3 replies to this topic

[mamash]

I have a non frum cousin, went to public school, but 'proud to be jewish.' Very smart guy, very inquisitive, just graduated from a prestigious grad school. We see each other a couple times a year, talk once every few weeks. Religion always comes up in conversation. I never really know what to say because he's just so clueless. He mamash thinks he knows about the Torah because he read through tanach in english. Meanwhile, I don't know anything about the things that he has read, so how am I to respond when he's giving me his pshat in mishlei? Anyway, my question is, what should I do with him? Should I just smile and nod at him? Should I argue with him?

[Rabbi Shapiro]

What is his degree in?

[mamash]

Law.

[Rabbi Shapiro]

Explain to him that his level of training in Judaism is akin to someone who reads some law book and then thinks he can be a Supreme Court Justice. And worse - the Tanach is encrypted to protect it from being usurped by other religions, and it can only be deciphered using Torah Shebal Peh. Tell him that his interest in Judaism is very commendable and it stems from the thirst a Jewish soul has for Hashem, but what he is drinking does not contain anything close to enough nutrients to sustain his spiritual health - or develop his knowledge base - even though it will seem to him that he has quenched his thirst.

Tell him he needs training, a Rebbi, and a lot more information.

Tell him that Tanach is NOT the basis or basics of Judaism. Our religion is based on the oral Mesorah - Tanach is only one element of it, and, alone, not even a representative sample of what Judaism is. Without more learning, he is not educating himself about Judaism.

Buy him Rabbi Miller's Rejoice O Youth. It is the best beginner's book of Judaism in English in existence.