The rabbis were not all in agreement when electricity was discovered that it was forbidden on shabbas. But the idea that it would be a violation won out and thus the ways of the ultra orthodox believer today. That said, I once could not understand this as I reasoned that if you were a Jew and had a nice carpet, in the winter time you might make a spark when walking on the carpet and touching the doorknob. Did this mean we needed wooden flooring? I did not know. But I liked the carpets and I didn't think that God made carpet only for the non jewish population. So that said, I questioned a fully seemingly observant orthodox jew that I had gotten to know. He insisted that electricity was indeed against shabbas and that I was trying to make him angry. I did not get an answer as to what to do if you are under the bed sheets and make static electricity, but I reasoned that God knows that is going to happen. So if static electricity does not infringe upon shabbas, why would wall electricity or the electricity of a battery. Its just common sense that this is the exact same thing. One a situation you can not avoid and one that you must make much mental effort to observe. I had a tough time but I decided to go with the rabbis and observe as they wish me to do so. So for a year, I fretted with any electrical change I might make. I had a habit of asking for forgiveness when I might accidentally touch the bathroom light when I went in the bathroom. Good, I felt like a human being that loved to keep shabbas, the right way I thought. But I must tell you that today is a new day and that old ideas are not exactly scientifically sound. So therefore, I say that you can indeed use your energy to do your job on shabbas. Cooking too is acceptable. I must say that I am not going to roast cookies on the fire or a hot dog or anything else, but I do not think I am going to even avoid using the Stove. The toaster oven on the other hand I will not use. It simply is not a totally safe item and can catch fire. We have an electric stove and I am 100% certain there will be no fire. Same with the coffee maker. So enjoy your day, its not pagan. As for the microwave. I will not use it at all. There is a reason. It could cause a flame if there was a tin foil put in there. But that said, I know I wont get a flare up but just because I dont want to make a whole new religious movement, we do need somthing from the past. Ok, I'm just kidding. I guess I'll be using the microwave from now on, but make sure you dont have any metal in there or you will light a flame. Thats my take and I hope you guys are happy. In fact, I predict that the non aligned reform type or even conservative Jew might agree with me on these matters. Few are shomer shabbas as the orthodox think that they are. But thats ok. I am not going to be preaching morality and presence in the universe. Just dont light a flame on shabbas, dont make work for monetary gain and dont do a business transaction. The rest is in the archives of yesteryear I do believe. So lets consider that God did not make electricity be a new thing without making sure that Shabbas would be prefectly enjoyed. Electricity is not our enemy and we don't need to go back to the middle ages for a day at all. I do not want to make you all unhappy if you really think that I am a looney toon and that my own name is synonymous with rebellion and heresy. But that said, I have long thought these matters and practiced as it seemed possible. I will report to you that when I made a light change on shabbas (turn on or off), I never felt Gods wrath. But I do admit that I knew God was not happy when I drove my gas burning vehicle. I'm still making sacrifices though, no smoking with a flame on shabbas. Its really tempting and you can indeed argue that it is medically indicated and thus it would indeed be permissible to light a flame (healing trumps observance if the healing is a priority such as in a fellow whose temper could not be controlled without his nicotine fix). But that said, I will be ok so no smoking on shabbas today. I have plenty of nicorette gum to handle the nicotine attack that never really attacks and I just like the gum a lot. Thanks!
ADDENDUM: I will say this... using electicity on shabbas after a year of not doing so makes me feel like there is static energy in my own hair. Thats actually quite exciting. But my hair does not feel like it is standing on end. I think that is what the rabbis who decided the fate of electricity thought, we be all Jews walking around with hair sticking out and making lighting sparks that might light a fire. No such Jews exist I may tell you except in horror movies. So enjoy the electricity. And keep making the cholent. Its too good to pass up and its a tradition now. It reminds us that we must not make a flame and it is beautiful and a nice useful way to live. But at least now you know you can boil some soup, I say if you don't make your cholent and you wont be going to purgatory or destroy the place of the Jewish people in history or the universe. 2 points for the less than stringent Jew and hopefully a touchdown for the religious Jews when they adopt true Shabbas orientated practices rather than shabbas paranoia which I will say is not against God but it really isn't going to make you any holier or any more intelligent. Thanks!
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