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Interaction with the Outside World: Difference between revisions
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Interaction with the Outside World (view source)
Revision as of 16:55, 12 October 2014
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# In order to maintain a strong Jewish identity as an individual and as a community, it is critical for the community to remain isolated in some sense. For example, intermarriage is a very serious sin and leads to the breakdown of the Jewish nation.<ref>Evidence that chazal believed in distancing ourselves from the outside world: | # In order to maintain a strong Jewish identity as an individual and as a community, it is critical for the community to remain isolated in some sense. For example, intermarriage is a very serious sin and leads to the breakdown of the Jewish nation.<ref>Evidence that chazal believed in distancing ourselves from the outside world: | ||
* Intermarriage is a very serious sin. The Torah forbids it and warns how it will lead to idolatry. There is a dispute whether intermarriage with non-Jews other than the 7 nations of Canaan is Biblical or Rabbinic in nature. Either way, the gemara Sanhedrin 82a records the punishment from the prophets of someone who intermarries, being cut off from the Jewish people. This sentiment is also found in Eruvin 19a, which says that those who intermarry will not be saved from Gehinnom. Such is the gravity of intermarriage. | * Intermarriage is a very serious sin. The Torah forbids it and warns how it will lead to idolatry. There is a dispute whether intermarriage with non-Jews other than the 7 nations of Canaan is Biblical or Rabbinic in nature. Either way, the gemara Sanhedrin 82a records the punishment from the prophets of someone who intermarries, being cut off from the Jewish people. This sentiment is also found in Eruvin 19a, which says that those who intermarry will not be saved from Gehinnom. Such is the gravity of intermarriage. | ||
* Chazal enacted several decrees against products of non-Jews such as their | * The Rambam (Isurei Biyah 12:7-8) writes that even though intermarriage isn't a capital crime it is extremely serious because unlike other incestuous relationships the child born from that relationship is still one's child and is Jewish, the child born from intermarriage isn't Jewish and isn't halachically one's child. | ||
* Chazal enacted several decrees against products of non-Jews such as their oil, wine, and bread. The reason for these enactments was to prevent intermarriage (Avoda Zara 36b). Similarly, they forbad eating their cooked dishes to prevent intermarriage (Rashi Avoda Zara 35a s.v. VeHaShelakot).</ref> | |||
# The Jewish people are praised for their isolationism.<ref>Bamidbar 23:9, Devarim 32:12</ref> Chazal see this as fundamental to our identity. <ref>Shemot Rabba 36:1 comments that Bnei Yisrael are compared to oil because just like oil doesn't mix with other liquids, so too the Jews don't mix with the other nations. Maharal (Nesach Yisrael ch. 25) writes that Bnei Yisrael are compared to fire and the nations to water because if they mix the water puts out the fire and if they stay separate the fire can evaporate the water.</ref> | # The Jewish people are praised for their isolationism.<ref>Bamidbar 23:9, Devarim 32:12</ref> Chazal see this as fundamental to our identity. <ref>Shemot Rabba 36:1 comments that Bnei Yisrael are compared to oil because just like oil doesn't mix with other liquids, so too the Jews don't mix with the other nations. Maharal (Nesach Yisrael ch. 25) writes that Bnei Yisrael are compared to fire and the nations to water because if they mix the water puts out the fire and if they stay separate the fire can evaporate the water.</ref> | ||
