OHR SOMAYACH'S ASK THE RABBI 
Issue #255, November 20, 1999 
Parshat Vayeitze
=====================================
In this issue:
NO NO NOSTRADAMUS 
TALKING TURKEY 
TESTING TESTING 
YIDDLE RIDDLE
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NO NO NOSTRADAMUS

Perplexed along the Potomac wrote via the Internet:

Dear Rabbi,
A nearby Jewish group is planning to hold a book discussion on 
Nostradamus.  It was my impression that Judaism seriously 
frowned upon the belief that the stars can be used to predict 
the future.  Nostradamus, to me, seems way off the Jewish 
path...despite the fact that I'm now told he had a Jewish 
background.  I usually attend this series of book discussions; 
however, Nostradamus strikes a discordant note.  Have I misread 
Jewish law and not heard enough about Nostradamus?
(Thank you for a wonderful Ask-the-Rabbi feature).

Dear Perplexed along the Potomac,

	Actually, it is generally accepted by the Talmud and 
Midrashim that the stars do indeed influence events, and that 
one who understands this influence can, to some extent, predict 
future events.  It's not really so different from the way a 
meteorologist or a stock analyst look at trends and influences 
and foresee tomorrow's outcome.

	For example, the Egyptian astrologers correctly foresaw 
that a baby would be born who would redeem the Jews from Egypt 
-- which, by the way, is why Pharaoh decreed that the babies be 
cast into the Nile.

	But you don't put your full faith in the weather 
forecast, and certainly not in stock predictions, do you?  All 
the more so should we be highly skeptical of the accuracy of 
whoever presumes to read the stars, especially today.  Even the 
ancient Egyptians, who were proven experts, were only able to 
see generalities, and couldn't predict anything with perfect 
accuracy.  The farther along we get from their ancient wisdom, 
the hazier this area of knowledge seems to become.

	Furthermore, G-d is All-Powerful and can change what the 
future seems to hold.  For example, through our prayer and good 
deeds, G-d may change a "bad" event into a good one.

	Astrologers told Rabbi Akiva that a snake would bite and 
kill his daughter on the day of her wedding.  On her wedding 
night, she took the jeweled pin from her hair and stuck it into 
the wall; in the morning light she saw that her pin was stuck 
through the head of a snake which had been poised to bite her!  
Rabbi Akiva asked her, "My daughter!  Some good deed must have 
saved you from this snake.  Can you think what it might have 
been?"  "Well," she answered, "last night a poor man came to 
the wedding, but everyone was too busy with the feast to 
notice, so I gave him my portion of food."

	The Torah tells us to live in the present and have 
perfect faith in G-d.  If we do so, we won't feel the need to 
know or worry about future events that are beyond our control.  
All said, therefore, I don't think a Jew should give much 
weight to the predictions of any would-be star-gazer.

Source:
* Shabbat 156b

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

TALKING TURKEY

Bob Mogel from Omaha, Nebraska <Rmogel@aol.com> wrote:

Dear Rabbi:
One of my friends is Jewish.  Is it ok to invite him to 
Thanksgiving at my house?  If so, is there anything I should 
not serve, given the Jewish dietary laws?  Is there any special 
way the turkey should be served or cooked?  I was wondering 
also...do Jews themselves celebrate Thanksgiving?  Thank you 
for taking my question.

Dear Bob Mogel,

	First of all let me commend you on your sensitivity and 
on your inquiry.

	Keeping kosher is easy for those who keep a kosher home.  
However, the kosher laws are very comprehensive and complex, 
and include the way the turkey is slaughtered, prepared, 
cooked, and even how it is served and eaten.  It would be 
beyond the scope of this forum to explain how to prepare a 
kosher meal in your home for a one time basis.

	Regarding your second question:  I think most American 
Jews observe Thanksgiving the same way most Americans do, as a 
break from work and a time to gather with family -- perhaps 
even to offer a word of thanks to G-d -- but not really as a 
religious holiday.  Many religious Jews do not observe it at 
all, since it is a non-Jewish custom and since we are anyway 
obligated to give thanks to G-d every day of the year.

	Interestingly, Thanksgiving has "Jewish" roots.  The 
Pilgrims based Thanksgiving on the Torah (Bible), in which G-d 
commands us Jews to celebrate the Harvest Festival.  This 
festival is called Succot, the Festival of Booths, which Jews 
have been celebrating for several thousand years.

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

TESTING TESTING

Ben Waldbaum from Washington University, St. Louis 
<bwaldbau@artsci.wustl.edu> wrote:

Dear Rabbi,
I heard someone advise a student at my university that they can 
say, "I will study five pesukim (Torah verses) this week if  
You, G-d, give me an "A" on an exam."  Is someone allowed to 
say this?  If it is allowed, why is it not considered testing 
Hashem?  Thanks a lot!

Dear Ben Waldbaum,

	Did he mean that he will study the Torah verses first, 
and as a result he expects G-d to reward him with an "A" on the 
exam?  If so, this is considered testing G-d and is forbidden.  
(One may test G-d only in regard to giving tithes and charity.)

	Or did he mean that if he gets an "A" he will then study 
five Torah verses?  If so, this is not testing G-d.  Rather, 
it's like a conditional vow.  It's like saying:  "If I get an 
A, then I vow to study five verses.  But if not, then not."

	In this week's Torah portion, Jacob made a conditional 
vow:  "Jacob took a vow saying:  If G-d will be with me...give 
me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and I return in peace to 
my father's house... then this stone which I have set up as a 
pillar shall become a house of G-d...." (Bereishet 28:21-2).

	However, a person should not make vows, because the 
punishment for breaking a vow is very severe.  Furthermore, 
making a vow smacks of arrogance, like saying, "I'm so perfect 
that, not only do I fulfill 100% of my obligations to G-d, but 
I'm even taking on extra obligations!"

Source:
* Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah 247:4

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YIDDLE RIDDLE

Last week we asked:

	In which weekly Parsha (Torah portion) is the number of 
verses equal to the numerical value of the last word of the 
Parsha?

Answer:

	Parshat Vayetzei.  The number of verses in Parshat 
Vayetzei is 148, which equals the numerical value of its last 
word, "machanaim."

                 Mike Marmor, Toronto <mike.marmor@reuters.com>
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