פורום ארץ הצבי

Rami,
I’ll make a few points:

1) STATISTICS IS IRRELEVENT

There are Jews who believe and there are Jews that don’t believe. There are Jews that have no inkling of what Judaism is and there are Jewish people that are devoted to their tradition. Those are all correct statement.
Ultimately though, what defines the Jew is Judaism. Judaism is not a birthright – anyone can convert. Judaism is not based on geography and race – this is obvious. Eventually, Jewish people who decide to abandon their tradition will blend with other nationalities. If all Jews will abandon their tradition then even in Israel there will be no difference between a secular Jew and a secular Muslim.
My point is that it doesn’t matter how many Jews believe and how many do not believe. Judaism remains unaffected.

2) THE MASHIACH

Jews, and since you insist, I will add Jews who are connected to their tradition do believe in the coming of the Mashiach. As I said in my previous note, the significance of this belief on a day-to-day basis is that it compels the Jew to live responsibly. The Jew is obligated to make this world a better place. Those that buy lottery tickets have no responsibility other than to themselves.

3) DAY-TO-DAY HARDSHIP

You made a statement that the religious Jew overcomes his day-to-day hardship by thinking and hoping that the Mashiach will come.
If Judaism was about overcoming depression then Judaism will preach different principles. It will preach a message that might sound as follows: “Take it Easy, enjoy life…” – you get the point.

4) TERRORISM, HOLOCUST, CURRENT EVENTS

As you know, these days, and for a long time now, prophecy has ceased. Therefore, if someone claims that this-and-this happened because of so-and-so and that so-and-so is GOD then you should know that they are not qualified to make such statements. NEKOODA.
However, according to a particular philosophical view, evil has to exist in this world. It has to exist because for us to make a FREE CHOICE on what is right and what is wrong then we should be given 2 paths. Our duty is to choose life. Our duty is to choose goodness.

5) YOUR ARTICLE

Your article IS about fatalism. Your main point is that people seem to believe in illogical and unbelievable things because it “gets them through the day”. If that were the reason for our insistence to live in Israel then I would say: “why bother?”

In the heart of our conflict exists a vision of life. We make a choice to live our life a certain way. Your article TRIVIALIZES this vision and the reason for it is that you are not knowledgeable about Judaism. You are disconnected from your heritage and you don’t understand its message.