Gateways

We are Reformed Jews and we drive on Sabbath. We just bought a new house in the orthodox part of town to be near our children and grandchildren, who are orthodox. We moved near them because we want them to be able to walk to us on Sabbath. Our new orthodox neighbors have been nothing but trouble. It didn’t take long to find out that the orthodox people previously used the yard of this house as a shortcut between neighborhoods to shave walking time off their routes by foot during Sabbath. Apparently the people who lived here before were very amenable to that and left their gates open. That was them, but that’s not who we are. We are private people who are not comfortable letting lots of strangers walk through our yard. We lived before in a quiet suburb where no one did that. Neighbors respected one another’s boundaries. That’s what we’re used to. And we have an aggressive dog. Lots of orthodox people have been approaching us, angry that we won’t let them through. Someone said to us they will take us to a “base bin,” whatever that is, if we don’t open our yard. I never heard of any such thing, but they sound so threatening. A reporter for a small Jewish community online newspaper is planning on writing a story portraying us in a negative light for this. As an orthodox rabbi, what do you think? How is it that our orthodox neighbors can bother us like this? How can they force us to live a certain way just because we are their neighbors? Don’t we have our rights? We bought our house to be our private sanctuary, not a public pathway we pay for and maintain for the sake of others.

Hi I have heard that Israel takes Noahides under their protection and supports them, is it true and where in Israel one can have that kind of support and protection? Best Wishes Samppa Oranen

Did the asktherabbi site move out?

This question is for Rabbi Becher. Rabbi, I watch you "religiously" on JBS and am very impressed with the breadth and depth of your knowledge. Today I watched your talk on "Making it easy for the thief". It was wonderful. Recently, I saw your discussion about "all Jews should be friends." I certainly agree because I think all people should be friends. I am a Reform Jew. The word "reform" means "to correct the faults of." We are working to correct the faults of (traditional) Judaism in order to create a Judaism that is attractive to modern, western educated people. Our first principle is that G-d did not give us the Torah. In fact, I am currently reading a book titled "Who wrote the Bible?" which I got from my cantor. She gave it to me after she and I studied in a Chevruta as part of observing the mitzvah of hearing the shofar during Elul. So, Rabbi, my question is "Do you still want to be my friend?" I am ready if you are! Shabbat shalom, Dave Mollen