Many years ago, I watched a Bill Moyers PBS interview with Rabbi Saul Berman. Mr. Moyers asked him whether it was possible to be an Orthodox Jew and doubt the existence of God. He answered that not only is it possible, he knows many fine Jews who do not believe in God and he considers them Jews in good standing.
I found that quite shocking at the time. But upon reflection, I thought that perhaps he meant people who have uncertainty about God's existence, or the inability to prove His existence while struggling to do so. If such an individual maintains observance of the Mitzvos, that grants that him standing as an observant Jew. In fact the Chafetz Chaim touches on this theme and allows for the existence of momentary and fleeting minimal doubt on the part of all humanity. He considers this normal and as long as he concludes belief in God... all is well.
Yet, upon further reflection, I don’t think this is what Rabbi Berman meant. I think he meant atheists. If so, I question it. It seems basic that belief in God is a defining characteristic of Orthodox Judaism... indeed of any religion. Doesn’t the very first Pasuk in the Torah tell us that there is a God? Isn’t God telling us in the very first of the Aseres HaDibros, that He exists? Isn’t it also logical to say that belief in God is the underlying component of any religious belief system... that there is a Creator who guides the universe?
I’ve often thought about that interview. But never more than since my encounter in the blogosphere with atheists who observe Halacha. It seems there are many such people. And it seems that they are good people with good values. They maintain a Torah lifestyle because that’s how they were brought up. That’s what they’re used to, and that is the community in which they live. To jettison all religious practice would be too drastic a lifestyle change and would have irreparable consequences on their family, their friends, and on their own mental health. It would be too traumatic. So, they continue to live as Frum Jews even though they have no rational reason to do so, only a psychological one. Some, in fact, actually love the lifestyle and the Torah learning. They wouldn’t change if they could, even while they do not believe in God. Are these people Jews in good standing? According to Rabbi Berman they are. But how? Does the practice of all the Mitzvos in service of no God... have any real value?
I read an essay by one of these skeptics a while back and it was obvious to me how much he loved Torah Judaism. But does God value this fellow? Does He reward his Mitzva Practice? Or will his fate be: "Sofo Yoresh Gehinom"? On the other hand perhaps God will just say that it wasn’t his fault he became a non-believer and reward him for the Torah he learns and the Mitzvos he keeps?
My gut instinct is that without belief in God, all observance is in vein. All observance must perforce flow from belief in God. But Rabbi Berman seems to think otherwise. I wonder how he would explain his views.
