The moral benefits of Z'chirat Mitzva

Continuing my ruminations of the principle of "z'chirat mitzva" which is the default (if unstated) position of the Conservative rank-and-file, I have concluded that this position actually provides moral benefit to those who follow it. This is especially true becuase the typical zocher mitzva does not disregard every halacha or Jewish practice, they keep enough to remain Jewish.

[How much is "enough?" That depends on the individual. Even those who intermarry and remain affiliated with the Conservative do quite a bit to reamain Jewish. I know this from personal experience -- we have a lot of intermarried families in our shul, and we have a lot of converted kids, as well as Jewish kids with non-Jewish fathers, many of whome are among the most active USY members and Shabbos regulars.]

So a true zocher mitzvah knows that he (or she) is not observingh all of the halachot, yet we are as loyal to the Torah as anyone. So, even if we are as wise, discerning, and as total atheists as Mis-Nagid :) we still feel those twinges of Jewish guilt. Yes, even I, Conservative apikoris, am tormented by a good dose of Jewish guilt. Sure, you don't see it displayed in this forum becuase given the characters here, if I did so, I'd have my colck cleaned on a regular basis, but trust me, it's there.

This Jewish guilt is a very esssential element needed in a Jew's psyche in order to keep the Jew from the sin of self-righteous bloviating and indifference to the needs of those less fortunate. One of the things that repels me about right-wing Orthodox Jews (in the rleigious sense) is that they are so full of themselves with pride about how strictly they keep kashrut, Shabbos, teharat meishpacha amd tz'niyus. On the other hand, the people on the other side are equally repulsive in the way they are so sure that their hard-core observance feminism and left-wing political correctness is proof of their selection by God and total moral rectitude. We Zochrei mitzva in the middle aren't sure about any of this, and this helps cultivat a certain sense of humility and willingness to pursue peace. Maybe we should be called "b'nei Aharon," as well as "zochrei mitzva."