----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 10:23
AM
Subject: [CTRL] Leviticus
Background:
Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses
advice to people
who call in to her radio show.
Recently, she said that
as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an
abomination according to
Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned in any
circumstance. The following
is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US
resident, which was posted on
the Internet:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate
people regarding God's Law. I have
learned a great deal from your show, and
I try to share that knowledge with
as many people as I can.
When someone
tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply
remind them
that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do
need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific
laws and
how to follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a
sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The
problem is my neighbours. They
claim the odour is not pleasing to them.
Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as
sanctioned in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be
a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman
while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev.15:19-24). The
problem is, how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take
offence.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male
and female,
provided they are purchased
from neighbouring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to
Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can
you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbour who insists
on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to
death. Am I morally obligated to kill him
myself?
f) A friend of mine
feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination (Lev. 11:10), it
is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle
this?
g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a
defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses.
Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h)
Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around
their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27.
How
should they die?
i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin
of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still playfootball if I wear
gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse
and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to
all the trouble of
getting the whole town together to stone them?
(Lev.24:10-16) Couldn't we
just burn them to death at a private family
affair like we do with people
who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.
20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so
I am
confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's
word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring
fan.