But I assumed that seeing the laws as a burden would be part of the Western view of legalism rather than the Jewish one.
Yes and no. We freely acknowledge that "bearing" these commandments is not at all easy. Thus a burden! BUT we refer to "it" as the "pleasant burden", i.e. one we carry gladly. It was for this purpose that we were created and Chosen.
I mean, if there's nothing better about following those laws than NOT following them... but why would G-d choose an extra-hard path for some people if there's an easier path that's just as good?
You are comparing Apples and Oranges. These two options are equally valid for the respective "walkers", but you make the hidden assumption that the two types of "walkers" are basically the same. They are not at all. [ Disclaimer: The following is another specific topic is another I try to avoid, for it's potential to offend non-Jews. But you've been very good regarding other such in the past, so... ] As you yourself say (acute that) - This is where the special status of the Jewish Nation, as G-d's Chosen comes into play. It is because of the special relationship of Abraham, in "discovering" G-d (very extensive exegesis) in an entirely idolatrous world, and in his absolute devotion to obeying G-d, even at the apparent ultimate personal cost of everything that G-d promised him, in being willing to throw away his entire hard lifework (fighting against murder and human sacrifice among other things), simply because G-d requested this of him, in the form of sacrificing his only son. In passing this devotion on to his descendants, that he enabled us to be innately different from everybody else, and stand above the world on the moral scale.
The term Chosen People [Tm] is actually a Christian term, that we have picked up on in English. The proper term, mentioned in the Torah is {Ahm Segula}, which roughly translates as "the innately-special nation". {Segula} refers to that unique essence in a thing that makes it unique. So we where Chosen, not because G-d picked a name out of a hat, but because we are special, and it was only us that could have been "Chosen". The Christians of course prefer to ignore this, and in deliberately using the term Chosen People, seek to say "G-d initially chose them, but they failed as such, so now he's Chosen US instead..." It is because of our innate specialness, that we being more spiritually able, than everybody else, are given the task of walking the more difficult path. In this recent thread here, this person morganie seems to me, to be whining about the difficulty of actually observing something as fundamental as the Jewish meta-law of "loving our neighbor". I was sorely tempted to respond with "well that's because you were never meant to observe these laws, and in general lack the innate ability to do so." But I bowed out instead (also her previous comments were making me gag).
the Christian imagery of the church as the leaven that affects the whole dough
The Jewish imagery for this comes straight from G-d - "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exodus 19:6 KJV). THIS is the fulfillment of our purpose with regard to the entire world - As a priest to his community, so is our nation to the world. Another related expression is us being a "Light unto the Nations."
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timeasmymeasure
Oh Mama! Good questions, Attentive One.
Date: 2005-06-08 11:21 pm (UTC)You are comparing Apples and Oranges. These two options are equally valid for the respective "walkers", but you make the hidden assumption that the two types of "walkers" are basically the same. They are not at all. [ Disclaimer: The following is another specific topic is another I try to avoid, for it's potential to offend non-Jews. But you've been very good regarding other such in the past, so... ] As you yourself say (acute that) - This is where the special status of the Jewish Nation, as G-d's Chosen comes into play. It is because of the special relationship of Abraham, in "discovering" G-d (very extensive exegesis) in an entirely idolatrous world, and in his absolute devotion to obeying G-d, even at the apparent ultimate personal cost of everything that G-d promised him, in being willing to throw away his entire hard lifework (fighting against murder and human sacrifice among other things), simply because G-d requested this of him, in the form of sacrificing his only son. In passing this devotion on to his descendants, that he enabled us to be innately different from everybody else, and stand above the world on the moral scale.
The term Chosen People [Tm] is actually a Christian term, that we have picked up on in English. The proper term, mentioned in the Torah is {Ahm Segula}, which roughly translates as "the innately-special nation". {Segula} refers to that unique essence in a thing that makes it unique. So we where Chosen, not because G-d picked a name out of a hat, but because we are special, and it was only us that could have been "Chosen". The Christians of course prefer to ignore this, and in deliberately using the term Chosen People, seek to say "G-d initially chose them, but they failed as such, so now he's Chosen US instead..." It is because of our innate specialness, that we being more spiritually able, than everybody else, are given the task of walking the more difficult path. In this recent thread here, this person
The Jewish imagery for this comes straight from G-d - "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exodus 19:6 KJV). THIS is the fulfillment of our purpose with regard to the entire world - As a priest to his community, so is our nation to the world. Another related expression is us being a "Light unto the Nations."