Ultra, Orthodox, Modern. Others, Israel, USA

UltraOrthodox, Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Israel, USA Jewry

5 big topics, inter-related and separate…

With respect to those under the Orthodox tent, it is necessary to define G-d. There are many in modern life who omit this definition but I have found a definition necessary to understand behavior under Orthodoxy. So here’s mine: G-d is an entity that precedes the universe, that consciously decided to create it, that now watches it, that sees and judges these words I type, and that will be after the universe disappears. There is nothing in the definition that prohibits G-d from creating numerous other life-bearing worlds, but I am focusing only on Earth.

It is, or should be, obvious that to a person who believes this nothing else can equal G-d in importance: not family, not government. I take as given that among the 3 branches of Orthodoxy, there is a large percentage of believers, as distinct from those who are non- believers but who are committed to the culture. I also believe that the percent of true believers within the 3 groups declines from the Ultra-Orthodox to the Modern Orthodox.
So when true believers refuse to serve Israel, a secular State, this should not surprise anyone. They see the rise and fall of Israel over the last 3500 years as it relates to belief in G-d and if they have waited now 2500 years for a return of a religious Israel and if this Israel has disappointed in this hope, then they can accept the destruction of this Israel and wait 1500 years for the rise of the next, devout, Israel: one that will bring Moshiach and salvation. Any reader familiar with contemporary Israel is aware of the destructive (for the State) nature of the disconnect between believers and non-believers
USA Jewry has many more than 3 systems of Synagogues and identifications. In addition to the 3 above, there are the Conservative, the Humanist, the Reformist, the non-Denominational, the Renewal, and the “just Jewish”. Surveys say Jewish synagogue membership is about 40% with regular attendance well below this. More, I think it likely that many of the “just Jewish” will be the last of their family with any connection to their history (see my Blog on “End Jews.”} My acquaintance suggests that true believers among USA Jewry are a very small percent of the total, this in contrast to the percent in Israel.

So the Israeli issue for most Zionist Jews in the USA is to reconcile USA ideals of community with non-Jews with the current Israeli government policy of seeming ignoring violence by Israeli Jews on Arabs within areas A, B, and C of the 1995 Oslo accords. Reports suggest those Jews are largely from groups of true believers and the recent increase in violence may coincide with current weekly readings from Deuteronomy.

My own view as a non-believing but open public Jew in the USA is continuing support for that Israel to which I have felt connected throughout my life. I am hopeful that that segment of the Israeli public will prevail in the coming elections.

I am less hopeful about controlling anti-Semitism in the USA. This started with the “free speech” movement in the Universities in the late 1960s and had a kick start with leftist USA Jews deserting Israel immediately after the 1967 War. These leftist (progressive) Jews raised children and grandchildren in their viewpoint and those went into media, the arts, and the soft University programs identifiable with the word “studies” attached to the program (e.g. “Latin American Studies”). These early Jewish and Black dominated groups grew to attract discontents of all natures and now results in a committed group, often with visible Jewish representation, who have decided, history ignored, that Israel is a rogue State in the World Order deserving of destruction. This group is impervious to argument or facts and I will not lengthen this already too long note by opening that page.