We're ALL Confused!

B"H

This blog is to clarify...

Yes, I'm Jewish. Yes, I'm orthodox. Yes, I'm shomeir mitzvot. That means that I recognize the authority of the rabbis throughout history who properly received smicha. I am all about being bitul... to Torah, to my man (Amirtz HaShem, soon), to many (though not all) orthodox rabbis, and before all else--to HaKadoshBaruchHu.

I am not a mindless religious robot. I think for myself. I question most things, and I wish I would know how to question even more. I do have a rabbi, but it took more than eight years of searching before I could say "my rabbi..." about anyone. I don't buy into the idea that "rabbi" is a legitimate profession, in and of itself.

I also find it hard to believe that masses upon masses of young men are really doing the world a grand favor at this point in history by studying in yeshivah all day long, at the exclusion of anything else. Seriously, a lot of these young men won't even consider dating a girl who has a dowry of less than blah blah blah thousand dollars. Give me a break and stop using Torah to escape. Now, as a point of clarification, Torah study is the very fiber and fabric of tomorrow's leadership and the few who are willing to take on that kind of responsibility should probably do little else. But that's extremely rare. You get at what I'm saying, here?

I will NOT just assume that someone is a saint just because s/he dresses in some religious costume. Many hide behind the guise of modesty. Just like in any group of people, there are those who cheat, lie, steal, watch porn, masturbate, have premarital sex, solicit prostitutes and all the rest of it (or at the very least, they wish they could). Instead of seeking spiritual guidance on these matters, they'd rather "not ask." Not a new concept.

I sometimes do yoga and Taoist forms of meditation. No, they are NOT avodah zara any more than climbing a tree is tree-worship. If you think Yoga and certain forms of meditation are, then I challenge anyone to explain to me exactly why (besides "because my rabbi said so"). Before you accuse others of idol worship, check yourselves for how well you really know your subject and the halachah surrounding it.

I could go on, but it would be better not to. The bottom line is that we're all confused.