Shabbat Gathering: Being "observant"

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

Time for a kvetch.

I have a big problem with Jews who describe themselves as “observant.” Being an observant Jew implies non-observant Jews, and I cannot abide the expression “non-observant Jew” because most “observant” Jews believe I’m “non-observant.” And I take that as an offense. Personally. And I’ve tried to let this resentment go because it is preventing me from becoming enlightened but I just can’t seem to.

A couple of weeks ago, a good friend reminded me of the Famous Oven of Akhnai Story from Talmud. There’s a lot of rigmarole that takes place in front of the punch line, but the pertinent moment of the midrash is when Rabbi Joshua tells off G!d. The rabbi tells G!d that He gave us Torah and it’s ours now, not G!d’s. And G!d ends up agreeing. G!d says, “My children have defeated me.” (Bava Metzia 59a-b)

As I understand it, we are intended to struggle with Torah. Things have changed a lot since Hashem gave us Torah. We are not Jews in the wilderness. We are not Temple Jews. Those days are gone forever, over a long time ago. Things change. We adapt. Or else. It’s up to us to decide how we are going to observe in 2025ce, not 100bce.

Regarding Mr. Whiskers.

But don’t get me wrong. The more mitzvot I “observe,” the better I feel. Pretty much. Though, I’ll still eat catfish. See, catfish aren’t kosher because they have skin like a shark, not scales. No. I’ll still eat catfish and do so without even the smallest drop of regret for I am a true son of Arkansas.

Anyway, I digress.

The point of this is that I don’t want anyone telling me that my decision about the matter is less important than the rebbe or maybe even Hashem. I’ve studied and pondered and feel competent enough to make decisions for myself about which mitzvot I will and will not “observe.”

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!

Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.

PS

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