According to TMZ: Ivanka Trump and hubby Jared Kushner got special permission from a rabbi to break from Orthodox Jewish laws that ban use of technology — like cars — on the very night they’re celebrating Donald Trump‘s inauguration.

Only Problem?  There is no law that bans the use of “technology” and and if there were no rabbi would have the authority to void such a law.

So, the accusations that Trump is an antisemite are sooo false cuz his daughter converted.  OK so  far … I do not think Mr. T is any sort of bigot just someone willing to exploit bigotry in his bizness. Nor do I fault the Kushner-Trump family for breaking a Jewish law so they could enjoy her Dad’s YUGE day,

BUT .. hypocrisy matters.  There ought to be some reality testing about Ivanka and Jared.  He is an
Orthodox Jew and according to the  Jerusalem Post piece, Ivanka “took on observance of Shabbat, holidays and kashrut, and adopted the Hebrew name Yael.”

For non Jews, Orthodoxy is the form of Judaism that has strict rules, 613 of them.  These are called mitvot and include what you can eat as well as rules like not cheating on your spouse or  lying.   Some of these laws get special emphasis … inclding the rules that relate to observance of Shabbat.

“We observe the Sabbath. From Friday to Saturday we don’t do anything but hang out with one another. We don’t make phone calls,” Ivanka told Vogue in March 2015.
Ivanka praised the way that Shabbat provides a “blueprint for family connectivity,” in that it protects time for her to spend with her family, including her eldest child, Arabella. “It’s an amazing thing when you’re so connected, to really sign off,” said Ivanka. “And for Arabella to know that she has me, undivided, one day a week? We don’t do anything except play with each other, hang out with one another, go on walks together. Pure family!” *

As you might know, the day of rest for Jews — Shabbat or the Sabbath — begins at sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. During that time there is supposed to be no violation of rules banning use of fire or electricity…. the most orthodox will not even heat their homes and even moderate orthodox finish all their cooking before sundown on Friday.  In Israel, hotel elevators stop at every floor so that Orthodox Jews do not  need to push buttons.  Attendance at synagogue on Shabbat means walking,  Traveling by car is not allowed not because it is “technology” but because making a fire or doing anything that disrupts Shabbat is not kosher. .

So, “Ivanka and Jared got a pass for their own safety.”  From a rabbi yet!   This is nonsense.  Rabbis are not priests speaking for God, they are more like judges .. enforcing the Law.

This rabbis’s excuse?  a rule called Pikuach Nefesh.   Pikuach Nefesh (Hebrew: פיקוח נפש) describes the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration. When the life of a specific person is in danger, almost any mitzvah lo ta’aseh (command to not do an action) of the Torah becomes inapplicable. This overrides other commandments in the Torah.  So, for example, an Orthodox Jewish Doctor is required to work on Shabbat if her work will save lives.  Attending her Dad’s inaugural may be a good thing to do but any rabbi should tell her she was breaking the law.

To make matters worse, I watched one of these balls.  There was Ivanka and it was sundown in DC.  Seems like she also forgot to light the Shabbat candles. 

• This is an image of the family lighting Hanukkah candles.  I used Photoshop to replace the Hanukkah table with one for a traditional Shabbat.