part of my last post was not posted.
A while back a mother cat had kittens (5) in our yard, she disappeared and my children began fedding and playing with the kittens. Some of our neighboors were very upset about this and told us that it is asur to have tamay animals as pets. They were so bothered by the animals they drove us nuts some called my children goyim etc. It is asur to have an evil dog as a pet and a pig. They put so much pressure on us that we gave in and let the father of this family take the kittens to who knows where.
It is asur to look into someone’s yard if it disturbs them. It is not assur (I actually thought it was develpoing very good middos in my children to have rachmanus on this animals)to have kittens as pets.
this is an example of chardei culture which has nothing to do with halacha. I hear your point Pashuta- very often we confuse religion and culture. The culture of a Jew should be comming close to Hashem, which is what being a Jew is all about. The story you said about the bandana makes me very sad. Personally I don’t wear bandana’s but when I see another women wearing them I am happy. Happy because 1.she is not wearing a shatiel. 2. Happy that in the year 2008 so many years after the bais Hamikdash had been burnt and we live amoungst the goyim there are still women who cover their hair!That is a nes. It doesn’t mean that we become complacint, but it is something to celelbrate.
We msut remember the original sin of Adam was that he added to the mitzvah with out telling Chava!!!
Joseph- maybe you want to respond to my post about all of us charedim who adhear to the rabbonim who are on this web site which is keneged their pesak? Let’s admitt that we ahve a lot ot work on oursleves!