I've just finished reading a book, The Heart of a People, that addresses the dialogue between the Christian and Jewish faiths. It's an excellent book that I highly recommend. As I cannot feasibly give it to all of you I will instead direct you to the website www.shorashim.com and encourage you to check it out.
One of the points discussed is the importance of true listening occuring between the two faiths without preconceived ideas and agendas from either side. In that understanding, I wanted to share a brief excerpt taken from the end of the book: "A classical rabbinic tale describes how an individual approaches one less fortunate and declares, 'I’m here to help you out and show you my love for you.' The recipient of this seemingly impressive display of love smiles sadly and responds, 'Thank you very much but how can you love me if you don’t know what hurts me.'”
May we all learn to listen. Shavua Tov!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Psalm 27
There’s a teaching that for each year of life entered into in an individual’s life the corresponding chapter in the book of Psalms may be read. As I am 26, that means that I am currently in my 27th year of life (Baruch HaShem!) and thus my chapter for this year is Psalm 27, which an excerpt reads:
By David. HaShem is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? HaShem is my life’s strength, whom shall I dread? …. One thing I asked of HaShem, that shall I seek: would that I dwell in the House of HaShem all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of HaShem and to contemplate in His Sanctuary. Indeed, He will hide my in His Shelter on the day of evil; He will conceal me in the concealment of His Tent; He will lift me upon a rock. …. HaShem, hear my voice when I call, be gracious toward me and answer me. In your behalf, my heart has said, “Seek My Presence.” Your Presence, HaShem, do I seek. Conceal not Your Presence from me, repel not Your servant in anger. You have been my Helper, abandon me not, forsake me not, O G-d of my salvation. …. Had I not trusted that I would see the goodness of HaShem in the land of life! Hope to HaShem; strengthen yourself and He will give you courage, and hope to HaShem.
Not to read too much of my emotions into it but I find it interesting that this is the particular Psalm for the year of my life considering where I’m at both physically (land of Israel) and spiritually. “One thing I asked of HaShem, that shall I seek: would that I dwell in the House of HaShem all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of HaShem and to contemplate in His Sanctuary.” I remember on my 25th birthday I tried to soul search and find what I should ask of HaShem. What welled up within my soul was to come to Israel; the Land of His Torah, the Land of His people and the place where He chose for His Name to dwell. While I didn’t always seem to have a clear understanding of ‘how’ and the everyday grind of life requiring my immediate attention, it didn’t always seem like I was seeking that goal; but there was a quiet, but persistent progress that I’m not sure even I noticed, at times. Plus the closer I came to achieving the financial goal necessary for the reality the more I had to seek Him in order to asses my true intent (as well as check my sanity!). Bless Him, He allowed everything to come together and sent wonderful friends and family to encourage me over the 2 and a half years of persevering in this desire and now have the privilege of living practically in Jerusalem!
“Conceal not Your Presence from me…You have been my Helper, abandon me not, forsake me not, O G-d of my salvation” When I first came to Israel, I truly felt as if HaShem’s presence was hidden from me. It was very much a time of loneliness and uncertainty as I waded through the swirling confusion mentally, emotionally and spiritually of a new culture, environment, spiritual understanding, and life changes. Yet, I reminded myself of how HaShem had been my helper and salvation in times past.
Thus, “Had I not trusted that I would see the goodness of HaShem in the land of life! Hope to HaShem; strengthen yourself and He will give you courage, and hope to HaShem”. In the midst of His concealment I was encouraged through the Torah that on the Mount HaShem will be seen and I made the decision to hold onto that. My first visit to the Kotel was confirmation of that hope and I was strengthened. Since then I’ve been blessed to meet the Richman’s and the Kempinski brothers who have also been instrumental in my encouragement and will to press on. The sages say that everyone can find themselves in the Psalms. I’m not sure if this is exactly what is meant, but perhaps it’s a start.
By David. HaShem is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? HaShem is my life’s strength, whom shall I dread? …. One thing I asked of HaShem, that shall I seek: would that I dwell in the House of HaShem all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of HaShem and to contemplate in His Sanctuary. Indeed, He will hide my in His Shelter on the day of evil; He will conceal me in the concealment of His Tent; He will lift me upon a rock. …. HaShem, hear my voice when I call, be gracious toward me and answer me. In your behalf, my heart has said, “Seek My Presence.” Your Presence, HaShem, do I seek. Conceal not Your Presence from me, repel not Your servant in anger. You have been my Helper, abandon me not, forsake me not, O G-d of my salvation. …. Had I not trusted that I would see the goodness of HaShem in the land of life! Hope to HaShem; strengthen yourself and He will give you courage, and hope to HaShem.
Not to read too much of my emotions into it but I find it interesting that this is the particular Psalm for the year of my life considering where I’m at both physically (land of Israel) and spiritually. “One thing I asked of HaShem, that shall I seek: would that I dwell in the House of HaShem all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of HaShem and to contemplate in His Sanctuary.” I remember on my 25th birthday I tried to soul search and find what I should ask of HaShem. What welled up within my soul was to come to Israel; the Land of His Torah, the Land of His people and the place where He chose for His Name to dwell. While I didn’t always seem to have a clear understanding of ‘how’ and the everyday grind of life requiring my immediate attention, it didn’t always seem like I was seeking that goal; but there was a quiet, but persistent progress that I’m not sure even I noticed, at times. Plus the closer I came to achieving the financial goal necessary for the reality the more I had to seek Him in order to asses my true intent (as well as check my sanity!). Bless Him, He allowed everything to come together and sent wonderful friends and family to encourage me over the 2 and a half years of persevering in this desire and now have the privilege of living practically in Jerusalem!
“Conceal not Your Presence from me…You have been my Helper, abandon me not, forsake me not, O G-d of my salvation” When I first came to Israel, I truly felt as if HaShem’s presence was hidden from me. It was very much a time of loneliness and uncertainty as I waded through the swirling confusion mentally, emotionally and spiritually of a new culture, environment, spiritual understanding, and life changes. Yet, I reminded myself of how HaShem had been my helper and salvation in times past.
Thus, “Had I not trusted that I would see the goodness of HaShem in the land of life! Hope to HaShem; strengthen yourself and He will give you courage, and hope to HaShem”. In the midst of His concealment I was encouraged through the Torah that on the Mount HaShem will be seen and I made the decision to hold onto that. My first visit to the Kotel was confirmation of that hope and I was strengthened. Since then I’ve been blessed to meet the Richman’s and the Kempinski brothers who have also been instrumental in my encouragement and will to press on. The sages say that everyone can find themselves in the Psalms. I’m not sure if this is exactly what is meant, but perhaps it’s a start.
Chanukah
Tonight is the 8th night of the celebration of Chanukah. Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the unveiling of the new temporary home of the Temple Institute’s Temple Menorah. The menorah was created approx. 8 years ago according to the strict regulations given forth in the Torah and other Jewish sources; thus, the menorah is kosher for service in the future 3rd Temple. The location is just off the staircase that leads from the Western Wall to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. (Visit http://www.templeinstitute.org/ for more information regarding it and other vessels for Temple worship.)
I decided to attend this unveiling. True to Israeli culture it didn’t start when stated and as I had arrived early I had time to go and pray at the Kotel (Western Wall). While there my thoughts turned to Chanukah and I was struck by the fact that I was in the country where the miracle that we were commemorating actually took place. And not only was I in the country but the city and I was actually standing a relatively short distance from the actual location of the sanctuary where the temple menorah stood and the miracle occurred. To add to that I had an actual visual of what the menorah looked like as I had just seen it the week before in the Cardo and we were about to rejoice in the progression of the new menorah to its destined location. Oh, that you could hold on to understandings and awe like that for a little longer.
I decided to attend this unveiling. True to Israeli culture it didn’t start when stated and as I had arrived early I had time to go and pray at the Kotel (Western Wall). While there my thoughts turned to Chanukah and I was struck by the fact that I was in the country where the miracle that we were commemorating actually took place. And not only was I in the country but the city and I was actually standing a relatively short distance from the actual location of the sanctuary where the temple menorah stood and the miracle occurred. To add to that I had an actual visual of what the menorah looked like as I had just seen it the week before in the Cardo and we were about to rejoice in the progression of the new menorah to its destined location. Oh, that you could hold on to understandings and awe like that for a little longer.
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