In the future...

[arib]

So, one of the many books I've read since starting my new job has been Star Trek:SCE a bound version of several ST e-books.

The bound version of the books comes with a compendium that includes characters, and their relatives, and I found this entry:

Rabbi Rachel Gilman- Professor at Stern College, married to Captain David Gold (one of the lead characters)

This suggests a few things to me...

1. Sometime in the future, Orthodoxy will accept female Rabbis. Which, to be honest, doesn't strike me as all that bad an idea. I know quite a few women who know just as much as quite a few Rabbis I've met, and while they're highly respected in their fields as educators or community leaders, they don't neccessarily have that extra bit of respect that Rabbis get...

2. Even though there are female Orthodox Rabbis, Yeshiva University still sees fit to have seperate-sex undergraduate education.

That's just so YU... :-)

3. Orthodox Jews can serve on starships, now that's just plain cool. :-)

Comments

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

3. Orthodox Jews can serve on starships, now that's just plain cool. :-)

But how would you handle things like the commencement of the Sabbath and holidays at sunset? I imagine that spotting only three stars would be difficult.

[rosefox]

Hmmm... so would observing the phase of Earth's moon when you're in another galaxy. And keeping track of what time and day it is in Jerusalem is difficult when you're traveling at light speed. Interesting question!

[arib.livejournal.com]

There have been perpetual lunar calendars available for centuries now.

The real problem would be facing Jerusalem while praying.

"Computer, locate Israel"

"275 light years through the ceiling."

"Oh, crap. Computer, turn off the artificial gravity, please..."

Or getting someone to turn on the replicator for you, and is replicated meat really meat? Can you eat it with replicated dairy?

the mind boggles.

[rosefox]

I think a whole series of episodes should be devoted to these questions. Seriously.

Re:

[arib.livejournal.com]

I've seen it discussed on various e-mail lists I've subscribed to, it's entertaining stuff.

I've always asked my Rabbi various and sundry geekfan type hlachic questions, usually, he takes them seriously, and gives me a good answer.

"Hey Rabbi? if a person has telekinesis, and they use it on Shabbat outside of an Eruv (ritual outdoor boundary within which carrying on the Sabbath is permitted) Does that count as carrying on Shabbat?"

"No, since it's not considered Derech HaTevah (literally "the way of nature." or, the way things normally operate.)

I really like my rabbi...

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Dude, your rabbi sounds cool.

But, um, I would've thought that you can't use telekinesis on Shabbat at all ...

Re:

[arib.livejournal.com]

Rabbi Gewirtz is very cool. Becoming a grandfather really helped him loosen up.


Yeah, I wasn't sure about TK, myself.

It's not like it'd be muktzah, I don't think. Using your brain isn't electrical or motorized or anything.

But what about heat vision? Does that count as cooking or lighting a fire? How about teleportation. What if you're in Israel on Saturday night, and you teleport to Boston, where it's still Shabbos? Do you have to follow Shabbos?

I remember when I lived in Israel, I'd call my family on Saturday nights and leave messages like "I know you can't pick up the phone, but I wanted to say hi..." :-)

These are the questions that keep me entertained. :-)