Introducing... Torah Portion Authentic Judaism Follows Torah, Pursues Truth In A Just Society admired by even the non-Jews as righteous, wise and divine. Likewise, the "wisdom" and "understanding" referred to in these Torah verses have all too often been obscured by superstition and an anti-rationalism and anti-intellectu- alism that only the thoroughly indoctrinated would consider wis- dom and understanding. his week's portion contains We must heed the Rambam the following verse (Maimonides 1135-1204) when he (Deuteronomy 4:8): writes (Guide for the Perplexed 11-25): "And who is as great as "It is necessary to reinterpret any bib- this nation that has right- lical verse that can be refut- eous rules and judgments, ed by proof [in its literal like this whole Torah that I sense]" and at (11-47): put before you today." `Analyze the matter The Torah tells us that with your reason and it will even the non-Jewish nations be clear to you what is said will appreciate the wisdom allegorically, figuratively or and righteousness of the in exaggeration and what is Torah and thus realize its literal, exactly according to divinity. The reality, it the original meaning of the seems, though, is far from words. And then all the fulfillment of this RABBI ELIEZER prophetic verses will be clear prophecy. COHEN to you, and you will achieve Not only do the non- and retain a rational faith Special to the Jews not perceive the truth according to what is accept- Jewish News and beauty of the Torah, able to God because God but the vast majority of wants only the truth and He Jews do not appreciate the divinity hates falsehood. and splendor of our Torah. "And then your views and Why nor? thoughts will not be so confused as It seems that the Torah itself gives to believe opinions that are not true the answer just six verses before the even very far from the truth — and one quoted (Deuteronomy 4:2): "Do consider them Torah. The entire not add to the word I commanded Torah is perfectly true when under- you and do not subtract from it — stood properly." to guard the commandments of the To have true, authentic Judaism, Lord your God that I command we must observe the Torah carefully you. and exactly and create a just society The Jewish people, in general, within the context of true intellectu- and even those who consider them- al advancement and a striving for selves Torah-observant, all too often the truth. "pick and choose" which observances If we would but do this, we to practice. Very rare are the individ- would be living proof of all the wis- uals who are committed to ordering dom, righteousness and divinity of their lives entirely according to the the Torah and be admired by all Torah. people as God's chosen, just as the On the other hand, so much that Torah promises. is assumed to be basic to Judaism is actually "add-ons" accumulated over the generations, that have no source in the authentic halachic (Jewish Law) process. Why do so many people observe And even those who observe the rituals but not the interper- Halachah do not always do so in a sonal laws of Judaism? Why do way that creates the just, loving and so many "good" people not holy community that should be the observe the rituals? Why are so result of the Torah observance (por- many people superstitious? Why trayed in Deuteronomy 4:5-8 of this is it said that authentic Judaism week's Torah portion) that would be is "reality based"? 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