think it is toxic and welcome your opinion. Malcolm Dear Malcolm Social media has provided a unique opportunity to engage with the world in a whole new way. Many Jewish organisations have found that social media is the optimum way by which to engage audiences and market events. During a year of lockdown social media also provided much opportunity to broadcast classes and spread Torah to many who might have previously never had any real affiliation. But like any double edged sword, social media is also the bane of society. It amplifies news for eyeballs and clicks and people are constantly consumed with everything going on in the world. Against that all sorts of
mental health issues are on the increase and anyone who thinks there is no correlation is delusional. Your own child proves the point with her prevalent jealousy when watching other people’s lives on social media. There are those who spend much time gazing at strangers’ holiday snaps, or spending hours fine tuning selfies in order to post on social media then check back every day to see if they’ve acquired more than just the two likes already there – one from their best friend and the other from the anonymous friend who is really their mother trolling to see what they’re getting up to. And yes, that generates all sorts of inner anxiety and is very counterproductive. Like nuclear power that can either light up a city or wreak havoc, it all comes down to how one utilises social media. If used as a tool for spreading light, (perhaps with occasional news and entertainment updates) then it is serving purpose in keeping with the concluding Mishna of Ethics of the Fathers: “Everything was created in order to enhance G-d’s glory.” By definition, everything as it exists can be and is meant to somehow enhance positivity in the world. Otherwise it is an incredible time waster, can prove addictive and indeed wreak havoc with one’s life.
TO GET OR NOT TO GET
Dear Rabbi I want to get married to a wonderful man who got divorced from his wife several months ago but only civilly. There was no Jewish divorce. He doesn’t care
Pirkei Avot
and says he’s happy to marry me as he is. His ex-wife doesn’t seem to care either. But I come from a different sort of background and while I am really keen to marry him, it wouldn’t feel right without him getting a get document. I would always find myself feeling a little guilty. Marylyn Dear Marylyn Do you want to spend the rest of your life always feeling ‘a little guilty?’ To be sure, the wrong that your husband would commit in marrying you without a Jewish divorce pales in significance against the enormity of the sin his ex-wife would be committing were she to remarry without a get but your marriage would still be wrong. So in encouraging him to pursue a get you’d be doing a double mitzvah in both freeing him and her up to doing the right thing. If he’s as keen to marry you as you are him, he’ll look to do the right thing by you.
IS THE OLYMPICS KOSHER?
Dear Rabbi What are your thoughts regarding the Olympics. I enjoyed watching them (however different they were this year). A friend however told me it is essentially a pagan thing and should be avoided at all costs. Is this actually true or just another “holier than thou” mishugas? Donna Dear Donna The original games some 2700 years ago, within the boundaries of Olympia, the altar of the sanctuary dedicated to the goddess
Hera maintained a continuous flame. It was thought to have been stolen from the gods by Prometheus. Therefore, fire was also present at many of the sanctuaries in Olympia, Greece. During the Olympic Games, which honoured Zeus, additional fires were lit at his temple and that of his wife, Hera. The modern Olympic flame is ignited at the site where the temple of Hera used to stand. Moreover, even the fact that the Games take place every four years, as well as the Olympic symbol of five interlocking rings, are connected to idol worship. The five intertwined circles represent
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. ֵאין דֶּ ֶר ְך ֶא ֶרץ, ִאם ֵאין ּתוֹ ָרה,ַר ִ ּבי ֶאלְ ָעזָ ר ֶ ּבן ֲעזַ ְריָ ה אוֹ ֵמר . ֵאין יִ ְר ָאה, ִאם ֵאין ָחכְ ָמה. ֵאין ּתוֹ ָרה,ִאם ֵאין דֶּ ֶר ְך ֶא ֶרץ ִאם ֵאין. ֵאין דַּ ַעת, ִאם ֵאין ִ ּבינָ ה. ֵאין ָחכְ ָמה,ִאם ֵאין יִ ְר ָאה , ִאם ֵאין ּתוֹ ָרה. ֵאין ּתוֹ ָרה, ִאם ֵאין ֶק ַמח. ֵאין ִ ּבינָ ה,דַּ ַעת , ָּכל ׁ ֶש ָחכְ ָמתוֹ ְמ ֻר ָ ּבה ִמ ַּמ ֲעשָׂ יו, הוּא ָהיָ ה אוֹ ֵמר.ֵאין ֶק ַמח , לְ ִאילָ ן ׁ ֶש ֲענָ ָפיו ְמ ֻר ִ ּבין וְ ׁ ָש ָר ׁ ָשיו ֻמ ָע ִטין,לְ ַמה הוּא דוֹ ֶמה ׁ ֶש ֶּנ ֱא ַמר (ירמיה,וְ ָהרו ַּח ָ ּב ָאה וְ עוֹ ַק ְר ּתוֹ וְ הוֹ ַפכְ ּתוֹ ַעל ּ ָפנָ יו יז) וְ ָהיָ ה ְּכ ַע ְר ָער ָ ּב ֲע ָר ָבה וְ ל ֹא יִ ְר ֶאה ִּכי יָ בוֹ א טוֹ ב וְ ׁ ָשכַ ן לְ ַמה,ֹר…א ָבל ָּכל ׁ ֶש ַּמ ֲעשָׂ יו ְמ ֻר ִ ּבין ֵמ ָחכְ ָמתו ֲ ֲח ֵר ִרים ַ ּב ִּמ ְד ָ ּב ׁ ֶש ֲא ִפלּ ּו,יל…ש ֲענָ ָפיו ֻמ ָע ִטין וְ ׁ ָש ָר ׁ ָשיו ְמ ֻר ִ ּבין ֶ ׁ לְ ִא,הוּא דוֹ ֶמה ֹכָ ל ָהרוּחוֹ ת ׁ ֶש ָ ּבעוֹ לָ ם ָ ּבאוֹ ת וְ נוֹ ׁ ְשבוֹ ת בּ וֹ ֵאין ְמזִ יזִ ין אוֹ תו … ׁ ֶש ֶּנ ֱא ַמר (שם) וְ ָהיָ ה ְּכ ֵעץ ׁ ָשתוּל ַעל ַמיִ ם וְ ַעל,ִֹמ ְּמקוֹ מו וְ ָהיָ ה ָעלֵ ה ּו,יו ַּבל יְ ׁ ַש ּ ַלח ׁ ָש ָר ׁ ָשיו וְ ל ֹא יִ ְר ֶאה ִּכי יָ בֹא חֹם … וְ ל ֹא יָ ִמ ׁיש ֵמ ֲעשׂ וֹ ת, ו ִּב ׁ ְשנַ ת ַ ּבצּ ֶֹרת ל ֹא יִ ְד ָאג,ַר ֲענָ ן
Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said: Where there is no Torah, there is no right conduct; where there is no right conduct, there is no Torah. Where there is no wisdom there is no fear of G-d where there is no fear of G-d, there is no wisdom. Where there is no understanding, there is no knowledge; where there is no knowledge, there is no understanding. Where there is no bread, there is no Torah; where there is no Torah, there is no bread. He used to say: one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, to what may he be compared? To a tree whose branches are numerous but whose roots are few, so that when the wind comes, it uproots it and overturns it, as it is said,
Perek 3: Mishna 17 pt1
“He shall be like a bush in the desert, which does not sense the coming of good. It is set in the scorched places of the wilderness, in a barren land without inhabitant” (Jeremiah 17:6). But one whose deeds exceed his wisdom, to what may he be compared? To a tree whose branches are few but roots are many, so that even if all the winds in the world come and blow upon it, they cannot move it out of its place, as it is said, “He shall be like a tree planted by waters, sending forth its roots by a stream. It does not sense the coming of heat, its leaves are ever fresh. It has no care in a year of drought; it does not cease to yield fruit.” To be continued next week…
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Venus, which traces a perfect pentacle across the sky every 8 years. To the ancient Greeks, Venus became the symbol of perfection and beauty, qualities prized in athletes’ bodies. As a tribute to Venus, the Greeks used “her” 8-year cycle to organize their Olympic Games. The 4-year schedule follows Venus’ half cycle. So there is a clear pagan connection. That said, today most people would be clueless about any of the above and really just watch the Olympics for the sake of enjoying the sportsmanship. So to each their own and you be your own judge and jury on this.
