Nadene Goldfoot
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Ever since our ancestors stepped out of the Egyptian slave quarters in 1311 BCE, our lives changed from other people on earth. We were taught about one G-d when all the other people believed in polytheistic religions. Only one Egyptian ever broke that belief and tried to get his people believing in one G-d, but that god to worship was the sun, and Moses, our teacher and leader on the Exodus, taught us that G-d was an invisible entity; and no-wasn't the sun though it's important.
We were not to even try to draw a picture of G-d or even use his name in vain, meaning, using it too often. It was a very special name, even wasn't pronounceable- more like air escaping from our mouths. (YHWH),) We do not say "Yahwah". We say adonai. Jews also call God Adonai, Hebrew for "Lord" (Hebrew: אֲדֹנָי). Formally, this is plural ("my Lords"), but the plural is usually construed as a respectful, and not a syntactic plural. (The singular form is Adoni: "my lord". or Ha Shem (the name). Most use hashem today.
We were taught that we could argue with G-d if we presented a strong-enough case; and he would relent. It was Abraham, our father who spoke with G-d first, who was able to do this.
Moses had been raised as a Prince of Egypt, so could read and write and compute. He kept a journal of the 40 year trip which was called the Torah that amounted to 5 books, and people have read from this, especially the Jews. They were among the first people that were literate and into this history. Many became rabbis, congregating together in Germany meeting, discussing the events, history, truth, religion. Cities like Mainz and Worms held lots of Jewish debaters.
Later, such as in schools in New York City, Yeshivas sprang up, places that continued with the learning that occurred in Mainz and Worms, debating, arguing, challenging memories of students, always discussing the history of the Jewish people and what was right or wrong to do. Judaism is dealing with how people were to live and treat others, and what to do that was righteous. Whatever happened when we died was in the hands of G-d, and Jews trusted G-d's decisions. By doing good things, Jews had the insurance that whatever went on would be good for the Jews.
Thus came about the big question, BUT IS IT GOOD FOR THE JEWS? The people and the land were always the prime consideration of the actions of the country and the people. Here's where some of us differ. There are some orthodox that have not been supporting the state of Israel. They may be fearful that their position will dissolve being they speak Yiddish, not Hebrew and that Israel already has a valid educational system. They are refusing to look at the whole historical picture, nor have prepared for it. Israel should put those great minds to work to make good use of them other than the army, of course. That too, and perhaps that's why they desist in making aliyah.
Debating has been indoctrinated in us, probably the reason why we produce so many lawyers. We've had doctors in our midst. Abraham ben Moses ben Maimonides Born in 1186, died in 1237, he was a court physician, son of Moses Maimonides-the famous Rambam /also a doctor to the Sultan Alkamil, and wrote much in Arabic including an encyclopedic work on Judaism and commentaries on the Pentateuch, the Talmud and his own father's books. He even issued ordinances to strengthen the community. His contributions in religion, philosophy, and medicine have influenced Jewish and non-Jewish scholars alike.
Moses Maimonides wrote the 13 Principles of Judaism:
Thirteen Principles of Judaism ( recited daily by some)
1. Belief in the existence of the Creator, who is perfect in every manner of existence and is the Primary Cause of all that exists.
2. The belief in G‑d's absolute and unparalleled unity.
3. The belief in G‑d's non-corporeality, nor that He will be affected by any physical occurrences, such as movement, or rest, or dwelling.
4. The belief in G‑d's eternity.
5. The imperative to worship G‑d exclusively and no foreign false gods.
6. The belief that G‑d communicates with man through prophecy.
7. The belief in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher.
8. The belief in the divine origin of the Torah.
9. The belief in the immutability of the Torah.
10. The belief in G‑d's omniscience and providence.
11. The belief in divine reward and retribution.
12. The belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era.
13. The belief in the resurrection of the dead.
It is the custom of many congregations to recite the Thirteen Articles, in a slightly more poetic form, beginning with the words Ani Maamin--"I believe"--every day after the morning prayers in the synagogue.
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Our Sephardic/Mizrachim ancestors, and then our Ashkenazi ancestors have been believing the 13 articles ever since Moses ben Maimon, also called Rambam, Arabic name Abū ʿImran Mūsā ibn Maymūn ibn ʿUbayd Allāh, (born March 30, 1135, Córdoba [Spain]—died December 13, 1204, Egypt) wrote them, let's say at age 30 as he died at 51, Jewish philosopher, jurist, and physician, who was the foremost intellectual figure of medieval Judaism. His first major work, begun at age 23 and completed 10 years later, was a commentary on the Mishna, the collected Jewish oral laws. A monumental code of Jewish law followed in Hebrew, The Guide for the Perplexed in Arabic, and numerous other works, many of major importance. His contributions in religion, philosophy, and medicine have influenced Jewish and non-Jewish scholars alike. So, since 1165, we've been a people with this stated belief.
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All this time, Jews have rubbed up against anti-Semitism which has kept our populations apart with only an occasional intermarriage. Today, is is far more common, and lo and behold, is acting on breaking down our barriers to keeping a strong hold on Judaism as it has been.
Israel is trying to maintain our Jewish values as they watch the change happening in other countries where Jews still reside. To show how far the change has developed, these Jews in other countries are acting shocked at the Jews maintaining their religion in Israel !
Each thinks the other is out of step. Considering the belief of the rest of the world and what it has led up to, I think Judaism at full value (with 13 Principles) is just fine. Let those Reformed, Conservative and Orthodox Jews do a good job at their own level. There's a reason for each.
Our mind and personality? We're argumentative, think outside the box (thank G-d), individualistic, strong family members, love to learn, have high IQs at least 10 points above average population; want to be the best, strive for leadership... That's my opinion. Oh yes, we're very opinionated. Our minds are well-formed, made up of 3,188 years of a DNA Jewish Haplogroup which amounts to 3,188 years X 4 generations each 100 years=138 generations of Jewish DNA. We could say of someone that they are our 138th cousin (3188 divided by 100=32 almost and 32 X 4=138)--more interesting than saying they are our distant cousin. We're an endogamous people which most people aren't. That's an adjective. of or relating to the practice of allowing marriage only within a specific tribe, caste, ethnic or religious group, or other social unit: (Anti-Semitism restricted social relations between different ethnic groups, intensifying endogamous practices in some villages). In this case it actually helped to keep the Jewish line pure, something they themselves were not trying to do, most likely, as with all men, usually sex rules. The Torah is full of examples, reads like a soap opera many times. David and Bathsheba; Samson and Delilah.
One step into our future and we are always faced with new problems. We can do it. We've lasted this long with our beliefs intact already.
Resource:
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/332555/jewish/Maimonides-13-Principles-of-Faith.htm
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Moses-Maimonides
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