Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site vilya.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!decwrl!decvax!mcnc!akgua!whuxlm!vilya!am From: am@vilya.UUCP (MALEK) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Not a Proof Message-ID: <174@vilya.UUCP> Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 12:48:52 EDT Article-I.D.: vilya.174 Posted: Wed Aug 7 12:48:52 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 07:11:05 EDT References: <628@sfmag.UUCP> <213@sesame.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 29 > > > a) Torah law is based on "consent of the governed", said > > > consent having been given at Mt. Sinai. > > > > I realize that there are midrashim that say (on the surface) that > > the acceptance of our forefathers is somehow binding on us. > > However, these can be interpreted homiletically. I know of no > > source which interpret these midrashim halachically. (Does > > anyone?) Yitzchok Samet > > For whatever it is worth, in chasidus we learn that ALL jewish souls > of all times were at Sinai and ALL accepted to Torah. Therefore, every > jew has already accepted to Torah. Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner This is not based on chassidus, but on a pasuk in Devarim, Parshat Nitzavim: Ki et asher yeshno fo imanu omed hayom lifnai adonai elohainu v'et asher ainenu po imanu hayom. (sixth pasuk in Nitzavim). (free translation: whoever is here is standing with us today as we sign this treaty with Hashem and whoever is not here is also with us today) The involuntary acceptence of the Torah by the Jews bothered the sages throughout the ages; therefore the midrashim about a second acceptence in the time of Mordechai and Esther and many covenants in the time of Joshua, Nehemiah, etc. This is also part of the reason for the great significance of the public acceptence of the "yoke of mitzvot" at the age of 13(12). >>> Does anyone have a proper answer to Samet's question? Avi Malek -- Avi Malek @ATT Bell Labs Parsippany, NJ