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Topper knows little of religion so Topper reads.
Here is something Topper read.
This is a commentary to Genesis 32, by Rabbi Shaul Rosenblatt.
Here is an interesting video. http://fora.tv/2008/06/23/Karen_Arms..._Not_in_Heaven
Here is something Topper read.
This is a commentary to Genesis 32, by Rabbi Shaul Rosenblatt.
"It is interesting that "Islam" means "Submisson to G-d," whereas "Yisrael" , the name of the Jewish people, means quite the opposite. " Struggle. Doing battle with G-d", Judaism believes that we are not in this world to be mindless robots.
We are not here to surrender our free will to an Omnipotent Being. On the contrary, we are here to be independent of that Being. We are here to struggle, to choose, to battle with ourselves for an understanding of truth, and when that truth is hard to accept, to battle even with G-d himself.
When G-d tells Abraham that He is going to destroy Sodom, Abraham fights to save the city. When G-d tells Moses that He is going to destroy the Jewish people, Moses also fights. And it's not just, "Please G-d , be nice and don't do it." It's "How could You call yourself "just" if you do such a thing?" Do you want the Egyptians to say that You brought the Jews out of Egypt for evil purposes--so that You could destroy them in the desert?" It's a serious argument.
The bottom line is that standing up for what you believe to be right means even standing up to G-d if you believe He's doing something wrong. It means taking a stand, even if no one, not even G-d himself, is standing with you. It takes a great deal of courage to do this, and it's so much easier to have a religion in which G-d does the telling and you do the doing--no questions asked.
But, as I've often said, if it's the simple life you are looking for, then don't even dream of Judaism. Judaism is the path of most resistance. If you're looking for a zombie,look elsewhere. Judaism wants you to think for yourself and stand by what you know. It is difficult and it is challenging, but it is the most effective path to spiritual enlightenment. Judaism is the path of most resistance, but equally that of deepest accomplishment."
We are not here to surrender our free will to an Omnipotent Being. On the contrary, we are here to be independent of that Being. We are here to struggle, to choose, to battle with ourselves for an understanding of truth, and when that truth is hard to accept, to battle even with G-d himself.
When G-d tells Abraham that He is going to destroy Sodom, Abraham fights to save the city. When G-d tells Moses that He is going to destroy the Jewish people, Moses also fights. And it's not just, "Please G-d , be nice and don't do it." It's "How could You call yourself "just" if you do such a thing?" Do you want the Egyptians to say that You brought the Jews out of Egypt for evil purposes--so that You could destroy them in the desert?" It's a serious argument.
The bottom line is that standing up for what you believe to be right means even standing up to G-d if you believe He's doing something wrong. It means taking a stand, even if no one, not even G-d himself, is standing with you. It takes a great deal of courage to do this, and it's so much easier to have a religion in which G-d does the telling and you do the doing--no questions asked.
But, as I've often said, if it's the simple life you are looking for, then don't even dream of Judaism. Judaism is the path of most resistance. If you're looking for a zombie,look elsewhere. Judaism wants you to think for yourself and stand by what you know. It is difficult and it is challenging, but it is the most effective path to spiritual enlightenment. Judaism is the path of most resistance, but equally that of deepest accomplishment."