This week we learned about the steps to exile. The people didn't go from G-d fearing to idol worshipping over night. It was a long and downhill process which led to the exile. This process is very similar to the process people still go through today. People are still sinning even if it's not in the same form as it was thousands of years ago. The mind still works the same and people still find themselves in a similar situation where you pass the point of no return and you can no longer be who you once were. Teenagers especially like to tell themselves that what they are doing is right just so they can live an easier or more exciting life. Jusaism is hard for this generation. There's no getting around that. It isn't easy to watch everyone else eat out at different restaurants while we can only get take-out sushi or deli sandwiches from Kroger. It is frustrating to miss sports games or concerts because they fall out during Shabbos or Yom Tov. It sometimes is uncomfortable to dress a certain way when the majority of the people we're around dress however they want. There are days we can't use our phones or the Internet and days when we can't eat at all. We end school later because of our duel curriculum and we must take classes in Judaic studies even if we don't particularly care for them. No one said being an Orthodox Jew in this generation was easy, but many of us seem to get by anyway. Unfortunately, multiple teenage Jews succumb to the pressure of living like all the other "normal" teens out there. The transformation does not come over night and it is not always noticeable at first, but after a certain process, they reach the point of no return just like the Jews of Yisrael did many years ago.
The people of Yisrael began to believe in other powers. This was not a monotheistic belief like we are meant to have. They began to see validity in the practices of the other nations. They began to think that maybe there is a limit to G-d's power and therefore there are other powers in the world. Up to this point, they have not acted on their thoughts. Then they begin to incorporate the rituals of the other nations into their own worship of G-d. Along with this comes some Avodah Zara. They are still worshipping G-d and still believe in His power but they are beginning to believe in other gods and powers as well due to the influence of the other nations. G-d sends Naviim to help them return to G-d. The Navi tells them that what their doing is wrong and they need to change their ways. The people acknowledge that their actions are wrong and the Navi is right but they still do not change their ways. The people still have a chance to return to G-d. They still have their basic belief in G-d. They are able to recognize that what they're doing is wrong which proves that they have not turned on G-d yet.
Next they become stubborn. They do not want to change their ways. They are content with the way they are acting and want to justify their actions. The only way to justify their actions, though, is to change their beliefs. The people stop believing in G-d and begin to hate Judaism and the Mitzvot. This is the point of no return. No matter what the Navi says, the people cannot return to G-d. They no longer care or believe in G-d therefore they will not listen to Him or follow his commandments. The people adopt hedonistic values of society and leave Torah and Mitzvot behind in order to embrace a new life of Avodah Zara. This is the breaking point. G-d can no longer handle their presence and must exile them. G-d exiles the 10 tribes by using Assyria to defeat and exile them. These tribes are still in exile today and no one knows who they are. Until Mashiach, they will forever be lost.
In class we also talked about cognitive dissonance. This is the tension between belief and action. A person strives to resolve tension. People convince themselves that what they're doing is right in order to resolve any tension they are feeling. Once we begin to justify our behavior, though, we pass the point of no return.
This is happening among the Jewish teen community all the time. Teens look around them and see other teens whether they are conservative, reform, or non-jews and see a life that appears to be easier and more fun than life as an orthodox Jew. These teens don't have to go to shul, they don't have to pray, they can go to parties on Friday nights, and they can eat whatever they want. It seems like a better life; easier for sure. These teens tell themselves they will just go to one party. Maybe one more. Before long they begin to get attached to this new life and want to leave their old, pressure-filled, complex, and intense life behind. They will feel guilty for abandoning their old values, but they will make excuses for themselves and resolve any tensions they are feeling because they are humans, and that's what humans do. They will justify their actions in their heads until they truly believe that what they are doing is acceptable, and even the right thing. This is the point of no return and this is constantly happening. It is possible that this is one of the sins which keep us in exile until this day. Maybe G-d is waiting for us to fix our ways before He can bring Mashiach. All we can do is teach our fellow Jews to be strong in their beliefs so they do not succumb to this sinful system.
I agree with what Alyssa said. I found her comparison of the sins of the people of Yehuda and Yisrael at the time of the exile of Shomrom to the life of a modern teenager most intersting. I have personally experienced some of the modern scenarios you described and I agree that peer pressure can lead you to neglect your value system. Recently, I joined BBYO. I thoroughly like what this organization stands for and the good things they do. My first chapter event was on a Saturday night. Out of habit, all of the people present stood around the dining room table and sang the brachot of Havdalah aloud. I had never done Havdalah like that before but that was not the weirdest thing. They made Havdalah over water and there were no spices in the Besamim holder. I actually went and talked to someone about it. They agreed with me and at the next chapter event, they used grape juice and actual cloves. If only this type of non-invasive redirection were so easy to apply to every situation. We all know that it realistically isn't.
ReplyDelete