[Avodah] the basics

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 08:14:08AM -0700, Saul.Z.Newman at kp.org wrote:
: >Shabbos, Kashrus, and Niddah
: 
: on one hand , this bare minimum speaks to  jewish status  [ mechallel 
: shabbos =  goy]  , and general sphere of  kedusha [what one puts into ones 
: body]  .

I don't think so. I think it speaks to affiliation with no halachic
meaning whatsoever. Of the three, only shemiras Shabbos befarhesia
is discussed by chazal in terms of defining whose membership is in
good standing. OTOH, taharas hamishpachah isn't quite assessable by
the community, and therefore how much risk to communal membership
does violating it pose?

I think it was Rn Debby Baker (R' Jon's eishes chayil) who first pointed
out to me that all three mitzvos were historically under control of women.
One always will, but the wife made Shabbos and prepared kosher food.

It is unsurprising to think we define ourselves by our norms for the
home, not shul or beis medrash. But I don't think these are our most
important mitzvos; "only" the ones that most prominantly define us as
a unique observant community.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             When you come to a place of darkness,
micha at aishdas.org        you don't chase out the darkness with a broom.
http://www.aishdas.org   You light a candle.
Fax: (270) 514-1507        - R' Yekusiel Halberstam of Klausenberg zt"l