Re: Black Hats
ALLEN LOWENKAMP (ARLOWENKAMP@worldnet.att.net)
Tue, 18 Nov 1997 01:35:24 +0000
When I was at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, during 1994-1995, we had
the opportunity to study Judaic Law. It was a wonderful course. One thing
that impressed me was the "law" of 'dine de malcuteh dine' or the 'law of
the land is the law'. I understand that we answer to G-d first, but what
about dine de malcute dine? My Zede (grandfather) was from Russia and was
Orthodox. He prayed with tefillin and went to the Temple daily, yet he
used to tell us that it was very important not to offend others. For
example, if he were invited to someone's home for dinner and that home was
not as kosher as the one he and my Bobe kept, he would still drink a glass
of water or a cup of tea or coffee so as not to offend. I can't help but
think that this was partly the above referenced concept and my Zede's sense
of community which certainly is stressed in the halacha (law). If the
black hats were halachically prescribed but they were against the law of
the land - then what? Also, if not against the law of the land, and yet
the black hats offended the greater community, what would the halacha tell
the wearer of the black hat to do?
Cynthia Lowenkamp