A children's tale about living creatures "created" by rabbis, the golem, have been exploited in films and books. The stories cannot be classified as Jewish folklore, after all Judaism teaches, like Christianity and Islam, that only God can be the Creator and Giver of life. The designation of Jewish folklore belongs with honour to some of the stories in the Bible.
It is possible that the "pseudo-legend" of the Golem of Prague developed from a comment by its Rabbi: "I have a golem working at home." He was using the term as it was found in rabbinical Hebrew, for example in Pirke Avot. It was used as an expression, often offensive, to refer to someone considered "ignorant" or similar adjective. In Modern Israeli Hebrew it is used as an insult. Through history a golem is described as a being under the control of someone who claims "intellectual" power over it.
Today in politics pseudo-intellectuals, demagogues, charlatans, opportunists, con-artists, et al. manipulate others with conspiracy theories. They develop stories from lies to gain power over the minds of voters. The same is done by some religious leaders for financial gain. Their audiences are controlled like the golem of the fiction stories.
The Holy One has given to humanity the ability to think, to analyze carefully, with a critical mind any information we hear. We are empowered with the intellect to explore and do research. In this age of internet technology we have access to respectful and serious scholarly research, even primary sources in digital format (sadly the internet provides access to meaningless stories and lies). Therefore, do not just take for granted that something is true because it was said by a rich person. Take the time to carefully investigate. Do not just seat there thinking that because he or she has some religious title he or she must be right. Let his or her sermons be analyzed carefully. Seek the truth. It was said that knowing the truth will make us free. If we choose to ignore what is truth, then we become ignorant, golem. So, do not be a golem, but seek truth. Continue growing in faith, wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Learn from your rabbis, pastors, priests, et al. asking questions, open to dialogue, with a humble attitude and a desire to be a tzadik. Listen to those running for a public office in government. Encourage them to speak the truth if they really care for the people. Ask your questions, investigate further the subject, with a critical, analytical mind study the arguments from all candidates regardless their political affiliation. We are free to think, to speak, to do what will benefit everyone as a nation. Do not be a golem, be free to think.
Why are some among us in our synagogues doing business to raise funds
on Shabbath? Because the synagogue has developed from a simple place of prayer
and worship, empowering its members to live their faith at home and work and
their communities with acts of love and mercy, to a complex institution. Very expensive buildings that demand so much investment and time. Perhaps, it
is time to return to a simpler way of worship, learning, and being
community: remembering and keeping Shabbat. Honoring this day the Holy One, with our words of praise and our acts of compassion.
Christian Churches have become the competition for local
grocery stores, the restaurant down the street, the social club for youth, to
the point that they stop being a religious institution to become a very complex
agency that release the civil government from their burden, from its responsibility. Taking that burden
in exchange for tax exempt status eventually they are fading away. Although
they as well as all non-profit religious and non-religious institutions should
be tax exempt at all levels of government.
The synagogue seems to follow the same pattern, the same
confusion. Like those churches they will eventually loose members, become
almost bankrupt, and will fade. It cannot be allowed to happen. The Jewish people, as community and as individuals, must be active in caring for humanity. However, we cannot compromise the foundation of our faith. It is this foundation that empowers us to care for humanity. We must honour the Holy One in humble obedience and acts of love and mercy toward all. It can starts with a very small step: remembering and keeping Shabbat.
The Bar Mitzvah celebration, especially the events within
the synagogue, is one of the most beautiful experiences in the life of a Jewish
young man. In Orthodox Judaism, tells me Rabbi Yitzchok Adlertsein, Director of
Interfaith Affairs of the Simon Wiesenthal: Center:
[T]he day wanes in significance as
time goes on... For the Orthodox, the day of the bar-mitzvah is truly a
beginning. The boy will lay tefillin six days a week for the rest of his life,
and participate in hundreds of mitzvot a week, contributing to a life style
considerably more beautiful than a few hours in the synagogue. He'll be called
up to the Torah regularly, not just on "his day."[in other words], it is a gateway experience,
but not a pillar of his connection to Judaism.
The Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and other
“progressive” Jewish movements have included the Bat Mitzvah. An attempt to
recognize the place of women within the life of the community, the synagogue
and the family. My dear friend Rabbi León Klenicki, z”l, who served as the
director of Interfaith Affairs and Co-Liaison to the Vatican for the ADL, wrote
that the Bar Mitzvah was a Jewish adaptation of the Catholic Church celebration
of the First Communion. The time when a Catholic child receives for the first
time the “Sacrament of Eucharist.” In the Bar (Bat) Mitzvah the young man (or
woman) makes a public statement and commitment to the Jewish faith by
receiving, and chanting from, the Torah scroll. There are some different
opinions; however, regardless of the debates, it is not more than a thousand
years old.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations, especially in non-Orthodox
settings, are full of beautiful well-rehearsed speeches, songs, and chanting of
the Parasha, as Moshé Yess, z”l, described in his song David Cohen’s Bar
Mitzvah Day. These are often followed by an extravagant party. Sometimes
parents have saved money for years, probably since the birth of their child,
for this occasion. Sadly, that song asks if it was worth the cost. Because, too
often, it is that day when a Jewish child sees the Rabbi for the last time. It
is regrettable how every so often many young Jewish men and women never return
to the synagogue, except for his or her wedding, for his/her own child’s Bar or
Bat Mitzvah, and eventually for his or her own funeral. Once a while for the
High Holidays.
Parents have a very important responsibility to remind their
children that Jewish life and faith start and go before and beyond the Bat or
Bar Mitzvah. Hebrew schools too often train their students to get ready for the
celebration of this event, but not for a life committed to the Jewish faith.
Just like the school that trains students to pass a test, but fails to empower
him or her with knowledge for the challenges of life and the reality of this world.
Students that can pass a State’s exam, but have not learned anything at all. So
many Jewish children have memorized how to chant the Parasha in Hebrew, but do
not know Hebrew. They can repeat what was taught, but have no understanding
neither the knowledge and much less the wisdom that comes by a commitment to
the Jewish faith and life.
The Synagogue with its Rabbis, regardless of “denomination”
or tradition, have the duty to work, together with Jewish institutions within
the community, in order to preserve more than a culture or a superficial and
shallow concept of Judaism. We must preserve the Jewish faith, the foundation
of our cultures, traditions, and practices. Bar and Bat Mitzvah is meaningless
without a strong religious foundation that leads the child to a life commitment
to the Jewish faith. After all, it is the Jewish faith that has kept the Jewish
people. It is what unites us, regardless of interpretations, and it is that
unity that can overcome antisemitism.
This evening starts Shabbath hagadol, and all day has been the Rroma people international day celebration. Thousands, if not over a million, of Gypsies died in Nazi concentration camps together with millions of people of the Jewish faith and others. The Gypsies, or Rroma people as they call themselves, trace their ancestry to Abraham and Keturah. They are divided into various tribes or communities around the world with different languages or dialects of the rromani language. In Israel/Palestine there are the domari people who speak mainly Arabic and Hebrew. Spain is the home of one of the most well known Gypsy communities called "la raza calé." They speak a language that follows Spanish (castellano) grammar called rromani caló. In the USA and Ibero America there are many other groups, especially from Eastern Europe. These communities speak Romanesh Kalderash among other dialects and languages. In Eastern Europe, as well as in Europe, especially Ukraine, Germany and Russia, they have suffered discrimination. Their suffering is parallel to that of other minorities, like the Jewish people and the Dalits. A Gypsy leader from Indiana told me years ago about the discrimination they suffered travelling through Pennsylvania, especially among the Mennonites. He says that they learned to forgive them. Many Mennonites and Amish people have also searched for ways to find reconciliation. However, organizations of social justice within them, have ignored the suffering of the Gypsies.
We, as members of the Hebrew community and the Jewish faith, must stand in solidarity today with our "half-brethren" (as they refer to themselves). May we be instruments of reconciliation.
The current violence, i.e., war, between Ukraine and Russia, as war always do, is hurting many innocent people. However, there has been an over emphasis on the implications of this war on the Jewish communities. This war is not about the Ukranian Jewish people. They are not the centre, although the media is giving emphasis to it because the claims of Jewish ancestry by Zelenski. What about the Gypsies? What about ethnic Russians? What about the Ukranians? Jews and non-Jewish people are suffering on both sides this insane war. See the excellent reflection on this issue by Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein at https://cross-currents.com/2022/03/09/why-to-shed-tears-for-the-ukraine/
Zelenski appeals to the Jewish people around the world, including Russia. This places Jews in a dangerous situation. Anti-Semitic groups use any excuse to blame Jewish people of any tragedy.
Being Jewish does not make anyone more righteous neither right in everything he or she does. We had very good leaders in ancient Israel and very bad evil ones too. Today we have both good and bad Jewish leaders in Israel and around the world. We do not support someone as a politician just because he or she is Jewish, as antisemitic propaganda claims. If that was the case, Bernie Sanders would have become the President of the USA.
Putin is doing so much wrong in his attempt to do something good for the Russian people in Ukraine. However, the fact that Russia's approach to the conflict with Ukrainia is wrong, does not make Ukraine to be right.
How soon the world have forgotten how Ukrainians were dealing with the Gypsies a few days ago, or with ethnic Russians, Jews, et al. Of course, that's not a reason for war. It is a reason for nations to challenge the racist policy of Ukraine just as they challenge Putin's administration. Today Black African immigrants workers are still suffering discrimination in Ukraine as they try to return home, as well as the Gypsy communities seeking refuge from the war.
The fact that President Vladimir Putin is wrong, doesn't make President Volodymyr Zelenski right. The same way Tevye der Milkhiker told "You are also right" to a third disagreeing person, we can say "you are also wrong" to Zelenski, Putin and the NATO.
Neo Nazi ideologies and power is very real in Ukraine, regardless of a previous Jewish Prime Minister or the current President. Just as the institutionalized racism is present and is a tragic reality in the USA regardless of an African American Irish President. Russia also has its neo Nazism problem and the reality of antisemitism.
One of the worse consequences of this war is how is giving excuses to NATO, especially Germany, to build up their military.
Perhaps, Israel neither the USA have the moral to lecture Putin, as some news writers have said; however, Israel's biblical tradition has so much to teach Putin and Zelenski. If Europe and the USA and Canada would speak as loud as they are now when war crimes are committed in the Middle East, Africa and human rights abuses are done within their own countries, this world would be a different place. Especially since so many of the politicians claim to be people of faith.
If Zelenski is in fact Jewish, he must listen to the words of the Hebrew prophets. If Putin is in fact an Orthodox Christian he should listen to the words of Jesus of Nazareth.
Would it be good to tune into Moskova Radio to listen the Soviet soldiers,
Ukrainians and Russian singing,
instead of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers fighting each other?
Reject evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14-15 (13-14)
I do not think there is anything else to say. Sometimes we say too much and overlook the essence of the proverb or verse. Therefore, just read it and meditate about it, then seek to live according to its message.
The Hulk, a fiction character that illustrates anger. "A man or a moster?"; anger can make you look like a moster, but you are still human. To be inclusive the comic book writers and great artists created a female Hulk; I guess to state that also women can get very angry, although, that one did not look so much as a moster. Maybe an intentional desception to deceive or to show how anger can be as destructive in
something that looks normal as a well planned war with the latest technology as it is in some of the horrible atrocities done by humans against humans. A reasonable scientist becoming an irrational creature, just as anger leads humans to be in war. Regardless of the reason for the development of these characters, anger remains the moster while you are the human who can control it.
The
writer of these words confessed that although he (or she) had trusted or had faith
in (God), perhaps in a moment of
anger rushed to say that all human beings are liars, a lie in itself. Anger
rushes us to say and do things we regret later. Never act or speak in anger.
In the Christian
tradition is taught:ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε· ὁ ἥλιος μὴ ἐπιδυέτω ἐπὶ παροργισμῷ ὑμῶν
(Ephesians 4:26). This is a quote from Psalm 4:4 in the Greek translation known
as Septuagint or LXX. Although the Hebrew text is not exactly the same, the
concept is within the Jewish understanding about human behaviour and what God expects from us. Do not rush to
speak or act in anger. It will always lead to sin.
Acting
or speaking out of anger will lead to hurt others emotionally. Often some of
the major personal to international conflicts have come out of someone’s uncontrolled
anger.
We get
anger when we are hurt. Being hurt or insulted by someone you love; it is more
painful than what an enemy could say or do.
Yes, we
should never let the day goes by and we are still angry. It will hurt you
emotionally and eventually physically, e.g., heart problems. Calm down. Go for
a walk. Sometimes a very long walk can help.
Of
course, forgiveness helps and it is ideal. However, do not keep placing
yourself at the mercy of whoever keeps hurting you and triggering your anger.
Sometimes you have to keep a safe distance from that person, even if it is a
beloved relative. You still love and care for that relative or friend. You
would help in anything you can if able, but you cannot place yourself in circumstances
in which that person could hurt you again with his/her words or behaviour.
Be
honest with the person who hurts you. Let him/her know you were hurt and how.
Keeping inside each and every moment of insults or disrespectful words or
actions will eventually lead to an anger that could get out of control. Do not
let that happen. Search for a mediator if you do not feel safe talking to that
person by yourself. If you find yourself in need of talking with that person,
for example he/she is a coworker, always have someone else present who is able
to help the communication between you and the other person. Misunderstandings
are always a cause for anger.
The
popular saying, attributed to Jesus of Nazareth, “turn the other cheek” is often
misunderstood. It does not mean to let others abuse you. In its context it discourages
the reader or listeners from the use of violence against others. No, you do not have to let anyone humiliate you
over and over again. You can simply move away peacefully and keep a safe
distance.
If you
do have an anger problem, simple incidents are taken out of proportion and you
get easily irritated, then seek professional help. Take time for meditation,
reflection, conversation with your Rabbi, Priest, Pastor, or Imam, or religious
spiritual leader of your community of faith.
We all
get angry in life, at least once. We all can manage our anger and prevent it
from overwhelming us by causing emotional or physical harm to ourselves (again,
heart failures at times are caused by anger). Anger hurts more the person who
is angry than the person that you got angry about. So, calm down! Relax. Go for a walk.
At a Sunni Muslim site,
called Qur’an
Explorer, an excellent statement on anger was posted:
“Anger is one of the worst things considered in Islam. Islam
teaches love; to make bonds, to form relationships, to be positive, to not
degrade someone, to not insult someone, to avoid each and every word that hurts
the people and their self-esteem. Islam teaches the humanity better than any
religion and this is why Islam discourages anger because anger destroys
relationships and creates distances in people. It not only effects other people
but it also effects the health of angry person as well.”
Those who spend in ease
and adversity, and suppress their anger, and excuse [the faults of] the people,
and God loves the virtuous.
Quran, 42:37, 3:134
Regardless if you are Jewish,
Christian, or Muslim or affiliated to any other faith tradition, anger does not
discriminate due to religious affiliation. Do not let anger rule and ruin your
life. Calm down. Go for a walk. Rest. Relax. Trust the Almighty, who can give
you strength to control and overcome anger.
Conside our tradition on דן לכף זכות give the benefit of the doubt to whoever got you angry. He/she probably had a difficult time, a bad day, some other conflicts at home. In Pirke Avot 1:6 we read:
Judaism is not an ethnic
religion. To be Jewish is not about belonging to any specific ethnic group,
regardless that in the USA for legal reasons it is both. Judaism is the
biblical faith, although today with the Rabbinical touch (commentaries and
interpretations on how to practice it – Some Jewish scholars would argue modern
Judaism is an “invention” of the Rabbis). Its origins go back to an ancient
nation called Israel, later divided between Israel and Judah; Judah becoming
the centre of the faith, i.e., Jerusalem, hence the adjective Jew or Jewish.
However, Judaism or should we say, the faith of the Hebrew prophets, was
intended to be the faith for every nation. Just as the house of worship in
Judaism is for all nations. Even in the ancient days, Israel/Judah had their
origins within many ethnic groups that came out of Egypt with the children of
Jacob and the Hebrew-Egyptian children of Joseph. Today the diversity is
greater. Tragically, even in some synagogues Jewish people refer to Judaism as
an ethnic religion and about themselves as being “white.” This follows the
politically motivated definition of “white” in the USA which includes Northern
Africa’s communities of Arabs, Egyptian, and Jewish descendants regardless
of the colour of the skin.
The Nazis erred by classifying
the Jewish people as a "race," adding that we were of a lower "race." Then placing the yellow star on their clothes to identify this "lower race." The labels and insults were not just with words, now with an actual label. Racism was not the only issue, after all there were many people from
German ancestry who were part of the Jewish faith and suffered the tragic crime
of the Holocaust.
The Nazis persecuted German people from many other religious and
ethnic groups. They sent to forced labour camps German members of the Watchtower,
especially because they opposed military service. The Gypsies (Romani people)
were also victimized due to their ethnic origins and traditions. German homosexuals
were also discriminated and sent to die. There were people, regardless of ethnicity, who suffered
under the Nazi regime due to mental health or physical limitations. However, it
seems that the Nazis made the Jewish people, either for religious, economical
or race reasons, or all of the above, the main target of their racist campaign. A good resource on
antisemitism per se is the booklet A
Brief History of Antisemitism by the ADL. Another article is Antisemtism
in American History. It shows the growing racism and prejudice against the Jewish
people in the USA, regardless of the romanticizing of USA history by (a great
teacher) Rabbi Meir Soloveichik (currently serving as the Rabbi of the oldest Spanish
Portuguese Synagogue in Manhattan). Another important organization fighting antisemitism and other type of ethnic discrimination is the Simon Wiesenthal Center. They also have excellent resources on this important topic.
Louis Harap wrote in Creative Awakening The Jewish Presence in Twentieth-century American Literature, 1900-1940s (page 24), the following:
Anti-Semitism can be religious (Jew as Christ-killer), economic (Jew as banker, usurer, money-obsessed), social (Jew as social inferior, "pushy," vulgar, therefore excluded from personal contact), racist (Jews as an inferior "race"), ideological (Jew regarded as subversive or revolutionary), or cultural (or as undermining the moral and structural fiber of civilization). It can be an inchoate feeling, a mindless repetition of anti-Jewish verbal cliches and locutions, which we might call "folk anti-Semitism," or it may be an articulated system of ideas that rationalizes the particular variety of anti-Semitism entertained. Very often one resorts to several contradictory types at one.
Racist antisemitism, within all its forms, seems to be the main
reason for the Holocaust suffered by the Jewish people. Jonathan Greenblatt,
of the ADL, is correct in his answer to a comment by Whoopi Goldberg, said: “There’s no
question that the Holocaust was about race. That’s how the Nazis saw it as they
perpetrated the systematic annihilation of the Jewish people across continents,
across countries.” However, let us take out “instead” from the comments by
Goldberg and we must agree with her, a member of the Jewish faith by confession
and practice as she stated in earlier interviews (I do not know if that have changed), that the Holocaust was also “about man’s inhumanity to man.” The crimes of
the Holocaust, as well as the Inquisition, and many other type and forms of
persecution of the Jewish people, either targeting them as an ethnic community
or a religious group, must be prevented from ever happening again against
anyone, Jews and non-Jews.
Whoopi Goldberg's comment do raise questions we need to answer to ourselves. It is
understandable when some African Americans, even some members of the Jewish faith, see the
horrible persecution of Jewish people by the Nazis as a power struggle within
the "white" people. That's if they are just looking at the colour of the skin of the Jews of
Germany and Poland who look more like the Germans than Middle Eastern
communities. The impression some African American get is that these Jewish people were part of this German "white race" too. They get the idea that these Jewish communities were discriminated as Irish Travellers are discriminated by other Irish who seem them as inferior. Of course, Nazis saw it differently. Their racist views saw Jewish
people no just as an inferior "race" but also as evil and completely outside of the so called "white race." Their antisemitism was also
religious anti Judaism, political and cultural etc. Either way the Holocaust
suffered by Jews, Gypsies, Gays, Conscientious Objectors, and others was one of
the most horrible war crimes modern times witnessed.
Whoopi
Goldberg has her freedom to interpret events and express her opinion. The
censorship and discipline imposed on her just feed the lies of the "white
supremacists" in the USA who claim that the Jewish people control the media
system. Obviously it is not a fact.
African
Americans have asked why the Holocaust against black Africans and Native
Americans is not remembered internationally with the same respect and lament. They
have a good question. These tragic evil events must be remembered with the same respect so they never
happen again. NEVER AGAIN!
In the following music video one
of the most beautiful songs in Hebrew is performed. Sadly, the images misrepresent
the Jewish people and perpetuate ethnic and religious prejudices within our own
communities. In the video there are only so called “white” Jews. No Jewish
person with darker skin from Sephardic, Mizrachi, and descendants of Ethiopian Beta
Israel are included. Much less the Chinese Jews or the African American Jewish
communities. Reform, Conservative (Masorti), Reconstructionist, or any member
of another Jewish denomination, except Orthodox are included. Surprisingly a secular Israeli
is included, just as an invitation attempting to reach out to this fast-growing
segment, perhaps the majority, in modern Israeli society. No all Jews speak Yiddish. Some speak Aramaic, others Arabic or the Judaeo-Arabic dialect. There are those who speak Spanish (castellano) or the modern dialect developed from XV Century castellano called Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish), a language in its own merits. Modern Israeli Hebrew is becoming a common language, although there are also political diversities within the Jewish communities in Israel and outside it. A diversity some "extremists" within the Jewish and Israeli communities do not welcome. Antisemitism is growing even within Israel among some Israeli citizens, not just among the communities called Palestinians. White supremacist views are held by some in Tel Aviv. Confusing? Who says that racism is not a confusion of the mind that forgets the humanity of everyone?
While we must work
against antisemitism, we must also work against racism within our own
communities; against the prejudices of Jews against other Jewish people, or against
others outside the Jewish faith. We must become antiracist communities if we
want to overcome antisemitism. Our temples, synagogues, must become a House of
Worship for All Nations.
During times of depression, I encourage you to ask someone to read from the Books of Psalms. Of course, avoid reading or listening those imprecatory ones, which probably would add anger to your depression. Read selectively from the words that would inspire you to sing again. There is hope, because there is still a little faith in you; empowered by love.
May the hope of this writer (Psalm 91:15-16) give you also strength for tomorrow:
Here is a beautiful interpretation of segments of Psalm 91 by a singing group from a Christian tradition, Seventh Day Adventists. One of the few evangelical groups that consider the Divine Instruction to be relevant in their own religious tradition. The song is in castellano. Including this recording here does not imply agreement with some of their theological Christian views.
And if the vessel he was making was spoiled, as happens to clay in the potter’s hands,he would make it into another vessel, such as the potter saw fit to make.
O House of Israel, can I not deal with you like this potter?—says the LORD. Just like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in my hands, O House of Israel!
The Almighty with kindness and patience formed the ancient nation of Israel. Many times instead of destroying it due to its sin as a nation, Israel (and Judah) was formed over and over again, until becoming the reflection of the beauty intended. Although these words of judgement and hope were specifically to the ancient nation of Israel, its principles have implications for everyone. The LORD has patience with each one of us, as our character is formed, developed into a perfect work of art by the Great Artesian. An Artesian that seems so far, who transcends our universe and existence. However, perhaps closer to the work of his hands more than we may realize it.
The same way, we can follow this great example of patience and produce some of the most beautiful items or events in our lives and the lives of others. Do not give up, just start over again.
In the following this artist's patience produced some of the most beautiful pieces from clay. It is a little long; however, take the time to think about your own life as you enjoy watching the talent and amazing pieces of art that comes from the hands of this potter.
A few years ago, in the early 1990’s, HBO and Disney produced a series of
adaptations of classical fairytales and other stories by European writers to
African American, Asian and Hispanic contexts. I wrote to Disney at the time,
complaining and sharing some idea. In reply I got their lawyer’s letter stating
that they were returning the letter because it included original ideas.
Perhaps, if they used any of the ideas, they thought I could claim some
payment, which I did not think of it. Maybe I should have proposed a business
deal. Why I did not think of it? Probably because I was thinking of the ethical
issues instead of the profit.One of
these days I should start thinking about profit too.
My complain was about appropriation of classical work by
European writers, when African Americans, African nations, Asians, and
Hispanics have a great and rich collection of their own stories, legends and
fairytales. There was not need to change the characters of Andersen’s from “white”
to darker skins people in another culture. Especially when the story does not
feet at all the realities of these communities. However, I should mention that
some of the stories by some of these writers were adaptations to their own
communities of stories from other European nations. One example is the Emperor’s
New Clothes (Kejserens nye klæder) by Christian Hans Andersen. The
original story is found in the Spanish classic Libro de los ejemplos del
conde Lucanor y de Patronio (tale numer 32) from 1335 Spain by Don Juan Manuel. The author was also drawing
from tales and stories of Muslim Spain, India, Greece and other Arabic speaking
nations. However, differently from Disney’s versions, the writer left the
stories as they were found, except for the translations or an adaptation to
their own culture, not to someone else’s culture.
There have also been films in which “minority” actors or actresses
have sold themselves for a few dollars to portray negatively a fictitious
character, for an example someone from an Arab country or Greek. Take the film Zorba
the Greek or the opera Carmen. These make woman very low characters
and abused justifying their death and the apathy of the community. Although,
the writer’s intent may have been different, the outcome of these work on the
screen portrays the female very negative. Tragically in the days of the story Greece,
Crete, Spain, and other nations had laws that granted justification to man for
violence against women or prevented proper prosecution of the perpetrators. In
other cases, women are the villains as it was often in Disney’s earliest
cartoons. To rescue them a new series of ridiculous films have been produced to
justify or clarify why these poor villains became so evil.
My advice to Disney et al. was to carefully research stories
and legends from Africa, Ibero America, native and first nations communities,
and Asia. They would find stories that they could present in animation or a
film with actresses and actors from those nations or ethnic groups. To attempt the pseudo contextualization of
European tales to “minority” communities, is condescending and one of the worse
patronizing insults. Just as a “white” man playing a black or Native American
person instead of hiring actors from those communities. This does not happen
often as it did years ago. Nevertheless,
it can still be found in animation, when “white” voice actors and actresses imitate
stereotypical voices of black or Hispanic characters. That seems to be the case
of the Wild Kratts in PBS.
There is a place to adopt ways other cultures dress or how
they play music, as long as it is done with respect and mutual agreement and
understanding. Today there is no much difference of the way a professional
business man dresses regardless of ethnicity (often reflecting whoever is the
majority in that country). However, most of the time, the borrower or thief of
cultures and someone else’s legends is a naked self-deceived emperor and
exposed by a child.
Since the original story is not on film, as far as I know, here
is Andersen’s adaptation of one of the story in Libro de los ejemplos
del conde Lucanor y de Patronio which he titled Kejserens nye klæder. The work of Don Juan Manuel can be heard in castellano at https://youtu.be/bDbN2WPvaxI and Cuento 32 can be read at http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra-visor/el-conde-lucanor--0/html/00052e2a-82b2-11df-acc7-002185ce6064_2.html#I_35_
There is so much we can learn from this short tale:
Through history many different groups struggled for equality
and freedom. They have stood against all type of oppression and discrimination,
either ethnic or religious ones. However, when we look at these events we
cannot avoid to ask: Were they struggling for freedom and equality or for power
and money?
In South Africa one of the worse racist systems was called
apartheid. It set limits to the life and “freedom” of non “white.” This system caused some great injustices
against minority as well as “majority” ethnic groups. Eventually Frederik W. de
Klerk and Nelson Mandela dismantled the apartheid system. Instead of freedom
and equality, some groups on both sides of the so called “white” Africans and
the black Africans have sieged power and money. This is leading the nation’s
government into corruption, as it happened in other African nations. The dreams
about equality and freedom have not become a reality yet, except power and
money for a few black leaders. In Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz together with various other
leaders overcame the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar. This brought
a time of freedom, but eventually led the Castro family to siege power. Fidel’s
mistake was to dogmatize Marxism instead of seeing it as part of an
interpretation and a developing, evolving, ideology of economy. A greater error
was to allow the development a government controlled by families. In that
sense, no too much difference from the previous government. Similarly, the
former Soviet Union, after the victory over the Zar and his dictatorial system
by the Bolshevik and allies, allowed the development of administrations like
that of Joseph Stalin. No, communism cannot be blamed for it, much less
Marxism. Socialists within the Soviet Union as well as in Cuba, and around the
world raised questions and opposition to any type of oligarchy. just as Democracy in the USA cannot be blamed for the power games of its politicians from left or right. When would there be a politician who wants the power to serve the people instead of himself or herself and closest friends?
Classic historical revolutionary events had similar outcomes. Simón Bolívar
y Ponte fought against the Spanish Empire through South America. While he is
praised as a hero of freedom, his fighting empowered more the new aristocracy
of Ibero America. In North America, over a century earlier, the 13 English Colonies
declared independence from England. In their declaration and constitution, they
spoke of equality and freedom, even about something as abstract as the pursue
of happiness. Obviously, their struggle was not for true freedom, rather to
empower the already powerful with freedom from the more powerful King. They
never thought of the slaves, except for a few comments by Thomas Jefferson,
neither about the “first” nations or Native people. They became expansionists
and colonizers invading land where Spanish nations were already settled for
centuries and Native people territories. Of course, many Spanish and French
were guilty of the same crimes. The encounter of the Spanish and the Native
people of the Caribbean region in 1492 and 1493 brought so much good, but also
developed into so much evil. The Civil
War in the USA was supposedly for the freedom of the African slaves and the
abolishment of all type of slavery. However, like in South Africa, racism and
all type of ethnic prejudices are still embedded deep into the political system
of these nations. In 1898 the USA got involved in the Hispanic American War,
the struggle for independence of the Spanish colonies from Spain. That led to
the USA colonizing Cuba, Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico. The last remaining
a colonial territory until this day.
In religious circles some people speak of freedom, but often
it is an excuse to avoid obedience to the divine instructions. There are those
in Christianity advocating for the Gospel vs. the Law. The Conservative
evangelicals vs. the Liberal evangelicals, often to avoid their social justice responsibilities.
Nevertheless, there is the fundamentalism of liberalism that do not consider
other views to be valid and accurate, unless they meet their interest. No too much
different from conservative views in religion and politics. In Judaism some
Reform have developed a Rabbinical tradition that replaced the Orthodox
Rabbinical tradition. Just as Karaites rejects Rabbinical tradition for their
own. Orthodox redefined Judaism creating fences after fences that eventually
made the beauty and freedom of Judaism and the Torah something unbearable. Christianity
rejects often the “Laws” of the “Old Testament” while developing their own
canon of laws, at times “stricter” than those from the Hebrew Bible; in popular
religion or the organized institutions, like some Pentecostals, a system of
senseless requirements. Again, the power of tradition.
Christians were a persecuted minority within the Roman
empire, a sect of First Temple Judaism, eventually becoming no the liberator
but the oppressive power of the Roman Empire. Through Europe, centuries later, nations
would adopt some type of Christianity as the State Religion, becoming persecutors
of those who may disagree. They became powerful and wealthy, free from the
Roman Catholic Church to oppress others, as Luther did against the Jews and
Anabaptists.
Then, what is true freedom and equality? Is this ever
possible? The French proudly have their revolutionary slogan: Liberté, Égalité,
Fraternité. These words have become the motto of many people struggling for
freedom and equality. No, I am not a pessimist. Many good things happened due
to all the events I listed above. However, something went wrong. Perhaps, the order
in the slogan that in one form or another was in the minds of people long time
before the French revolution, needed to change to: Fraternité, Égalité, Liberté.
Seeing each other as true brethren and sisters, as equal is the way to lead
into freedom. It is the way to avoid that a few anywhere in the world will
control the power and money and become the new oppressors. It is not the left neither the right, it is human selfishness.
In the modern State of Israel there is still conflicts and struggles
for freedom and equality. This is happening within the people called today as Palestinians
as well as among all Israeli citizens, including Jews, but especially the Domari
people (the Gypsies of the Middle East). Some administrations of the Israeli
government have been good while others have been horribly bad, just as we had “good”
kings and bad kings in ancient Israel and Judah. Today is not that much
difference, regardless of the romanticism of some politicians and even Rabbis,
and the Evangelical Christian right-wing preachers around the world. This
tragic reality is happening even among Palestinians in the territories under
their administration.
Fraternité is the fundamental part to build a true
society of equality and freedom. A society where chauvinists still are powerful
or where feminists reject any male leadership, or where “minorities” become powerful
oppressive “majority,” that is not freedom, neither equality. It is just the
recycling of the same human selfishness and narcissist tendencies. again, we must remeber the words from the Psalm (133:1):
The hope for true freedom and equality was expressed during
the Franco’s dictatorship in Spain by Waldo de los Ríos and interpreted Miguel
Ríos, in the song Himno a la Alegría. The lyrics they gave to Beethoven’s
Ode to Joy (last part or movement of the 9th symphony, music written
for the original work of Friedrich Schiller). The song starts by addressing the listeners as
“hermano” (hermana is implied). It starts on the right direction,
Fraternité. Miguel Ríos interpreted this song at a concert of RTVE against the
wishes of the dictadura franquista.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Jorge (George) Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana y Borrás, wrote in The Life of Reason, 1905
“One thing I know as an historian: every previous pandemic
has ended”: wrote a friend in an e-mail.These words should be on the front pages of the newspapers. In Spanish there is a popular
saying: “No hay mal que dure cien años ni cuerpo que lo resista.” However,
there is hope that evil or illnesses will be overcome. It may take another year
or even seven more years for this pandemic to be under control or over, but it
will come to an end. Tragically until it is over, so many people have suffered
this horrible illness or have lost their lives. The worse part of this story is
that it could have been prevented if was not for the arrogance and political
games of a few demagogues around the world. Politicians that all they care is
about their ratings, hence their popularity. Self-worshiping narcissists. This
type of mental illness is as bad as the current pandemic. It empowered the epidemic
to become a pandemic. Just as their narcissism led them to become demagogues
and dictators (not in the technical Roman sense, but in the worse practical
way).
After every storm there is a beautiful shining day, although
a lot of work to recover. Nevertheless, there is hope, there is the strength
and resiliency to live and make a better future for the next generations. Germany survived the horrible experience of
one of the worse dictatorships. Japan did not let the horrible tragedy of the
war crime against Hiroshima and Nagasaki stop them. London was rebuilt.
Manhattan did not let stop its people from striving for a better NY after
September 11th terrorist attacks. Palestinians and Israelis are
striving to build a better life for everyone, regardless of their politicians’
power games. African Americans and other “minority” ethnic groups in the USA
are becoming all they can be regardless of systematic institutionalized racism.
The Jewish people strived for the best
out of the suffering and ashes of the Inquisition and the Holocaust. Racism,
antisemitism, bigotry, prejudices, ignorant and arrogant politicians, neither
this pandemic will stop humanity to live as a reflection of the image of the
character of its Creator. There is hope. Regardless of what anyone else says,
there are good people in this world. There is still love and compassion. There
are still many more beautiful songs to write and sing. There is still many more
great paintings and sculptures to be done and bring beauty to overcome the
ugliness of the pseudo contemporary art. There are more people who want peace
than war. There are many more peaceful homes than homes where domestic violence
is worse than the pandemic. There is hope for changes in those homes that are
suffering domestic violence. So, do not give up. Never surrender. There is
hope. It will be over soon. Needless to say, do not just seat there to wait for
change. It is time for action. Time to be an instrument of change. Follow
health guidelines to protect yourself and others. Vote for candidates who are
in fact people who care and have the knowledge and commitment to serve your
communities. Learn, study, understand, acquire knowledge, become wise, full of
understanding for your sake and the future of your own children and others. Do everything
in your power to contribute to a better future and what you cannot accomplish the
next generation will take care of it. However, set a good foundation.
The Holy One of Israel, through the prophets, promised a new
earth, a new world full of justice, peace, free from illness, free from pain
and sorrows. It is up to us to see that new world. We must build that new world
today as instruments of the Creator.
In 1492 there was a new world “discovered.” An unknown world
for the Europeans. The native communities encountered another civilization.
What a beautiful day when nations so apart from each other encountered each
other, discovered each other, found each other. What a beautiful future was
ahead. Suddenly all those dreams were destroyed by selfishness, envy, hunger
for power, racism, prejudices, religious bigotry, and so much evil. We should
not let that happen again. Only unselfish attitudes and a commitment to find the
best for everyone can overcome the evil in this world, illness, wars and all
the ugliness of violence and poverty. Selfishness will hinder the creation of a
new society. Pessimism and the low view on the human nature is only another stumble
toward a better humanity. We can do better than our ancestors, who tried their
best and better than those who did not care enough. Do not give up, the storm
will be over soon.
You are blessed if you
have friends. I mean real friends. Those who call you in time of joy as well as
in moments of sorrow, or illness. They remember you and have done all they are
able to stay in touch with you. Now with all the technology at our hands, it is
easier to stay in communication with friends. I am talking about true
friendship, not the Facebook or any other social media popularity contest
friendship. Real friends, people you know since childhood or became friends as
adults. Those who you know their names, family, joys and sadness. Those who
laugh with you and you rejoice with them. The kind that will cry with you and
you will feel their pain too. The ones that their love for you move them to forgive
an unintended offense. The friend you will quickly forgive and tell him when
you feel hurt.
Often, those friends are
found outside the family. Very few people find their friends among their
siblings and even less within their own parents. There are those who would
never consider some of their siblings or parents to be friends if they were not
related. Obviously, we do not choose our relatives. You are born within that
family. A mystery of human existence: to be born and born within a specific
family. Sometimes people wish they would have been born somewhere else or not
born at all. However, the reality is you are here. So, choose your friends carefully.
Menandros (Μένανδρος) wrote: μη πλανασθε
φθειρουσιν ηθη χρηστα ομιλιαι κακαι.
There
the LORD ordained blessing, everlasting life.
Psalm
133:1, 3
Unity
must go beyond cultural differences (Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, Falasha), national origin (Spain, Portugal, Turkia, Germany, Russia, Ethiopia), religious traditions (liberal or traditional), political views (Likud, Avodah, Mapam, Republican, Libertarian, Democrat, Comunist, Socialist, Social-Democrat), theological interpretations,
and denominational affiliations (Orthodox, Conservative/Masorti, Reform/Progressive,
Reconstructionist, Hasidic with all its branches, Karaite, Samaritan). To be a People, One People,
in unity does not require to dress the same way, speak the same language
(Ladino/Spanish, Yiddish/German, Hebrew, Judaeo-Arabic, Judaeo-Farsi, Aramaic),
or attend the same synagogue/temple.
When
an act of antisemitism is experienced by one group, the cultural or religious
differences are forgotten (there is always a few that will hold to those
differences even if it cost the destruction of the Nation). Why a tragedy must
happen to be inclusive of Jews who otherwise are not consider to be Jews? Jews in
the ethnic sense, children of Israel, or Jewish in the religious sense.
Others
make emphasis on Jewishness as a religious status. Yes, there are Jewish people
who identify themselves as such due to their affiliation with the Jewish faith
regardless of denomination. Some were born within a Jewish family (observants
or not) while others joined by conversion (gerut) and conviction. However, there are those who are secular, but
identify themselves as culturally Jewish or as ethnic Jews. The old question,
who is a Jew? In the religious sense no everyone who claim to be Jewish is a Jew, but he/she is still part of the People.
Let’s
set aside that question. The question is who is a human? The unity of the
Jewish people depends on the unity of humanity. In our faith we recognize every
human being to be a creation of the Almighty. We, Jews and non-Jews, belong to
the same humanity. To strive for the unity of the Children of Israel is to work
toward the unity of humanity.
The
presence of God is where there is unity and unity brings the blessings of the
Almighty. Contrary to it, “do not look, it is so ugly and unpleasant when
brethren and sisters live in disunity; there, is a curse and death.” God is not
present at all.
The
Unity of humanity is the hope for the Jewish people and the whole world. It is
the hope of peace. The unity of the jewish people is the Light of the World.
If
your enemy (MT ketiv: אויביךyour enemies) falls, do not exult; If he trips, let your heart not rejoice.
True
heroes change enemies into friends, it was said. The death of an enemy must be
lamented. During the seder of a Pesach celebration many years ago, the Rabbi
paused during the reading of the plagues list: “This is a time to mourn for the
people of Egypt.”
In
Christian writings Jesus of Nazareth is attributed the proverb: “Love your
enemies.” A profound statement we should admit. After Anwar el Sadat and
Menahem Begin signed the peace accords a group of Israelis marched saying: “What
they need is love.” Peace accords without “love” (for example mutual respect)
is not peace at all. Love is the power that can change how we respond to the
enemy. Islamic thinkers have often argued that the same way God (Allah) is full of compassion and mercy, so every Muslim should be toward others.
The
horrible stories of warriors and violence in our Sacred Writings, even praised
as heroes in the Christian writings (Hebrews 11:34), cannot set the norm for who
we are today and how to respond to the enemy. The Prophets vision of a world of peace is our goal. The understanding of a God who
created every human being and loves humanity, is enough for us to seek true
peaceful solution to conflicts instead of rushing to the use of violence.
Let us build the world on the foundation of the Divine Instruction found within the Torah (and other sacred books), and honouring God by showing compassion to humanity.
‘Now then, if you will indeed accept my instruction, and keep my covenant which I made with the Patriarchs, then you shall be my chosen treasure from among all the nations: for all the earth is mine, but you alone have I chosen to be a light to the nations.
I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and kept you, and set you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nations;
I am the LORD, that is my name; and my honour will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah 42:1-8
The Almighty selected among the nations the smallest of all, to liberate them from slavery and all type of injustice: the children of Israel. The history of Israel is not unique. God had done this before. The prophet Amos (9:7) wrote that the Holy One of Israel liberated earlier “the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir.” Israel was not the only one the Eternal brought to freedom. The complete records of the experiences of these two nations have not been preserved as ancient Israel held to its documents. We do not know what happened to these two other nations and why, by the time Israel enter the Land, these nations were far from anything that could describe them as People of God. Perhaps, they failed to be a Light to the Nations.
The purpose of election was to make a covenant people that would become a Light to the Nations. A people empowered by the Spirit of God (cf. Isaiah 61) to be instruments of justice. A humble nation that loves mercy (cf. Micah 6:8). Israel was not chosen to become an ethnocentric and exclusive religious group, rather a people that with words and actions proclaim liberty through the land (no just at the special time of Jubilee, Leviticus 25:10). A nation called to be a Light wherever we are and whatever we do, as workers in factories, as owners of factories, as staff in an organization or a member of its board, as citizens casting their ballots or as the politicians, as members of the community of faith or the secular society (yes, being secular is not an excuse to be an instrument of peace, mercy, justice, love, compassion, and freedom). We have a responsibility as a people and as individuals. Seeking the best for the other, including health. The priest Jeremiah (29:7) said:
