A rabbi in Jerusalem recounted to us that Sir Jonathan Sacks, England’s chief rabbi, once said, “Judaism never changes, but halacha does.” The rabbi went on to explain that at Sinai, God gave us truth. This is Judaism. The Jewish people seek a world returned to absolute peace through the coming of Moshiach (the Messiah)—pure goodness. Halacha and tradition, then, help us on our journey from truth to goodness, from Sinai to Moshiach, bringing us closer to tikkun olam. Along the way, halacha and our tradition changes as society changes, allowing us to keep and celebrate the core values given at
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