Friday, September 4, 2009
Moshiach’s Unity
G-d made the purpose of Jews being on this earth, to teach the nations, that everyone is important.
Can anyone think of a greater humbling job, than a nation whose whole existence is dedicated, to teaching the other nations, that G-d loves and needs them?
Judaism does not look for converts, because it is a fallacy to believe, that one need be a Jew, in order to enjoy closeness to G-d, or lead a fulfilled life.
The way G-d created each and every one of us, is the way in which He wanted us to serve Him. For a one to believe, that he must be Jewish in order to go to heaven, is not only erroneous, but it can be extremely damaging.
By becoming a Jew, one might neglect to make the contributions to society, in the way in which he was created to do! The world needs him the way he is, which is why G-d created him that way.
What G-d does expect, however, is that one develop ones inner abilities for what he is needed for, within the divine scheme of things, to ones greatest potential.
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To our great misfortune, we live in an age, which not only does not appreciate differences, but actively seeks to obliterate them.
On the contrary, equality in today's society seems to mean, that there must be an indistinguishable, homogenous mass, where all things are equal by virtue of their being similar.
The failure of true multiculturalism is that, modern society does not like differences.
In Judaism, the word holy actually means "distinct" or "removed." Something is holy, by virtue of it being dissimilar to something else. Thus, a human being becomes holy, when he acts differently than animals.
Instead of eating whenever, however, and whatever he likes; a Jew eats kosher food, and not by sticking his head into a bowl.
When a person does eat without human etiquette, we say that he behaves like an animal. Human beings are holy, by virtue of their being different.
Similarly, G-d is holy, because He is not like man. He has no body, limitations, or other corporal description. Shabbat is holy, because it is different than the other days of the week. To treat it like any other day of the week, is to deny its holiness.
Judaism teaches man, to be sensitive and appreciative of differences.
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But in modern society, man is increasingly obliterating all differences.
If one can encourage a world-view, that acknowledges every nation's, (indeed every person's), ability to benefit from diversity and multiformity, that cannot happen.
It is only arrogance, that allows one to believe, that one is sufficient on ones own.
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The belief, that from everything in this world, something positive can be extracted, even those things that appear negative at first; has always been a cornerstone of Judaism.
The world cannot be run, by human whim. It needs an ultimate plan, and a regulator, who can determine whether it is progressing or regressing. This is the role of the Torah, the divine law, which puts each of one's contributions, into perspective.
The same Torah teaches, that the failure of the non-Jew to keep his commandments, is equally as detrimental, as the failure of the Jew to keep his. Both are indispensable. Through the contributions of both, the world maintains a healthy balance, and true equanimity.
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This idea of dual roles in creation, is exclusive to Judaism.
We deny the world the perfection, it could attain through diversity: if the entire world had been only Jews or Gentiles, or if all people looked the same, or had only the same ideas. If one uses someone else, as a role model, of what he should be, in place of learning from each other's virtue.
This is the beginning of a Messianic world, a world in which contention, jealousy, and war, can never play a part for each nation. Each individual will see G-d's wisdom in creation; and by extension, the perfection that exists, in every aspect of the whole of creation and people.
A Messianic world is one, where all the people of the earth, while retaining their intrinsic identities, come together to create a better world.
This is radically different from the homogeny usually found, within the doctrines of secularist utopian states.
Unity means that, people who are essentially different, come together; and through respecting one another prove, that they are essentially one.
The Messianic era will occur, when G-d’s deeper power and essence, is revealed, in the great diversity in creation; and then there will be, the permanent revelation of that unity.
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