In
the 1960s was popular to hear songs that encouraged us to think and reflect
about life. The Logical Song by Roger Hodgson, which reflected its authors
personal experience, included these words:
There are times when all the world's
asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?
I know it sounds absurd
Please tell me who I am
Everyone
at one time or another had a similar experience: thoughts and questions for
which we cannot figure out the answers. One night while thinking on questions
beyond my understanding, too deep for a simple mind, I decided to explore and
test some of the latest and best Artificial Intelligence applications. I wrote
in this “Conversation with AI” that I was a highly developed AI created by a
developer, an intelligent designer, far from planet Earth. The six or seven
applications I tested received the exact same text. One took my statements as a
possible fact. Therefore, asked scientific questions and enquired about the
other planet, etc. It took for granted that both life similar to human form and
extremely advanced AI was real in another galaxy. However, one of the
applications simply replied: “Have you shared this with a Mental Health
Professional?” I think that one passed the test. I will not list which ones
were tested, since I am not an expert on the subject. Nevertheless, contrary to
the argument of the experts on AI, this human creation will never know more than
a human being.It will have more data
and may be able to analyze more complex texts etc. But will never match the
human brain. After all, it will always be a human providing the data,
algorithms, updates, and developing its language. It may be able to win every
chess game, but what difference would that make to stop human violence, hatred,
genocides, injustice and so many social problems? Yes, scientists have
developed through the use of AI and other great technology, ways to deal with
illnesses and developed surgical tools that have been a great blessing.
Hopefully they will continue that track. Tragically some are already proposing
ways to use or misuse AI for the developing of weapons. It is already misused
by students in the academic world, when it can be properly used in scholarly
research. Something many are doing. That is another subject for another time in
a different context.
Let
us go back to Hodgson’s song. In his Logical Song there is embedded the logical
question: “Who am I?” Here is my brief answer in a “poem.” No, I am not a poet,
but conveniently I am taking some poetic license. Therefore, I wrote:
You
are a wonderful and perfect creation;
of
the Heavenly Father, you are a child,
of
the One who cares for us,
like
a Mother loves her daughters and sons
I
thank you L_d for creating us,
Humans
made in your image
To
love and care for each other
To
honour you with words and actions
Too
often, we stumble and fail,
Although
full of good intentions.
When
it seems there is no reason to live
Your
love empowers me to believe.
In a
world so full of sorrow
Believe
that there is still hope
In
times overwhelmed with doubts
Believe
that there is still faith
In
times of so much hate
Believe
that there is still love, and love is what is all about
Prayer is not a legend, but answer to prayer makes legends
A lesson from the Me'am Lo'ez
There
are many legends about the Prophet Elijah. These
are considered “sacred” stories by Jewish, Christians and Muslims, et al. One
of these stories is found in the Me’am Lo’ez (מעם לועז). The Me’am Lo’ez is a
series of Rabbinical anthologies started by Rabbi Yaakovo Khulí and published
in 1730. He wrote these commentaries in castellano, specifically in what some scholars
call djudeo-espanyol or ladino. It is mainly “old” Castilian Spanish, with some
Turkish, Hebrew and Arabic, etc., written in Hebrew script called solitreo. The
printed text often uses the Asyrian Hebrew alphabet called Rashí, because it is
the script of the biblical commentaries by Rashí (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki).
Today there are editions of the
Me’am Lo’ez in modern Spanish, English, Turkish, French, and Hebrew. During a
conversation with Yitzchak Navón, z”l, and Moshé Shaúl, z”l, in November
of 1999, they mentioned the plans to reprint the complete set of the Me’am
Lo’ez in ladino, with Rashí font. Years ago, Pascual Recuero published a few
volumes transliterating it with Roman Spanish characters and phonemes. Due to
the diversity in the Spanish and the languages spoken today by the Sephardi
people, when the Me’am Lo’ez is transliterated, the spelling may follow Turkish,
Arabic, Portuguese, or Modern Castellano. The journal Akí Yerushalayim follows
a phonetic system (artificially) developed by its staff and adopted by many
students of this dialect, instead of using the Spanish phoneme used in the
Middle Age or today in Modern Spanish. They should follow the way it was done in
the great collection of ladino books by Moshé Lazar, z”l.
This phonetic system attempts to
provide a common way to transcribe with Roman characters the text of the ladino
literature written with the Rashí script or solitreo cursive so any speaker of
ladino could read and understand. Must clarify that although Arabic was the
common language of the Sephardi communities, old Spanish, e.g.,
castellano-leonés, became a common language after the “Reconquista,” Portuguese
was also common among Sephardi Jews then and in Modern times, e.g., Brazil and
New Amsterdam (today NYC). Nevertheless, this transcribing system has been very
useful in some contexts, especially where Spanish or Old Castilian spelling has
been lost and replaced by solitreo. Perhaps, would be better to keep it in
Rashí script or solitreo, which would allow “all” ladino readers to understand
it (regardless of how they may pronounce it).
The legend in the Me’am Lo’ez tells
us that Elijah, after encountering the hospitality of a couple, he was moved to
compassion toward them. Therefore, he asked them to pray for whatever they
wanted and it would be given to them after he returns. The couple started to
consider the options. The wife suggested that the husband ask for his vision.
The husband thought that why have his vision when he would see the poverty, in
which they were living. So, they thought about a child. Again, they concluded
that why bring a child to live in poverty and one who the husband would not be
able to see. So, they thought about wealth. But, why have wealth without a
child to inherit it! After a few days Elijah arrived and asked them for their
request. The husband replied: “I want to see my son eating from a plate of
gold.” Their request was granted.
This story is used to teach us to pray
with wisdom and compassion: full of Love toward G_sd and humanity.
Traditionally, we pray three times per
day. Our prayer book, the Siddur, is a guide. Through centuries poets, Rabbis,
et al. added many beautiful prayers from which we can select or write our own
or simply pray from our heart. There are those who prefer to simply read the
prayers from a specific siddur in Hebrew and Aramaic. Aramaic was the
vernacular centuries ago and somehow became the common language of prayer.
Today some siddur editions are in Modern Hebrew only while others include the
Rabbinical Hebrew and Aramaic texts with translations into the vernacular
language of the reader. In the Reform movement the vernacular language was
preferred. An idea that follows a debate from the Talmud (cf. Talmud Yerushalmi,
Sotah 7:1). In my view: You should understand what you pray. Let us keep
learning Hebrew and Aramaic. It is a beautiful tradition to keep these
languages in our liturgy; however, let us be sure we know what we say and have
a clear understanding of our prayers.
When we pray, we must be Conscious of the Presence of G_d:
Rabbi Eliezer (Talmud Bavli, Berakhot
28b 7) taught: “When you pray, know before whom you stand.” Reverence toward
G_d must always be present during the time of prayer.
Commonly it is said that prayer
replaces sacrifices. Prayer has always been part of our faith, long time before
the Temple or sacrifices. G_d never asked for sacrifices neither for a Temple,
according to Jeremiah and Isaiah. But since a Temple was built, it became a
House of Prayer for All Nations cf. Isaiah
Prayer of repentance and for peace
is central to Jewish prayer, faith, teachings and actions. Let us be a people of love and compassion, a people of peace. Praying
empowers us with love for G_d and humanity
Peace is possible. Perhaps, one of the first steps toward
understanding a conflict and those involved in it, is by identifying the
people. Who are the Palestinians and the Israelis? The Palestinians are not the
same as the Philistines of ancient times. The Israelis are neither the ancient
Hebrews nor Israelites. They have not been in conflict for 3,000 years. However,
both Israelis and Palestinians share, indirectly and in some cases directly, a
cultural, linguistic, religious and ethnic heritage.
No all Palestinians are Muslims or Arabs. A large number, at
times full neighborhoods and towns are Christians. Many are descendants
of Sephardic Jews who converted to Islam or Christianity during the Ottoman
Empire or hundreds of years, if not thousands, before it. They are also of many
ethnic origins. Many are Domari people (rroma nation/Gypsies), often ignored by
the world and by both the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority. Samaritans (who
are descendants of Joseph according to their stories and traditions) live in
Nablus and villages near it. They and the Israeli Samaritans in Holon have been
praying and working for ways to bring peace to these nations. There are also
secular Palestinians, including agnostics. They are affiliated or identified
with a large variety of political ideologies, including Socialists, Communists,
Islamic “theocracy,” Democracy, etc. The great majority of Palestinians,
forgive me for the redundancy, are peace loving and hard-working people, just
as the Israelis.
No all Israelis are Jewish, just as not all Jews are
Israelis. Israelis are also very diverse in ethnic, cultural, and religious and
political affiliations. Social Democracy, Communism, and all types of other
left and right-wing ideologies can be found among them. Among those who
identify themselves as Jews there are Sephardim (Spanish), Mizrahim (Eastern
Hebrews from Arabic and Persian speaking countries), Ashkenazi (mainly of
Polish, Russian, and German countries), Ethiopians, and converts to Judaism
from many nations around the world. Many of them are descendants of Hebrew Spanish (Sephardim) that settled in that region, especially in Hebron and Jerusalem, when they were expelled from Spain and Portugal (1492 and 1496 respectively) and later welcomed by the Ottoman Empire.
While a great number of non-Israeli Jews,
especially outside the State of Israel, feel or hold to some degree an emotional
religious identification with the current State, not all Jews support the
current approach of nationalistic Zionism, and much less to the way the current
Prime Minister and his associates in the government have responded to the
horrible crimes of Hamas. Many Israelis would have preferred another approach since
the early days, after all soon or later they all had to seat and reach a peace
agreement. I must say again that the great majority of Israelis, forgive me for
the redundancy one more time, are peace loving and hard-working people, just as
the Palestinians.
It is tragic how many innocent people have suffered the
consequences of this conflict, especially during the last few years between
Hamas and the Israeli military. Thousands of lives have been lost due to both
the violence and terrorism of Hamas against Israelis and against the people of
Gaza. Thousands of humans were killed by the response of soldiers to Hamas
(sometimes it is forgotten that these are also humans). Killing so many people,
human beings created in the image of the Almighty. Hamas has shown no respect
and value of human life, especially that of Israelis and those who oppose them
among the Palestinians. The current Israeli government has not shown respect
and value of human life among the Palestinians. Some extremist, especially
among the “Jews” settling in the West Bank, are calling for the genocide of all
non-Jews in Gaza and eventually expelling all non-Jews from the Land of Israel,
including Israeli citizens who are Christians, Druze, Baha’i, and people of any other faith. Jews of other traditions are not welcome by these extremists. They
consider non-Orthodox, for example Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist
to be non-Jews. Perhaps, it should be clarified that the “Messianic” Jews,
including the Roman Catholic Israelis, are simply traditional Christians in the
views of both Palestinians and Israelis, also by other Christians and Jews.
Peace is possible. After this horrible insane war, Israel,
the Palestinian Authority, the European Union, and the Unites States of
America must work together to rebuild Gaza. They should also give full autonomy
and freedom to the West Bank or become one nation with justice for everyone.
The State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority as one or independent as two
states, must have a constitution that guaranty freedom and equal rights for
every citizen regardless of religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or
anything else. There have been people with two capitals; therefore, why can’t
two nations share one capital, Jerusalem? Jerusalem can be the capital of both
the State of Palestine and the State of Israel. Perhaps, they both should
consider two different names, since Palestine neither Israel describes
accurately the two nations of modern times. Regardless of the ethnic heritage
we may share. The use and misuse of those names for political reasons have caused
so much misunderstanding and conflicts.
Peace is possible. All it needs is people who believe,
people caring, people with hope, and people who see each other as human beings.
We need a Pacifist Zionism and a Pacifist Jihad. Two nations fighting for the
same cause without violence: the cause of love, peace and justice in the
ancient land of Canaan. Yes, I know it sounds like a cliché and an utopian
ideal, but it is what we desperately need.
We also need the fundamentalist evangelical to stop
confusing Palestinians with the ancient Philistines, and Israel with the
ancient Israelites. Regardless that many among the Jewish people have a far
distance connection with ethnic ancient Israel while others are Jews by
conversion. There are also evangelical Christians among the Palestinians who
have been ignored by the Evangelical Christians in times of need and injustice.
We need Palestinians, Israelis, Jews, Muslims, Christians, and everyone to seek
peace.
The region we call today Israel and Palestine has been
colonized repeatedly by the Canaanites, Ancient Israel and Judah, Assyrians,
Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and later by the Ottoman Empire, the
British, and now two nations fighting to impose their colonizing power: the
State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Isn’t time to stop this vicious
cycle of colonialism, wars, violence, hatred, and intolerance? Those nations felt
from power due to their arrogance and violence: don’t let history repeat
itself.
Peace is possible: stop teaching hatred and violence to your
children. Let us teach the way of peace. The State of Israel and the region of
the Palestinian Authority can be the peaceful home of people from so many
nations and creeds living on it; again, as two states with mutual respect and
honor with one capital, Jerusalem, or as one nation.
Although faith and religion are very important,
John Lennon’s song “Imagine” still has an invitation to reflect. Sadly, too
often religious intolerance or extremist fundamentalism, which touch the
borders of the irrational, has contributed to these and so many other
conflicts.
Each morning,
when we wake up, the first words we traditionally say are:
מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה רבה אמונתך
These are expressions of our daily gratitude toward the Eternal Source of
Life, the Creator. Giving thanks is part of our life. Living each day full of
joy for the blessing of life.
Around the world many nations, for one or another reason, have chosen a day
to express their gratitude to the Almighty. In the USA this specific day is
full of legends and speculations, since it is linked to the relation between
the colonizers and the earlier nations, previous colonizers and settlers from
hundreds of different nations (called today Native Americans in the USA and
First Nations in Canada), who were living in these regions. Often stories of a quaisi romantic ideal times are told overlooking the
bad and the good of the historical facts (we must never ignore and much
less justify the wrong done to those nations). However, the national time of
thanksgiving goes back to centuries before the English settlements to the time
of the early Spanish communities in Texas, Florida etc. More importantly these
traditions of thanksgiving go back to ancient times. The best sample are found
in the Hebrew Bible, especially within the Books of Psalms.
When I faced moments of deep depression and anxiety, my wife read
selections from these Psalms. Living with a grateful attitude makes a big
difference in our lives. When I think of how blessed I have been regardless of
the times of sorrow and pain, I am encouraged to live in a way that will also
bless others. I could fill up a book or perhaps books on all the reasons to be
grateful even in those moments of tears, when I was feeling hopeless and felt like
giving up. So many times, the writers of the Psalms in similar or even worse
situations list their troubles but conclude with words like these: I will still
praise (or thank) the Lord.
Let us rise in the mornings with a heart full of praise and thankfulness
for the breath of life. Praise the Almighty with our words and actions. Let us
live lives that proclaim the mercies and love of the Lord. In a world so full of sorrow and pain, let us be
instruments of grace. May we be instruments of peace and compassion.
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.
