- All the Questions
Comparing Jewish Orthodoxy, & the Catholic Vatican
Question
Thank you for your response. This is an excellent answer.
However, secular Israelis will eventually compare this situation to that of the Vatican at the time of the Protestant Reformation. Or, they will simply convert to other religions.
I personally believe that the Orthodox are creating an environment similar to the Second Temple era which ultimately led to the development of Christianity. In fact, secular Israelis are making the same criticisms as the ones in the New Testament. I don’t think that Rabbinic Judaism will survive into the next century with that type of thinking.
Answer
The social and religious framework of Israel is a lot more complex and unlike anything mankind has ever seen, so any comparison is inevitably inaccurate. Returning and reuniting 6 million Jews from more than 100 countries, after 2,000 years of exile full of pogroms and Holocaust, is a unique phenomenon and super-complicated! The modern vibrant orthodox and yeshiva world have come back to life and statistically, are significantly much stronger than they were before the Holocaust. About half of the Israelis define themselves as traditional with another about 25% orthodox. There are not more than 20% who would call themselves secular and not traditional at all, and their percentage is getting continuously smaller (they have much less children, many are returning to tradition, and most of those who leave Israel are from this group, and conversely most olim/immigrants coming to Israel, become closer to tradition and Judaism). Statistics and the elections clearly prove this direction. These secularists would be the last ones to convert to another religion! In addition, I highly suggest coming to Israel to understand firsthand, and not rely on slanted information one gets from generally anti-religious reporters and their agenda. You will see for yourself that, to the contrary, in Israel, traditional rabbinic Judaism is growing a lot faster and stronger than secularism. In addition, any comparison between the Living Torah of traditional Judaism together with its intellectual and emotional dynamic Oral Law and renewal of modern religious-Zionism with its vibrancy felt in universities, the economy, army and politics; in comparison to the Vatican and their stagnant anachronistic religion, which will always inevitably be full of sexual scandals and intellectual shallowness, is way-off and laughably based upon gross misinformation.

Does God Have Feelings?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 24, 5783

Binding details to the Noahide commandments
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 10, 5783

Adoption and Shiva
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 11 Shevat 5765

No-wedding days
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 20, 5772

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Ayin hara and Rambam
Tevet 28, 5771

Bircat baalat habayit
Shevat 7, 5771

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

Investing in firm selling Chametz
Adar I 23, 5771
Jewelry for men
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Adar 21, 5770

Do non-Jews or non-Noahides go to heaven?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Cheshvan 7, 5779

Mezuzah for a Catholic Family?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 15, 5779

Giving Tzdaka with Right Hand
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 28, 5772

How can someone change their community?
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 11, 5783

Using Father's or Mother's Name in Judaism
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783

Torah vs. Tanak additions
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783
