Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Reeh/0/en"
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<div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | <div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | ||
| + | <category>Centralization of Worship | ||
| + | <p>Devarim 12 speaks of the prohibition against private altars and the need to worship Hashem "in the place that He will choose".</p> | ||
| + | <ul> | ||
| + | <li>Why does Hashem find worship on private altars problematic?</li> | ||
| + | <li>What are the advantages and disadvantages of centralized worship? How might your service of Hashem differ if you always needed to travel to the Mikdash to bring sacrifices, rather than offering them in your backyard?</li> | ||
| + | <li>During which periods in Israelite history were sacrifices prohibited outside of the Mikdash? Devarim 12 suggests two conditions for the prohibition, inheritance of Canaan and security from enemies. What is the relationship between the two? What light does this shed on the possible understandings of the commandment? See <a href="When Were Private Altars Prohibited" data-aht="page">When Were Private Altars Prohibited</a>.</li> | ||
| + | </ul> | ||
| + | </category> | ||
<category>The Purpose of Shemittah | <category>The Purpose of Shemittah | ||
| − | <p>What is the purpose of the Shemittah year? While Ramban focuses on how Shemittah facilitates spiritual growth and recognition of Hashem, | + | <p>What is the purpose of the Shemittah year? While Ramban focuses on how Shemittah facilitates spiritual growth and recognition of Hashem, Shadal emphasizes how it inculcates social equality and concern for the less fortunate. Rambam offers a third option, suggesting that Shemittah serves a practical function in maintaining the fertility of the land.</p> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li>Is it possible that certain commandments were instituted only for utilitarian purposes? What other mitzvot have been given such an explanation?<fn>For one example, see Ralbag on <a href="Tzara'at" data-aht="page">Tzara'at</a>.</fn></li> | <li>Is it possible that certain commandments were instituted only for utilitarian purposes? What other mitzvot have been given such an explanation?<fn>For one example, see Ralbag on <a href="Tzara'at" data-aht="page">Tzara'at</a>.</fn></li> | ||
<li>Does the Torah promote capitalism or socialism? What do the laws of Shemittah suggest?<fn>Ze'ev Jabotinsky notes that the seven year Shemittah cycle and the Jubilee year combine elements of both capitalism and socialism, allowing for checks and balances between the two systems. For six years, a free market economy allows for growth and competition, while the seventh year is designed to mitigate the pitfalls of such a system and reduce the gaps between the different strata of society.</fn></li> | <li>Does the Torah promote capitalism or socialism? What do the laws of Shemittah suggest?<fn>Ze'ev Jabotinsky notes that the seven year Shemittah cycle and the Jubilee year combine elements of both capitalism and socialism, allowing for checks and balances between the two systems. For six years, a free market economy allows for growth and competition, while the seventh year is designed to mitigate the pitfalls of such a system and reduce the gaps between the different strata of society.</fn></li> | ||
| − | <li>How are Shemittah and Shabbat similar? What benefits are gained from an enforced resting and refraining from work?</li> | + | <li>How are Shemittah and Shabbat similar? What benefits are gained from an enforced resting and refraining from work? See <a href="Purpose of Shemittah" data-aht="page">Purpose of Shemittah</a> for more.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 03:18, 11 August 2017
Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Reeh
Centralization of Worship
Devarim 12 speaks of the prohibition against private altars and the need to worship Hashem "in the place that He will choose".
- Why does Hashem find worship on private altars problematic?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of centralized worship? How might your service of Hashem differ if you always needed to travel to the Mikdash to bring sacrifices, rather than offering them in your backyard?
- During which periods in Israelite history were sacrifices prohibited outside of the Mikdash? Devarim 12 suggests two conditions for the prohibition, inheritance of Canaan and security from enemies. What is the relationship between the two? What light does this shed on the possible understandings of the commandment? See When Were Private Altars Prohibited.
The Purpose of Shemittah
What is the purpose of the Shemittah year? While Ramban focuses on how Shemittah facilitates spiritual growth and recognition of Hashem, Shadal emphasizes how it inculcates social equality and concern for the less fortunate. Rambam offers a third option, suggesting that Shemittah serves a practical function in maintaining the fertility of the land.
- Is it possible that certain commandments were instituted only for utilitarian purposes? What other mitzvot have been given such an explanation?1
- Does the Torah promote capitalism or socialism? What do the laws of Shemittah suggest?2
- How are Shemittah and Shabbat similar? What benefits are gained from an enforced resting and refraining from work? See Purpose of Shemittah for more.
