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From: "Michael Ozair" <m_adin@hotmail.com>

To: REB-SHLOMO@shamash.org

Subject: Arthur of the Universe vs. Author of the Universe?

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B"H



As a response to the recent postings of Arthur Waskow's articles, I 

found it funny that Arthur felt the statement of Dean of Rabbinical 

students at JTS "raises serious spiritual and ethical dangers".  Is that 

so?!  And let us use our imaginations for a moment and consider what a 

rabbinical school might look like according to "Arthur's vision".  How 

does your stomach feel now?  

Very interesting that Arthur should bring up a responsa on how to get 

around the pelegesh relationships by using a mikvah.  How many MARRIED 

couples at the JTS and Jewish Renewal movement actually use a mikvah in 

keeping Taharat Mishpacha when they SHOULD and are COMMANDED to by the 

Torah?  I have an additional question directed toward the general 

philosophy of Arthur and friends.

Are we, as a holy nation of Israel called upon by the Divine to elevate 

all our powers, desires and demands of our bodies to be the means of 

carrying out the will of G-d?  If so, are we only willing to fulfill the 

demands of G-d's will when, or because, they should appear to us right 

and wise and correct?  If so, could that be called obedience to G-d?  Or 

would that not rather be called obedience solely to ONESELF and one's 

own liberal passions?

The Ribbono Shel HaOlam laid down a beautiful world for us to possess 

and enjoy, but there are some pleasures that are clearly forbidden 

without any revealed reasons, solely as a decree of the Most High.

Perhaps the path to sexuality is made difficult for us in order to 

discourage certain developments of the animal aspect of our beings. And 

to use the dangerous weapon of rationality to secure the gratification 

of our own bodily desires cannot be called SPIRITUALITY.

Maybe in Rajneesh's group it could, but not on our list. There is 

definetely a place where Spirit and Sexuality are intertwined in 

Judaism, but that is when they are done in Holiness, by the Author, not 

Arthur, of the Universe.  Sorry folks if the words are sharp, but when 

it's the Kavod of the Torah that is being disrespected by Jewish 

leaders, we are not allowed to remain passive and meek.

                                              Michael Ozair





On a lighter note, here is a small piece taken from an interview with 

Reb Shlomo by the Berekely Barb Magazine June 22,1971.  It would be wise 

for Shlomo's talmidim to become aware of what Reb Shlomo himself felt 

about such topics of Sex and Spirituality, homosexuality, etc..



Q: I want to ask you Shlomo, what are your feelings on religious 

practice and diet?

Do you believe in vegetarianism?



A: If you're on the level that you don't want to eat meat, then maybe 

your life is on a higher level and you really shouldn't.  You are 

permitted to eat meat but if you feel you are on the level where you 

don't want to receive life thru killing, then maybe

you are really on the level where you are not permitted, you know?  

Maybe your life is from a higher source and maybe you should eat only 

vegetables.



Q: You told me earlier this afternoon that kosher meat is meat from an 

animal that is killed without any pain or very little pain.



A: A special animal, like only domestic animals, but besides that, it 

has to be killed in such a way that it doesn't feel any pain.



Q:  That kind of reminds me in a way of Buddhism as it is practiced in 

Tibet, where people are allowed to eat meat, but they can't take it 

themselves, they can't take the life of the animal themselves.  Let me 

go on to something else . . . the relationship of man and woman in 

Judaism . . . well, does the orgasm or does any sexual release play any 

part in man?  Spiritually, as we understand it from the Jewish point of 

view.



A:  Yeah, it depends.  Anything can be the holiest or it can be the 

lowest, you know?  It's a fact that the holier something is, the closer 

it can be to unholiness, you know?  Like the Talmud says between Heaven 

and Hell is just as far as from one hand 

 another.  When something is not so holy to begin with, then you can see 

the differences more clearer.  But the more something gets higher and 

higher, the differences become really thin.  Like it is possible that 

the whole relationship with a woman can 

drag you down to the lowest world, or it can lift you up to the highest.  

If you are together with someone you really really love, then it's the 

greatest oneness in the world.   But if its not done in a holy way, it 

can be the greatest separation in the world.



Q:  What about formalized marriage?



A: When people marry, something happens to their souls.  They really 

become one.  It's for real . . . have you ever been to any of our 

weddings, Frank?



Q: Yeah, and I think I was at one in Golden Gate Park.



A: Something really happens, you know.



Q: And you believe that when a wedding takes place, it shouldn't just be 

a private affair between two people?



A:  With every holy event, according to mysticism, everybody there 

really adds to it and the people who are there who are just singing, are 

like polishing their souls because nothing polishes the soul like a 

song.  And you cannot put, like pieces, two pieces of wood and they have 

corners sticking out that can hurt each other.  So, like the people who 

come before the wedding and sing a song are like polishing the souls of 

the bride and groom, that they should never hurt each other with their 

sharp edges.



Q: There's a big movement now for homosexuals, who come out into the 

open, a lot of homosexuals feel that their form of union is just as holy 

or sacred as a heterosexual union.



A: My nose doesn't really go for it in a big way.  Because, I don't 

know, I can't put my finger on it. . . besides, according to the Bible, 

it's really off.  This is not the way G-d created the world, you know?  

All of nature is against it, you know? 

So your going to pretend you don't see what I'm saying, but it really 

doesn't go, because the holiest thing is between man and woman, that's 

the holiest thing.  That is the greatest thing.



Q: Here in Berekely, there are lots of homosexual groups that feel 

differently . . . like within the Christian Church there is a whole 

movement it seems, for gay priests or gay ministers to come out into the 

open.



A: See, I can only tell you what I think, you know, I'm not the Master 

of the World.







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