I once heard a rabbi explain why Jews don't have monastaries

[MannyGoldstein]

There are no Jewish monasteries because it's too easy to do the right thing when the world around you is ordered and perfect.

The real challenge is to do real good in the chaos and awfulness of our real world.

It is an awful thing to watch the process that is killing a man tonight, for whom there is great doubt about his guilt.

It is awful that almost 1,000 Americans die each week from lack of health insurance. It is awful that thousands of children die each day in this world from diarrhea, starvation, and other things that are easily halted for little money - while bankers buy fleets of yachts and do their darndest to raise world food prices so they can buy yet another yacht. It is awful that politicians from both parties are hard at work to make more Americans cold, hungry, and sick.

As it happens I was born Jewish, but I suspect that the rabbi's words would have resonated were I born of any other faith or heritage. This is a highly imperfect world - but it gives us the opportunity to make a difference. And so we must try.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Well said!

[libbyhart]

2. Beautifully said!

I'm just wondering how?

[MannyGoldstein]

4. I don't know how, either

But tomorrow I'm going to dust myself off and get going.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. And as the days of awe aproach

may you have a good year and be inscribed in the book of life.

Historically though we did have the equivalent oh 2000 or so yeas ago... I suspect we don't because of historic realities, I mean Haderims are close.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Back at ya!

Good years for all of us!

[Stuart G]

6. k & r

[Boojatta]

7. A home where sex is forbidden is a perfect place?

In the past, achieving perfection meant selling everything that has market value, and giving the money to the poor. One compensation was an opportunity to become a personal disciple of Jesus, with no gap of language, idiom, culture, or selectivity of editors interfering with the process of communication.

Matthew 19 (King James Version)

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Where does it say:
"Never get married," or "Leave your spouse"?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Your answer is in church history

:hi: and it came much later.

[mistertrickster]

9. "MannyGoldstein" is Jewish? Who could have guessed that?

Shalom, mayn khaver.

[xchrom]

10. I like the monastical tradition.

It's not for every body.

[a la izquierda]

11. Agreed, though I appreciate Manny's sentiment.

Some of the most beautiful pieces of literature came out of monasteries and convents.

[xchrom]

12. +1

[Odin2005]

13. Thich Nhat Hanh would disagree with monastaries being "ordered and perfect"

He lived through the Vietnam War. :hi: