{"id":27210,"date":"2015-11-27T00:22:21","date_gmt":"2015-11-27T06:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=27210"},"modified":"2015-11-27T00:22:21","modified_gmt":"2015-11-27T06:22:21","slug":"pillars-of-judaism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/pillars-of-judaism\/","title":{"rendered":"Pillars of Judaism"},"content":{"rendered":"

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Ted_Roberts\"

Overall, Judaism even encourages skepticism. You doubt me? Ask\u00a0Abraham, who pleaded for a pass for Sodom and Gomorrah, Moses, who\u00a0tried to turn down his leadership assignment, Job, and Jacob, who\u00a0wrestled with G-d or his celestial creatures. Hence the name change to\u00a0Israel. (\u201cHe fought with G-d.\u201d)<\/p>\n

It seems to reflect the contention that Judaism is a deed-based\u00a0religion. Ceremonial, decorative, and traditional though it may be,\u00a0the judgment scroll is charged with behavior toward one\u2019s fellow man.\u00a0Some feel that the Almighty G-d doesn\u2019t need our love, only our\u00a0adherence to His divine code of behavior. Or if you want to quibble,\u00a0maybe obedience to His goodness \u2013 maybe you may call that \u201cworship\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ten commandments, and only one speaks of intentions, not deeds of the\u00a0imperfect heart. I believe that in the mainstream of our creed is the\u00a0belief of a hybrid heart governed by free will. One side, virtue \u2013 the\u00a0other, evil. Or to put it euphemistically, selfishness. And wasn\u2019t the\u00a0Creator wise enough to understand the survival of the species depended\u00a0on this bifurcation. Hillel knew it. \u201cIf I am not for myself, who is\u00a0is for me,\u201d he muttered as he took a second lamb chop off the family\u00a0platter.<\/p>\n

So, we return to that exotic 10th Commandment. The only one that\u00a0ignores action, but bans feeling. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor\u2019s\u00a0house, his wife, his new Mercedes. It doesn\u2019t say \u2013 don\u2019t seduce his\u00a0wife or steal his car \u2013 it says most strangely, don\u2019t be desirous of\u00a0his possessions. A clear departure from the other nine in that it\u2019s\u00a0not instructive of your action, but of your thoughts. It\u2019s like\u00a0saying, don\u2019t lust for Kim Kardashian.<\/p>\n

Lust is G-d-given \u2013 necessary for the propagation of the species. It\u2019s\u00a0a chemical reaction brewed and instilled by the Creator. It is not\u00a0your choice. But the taming and control of it like other pleasurable\u00a0urges is really the essence of civilization, which is built upon\u00a0restraint. I\u2019m covetous of your Mercedes, too. I can\u2019t help it, but a\u00a0clean, cultural conscience as well as the local police force keeps me\u00a0from stealing into your driveway and speeding off. And so does the\u00a0tenth Commandment if you can control your emotions \u2013 not a sure thing.<\/p>\n

That last commandment, a rarity in that it governs impulse, not action.\u00a0When the Lord blew life into Adam, His breath conveyed many exotic\u00a0ingredients far beyond our ken to insure survival of the species. A\u00a0small part of us is hardwired. Lust, hunger, greed, and avoidance of\u00a0pain amongst others. Some we share with the animals.<\/p>\n

But animals know\u00a0not G-d. He constructed them without conscience (except to their own\u00a0young, which is a miracle that makes the parting of the Red Sea seem\u00a0puny). One can speculate that the Lord breathed twice upon His new\u00a0form of life, the man Adam. Once to give him a slight streak of\u00a0divinity and again to give him a strong dose of free will that\u00a0fostered survival, unlike the other creatures whose behavior was\u00a0hardwired.<\/p>\n

Mankind\u2019s assignment and perhaps the whole meaning of Tikkun Olam is\u00a0the control of those impulses banned by that strange 10th Commandment.<\/p>\n

As Hillel said somewhat ungrammatically, \u201cThat what is hateful to thee\u00a0do not do to your fellow\u201d. The rest, said the Sage, is bells and\u00a0whistles. A Torah for dummies.\u00a0Some feel that the Almighty G-d doesn\u2019t need our worship \u2013 only our\u00a0adherence to His divine code. \u201cWalk in His ways,\u201d says Torah. A great\u00a0and error-free interpretation of thousands of pages of Torah, Talmud,\u00a0and prophetic advice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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