Statement about Judaism

My religion helps me to understand that I am not alone as a single individual, but that I am a link in the chain of history which began when God created the world, that I was given a special responsibility when God gave the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the people of Israel, that this responsibility is to try to know God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible, in the world of nature, and in human history, and knowing Him to try to pattern myself and all those I live among after Him so that righteousness, justice, and peace should flourish among all the nations of the world.

This is such an absolutely tremendous assignment that I can well understand and sympathize that people have not heard of it or cannot bring themselves to concentrate their attention on it. However, every human life is motivated by some central force and if any individual does not consciously know what it is, then it is probably fear. As a Jew, I am commanded to be motivated by love of God and to teach my children about God. However, according to my religion, it is not possible to love and serve God unless we also love and serve our fellow men and our community.

From my religion I receive the concept of sanctity in human life. Because God is holy, I must have respect and reverence for His creations, people, nature, property, and myself. To apply the idea of sanctity, we must "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy". One day out of seven must be wholly devoted to spiritual values, prayer, study, rest and enjoyment of God's world.

My religion has helped me to find the rock on which to stand in the swirling conflicting tides of twentieth century thought and action. Sometimes it seems to me that no generation has ever needed traditional religion like those of us who are trying to make our way through the twentieth century.