The arts help develop
creativeness in a person, and this is positive and
productive when used in the right way.
This means that a
person should be allowed to deal in the arts if it
will encourage the development of good values and
morality and not the opposite.
For example, if a
person deals in arts that are connected with pornography,
he is dealing in negative matters. The same holds
true in arts that encourage violence or harm to other
human beings or laughter and ridicule of those persons
who are less fortunate than others, not to speak of
pseudo-scientific literature that speaks against the
belief in the one true G-d and His Torah.
On the other hand,
if a person is gifted and uses this gift by producing
beautiful things that brings honor to G-d, he is fulfilling
G-d’s wish.
1. Work as a moral
value:
• G-d encouraged
work to help mankind, as a moral value and in partnership
in the work of the creations.
2. Restrictions
in Agriculture
• It is
recommended to not castrate men or animals because
there was a great rabbi who was of the opinion that
Noahides have taken upon themselves not to do this.
• It is
forbidden to crossbreed animals and trees that are
not of the same species. Breeding within a species
in either the plant or animal kingdoms is permitted.
It is permitted (even for Jews) to use and eat both
animals and trees that were produced through forbidden
crossbreeding.
• (Nowadays
there are many things that can be done through genetic
engineering. It may be that this is in the category
of the prohibition of crossbreeding. One of the
reasons given for the prohibition to crossbreed
is that doing so implies disrespect for G-d’s
handiwork. It is as if one is declaring that those
species that He created in His world are not enough.
• Though
genetic engineering is not necessarily doing this,
it may still imply a lack of respect for the Creator
because it implies that the order of His creation
is not good enough and is an attempt by man to improve
on it. On the other hand there is no denying that
man does have the right to try to improve a species
and possibly genetic engineering is no different.)
3. A person should
work as much as he can.
• This is
true especially if he is a hired worker. This is
true even if he is self-employed. We can learn this
from Jacob who told the shepherds whom he met (Genesis
29:7), that they should not stop work at high noon.
4. Being a Faithful
Worker
Jacob told his
wives that he had worked with all his power under
the employ of their father. A person should work
in honesty and move away from dishonest ventures.
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