[Avodah] Ehrlachkeit, not Frumkeit

[Beth & David Cohen]

"I always  thought that it is a mitzva to be ethical, honest and have
integrity.  "V'asita hatov v'hayashar" for starters. So how can it be that
being honest  and ethical is outside the definition of being "frum" if you
define frum as  "keeping the mitzvos"?
David I. Cohen

>>>>EVERYONE sins, but if he keeps the basics he is frum.
Frum just means observant, Orthodox.  It is not a synonym for  righteous
and perfect in all taryag mitzvos, though it would be a wonderful  world if
it
were. I am just defining the word in its common, long-time  usage." (SNIP)

Toby Katz"

I am not sure what "observant. Orthodox." means.
I do think that no one uses either term to indicate that a person never
commits an aveira. The terms, however defined, speak of beliefs coupled with
how the person generally acts. They define what a person believes and how he
generally leads his life based on those beliefs.
To be more specific, I think what you are trying to get at with the concept
of "frum" (forgive me for putting words in your mouth) is that frum
represents a category of behavior that makes us and our lifestyle separate
from the world at large e.g. head coverings (men and women). talit,
tefillin, davening, shabbat, kashrut etc.etc.
I also think that that is the very reason that the term sometimes can have a
derogatory connotation. It leaves out much of halachic requirements. It
highlights the externally objective criteria, while not considering the just
as important subjective areas of halacha.
IOW, frum can be positively descriptive --- but we need to recognize that it
is only part of the story.

Shabbat shalom
David I. Cohen
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