There must be 50 ways to leave us as others
Disclaimers: The following are not facts but my opinion. They are not the view of Judaism—just how I see it: don’t blame the Rabbis or all other Jews for it. They show how much Judaism and Christianity cannot be done simultaneously by anyone and that there is no such thing as “the Judeo-Christian tradition.” These differences don’t mean Jews and Christians have little in common nor that we can’t be good friends. They do show that Rabbis sounding like Christians, have a(n assimilation) problem.
You may find that Muslims are often somewhere in-between.
The format has no space for too much nuance. In no particular order:
Issue |
For Jews |
For Christians |
We are a |
Nation |
Church |
The center of religious |
Life is at home |
Life is in the church |
We long to |
Perfect us, the world |
Receive salvation |
Our Bible transmission |
Is extremely precise |
Precision is not crucial |
Biblical contradictions |
Are all hotly debated |
Are mostly irrelevant |
We try to serve mostly |
Jews, people, and G^d |
The Trinity |
Arguing G^d is what |
He expects, wants |
Is the greatest sin |
Winning converts we |
Do if we must |
Must |
We’re all lost when all |
Jews are gone |
Christians are gone |
Main action |
Acting |
Believing |
Our ideal numbers |
As a small minority |
Everyone |
Refusing to learn from |
Us: rebellious students |
Us: pitiful ignoramuses |
We look forward to |
World peace for all |
Perfect life in Heaven |
Short-term, we await |
Peace on earth |
The worst war ever |
Humans need |
Challenges |
Converting |
We find humans |
Innocent and good |
Inherently sinful |
Inherited guilt |
Doesn’t exist |
Only God can undo |
About our future we’re |
Cautiously optimistic |
Certain to be saved |
Lying is almost only |
OK to prevent murder |
OK when proselytizing |
Having faith is to |
Do the max, pray, trust |
Have a safe feeling |
To love is |
To help someone |
Having a warm feeling |
To hate our enemies |
Can be good, healing |
Is always a sin |
Suffering |
Can help us, calls on us |
Shows we’re helpless |
Mistakes we need to |
Face, regret, cease |
Ignore, start anew |
Equality means |
We are each worthy |
We are all sinners |
One religion for all is |
Our worst nightmare |
Our highest dream |
Stubborn Jews prevent |
Their own genocide |
Their final salvation |
Jews who reject Jesus |
Make us stronger |
Make us sad, angry |
Jesus, |
A Christian Idol |
We’re lost without him |
Hell, |
A place of cleansing |
Eternal damnation |
Heaven, |
The end for most |
Only for the happy few |
Capital punishment |
Nowadays is murder |
Is just fine in principle |
Human death is the |
Worst disaster; fight it |
Will of God; accept it |
Divine Power |
Compromises with us |
Is the only real Power |
The Goal of Creation is |
To reward us max |
To select the best |
Scientific findings |
Must fit Judaism |
Are lesser than Dogma |
Men and women are |
Alike but very different |
Equals in every way |
Loving others is deeply |
Religious, serving G^d |
Secular, humanistic |
Love your neighbor is |
A Jewish Law |
A Christian Law |
The Mundane is a |
Non-existent fiction |
Reprieve from the holy |
Christianity |
Is too basic for Jews |
Is the religious basics |
Add Jesus to Judaism |
Kills it, is a fatal mix |
Completes it |
Meaning of the Torah |
Shows in the Oral Law |
Is meager |
Wicked people are |
Mistaken good people |
Evil and should die |
Enjoying life should be |
Done but within limits |
Avoided AMAP |
Making money |
Is kosher as a means |
Is dirty; poverty is holy |
Sexuality is |
Holy, don’t squander it |
Beastly, don’t indulge |
Divorce is |
Always (a sad) option |
Not done (by some) |
Life-long celibacy is |
Forbidden |
Holy |
Every person |
Is unique and special |
Should be equal |
Christianity |
Needs a Jewish update |
Is update Judaism |
Jews should be |
Humanity’s teachers |
Updated, be Christians |
Gentiles must respect |
Jews extra as teachers |
Jews like everyone |
Jews to learn from are |
All Jews—and Gentiles |
Only dead Jews |
Jews to feel close to |
Are all Jews |
Are the martyred Jews |
Jews should assimilate |
Less, be less Christian |
More, be Christian |
Trying to convert Jews |
Is wicked, genocide |
Is holy, God’s plan |
Life in this world is |
All we have for sure |
Not the real thing |
Satan is an important, |
Good, tempting Angel |
Wicked Enemy of God |
Islam |
Lacks any idol worship |
Is a wicked religion |
Being Chosen by G^d |
Obligates |
Is a privilege |
Serving G^d serves to |
Make people better |
Make G^d feel better |
Everyone should |
Be pious and humane |
Love God |
Power is in numbers |
And we must be few |
The more, the merrier |
Jew-hatred tells us to |
Stop our divisiveness |
(At best) shield Jews |
Jew-hatred mostly |
Hurts the perpetrators |
Hurts the victims |
Jew-hatred is caused |
By G-d to egg us on |
By the Jews, basically |
Jews are the eternal, |
Proud survivors |
Pitiful victims |
The Bible says |
Thou shan’t murder |
Thou shan’t kill |
The Redeemer is |
A learned, perfect Jew |
God, celibate |
G^d loves everyone |
Period; He hates evil |
Who is righteous |
After the Fall in Eden |
We can now elevate us |
We are all doomed |
Is G^d talking to us? |
Yes, by giving us ideas |
He talks to pure ones |
We have Free Will |
At our fingertips |
Only if G^d allows us |
Our lifestyle is |
Us commanded |
Our free choice |
Repentance |
Is our daily work |
Is a one-time thing |
We can all |
Complete each other |
Only trust in God |
G^d is here for us to |
Cooperate with |
To obey and beseech |
Doubting is a sign of |
Religious maturity |
Sinfulness |
Religious disputes |
Bring religious depth |
Should be solved |
The Talmud’s lessons |
Are sublime wisdom |
Are sinful or silly |
The Holy Land is the |
Land given to the Jews |
Land of Jesus’ steps |
Christians helping Jews |
Won’t get instant trust |
Must be good, pure |
The Temple fascinates |
Us, we await its return |
Us as Jesus was in it |
The Laws of the Torah |
Are all binding |
Are only symbolic |
The Torah Laws |
Make us better |
Don’t make us perfect |
So, this is not true for all Christians, but you get my drift, no?
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1