Ekev 5772: The Value of Theological Humility

I just got returned from three weeks in Israel.  Israel is where I spend quality time with my kids and their significant others, with friends who have been part of my life since my 20 years living in Israel, and it is where I re-charge my spiritual batteries.
     It is often the case that my annual summer visit to Israel coincides with the observance of Tisha b'Av, the fast commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians and the Romans in turn.
     Traditional sources put some of the responsibility for the destruction of the Temple on the shoulders of the Israelites themselves, for our ancestors were guilty of the flawed behavior "sinat hinam" / senseless hatred.  It seems that even two thousand years ago, people lashed out and condemned each other in the name of self-righteousness.  Jew condemned Jew.  Non-Jew condemned Jew.  Jew condemned non-Jew.  You get the idea...
     Actually, it's not hard for you to "get the idea" because these scenarios are so familiar today among the polarized and polarizing religious communities that plague every Abrahamic faith tradition.  Jews have religious fanatics.  Christians have religious fanatics.  Muslims have religious fanatics. 
     Intolerance in the name of God is such an oxymoron....
     It seems that no matter which side of the Atlantic I find myself on, the toxicity of religious self-righteousness is there to be dealt with.  I have often commented on the irony that the only country in the world in which a marriage I conduct is not recognized is "my own" country, Israel.  Earlier this year, a nine year old girl from a religious family was spat upon my ultra-Orthodox fanatics because she was "dressed immodestly."  ....Really?
     In Israel I was brought close to tears by the horrific murder of innocent, peace-loving Sikhs in their own house of worship and then came home to learn of the vandalism suffered by our friends in the mosque in North Smithfield.
     There are a lot of things of which we have too much in this world, like pettiness and selfishness and self-righteousness, and hunger, and homelessness.  And there are a lot of things of which we have too little in this world, like theological humility.
     How dare anyone limit the capacity of God to respond to sincere expressions of faith?  How dare anyone claim that they know the will of God better than any other human being?  Even Moses, the human who was most intimate with God, is described as "anav m'od", as very humble.  Indeed, I would posit that the closer one is to God, the further one is along the path of one's spiritual journey, the more humble one would feel . . . for how could we feel anything but humble if we are truly in awe of God?