Elliot
Plotnick
Dear Mr. Perelman,
Having looked through your
website, it dawned on me that there seems to be no need for any religious
practices if mundane objects can be imbued with such power and promise. Please explain the purpose of Tefilla if all
we need to do is wear a red string on our wrist. How does this help us?
And if you want to answer (as most do who ascribe to this practice do)
that we don't need to know how it works only that it works, may I remind you of
the Ibn Ezra who tells us that if we come upon a mitzvah that we cannot fully
understand without the explanation within the works of Torah SheBal Peh, than
we discount the mitzvah entirely as it cannot be a part of the Mesora! I ask you, where is the Torah SheBal Peh for
this practice? Where is there any
source for the Torah for this practice at all?
How do we know what this practice is if it is not discussed at all
within the Torah. If it is truly as
powerful as you are stating, wouldn't it be included in the Torah as something
for all to benefit from? In fact, where
is there any source anywhere in the Torah that tells us that regular physical
objects can be imbued with magical powers for our personal benefit? What is the point of perfecting ourselves
and doing the mitzvot of the Torah if all we have to do is wear this
"magical" string and we will be protected. How can you honestly say that this is part of Torah Judaism. Do you really believe that a religion with
the massive intellectual works that Judaism has, (Mishna, Gemara, etc) and the
Torah giants that we have would endorse a
practice such as this?
In addition, I have not seen your answer anywhere to the
Rishonim (the Tosefta, the Rambam, etc) that so clearly state that this
practice is wrong and and avodah zarah.
You cannot honestly answer that the sources you quoted from a few late
achronim (who by the way do not seem to present logical arguments- just that
this is the way its been done, therefore do not belittle it) can contradict the
Rishonim. These Rishonim present cogent
logical arguments with clear sources from the Torah that this practice is wrong
and destructive for the nation.
One last point, What does this
say about God's system of Justice? Lets
say I'm a Rasha, can I where this string and still be protected? Are we rewarded and punished for our mitzvos
and aveiros or because of a string that we wear?
It must be that you believe that
Judaism does not have to make sense?
There is obviously no logic to the religion. In that case, why stop at a red string? Maybe I can draw a big sign on my forehead that says
"protect me". Is that really
any different? What about a lucky penny
or a rabbits foot?
I understand that there is a
strong emotional attachment to these types of beliefs. They are easy and require almost no
work. That is not what Judaism is. All I ask is that you look through the
sources (the Tosefta, that Rambam, etc,) and really think about
these ideas. Because that's what
Judaism demands.
Thank you.
Elliot Plotnick
Long Beach, NY