Someone wrote me:

As a former Conservative Jew turned Orthodox, I read your Jewish Unity links with interest. Your own view needs a little development: Listen, and don't say anything? Surely one can attempt to distinguish "Who is a Jew" from "What is Judaism" without insulting. Of course, some will take ANY attempt to define Judaism as an infringement on THEIR OWN supposed right to define Judaism as they see fit.

In case you hadn't guessed, I also was raised Conservative and have become Orthodox. Regarding my view on Jewish Unity, I just read over again what I have on my web page, and I still stand by my statements. Of course I didn't say "and don't say anything", rather I said not to make _evil_ speech, i.e. Loshon Hora, i.e. GOSSIP. Speaking and expressing oneself is a very good thing. As for the comments about "Who is a Jew" versus "What is Judaism", I agree that any Jew born of a Jewish mother or who has undergone a halachic conversion is fully Jewish, even if she or he does not practice one iota of Judaism. However, let me try to explain how I might interpret the highly publicized statement made by an Orthodox organization if I were a non-Orthodox Jew ("They say we aren't practicing Judaism. Well, Judaism is a religion. If they say that we are not practicing the Jewish religion, then they're saying we're not Jewish.") I claim that from an American secular or liberal perspective, Judaism is a *religion*, whereas from a more Orthodox Jewish perspective, Judaism is a Jew's entire being (because all Jews have a Jewish neshama). Judaism is also an entire way of life, not just restricted to "religious matters." However, our way of life does not affect who we are. Rather it affects how we are. Of course, changing one's life style (myself included) is easier said than done. My correspondent continued:

It really isn't even "What is Judaism" but "What is G-d" and "What does G-d expect from us". The more Reform and Conservative Jews try to redefine G-d as a man-made creation, and G-d's texts as man-made inventions, the more Orthodox Jews will feel the need to reject their practices and beliefs, and come off sounding sanctimonious about it. Steinsaltz sees G-d as both finite and infinite, as man-made and not, as definable and undefinable. I would propose that it is Reform and Conservative Judaism, which tries to limit our understanding of G-d, that is being narrow-minded and exclusive. As to what G-d expects from us, that is clearly spelled out in the Torah and law.

That is a very interesting perspective that Steinsaltz provides for us. Steinsaltz sees G-d as both finite and infinite, as man-made and not, as definable and undefinable. Think that one over: Yes, G-d is infinite, yes G-d is not made by anyone. Yes, G-d is undefinable. But from the uniquely human perspective, we relate to a very finite, man-made and definable G-d. We cannot imagine being able to relate to an Infinite, Timeless, and Undefinable G-d. We relate to G-d on a very human level. However, that doesn't excuse us from the commandments. Actually, the Golden Calf was such an attempt to relate to a G-d on a finite level. However, G-d is not definable in the form of a molten image. In fact, idolatry is one of the 3 Cardinal Sins of Judaism.

To everyone reading this page: Have a L'shana Tova, a Happy Healthy, Sweet New Year, and an easy fast on Yom Kippur. Please write me with constructive comment on these (hopefully) constructive thoughts.

Send email to schubach.1@osu.edu

After sending me email (hint, hint), you can return to My Views on Jewish Unity or to my Jewish unity page or you can return to my main home page. Thanks go to www.oocities.org for hosting my web page.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page