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Chabad.org » Learning & Values » Questions & Answers » Ask the Rabbi » Latest Questions » The Big Picture » Why all the rabbinic safeguards?








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Why all the rabbinic safeguards?


By Menachem Posner

Question:

I don't understand why the rabbis created so many laws to ensure that we do not transgress any of the Torah's laws; don't they trust us to do things right?

Answer:

Here is an analogy:

You insure your house, health, and the things which are important to you. You don't say that I trust myself not to fall down the steps, and that I am confidant that I will not crash my car, because these are things which are too important to leave up to chance.

The Torah is the same way. Every commandment is precious. So precious, that we set up all kinds of precautions to make sure that we do not accidentally transgress.

Not only that, but the very fact that we set up all of these precautions shows ourselves and G‑d how precious these mitzvahs are to us.

After all, we don't insure things that are not worth anything.

Please let me know if this helps.

Yours truly,

Rabbi Menachem Posner
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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Apr 17, 2011
passover is here and let us remember
that if you are just doing these rituals mindlessly, you're no better than the israelite slaves making bricks. The story of passover is the story of addiction. The slaves found their "high" from the routinized work of making bricks. What do you do in your life that is routinized and done without thinking of Hashem? We do a lot of things to bury our shame and guilt. And by doing repetitive behaviors, we can escape those problems temporarily. People who do drugs yearn for another fix. The israelites, in the desert, despaired because they yearned to go back to their brickmaking in Egypt. My prayer is that all people start with this notion before they undertake anything. Hashem doesn't want zombies. He wants righteous people trying to bring holiness back to this world.
Posted By Tim, lake forest, CA

Posted: Apr 5, 2011
Follow-up Question
Are the Rabbinic fences considered divinely inspired?
Posted By Anonymous, Chapel Hill

Posted: Aug 8, 2010
Fences
I don't understand why the fence is built so far from the Torah. Take the meat and milk thing. Chickens do not even nurse, but you can't have a glass of milk with a chicken dinner.
Posted By Ms. Dixie Porter

Posted: Dec 3, 2008
fences
i agree in essence, but not all insurance plans actually safeguard what is precious. i am not going to rape my dentist when she is sticking a needle into my head just because we are alone. but i will buy a "net nanny" to prevent myself from watching pornography on the internet. i will wear modest clothes to insure that i don't cause women to have lustful thoughts but i dont want my wife to humiliate herself by showing her sanitary towel to the rabbi to make sure that she is pure, surely she has eyes to check herself. if she was going to sin she would do it anyways and the rabbi wont always know when she used that towel.
Posted By danny

Posted: Nov 3, 2008
RE: Halacha
While Conservative does adhere to a modified version of the original halacha, Reform Judaism does not accept halacha at all. their leadership said quite clearly that they choose to be outside of halacha.
Posted By george

Posted: Nov 2, 2008
Halachah
There are both basic halachah that many if not all forms of Judaismregonsize and preform, then there are sect specific, from very observant to community basics secular version.

SO the question should be, (rephrasing your statement) Do the members and leaders of these sects compare the fence laws to the Torah and decide on observance or treat the fences as if they are the Torah and preform without questioning.
Posted By Thomas, Santa Cruz, ca

Posted: Nov 1, 2008
you're right to ask why so many fences
the reality is: G-D says in the Torah, "follow my rules, NO MORE, NO LESS". Chabad is great. but, let's face it. life is very subjective and we all make judgments about following the rules. the ridiculous precautions (fences) should be tested against G-D's admonition to not go "over board" with our alacrity to hold true to the rules. how many cars drive to shabbat services? of course rabbis from all sects look the other way. you'd be crazy not to
Posted By Tim, Glendale, CA

Posted: Oct 16, 2008
Fences - 200bce
Durring the Hellinstic period, beforethe take over and rededication by the Macabees, the political and religious structure took a turn. The Cohenim office became both political and religious. In this time frame, the Rabbis took new authority to make binding Torah like laws (Fences) and thus the fences began. That was for both political and religious reasons.

It is still for the reason: to not transgress Torah, and not to be in exile again.
Yet these fences are good, if you see them as a fence. Realize what Torah is and where the fence is, that is good. I have personal issues calling the fences Torah, for they are not one in the same. As some in Judaism do believe.

So the fences are both respect and problhematic. ALTHOUGH Torah does give commads in which lack definition of preformancee. If the Fences of tradition, how to observe, did not exist, we would be pretty lost or disorganized.

example: The Passover SEDER. Meaning: Order)
Posted By ThomasEchad, Santa Cruz, ca/

Posted: Oct 8, 2008
But why SO many fences?
Posted By Anonymous, Porltand, Or

Posted: Oct 6, 2008
parapet
i think its a torah mitzvah to put a fence about the roof of a home.
Posted By Chuck Short, Columbia, s.c.



 


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