The Great Divide

As the world focuses on the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a divide is growing within Israel–religious and secular Jews.

The ancient divide between secular and spiritual goes back thousands of years, but religion has more to do with politics than spirit–two sides of the same secular Roman coin.

There is no word for religion in Hebrew and the divide among the Jewish People which surfaced 2500 years ago a result of the Greek invasion goes all the way back to the building of the Golden Calf at the giving of the Torah 3500 years. The Golden Calf was built because the people doubted that God, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth was present in creation.

The ancients knew of God but surmised that the Creator was too great to be interested in creation; Avraham 4000 years ago came with the message that God is One meaning God in present in the world. Religion took the good message of Avraham and made it into monotheism–the basis of religion.

The Torah is a document meant to be performed on the land of Israel whose borders are specifically set in the Written Text. The Cabala explains in minute detail the workings of creation and how the Torah is applicable throughout the world.