Jewish faith sets down many laws by which one must live. These laws range from the consumption of kosher foods all the way to whom one can associate with, and what types of relationships one can foster with others. These laws can be very confusing, as the face of the modern Jew is not the same as the Jew of older times. The American Jew especially comes into focus here, for in America there has been such a blending that it is very hard for a Jew to live up to the torah and associate what only those proscribed. This, compounded with the increasing division of the Mishnah and the Gemara, can genuinely confuse. When can one help others? From whom should one accept medical services? What about staying with others? .
In a perfect Judaic world, Jews would reside in communities of Jews, where they would meet other Jews and receive services from other Jews. In ancient times, this was a feasible goal, but in modern times it is very difficult to find such a climate. This is where reinterpretation of the Torah is important. Intermarriage factors big into this. In older time, the population was divided into Ten types of people, with the classifications based mostly of the purity of bloodlines. Within these categories could one discern if they could marry a certain other. After the destruction of the temple, this evolved into a classification based on convictions and strength of belief. Other Jewish laws included restrictions on travel, such as the proper way to treat another sharing the road with you but of a different faith. It used to be taught that one should travel near a person in regards to their armaments, sword on the right, stick on the left. With the advent of cars and such though, this has become obsolete, for travel used to be a time of vulnerability, but no longer. Also, when travelling, who can one board with? At one time it was forbidden to stay at the Inn of idolatry people, for they would try to rape and kill and defile the purity of livestock.
