Anon asked Staff ago I have doubts and many uncertainties about the issue of Torah from the Heavens. But it is difficult for me to leave the Torah way of life because I have found no better teaching. Why should I live in a country with so many terror attacks and not in Finland if there is no special issue of living here?! Why should I risk my life as a Jew, persecuted throughout the world, if there’s nothing special about being a Jew?! Why shouldn’t I steal in secret if there is no Divine commandment which forbids this?! Why shouldn’t I cheat on my wife in secret if there’s no Divine commandment which forbids this?! I don’t understand many sections of the Torah which deal with issues between man and G-d, but does this mean it pays to live as a secular person? How shall I educate my children? On secular values?! Look and see how the secular community is disappearing (emigrating from the country, intermarriage, prostitution, adultery, violence, drugs, low birth rate, etc.). What do you propose doing about it?
I look forward to your answer,
Rafi
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Dear Rafi,
A person chooses where to live based on his inclinations, not some musty old texts. Go look at the Charedi public which lives in Israel, despite the Torah prohibition against creating a state by force of arms before G-d redeems them. For more about this issue, see our answers to the questions < a href= https://daatemet.org.il/questions/index.cfm?MESSAGEID=869>The right to the Land of Israel, If there is no G-d there is no morality, and Have you found any teachings more ethical, eternal, and moral than the Torah?.
I have a question for you, as a person who claims that all his actions follow Halacha. When you see a gentile woman giving birth on the Sabbath, will you help her and violate the Sabbath to do so, against the rule of Halacha?
Sincerely,
Daat Emet
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Dear Miri,
I wondered and was alarmed to read your reaction. At first your heart beat with the sense of equality and care for all, with no distinction between religions, races, or sexes, to the extent that you were bothered and had to go ask rabbis if our words were correct. But for some reason the answer the rabbis gave you, “one is permitted to help a gentile woman who is giving birth if not doing so would destroy the relations between Jews and gentiles,” calmed you. There is no greater impudence and defilement than to continue the distinction between gentile and Jew and permit helping a gentile give birth only if not doing so will create a problem which will “destroy” relations between Jews and gentiles. What would happen if a gentile was giving birth and there were no fear of “destroying” relations between gentiles and Jews?
I will be happy to receive your reaction.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet