B"H
The truth be told, I have adapted to various forms o f
existential identification within the milieu of being an Orthodo x
Jewish participant in the cultural system referred to as Tora h
and Mitzvohs. Everybody knows that the singular entity, Torah,
the basis of tradition in the Jewish fold, the restrictions, and
obligations are called the Halacha. Of course, the Halacha is the
same for everybody who observes Torah; with minor differences
according to customs adhered to by different communities as per
the inhabitations of Jewish communities throughout history in
different places all around the world. For instance, the co mmand
to "love thy associate (care -sharing people) as you express
concern for yourself." The failure to do this co mmand properly
results in the punishment of be denied a place in the next world.
The exact phrase in the Torah be gins with a prohibition to
take vengeance or bear a grudge, an instinct based on the
emotion to repay evil with pain causing reactions. Yet, we see
that those who identify with Torah and Mitzvohs coalesce into
distinguished social entities as well as polit ical loyalties,
Lithuanian and Chassidic Ashkenazim, Temanim, Ethiopian,
Sephardic, and National Religious; not to mention Conservative,
Reform Jewish people who observe certain mitzvohs and others
not. Even those fully committed to all the mitzvohs speak
calumniously one about the other and perpetuate an emotion that
certainly falls into the category of hatred . My being part of any
specific group brings me more aggrandize ment than peace o f
mind, and as a result I limit my attendance to the synagogue,
diminish my involve ment in cultural celebrations and festive
occasions, and most forms of social interaction with anybody . I
do however, learn Daf Yomi, and pray daily with the
congregation.
What keeps me going? The hope that I can be a bridge
between groups to instill in the m a little faith that their negative
emotions is a form of self-hatred which they can only overco me
with consistent expression of love and respect for their fellow.
I think that part of the problem is that many cultural affectations
are performed by rote, the same musical acco mpaniment, the
same attire, same food, same styles of dance, and little effort
invested in any of that involve ment by people who participate
grudgingly in these affairs, whether they be co mmunal or
familial. For exa mple when people get together for feats the y
include some form of dancing, but rarely does one witness the
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