Reply To: “Headlines” Indian hair episode: is it biased or activist?

Ubquitin, I’m pretty sure it would be, even according to the Matirim. Our case is more subtle since it might not be a form of worship per se but only a rite, if the two can be separated.

Now, the example rabbis Friedman and Paskez gave about the Korban Pesach is not really a good example. They said that although we have a reason for the Korban Pesach — to remember how Hashem spared us — it’s not up to us to commemorate that in another form instead and it is a Korban like any other. From this they wanted to show that even if there is a rationale about ego and humility they still only go about it in a very specific way which tells us that it’s a rite and not merely a means of humility.

However, although the point has merit, the example from a Korban Pesach is not a good one. The Korban Pesach is a Korban simply because it is actually a sacrifice. It is a Korban eve if I brought it for no reason at all.

Just to clarify the thing with breaking the stick: The Halachah is that placing an offer in front of an idol will only be considered Takroves Avoda Zara if it fulfills one of two requirements. Either it has to be an item which we would bring inside the Azara to be Makriv, or it has to be the breaking of an item which is recognized by that specific religion.

Rabbi Friedman, on the show, said that this breaking is Takroves even if it wasn’t done with any purpose. This sounds ridiculous. But rather, although it is not a prescribed ritual to break that item, if one does break that item in servitude and it is an item that is used in some way to worship, then it becomes Assur as a Takroves.