Why do we observe two days of Rosh haShana today when we know for sure when the new month is? . . . that is actually a questions on today’s daf! One that we still ask today. We get another enduring questions as well – why do we still have to learn and study these rules that no longer apply to our world? We get this (partial) explanation:
The reason is that they explicitly voted to annul the decree, which indicates that if they had not voted, the ordinance would not have lapsed on its own, despite the fact that its justification was no longer applicable.
Rules are still in place, even if they no longer apply, and they should evolve with our evolution of what is justice, what does God want, and what is good. (As the Talmud says) What is the reason? May the Temple speedily be built!
We never know when things might change and these laws that are “on the books” but not applicable to life, may be enacted again.
3 State examples: 1) In 1931, West Virginia passed a law banning “lewd and lascivious cohabitation and conduct before marriage.” (The law was finally repealed in 2010.) 2) In Tennessee, it’s illegal to hold public office if a person does any of the following: “fight a duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a challenge to fight a duel, or send or accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an aider or abettor in fighting a duel.” DO you think this applies to those running for office who practice fencing? I doubt it, but we should change that law just in case . . . and 3) my favorite. Apparently, it’s illegal to eat fried chicken with a fork and knife in Georgia. Apparently, in 2009, a woman was arrested as a practical joke for violating the law, but was later pardoned.
The lesson? Change the laws on the books to fit our current sense of justice.
2,711 pages of Talmud. A gem a day. 