Why Josh Can't Be Left Alone

During this period in the Jewish calendar, a heightened awareness of the absence of the Temple in Jerusalem is intended to be felt by every Jewish person. One of the main distinctions of life without the Temple is the absence of any centralized governing Jewish body. This absence represents a breakdown in the communication channels between Gd and humans, in a certain sense. Having no "official" position on the best way to come close to Gd makes it harder for a plurality of people to recognize the opportunities for living Gdly lives. It is this difficulty, in part, that causes us to mourn the destruction of the Temple.

As paradoxical as this may seem, it actually presents us with a special opportunity. Because there is no "one way" to do anything, individuals who strive to live lives of truth have the ability to discover the channel that works best for them. There are numerous ideologies out there that each interpret our divine service in a slightly different way. But that doesn't mean that each is mutually exclusive. Without a Temple, nobody can claim a monopoly on truth. So we are able, in a very real sense, to pick and choose those paths that we see lead us, personally, closer to the truth. Of course we must be honest and play by the rules. This can't be misinterpreted as a green light to do what "works for us" and discard the rest. But it does mean that we have quite a bit of leeway in determining what lifestyle choices will make us holier people.

While many communities may appear rigidly built around generally accepted community standards, it should be clear that Gd is the only judge of who is genuinely doing what's right. People should fear Gd, not their neighbor. If you feel that what you are doing represents your best effort, you can't do any better, as long as you are honest about the spirituality of your goals.

Live Judaism as you see it, not as any community enforces it.