- "BUT the orthodox have no right whatever
to FORCE halacha on the majority of Jews in Israel. Again, the concept
of choice is the keystone of religious freedom."
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- Mesora: What do you do with the Jewish court system which
imposes capital punishment on murderers? Do you rid Judaism of this as
it "forces" people to stay in line with the system?
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- Who are you and what credentials do you have
to claim that G-d does not recognize conservative or reform tradition.
That is pure arrogance. To call either a "corrupt system" is
to me highly abrasive. You are telling me that I belong to a
"corrupt system". I and most Jews in Israel completely
reject that concept. Do you also call Catholic and Protestant churches
corrupt because they do not believe in the 613 commandments? I find
your attitude an insult.
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- Mesora: By your own admission, Reform and Conservatism are
relatively new. Meaning, it doesn't date back to Sinai. G-d evidently
didn't give a Reform system. G-d gave a different system. The nations
of the world attest to this by retention of the Chumash. Man made
Reform later. The name itself, "Reform" reveals that it is a
modified version of an earlier work. What was wrong with what G-d
created? Are we trying to teach G-d that He made a few mistakes, and
now we have to modify it for Him?
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- Yes. Catholic and Protestant churches are corrupt. They deny the
basic design of man, making him feel guilty for human desires, killing
in the name of the Church, and many other atrocities. You approve of
such a system?
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- "Yes, conservative and reform Judaism are
relatively new movements which meet the needs of some of the finest
Jews who have ever lived. "
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- Mesora: Meeting the needs doesn't
validate something.
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- It even may be because their beliefs are
somewhat different than yours. EVERY Jew should have the opportunity
to practice his/her Judaism as he/she wishes consistent with an honest
belief. You have no right whatever to demand by law in Israel that the
observance of religion be conducted only your way. Again you have
every right to your beliefs but you may not force your beliefs on me.
I do not in any way shape or form belong to a "corrupt"
belief system!
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- Mesora: Show me where G-d gave the
system in it's Reformed or Conservative state?
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- Understand that I am not attacking you. I am
attacking a system. You should not take this personally. If you do, it
is your choice. I would voice these arguments against my own brother
if he would speak them. I do not see a rational explanation for
following that which G-d didn't create.
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- What exactly is the reason you chose reform
over Orthodoxy? What were your considerations in selecting one over
the other? Did you research both of them? If so, what did you base
your conclusion on? I would like to know.
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- Again, I do not know you, and therefore have
no animosity. My attempts are to learn what is clearly true, and
expose what is clearly false. One's selection of a philosophy in life
should be based on his highest element - his intellect, not his
emotions. I see many Jews today among the Orthodox wearing red strings
on their wrists to ward off evil spirits. This is idolatry. I am not
partial to someone just because he's orthodox. The truth is that this
site was developed to correct many false notions among the orthodox,
not as an attack on other groups.
- It is sicknesses like idolatrous practices
that incensed me, and was the impetus for me to create a website to
vocalize truths which can be proved to the mind.
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- The same applies to our conversations. We
should not be interested in equal recognition of each other. Do you
recognize Jews for Jesus? I hope not.
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- What we should be involved in is carefully
analyzing what the best life is, by using rational arguments, not by
demanding equal recognition. If something is true, it will stand up to
the test of reason and proof. If it doesn't it shouldn't be followed.
just like in business, when a marketing strategy doesn't work, it is
dropped.
- We should not care that many people are
following something. There is no rational reason for recognizing a
movement just because a spokesperson demands to be recognized. If
Hitler started a movement today, should he be recognized?
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- We have to base our selection of a philosophy
on its ideas alone, not its spokepersons, not its numbers.
- Just because there is a movement, doesn't make
its tenants correct.
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