68 replies to this topic

[Savannah]

M'doraisa. Again, as long as it is a purely destructive act.
All of the examples you chose are only melachos if they are constructive in nature.

I was giving a high-level description of what melachot are, not describing the details. It doesn't matter if it's d'oreita or d'rabbanon. Assur is assur.

[Nooch]

I was giving a high-level description of what melachot are, not describing the details. It doesn't matter if it's d'oreita or d'rabbanon. Assur is assur.

Assur is assur, but dont lump everything into the melacha category if its not.

[Savannah]

Assur is assur, but dont lump everything into the melacha category if its not.

Demolishing is a melacha. I don't know what you're trying to say.

[Nooch]

Demolishing is a melacha. I don't know what you're trying to say.

Demolishing with the intent to build is a melacha. Destroying stam is not.

[Savannah]

Demolishing with the intent to build is a melacha. Destroying stam is not.

Melacha d'oreita. D'rabbanan it includes destroying stam.

[Nooch]

Melacha d'oreita. D'rabbanan it includes destroying stam.

Perhaps. But when giving the textbook definition of what melacha really means, it helps to keep it at the biblical level.

[Savannah]

Perhaps. But when giving the textbook definition of what melacha really means, it helps to keep it at the biblical level.

I wasn't giving a textbook definition, I was giving a high-level conceptual definition.

[Nooch]

I wasn't giving a textbook definition, I was giving a high-level conceptual definition.

Yes but without specificity, it creates confusion and possible mistakes down the road.

[Savannah]

Yes but without specificity, it creates confusion and possible mistakes down the road.

I doubt it. Nobody's going to be making halachic decisions based on what I said. And even if they do, you can go be wrong by assuming it's assur.

[xDenax]

That's a good idea. I just don't know how many books on Judaism they would have.

I think I saw you are in San Fransisco? They will have a TON of books I am sure. Also, you can try the shul libraries around town.

[BeachKat]

I believe that Conservative Judaism allows electricity and electronic writing on Shabbat, so to them, there is no problem with using a Kindle at all.

I'm sure that most people on this board would tell you to throw away the following books, because they are written from a Reform/Conservative perspective:

Mishkan T'filah, The Women's Torah Commentary, What's Special about Judaism, To Life!, Living a Joyous Life, What is a Jew? On the Doorposts of Your Home, and The Jewish Book of Why.

That's why I listed what has been recommended and what I have so far. I would like to read books that are more from an orthodox point of view. Books from artscroll.com would be orthodox, right? Other recommendations would be appreciated as well.

I think I saw you are in San Fransisco? They will have a TON of books I am sure. Also, you can try the shul libraries around town.

I am actually in Napa, about an hour away from San Francisco. I attend shul in Berkeley though and I just found a book store there called Afikomen. I will go there next time I am in Berkeley on a Sunday or once my classes start after Yom Kippur.

[xDenax]

If you ordered books from artschroll you might find what you want. What types of books do you want? I mean, what topics?

[Tonga]

Hi BeachKat, can you talk to people at the shul and see about getting invites for kiddush lunch? Also if there are study groups that you could join, or perhaps you could
interest others in starting one? Do you go to shul for mincha/maariv and seudah shlishi?

Printing out articles or getting books from the library sound like very good suggestions.

[BeachKat]

I did get told about a kiddush lunch last week, but everybody had already left. I live about an hour away so I can't join too many groups, but do plan on taking classes with the rabbi after Yom Kippur. Right now I just attend services Saturday morning. There are times when I really wish I had been born into a Jewish family so I could have learned all of this while growing up. It would also be nice to have family where all of this is simply what is done and then I wouldn't be the different one. I do like learning about it all now though and wouldn't give it up for anything.

[BeachKat]

The books that I have from artscroll are On Judaism, Entering Jewish Prayer, Touched by a Story, A Touch of Inspiration, The Power of Teshuvah, Understanding Judaism, and Gateway to Judaism. I also have a Koren Siddur that we use in Berkeley.

[israeli4ever]

Horeb and The Nineteen Letters by R Samson Raphael Hirsch
They are very heavy reading, but IMO invaluable.

[starwolf]

Books from artscroll.com would be orthodox, right? Other recommendations would be appreciated as well.

I am actually in Napa,...

Then you should understand that Artscroll is to Judaism as Manischewitz is to wine.

[israeli4ever]

Then you should understand that Artscroll is to Judaism as Manischewitz is to wine.

There's gotta be more to wine than just Manischewitz...

[lambda]

Then you should understand that Artscroll is to Judaism as Manischewitz is to wine.

Artscroll has some good publications, particularly their translations of classical commentaries. Does Manischewitz have any good wine?

[BeachKat]

Actually there are kosher wineries here in Napa. One that comes to mind is Hagafen.