Another Letter that will go unanswered
Dear _____, Thank you for writing ________. It is a brilliant book. I am only on p. 281, so if I am anticipating anything you cover beyond that page, I apologize. I too always yearned for what I thought was "authentic" community, although it wasn't just about religion for me. After many decades, I decided that G-d didn't want me to "lose" myself in something bigger the way I always wanted to. Maybe it is a case described by Leonard Cohen thusly: "yes you, who must leave everything, that you cannot control." I found it extremely difficult to accept the narrowness, deliberate ignorance, intolerance & bigotry I found in every. single. conservative or traditional religious community I tried be be a part of, and there were many. I NEVER FOUND AN EXCEPTION. Not once. As recently as last year I tried to become involved at our local Chabad. I agree w you that identity or religious practice shouldn't be reduced to a commodity. Yet I was engaging ...