Three Pillars

[Henaynei]

It is said by the rabbis that there are three pillars that uphold Judaism/the Jewish people:

1 - Shomer Shabbat - Keeping the Sabbath

2 - Shomer Kosher - Kepping Kosher

3 - Shomer Taharat HaMishpokah - Keeping the Family Purity Laws

It would be interesting to hear questions and comments about these topics.

Are you familiar with what they are on any level?

Are you growing toward their more full observance?

Do you think they are important?

Why would the rabbis place such high value on these 3 mitzvot?

I want to learn from you peoples!!!

[Henaynei]

I have heard one reason the rabbis said three. Apparently they were making a point. It seems that they were alluding to the fact that 3 is the minimun number of legs that any chair or table or shelter can have - you can have more, and the more stable you will be - but fewer and nothing can stand.....

hmmmmm......

[ShirChadash]

Henaynei, I love that you brought this up to discuss. We are just at the point of beginning to buy books on Judaism and soon will be buying books on proper modesty in the home etc. Reading your post, it's interesting to me that we (as a family) began keeping Shabbat first... and HaShem blessed us and grew us to more. We are just beginning to delve into Kosher a bit more, and I am sure HaShem will bless us :) and our next round of book buying will be on putting Judaism into practice in the home, including no small number of books for me on family purity, etc. Are there any good sites online that address the family purity laws? I've been meaning to ask for some links that are the ladies' favorites. If you (or anyone else) have any, I would sure appreciate your sharing.

We already eat pretty kosher, just naturally (yk where the Word speaks of non-kosher foods as basically disgusting? :sick: bleck! I ditto that! ) but I do realize there is far more to keeping kosher than I know at this point, more than simply not eating certain foods and not eating certain foods together! We are quite limited here in our bumbledink backwater area as regards access to kosher foods, too ;) but perhaps if we can just move... :prayer: . I'm afraid right now I am quite consumed with working on this application with TL, so I'm sorry I can't comment much of any weight just now, but thanks so much for starting this thread and I look forward to the other replies and your thoughts.

[iitb]

Reviving threads from the second page. Who do I think I am, Yafet? ;)

Anyway, I find it interesting that the 4 laws from Acts that were suppose to get the gentiles "clean" enough to attend synagogue seem to support this:

Acts 15
20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."