Ask The Rabbi...
8 October 1994 Issue #37
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This edition contains:
1.  The meaning of "HaMakom"
2.  Going to Mormon "Family History Libraries (tm)"
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Jasper Faber from Holland wrote:

>Although I am not a religious Jew, I like to study Jewish religious 
>literature as a hobby.  So I happened to be reading in the Talmud lately, 
>when I noticed that G-d was referred to as HaMakom (Mishna Avot 11,14 for 
>example), I found it very strange that He who is not limited in any way, 
>is called something - a place - which is nothing but limits.  When we ask: 
>"Where is the place of the chair?", we are asking for that limited space 
>the chair occupies.
>
>Thank you,

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Jasper,

Whenever  G-d is referred to in physical terms it is meant as a metaphor.  
It is axiomatic that G-d is not physical and has no physical properties.  
We , however, are physical and can only understand things from a physical 
frame of reference.  Hence the use of the physical as a helpful metaphor 
for the understanding of a quality of G-d. 

What is the metaphor of HaMakom ("The Place")?  If you think about the 
meaning of a "place" you`ll agree that it is more than just a geographical 
location, it's a space which is capable of containing something else.  When 
used in reference to G-d what it means is that everything is contained 
within G-d (conceptually), while He is not contained in anything.  As our 
Sages say:  "He [G-d] doesn't have a place, rather He is The Place of the 
Universe."
Sources:

o  Maimonides - Commentary on the Mishna, Tractate Sanhedrin, ch.10,
   principle 3.
o  Me'orei Ha'esh, on Tana d'vei Eliyahu, 1:8.  

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Benjamin Horowitz of Australia writes:

>Is it permissible to go to the Mormon reading rooms in order to research 
>my Jewish family roots?

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Benjamin,

A few introductory words about the issue.  The Mormons have the largest 
collection of genealogical data that exists.  It is stored in a structure 
that is built into a mountain in Salt Lake City, Utah, and contains 
information on over two billion people.  This material is also made 
available via reading rooms located in cities around the world.  The 
motivation for gathering this material is that if they have the name of the 
person, and the place and date of his death, they can baptize him via 
proxy.  This means that they will have someone stand in for the deceased 
and go through a baptism in his name. The deceased is then given an 
opportunity to convert in Heaven (according to their belief.) 

Therefore, is it forbidden to approach the Mormons for the purpose of 
benefiting from something that is a vehicle for conversion to their faith?

I asked Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita, and he said that it is 
irrelevant whether or not the genealogical material is technically a 
forbidden idolatrous substance.  What is relevant is the fact that the 
Mormons use this material for conversion -- a purpose akin to idolatrous 
practices.  Therefore, one must not go to the "Family History Library (tm)" 
in Salt Lake City, Utah, or to one of their numerous reading rooms.

In Rav Scheinberg's words:  "Stay away!  Stay away!"
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