Question

Hi Michi,
These things were written following polemics with commandment-observant Jews [some more so, some less so].
Despite your limited time, I would ask you to address the paragraphs marked in red.
Although the claim is often heard that monotheism was “invented” by our forefather Abraham, in the book of Genesis there are statements indicating that belief in the one God, creator of the world, preceded Abraham.
In addition, the midrashim of the Sages mentioned the academy of Shem and Ever; from these midrashim one may infer that the Sages were aware of an earlier advanced social culture. And indeed, documentation has been found that King Urukagina, who ruled the kingdom of Lagash [which existed in Mesopotamia around 2400 BCE], enacted advanced social legislation regarding the freeing of slaves and the like. Apparently the origin of the word “dror” is from there.
Contrary to what used to be commonly thought, the builders of the pyramids in ancient Egypt were free people who formed work teams that competed with one another in order to increase productivity.

So what is our place in history?
My view is that Judaism gathered and collected social values, integrated them within the framework of faith in the one God [about whom our sources do not explicitly say that He is omnipotent!], and added the vision of the end of days.
One of the characteristics of commandment-observant Jews is their commitment to the chain of generations.
Part of the religious public thinks that if it is careful to observe the commandments, and prays “from the depths of the heart,” calamities that may befall the human species will pass over Jews who are faithful to the word of God.
Nevertheless, most of the religious public understands that observing the commandments is not enough in order to continue the chain of generations.
The chain of generations depends on existential security for the Jewish people.
The basic condition for this existential security is a strong society founded on a shared vision with breadth and aspiration. These will make possible a strong army and a strong economy.
And of course, the small size of the State of Israel and its small population require the Jewish people and its leaders to think realistically and cautiously, yet still with vision and aspiration—aspiration that will be expressed in our understanding of the necessity of thinking several steps ahead in various directions.
This is the way we will connect to the commandment to prevent unintentional killing. For that purpose, we must be committed to “turning over every stone” in order to prevent loss of life.
We must remember and deeply internalize that the road to hell is paved with good intentions! Part of the public that is indeed committed to preserving the chain of generations ignores consequences that seem to it unforeseen, and which cause the murder of Jews and the spiral of violence that follows as a result.
Here I move to another subject—I am obligated to raise a difficulty directed at Jews who believe that the Holy One, blessed be He, answers the prayers of people who keep His commandments: after all, even if all of us have experienced full answers to our prayers, there still comes the inevitable and difficult moment when nothing remains but to justify the judgment…
Well then, from my point of view—it does not seem proper to me that people should make use of modern technologies based on the scientific method—and at the same time disown that method when it clashes with their “spiritual” lives! [Scientific method: observing facts, analyzing them, formulating a theory, and conducting experiments, or at least orderly and documented observations, so that the development of technological means is done on the basis of this method.]
The reason I raised this issue is that the very existence of the State of Israel is the result of various developments of Jewish faith. And I do not mean here the question of implementing various laws of Jewish law, but a central principle: that the Holy One, blessed be He, bestows kindness, whether in this world or the World to Come, upon those who do His will. And an inseparable part of Jewish identity is to pray to the Holy One, blessed be He, in times of distress and ask Him for help.
And I return to the matter of the chain of generations: whether we want to or not, the Jewish people are part of the entire human species, and of the rest of the species on planet Earth.
We are now at a critical crossroads, a crossroads at which the human species is like a child being allowed to drive a heavy truck without having been properly trained for it.
If he drives carefully and slowly, he will learn while driving, and if not…
The understanding that the interest in continuing the chain of generations requires preserving the web of life on our planet is what ought to spur the religious sector to become a leading force in the matter of global sustainability in all its aspects.
But the Jewish people as a whole will be able to express their commitment to being a treasured people if they take it upon themselves to lead—as a people and not only as the struggle of individuals—in all matters of sustainability, chief among them the search for and finding of real solutions to the distress of the inhabitants of various countries.
But the first step, and it seems to me perhaps the most significant one, would be if a call were to emerge from Judaism [I do not know how!]—
that by virtue of our being mortal, even the sages of the various religions may err in understanding the words of God and His interpreters, and therefore human beings must not inflict irreversible harm on what God created.
I am convinced that the very effort and challenge involved in spreading this insight among believers of all religions would connect us to the Creator of the world far more than if we were to devote ourselves to preparations for building the Temple.
Since you have long been familiar with most of my other insights, of course I would be glad if you read them and, if you see fit, comment on any of them—I would welcome that—but your position on the red paragraph is very important to me.
Thanks in advance, and happy holiday.