Century Village unit criticized for spending $11,000 to alter elevator for Sabbath
Of course you are already in disbelief that old Jewish people are living in Florida and fighting over money. I was. Back in the day, it was simply Canadians for the winter and your common run-o-the-mill rednecks. I'm sure the Catskills can get old (and cold) after awhile.
The issue is that pushing the elevator button would complete a circuit, thus breaking the Sabbath. In order to get around this issue, it's suggested they pay to have the elevator stop on every floor on the Sabbath without having to push the button. I'd suggest taking the stairs but I'm sure this is a violation too (I guess walking in general, isn't this creating energy). A couple of Jewish people, to their credit, did not want to pay for the service.
I've heard that the Amish buy electric sewing machines, rip off the motor and hook a belt to a treadle just to get the "Zig-Zag" (not the rolling papers) feature on modern machines. Apparently the Amish don't have problems with elevator buttons on the Sabbath. By their logic they should just pull the engine from a car and have it drawn by horses.
I guess the quote, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27) from Jeshua Bar Josef (AKA Jesus) really pissed them off. Sabbath 1, Jesus 0. Sabbath Wins! He solved this problem 2,000 years ago and they still deny him? I guess it was much easier when we didn't have toilets, TVs and elevators. The spirit of the law replaced by the letter of the law.
"You experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."
--Luke 11:46
It seems (although I could be wrong) that the Pharisees and Sadducees did not get along with Jeshua.
I've read there are well over 600 laws that Orthodox Jews live by. Incredible. You still have to give anybody credit for following them. There is also every conceivable arguments to bypass these laws which makes one wonder why follow them in the first place. Apparently they're stories of Rabbis arguing with their god and winning.
There is also the issue of Moses having written the Torah and also a oral version passed down to Rabbis eventually written down and becoming the Talmud. Seems thing are rapidly spinning out of control here because teachers (Rabbi) are charged with interpreting this law in the context of modern life. I've never seen a Jewish person actually do physical labor so I'd imagine it would be easy (I have seen them on TV but they weren't doing physical labor there either). Then again, I don't get out much or do physical labor myself.
Warning the following paragraph may or may not be related if you aren't familiar with PKD.
In Rome prior to the "Twelve Tables." The Pontifices (sound familiar?) kept the laws secret and could try people for crimes without them knowing the charge. Rome was comprised of Patricians (the elite) and Plebians (lower class). Plebians often bared the brunt of breaking unknown laws. One Plebe, Terentilius suggested actually writing them down so they would actually know the law. Of course the Roman Patricians fought this one for some time. Even writing them down yielded to speculation and required Lawyers and Priests (Pontiffs) to interpret them. Religion was married to the Roman State and I'd guess the Vatican is still the shell of the Roman Empire and holds it's power.
The empire never ended.
Religion (INSERT ANY RELIGION HERE) and the State have gone awry. To the letter of the law, based on faulty interpretation of books rewritten many times and read fanatics. Is there a grudge match between religion and politics? Secular law is trying hard to become a religion within itself. Myriad laws seem only to protect the wealthy. The capitalists Golden Rule is "Them that have the gold make the rules." It's easier to punish a man for stealing bread than a CEO who swindles people out of their pensions by cooking the books. We are shocked to hear the story of a murderer on TV and think nothing of the deaths of thousands. Killing under the pretense of honor is still murder. The weak and poor are made examples of for a specific reason: Subjugation. There are more of them and they need to believe and fear.
I wouldn't want a state or religious empire.
Interpretation: Because the simple becomes complicated and we need to find ways around them.
"...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."
--Luke 10:27
Much easier than the 10 Commandments, but conveniently forgotten as we bomb the shit out of other people. I often make swipes at the stereotypical "Conservative Christian Fundamentalists" who are being mislead (willingly or not) because they seem to condone the killing innocent people in the name of god. These people are scary because they are preoccupied with death and Armageddon.
I guess the simple ethical treatment of other humans is not as appealing as religious dogma that seems to devolve the human mind to a state where people fight over pushing a damn button and who pays what.
Yes, there apparently is a Sabbath Elevator Service. Unfortunately the Sabbath can also kill you. I understand Judaism doesn't believe in a hell (In the Christian sense, if at all). I suspect hell is prepping for the Sabbath on Friday and the cleanup on Sunday. Maybe hell is the guilt of not marrying a nice Jewish girl like mom wanted.
Sometimes rules are made to be broken or not taken so seriously it's difficult to live.
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