Zeev:
My Heart goes out to you. You have become wise from your suffering, which is very Jewish. I definitely agree with you that the God of Judaism and the God of Christianity are two totally different Gods, and thus, very different religions. I have often had the same feeling ( and so do many Jews ) as to WHO needs to atone itself on Yom Kippur. I keep the Sabbath holy, every day, every hour, every minute, every second I am alive. My Sabbath, my peace, my joy, is human all to human. It includes not just my family and friends; but all the people of the World who Suffer and strive to make their lives better by making this World a more beautiful place to live. Life is so precious and holy to me, I can accept nothing beyond or below it.
There seems to be an irreconcilable tension and dichotomy within Judaism. The ten commandments are sound commandments of Rationality. To obey them are the hard part. We are often tempted by our feelings and desires to disobey them. When I refuse to yield to my inclinations and uphold a particular commandment, I feel a sense of respect for myself and others as ends in themselves and achieve a sense of blessedness or salvation, which must be achieved again and again, day after day.
As Humans, we have a right to question everything, including the so called Almighty Acts of God. The Ultimate Question: Who is worthier of respect, God or the Human? I dare say that it is the Human, since the fortunes of this planet depend on Human Wisdom and Judgement. It is the Human who strives for Wisdom; God is supposedly omniscient. It is the Human who strives to become more powerful; God is supposedly omnipotent. I love Humans who never stop striving for the Impossible, Perfection. It is to them that I have given my heart and soul. If the Human can not achieve it on its own, what value can it have? Human Responsibility and Accountability are what matters here. |
