I received a few comments and emails on the Ask a Jew: Sabbath edition post which all said essentially the same thing: Isn't leaving the lights on/utilizing electricity/cooking/etc. on Sabbath "cheating"? This upset me, and I say this NOT to point fingers, because really, anyone who raised the issue with me did so respectfully, and genuinely, I believe, not in a stir-the-pot fashion. No, I'm upset at myself, because that means I clearly did an oversimplified, piss-poor job of explaining. So, I'm sorry for that; if anyone came away with the impression that Jews who utilize electricity of any type on Sabbath are, I guess, trying to cheat the rules, or using loopholes, it's not the case, and I'll endeavor to explain that more clearly in a moment.
As you know, I'm not a rabbi, and as I have said time and agian, I'm not an expert in Jewish law, but since I have taken on the "responsibility" of putting my explanations out there in these posts (OMFG I SOUND LIKE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST DOUCHE PLEASE HELP), I kind of feel like it's also my responsibility to clear up any mistaken impressions said posts might present. I was going to just tack this on as an addendum to the last post, but I have no idea if anyone ever reads updated posts, and it was really important to me that I clarified this. (Also, I realized I left out some questions that were asked, and I saw in the comments that some new ones were raised, and I'm filing them all away for next time.)
So! Here's the deal:
The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest, one where we refrain from work. As I'd mentioned in the post, the specific prohibitions all branch off of a list of 39 forms of work that were utilized in the building of the Mishkan (the portable Temple that the Jews carried with them in the desert after leaving Egypt). In terms of utilizing electricity, the prohibition isn't against deriving a benefit from a flame/hot oven/lamp. It's against the creation of the spark/completion of the circuit in the first place. We're not supposed to do "work" on Sabbath, but enjoying, for instance, a light, or an air conditioner in some way once it's already set up for use before the Sabbath is completely permissible. Again, the focus is on the act of creation/"work," NOT using the item in question once it's been done ahead of time.
Is that clearer? I really hope so!
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14 comments:
I'm pretty sure that my comment is one that you were talking about and I feel terrible. I don't know if I was clear at all, but I don't, in any way, think that what you do on the Sabbath is cheating. You follow the rules and you aren't taking an easy out, which is what I was trying (but not doing a very good job) to say.
My thoughts were only about the dual kitchen in the article because I do totally understand the double dish washers and sets of dishes, but the kitchen seemed so very extravagant that it seemed like there was so little sacrifice involved in the process. But that's also from the VERY limited window that I had to look at it from and from my very uneducated eyes.
I am terribly sorry if I upset you, because that was in no way my intention. In fact, I wanted to say that I was impressed with how you observed the Sabbath because it shows such a level of commitment to your faith and it's lovely to see you share that with us here.
I am sorry again. I'd be more than happy to go delete the last comment, I really truly didn't mean to be hurtful.
I thought your explanation was great but it certainly helps to learn the origination of these restrictions. You may not be a rabbi, but you have a great way of explaining everything.
@Overflowing Brain - No! Not upset AT ALL. I received two comments and three emails, all basically raising the same question. I'm not upset at any of the commenters/emailers, truly. I just feel like I did a crappy job of explaining, hence the fact that five people separately raised what was essentially the same issue. I showed the post to a fellow religious friend, and she acknowledged that she saw where the confusion stemmed from, so I just wanted to clarify it. That's all. Promise! :)
I should admit that I found the last post fascinating. Seriously. Probably far more fascinating than one should ever find a discussion of ovens and air conditioners and light switches. But I love all discussions of the "this is how we do it" variety. And this post confirms what I suspected about the rules - that they weren't actually being broken, just worked around.
Seriously, I've been thinking about the post since, well, since it was posted.
And I've officially outed myself at the Biggest Nerd Ever.
I think its way-cool you tackle the explanations at all ... we're all learning from it, so kudos to you, even if you have to go back and clarify.
Here's a question I've wondered about that might qualify for an upcoming "
Ask a Jew" post:
I was eating lunch with some friends once in a deli that was clearly kosher. They didn't serve cheese on our sandwiches, for one. Plus, you know, the "Kosher Deli" sign was a tip-off. :)
But when my girlfriend pulled out a bottle for her baby, the waitress came over and asked if it was milk. My friend truthfully told her it was soy, and that seemed to be fine. But I always wondered what would have happened if it had been cows milk. Would they have asked her to put the bottle away? Or would breastfeeding have been ok?
Seriously, I have wondered about that situation for years .... which I think qualifies ME as World's Biggest Nerd, instead of Mama Bub. :)
I really enjoyed the last post and I wasn't confused (there's a first! snort). But even so, this further clarified it for me.
I love Ask A Jew and I like that you aren't a Rabbi because I like hearing how a normal everyday person lives out their faith (and OMFG now I sound like a douche!)
I didn't comment on the last post or anything but this one totally clears it up for me! Thanks for taking the time to explain!
Metalia, I think that is speaks volumes about the quality of your character that when there's confusion, you work on the assumption that it is just that: confusion, rather than combativeness. Thank you for sharing and thanks for taking the higher road in the face of sensitive questions. And please keep Ask A Jew posts coming!
you = awesome.
also, i kind of wish you were my rabbi. heh.
I totally got what you were saying. You do a fabulous job little ask-a-jew. (And I feel for you. Try explaining Mormonism. Heh.)
Oh wait, so Jews aren't just a bunch of cheaters who waste electricity while looking for ways to get out of work? Man, I had that all wrong! :-)
I think that in the case of my comment, it was me who didn't do a good job of explaining myself. Your original post actually did clear things up for me.
My oven manual assumed that anyone interested enough to read about the Sabbath setting would know all about it already, and all I could conclude from the few meager explanations included was that the lack of display was an attempt to cheat.
It does make sense that if you do the actual job of switching on before Sabbath starts, and your changing of the temperature doesn't cause any little LEDs to light up, you are not responsible for lighting any fires :-)
I neglect to comment all the time, but I really love the Ask a Jew posts (along with the entirety of your blog), and this explanation makes a lot of sense. You should call it Ask a Jew, Jr. Uh, or not. But it's still a good explanation.
Hi! my first time commenting, though I read your blog all the time (and your Metalia reviews blog, and, OK, I'm a stalker, I'll just cop to it.) Anyway, I just wanted to say, like some others, that I really enjoy reading your "Ask a Jew" posts. I even brought up your latest post while at an Indian restaurant with my husband last weekend...kind of in a "want to hear about another cool culture" type of way. So, clearly, Me, I'm the biggest Nerd :) Thanks for sharing!
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