Afshine Emrani

I see Reform Jews running to conferences trying to figure out why Jews don’t identify with their religion! In a recent Pew poll, out of the 9 Christian groups altogether, only 3.5% said they were leaving their religion, and 4% chose to define themselves as Solidly Secular. Among Muslims, 9% suggested they were Religion Resisters and 9% said they were Solidly Secular. But the same study shows 42% of US Jews abhor their religion! Problems: 1- Diluted religion is a slippery slope. You can’t eat pork and identify with being Jewish! You don’t believe me? Look at the numbers. Chabad is growing but not the Reform Movement! 2- Once you accept intermarriage, that’s the end of you. 3- Globalism is dilution. Loving your neighbor does NOT mean become your neighbor. You can be an Orthodox Jew and love and respect all religions. 4- If you give up Torah’s authority to your heart’s desires, you’ve lost your Jewish compass. Torah sets the standard. 5- Judaism is taught in the family, not only by school, but by what you practice. Schools are NOT substitute parents or substitute families. 6- Shabbat. Shabbat dinner is Judaism. You can’t take children to concerts on Friday night, go to basketball games, and expect your children to connect to Judaism. 7- Judaism must be practiced. As the Shema says- on waking up, on going to sleep, on walking out of the house. “Do something Jewish” is NOT enough. You must live and breathe Judaism. 8- Remaining connected to God. Knowing that there is a Force greater than you- not just you. No idols. Just God. 9- Remaining connected to Israel. Israel is THE ONLY JEWISH COUNTRY on our planet. If you think Israel should be given away, you’ve lost the connection. 10- Mitzvot. Good deeds as dictated by Torah must be practiced. You give charity- not only because it’s a good thing to do- but because it IS a Jewish thing to do. When you walk away from Jewish principals, you lose Judaism. It’s that simple. #God. #Torah. Land of #Israel.#Jewish#people. #Shabbat. #Mitzvot. Without these- more will walk away. We Persian Jews kept our Judaism for 3000 years by following this formula. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.