No Room For Halachah in the World of the One New Man

25 Sivan 5777

The following quote demonstrates the prevailing attitude amongst many self-described "religious" Jews today...

"To be completely honest, I do not think that Halacha is something that must be followed in every instance. There are plenty of areas including LGBT rights, the Agunah problem, and many other moral imperatives that I believe override any Halachic consideration. However, one of the interesting things about not having Halacha be the only ethical system that I follow, is that I feel that I can have a much more objective view than someone who is completely committed and engulfed by it."

They have elevated their own thoughts and feelings above the revealed will of the Creator. They refuse to submit their personal opinions and sensitivities to the constraints of the Covenant and thereby make themselves into rebels who spread apikorsus and kefirah.

This outright rebellion against the Sovereign of the Universe has gone viral. It has spread worldwide like a virus and its aim is to infect every person on the planet. Every tool - mass media, social media, public education, etc. - is being brought to bear in the war to unite all mankind under the banner of a New World Religion which is based on liberalism. In this world of the One New Man, there is no room for Halachah which causes division.

Just look at a sampling of yesterday's headlines...

Jared and Ivanka do their own thing as observant Jews. And that’s normal. (Times of Israel)

So apparently Jared and Ivanka play golf on Shabbat. Cue the handwringing.

The New York Post reported Wednesday that the president’s Jewish daughter and son-in-law like to hit the links on the holy day, and stay within the bounds of the Sabbath rules by walking the course (instead of driving a cart) and tipping the caddie the next day (instead of handling money). Of course, the newspaper also noted that even according to the “less strict” Conservative movement, merely playing the game is a violation of Shabbat.

Articles of this type — I’ve written a couple — are premised on the idea that if Javanka are Orthodox Jews, they should be observing Jewish law, called halachah, strictly by the book. Anything less is hypocrisy or blasphemy.

On the surface, that assumption seems to make sense. But it’s wrong.

That’s because Jared and Ivanka have never claimed to strictly observe halachah. And among Jews who identify with Orthodoxy and belong to Orthodox synagogues, they are far from alone.

The real abomination is the vitriol directed at Rabbi Dweck (Times of Israel blog)

It’s really disheartening to hear of all the negative energy sent in Rabbi Dweck’s direction. As a man of deep integrity and wisdom, it is clear from all of his teachings that he understands the fragility of the human condition and is keen to find ways for people to embrace the love of Torah.

Having spoken to him directly on issues concerning LGBT+ members of the Jewish community here in London, it is abundantly clear to me that Rabbi Dweck is perplexed by the disproportionate actions taken by members of the community to denigrate its LGBT+ members, purportedly in the name of Halachah.

Time To Rethink Our Resistance To Intermarriage (The New York Jewish Week)

...While the Reform movement has the most welcoming posture towards families with non-Jewish partners, the Conservative and Modern Orthodox worlds would be well served if they adopted a similar approach. Gone are the days when dogma and devotion rule; today every Jew is a Jew by choice. If our traditional communities do not learn how to adapt to modernity and cater religiously to different people’s needs, Judaism risks nearing its extinction date.

... In order for the Jewish people to be a light unto the nations, it’s time we revisit our tribalistic approach toward intermarriage and our highly divisive conversion practices. Instead, welcome “the other” into the Jewish family.

It's all about erasing the lines of division and creating One New Man out of the Jew, the Muslim and the Christian.

Multifaith Iftar meals bring settlers, Palestinians together (Ynet News)

Approximately half the attendees are Israeli residents of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc communities of Efrat, Alon Shvut, Kfar Etzion, Bat Ayin, Tekoa and others, who have come to celebrate the end of the fast, talk about co-existence and build relationships.

The evening, hosted by the Shorashim/Judur organization, a local NGO that calls itself a “grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation among Israelis and Palestinians,” is second of four break-fasts the organization will be hosting in June and just one of dozens of interfaith programs throughout the month.

Jews and Christians are guests as taboo-breaking liberal mosque opens in Berlin (Times of Israel)

Top religious leaders urge followers to ‘make friends’ across faiths (Times of Israel)
...In a three-minute video made in partnership with Twitter, the petitioners — including Pope Francis, Former UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the Dalai Lama and Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawki Allam — disseminated their message in 16 different languages.

Only Israel was bidden by her Creator to remain a separate people entrusted with a unique mission. This Truth is under attack like never before in the history of the world.