Torah Im Derech Eretz: Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer's Moriah pt 9: Adam Chose Autonomy Over God's Will

Fathom Summary

Meeting Purpose

To analyze Rabbi Dr. Isaac Breuer's philosophy on the state, religion, and the Jewish people's mission.

Key Takeaways

• Modern State's Origin: The modern state's separation of church and state is a Christian concept, stemming from early Christianity's focus on individual faith over societal engagement.
• The Jewish Mission: The Jewish people's purpose is to bring the "gospel" of divine justice to the world, serving as a historical protest against humanity's self-appointed authority.
• Adam's Original State: Adam was created with a divine image (Tzelem Elokim) and free will (Demut), intended to be a partner with God in creation.
• The First Sin: Adam's sin was an act of ethical rebellion—seizing authority to define good/bad and justice/injustice—which fundamentally altered history from harmony to strife.

Topics

State & Religion: A Modern View

• State's Scope: A country's authority is limited to governing acts, not beliefs.
  • It can mandate hand-washing for hygiene but not for religious ritual.
  • This ideal state is tolerant of all religions, ensuring peace among citizens.
• Breuer's Origin Theory: This ideal is a Christian concept.
  • Early Christianity focused on the individual's faith, not the state.
  • Its core message ("Render unto Caesar...") separated religious life from civic life.
• Marxist Critique: Religion is the "opiate of the masses."
  • It's a tool of the ruling class to suppress workers, offering "IOUs" for the afterlife instead of demanding justice now.
• Totalitarian State: The party is the religion.
  • It demands total devotion, competing for the hearts and minds of the people.
  • This leads to the suppression of all other religious expression.

The Jewish Mission & History's Trajectory

• The Torah's Narrative: The Torah begins with history, not law, because the Jewish people (Am Yisrael) are a historical phenomenon.
  • Purpose: To protest against history's flawed path and influence it toward divine will.
• Adam's Original State: Created with Tzelem Elokim (divine image) and Demut (free will).
  • Tzelem (Image): The independent self-realization that allows recognition of others and, ultimately, God.
  • Demut (Likeness): Free will, the choice between spiritual and material influence.
• The First Sin: A Rebellion of Authority:
  • Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge, seizing the authority to define good/bad and justice/injustice.
  • This was a rejection of divine authority, replacing God's will with his own.
  • Result: History shifted from harmony to a struggle between divine and human will.
• The Jewish Solution: Humanity cannot define good/justice alone.
  • The Jewish people's mission is to bring the "gospel" of divine justice to the world.
  • This requires humility before God, as expressed in Micah 6:8: "Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God."