Rule Of Thumb

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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I used to work with a “Bible Scholar” (religious fanatic) who claimed that there was a passage in the Bible that said something to the effect that in the Old Testament, there was a passage that allowed husbands to beat wives only on Saturdays and with a stick that had to conform to certain measurements. After my initial “You’re making this up” comment, I got to thinking, knowing the attitude toward women at that period of time, is it possible that he could be right? If anyone out there could help me with this, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

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Column link http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000512.html

And I’ve read the Bible several times, but don’t remember anything about that. Did he supply the book, chapter and verse(s) of the passage? If he didn’t, don’t you wonder why not?

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Sorry, Kat, but about all I really remember is it is somewhere in the Old Testament (that’s a BIG help, ain’t it). I really didn’t pay all that much attention to him anyway. I think he sometimes made things up to suit the conversation, but thanks for your reply.

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Have you tried this site?

Bible Gateway - Search the Bible in Nine Languages and Multiple Bible Versions

I don’t have time to do a search now, but maybe you can find the passage there.

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That dosen’t make any sense. If it was in the Old Testament, it would have to conform with Jewish law, which forbids work (general term for any type of actions) on the Sabbath, which incidently, for Jewish people, is on Saturdays. If it is true, then the women were in quite the predicament, as medical treatment was included as one of the things you couldn’t do on Saturdays. For a modern day link on how serious some orthodox jews take this, I read an article in Newsweek about an orthodox jewish teenager who considered flipping the lightswitch on and off rebellious, and felt guilty about violating the law on purpose.

bradysg

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bradysg, while not to be too picky, I think you may not be aware (or someone else reading this may not be aware) why flipping the light switch on and off is such a big deal. It isn’t the effort of moving the switch, it is the prohibition about the use of electricity. Orthodox Jews equate the use of electricity with doing work. Also, using automobiles.

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To be more clear: they equate the use of electricity with the act of “exercising control or dominion over your environment.”

The nature of Shabbat - Shamor: To Observe
My understanding (I’m not jewish, so I hope someone corrects me if I’m wrong) is that you can’t turn on an appliance, but one that is continuously running (e.g. a refrigerator) can be left running.

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Like Arnold, I’m not Jewish, so I may have this wrong, but mighn’t even the act of wife-beating itself be considered work? CK or anyone else knowlegeable, feel free to correct me.

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I’m probably just being a tease and dragging this thread waaay off topic, but if using an electrical appliance is wrong and part of excercising control and dominion over your environment, then what about a computer? Could I if I was an orthodox jew type on it if it’s on 24-7?
And what about my body? Sure it’s always running, but moving about is deciding to send electrical impulses through it… I’m in trouble especially if I have an artificial limb. :slight_smile:
Heck opening your fridge might cause the compressor to kick on!
Oooh. And another one I wondered about. Since when is it ok to have the non-jews do the housework jews can’t do? I was discussing that with a rabbi over dinner one shabbos evening, and he said that it was a concession for practicality. Didn’t really satisfy me since as a former christian the one thing I do know is Exodus 20 which seems to forbid even servants and visitors in your home from violating the laws of sabbath observance.

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I should let CMKeller or Zev comment on the Orthodox approach, but I’ll try to be even handed [/grin]

The Torah is very ambiguous about what constitutes “work” on Sabbath; wood-gathering is clearly not allowed, and food gathering seems to be in the same category. The later rabbis argue that there are 39 (? if I remember aright) categories of “work”, based largely on what was done in constructing the Temple: carving, hewing, gathering, starting fire, sewing, etc.

Over the centuries, new activities are interpreted (acceptable or prohibited) based on the ancient rules. Hence, electricity was deemed to be “fire.” The rules regarding fire are that you cannot make a fire on the Sabbath, nor extinguish one, but that you can use a fire that is already going. Before electricity, observant Jews would keep the fire going and put a pot of stew on it befor Sabbath, and then let it cook all during the day, to eat later in the afternoon. With the advent of electricity, the same approach is taken: the stove is turned on before Sabbath and left on, if you want hot food.

Lights on a timer are deemed to be OK, if the timer was set before Sabbath. The rules are intricate and complicated, and very detailed.

Philosophically, the idea is not to interfere with Nature on the Sabbath. Not to build, not to make, not to create, not to fight against Nature.

However, an exception is always made for anything life-threatening. Seeking medical treatment is never a violation of Sabbath (well, OK, I guess something elective like cosmetic surgery, that wouldn’t do, but you know what I mean). There are commandments which one is supposed to accept martyrdom rather than violate, but the Sabbath is not one of them.

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Yeah, that’s roughly what the rabbi said. So, as an off-hand guess, since an turned on computer is always drawing power, and your key-strokes are merely redirecting it, CMKeller and Zev can still post to the SDMB on shabbos. Hm. Yep, the modem could be left turned on, and making the connection is something the machine does - sometimes automatically.

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“So, as an off-hand guess, since an turned on computer is always drawing power, and your key-strokes are merely redirecting it, CMKeller and Zev can still post to the SDMB on shabbos. Hm.[etc]”

Good try but no, I am afraid not. Writing is not allowed. (And typing is forbidden as a “task that operates by the same principle or has the same purpose.”)

To cite specifically, “writing two letters [of the alphabet]” is #32 of the 39 forbidden acts as listed in “The nature of Shabbat - Shamor: To Observe”, which was recommended by contributor Arnold Winkelried above.

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First of all, to address the offshoot:

David Couch is correct, with one small exception. Typing is forbidden on Shabbos. However, the reason is not because of writing, but because of using electricity (which, according to Jewish law, is akin to fire).

(David, I don’t think words on the screen could be considered a k’siva shel kayama)…

As to the OP:

This sounds like a rewording of the famous feminist myth that in common English law (under Blackstone) a man could “chastise” his wife with a stick, as long as it’s thickness was no greater than that of his thumb (hence, say the feminists, the saying “Rule of thumb” started).

This myth was disporven by Christina Hoff Sommers in her excellent book Who Stole Feminism?. There was no such law and there is no mention of it in Blackstone’s encyclopedic volumes on English law.

There is nothing in the Bible that says that a man can only beat his wife on Saturday, or any other day.

Zev Steinhardt

Zev Steinhardt