I naturally have a weak sense of self. The sure sense of self is one of the advantages of joining Orthodox Judaism. Many of life’s questions are settled.
I can look at a guy who spends much of the weekend watching sports and realize that’s not me. I can look at a guy taking a boot camp in how to seduce women and I realize that’s not me. I can see a guy spending his evenings in a bar and realize that’s not me. I can see a guy who doesn’t like to join communities and realize that’s not me. I can see a guy who screams and yells at work and realize that’s not me. I can see a guy who uses everyone in his life for his writing and realize that’s not me. I can see a guy who’s on his third marriage and realize that’s not my path. I can see a guy who consistently puts work ahead of his family and realize that’s not the way for me. I can see a family that has no rituals binding them together and see that’s not the way for me. I can see a guy who spends hours playing video games looking at porn and realize that’s not me.
An Orthodox Jew should live with dignity. He has a full life. He has many demands on his time. He lives in community.
As Exodus 15:26 says: “I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; in any of the plagues inflicted on them…”
