From The Jewish Thought FilesMagazine

How Much Does Unity Cost?

Gil StudentApr 2, 15
1 minute read
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by R. Gil Student

This is an article in the upcoming issue of The Jewish Link of New Jersey.

Members of the Jewish community rightly strive for unity. Orthodox, Reform, Conservative… we are all Jews yet we wear denominational labels that seem like a remnant of last century. We are good at getting along on the individual level; can’t we unite organizationally and institutionally? We are one people yet we have different shuls and different schools. Why can’t we just be Jews, no label necessary?

God desires peace within the Jewish people. The Sages tell us that there is no greater vessel for divine blessing, no more effective method of earning heavenly grace, than peace (Uktzin 3:12). We are given permission to occasionally lie, based on God’s example, for the sake of peace (Yevamos 65b). When there is Jewish unity, even if some Jews are idolators the community is safe from divine fury (Tanchuma, Shoftim 18). Yet, with all this admirable desire for unity, there is another type of peace that sometimes lies neglected. To be good Jews, we need to ensure the proper priority order of communal peace.

Unity requires four elements, each essential to the survival of unity…

Read the rest at The Jewish Link

Gil StudentApr 2, 15
1 minute read

Gil Student

Rabbi Gil Student is the Editor of TorahMusings.com, a leading website on Orthodox Jewish scholarly subjects, and Director of the Halacha Commission of the Rabbinical Alliance of America. He writes a popular column on issues of Jewish law and thought featured in newspapers and magazines, including the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Action magazine, The Jewish Link, The Jewish Echo and The Jewish Vues. In the past, he has served as the President of the small Jewish publisher Yashar Books and as the Managing Editor of OU Press. Rabbi Student currently is serving his third term on the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. He serves on the Editorial Board of Jewish Action magazine and the Board of OU Press. He has published five English books, the most recent titled Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era, previously served as the Book Editor of Jewish Action magazine, and served as the American editor for Morasha Kehillat Yaakov: Essays in Honour of Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.

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