What makes an Orthodox Jew? OR Orthodox Jews don't cheat on their taxes.

I have been told that about 12 years ago a Rabbi in the Washington area gave a sermon where he said Orthodox Jews do not cheat on their taxes. Someone questioned him on that statement and his response was to the effect that it takes more than synagogue affiliation, Shabbos and Kashrus observance to be an Orthodox Jew.

This is absolutely true. You can't judge someone by what you see. That is why you can have an "Orthodox" Jew who can run a nursing home scam, or get into trouble with the SEC, or use charity funds for dubious purposes. That is why an "Orthodox" Jew can walk into an Arab Mosque and fire an Uzi. That is why an "Orthodox" Jew can refuse to help when help is needed, can be rude and obnoxious, bad mouth his neighbors, or accuse his local Rabbis of the same kind of behavior.

This person is not a religious Jew. He is not following G-d's laws. Not the way G-d wants them followed. Oh yes, he has all the outward trappings. He is scrupulous about the food he eats, the clothes he wears, and the synagogue he belongs to, but in his heart he is not observant. He has forgotten about tzedakah (charity), about kindness to those less fortunate than he, about honoring G-d by observing the commandments that aren't visible as well as those that are.

G-d doesn't see what is only on the outside, he sees what is inside us too. No one today can follow ALL of G-ds commands. However, it is up to us to do our best to be good people as well as Observant Jews. The second without the first will put the quotation marks back in the statement "Orthodox" Jew.