What will be proffered here, are not logical arguments about
the nature of Redemption, but the contemplation and the interpretation of its
consequences vis-à-vis divine scripture of Torah. This then becomes the essence of discovery, and
thus understanding of Divine revelation, to the extent it may be possible to know.
We should acknowledge the insights of earlier interpretations, however,
acceptance is another matter. We should not expect a consensus of what is posit
here that most Jews would accept. At its core, this discourse seeks to
understand the relationship of G-d to the material world, and hence predict the
consequences of man’s allegiance to his covenant with G-d, and his subsequent
redemption.
My Rabbi says I should love all Jews. But I do
not! "A good Jew is a good American."[1]
I believe that unreservedly. A Jew is who I am, and America is whom I bear my
allegiance. I took an oath,[2]
and I am of my word.
Ms. Caroline Glick, in her insightful Op-Ed of July 8,
2018,[3]
“Why Democrats are turning anti-Israel,” proffers, “but the fact is that the
Democrats’ shift in values from nationalist to post-nationalist,[4]
rather than any action Israel has taken in its domestic or foreign policy, is
what has caused the rupture in Israel’s ties to the American left. So long as
... post-nationalist forces continue to rise in the Democratic Party
... bipartisan support for Israel, like bipartisan support for American
nationalism, will remain a thing of the past."
Today, secularism, liberalism, progressivism,
socialism, and communism, are the values of the Democratic Party in America.
They are anti-American, and they are anti-Israel. They are not neutral.
They are not benign. They are pernicious. And they are G-dless. 'I have no
tolerance for their intolerance,'[5]
and neither does my G-d. Time is running out for liberal/progressive
American Jews to live-up to their Covenant. Today, you cannot be silent.
Some Jewish religious leaders have proffered an
eschatological exegesis to this difficult question regarding Jews in today’s
Democratic Party. They maintain that, "let
the sins seized exist and not let the sinners cease to exist" (יתמו החטאים מן הארץ ולא החוטאים).[6] In
other words, it is the sin that is the problem. The
sinner alone is blameless. So at the end of time his sins will cease to exist,
but the sinner, the man himself, will still be around albeit after repentance.
This is not Torah. It is Talmudic. This Talmudic interpretation of redemption is incongruent
with G-d’s Word.
Should we then say, that a man who murders another without
reason, thus committing a sin (avone / עָוֹן) would be forgiven his wicked act? What moral implication does
that leave mankind? If all acts were forgiven, “by what measure of justice
would G-d punish the wicked and reward the righteous?”[7]
“The deeds of man are in the hands of man, and G-d does not induce or coerce a
person to do anything.”[8]
On Mount Sinai, G-d (elohim) revealed to Moses the laws by which all Israel should live.
It was the word of G-d. Some disingenuously may consider it to be an "oral
tradition," because G-d “instructed” Moses. However, it is the word of G-d! There is no excuse for disobedience. There is no excuse for
ignorance. The Torah is replete with accounts of horrendous consequences
for those who did not obey. On the other hand, the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and
the Babylonian Talmud, are all "oral tradition," or the 'Torah of the
mouth,' in contrast to the written Torah of scripture. The former are from men,
the latter is from G-d. As Moses tells us, "choose life" -- choose
G-d.[9]
I believe that time is running out, or in fact
has run out, for liberal/progressive American Jews to live-up to their
Covenant. Today, you cannot be a
"good Jew" and a Democrat. A "good Jew" does
not sit silently along side those who call for the destruction of the
State of Israel. A "good Jew" cannot sit silently as anti-Semitism
murders innocent Jewish men, women, and children, throughout the world. A
"good Jew" does not threaten severe consequences to Jews who support
Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and other American Jews who support those listed here.
As in David, 'rewards and punishment come after
death ... some to ever lasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt.' G-d says "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but
that the wicked turn from their ways and live."[10]
Yet today, liberals/progressives/socialists of all being have not “turned from their ways.” Do you believe the G-d of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, will not punish the sinners?" If one
is searching for an answer, look to Sodom, The Flood, Exodus, or Korah and
his followers. ‘The deluge that
came to punish’[11] is the sinners’
destiny, not redemption.
In
the concept of Teshuvah commonly
understood to be repentance, the sinner looks for redemption. However, its more
definitive meaning is turning back to G-d to atone for one’s sins. The Lubavitcher
Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson (“Rebbe”), which many would recognize as
the greatest and most important leader of Judaism in the twentieth century
tells us[12],
“G‑d prefaced the creation
of Teshuvah to the creation of the
world — so that the potential is there for Teshuvah
to do its work!” The salient word is “potential.”
There are the sins of omission and sins of commission. The former are
understandable such as speaking ill of another, thinking evil thoughts, eating
unclean food, et cetera, and are forgiven by G-d through repentance. However,
the latter such as turning your back and not supporting Eretz Israel (Land of
Israel) is evil with intent, and not to be forgiven.
The
concept of Tzaddik (righteousness or a righteous person) also accentuates
this point. It is at the time of death that the Tzaddik reaches the epitome of his worldly existence. ‘And the
spirit returns to G‑d who gave it.’ [13]
The soul returns to its source in a manner of absolute perfection.
The physical life of the saintliest Tzaddik
is merely a sojourn of descent. In that milieu the Tzaddik functions and accomplishes his goals till he reaches the
day when his life is completed, and when he expires he attains a much loftier
success — the infinite leap to the source.
However, for those Jews such as politicians, celebrates, elites,
secularists, atheists, their judgment will be catastrophic. “If you persist in
keeping silent at a time like this, relief and deliverance will come to the
Jews from some other place while you and your father’s house will perish.”[14]
In other words, the Lubavitcher Rabbi Shmuel
Schneerson, “Rebbe MaHarash,” guides our understanding of this matter as
follows: ‘if you refrain from lending assistance the relief
and deliverance will come from somewhere else, but then you and your father’s
house will be lost — you will forfeit your chance to have the benefit and merit
of having helped other Jews.’ [15]
Thus, for a Jew, to not support Eretz Israel for one’s politics is without
redemption. They perplex the conscience.
‘It has long been established that universal observance of
the laws (Halakhah) are not
enforceable by either direct authority or custom.’[16]
Hence, local rabbinic leaders whether Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform,
inevitably retain a role as decisor. However, in a matter as important as
eschatology, only divine authority is determinate. We may argue over whether
the Hannakkah Menorah should be lighted in side the home or outside the home.[17]
Normative argumentation not withstanding, adherence and observance of G-d’s
Commandments may not be parsed as some temporal existence. In this sense, you
cannot profess to accept G-d and Judaism if you cannot also support the State
of Israel against its enemies, both foreign and domestic.
Revelation and its eschatological consequences
as an existential reality and a messianic promise culminate in G-d’s judgment
of a man’s soul. Mankind will find it cannot escape judgment, and forgiveness
for some will not be forthcoming.
Indeed, Redemption is not for
everyone!
Label ben Yosef
כֹּהֵן kohén
[1]
Letter from Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, to Rabbi Joseph Glaser, June 8,
1978.
[2] “I,
Lary Scott Schneiderman, having been appointed an officer in the Navy of the
United States (USPHS), as indicated above in the grade of Lieutenant (03) do
solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith
and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any
mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully
discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me
God."
[4]
The distinction between
nationalist and post-nationalist is not a mere policy preference. It is a far
more fundamental shift in values.
[5]
Karl R. Popper, “The Open Society and Its
Enemies,” Routledge, 1956.
[6]
Emails to author from Lubavitcher Rabbis Levi Brook and Dovid Grossbaum, July 9th
and 10th 2018.
[7]
Rabbi Moshe b. Maimon (Maimonides), Mishneh,
Laws of Repentance 51:4.
[8]
Rabbi Moshe b. Maimon (Maimonides), Mishneh,
Laws of Repentance 51:5.
[9]
Devarim –Deuteronomy – Chapter 30:19
[16]
Martin Goodman, A History of Judaism,
Princeton University Press, Oxford (2018).
[17]
Moses b. Maimon Maimonides, Guide for the
Perplexed, that Hannukkah lights be outside in the street as mandated in
the Misnah. Still, Moses Isserles,
known as the Rama, in his Mappah, endorsed the universal practice
of his day, when Jews lived among non-Jews, to light Hannakkah lights in the
home.
