Moed Katan 14 Caring About What the Neighbours Think

We continue to learn about the halachot of the Intermediate Festival Days.  Today's daf focuses on a number of specific examples: shaving and cutting hair - particularly for those who have travelled and for babies; laundering clothing - particularly for zavim and those who vowed not to do so; ostracism as a means of discouragement.

The rabbis want to ensure that we do not show others that we are flaunting the general halachot of the Moed.  Every 'exception' might be called out as an excuse for others to behave with leniency.  The rabbis argue over specific points often because these halachot are rabbinical.  It is a principle to treat rabbinical halachot leniently so that the spirit of the halacha is primary for the community.  Torah law, however, should be treated stringently and fences are built to ensure that they are not crossed, even inadvertently.  Thus the rabbis debate whether or not it is appropriate to leave a baby uncomfortable with long hair.  They wonder, why not let someone who was just released from prison wash his clothing on the Moed?  

The focus on "what the neighbours think" is a large part of today's daf.  The rabbis seemingly work to manipulate the power of peer pressure to encourage strict observance of halacha.  They go into great detail about how the person who only has one shirt will demonstrate his degree of poverty.  For of course, everyone should understand that this man is washing his shirt on the Moed only because of true necessity and not because it is alright for everyone to launder their clothes on the Moed.

This pressure continues to influence observance today. We do not generally tell each other how to practice our halachot, especially as liberal but observant Jews.  We do, however, notice each others' observance.  In more traditional communities, Jews sometimes monitor each others' practice.  This kind of social control has its benefits, but the danger of continual judgement can be devastating psychologically and emotionally.  I have worked with women who have been crushed by the judgement that they and their children have faced in the orthodox community because of different interpretations of halachic practice.

If there were one way of practicing Jewish halacha; if we could be certain that we understand G-d's will, Jewish observance would be simple.  But even in the most observant communities there is place for interpretation and creative thought.  When judgement is used as a form of social control, it places unnecessary strain on good people who are already attempting to practice according to the halacha that they understand.  All of us react to judgement - some of use try to please everyone while others use that same judgement to drop all attempts to "get it right".  I believe that the more we can be compassionate with each other as practicing Jews, the more we encourage halachic practice.