גוי אחד בארץ

The past few weeks' worth of posts have revolved around religious viewpoints, naked and fatal idealism, arguments on Twitter, and other such musings. 

I had an insight, a eureka moment, that I think warrants mentioning. 

All of the disparate views, opinions, beliefs, and other differentiations and distinctions are needed in Klal Yisrael.

Think if the religious ran the government - would there be a sanitation service? An army capable of defending our borders? Would there be commerce, construction, culture?

Think if the Leftist G-dless secularists ran the government (Meretz, Tommy Lapid, etc.) - would there be yeshivot? Kashrut? Would Halacha have a place in the public discourse?

Think if Satmar didn't mount their insane PR campaign that proclaims (falsely) that true torah Jews are not Zionists. Unwittingly, it reminds everyone Mashiach is still not here, that the Beit HaMikdash is not rebuilt. Think if Lubavitch and Breslov didn't reach out to those who grew up unattached to their heritage (even if it is with the goal of spreading belief in their deified Rebbes). Or if the Dati Leumi didn't remind everyone religion and daily "secular" life can mix, and even be complementary, if not necessary for each other. 

It is unfortunate that people think that being "right" is a zero sum proposition. It is the space carved out by the different movements, each dragging in a different direction, that provides us a place to love, to interact, to discover, to be. 

Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel are held up as the paragon of a מחלוקת לשם שמים - and it is they who understood that personal beliefs, positions, opinions, and convictions are just a part of the public discourse - and so they did not refrain from marrying one another (even though they differed in opinion on how to legally conduct a marriage ceremony) or eating each others' food (though they differed on kashrut concerns); they understood the point of מחלוקת is not to be right, but to enlarge the public discourse so that all may come to a conclusion that is proper. 

In short, Halacha is not a static, stagnant, unflinching iron ball and chain of unchanging definitions and demands. It was never meant to be. It is meant to be the Path that Yisrael travels, the Eay to discover the truth. Yes, it builds upon the past and previous, and yes, it is not egalitarian in nature, free to play with to suit your whims. But it is also not impersonal, fixed, or external to those who engage in its practice. 

It is this, I think, that is meant in that Zohar I quoted earlier - מי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד בארץ. אימתי ישראל אחד? בארץ - it is when a nation dwells as one, engages with each other as one, lives as one. Not in groups, in separated cities, with separated movements and schools systems and goals and dreams. As one - we are all בני אברהם יצחק ויעקב, they who lie sleeping in Chevron. We are all part of the enterprise of Yisrael. And we all should live as such.