confusion
Reader comment on item: The Future of Judaism
in response to reader comment: Liberals vs Orthodox Jews

Submitted by jon King (United States), Aug 12, 2007 at 08:54

i am at the point where i am struggling with the idea of liberalism and judaism. i am jewish, and i am a moderate politically(fiscally conservative). i dont really think liberals are right on many issues, and in fact i think a lot of their viewpoints are illogical and make no sense.liberalism = do what ever you feel like. what ever you feel is right.

That being said, how can so many jews be liberal. after all, we did introduce morality to the world. morality is something that is taught. Morals first appear in the Torah. The United States is based on Judaism(christianity also, however christianity is based on judaism so we can just say judaism), giving charity is a Jewish concept,etc. So if it was our job, as the "chosen people", to bring morals to the world, why do we support things like abortion and homosexuality.

I have been sort of liberal towards these two topics, however isnt there something to be said about the conservative thought on these manners(which are more compatible with traditional judaism). Something that makes you happy doesnt make it right. morality and happiness are two different things. homosexuals do not use their sexual organs in the way for which they are intended, sexually transmitted diseases are much more prevalent amongst gay men, the concept of love in judaism is when a man gives to a woman, and then the woman gives back(male is required to please his wife under jewish law), there are clearly distinct roles men and women play(roles that dont suggest inferiority, roles that compliment each other), and just the idea that hmosexuality is just abnormal and gross.

Now while i think these things, i also take a liberal position by saying, go to whatever makes you feel good. just keep it in the bedroom. Then abortion. i have always been pro-choice, and most jewish women, most jews in the united states support it. However if we are to argue that the fetus has a soul, than we are takenly killing something incredible. I kind of want to lean towards the liberal side on social issues, yet the Torah condemns these things. And since the Torah touches on every single aspect of life, makes so many astute predictions regarding the Jewish people, events, etc., as well as other evidence that would lead one into thinkin the Torah is divine, it makes me question these things. If there is compelling evidence that God wrote the Torah, than homosexuality and abortion must be wrong(although the orthodox rabbi on my campus said there are exceptions for abortion )

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