Forced execution by a person who does not believe in God
Hello.
I am a graduate of a high school yeshiva and a heder yeshiva in my mid-forties. Last month, I came to the final conclusion with a heavy heart that I do not believe in G-d or any higher being (after a long process and not as a curiosity or crisis). I have no interest in defying, or preaching, or convincing others, and I have not shared the matter with any living soul at this time. I continue to observe most of the practical commandments and do not publicly violate Shabbat or any prohibition in public (at least until I inform my spouse and children).
I feel like I need more blood before I “open” it up to my wife and of course later to the children, the rest of the family, etc. I avoid appearing as a public messenger, and it also won’t attract much attention, because I don’t often act as a public messenger.
I would be happy if there was a way I could continue to study the Torah, because I am a little uncomfortable refusing, and the more difficult problem is Kiddush on Shabbat. Although the son, who is over 13, goes to synagogue and prays on Shabbat evening, the wife and daughter, who are over 12, do not pray. Even though I believed and suggested to my wife or daughter to do the Kiddush themselves, they were never interested in it. The eldest son also does not want to do the Kiddush.
Is there a halachic way that the rabbi can think of (regarding the ascension to the Torah or Kiddush) or is there no wisdom, no understanding, no advice against God? With no choice, I will try to blame it on the eldest son, but that will definitely arouse suspicion and as mentioned, I prefer not to shake up the house right now (there are many reasons why not, including the health of the wife). Is it possible to join the summons? (It is less common for there to be 3, but it will probably happen).
What about “Torah talk” in a synagogue? Should it be avoided?
Thanks in advance.
It’s hard to step into another person’s shoes, but my intuition says that it’s appropriate to keep your partner informed and make decisions together. You have a partnership that also includes raising children, and even if you try to follow the path that was agreed upon when there’s no real coverage for it, it’s noticeable, and so there’s a bit of a breach of contract in that too. That doesn’t mean you have to repent because of this contract (if you don’t believe, then you don’t believe. You do have to repent because it’s the right thing to do, but that’s a different discussion), but the partnership requires sharing.
You cannot be counted among the called and be a public messenger, nor can you perform Kiddush. You cannot exempt anyone from your obligation because you are not in the Torah of the Word (see my article on the fall of a secular person into transgression).
The same is true for the summons. Although I see no problem in saying the Torah in the Beit HaN.
I really appreciate the honesty and fairness you show, but unfortunately I don’t see any other honest way.
Concerns about your partner's health require a gradual and gentle disclosure of the situation. You can start by bringing up the fears that are nesting within you, and only slowly reveal the truth of the situation.
Apparently, if you don't believe, why do you care what the halakha says? In any case, according to you, this is nonsense. In other words, according to you, there is no such thing as fulfilling one's obligation in reading the Torah, so what does the question actually belong to? It is only supposed to be a question for the people on the other side, can you be raised to the Torah, etc.
To the Lord – That is why I said in advance that I do not defy or try to convert or convince others. I respect those who believe and do not want to deceive them and make them think that they are fulfilling their obligation by themselves, when according to their system – that is, the law - I cannot perform it. This is a moral matter – not a religious one. Even if the rabbi said that I could perform an obligatory yagi and I heard that that person was strict on himself in this matter, namely not performing it by himself… I would respect and refrain, just as I would respect and not serve him food that is kosher according to my system, knowing that according to his system it is not kosher (at least I would inform him).
There was a reader I knew who, after many years, decided he was no longer a believer. He asked the rabbi if he would continue to read the Torah. The rabbi gently replied that he would not.
Rabbi, can someone who keeps all the mitzvot, both minor and major, not perform the obligatory prayer due to a lack of faith? But isn't there a problem with this being a law that cannot be tested because it depends on each person's heart, as if they were to say that someone publicly violates Shabbat precisely because they are publicly...?
Also, the question arises about a person who has the slightest doubt that perhaps everything is possible for the purpose of this matter, 0.00000001 percent that Judaism is correct, and on that side, will performing the obligatory prayer be beneficial?
And what is the Rabbi's opinion on the practices of Shlomo Tefillin 15. According to the Gershish method, in a case like the questioner's, would he be permitted to perform the obligatory prayer for his family? I uploaded a photo of both pages:
https://i.imagesup.co/images2/d9d3015df1c12125829818526efa3ae08a5b2175.jpg
https://i.imagesup.co/images2/439b8743d13263e463056fe3bb41af9b5514314e.jpg
Not every explanation can be tested in this sense. So, there are many such laws. And also what you can find in the sources, in order to apply them in the case before you that you need an explanation.
He who does not fulfill a mitzvah cannot exclude others from the law. This is a simple explanation in my opinion. The fact that he does not fulfill a mitzvah is also a simple explanation in my opinion, and I discussed it and its sources in my article on the fall of a secular person into a transgression.
This is not a question of the strength of doubt. In my opinion, everyone must have some doubt, and whoever says he does not have one is simply unaware. The question is what you decide after the doubt, and that is up to you. If, from your point of view, the decision is that there is a God and there is a commitment to the mitzvah, then you are a faithful Jew and can exclude, etc. And if you decide not to, then no.
I do not have the opportunity to read the files you sent at the moment. If you would like to summarize something here and ask, I can comment.
Assaf Shalom, I didn't understand how you came to the conclusion that you don't believe in God or in another entity as you say. How can we know for sure that a spiritual entity that cannot be seen with the eyes doesn't exist? At most, we can say maybe it doesn't exist? We can feel it for sure through the soul that we built in a way of life of Halacha and society, and there is a book about it in Hebrew publishing called "Who am I, the human being?" I would be happy to receive your response, and if you would like to discuss it privately, I will write down my email and phone number.
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