Every now and then, there will be those claiming to be religious Jews or from Israel who will say something to us secular Jews that is akin to this:
“When a so-called Jewish man blasphemes Torah by the words this one has used [saying it’s human written], he reveals himself for what he really is – a Torah hater. When darkness is removed from the world, such a one as this will not only cease to exist, he will never have existed at all.”
Oh, really?! So let’s unpack this, shall we? Besides the viewpoint sounding a little bit looney, it does adequately express the highly religious viewpoint of תורה מן השמים “torah min ha’shamayim” (torah from the heavens – or, “G-d” wrote it, by dictating the entire Torah to Moses on Sinai). In our day and age of human development upon the land, we know better than this now – for the evidence, to any that actually look, is overwhelming.
The Torah is written by Jewish humans, who sanctified said Torah, who venerate it almost to the point of idol worship, and who have created a modern prayer Judaism religion from and around it. An ethno-religion that has replaced the cultic Temple religion of our ANE Jewish ancestors, for the purpose of keeping the presence of Jewish people upon the land (as we once believed an ancestral deity had promised to endure for us).
It is not a chillul hashem to acknowledge that the Torah is a literary product of highly creative human hands and minds. If we respect this, then we respect the creative imagining that is contained within this revered inheritance of ANE literature which gives a deeply incredible insight into the worldview of our ancestors.
So, it is a “blasphemy” to what religious “faith” that we embrace this reality? Perhaps Rabbi Kook can provide an answer to this question for us:
“There is a type of blasphemy that is really faith, and a type of faith that is really blasphemy. How so? One may acknowledge that the Torah is from Heaven, yet have an image of Heaven that is so immature that it does not have even a trace of true faith. What is a blaspheme that is really like faith? One may deny that the Torah is from Heaven, yet such a denial is based on a concept of heaven that was received from minds filled with incorrect beliefs.
The blasphemer says that the Torah must have some other source and begins to search for meaning through the moral and intellectual spirit of mankind. Even though this person may not have arrived at ultimate understanding, this type of atheism is a kind of faith that in time will bring one closer and closer to a more complete truth.
This is an upside-down generation that needs much help. The debate of whether or not Torah is from heaven is a good example by which to explain many debates in faith. For what we are truly dealing with is the difference between what people say simply with their mouths and what they actually mean inside. The latter is what truly matters.”
– HaRav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook
Now, let’s be very clear about something: It is chillul hashem to worship a book. Especially, if it’s the Torah! It is akin to or a form of idol worship, and it is the act of a religion. What is a religion, according to Chabad Rabbi Friedman?
“Religion offers salvation, enlightenment, a place in heaven. Religion teaches self-improvement: humility, devotion, patience, faith. Religion demands a standard of behavior that benefits our souls, our bodies and our society. I’m glad Judaism is not a religion. Because all of the above can be self-serving and narcissistic. Religion can be its own worst enemy.
Religion emphasizes the importance of being good, and of being right. It condemns those who are bad and those who are wrong. Those who practice a religion strive to be perfect. If they fail they may be condemned, and if they succeed they may become intolerant of others. I’m glad Judaism is not a religion.
Religion must invariably create a caste system — more religious is better, higher, holier. Less religious is lesser, lower, more profane. The pious can be measured in percentages. 100%, 50%, 2%.
Religion insists our nature is evil. To be good, we are told, we must resist our natural impulses and replace them with other worldly virtues. You can’t be “you” and good at the same time. You must therefore sacrifice the “you” and choose “good.” I’m glad Judaism is not a religion.
What is Judaism?… The opportunity to serve provides an escape from narcissism by taking us beyond ourselves. The objective now focuses on the deed rather than on the person.
Is it good? Is it right? That is the question. My own goodness and righteousness is not the issue. Even when I’m not all good I can do that which is truly good. And when you do a mitzvah it is as good regardless of who you are or what you are. The gratitude for this opportunity brings real joy to life…. They express the Jew in you. Every mitzvah counts — every Jew is precious. Now, that’s Judaism.”
– Rabbi Menachem Manis HaKohen Friedman, Chabad Lubavitch Hassid
Yes, I’m so glad that Judaism is not a religion! It is an ethno-religion, meaning an inheritance through time amongst the Jewish people – who range in personality and beliefs from atheist to theist, from secular to religious, from hellenized to highly traditional. Let’s keep it this way!
It’s interesting how I hear these same sentiments in the likes of other Orthodox Rabbis – such as Benny Lau, Akiva Weingarten, Shmuly Yanklowitz, and so forth. Rabbi Weingarten (ultra-Orthodox trained) teaches his German Reform community:
“My general approach to Judaism is that everything that is in Judaism belongs to us, the people. We will determine which parts we want to keep and which parts we don’t.”
And, Prof. Marc Zvi Brettler, wrote in a TABS article:
“…it is within my right to “select” particular biblical texts as more important than others. To paraphrase American jurisprudence, not all texts are created equal. I perform this selection out of an awareness that the Bible is a contradictory anthology, and thus speaks in many voices, and if I want it to be authoritative for me (within my community), I must decide which voice is authoritative.” – https://www.thetorah.com/article/biblical-authority-a-jewish-pluralistic-view
Every legitimate Jewish community makes this choice together, as a Jewish people.
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