The Realistic Jew

Thoughts of a realistic Modern Orthodox Zionist Jew

Over the past couple of weeks I've been boning up on my ideological literature from both the Haredi and Liberal-MO world views. Slowly I came to the realization that I could not wholeheartedly accept either position. Thus this statement of thoughts and principles was born:

I am a realistic Jew. Life is complicated, even chaotic for me. My beliefs are a mess of contradictions, struggles, doubts and debates. I prefer their continuation than any pat answer. Allow me to demonstrate:

I believe the Messiah will come. I just have no idea when.

Corralary: I have no idea whether the State of Israel really is Atchalta Degeula or not. This has no bearing on its importance for the Jewish people, or on the need to say Hallel for such a wonderful gift.

I don't know why God allowed the Holocaust to happen; If He Himself offered to tell me, I don't think I'd want to know.

People who endlessly debate why more Jews weren't saved by the Zionists/Haredim/Allies etc, ought to remember this paraphrasing of George Picket (who, when asked who's fault it was that Pickett's Charge failed, said):

"I always thought the Yankees (Read: Germans and their collaborators) had something to do with it"

Left and Right

Ideologues on both the left and the right claim to have all the answers (or answer in singular). Some claim the mantle of Gadol Hador, others that of Jeremiah. Having not received any word of God lately, I have no such lofty pretensions. Life is never as simple for me as it is for such people.

If I have a serious question of faith which I can not answer, I do not immediately assume it means there is none. It may be that I just haven't found it yet. The question will be placed in a tzarich iyun gadol or teiku until something new comes along. Furthermore, I don't know if I'll ever actually find the answer, but I refuse to stop looking and I refuse to concede defeat.

Others, especially on the left, may call this cowardice. If so, I am honored to be in the company of many great 'cowards' - such as the Rambam - who, unable to decisively prove their position against another, preferred to err on the side of God. He deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I do not believe in the 'one great idea' that binds all. I do not believe religious Judaism is only about Eretz Yisra'el, Torah study or what have you. I consider the idea that Judaism is simply a religious rubber stamp for humanism/liberalism/socialism/'social justice' etc to be both pathetic and insulting to my intelligence. My religion is one that laughs at any attempt at simplification.

Corralary: Hardalim and Liberals tend to forget that Moshe brought down TWO tablets from Sinai. The former ignore the one on the left, the latter the reverse (including the historic preamble).

Haredim accept a morally difficult halakha without qualms. Liberals simply abolish it or ignore it. If I can't find a way out, I will accept - under protest.

Secular Jews

I don't believe a pre-Messiah Medinat Halakha will make all the Jews become religious. I don't believe 'seperating church from state' will have any effect in that direction either.

I refuse to use violence or coercion against a fellow Jew who transgresses mitzvot. This would be against my beliefs as a religious Jew.

I also refuse to ever state that the secular position which denies God (or at least his commandments) is 'just as legitamite (one assumes correct)' a position as my own with how to be a Jew. This would also violate my beliefs as a religious Jew.

I do my best to be accomodating and respectful towards my secular colleagues. I do so not in the vain hope that any of them will ever be hozer bitshuva or in the belief that 'we are both right equally (see above)'.

My goal is much more modest - to get secular Jews to respect people like me, nothing more.