As loyal servants, of course, we should obey the commands of our Sovereign. Yet even the most loyal and devoted servant must, at one time or other, ponder the question of purpose. Reflecting on the question, I favor the approach suggested by Rabbi Louis Jacobs, who attempts to answer why a Jew should fulfill any of the mitzvot.
In his book, A Jewish Theology, he points out that in ancient Babylonia, the sage Rav taught that the commandments were given to refine human character, to ennoble humanity, to have a positive impact on our lives. Rav offered a brief lesson. Jewish ritual slaughter prescribes taking the life of the animal in the most painless way possible. If the lesson stops with careful attention to the details of ritual slaughter, we may be obeying the letter of the law but we are not led to the basic purpose of fulfilling the law—avoiding cruelty in our relations with all creatures, animal and human alike.
Hence, observing the dietary laws is meant to influence human character so that we act with compassion. The medieval philosopher Nahmanides, in his discussion of the purpose of worship in his commentary on Deuteronomy , arrives at the same conclusion. The proper worship of God should have a beneficial impact on human character, leading us to exemplify virtues in our lives, and bring us closer to perfection, to being God-like in our behavior. Given the notoriety Reconstructionists have acquired because we do not believe in a God who intervenes supernaturally in our lives, the extent of our prayer lives raises questions.
Spiritual Discipline. Prayer helps to develop and maintain a spiritual sense. Focusing regularly on our sacred encounters helps us to notice them as they occur. Most of us live at a very rapid pace. We welcome the opportunity to slow down and remember what has deeper meaning beyond our daily routines. Group Connection.
After all, most things get better with practice. Jews believe that God will take action in response to prayer, and a teaching from the rabbis tells us that the more we ask God to help us, the more God will love us. Midrash Tehillim Praying in public affirms that a person is a member of a community, and when they do so, an individual puts themselves into the context of other Jews, and to some extent puts their own particular situation aside to put the community first.
And attending regular services, and following the order of the prayer book, is a valuable spiritual discipline, and a mechanism that enables a person to spend time with God on a regular basis. The Jewish prayer book is drawn from the writings of the Jewish people across the ages. It contains the wisdom of great thinkers, and some of the most beautiful Hebrew poetry. Spending time with these prayers enables a Jewish person to absorb the spiritual teachings of the Jewish people.
For example, this extract from the Morning Service is a profound lesson in the nature of God, as well as an act of worship.
Blessed be He who spoke and the world came into being; blessed be He. Blessed be He who maintains the creation. Blessed be He who speaks and performs.
Blessed be He who decrees and fulfils. Blessed be He who has mercy upon the earth. My Jewish Learning. The Jewish Denominations. What is Judaism? Jewish Sacred Texts. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jewish Population.
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Since , the word has taken on a new and horrible meaning: the ideological and systematic state-sponsored The instability created in Europe by the First World War set the stage for another international conflict—World War II—which broke out two decades later and would prove even more devastating.
Rising to power in an economically and politically unstable Germany, Adolf Hitler capitalized on economic woes, popular discontent and political infighting to take absolute power in Germany beginning in Auschwitz, also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, opened in and was the largest of the Nazi concentration and death camps. Located in southern Poland, Auschwitz initially served as a detention center for political prisoners. However, it evolved into a network of camps where Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion that may have originated as early as 4, years ago.
Zoroastrianism was the state religion of three Persian dynasties, until the Before arriving at the death camp, she had been stuffed into a train car on a seemingly endless journey from Hungary. Now, she and her twin sister Miriam Today, with about million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam.
Usually, the upper floors of the office building at Prinsengracht were silent. But on August 4, , they came to terrible life. Miep Gies never forgot the sounds. Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Founder of Judaism The origins of Jewish faith are explained throughout the Torah. Jewish Temples Around B. Jewish Holy Books While the Tanakh which includes the Torah is considered the sacred text of Judaism, many other important manuscripts were composed in later years.
Talmud Later, the Talmud, a collection of teachings and commentaries on Jewish law, was created. Shabbat Shabbat is recognized as a day of rest and prayer for Jews. Recommended for you. Judith: Hanukkah Heroine.
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