Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utcsrgv.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!dave
From: dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Ann Landers on Judaism
Message-ID: <5039@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Aug-84 15:23:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.5039
Posted: Tue Aug 14 15:23:28 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Aug-84 16:22:33 EDT
References: <179@mhuxm.UUCP>
Organization: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
Lines: 29

In article <179@mhuxm.UUCP> abeles@mhuxm.UUCP (abeles) writes:
~| 
~| Of course, the rabbis of the 19th century who concluded that
~| electricity is a form of fire were not well-informed scientists,
~| nor did they heed any advice from scientist of the day.
~| Electricity is obviously not fire.
~| 
~| --J. Abeles

Of course, J. Abeles is not a well-informed observant Jew, nor
does he heed any advice from Orthodox rabbis of today.

Why is electricity "obviously" not fire? Why does J. Abeles
presume to know what characteristics of electricity and fire
are relevant to their similarity or difference from a halachic
point of view?

We believe that the Torah was given for all ages, and is
relevant in our technological age. From the point of view
of its effect on Shabbos observance, treating electricity
as fire is entirely appropriate. Turning on a light switch
is in many ways equivalent to lighting a candle. And I find
that not being able to use electrical devices and appliances
adds substantially to the "menuchah" [rest] of Shabbos.

Dave Sherman
Toronto
-- 
 {allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave