Yes, actually, it IS black and white

A halacha was being discussed, and the statement was made that "it's [not, or never, or hardly ever, or whatever] black and white. Wrong. The halacha tells us what to do, and we have to do it. We may not want to, but we know what we have to do. Usually, in life, what's right and wrong is pretty clear cut; the usual problem is the individual not being up to the task.

In this case, the situation being referred to was the rotzeach bishgaga (negligent murderer) not being allowed to leave the ir miklat (city of refuge) until the death of the kohein gadol, otherwise he risks being killed by the goel hadam (avenger). The mishna states that he may not leave even to save a life, not even to save klal yisrael. Now, there are two ways to understand this halacha--either it's assur for him to leave, or it's mutar but exposes him to risk. Now, if it's prohibited for him to leave, then it's most certainly black and white--the Torah tells us it's assur, so it's wrong. Even if we think we know better, that there are good reasons to leave, etc., it's still wrong. We look to the Torah for right and wrong, not to our own personal instincts. On the other hand, if it's not prohibited to leave the ir miklat, just really risky, well, the halacha is pretty clear cut there too--one is not obligated to risk one's life to save another, but it is considered a meritorious act. Not as black and white, but pretty close.

Again, we are never in a quandary about knowing what to do when we follow the Torah (of course, sometimes we're not certain what the halacha is, because there are differences of opinion, but that's a completely different type of case).

"Chareidim must serve in the IDF"

Maybe yes, maybe no. Obviously, there are arguments on both sides (if you don't think there are arguments on both sides, maybe you should learn to see beyond your "side"). However, the pesukim used as "proof" for this assertion were laughable. The story in the parasha concerns those shevatim who were not going to enter Eretz Yisrael. They offered to not only fight for the land, but in fact to lead the forces in battle. Somehow, this was being used as "proof" that chareidim should go into the Army. Imagine: a rabbi speaking from a pulpit in Roslyn Heights, using, as proof that chareidim in Eretz Yisrael should go into the IDF, the story in the Torah that those who were going to live in chutz la'aretz would fight first! Ridiculous! If the story demonstrates anything, it is that Rabbi Block should be the first to volunteer for the IDF, not sit back in his comfy home in Roslyn and dictate which Israelis should be fighting. Maybe it's time for him, in fact, to go.

What's the definition of an American Zionist? Someone who's willing to fight for Israel--down to the last Israeli!

Whoa!

A rather pleasant surprise this past shabbat, parashat Pinchas. No criticisms of Orthodoxy or adulation of anti-Torah movements. Just a cogent analysis of Pinchas' behavior, coupled with an attack on intermarriage (okay, not exactly going out on a limb, but still, we're giving credit where credit is due). And all this, on a day when there was a large crowd in shul!

Are we witnessing the turning over of a new leaf? Only time will tell.