When I was in high school, we would instructed by our English teacher [ציפורה פנינה בת הרב משה עליה השלום!!!] to make a number of columns in our notebooks. One column for the word, another for the definition, another for etymology etc. etc. [the other columns were probably for synonyms and antonyms]. The etymology of words interested me at the time as much as the shoe size of the wife of the Prime Minister of Norway. Or maybe less.
But I have grown up or at least have gotten older. I realized that there is a lot to learn from etymology [particularly in Lashon Hakodesh - see the amazing sefer "נוקב מרגליות"]. The word religion is from Old French, or from Latin religio(n- ) ‘obligation, bond, reverence’, perhaps based on Latin religare ‘to bind’. Religion binds and obligates us. For religion we have reverence.
As we wrote recently on these pages - there are many religions out there. Even atheism is a form of religion. It binds people. The atheist revere their atheism. They are more passionate about it than many religious [in the classical sense] people are about their religion.
Another popular religion is vaccines. Many anti-vaxxers show ecstatic religious passion in their opposition to vaccines. They can forgive a person who doesn't believe in G-d but not someone who receives vaccines or worse - instructs others to take them. Many pro-vaxxers are the same. Meshugina over vaccines. Super passionate about the incredible virtues of vaccines. At Har Sinai, G-d gave Moshe the Luchos and ... vaccines. Pro-vax, anti-vax - two religions.
I am neither. I am not a doctor. I have read strong evidence against vaccines. Vaccines are poison. Vaccines are like the עץ דעת - on the day you take it you will die, or at least be on the way to death [after suffering from horrible diseases]. I have read evidence in favor of vaccines. I am a nobody and my opinion on the matter carries zero weight. [Although for the record I do try to avoid vaccines. לכולי עלמא they are not good for you. The only argument is that it is the lesser of two evils - the other evil being the disease it is supposed to protect you from. There is ONE vaccine that I am looking for and would take in a second. The vaccine against the מלאך המוות].
But this I know - vaccines shouldn't become a religion. Your body and health are not religions. Eretz Yisrael should not be a religion. Tzahal shouldn't be a religion. Even learning in Kollel should not be a religion.
There is one religion - רצון השם. What does Hashem want. That is the only thing to be passionate about. I am passionate about it because, כביכול, Hashem cares. If Hashem cares then I care - b/c Hashem cares. For no other reason. So Tzahal is great. We need an army. But does Hashem want me to send my children to the army - that is THE question. Working is great. So is sitting in Kollel and learning [להבדיל]. So the question is - what does Hashem want ME to do? That is my religion i.e. what binds me. I try to eat healthy - but that is not my religion. My religion is fulfilling mitzvos and this can be accomplished in the most optimal way if I have a healthy body.
So let us not forget the ikker. The ikker is Hashem and His Ratzon. The focus for a Jew must be to have a Ratzon to fulfill Hashem's Ratzon in every instance at every moment. Every thought, every word and every action. Everything is about dveykus BaShem and His Ratzon. Nothing else.
The fact that people miss this point causes many fundamental mistakes in people's lives.
