If only...

[lethargic_man]

In Exodus 24, we read about how the Israelites said at Sinai נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמַע "We will do, and we will hear". The commentators explain this to mean the people accepted the Torah before they heard what it required of them.

Since immediately afterwards Moses threw a bucket of sacrificial blood over them (seriously—go read the text!), it is the practice today that, whenever we encounter someone unthinkingly accepting what they are told in the name of religion, we throw a bucket of cold water over them...

Comments

"If only" is right

[mike-koplow.livejournal.com]

Me, I hide the rolling of my eyes unless it's just too much. And when they're done, I usually say something along the lines of "Um, yeah, whatever."

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

Sure, better than blood. You don't need to wash your clothes when it is just clean water. Or do you mean water mixed with blood?:-)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Water, because since the Temple was destroyed, we no longer have animals with blood.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

That is another reason not wanting the Temple back. I don't want to messed up with blood. Clothing is expensive.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

<rolls eyes> The above was a joke, which the subject line was intended to convey. (Not to mention the line about no longer having animals with blood.) The only real throwing of blood on clothes was a one-off at Sinai.