Reply To: Just because it's ???? doesn't mean it's right

True. I can’t articulate exactly why this struck me a little differently from the famous Ramban.

Perhaps because in this case we see the Torah recognising – and validating! – what we would today refer to as “secular values.”

It seems that the Ramban refers more to gluttonous or hedonistic lifestyles, rather than conforming to public opinion of what’s “right.”

In any case, my point was that even if (as some people convince themselves) certain types of misrepresentations, or other forms of conduct which are frowned upon by the public, might be halachically permitted (which I do not believe to be the case), they may still be morally reprehensible.

In other words, while the Torah is our only moral compass, it takes the sensitivities of the times in to consideration.

In this light, I would suggest, for example, that even some of our greatest leaders who were slaveowners (such as ??? ??????) would condemn the practice in today’s world.

This is but one example of the many far reaching implications of this concept.