The following questions appeared on yesterday’s Windows & Doors post about Jews and anti-Christian bias. Frankly, I am surprised that it took this long for the question to be asked.
Rabbi, this is not a criticism so please don’t think it is,but I was wondering if the time of your post was in my time (Australia) or your time (US) as on my computer it appears as 9.38 am Saturday and I understood many Jewish people don’t use their computers on Shabbat
Jo, let me reassure you that I never take a fair question as an unfair criticism. In fact, I love questions! So thank you.
For starters Jo, the vast majority of Jews do use computers and all other forms of electricity on Shabbat. Perhaps 12% of American Jews to be specific, would not. This number includes those who are Orthodox and a small portion of those who identify with the Conservative movement. So there should be nothing surprising about my posting on Shabbat based on the practice of most Jews, as your question indicates.
As it happens, I am part of that 12%, and live pretty much according to the practices of the Orthodox community, and was ordained within it. Though I describe myself as “just a Jew trying to do what I think God wants of me”. To that end, I can imagine that many Jews would find that entering this conversation is precisely what they want on Shabbat (not to mention the many non-Jews whose participation here is much desired and deeply appreciated), and that they too are doing their best to do what they think is required of them. So, I make sure that there is typically new material here for them on Shabbat morning, and for everyone else who wants it, on Saturday night.
Because I can pre-post with a future time for when it goes up on the site, this is no major effort for me and a real opportunity to embrace people where they are, even if we happen to disagree about the details which get us to where we want to be. And that is a big part of what Windows and Doors is all about.
Thanks for asking!
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 
posted September 22, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Thanks to the Ozzie poster as well as to you, Rabbi, for asking and answering this question, because it was on my mind, too.
No judgment intended, either – simple curiosity.
posted September 22, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I think you mean “Aussie who posted”, not “Ozzie poster”. Unless of course you are a fan of Heavy Metal and have figured out a way to integrate a poster of Ozzy Osbourne into your Windows & Doors experience.
This was too funny and I hope you don’t mind my noticing the spelling error. I make them myself all the time, but they are not as good as yours!
posted September 22, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Rabbi,
I did and I didn’t (mean it), and no, of course I don’t mind even a little bit. Meaning, my husband has worked with Australians and has been there twice, and they call themselves “Ozzies”, like in the Wizard of Oz. It’s a pronunciation thing. I asked him if he was sure, and he said yes.
posted September 22, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Who else but the frontman of Black Sabbath?
posted September 23, 2008 at 5:54 pm
We answer usually to Aussies but Ozzies is a form of Aussies that we also accept
many thanks Jo
posted September 23, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Speaking of keeping the Sabbath holy. Why is the the presidential debate schduled for TV on Friday evening? I’m not Orthodox, but I try to keep the Sabbath in my own way, which doesn’t include watching presdiential debates during the Sabbath. I am usually at services on Friday night anyway.