Truth and Peace

Sacrificial altar, Tel Be'er Sheva, 8th C. B.C.E. The question in the title seems like a reasonable line of inquiry. But in fact it's misleadingly simplistic. Here's why: 1. There are different categories of "reasons." a) The theoretical/historical "reason behind" something. b) The reason people typically cite when asked. c) People's actual internal motivations for doing it. Sacrifices aren't like say, lightbulbs. With the lightbub, the reason for inventing it, the reason people give for using it, and the actual motivation for turning it on, are all one and the same - being able to see in the dark without a candle. When it comes to sacrifices however, the theoretical or historical reason they exist (e.g. the belief that success requires sacrifice to the god) might have little to do with what the offerer in Temple times might give as the reason (e.g. the desire to serve God), and what the person "says" may not really express ...

"House of YHVH" ostracon c. 800 BCE The obvious answer to most modern religious believers is clearly an emphatic no , God does not need a house. In standard Jewish theological terms, God has no "needs." God is whole and perfect. Not only does God have no physical body to "reside" anywhere, but God is infinite, existing in all places at all times. In fact according to the Maimonidean school of thought, God is so ineffable that one cannot even speak about what God "is," only what God is "not." And yet this Torah portion describes the plans for what sounds like an abode for God, the Mishkan or mobile sanctuary. The purpose of the Mishkan is stated explicitly at the start of the instruction: "Make for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them." (Ex 25:8) And again toward the end of the instruction: "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and [the Mishkan] will be sanctified by my glory... And I will...

Continuing from the previous post , I posed a question about what kind of society we want to build in Israel. This wasn't a rhetorical question - it's something we need to put careful thought into. Because there are, as I see it, two distinct visions operating here. Let's call them "V1" and "V2." Sometimes they're spoken out explicitly, and other times they're implicit, operating beneath the surface. In either case, these visions motivate the way people think and act in relation to important issues, and I would say we'd be well-served to keep this in mind as we make our way forward. V1 - One vision is of Israel as a traditionally religious Jewish society, based on the belief that this is what God wants for us, and indeed expects of us. It's a vision where the society is predominantly Jewish, both in terms of the population and in terms of Jewish commitment - i.e. observance of the mitzvot (commandments). It is an ideal which sees the...