On 9/9/2010 9:36 AM, Orlando Enrique Fiol wrote:
> Janet > wrote:
>> The problem here is that in order to say the blessing on bread and to
>> say the grace after meals, which on the Sabbath is a big part of the
>> celebration, her rabbi declared she has to eat a certain amount of
>> bread. She doesn't have to eat the bread, but she can't partake in these
>> prayers if she doesn't eat it.
>
> It sounds to me like Ellen needs a different rabbi.

You might be correct. I was telling my own rabbi about this whole thing
and he said I was absolutely correct that her rabbi should have looked
for a interpretation that would permit her to say the blessings.
Specifically, he stated that there is no law that he knows of that would
prohibit saying the grace after meals, what Ellen calls "benchen"
without having eaten bread,that he is aware of. I am aware of a "rule"
that says if you haven't eaten bread, you don't have to say the entire
grace, but neither of us could come up with one stating one *had* to eat
bread. Again, there are interpretations and there are interpretations.

I am led to believe that when she asked her rabbi her question or
"sheila" she may not have phrased it appropriately for him to give a
considered answer. Perhaps instead of asking how much bread is required
to say the blessing and the grace, she might have asked her rabbi if
there was a dispensation for saying both of these with out eating any
bread (or matzoh) when one has an illness that makes eating even a small
amount a danger to her health. Sometimes getting a good answer requires
asking a good question.

>> I don't think it's Ellen's problem as much as it's a rabbi who is
>> somewhat clueless about dispensations for these kinds of things.
>> Wherever he found the rules about the size of pieces of bread that
>> qualify for the blessing, he could also have found something about
>> making the blessings without bread if there is an illness involved, but
>> he didn't.
>
> And because of her orthodox faith, she implicitly trusts her rabbi's
> interpretations of Jewish law, even when they may compromise her health.

See above.

Yes. Her beliefs require her to follow the interpretation of her rabbi.

Many people equate a rabbi with a priest or minister. Though the job
has kind of evolved to mean a person who leads a religious service, that
is not really what a rabbi does. Jews do not need a rabbi to lead their
services. It's nice to have a cantor, but generally any knowledgeable
congregant can lead a Jewish service. Jews can also pray alone though
certain prayers require a quorum of 10.

The word "rabbi" translates to "teacher" and a rabbi's main job is not
to lead religious services, butto answer the questions of his
congregation (or followers) about religious practices.

>> This is how she chooses to practice her religion. If she doesn't eat the
>> bread and says the prayers, she will have considered herself as having
>> committed a sin.
>
> Praying to God while not endangering one's health is not a sin.

It will be difficult for most people to understand the culture
surrounding the way many orthodox practice their religion. Many Jews
don't understand it so I don't expect a non-Jew would be able to.

>> Let's leave it, please.
>
> I don't think we should; it cuts to the core of what it means to live with
> diabetes while trying to be religious.
>

....which is why I responded.


--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.