Recently I posted re: using the Torah as a Proverbial Fig Leaf: <br><div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">See: NismaBlog<br>
Post: The Proverbial "Fig Leaf" - Is This Torah Hi - v'Llilmod Ani Tzarich?
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Link: <a href="http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/2007/10/proverbial-fig-leaf-is-this-torah-hi.html" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/2007/10/proverbial-fig-leaf-is-this-torah-hi.html
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</a><br><br></blockquote></div><br>The point of the above posting was to make what I thought was a patently obvious point: , to whit people can use the Torah to cover-up their true inner desire - in this case voyeurism.
<br><br>But the article itself was a fig leaf. I was not out to pander by using a titillating subject! Aderabba- Au contraire! I was trying to make a subtle point by hammering everyone over the head with a blatant point.
<br><br>The blatant point is that some take advantage of Torah texts for satisfying their yetzer horo - in this case libido.<br><br>But what about OTHER uses of Torah as a fig leaf?<br><br>How about the following:<br><ol>
<li>Those who use Torah to gain POWER or AUTHORITY over others?</li><li>Those who use Torah to satisfy their drive to argue [I am guilty as charged your honour!]</li><li>Those who use Torah as a divisive toll to split communities. [I pray I am not guilty of this one, too]
</li><li>And finally - perhaps the most egregious to me - Those who use Torah to engage in character assassination. [is in the spirit of 'hetz shachut leshonom"] Their tongues [or keyboards] are used to engage in attacking people personally -all in the name of Torah! And they are REALLY using the Torah as a Fig Leaf to hide their nefarious designs!?
<br></li></ol>Without the use of my first posting these 4 points were difficult to make. So I did a slight of hand and used a fig leaf posting to cover my true intentions! Are people [ab]using Torah to get AT people? And if so, what can be done about it?
<br>-- <br>Kol Tuv / Best Regards,<br><a href="mailto:RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com">RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com</a><br>Please Visit: <br><a href="http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/">http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/</a>