cantoresq et al,
Do you take the position that someone making a comment that “the Rabbonim are crooks”, “the Torah is a nice Sefer, but must be taken with a grain of salt”, or “we must be flexible in Shabbos [or whatever Taryag of your preference] and not insist on keeping every nook and cranny to the tee” should be tolerated and posted?
Posted 48 minutes ago #
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That all depends on the context of the statement regarding the rabbis. If it’s in the context of discussing those rabbis who have been convicted of criminal activity, then calling them “crooks” might very well be a legitimate statement. Regarding taking the Torah with a grain of salt, arguably, Chazal did just that in many instances (at least according to certain readings of certain passages in the Talmud). So again depending on the context it might be legitimate to say that. Regarding Shabbat observance, again it depends on the context. Are we referring to d’Oraita precepts or d’Rabanans? After all each is treated differently. I can think of instances where one might say that Shabbat need not be observed b’chol dikdukeah u’peruteah. Granted those are very exceptional circumstances ala the idea of “chaleil Shabbat achat k’dei sh’tishmor Shabbatot acheirot.” or within the realm of Hilchot shtadlanut (remember the famous Shabbat in the 1940’s when R. Kalmanowitz drove in a car from schul to schul making an appeal for the va’ad Hatzalah. He felt that the issue was importnat enough to break Shabbat.) but they do exist. The issue is not the statement. the issue is the context and the basis for the statement.