Human beings are fraught with many inclinations, some good, some bad, including the desire for particular societal outcomes, grand visions, monolithic ones — exemplified by the Tower of Babel — not guided by Godly right and just action.
We are being commanded to be kind to others, but we are not being asked to be angels, especially when dealing with those who do not share our values, including those who are our enemies.
Yes, the Exodus is about freedom from: our freedom from bondage. But just as importantly, it’s about freedom to: the freedom to follow God’s commandments, the freedom to be servants of God and not to be servants of anything else.
There’s nothing like studying the Talmud to learn more about Judaism.
The ink is barely dry on the latest Pew report on declining Jewish affiliation and concerned community leaders are quickly weighing in on what to do to attract the unaffiliated back under the tent. Notwithstanding all the good ideas, something, from my experience, is missing from the conversation.
