Oh just bloody great. Now we hear from a couple of religious Jews who claim violated rights.
on 06/16/2009 at 09:34 AM
Easy guys, here’s the breakdown on the mess.
The division between Orthodox (especially the extreme Orthodox like this couple) Jews and the rest of the world, including the rest of the Jewish world is bizarre. The ultra Orthodox live by a literal set of rules derived from the Old Testament. Anyone familiar with the doctrine of the inerrantcy (sp?) of the Bible is familiar with some aspects of this. Over roughly two thousand years, Jewish scholars fine tooth combed the Old Testament for every possible command of G-d and every possible interpretation and application of those commands. Their application of the Law is both literal and detailed. There are even regulations as to whether a handkerchief shall be carried in a pocket or pinned to clothing. Their are other regulations about when a false tooth may be made of stone or gold. The details are minute and pretty much unbreakable, at least for the Orthodox. These interpretations have been so thoroughly worked over that not even Johnny Cochran could find a hole in them.
The couple can’t write off the hallway light under the heading of things they can’t control. By leaving or entering their unit, voluntary actions, they are controlling the lights. That is the law. There are some ways to skirt the issue, but as long as it is an action of the couple turning the lights on, they are quite helpless. A non Jewish friend “happening” to trigger the lights ahead of the couple is one of the few ways around this part of the law.
Why the management insisted on changing the switching method some years after the couple had moved in or why they would not acquiesce to the couple’s request for a way in and out that did not include motion sensors is another question entirely. Their need is only for one night each week. A simple and cheap timer could solve the problem too. With that as the basis, and the legal climate in Britain, the rest of the situation follows.
I’m Jewish and I think it’s pretty insane too, but then I don’t take all sections of the law literally. I do take respect for another’s faith pretty seriously though.
Jeff, but there are 35 other ppl on the bldg.
Seems to me that one couple shouldn’t be encouraged to cause problems for the rest.You and I wouldn’t act that way it’s true. But I can’t find support for these folks.
Safety light are on for a reason and even tho its only one day a week, they’ve no right to demand anything in so public a place. The answer would be to find a place where everyone thought just like them. Oh boy. That’d be something to watch.Caving into and accommodating these ppl is no better then the bend over backwards they do for muslims, all too often. (subject of next post)
I find it so very hard to grasp this over the top thing. Logic and common sense seem to be missing. The woman has written book, she’s supposed to be a professional educator, (?) how can she not see this demand in the 21st century as absurd?
I am familiar with all you describe and some I’d forgotten over the many years. But still.
Jeesh. What do they do with regard to lights and radio or TV over the wkends? I guess leave the lights on before hand.
They’re no better then the extreme muzzies who yearn for the 8th century.
06/16/2009 at 06:39 PM
