How Odd Of God To Choose The Jew Poem
Who first said "How odd of God to choose the Jews? …ask the rabbi
February 5, 2018 past Rabbi Raymond Apple tree
Read on for article
Rabbi Raymond Apple answers this and other questions.
KOSHER CLOTHING
Rabbi Raymond Apple tree
Q. I heard someone talk well-nigh a "kosher suit". How can there be such a thing?
A. "Kosher" clothing contains no "sha'atnez", the mixture of wool and linen. This is 1 of several Biblical laws about forbidden mixtures (Lev. 19:19, Deut. 22:9-11).
According to the Mishnah (Kilayim 9:8), "sha'atnez" denotes iii processes, "shu'a" (combing), "tavi" (spinning) and "nuz" (twisting). The Biblical law applies if all 3 steps take been employed.
Other combinations, eastward.g. wool and linen which accept only been pressed into felt, are prohibited by rabbinical prescript, though Maimonides holds that they too are covered past the Biblical constabulary.
Even one thread anywhere in the garment tin create "sha'atnez", which applies not only to normal garments simply to items which easily wrap around or residuum on part of the trunk, east.one thousand. towels, pillows and blankets.
However, there is no trouble if a person is wearing ii divide pieces of wearable such as a woollen arrange and a linen shirt, as they are not combined into one garment.
Chemic and microscope tests can easily identify wool and linen fibres, and if in that location is a problem of "sha'atnez" it can normally be remedied with some pocket-sized tailoring work.
"Sha'atnez" does not apply to synthetic fibres, though sometimes even 100% polyester suits tin incorporate linen in the padding, collar supports, seam bindings, etc.
There accept been many attempts to discover the rationale behind the "sha'atnez" law.
One view is that information technology was God'south intention at the time of creation that every species or category should preserve its own distinct identity.
The Midrash associates the law with the story of Cain and Abel. Linen, coming from the flax found, recalls Cain's offering; wool, from the sheep, is a reminder of Abel'due south, and the meeting of the two represents the see between the ii brothers which led to jealousy and murder.
In aboriginal days a kohen was allowed to vesture "sha'atnez" because only he, as God'south representative, could reconcile and synthesise all diverse elements.
SPIRITUAL & Upstanding Development
Q. Is there a Jewish attitude to non-concrete evolution?
A. Physical evolution is the bailiwick of a separate word, simply we tin can discern at least ii other varieties of evolution.
There is spiritual evolution, nearly which Rav Kook said: "Gradual evolution is i of the countless ways in which He Who is the Life of the Universe reveals Himself".
There is also upstanding evolution, whereby humanity becomes more and more moral and responsible.
Both take a commencement in God and didn't but germinate. Both processes are inside man's potential, merely both have issues with the idea of the survival of the fittest.
In neither case is the development constant and inexorable, and in both cases events such equally the Holocaust threaten both the process of development and the possibility of human history reaching the messianic goal.
Fortunately Judaism is optimistic enough to believe that God watches over His globe and will not let life be cutting off prematurely. As the siddur says, "renews daily the work of creation".
HOW ODD OF GOD
Q. Who originated the famous words, "How odd of God to choose the Jews"?
A. The question was debated in the correspondence columns of the London Jewish Chronicle some years ago.
More than one writer said that it began in a conversation in the Savage Club and the words originated with a foreign correspondent, William Norman Ewer (1885-1977).
In response, someone else said,
Merely not so odd
as those who choose
the Jewish God
only spurn the Jews.
Another response was,
Oh no
it'south not;
God knows
what'due south what.
Still another:
Not odd
of God;
the goyim
badger 'im.
True, there are views that the original comment originated with Hilaire Belloc or GK Chesterton, neither of them besides well disposed towards Jews, merely it is more probable that Ewer, a philo-semite, was the author.
Commenting on Chesterton'south antisemitism, the poet Humbert Wolfe wrote:
Hither lies GK Chesterton
who to heaven would have gone
But didn't when he heard the news
that the place was run by Jews.
Rabbi Apple served for 32 years every bit the main minister of the Great Synagogue, Sydney, Australia's oldest and most prestigious congregation. He was Australia's highest profile rabbi and held many public roles. He is at present retired and lives in Jerusalem.
Source: https://www.jwire.com.au/who-first-said-how-odd-of-god-to-choose-the-jews-ask-the-rabbi/
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