- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Jan 27, 2015 16:13:19 GMT -8
Jan 24, 2015 20:59:10 GMT -8 garrett said:
Alon - ... Wanted to ask you a question. You mentioned adopting some of the halachic applications that you follow and the rabbi in your area. Would you be willing to tell me more about this? ...Dan C
garrett, and all- one of the biggest and probably overlooked or missed halachic points is to separate the holy from the profane, or common things. And this should touch every aspect of our lives. We are a holy people, set apart for service to YHVH.
Yechezkel 44:23 (OJB) And they shall teach My people the difference between the kodesh and chol, and cause them to discern between the tameh and the tahor.
Ezekiel 44:23 They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
Vayikra 10:9-11(OJB) Do not drink yayin nor strong drink, thou, nor thy banim with thee, when ye go into the Ohel Mo’ed, lest ye die; it shall be chukkat olam throughout your generations; And that ye may put difference between kodesh and chol (common, profane), and between tameh (unclean) and tahor (clean); And that ye may teach the Bnei Yisroel all the chukkim which Hashem hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moshe.
Leveticus 10:9-11 "Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses."
How this looks in practice is a work in progress, however I can give you some examples now:
Anything holy must not be discarded like garbage. It must either be buried or burned. This includes any time you copy or receive any document with scripture on it. Old Bibles, and even those little single verse or single book mass mailings to generate donations. Old Tzitzit. Tallittot, while not themselves holy are made so by their use in holy service. When I work leather, every scrap of the black sides I use for making teffilin is kadosh; even the small shavings and minute trimmings. Anything I take out of stock, such as thread becomes kadosh and what is not used, down to small clippings goes into the kadosh bin. The roll itself is not kadosh, and may be used on other common items. Neither are the tools. Blank paper trimmed from the scriptures I roll up and place in the teffilin is kadosh, as are mistakes and practice sheets.
Chabad has some good guidelines here:
www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/475304/jewish/Proper-Disposal-of-Holy-Objects.htm
We don't follow their protocol exactly as they are ultra orthodox. But it'll give you a good idea. Our synagogue is looking at constructing a geniza- a burrried container for any items we have that are kadosh. One woman makes tzitziyot for the synagogue store, and the trimmings from her yarn are kadosh as well.
We also set apart any items used to honor God or to do mitzvoth as kadosh. They are not to be used for common purposes. Netti cups- any cup used for n'tilat yadiyim- are kadosh and not used for anything else. You don't have to go to extremes- my desk which I use to study the Bible is also used to pay my bills; right up to 1/2 hr before sunset Friday evening. Which brings us to one of the most important things we keep kadosh, separated to God; Shabbos.
Shemot 20:8 (OJB) Remember Yom HaShabbos, to keep it kodesh.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
This time, as with times of prayer and Bible study, is holy. We do not do any common work at this time. The proscription is not as rigid with, say study. And there can be exceptions even on the Sabbath. But these times are kadosh, and we should make sure when making exceptions that there is no other way, and that it is important enough to allow the interruption. Time cannot be placed in a geniza, and holy times should not be disposed of lightly.
As I said, it is a work in progress to find more ways where we should keep things kadosh, holy, separated unto Elohim. Trust the Ruach to reveal things to you in the right time. Don't beat yourself up over past mistakes, just move forward from where you are. And if you have questions or concerns, ask here and we can all study and pray on it and maybe help. And post your victories and revelations too, as they may (probably will) help the rest of us here.
Dan C
