Mutual commitment to ideals - yes; the stifling of all dissenting notions - no.

In Judaism, there are 613 biblical commandments, and the Talmud says that the chief commandment of all is study.

I was critical of the Israeli government, however, for not being prepared for the move. One does not uproot thousands of people without planning in advance what will be done with them. This was a political and human error in which the government functioned poorly.

Group action - yes; group thinking - no

My mother, whose family was heavily rabbinic, said she wanted me to continue the family tradition in the rabbinate. My father said he wanted me to be a scholar of the Talmud, but he wanted me to make my living in science.

This principle of unity of the whole along with respect for individual differences is symbolized in the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.

No religious position is loyally served by refusing to consider annoying theories which may well turn out to be facts.