Question: What is the Conservative Jewish perspective of certain Biblical commandments?
Dear Rabbi,
What is the Conservative Jewish perspective of certain commandments that appear in the Bible such as the prohibition of mixing wool and linen, the laws of menstrual impurity, and the law which appeared in this weeks Torah portion, which prohibits adding or subtracting commandments from the Torah?
Thanks, Dan
Answer: Dear Dan,
Generally speaking, unless there is good reason - a major change in ethical and moral issues, or a change in our scientific knowledge, for example - Conservative Judaism is respectful of Torah laws.
Very often the observance is also a modification of these Torah laws, not a rejection of them outright. The issue of mixing wool and linen is a good example. While indeed most Conservative Jews don't have their daily clothing checked for "shaatnes," the mixture of wool and linen, nonetheless they would not knowingly mix them in making their own or purchasing a tallit.
Regarding the laws of menstrual separation between husband and wife, I - as a Seminary trained Conservative Rabbi - teach these laws to couples about to be married. I emphasize that the separation time gives them an opportunity to ultimately return to a relationship as renewed. I know that some will wait only for the period to be concluded, while others may wait for the "clean" days as well. And, I also encourage the use of the Mikveh.
Regarding the issue of adding or subtracting commandments from the Torah, the Conservative Movement looks at the Torah as a text which has evolved at the hands of human beings over the course of centuries, without regard to arguing about its origin. We don't take a fundamentalistic approach to it, and the context in which the laws appear and the historical unfolding of Torah are as important as the commandments themselves.
Conservative Jews are not different from other Jews and movements. If death is the punishment for breaking Shabbat, when did you ever see a Jew stoned for that offense in any Jewish community - and that goes for so many possible offenses with their punishments. So, bottom line is that we all modify the laws, even if some consider that subtracting or adding.
Best Wishes,
Rabbi Dov
