Setting: Orthodox shul.<\/p>\n
The rabbi says that the biggest challenge to belief in the divinity of the Torah is not the Documentary Hypothesis<\/a> (I doubt 50% of the audience knows what that is) but the conceit that the Torah only has something to say to Jews.<\/p>\n The rabbi talked about the Exodus as an inspiration to the civil rights movement and that we should study Martin Luther King’s speeches because they’re Torah too.<\/p>\n I’m a pretty liberal guy and I can see how under the right circumstances, or more particularly with the right chavruta (study partner), I could really get into appreciating the good doctor’s message and how I could learn to open my heart and get in touch with the humanity of the other.<\/p>\n Yes, I could date a black chick but only if she was an Orthodox Jew. And really cute.<\/p>\n Dr. King wouldn’t want it any other way.<\/p>\n But what if I study his teachings and become a plagiarizing womanizer<\/a>?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Setting: Orthodox shul. The rabbi says that the biggest challenge to belief in the divinity of the Torah is not the Documentary Hypothesis (I doubt 50% of the audience knows what that is) but the conceit that the Torah only … Continue reading