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From: klahr@csd2.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Hypocrisy--or, who is a mamzer?
Message-ID: <3780016@csd2.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 12:37:00 EST
Article-I.D.: csd2.3780016
Posted: Thu Feb 28 12:37:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 04:19:05 EST
References: <22536@lanl.ARPA>
Organization: New York University
Lines: 36

:a
Bill Peter's charge of "Ultra-Orthodox" racism vis a vi the Ethiopian Jews
is instructive in illustrating the Halachic, not racist, nature of the
current dispute between Orthodox religious authorities.  As proof of the
"racist motivations of the Ultra-Orthodox", Mr. Peters cites:
         1.  If the Orthodox leaders are worried about Mamzerim, why don't
they require secularly circumcised Jews to be ritually circumcised before
marriage?
         2.If the Orthodox leaders are worried about Mamzerim, why don't they
make sure that a prospective bbride/groom's parents practiced Taharas Mishpacha?
 

         I'm sorry Mr. Peters, but you're mixing apples and oranges!(or as we
say in Hebrew, Mah inyan Shmitta aytzel Har Seenai!) While the laws of Family
Purity(Taharas Mishpacha) and the religious circumcision procedure are both
Halachic imperatives, NEITHER ONE'S ABSENCE MAKES AN INDIVIDUAL A MAMZER!  THEREIS NO HALACHIC DISAGREEMENT ON THIS,EITHER!

        On the other hand, if a Jewish community has not been practicing a
Halachically legitimate form of divorce, the child of a divorcee and her new
husband would be Halachically considered a Mamzer. As far as the Ethiopian
Jewish community is concerned, there are many factual and Halachic issues
which must be ascertained- social and religious practices of the community,
Halachic status of any single individual when doubts are raised about unknown
lineages in the community as a whole, and many other questions.  I don't mean
to take sides on the issue, but I do think that a reasonable person should
agree that raising the question of Mamzairus is legitimate, rather than a
convenient issue  to be used to slam those stereotypical "wild-eyed
Ultra-Orthodox fanatics".
      
      Wishing a Good Shabbos to Bill Peters and everyone else,
                           Pinchus Klahr   Arpanet klahr@nyu-csd2
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