Imagine No Religion

Question of the Week       I don't want my children to be small-minded and look down at others, so I haven't given them a Jewish education. They have been brought up without any religion; they are free to choose whatever beliefs they like. I try to live by the words of John Lennon:   Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for / No religion too, Imagine all the people / living life in peace...   Doesn't that sum it all up?   Answer:    I admire your passion and idealism. You have obviously given some thought to your children's moral future, which is a credit to you. But I don't see how the philosophy you have espoused is any less closed-minded than fundamentalist religion.   You don't want to force your ideals on your children. But by denying them their spiritual heritage, you are doing just that. They are missing the chance to explore their Jewish identities during their formative years. They didn't choose that, you did. You have decided their religion for them. They are Lennonists whether they like it or not.   And if that song is your bible, then they are being brought up in a much more closed-minded religion than Judaism.   You have only quoted one verse. But I think the last verse of the song is the most revealing:   You may say I'm a dreamer / But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us / And the world will live as one.   So, according to Lennonism there is "you" and there is "us". You are the unenlightened ones. We have found the truth. But hopefully one day you will see the light and become one of us too. Only then can the world finally live as one. Is that open-minded?   Contrast this with Judaism's view that not everyone has to be Jewish. A non-Jew can live a perfectly fulfilling and meaningful life while remaining a non-Jew. They don't have to join us to be considered a good person. If anything can make us truly live as one, it is the recognition that we are all created by the same G-d, but we don't all have to serve Him in the same way.   We each choose a value system to live by and to teach our children. Whether you call it religion or something else makes little difference, it is a particular way of looking at the world. And much of what is presented today as open-minded secularism is as narrow and self-righteous as the most fundamentalist sect.   Imagine a religion that teaches its children to be proud of who they are, but that not everyone has to be like them. Can you think of a religion like that?   It's easy if you try.   Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au  SHABBAT SERVICES TIMES AND COMMUNITY INFO ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 28 October 2016 | 26 Tishrei 5777 Candle Lighting................ 7:02 pm (*Earliest 6:00pm)   Mincha............................. 6:10 pm Friday Evening Service....... 6:30-7:20 pm Followed by Kiddush. Shabbos, 29 October, 2016 |27 Tishrei 5777 Chassidus Class........................ 9:00 am Shabbos Morning Service........ 10:00 am-12:15 pm Children's program................. 11:00am Followed by Farbrengen/Lunch in honour of our Simchas Torah Chassanim   Mincha................................................   6:55 pm Seudah Shlishis Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak...... 7:15 pm Shiur:.................................................. 7:35 pm Shabbos ends and Maariv...................... 8:00 pm Followed by Havdalah.   MOLAD/ NEW MOON |MONDAY 31 OCT 3:24:5am  ROSH CHODESH CHESHVAN | TUES-WED 1-2 NOV   WEEKDAY SHACHARIS SERVICES Sunday ........................................... 8:00 am Mon- Fri........................................... 7:00 am Latest Shema this week................... 9:17 am WEEKDAY CLASSES Chassidus.................................. 8:00-8:45 am   HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO Asher Waine......................... 29 Tishrei/ Monday 31 Oct Tom Cromer........................... 2 Cheshvan/Thursday 3 Nov Monique Klein........................ 3 Cheshvan / Friday 4 Nov   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO Pia & Jonah Ink.................... 2 Cheshvan/ Wednesday 3 Nov   LONG LIFE TO Peppi Glick for his late father Ruby Glick........................... 2 Cheshvan/ Thursday 3 Nov Les Pozniak for his late step-mother Joan Pozniak, Chai Bat Leah..................... 2 Cheshvan/ Thursday 3 Nov Roy Eckowitz for his late mother Alma Eckowitz, Chana bat Kalman ............. 2 Cheshvan/ Thursday 3 Nov SHABBOS PROJECT SAVE THE DATE Friday night 11 November ......Shul service followed by dinner Shabbos day 12 November ....Shul service followed by lunch Shabbos afternoon ............... Activities for children

Nefesh Shul, 54 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach, NSW 2026 Australia SafeUnsubscribe™ shmuly77d@gmail.com Forward email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au in collaboration with Try it free today