Posted by Br. Clif on December 02, 1997 at 19:31:04:
In Reply to: Re: 613 Commandments posted by Bill on December 01, 1997 at 22:27:04:
:
: : Shalom:
: : The 613 commandments continue to be presented as a set of laws
: : which we can all keep today. Those who do so, have probably
: : never seen a copy of those laws! Some apply to the priesthood,
: : the temple, ritual purity, (which require immersion in waters
: : containing the ashes of the Red Heifer), which are not possible
: : to be kept during this present time. Some laws apply exclusively
: : to men, others to soldiers, others to women, others to employers
: : which don't apply if you are not in the above categories. There
: : are only about 200+ of these laws that can be kept during this
: : present age. A copy of these laws may be obtained from any
: : Jewish Encyclopedia, and a web site of that title.
Well done! You adeptly ripped apart a straw man of your own construction.
Even groups of believers who assert that one must keep the Torah for salvation do not believe that a man must become a woman so that he can keep the mitzvoht regarding women, menstruation, pregnancy, marriage, etc.
This is common sense.
When these believers say "all 613 commandments," they are saying it, not because they believe all 613 are binding upon them(being men, women, non-cohanim, non-cohanim hagadol, etc.), but rather to educate the unTorahed believers concerning ALL of the Torah, and not just the Ten Sayings.
It is also common sense that we are NOT bound to obey mitzvoht which are beyond our Elohim-given abilities, perhaps because of an act of Elohim(whether for blessing or for judgment), to perform and observe. An attempt to build the Temple or the Tabernacle at this time would create a hail of lead which would make it humanly impossible to erect a wall, much less offer sacrifices.
Let us not misrepresent what others believe.