Orthodoxy on rise...no surprise

Submitted by Devorah Angel (United States), Jan 25, 2005 at 17:04

Judaism has such a history as you know that has embraced evolutionary ideas and used them at critical junctures in our history. It should NOT be a shock to any of us who actually acknowledge ourselves as Jews that orthodoxy would rise again. The truth is that our less religious brothers and sisters are playing the game of being a Jew. It doesn't work. Judaism which exists as a testimony of the G-d of Israel is an all or nothing proposition. We didn't make it that way, G-d did at Sinai and we agreed. YES, we agreed and therein lies all the answers to our age old questions. Orthodoxy continues to admit to Sinai and the faithful that follow do so because they take this covenant thing seriously. In a world that is literally teetering on the edge each day, why would any intelligient person, be they Jew or non Jew, why would they take the chance of not believing in G-d and as a Jew if you do believe in G-d then you must believe in the mission that we accepted after leaving Egypt. Ok, that said, it would be incumbent on all of our people to take the stand of living as close to the Torah's teaching as possible. I know it can be done in a modern world in a modern way.

Those in the camp of reform or conservative Judaism for example had an opportunity to prove it could be done in a modern way but they blew it because they don't.......You can't go to shul and then go to the mall on Sabbath. Sabbath is not negotiable. Judaism was not meant to be a tool of compromise. The Nation of Israel from the beginning was to be a HOLY PEOPLEHOOD.....so we eat different, we rest on Sabbath, we pray and we basically live a life that IF we do it in such a way that we receive the blessing, the world might feel the desire to embrace us rather than eliminate us. The orthodox do not care what others think, they care only about doing what they believe is right. In their zealousy they miss some very important nuances of Torah but they have been polarized because they have had to carry it alone. Basically, most Jews don't walk the walk, they just talk the talk and most of it is worldly talk. I have no doubt that the poorer of our people are orthodox. I used to be annoyed by those who have Jewish parents who do not wish to claim their Jewishness. Well, I don't care anymore. Let them deny who they are if they wish, at least if they don't own being Jewish when they aren't living a Torah life that will be one less Jew we are to collectively be blamed for. After all, it IS a choice, no? Any of us may walk away if we choose to. If we decide to own it then we ought to truly own it.

It is a gift granted from our creator that was to be shared with the world in order to create a place of harmony. Its not complicated, we just make excuses in order to abdicate responsibility. I have no quarrel with those who decide against it and proclaim they do not consider themselves to be a Jew. But those of us who are willing to proclaim our Judaism, our pact with G-d, we have work to do.....

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