[Avodah] The Main Idea of Judaism

[Lisa Liel]

On 7/10/2012 6:06 PM, David Riceman wrote:
> RLL:
>
> <<It's not a form of avodat Hashem?  I think it can be.  If it isn't, 
> maybe that's something to work on.>>
>
> I hate to flog a dead horse, but one more comment on this.
>
> If you think, as I do, that the categories of mitzvah and aveirah are 
> central to Judaism, this is a a troubling attitude.  If a change in 
> perspective can transform a neutral act into a virtuous act, why can't 
> it also change a prohibited act into a virtuous act?

Because it's prohibited.  Prohibited and required acts are defined.  
Neutral acts aren't.  You can think of it in terms of chazaka, if you 
like.  A prohibited act has a chazaka of being prohibited, if you'll 
excuse what looks like a tautology.  So in order to get it out of that 
chazaka, it takes something substantial.  For example, lighting a fire 
on Shabbat is a prohibited act.  But a choleh she-yesh bo sakana is a 
phenomenon that can transform that prohibited act into a permitted act, 
or even a required act.

A neutral act has no chazaka.  It's void of any inherent 
characteristic.  So to make it prohibited is fairly simple.  Browsing 
the internet: neutral (aseifa to the contrary).  Browsing to a porn 
site, prohibited.  Browsing to a Torah site, virtuous.  The neutral act 
itself isn't the issue.  It's how it's used.

Lisa