Community part 2

 I once went in to a health food store and asked for a good bottle of soy sauce. The store owner pointed to a shelf, where there were two kinds of soy sauce. i asked him what the difference was. He said "This one is like a musical note played on an instrument. This one is like a symphony!"
This idea goes for Judaism as well. There are almost no hard-and-fast doctrines either in Scripture or Talmud. In Tractate Sanhedrin, there is a thorough discussion about the coming of Mashiach. many views are presented, none are indicated as conclusive. Throughout our history, many notes have been played by many great musicians. The symphony of Torah and Jewish history is almost unbearably beautiful. Attempts to clarify ideas, such as Maimonides principles, met with much opposition. We take it for granted that they are universal and beyond question. Yet nearly every one of them had great rabbis who disagreed. There is more than one way to play Mozart.  Even without changing a note, different musicians will have different interpretations. My impression is that this is no longer welcome in many circles. There is a one-size-fits-all Judaism that is becoming more and more standardized and codified. Translations and commentaries abound, that were unavailable when I began my Jewish journey in the mid '60s, These works are marvelous for beginners. The depth may at last be seen...to a degree. But, for purposes of simplicity, there is only one note. All classical authorities are made to agree...artificially. People who are not primarily historians write...or rewrite...history. Even basic works like RASHI's commentary on the Torah undergo censorship where they don't fit the newly made "Mesorah" ("Tradition"). When I have asked these authors for an explanation, I have been told "we can't confuse the people". I have had the profound privilege of studying under several great rabbis. With each, there was no "party line", but a constant learning, unlearning, and relearning process. Sure, when I teach children, there is a need to simplify...even oversimplify. But there comes a time for the child to become an adult. The qualified teacher must provide the tools for further learning, growth and experience. The child must ultimately find himself, his path in Torah, his way to G-d. We can only provide the map, and the benefit of experience. We simply cannot take the journey for him.