From: pab1@quads.uchicago.edu (paul andrew braier)
Subject: Re: Nonsense symmetry
Reply-To: pab1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 20:36:24 GMT

> weemba@sagi.wistar.upenn.edu (Matthew P Wiener) wrote:
>
>         strong          willingness to question               weak
> LEFT  <------------------------------------------------------------>  RIGHT
>         weak             fundamental knowledge               strong

> sg@cbnewsh (stephan.gross) replied:
>
> Your generalization on the RIGHT, regarding weakness in the willingness to
> question department is nonsense.  It's just that their questions are at a
> level way beyond the comprehension of someone weak in the fundamental know-
> ledge department.

I couldn't agree more with the FIRST article. I have lived quite a bit in
communities on both sides of the above spectrum, and it seems very close
to the mark to me.

The questions that are asked on the RIGHT are not at all beyond the 
comprehension of others. The questions on the right simply tend not
to be about _halacha_ at all, but about _minhag_ (custom) and _chumrah_
(stringincy beyond _halacha_).

For example, certain people on the far right refuse to allow matzah to
get the slightest bit wet on pesach. Why? Because even though the 
matzah has been appropriately supervised in its preparation and baking,
nevertheless some tiny amount of flour just might not have mixed with
the water. Even though it was then baked, NEVERTHELESS they do not allow
the final product to come in contact with water. (Things made from
moistened matzah, like matzah balls, are called _g'broks_.) This is a
_chumrah_, because it goes beyond the requirements of halacha. Some of
these people, in turn, also eat matzah out of a plastic bag on pesach.
This is to prevent the possibility that a stray crumb might fall on the
table, and if it gets wet, will become g'broks.

Now, there might be plenty of questioning on the issue of g'broks in
those circles, but those questions are NOT questions on halacha. Even
though many of them are aware that these are _chumros_, nevertheless
they are often taught as halacha and treated as such. An outsider who
has never heard of g'broks might not understand what it is at first,
and so might not be able to follow a debate about it, but the concept
is not beyond the outsider, but neither is the concept one of halacha.

Where the questions actually DO touch on halacha, such as what food has
an acceptable hechsher and what food even requires supervision, there is
very little questioning, if any. Those on the far right go for the more
strict decision and don't question whether they really need to.

My kitchen is completely kosher according to all halachos on the subject,
yet there are people who would refuse to eat at my home because I am not
'kosher enough.' How do they know this? Among other reasons, I wear
jeans during the week and my kippah is crocheted, that is, my _mihagim_
(customs), are not 'up to theirs.' Why, I don't even own a shtreimel!

Those on the far right certainly DO ask questions, they just don't ask
the important ones. In my opinion, their behavior is far more dangerous
to the future of the Jewish people than the behavior of the Reform and
Conservative movements on the left.

Paul Braier

-----------------------
Paul A. Braier
pab1@quads.uchicago.edu