May 4, 2009
2 interesting statements from the Chief Rabbinate
The Chief Rabbinate has put out two interesting statements today.
1. the Chief Rabbinate put out a statement reminding everyone that while part of the tradition of Lag B'Omer is to make bonfires burning wood, all should remember that wood should not be taken from building sites or private property, but only from hefker. As well, care should be taken not to destroy trees, or parts thereof, as that would be destructive for no purpose and is prohibited.
As well, they warn about taking care of all safety issues, and not to harm the environment.
Funny that the Chief Rabbinate should need to warn about this.
2. Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has issued a statement in response to the Swine Flu (or Mexican Flu if you prefer). According to Ladaat.net, Rabbi Amar has called upon everyone to accept this Thursday as a day of fasting and prayer. He quotes the gemara that says when there is illness by the pigs, they declared a fast day - because the digestive tracts of the swine are similar to that of humans. As well, when there is a plague in one place, they should fast in other places as well, as the plague can spread from one place to the other easily.
Rabbi Amar also warns us that we should all take care to follow all health instructions from the experts in order to prevent infection.
1. the Chief Rabbinate put out a statement reminding everyone that while part of the tradition of Lag B'Omer is to make bonfires burning wood, all should remember that wood should not be taken from building sites or private property, but only from hefker. As well, care should be taken not to destroy trees, or parts thereof, as that would be destructive for no purpose and is prohibited.
As well, they warn about taking care of all safety issues, and not to harm the environment.
Funny that the Chief Rabbinate should need to warn about this.
2. Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has issued a statement in response to the Swine Flu (or Mexican Flu if you prefer). According to Ladaat.net, Rabbi Amar has called upon everyone to accept this Thursday as a day of fasting and prayer. He quotes the gemara that says when there is illness by the pigs, they declared a fast day - because the digestive tracts of the swine are similar to that of humans. As well, when there is a plague in one place, they should fast in other places as well, as the plague can spread from one place to the other easily.
Rabbi Amar also warns us that we should all take care to follow all health instructions from the experts in order to prevent infection.
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I don't remember if you ever commented on this article from two years ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shofarnews.co.il/site/ARDetile.asp?id=8424
interesting. your post sparked this parshablog post. i have my doubts that the gemara was talking about swine flu.
ReplyDeletekt,
josh
oops, I meant to link to this parshablog post.http://parsha.blogspot.com/2009/05/was-rav-yehuda-concerned-about-swine.html
ReplyDeletekt,
josh
OOOOOOOOOOHH. The Rabbanut is making halachic rulings. I'm trembling. I dont know waht to do with myself. Mt. Sinai has erupted.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing more useless than rulings (especially when they are inconvenient)of the Rabbanut are rulings of the Eida Chardeidis.
D.A.
I find it ironic that many of the people who are panicking about swine flu smoke and fail to use seat belts.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at the statistics, you have more chance of being killed on the road than by swine flu, (heck you have more chance of being killed by a stampeding wilderbeest).
Let's keep it in proportion!
rw - I am not sure what you mean. who who smokes and does not wear a seat belt is panicking about swine flu?
ReplyDeleteTo clarify- many people who are panicking about swine flu do not seem to be equally concerned about other dangers that are much more prevalent and liable to cause death, such as smoking or poor road safety. This seems to be a case across the world - it wasn't a dig at any particular sector of the Israeli population, for a change ;)
ReplyDeleterw - ok. I thought you were saying those panicking, they themselves smoke and dont wear seatbelts...
ReplyDelete