Letters/Discussion Forums
The question of the ‘maidservant’ pushing a pram on the Sabbath
Eli Knight’s letter in last week’s Jewish Report refers. On a practical level, Orthodox Judaism is also a religion of convenience. How many times have I seen Jewish families walking to shul on a Saturday morning, with the domestic servant pushing a pram or holding a toddler’s hand, for example.
Doris Skuy
I quote directly from www.sabbaths.org regarding Shabbat: On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the L-rd made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the L-rd blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Surely such devote Orthodox Jews are flouting this very commandment by making their “maidservants” walk in the hot sun on the Sabbath, doing their work as nannies? Or maybe I shouldn’t be questioning such blatant double standards, because as a follower of Reform Judaism, I am not regarded as learned enough to consider this issue.
I would like you to publish my letter so that I may get a logical response from an Orthodox follower.
Johannesburg
Simeon
March 2, 2016 at 6:07 pm
‘You have answered the question yourself Doris – you are not learned enough to consider the issue.
It begins with your inability to understand Biblical Hebrew. Surely in reform school you learned that \”work\” as we translate it in English, is not \”work\” in the sense that we understand it, but a Hebrew word \”melacha\” which has no counterpart in English and is best translated as work, though it is misleading.
Instead of watching maids push prams in Johannesburg (which by the way does not happen) as you drive by in your Sabbath car, rather stop and try and learn something.
Surely you learned in reform school that the Hebrew word \”avodah\” is work, and yet the Torah uses the word \”melacha\” on Shabbat – a word with no translation in English.
By your question, you have indeed provided the answer – you honesty have no clue. If you represent other followers of reform judaism, you have said much regarding that religion.’
Heather
March 3, 2016 at 10:52 am
‘Your diatribe is a waste of space.
Instead of sarcasm why don’t you use the space to educate the writer if he is so wrong!
‘
David Blend
March 4, 2016 at 7:43 am
‘it is exactly the response from Simeon that ensures that Orthodox religious bigotry is alive and well and simply waiting to pounce on their underlings ? ? ( the non Orthodox ) with the opinions of other historical bigots who are supposedly more learned.
Shame on you Simeon ! ! ! ‘