G_d certainly put me on a unique, spiritual path in life. At 6 years old, while my mother was taking me to a Presbyterian Church, we got a flat tire. I told Mom, "Mom, this is an omen from G_d that I'm not supposed to go to church." She never took me to church again.
My father believed that religion ruined spirituality. So I learned to have my own relationship with G_d outside of any religion. At 12 years old while on a rafting trip, I almost drowned in the frigid waters of the Upper American River and saw G_d's light as I was rising to the distant air that I would breathe once more. Being given a second chance at life, I realized that I was kept around to do something for G_d. 41 years later I still wonder what that is exactly.
After being a heathen in engineering at UC Berkeley and being all about me and my selfishness, my brother got me for a graduation gift a Fundamental Christian discipler to straighten me out. I learned how to study the Christian Bible and be more disciplined about reading it each day. The religious words gave me a moral compass, rather than relying on G_d directing me with subtlety. Sometimes my own ego missed the subtleties, but the moral compass started helping me to deal with this enormous ego issue.
Finally I fell in love with someone who only wanted to be a Catholic, so I did a 1.5 year long conversion to Catholicism. I actually taught Catholicism for 6 years when G_d blessed me with two children after I promised to raise my children to love Him, if He allowed me to become pregnant. Thank goodness He was listening to me, even though my ego was still not completely under control! Motherhood, though it's tough is still quite awesome.
After a major transition in my life where I had to start all over after the kids grew up, I found that my hidden Jewish ancestry was starting to become undeniable. My closeness to G_d also meant that I needed to be more careful of error, so I needed to learn more and more about His ways. Though I had at least 4 Christian Bibles, there were so many references to Jewish books to which I had no access. I needed to learn the moral compass from the root of Christianity, so I wondered deeply about studying Judaism.
G_d made it clear to me in Jerushalem that it was now time for me to become a Jew. It was a difficult cup to be given, since so many people hate Jews and use them as scapegoats. But, I only reached that air when I was 12 years old, because G_d had something for me to do for Him. So I went through a 1.5 year Modern Orthodox conversion. This allowed me to reach the moral and spiritual compasses that I felt were there that were out of my reach as a Christian.
One thing that made my mind wrestle during this latest conversion was why I had met some really G_d-inspired spirituals in other religions, but all the spirituals of the G_d of Abraham had to be Jewish. This didn't match my lifetime experience. As a math teacher, I teach a lot of Muslims, and many have a deep spirituality that transcends the confines of religion and reaches to a direct relationship with G_d as well. I struggled with why does each religion say that it has to be exactly this way? Why did G_d have me to Himself until I was 23 years old before I had any religious moral guidance?
Perhaps I'm an observer for G_d, who is genetically and now halachically Jewish. Perhaps I'm a bridge for the religions. Today as I was reading, "Not In G_d's Name," by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, I read the most touching words by Michael Novak:
"In a genuine pluralistic society, there is no one sacred canopy. By intention there is not. At its spiritual core, there is an empty shrine. That shrine is left empty in the knowledge that no one word, image, or symbol is worthy of what all seek there. Its emptiness, therefore, represents the transcendence which is approached by free consciences from a virtually infinite number of directions."
That beautiful statement is the connection of my experiences and the Tower of Babel story where G_d did not want us all to speak one forced language. G_d wanted us to be our unique selves and choose to love Him in the way that we were each destined to love Him. G_d wanted us to love Him in His truth---His emet. We cannot freely do this if we are forced to be in a particular religion out of political, social, or family pressures. We each have to find G_d's truth through His quiet understandings and subtleties that he conveys to us as we are ready to listen and understand them.
We are each on a journey and in different stages of self restraint of those volatile egos of ours. Once we start using the very similar techniques of each of the monotheistic religions to control these egos that want to possess and control, we can learn to love G_d and let G_d give to us and take care of us and take care of those that harm us. We can learn that the beautiful sites that we all see are given to us by G_d and that we should remember to be thankful for G_d, our diversity, our unique paths that really challenge us to find G_d and to learn to love Him as we were destined to do. We can be thankful for the fruits of this world that our given to us all and appreciate that the world that belongs to G_d.
We must remember our past, but not live in it. We must learn from our past, but not let it control us. Our past was specifically created for each of us to become who we need to be to do what it is that G_d intends for us to do. We must change our hate and anger to understanding that G_d intended us to learn something new or go a different direction at that uncomfortable moment in our life. We must love the life that G_d has given us and others. Life is holy. G_d created it. So we must put down our ideas that G_d intended there to be only one way to love Him. The tower of Babel was pretty clear that G_d wants to be the only G_d, but loved in an infinite amount of ways with the guidance of Him. The moral codes of religion are very helpful in picking up G_d's subtleties better once we control our egos and find the monotheistic religion G_d intended for each of us.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Noah's Flood and the Tower of Babel's Message
This Shabbat I continued reading Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' book, "Not in G_d's Name." I was struck by how much the Torah had told us, but we could not understand it's depths. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks clears up a great deal.
"The Bible is explicit about the failings of the generation of the Flood. The people were wicked, violent, and 'every inclination of the thoughts of their heart was only evil all the time' (Genesis 6:5) This is the language of systematic moral failure.
"The mood at the beginning of the story of Babel seems, by contrast, almost idyllic. 'The entire earth had one language and a common speech' (Genesis 11:1). Unity seems to prevail. The builders are intent on construction, not destruction. It is far from clear what their sin was. Yet from the Bible's point of view Babel represents another serious wrong turn, because immediately thereafter G_d summons Abraham to begin an entirely new chapter in the religious story of humankind."
Rabbi Sacks then illuminates upon what was just a mystery to me. Before the Flood mankind was a tribal structure. Tribes competed for resources and there was no overriding moral code. Mankind took from each other and the environment in evil ways. This era was about the individual and selfishness and not about a community. The Flood washed this era away and the Noahide Laws were put in place to avoid this era from ever reoccurring:
Then there came the time of Babel and all a sudden there was one language. What happened? A few neo-Assyrian conquerors happened. Per Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, "We have historical evidence dating back to the neo-Assyrians that conquerors imposed their own language on the peoples they defeated. One inscription of the time records that Ashurbanipal II 'made the totality of all peoples speak one speech.' A cylinder inscription of Sargon II says, 'Populations of the four quarters of the world with strange tongues and incompatible speech...whom I had taken as booty at the command of Ashur my lord by the might of my sceptre, I caused to accept a single voice.'"
So Babel was a story about the people being dominated by an emperor and losing their individual freedom and being forced to work together to build an empire. The people of Babel lost their identity, their individuality, which G_d has given to each of us to come to love Him in our own individual ways.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks states, "When a single culture is imposed on all, suppressing the diversity of languages and traditions, this is an assault on our G_d-given differences. As the Quran (49:13) puts it, 'Oh, mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other)."
When G_d tore down the Tower of Babel and confounded the languages of the peoples, He was restoring the world to live in kingdoms governed by Noahide Laws and thriving in diverse cultures and worship of Elokim, the universal G_d. He almost immediately made a covenant with Abraham, which was one of love. Abraham dwelt peacefully amid many nations without judging them and loved G_d with his mind, heart, and soul.
Per Rabbi Jonathan Sacks,"There is no single, simple system that will honour both our commonalities and our differences. Tribalism-identity without universality-leads to violence. Imperialism-universality without identity-leads to the loss of freedom and the suppression of the very diversity that makes us human. That is why the Bible sets out two covenants [Noahide and Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants], not one: one that honours our common humanity, the other that sanctifies diversity and the particularity of love. And the universal comes first. You cannot love G_d without first honouring the universal dignity of humanity as the image and likeness of the universal G_d."
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks continues to discuss in his book, "Not In G_d's Name," how in Modern Times we have forgotten about the lessons of the pre-Flood era and the time of Babel. We have tried these ways of building societies again with Imperialism, Communism, Enlightenment, Crusades, Tribalism, and dethroning the group in celebration of the individual---resulting in erosion of family and community and morality.
We have attained nationalism, racism and communism, two world wars, the Holocaust and the Gulag. We have attained repression. We have attained acceptance of violations to the Noahide Laws. We have attained moral decay, hatred, lust for violence, isolation with technology, and indifference to loss of life of those who oppose us.
Many have lost a sense of community by the decay of family structures. Many have forged their own version of a code of ethics which is not of G_d. Many blindly seek what they innately need and find wolves in sheep's clothing waiting to lead them down horrible paths of extremism.
Now is the time to love G_d with our minds, hearts, and souls. Now is the time to recognize that every soul is precise. Now is the time to love each other. Now is the time to try to celebrate diversity within the scope of the covenants. Now is the time to recognize that G_d's righteous are in many nations and religions. Now is the time to come together in peace and love.
"The Bible is explicit about the failings of the generation of the Flood. The people were wicked, violent, and 'every inclination of the thoughts of their heart was only evil all the time' (Genesis 6:5) This is the language of systematic moral failure.
"The mood at the beginning of the story of Babel seems, by contrast, almost idyllic. 'The entire earth had one language and a common speech' (Genesis 11:1). Unity seems to prevail. The builders are intent on construction, not destruction. It is far from clear what their sin was. Yet from the Bible's point of view Babel represents another serious wrong turn, because immediately thereafter G_d summons Abraham to begin an entirely new chapter in the religious story of humankind."
Rabbi Sacks then illuminates upon what was just a mystery to me. Before the Flood mankind was a tribal structure. Tribes competed for resources and there was no overriding moral code. Mankind took from each other and the environment in evil ways. This era was about the individual and selfishness and not about a community. The Flood washed this era away and the Noahide Laws were put in place to avoid this era from ever reoccurring:
- Do Not Deny God
- Do Not Blaspheme God
- Do Not Murder
- Do Not Engage in Incestuous, Adulterous or Homosexual Relationships.
- Do Not Steal
- Do Not Eat of a Live Animal
- Establish Courts/Legal System to Ensure Law Obedience
Then there came the time of Babel and all a sudden there was one language. What happened? A few neo-Assyrian conquerors happened. Per Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, "We have historical evidence dating back to the neo-Assyrians that conquerors imposed their own language on the peoples they defeated. One inscription of the time records that Ashurbanipal II 'made the totality of all peoples speak one speech.' A cylinder inscription of Sargon II says, 'Populations of the four quarters of the world with strange tongues and incompatible speech...whom I had taken as booty at the command of Ashur my lord by the might of my sceptre, I caused to accept a single voice.'"
So Babel was a story about the people being dominated by an emperor and losing their individual freedom and being forced to work together to build an empire. The people of Babel lost their identity, their individuality, which G_d has given to each of us to come to love Him in our own individual ways.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks states, "When a single culture is imposed on all, suppressing the diversity of languages and traditions, this is an assault on our G_d-given differences. As the Quran (49:13) puts it, 'Oh, mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other)."
When G_d tore down the Tower of Babel and confounded the languages of the peoples, He was restoring the world to live in kingdoms governed by Noahide Laws and thriving in diverse cultures and worship of Elokim, the universal G_d. He almost immediately made a covenant with Abraham, which was one of love. Abraham dwelt peacefully amid many nations without judging them and loved G_d with his mind, heart, and soul.
Per Rabbi Jonathan Sacks,"There is no single, simple system that will honour both our commonalities and our differences. Tribalism-identity without universality-leads to violence. Imperialism-universality without identity-leads to the loss of freedom and the suppression of the very diversity that makes us human. That is why the Bible sets out two covenants [Noahide and Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants], not one: one that honours our common humanity, the other that sanctifies diversity and the particularity of love. And the universal comes first. You cannot love G_d without first honouring the universal dignity of humanity as the image and likeness of the universal G_d."
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks continues to discuss in his book, "Not In G_d's Name," how in Modern Times we have forgotten about the lessons of the pre-Flood era and the time of Babel. We have tried these ways of building societies again with Imperialism, Communism, Enlightenment, Crusades, Tribalism, and dethroning the group in celebration of the individual---resulting in erosion of family and community and morality.
We have attained nationalism, racism and communism, two world wars, the Holocaust and the Gulag. We have attained repression. We have attained acceptance of violations to the Noahide Laws. We have attained moral decay, hatred, lust for violence, isolation with technology, and indifference to loss of life of those who oppose us.
Many have lost a sense of community by the decay of family structures. Many have forged their own version of a code of ethics which is not of G_d. Many blindly seek what they innately need and find wolves in sheep's clothing waiting to lead them down horrible paths of extremism.
Now is the time to love G_d with our minds, hearts, and souls. Now is the time to recognize that every soul is precise. Now is the time to love each other. Now is the time to try to celebrate diversity within the scope of the covenants. Now is the time to recognize that G_d's righteous are in many nations and religions. Now is the time to come together in peace and love.
Kings of Israel
"...all the elders of Yisra'el gathered themselves together, and came to Shemu'el to Rama, and said to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." (1 Samuel 8:5-6)
"And the Lord said to Shemu'el, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." (1 Samuel 8:7)
Why did Israel need to be like the other nations? Samuel warned them that the king would just take from them, but they still wanted a king and got Saul who then lost his kingship due to taking from G_d when he took booty from a battle that G_d had allowed Saul to win.
A king in the Torah is code for one of the 10 Sefirot, one of the 10 shells of the spiritual universe. Kingship or Malkut is the lowest level of spiritual attainment, because a king receives his rewards in this world by purely taking.
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan in "The Bahir Illumination," "What are the 10 kings? They are the seven voices and three sayings (Amarim).
"What are the three? (Proverbs 4:7) 'The beginning is Wisdom: Acquire Wisdom, with all your acquisition, acquire Understanding."
(Job 32:8) "The soul of Shadai gives them Understanding."
The Bahir states, "What is the third one? As the old man said to the child, 'What is hidden from you, do not seek, and what is concealed from you, do not probe. Where you have authority, seek to understand, but you have nothing to do with mysteries."
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains the cryptic Bahir. "The Ten are divided into two groups, seven Voices and ten Sayings. The lowest of the Ten Sefirot are usually called Attributes (Midot), while the highest three are called Mentalities (Mochin). An Attribute is something that is externalized, while a Mentality or mental process is completely internal. Similarly, a voice is externalized, while a saying without voice is not.
"The Sefirot are called Kings in many places in Kabbalistic literature, especially in their state in the Universe of Chaos before the rectification. These are alluded to by the Kings of Edom at the end of Genesis 36. They are called kings, since a king only takes from his subjects, and does not contribute to the economy of his kingdom. Similarly, these Sefirot of the Universe of Chaos could only receive, but could not give.
"Of the three Sefirot mentioned here, only Chakhmah-Wisdom and Binah-Understanding are mentioned explicitly. With regard to Keter-Crown, we are merely warned not to speculate into its mysteries."
Keter-Crown is the highest of the 10 Sefirot and a purely giving state, emanating G_d into this world and bringing to this world a godly domain. This Sefirot is amazingly hard to attain by a human being. Wisdom (Chakhmah) is a state which can be more easily attained than Keter-Crown and is the second highest Sefirot. Understanding (Binah) is the third highest Sefirot. All three of these Sefirot are states of giving. The givers are servants of G_d.
Yes, G_d did not want Israel to have kings, because kings dwell in the lowest of the 10 Sefirot, Malkut-Kingship, and are receivers, not givers. Israel was chosen to be servants of G_d, not emperors of this world. Israel was chosen to give to this world. Israel rejected their mission by asking for a king. It was not until Solomon asked for Wisdom as his only request from G_d that G_d was able to have his chosen servants build a Temple for Him. King Solomon had asked G_d to allow him to become a giver of His light by requesting Wisdom. Israel was again ready to give to this worldly domain by bringing G_d into it.
"And the Lord said to Shemu'el, Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." (1 Samuel 8:7)
Why did Israel need to be like the other nations? Samuel warned them that the king would just take from them, but they still wanted a king and got Saul who then lost his kingship due to taking from G_d when he took booty from a battle that G_d had allowed Saul to win.
A king in the Torah is code for one of the 10 Sefirot, one of the 10 shells of the spiritual universe. Kingship or Malkut is the lowest level of spiritual attainment, because a king receives his rewards in this world by purely taking.
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan in "The Bahir Illumination," "What are the 10 kings? They are the seven voices and three sayings (Amarim).
"What are the three? (Proverbs 4:7) 'The beginning is Wisdom: Acquire Wisdom, with all your acquisition, acquire Understanding."
(Job 32:8) "The soul of Shadai gives them Understanding."
The Bahir states, "What is the third one? As the old man said to the child, 'What is hidden from you, do not seek, and what is concealed from you, do not probe. Where you have authority, seek to understand, but you have nothing to do with mysteries."
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains the cryptic Bahir. "The Ten are divided into two groups, seven Voices and ten Sayings. The lowest of the Ten Sefirot are usually called Attributes (Midot), while the highest three are called Mentalities (Mochin). An Attribute is something that is externalized, while a Mentality or mental process is completely internal. Similarly, a voice is externalized, while a saying without voice is not.
"The Sefirot are called Kings in many places in Kabbalistic literature, especially in their state in the Universe of Chaos before the rectification. These are alluded to by the Kings of Edom at the end of Genesis 36. They are called kings, since a king only takes from his subjects, and does not contribute to the economy of his kingdom. Similarly, these Sefirot of the Universe of Chaos could only receive, but could not give.
"Of the three Sefirot mentioned here, only Chakhmah-Wisdom and Binah-Understanding are mentioned explicitly. With regard to Keter-Crown, we are merely warned not to speculate into its mysteries."
Keter-Crown is the highest of the 10 Sefirot and a purely giving state, emanating G_d into this world and bringing to this world a godly domain. This Sefirot is amazingly hard to attain by a human being. Wisdom (Chakhmah) is a state which can be more easily attained than Keter-Crown and is the second highest Sefirot. Understanding (Binah) is the third highest Sefirot. All three of these Sefirot are states of giving. The givers are servants of G_d.
Yes, G_d did not want Israel to have kings, because kings dwell in the lowest of the 10 Sefirot, Malkut-Kingship, and are receivers, not givers. Israel was chosen to be servants of G_d, not emperors of this world. Israel was chosen to give to this world. Israel rejected their mission by asking for a king. It was not until Solomon asked for Wisdom as his only request from G_d that G_d was able to have his chosen servants build a Temple for Him. King Solomon had asked G_d to allow him to become a giver of His light by requesting Wisdom. Israel was again ready to give to this worldly domain by bringing G_d into it.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
The Akedah and Gates of G_d
The Akedah, the story of G_d asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Yiztach, is quite disturbing for most people and causes much unresolved debate about the meaning that G_d is imparting. After studying "The Bahir Illumination" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan this week, I had an epiphany as I read the normally glazed over line in Genesis (21:18), "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies:..."
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
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While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
The Akedah and Gates of G_d
The Akedah, the story of G_d asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Yiztach, is quite disturbing for most people and causes much unresolved debate about the meaning that G_d is imparting. After studying "The Bahir Illumination" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan this week, I had an epiphany as I read the normally glazed over line in Genesis (21:18), "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies:..."
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
The Akedah and Gates of G_d
The Akedah, the story of G_d asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Yiztach, is quite disturbing for most people and causes much unresolved debate about the meaning that G_d is imparting. After studying "The Bahir Illumination" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan this week, I had an epiphany as I read the normally glazed over line in Genesis (21:18), "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies:..."
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
While reading the commentary in the Chumash, I was focusing on the angels. I was aware that Gabriel, the strength of G_d, destroyed Sodom and Gemorah. I wasn't aware that Michael, who is like G_d, delivered the message to Sara that she would conceive Yiztach, or that Rafael, who has healed, was the one that healed ailing Abraham and escorted Lot to safety. As I was trying to figure out the angels involved, I happened upon the commentary about Hagar leaving Yishmael alone under a tree to die, so she wouldn't see him die. The commentary stated how selfish that was of a mother to do rather than comforting her dying son. Yishmael was truly alone, because even the angels tried to convince G_d to let Yishmael die for the sins of his descendants, but G_d would not judge Yishmael upon any other deeds but Yishmael's. Apparently, Hagar's selfish influence upon him was countered by Abraham's righteous influence.
Yiztach was a different story. Sarah was a righteous woman, so both of Yiztach's parents were righteous. The Chumash commentary stated that Abraham journeyed up to the top of the mountain that Abraham would later call Adonay yir'e (God will see) and Shem, Noah's son, called Shalem (at peace) and we call Jerushalem (yir'e Shalem---will see peace). Abraham journeyed there to sacrifice Yiztach. Father and son had two different missions for G_d. Yiztach was a man, not a child, with his own relationship with G_d. When he asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, Abraham responded, "My son, G_d will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis (21:8) Yiztach allowed his father to bind him, though he was probably as strong as his father. Yiztach allowed himself to die in this world to serve G_d as Abraham faithfully obeyed G_d, though Abraham's tears fell upon bond Yiztach's eyes.
At the last minute an angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven and said, "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest G_d, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me."
"And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven a second time, and said, 'By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because thous hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thy only son: that I will exceedingly bless thee, and I will exceedingly multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." (Genisis 21:15-18)
It was then that Yiztach and Abraham had a united mission for G_d. Father and son journeyed down the mountain united in their service of G_d.
Now why did G_d happen to have me reading the section of Bahir this week about gates? So I would see this line that we all glaze over, "and thy seed shall possess the gate of its enemies;...." The Bahir section 38 in the Bahir Illumination by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan states, "Rabbi Amorai sat and expounded: What is the meaning of the verse (Psalm 87:2), 'G_d loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"'The gates of Zion' are the openings of the World.
"A gate is nothing other than an opening. We thus say, 'Open for us the gates of mercy.'
"G_d said: I love the 'gates of Zion' when they are open. Why? Because they are on the side of evil. But when Israel does good before G_d and are worthy that good be opened for them, then G_d loves them---'more than all the dwellings of Jacob.'
"The dwellings of Jacob are all peace, as it is written (Genesis 25:27), 'Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.'"
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explains about section 38 in the Bahir, "The main theme here is the fact that G_d has maximum pleasure when evil is transformed into good. Man was given free will so as to overcome evil, this being the purpose of creation. When evil is overcome, this purpose is fulfilled, and this is G_d's 'pleasure.'
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan continues, "In a deeper sense, the more one overcomes evil, the more he makes use of his free will, and in doing so, the more he resembles G_d....In this paragraph, it is evident that the opposite of evil is peace."
So why did G_d give us possession of the gate of our enemies after Abraham and Yiztach faithfully fulfilled G_d's will? They proved themselves righteous and capable of teaching their children righteousness. Abraham and Yiztach were selfless, as opposed to Hagar being selfish, which she would teach her son Yishmael.
What does it mean to possess the gate of our enemies? We can allow our enemies to be evil by being selfish and lacking righteousness and reacting to their evil by opening their gate that we possess. We can also allow our enemies to be peaceful in this world by being selfless and loving them despite their issues and closing the gate of evil of our enemy. We can go one step further and change our enemy to our friend and have no gate of evil to close.
We are vessels of G_d. In order to receive G_d's light, we must give and resemble G_d. We must emanate the light we receive and bring G_d into this domain. It is in our hands and is our heritage to overcome the gates of evil that we possess and bring peace to this world.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Inspired by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Today I continued reading Rabbi Jonathan Sacks new book, "Not In G_d's Name---Confronting Religious Violence." It is an illuminating perspective about what makes people altruistically evil and violent. Being someone who has fought unwarranted abuse with love on many levels, I could relate to this daunting issue of illogical attacks on peaceful people. I once had a therapist at UC Berkeley once say to me, "Why do you keep going back to those people [my siblings] with love?" Rabbi Sacks finally explained why I do that.
He starts by saying that dualism is the seed to altruistic evil. Dualism leads people to believe that there are good people and bad people. Really we are all capable of good and bad. Some of us were lucky to be nurtured to choose to behave better, but in our hearts we all have darkness and light. No one people is all darkness and all light, not Jews, not Hindus, not Muslims, not Christians, not Buddhists, not any one people. There is no dualism. We are all loved by the one true G_d of Abraham as we are with all our goodness and all our evil. He knows our thoughts and loves us as we are.
Rabbi Sacks discusses how not Jesus, but Paul started a rivalry between the Jews and the Christians. Both Jesus and Paul were Jewish, Paul just had a different agenda which rewrote the history of Jews in a lesser role. He wrote, "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's [Hagar] son [Ishmael] will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's [Sarah] son [Isaac]." He further implied that Sarah represented Christianity and Hagar represented Judaism which is just a marketing fabrication for Christianity that has lasted to this day.
Interesting enough Rabbi Sacks explains that after Sarah died, Isaac did not want Abraham to be alone when Rebekah was found and brought back for Isaac. So Isaac went to Beer Lahai Roi as Abraham started the search for Isaac's wife. Who was in Beer Lahai Roi? Hagar and Ishmael lived there. Hagar, per Rabbi Sacks is Keturah, Abraham's wife after Sarah died. Isaac brought her back for his father, so he would also have a wife. That is why at Abraham's death both Issac and Ishmael stood together at their father's burial.
G_d always loved Hagar and Ishmael, as did Abraham. G_d always loved Sarah and Isaac as well. Yes, Sarah had Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, but after her natural death a reconciliation happened and there was peace and love. G_d loves us in His own way in His own time. It is for us to keep the gates of love open and always try to forgive others, especially when we see that even in our own hearts we can find darkness, just as in Sarah's heart she had a moment of darkness, because she bore jealousy toward Hagar and wanted to be like her and bear a child.
Again with Jacob and Esau we have a similar rivalry. Jacob wants to be the first born and grabs his brother's heel, then steals his brother's blessing. Jacob wants to be like his brother Esau and receives the blessing, "May G_d give you of the dew of the heavens, and the richness of the earth, and abundant grain and wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Rule over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you."(Gen. 27:28-29) This blessing was meant for Esau though. Esau was the man of this world and Jacob was the man of G_d.
Jacob did get his blessing that Isaac intended for him, "May G_d Almighty bless you, make you fruitful and increase your numbers so that you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as a foreigner, the land G_d gave to Abraham." (Gen. 28:3-4) So Jacob did not need to steal his brother's blessing which was not appropriate for Jacob. Jacob was the one to carry on the spiritual covenant and was freely given the spiritual blessing.
When Jacob returned to meet Esau after 22 years, he wrestled an angel and wouldn't let him go until the angel gave him a blessing, "No longer will it be said that your name is Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with G_d and men and have prevailed." (Gen. 32:24) This meant that Jacob was ready to not struggle to be Esau anymore. He was ready to struggle being Israel, himself.
Upon greeting his brother Esau, he gave his brother his riches of the earth that he'd gathered and had every member of his family, including himself bow down to Esau as a way of returning the blessing that he'd stolen from Esau, so many years before. Israel did not need these blessings. G_d blessed him with his own blessings, because G_d blesses us according to our lot.
It is said that a happy person is at peace with their lot in life. That person is happy with their role in this world that G_d bestowed upon them with love. That is how we have world peace. We recognize that we each have both bad and good in each of us. We recognize that the stories of rivaling siblings in the Bible were stories of young people striving to be like their sibling and finally realizing to be happy, they must be happy with the life that G_d wanted them to have. Then their was peace and love and reconciliation.
One day my peace and love will be accepted by my siblings. Now at least I know that they must be happy with their lot in life in order to accept my alms. All that I can control is that I am happy with my lot in this world and that G_d loves me for whom I am with all my bad and good wrapped up inside of me.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
He starts by saying that dualism is the seed to altruistic evil. Dualism leads people to believe that there are good people and bad people. Really we are all capable of good and bad. Some of us were lucky to be nurtured to choose to behave better, but in our hearts we all have darkness and light. No one people is all darkness and all light, not Jews, not Hindus, not Muslims, not Christians, not Buddhists, not any one people. There is no dualism. We are all loved by the one true G_d of Abraham as we are with all our goodness and all our evil. He knows our thoughts and loves us as we are.
Rabbi Sacks discusses how not Jesus, but Paul started a rivalry between the Jews and the Christians. Both Jesus and Paul were Jewish, Paul just had a different agenda which rewrote the history of Jews in a lesser role. He wrote, "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's [Hagar] son [Ishmael] will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's [Sarah] son [Isaac]." He further implied that Sarah represented Christianity and Hagar represented Judaism which is just a marketing fabrication for Christianity that has lasted to this day.
Interesting enough Rabbi Sacks explains that after Sarah died, Isaac did not want Abraham to be alone when Rebekah was found and brought back for Isaac. So Isaac went to Beer Lahai Roi as Abraham started the search for Isaac's wife. Who was in Beer Lahai Roi? Hagar and Ishmael lived there. Hagar, per Rabbi Sacks is Keturah, Abraham's wife after Sarah died. Isaac brought her back for his father, so he would also have a wife. That is why at Abraham's death both Issac and Ishmael stood together at their father's burial.
G_d always loved Hagar and Ishmael, as did Abraham. G_d always loved Sarah and Isaac as well. Yes, Sarah had Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, but after her natural death a reconciliation happened and there was peace and love. G_d loves us in His own way in His own time. It is for us to keep the gates of love open and always try to forgive others, especially when we see that even in our own hearts we can find darkness, just as in Sarah's heart she had a moment of darkness, because she bore jealousy toward Hagar and wanted to be like her and bear a child.
Again with Jacob and Esau we have a similar rivalry. Jacob wants to be the first born and grabs his brother's heel, then steals his brother's blessing. Jacob wants to be like his brother Esau and receives the blessing, "May G_d give you of the dew of the heavens, and the richness of the earth, and abundant grain and wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Rule over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you."(Gen. 27:28-29) This blessing was meant for Esau though. Esau was the man of this world and Jacob was the man of G_d.
Jacob did get his blessing that Isaac intended for him, "May G_d Almighty bless you, make you fruitful and increase your numbers so that you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as a foreigner, the land G_d gave to Abraham." (Gen. 28:3-4) So Jacob did not need to steal his brother's blessing which was not appropriate for Jacob. Jacob was the one to carry on the spiritual covenant and was freely given the spiritual blessing.
When Jacob returned to meet Esau after 22 years, he wrestled an angel and wouldn't let him go until the angel gave him a blessing, "No longer will it be said that your name is Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with G_d and men and have prevailed." (Gen. 32:24) This meant that Jacob was ready to not struggle to be Esau anymore. He was ready to struggle being Israel, himself.
Upon greeting his brother Esau, he gave his brother his riches of the earth that he'd gathered and had every member of his family, including himself bow down to Esau as a way of returning the blessing that he'd stolen from Esau, so many years before. Israel did not need these blessings. G_d blessed him with his own blessings, because G_d blesses us according to our lot.
It is said that a happy person is at peace with their lot in life. That person is happy with their role in this world that G_d bestowed upon them with love. That is how we have world peace. We recognize that we each have both bad and good in each of us. We recognize that the stories of rivaling siblings in the Bible were stories of young people striving to be like their sibling and finally realizing to be happy, they must be happy with the life that G_d wanted them to have. Then their was peace and love and reconciliation.
One day my peace and love will be accepted by my siblings. Now at least I know that they must be happy with their lot in life in order to accept my alms. All that I can control is that I am happy with my lot in this world and that G_d loves me for whom I am with all my bad and good wrapped up inside of me.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
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