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Monday, July 7, 2025

Rabbi Melamed on the Divine Spark in other religions - Alan Brill

 

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Rabbi Melamed on the Divine Spark in other religions

By Alan Brill on June 30, 2025

Continuing my discussion about Rabbi Melamed on Other Religions. I started with his statements on Hinduism and will now look at his broader premises- see “The Divine Spark among Other Religions” and here “Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook on Different Religions.” Once again, I will use the posted selective English translation because it is accessible; however, I do have the Hebrew original marked up with marginal notes and a full response.

For Rabbi Melamed, all religions have a spark of the divine, some of the light of the divine, and help the world advance toward its moral perfection. The religions of the world educate towards the moral foundations, “each religion according to its level.” Through accepting these points, Rabbi Melamed removed any stigma of other religions as needing to be negated or the need to call other religions as demonic, entirely false, or to teach a restrictive exclusivism where only Jews have religion. Rather, for most people in the world, Melamed thinks that “it is right for every person to continue in the faith of their fathers, because with the loss of faith, moral corruption increases.”

Rabbi Melamed also thinks that the religions of the world are progressing toward deeper and more abstract forms of understanding their religions, thereby removing “the dross of the crude material elements within it” allowing them to elevate their souls “to higher faith and morality.” Jews should not follow these religions; however, the religions of the world “serve as a moral and faith compass for all peoples.” Rabbi Melamed acknowledges that religious ideas are evolving and progressing to deeper understandings, the ancient and medieval forms of the religion that most people know from textbooks do not reflect current ideas in those religions. He has spoken with many people and read many books to overcome the essentializing of religions in ancient forms. I am always surprised at people who think other religions are where they were in 500 CE or even 1700 CE, but at the same time have a modern understanding of Judaism.

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"God does not place excessive demands on His creations." Lubavitcher Rebbe https://youtu.be/JZZ1ou7jkTk
Cause all of the stars are fading away. Just try not to worry you'll see them some day. Take what you need and be on your way and stop crying your heart out. Noel Gallagher

Key Advice from Rav Yaakov

According to Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, the goal of the kiruv professional should be simply to help the baal teshuvah take on the mitzvos. He should not impose conformity or eradicate the essence of the person. Rav Yaakov said that it is important that the BT feel normal. He said that, for example, the typical BT will not feel normal if he does not complete his or her college education. Thus, he or she should not be discouraged from doing so.

Reb Moshe Feinstein Zt"l with Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky Zt"l in Camp Ohr Shraga 1969 - YouTube

If not for the Torah

It is taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: For what reason was the Torah given to the Jewish people? Because they are impudent. The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught the following with regard to the verse: “From His right hand went a fiery law for them” (Deuteronomy 33:2); The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: these are fit to be given a fiery law. Some say the ways of these people are fire, as, were it not for the fact that the Torah was given to the Jewish people, (whose study and observance restrains them) no nation or tongue could withstand them. (Beitzah 25b)

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I was very young when I came to America and various people gave me advice how to be an effective Rabbi and teacher by following the example ...

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Recommended Reading

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Maintaining Your Individuality

"I was very young when I came to America and various people gave me advice how to be an effective Rabbi and teacher by following the example of this or that successful person. They meant well of course but had I followed their advice, I would not be what I am today. Of course I am nothing, but the little that I am is because I refused to change my persona. God has given each of us a unique identity, and to the extent that we are faithful to it we will be fulfilled. Why then do we see so many unsuccessful and frustrated Jews despite God’s promise that we will each be richly rewarded? It is because in developing themselves they did not remain faithful to their roots, to their true selves. My father, who was my real teacher, taught me this lesson. When I was young and we would learn Gemara together, I would repeat his words exactly, only to have him tell me “if you simply repeat what I said you will never be a lamdan – you have to explain it in your own words.” In other words, a person is true to himself when he is faithful to the Torah and tradition, and faithfully upholds their fundamental principles, albeit in ways that reflect his unique persona." Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik. Transcribed by R' Basil Herring in TorahMusings.org http://torahmusings.com/2013/08/the-rav-on-remaining-true-to-ourselves/

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