By Daniel Gwertzman, Israel
"and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
As I write this article, I am 76 years old and my wife and I have two sons and seven grandchildren, three girls and four boys. What concern me now is how we go about passing on our religious traditions in a rapidly changing world. My oldest grandson who is 12 years old will be going on to middle school. My grandson is now visiting some religious schools to determine which one to attend. His concern involves going to a school in which he will be attending with some boys he already knows.
His parents have a different set of concerns. They want him to have an intellectually stimulating school which is open to the wider world, but will pass on religious traditions which will ensure that he remains religious after leaving this school. This is not always easy as many of the very intellectual schools suffer a high attrition rate when it comes to staying religious in the wider society which is secular. This means many go on to serious secular studies, but drop religious practice. While in the female institutions these young women may become successful in the wider world, but end up being known as feminists and not continuing on with their religious commitments. So how do you find a happy medium?
One simple way is to recognize the need for religious authority and a relationship with the divine that answers the spiritual need of both Jews and Christians in a highly secularized society.
Recently a book was published entitled "Why Am I a Jew?" by Shmuel Rosner which was translated into English and has the subtitle "A Contemporary Guide for the Perplexed." Mr. Rosner is a Tel Aviv based researcher, columnist, editor and a senior fellow at the Jewish People's Policy Institute (JPPI). He agreed to write this book at the request of (ANU) the Museum of the Jewish People. It is aimed at Jews who are non-practicing who are confused by Judaism in general and the apparent contradiction between Jewish and Western values.
While this an interesting work filled with many valuable ideas such as that Judaism may be defined in a number of ways, as a religion in the diaspora, a nationality and statehood in Israel, a set of ideas, as a covenant based on a bond with God, and a covenant based on a historical bond (tradition, language, peoplehood and ethics). However, he throws the baby out with the bathwater, by concluding that since modern Jews do not practice daily Jewish rituals that Jewish law and a communal way of life are no longer relevant. This is in a chapter entitled, "How Do We Survive?" Thus, Modernism is about pursuing wealth and learning, it is about everyone doing what is right in his own eyes. This is a death sentence for Judaism. This removes God from the equation and eliminates the spiritual dimension of life. Thus, life without the spirit of God only leads to emptiness.
The Lord’s desire for his people is to serve him.
"[…] hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live […]" (2 Chronicles 6:27)
Daniel Gwertzman, Israel
Tetze Torah - תֵּצֵ֣א תוֹרָ֔ה 