Torah Echad's vision is to encourage Torah understanding (internalized learning) and to make it freely available for people of various faiths who are actively seeking truth, G-d, and inter-faith cooperation. We affirm that only Jews and sojourners (in varying degrees) in Eretz Yisra'el (Land of Israel) are commanded to obey Torah (Torah for Gentiles consists of the 7 fundamental laws of Noah) - but hopefully these principles can shed new light for Christians and Muslims as well, though it should be clear that we do NOT advocate syncretism nor another faith outside Judaism. At the very least, we hope to promote understanding about what Torah is and what Torah is not; to challenge current thoughts about Torah from all streams and faiths in order to best make Torah applicable for all Jewish people worldwide. This will hopefully reduce anti-Torah and anti-Jewish theologies, but more importantly to encourage our Jewish communities to embrace Torah and proclaim liberty (Vay/Lev 25:10)! There is also a hope that by sharing Torah with other faiths, by acknowledging our common ground in Torah as Scripture, we can foster and develop shalom (wholeness, peace, community, justice) through cooperation and understanding.
Observing HaShem's commandments should come from a love of G-d, not from guilt, coercion, hope for reward, or even some sort of desire for salvation from punishment. We firmly believe that Torah is good and applicable to Jews today, even if not all the mitzvoth (commandments) can be followed today (or followed exactly). In following/guarding Torah, one observes and remembers to love G-d, to love people, treat animals with the utmost care, seek to restore the world (olam) to its proper sinless and abundant state, and aside from all the "humanitarian" concerns, to set ourselves apart for service to G-d. Most important is that this come from the heart, a deep desire to seek His will, much like the great King David sought.
Many thanks to all those who currently support and frequent this site.
Charities we currently contribute to:
American Friends of the Magen David Adom
David Cardozo Academy
Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals
Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger (worldwide)
