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Rabbi Daniel Lapin writes a letter to American Jews
advising
Embrace
the values of Judaism instead of those of Secular Fundamentalism
by encouraging your senator to confirm Judge Samuel Alito
My Friends,
During the 19th century Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
wrote, "The more enlightenment you gain in the knowledge of history, the
clearer will be your insight into the Torah." Since the theater of world
history follows the screenplay of Torah, history can provide guidance to
understanding God’s plans.
For instance, the holocaust did not start in Poland, where
most Jews lived openly as religious Jews. Instead it erupted in Germany, the
country whose Jews were most invisible and assimilated. This valuable lesson
validates ancient Jewish wisdom’s explanation of the Bible verse “The voice
is Jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of Esau (Genesis 27:22). The
traditional meaning has an aging Isaac warning his descendants. When the
voice of Jacob is stilled, the hands of Esau are strengthened.
When traditional Judaism is silenced by our
abandonment of faith, anti-Semitism becomes strong. Contemporary American
politics suggests that we Jews have failed to learn that our embrace of
secular liberalism as our new religion could, in the words of the surgeon
general, be harmful to our health.
Recently more and more Americans are asking
themselves whether they really are better off today than they were in 1955.
They are recognizing that life has become more squalid, expensive and
dangerous. They correctly attribute these distressing changes to 50 years of
liberal excess.
Most of us can recall that an American family used
to enjoy an enviable middle class lifestyle on the earnings of one worker. We
think back nostalgically to a time when city parks were safe for all and when
schools were not only safe but actually taught skills. We remember a time
when movies did not routinely include scenes and expressions that would have
made an old-time convict blush. We feel that abortion should not be treated
like wart removal and that homosexuals should not be accorded special rights.
We do not think that anybody should claim special rights and we oppose
affirmative action. Many of us used to think of ourselves as Democrats—we
don’t any longer.
At least 78% of Americas believe that the Bible
is the word of God. They take marriage seriously and work hard at raising
their children. They are white and black Americans. They are men and women
and they are found in every profession and occupation. More and more of them
are turning back to religious orthodoxy by joining evangelical denominations
or mainstream Catholic churches. Many Jews among them are also returning to
traditional expressions of faith.
Most Jews are unaware that most serious Christians
in this country really do believe that God has been good to America because America has been good to her
Jews. Better than most Jews, Christians know the verse "And I will bless
them that bless you and those who curse you I will curse" (Genesis XII
3). They are financial and political supporters of the State of Israel. Yes,
they do so for religious reasons, but friends whose friendship is based on
principle rather than political expediency should be valued not vilified.
Not every criticism of Jews constitutes
anti-Semitism. It is certainly not anti-Semitic when our Christian friends
ask legitimate questions. For instance, they observe that for the most part
Jews do not send their children to serve in today's volunteer military. Why,
they ask, is it so important to Jews in New York that Christian boys in the army
should serve alongside homosexuals? They are offended by the local Reform
rabbi heading the annual campaign to remove nativity scenes from the city
hall lawn. They are confused when another group of Jews erects a large
Chanukah menorah on the very same lawn. They are hurt when they are accused
of anti-Semitism while defending their beliefs over abortion.
Sadly as a community we Jews are not perceived as
remaining neutral on issues of moral importance to the Christian community.
We are perceived as being heavily involved—but on the wrong side.
Out of 35 or so constituent organizations listed on
the letterhead of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, fully
one-third are Jewish. When it comes to special rights for homosexuals,
opposed by a majority of Americans, the same story is seen. Both nationally
and in every state in which the issue has surfaced, Jewish organizations have
vocally and visibly allied themselves with the militant homosexual agenda.
I believe that as the country moves back toward
conservative and traditional cultural values, it is important to have Jewish
organizations like Toward Tradition speaking nationally for what is good,
right, decent and Godly. Sadly one constantly hears from Jewish organizations
that sound as if they are advocating the opposite.
Many ethnic Jews whose faith is really Secular
Fundamentalism are drilling holes under their seats in the boat of our
culture. Those Jews who dissent need to make their voices heard, if for no
other reason than to reassure other passengers that we are among the bailers
not the drillers.
In the final analysis, we have to ask ourselves what
our security in America
depends upon? Our security ultimately depends upon the God of Israel and we
have to remain faithful to His truths. The amazing thing is that we live in a
country where a greater percentage of citizens believe in those truths than
in any other industrialized nation in the world.It surely cannot be good for
us that we Jews continue to be seen as the minority most hostile to those
truths.
As Americans view society's breakdown with
increasing horror, will they see America's Jews as part of the
solution or, God forbid, as part of the problem? The answer, Rabbi Samson
Raphael Hirsch would say, is up to us. The Senate confirmation hearings of
Judge Samuel Alito is the opportunity to show we understand history.
Rabbi
Daniel Lapin, an Orthodox Rabbi in Seattle,
Washington, is author of Thou Shall
Prosper, America’s Real
War
and Buried Treasure ,is President of Toward Tradition
and hosts
his own
television and radio shows.
Toward
Tradition is America's leading bridge-builder between Jewish and Christian
communities; spanning the divide between Christians and Jews by sculpting
ancient solutions to modern problems in areas of family, faith, and fortune.
Visit us on the web at: www.towardtradition.org
To schedule an interview with Rabbi Daniel Lapin,
contact Rachael Whaley at (800) 591-7579--------------------------------------
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