Torah Doesn’t Bend to Fit Trends

On a flight abroad, the well-known Torah speaker Rabbi Shalom Schwadron, found himself seated next to a secular Jewish professor of engineering. The professor was intelligent, confident, and skeptical about religious life.

What followed was not a debate, but a warm, witty, and insightful exchange that revealed why Torah and halacha (Jewish law) are built on an unshakable foundation and why they can’t be changed to suit modern tastes.

As they got settled in their seats, the professor turned to Rabbi Schwadron and, without hesitation, asked:

“Why can’t you rabbis be more flexible with Jewish law? If you just eased up a little, wouldn’t more secular Jews feel welcome?”

Rabbi Schwadron smiled but didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gently asked:

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m an architect and an engineer,” the man replied proudly. “I’m flying to present plans for a unique multi-story building.”

Rabbi Schwadron asked if he could see the plans. The professor laughed.

“What would a rabbi know about engineering?” he said, but handed them over anyway.

The rabbi listened patiently as the professor explained the details with enthusiasm, pointing out the complexity of the structure and the precision required in its design.

A Line That Can’t Be Moved

After a few minutes, Rabbi Schwadron pointed to a winding line near the foundation and asked with genuine curiosity:

“Why can’t this line be shifted a little to the right? It would look neater. A tiny change, what’s the harm?”

The professor raised an eyebrow.

“You clearly don’t understand engineering,” he replied. “That line is crucial. If it moves even a millimeter, the entire foundation becomes unstable. The building could collapse.”

“Engineering is exact,” he added. “You can’t just adjust things because it feels more convenient.”

Torah Is the Blueprint of the World

Rabbi Schwadron leaned back and smiled again.

“And since when do engineers understand Torah?” he said warmly.

“Just like the structure of a building relies on your blueprint, the entire spiritual structure of the world relies on the Torah. Every mitzvah (commandment) is designed by Hashem, the Creator. It’s not up to us to adjust His design, we’re here to live by it.”

“You were offended when I questioned a blueprint designed by a human, for a building that might stand for a few decades. But when it comes to Torah, which is eternal, you ask why rabbis won’t ‘flex the rules’?”

The Shoe That Didn’t Fit

To make his point even clearer, Rabbi Schwadron shared a parable.

A poor boy saved up for new shoes before Passover. At the market, he found a pair he loved. But when he tried them on, only one shoe fit. The other was too small.

The vendor tried to stretch it, but nothing worked. Then he shrugged and said, “Let me cut off a piece of your toe. That way, the shoe will fit just fine.”

Rabbi Schwadron paused, letting the image sink in.

“Trying to change the Torah to fit the world is like cutting off your toe to fit the shoe,” he said gently. “The Torah is the right size. It’s our thinking and our lifestyle that need to grow to fit it and not the other way around.”

Flexibility in Judaism? Only Within the Boundaries of Truth

This wasn’t just a clever exchange on an airplane. It was a deep reminder of something essential: Torah and halacha aren’t man-made rules. They’re the blueprint of the soul. They’re designed by Hashem with perfect wisdom, just like an engineer’s precise plans.

To ask for flexibility without understanding the foundation is like suggesting a wall in a skyscraper be moved “just a little” for convenience. What seems small could bring everything down.

Conclusion: Torah Isn’t Outdated, It’s Eternal

In today’s world, there’s constant pressure to “update religion” or “make it easier.” But the Torah was never meant to fit passing trends. It’s timeless and that’s what gives it strength.

A rabbi can guide, teach, and help navigate within the framework of halacha, but he can’t rewrite it. Because the Torah isn’t just our past, it’s the structure that holds up our present and our future.