(no subject)

[desh]

I'm not a bad Jew if I go to a friend's home to watch the Eagles game on Sunday (during the last day of holidays, as I observe Judaism, after 3.5 weeks of very frequent holdays), right? Especially if I keep the letter of the law (as I observe it) as to what can and can't be done on holidays, and all I'd be violating is the spirit of the law and of the holiday? Does your answer change if my reasoning is as much about being sick of the holidays as it is about not wanting to miss my third straight Eagles game?

Comments

[twostepsfwd.livejournal.com]

yeah, this is a spirit-of-the-law not letter-of-the-law thing, for the most part. i guess it depends what's more important to you! to me, keeping in the spirit of the holiday (as long as it doesn't require breaking halacha) is really important. still, there are shabboses where i barely get thru morning brachos and spend the rest of the day reading trashy magazines, so there you go. it's not a good jew / bad jew thing... it's just about what you're hoping to get out of your jewish spiritual practice. i like that judaism replaces some of the self-discipline i lack, personally - if i had no other influences in my decision-making, i would always choose what's more fun and immediately gratifying. instead, because of my faith, i more often choose what is best for me, my soul, G-d, my community. and that is not always what's most fun. and so i miss a lot of yankees games. ah well.