Are you too sick and tired of the extremist positions? (Shame on the non-Orthodox! Shame on the intolerant Orthodox!) But how to bridge them? How not to join one of the ideas excluding dignity to the opposing camp? The answer is, learn. What’s lacking is much knowledge of the subject.
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What do We Really Know?
We don’t really know who’s a Jew. When the Redeemer comes, he will tell us for each. Meanwhile, we need some principles for deciding who needs to keep the rules for Jews and who needs to stick to the rules for Gentiles.
This is important for following Jewish Law. A Gentile is strictly forbidden to keep Shabbat. A Jew must keep Shabbat. Yet, there are ways around it.
After a Gentile converted to Judaism or became a slave to a Jew, s/he must keep Shabbat. A Gentile can also learn the intricate Laws of Shabbat and go to a Rabbinic Court and request to be obligated to keep Shabbat for life. Such an unrevocable contract then does not entail becoming a Jew.
And a Jew can mostly take the obligation to keep Shabbat as a friendly recommendation as long as s/he keeps it voluntarily. You don’t have to keep (and celebrate) Shabbat as long as you’re doing that already.
So, we need to know who must follow which Laws. These criteria tell us whom to treat as a Jew and whom not. But absolute knowledge is not yet with us, unless you know you’re the Messiah. (Be careful with proclaiming that, because if you’re a false prophet, you must be killed. Though chances are you’ll be just ignored or locked up as crazy, as a bargain.)
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Who Wants to Label?
It makes a difference who wants to label someone Jewish. If a class wants to put on a play featuring Jews and some group of their enemies, does it quite matter who will play the Jews and who will play the others? No. Especially if the actors of the Jewish roles don’t just fortify stereotypes about what (Ashkenazic) Jews look like (hairy, dark hair, big nose, etc.)
If Zionists have different criteria, why not? You need to have at least one Jewish grandparent. If the definition is good enough for the Nazis, it should be good enough for the State that wants to be a haven to the Jews.
If non-Orthodox congregations want to accept a convert, and the State wants to acknowledge that, why not? Only, don’t make the mistake to assume the person will not be Jewish for Orthodox Law, for the State, or for the Redeemer. The person could have had a Jewish mother, or a kosher conversion, and more knowledge than most, and keep all of Jewish Law.
There are Orthodox very knowledgeable and caring Rabbis who feel it their duty to trash non-Orthodox Rabbis and congregations as houses of falsehood and ignorance, and maybe they are right — who decides?
However, they must make sure they don’t trash the congregants as they might simply have a different standard in Jewish Law as being misled, not being instigators. And their outburst may actually backfire and make the ones they talk against more popular or look more sympathetic. And if it gives a desecration of G^d’s Name, the speakers sinned. And G^d sides with the pursued, even if the pursuer is a tzaddik and the pursued wicked.
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It’s a Lie That This is a Matter of Black and White
Polemics and the media almost always portray it as if someone’s Jewish status is black-or-white. You’re either a Jew or you are not. That lie is often based on ignorance, sometimes on anger (people exaggerate when they are upset), and sometimes on oversimplifying. Truly, there is a lot of gray.
When a random Gentile comes to the Rabbis and says “I want to convert,” they’ll say: Why? Don’t you know how hard it can be to be a Jew? Do you know how much you must learn and do? Do you know you can never undo such a thing? Be a good person, and G^d will love you. It’s easier to be a saintly Gentile than a pious Jew. Do you want to risk being a Jewish sinner?
But, when a Gentile with a Jewish father comes to the Rabbis and says “I want to convert,” the Rabbis understand. They feel bad for the person s/he’s not a Jew. We’ll help you. Why should s/he suffer for the marital sin of the father? Now s/he’s 100% a Gentile, but s/he isn’t — you see?
“I come from such and such community. I always felt Jewish and was treated like a Jew and behaved like one. I never considered Jewish Law. But now, I want to belong also in accordance with Orthodox law. Can I convert please?” You think the Rabbis won’t help if it seems sincere?
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Who is Hurting?
Instead of fighting over who is right, thought should be prioritized about who is hurting and what can be done about it.
Actually, many immigrants who were Jewish and Zionistic enough to come live in Israel are not recognized as Jews for Jewish Law. They need help to integrate into the Jewish People. The Rabbis of Old were great and could see possibilities where many others didn’t. We need to pray more fervently that we will deserve better leaders who can help. Meanwhile, don’t blame such people to go to the Reform or Conservative for help.
Maimonides ruled that a criterion for the conversion is the acceptance of Jewish Law. But that was when everyone in the world was religious. So, what do you do with people who are not interested in G^d? (Actually, the so-called secular Jews are often more religious and meritorious than the so-called religious Jews. They have so much respect for people! How can you think you are beloved by G^d if you despise some of His kids?)
You can’t truthfully say that a Gentile is totally not a Jew and cannot become one when s/he is not religious, feels connected to the Jews, loves Jewish culture, loves Jewish wisdom, loves Jewish literature, loves Jews, works for the Jewish State and the safety and well-being of Jews.
There must be ways to help not-so-religious Gentiles convert to Orthodox Jewish Law if they want so. (Maybe they can get the status of a slave, live with religious and outstanding Jews until they are ready to be full Jews on their own.) Where there’s a will, there will be a way. May it be found soon.
But, any time someone wants to discuss principles instead of the people hurting, try to steer the discourse to where it needs to be or walk away.
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. Of the 15 (!) books he has in mind, the next two are about homosexuality in Judaism and new rabbinics. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2600 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 that also may contain updates to Times of Israel posts, to which one may subscribe, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
He's getting ready to publicize books on: "Free Will, "Judaism and Homosexuality, "His parents in the Holocaust, "Judaism, "A New Torah Translation and "A New Hebrew Grammar, "Co-Counseling, "Vegan Facts, "Immortality, and more. *
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 agrees that in a post-truth world, that's irrelevant, but then this is for the record. 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. His posts are spell, grammar, and style polished by AI, but all written by himself. *
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
