There are those who mistakenly categorize Jews as religious and non-religious.
According to our Torah, there is no Jew who is not religious. All Jews are believers from birth.
Superficial, external factors may bring them to go against their true selves. But their hearts are always awake and open to Torah and mitzvahs. They are only waiting for someone to press the right buttons.
This can be said of all people of all Religious Faiths from all walks of life for God is the creator of all mankind. Reply
I once heard a Chabad rebbe declare that Judaism is not a religion. He declared it is a WAY (philosophy) of life and our purpose of existence. This resonated within me. Perhaps a "Jew" is one who lives their life in WAY following Torah (instruction). And a holy (separate) Jew seeks a one on one presence with Hashem. Compassion and love for the stranger through sacrifice of ego (perhaps the essence of Torah) is the WAY . Reply
You have my vote on your comment as a Ger, my conversion was based on the covenant at Sinai between G-d & the the Jewish nation. I am Torah Observant. I do not wish to be branded as Religious. I am a Torah Observant Jew! Reply
Every Jew has a close connection to Hashem without being categorized. We have to press our own buttons to find out what that means. Our g-dly soul keeps trying to direct us in the direction of mitzvot, and at least some or all observance. Reply
What about Karl Marx and the folks from the Yavsektsia? Or Mr. אחר of Talmudic fame? Reply
Good Morning, Ron
That's an interesting question, but its profundity cannot appropriately be dealt with here. Maybe an efficient Chabad instructor can conduct an online class study to discussed the issues and theories represented by Karl Marx, its affect on Russian Jews and Zionism, and the Yavsektsia. However, Rabbi Elisha Ben Avuya (Achar) is of a higher order, and I feel should be dealt with separately (if at all, based on the target site audience).
Blessings, and keep safe.
Prayerfully,
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People like Karl Marx, Adolph Hitler, and many other good or evil human beings are born with the knowledge of the Torah's good and evil.
G-d gave one commandment to Adam and Eve, do not eat from the Tree of Life (Torah) or die. They were tempted by violating His commandment.
Genesis 3:4-5, "The snake said to the woman: Die, you will not die! Rather, God knows that on the day that you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.
The Torah was known to their progeny throughout time. Cain and Abel brought grain and animal sacrifices as the Torah commandment. Cain knew that murder was wrong but he slew his brother. Was G-d's purpose for creation with human beings to follow His Torah laws, commandments, and instructions or choose the path of evil? Again the people of the earth have failed His purpose for creation with wars, holocausts, and antisemitism.
G-d has promised that our eyes will eventually be opened and return to G-d.
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It seems to me that "religion"always gives the believer something/someone physical to follow, and denies them the opportunity to learn for themselves the depths of truth that IS rather than other peoples' imaginations. That is why one sees oceans of robotic followers who fear to say anything different for fear of expulsion by ¨authorities¨.
A deeply spiritual person like the Rebbe, had his own insights, which may be helpful to us, but they were HIS realizations, and fit into HIS consciousness. We need to look for the PRINCIPLES involved if we really intend to discover our own depths of understanding. Copycats are merely imitators and have nothing genuine of their own. When one understands the underlying principles, he/she can then speak their own insights.
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I am a Jew. I study Torah, Daf Yomi, sing prayers on Friday, try and keep kosher, follow holidays when I can. I have dedicated much of my life, and more time than any Haredi person I have met, to advancing the Jewish people and Zionism.
I am not going against my true self. I am following the practice of Torah, with an eye to the creators wisdom above us all. I do hope to follow more. But being non-practicing doesn’t mean anything fundamentally bad. We are all on a journey.
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My aunt used to say the person is not observant rather than irreligious. I think that is the correct description and one I use. They still think of themselves as Jews but the rules are not important to them. Unfortunately, this often leads them astray in marriage and duties to their kids. I have known several people who found out they were Jewish only when they wanted to marry a Jew and the rabbi asked the right questions. Yes, their maternal grandmother was Jewish but their mother practiced her husband's religion and so did the kids. Reply
may all jews observe the Torah completely now Reply
Amen ♥️ Reply
Here are numbers from the recent Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study: 1) 45% of Jews seldom or never pray; 2) 62% of Jews seldom or never study Scripture; 3) only 17% of Jews look to religion for guidance on right and wrong; 4) only 21% of Jews think there are clear standards of what is right and wrong; and 5) 55% of Jews say Scripture is not the word of God. These are the worst least religious views of any group measured.
We need to stop pretending we don’t have a problem by saying, among other things, that no Jew is not religious.
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BA: That Pew study was received by almost all as a perfect example of statistics that lie—for a simple reason: A Muslim who does not believe is no longer considered a Muslim. The same with all other groups —except for Jews. Jews are the only ones who consider a Jew by any other name a Jew.
Which just goes to support the Rebbe’s point: Every Jew is a secret believer—often so secret that he will not even admit to himself that he believes.
But his heart is awake. All it takes is a small shake to allow it entry.
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I have always felt that our religion does not need to have different categories of the kinds of people observing it. Here in Israel the term "datti" is often used and this means orthodox Jew, but for me this expression is unacceptable.
Of course many Jews are less observant than this kind of person, but we are all Jewish and this is not simply by our family line of descent, because many have adopted our faith.
"Who is a Jew" and the law of return to our Land of Israel is still a difficult matter for our governments to agree about. However when we begin to argue about our level of Judaism it is realy too much accusation and this should stop. Even within the orthodox there is disagreement on this topic and whilst the sincerity of doing the right thing is not to be questioned, different customs often get in the way of sharing a common style of clothing, prayer, food, training, etc.
I guess we would not be true to our nature if we failed to disagree!
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A proof of the what Rabbi Freeman says is explained in this years ago incident: We teachers gave a pair ,of Shabbat candles to every kid in the school since we were learning the rules of Shabbat at a younger age. On Monday, a mother came screaming to us that " with which permission did we gave her child those candles? Nobody has a right to tell her what to do in HER home." The question then arises if you don't want your child to know this why are YOU sending him to a Jewish school ? I perceived ambivalence, and a very typical erosion of values in an assimilated society since she didn't deny that she Jewish, and yet.... . She was JUST protesting under the American rule that she has a right to behave the way she wants " in her homer " since she is not breaking t he Constitution right??? Reply
Is that how HaShem views it? According to Tanakh, HaShem expected actual OBEDIENCE. Again and again, it was obedience, not being born of the "right" mother, that HaShem blessed His people for, and punishment was severe for those who persisted in disobeying Him.Yes, its cozy and comforting to support this notion that you are just "born" holy, and no matter what you do, think, say or how you treat others is meaningless. Its actually the same as white supremacism, and what Hitler promoted. I'm so glad we have the Tanakh to show us the truth and we're not left to the mercy of shepherds who fleece the flock, because we're becoming like the followers of Shabbtai Tzvi. Reply
Where does the Torah say that there is no Jew who is not religious? Reply
Thank you. I have the same question. Reply
There is no such thing as religion.
There is such a "thing" as Torah.
There is such a heart as loves Torah.
There is such a heart as loves HaShem, Whose gift Torah is.
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Yikes! There are Jews that adhere (or not) to a “no thing.” (Religion). There is a heart that loves this “no thing.” (Torah). And Hashem (also “no such thing?”) has gifted us this “no such thing” to love and live our lives by. How very Buddhist of you! Or should I say JuBu? Is there a Hebrew or Yiddish word for Koan? Reply
Yes; thank you, this makes sense!🙏 Reply
And where was the Torah given? Israel? Jerusalem? The temple mount? No.
It was given to in the desert on a specific mount.
I have read many articles telling the location of the giving of the Torah and splitting of the voices into 70 has a big meaning.
The last statement in this article is for all humanity. As a gentile who studies Torah, I say this applies to every person born under heaven.
"Superficial, external factors may bring them to go against their true selves. But their hearts are always awake and open to Torah and mitzvahs. They are only waiting for someone to press the right buttons."