why observe Jewish law?
Nov. 19th, 2005 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioA friend asked (in a locked post, so I won't link) why I follow Jewish law. What do I get out of it? I want to record my answer here.
I follow the law because it improves my relationship with God and because it elevates mundane tasks.
Consider eating. Animals eat. Humans need to eat, but we have minds and souls and we don't have to be like animals. The simple act of saying a blessing before ("getting permission") and giving thanks afterwards ("grace") elevates the otherwise-coarse act of eating to a holier status. Now consider actually choosing to restrict what I eat (and how I eat it) because I understand that this is what God asks of us. It's such a simple thing to skip the shellfish and, in return, God might reach out a little to me just as I reach out to God. That's a win!
When I was in the process of becoming more religious (that is, moving from being an apatheist to actually paying attention to God), I found that if I sincerely tried, even with baby steps, I saw positive results. Psychologists might well say that that's because I caused those changes through a more positive outlook; if so, so what? Does that matter if God -- or my God-concept -- was the underlying force? We're supposed to take an active role; if by praying to God I get no direct effect from God, but the act itself causes me to improve my own behavior, isn't that still a win? Well, it's not just prayer that can produce that effect. Keeping Shabbat, eating properly, striving to repair the world, studying torah... it's all bundled up in there.
I follow the law because it improves my relationship with God and because it elevates mundane tasks.
Consider eating. Animals eat. Humans need to eat, but we have minds and souls and we don't have to be like animals. The simple act of saying a blessing before ("getting permission") and giving thanks afterwards ("grace") elevates the otherwise-coarse act of eating to a holier status. Now consider actually choosing to restrict what I eat (and how I eat it) because I understand that this is what God asks of us. It's such a simple thing to skip the shellfish and, in return, God might reach out a little to me just as I reach out to God. That's a win!
When I was in the process of becoming more religious (that is, moving from being an apatheist to actually paying attention to God), I found that if I sincerely tried, even with baby steps, I saw positive results. Psychologists might well say that that's because I caused those changes through a more positive outlook; if so, so what? Does that matter if God -- or my God-concept -- was the underlying force? We're supposed to take an active role; if by praying to God I get no direct effect from God, but the act itself causes me to improve my own behavior, isn't that still a win? Well, it's not just prayer that can produce that effect. Keeping Shabbat, eating properly, striving to repair the world, studying torah... it's all bundled up in there.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-24 02:32 am (UTC)A book I didn't like, but others might, is After the Return by Rabbis Becher and Newman. I thought it was a little too, err, harsh? It didn't seem to focus as much on transition states for, say, dealing with relatives. But it's been several years since I read it, so I mention it in passing.
Pathways: Jews Who Return by Richard Greenberg is a collection of personal stories. Some will resonate and some won't; which ones fit which group varies by reader.
Becoming a Jew by Rabbi Maurice Lamm is for would-be converts and is written from an Orthodox perspective. I remember it being pretty informative and having a fair bit about practice, though I haven't reread it recently.
How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household by Blu Greenberg comes highly recommended, though I've only skimmed bits of it. Again, Orthodox perspective.
I hope some of these help. (I also hope you can borrow some rather than shelling out based only on my recommendation. I haven't checked which have excerpts posted at Amazon.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-11-26 05:32 am (UTC)