A Jewish Lesson in Abramoff's Misdeeds?
Wednesday January 4, 2006
The news of Jack Abramoff’s guilty plea is, sadly, just the latest chapter in the sordid story of the intersection of money and power.Going back to the story of Purim, we see how the wicked Haman–the first lobbyist?–paid King Achashverosh...
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About Virtual Talmud
This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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And by acting this way while claiming to be "religious," he... [turns] his offense against other people into a chillul ha-shem (an offense against God) as well. Well that certainly seems intuitive. However are there any passages to that effect in the Talmud? And could someone perhaps cite one for me? Thanks!
" If a man profanes things which are sacred, and offends the holidays and puts his fellow to shame publicly even though he has a knowledge of the Torah and good works, he has no share in the world to come. (3.19) Isn't this piece of halacha applicable more so to one's relations to other Jews not so much to the outside world. While there are plenty of legal rulings that would deem Abramoff's actions wrong, isn't there one that would be more encompassing? Or does is this one applicable to all Jews. Just curious about the context in which it was written.
It's not enough to claim religion, any religion, and it isn't enough to show up to services or to do the obvious public gestures. In order for someone to be truly religious, he must live a devout life in private also. God see what is in your heart even if you don t.
It's at this point that I usually ask, How many rules can one break and still be considered "observant"? Is there any evidence that this guy ever did anything? I even heard his restaurant had problems being kosher.
Just because a person is religious, doesnt mean he is perfect. Many religious people make mistakes.
who has the time to care about jack abramoff?!