Theological Philosophical Reflections on the Torah
נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃
Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech.
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרׇדְפֵֽהוּ׃
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.
Shabbath shalom
הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי
כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד׃ אֲ֭נִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְחׇפְזִ֑י
כׇּֽל־הָאָדָ֥ם כֹּזֵֽב׃
Psalm
116:11-12
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.
ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם
מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃
Proverb 16:32 (cf.
Pirke Avot 4:1)
Self-control always; be
master over your anger, that will make you strong. Be the master of your
emotions.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר יְהִי
כְבוֹד חֲבֵרְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלָּךְ וְאַל תְּהִי נוֹחַ לִכְעֹס וְשׁוּב
יוֹם אֶחָד לִפְנֵי מִיתָתְךָ
Pirke Avot 2:10
In the Torah we read:
וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר יי עַל־פָּנָיו֮
וַיִּקְרָא֒ יי ׀ יי אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן
אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃
Exodus 34:6 (cf. Micah
7:18)
The Lord is slow to get angry. We have
plenty of what happens when God
let anger take place. We rather be slow to anger like the Almighty.
Maimónides wrote:
אָסוּר לָאָדָם לִהְיוֹת
אַכְזָרִי וְלֹא יִתְפַּיֵּס אֶלָּא יְהֵא נוֹחַ לִרְצוֹת וְקָשֶׁה לִכְעֹס
וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁמְּבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ הַחוֹטֵא לִמְחל מוֹחֵל בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם וּבְנֶפֶשׁ
חֲפֵצָה. וַאֲפִלּוּ הֵצֵר לוֹ וְחָטָא לוֹ הַרְבֵּה לֹא יִקֹּם וְלֹא יִטֹּר.
וְזֶהוּ דַּרְכָּם שֶׁל זֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלִבָּם הַנָּכוֹן. אֲבָל הָעוֹבְדֵי
כּוֹכָבִים עַרְלֵי לֵב אֵינָן כֵּן אֶלָּא (וְעֶבְרָתָן) [וְעֶבְרָתוֹ] שְׁמָרָה
נֶצַח. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר עַל הַגִּבְעוֹנִים לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא מָחֲלוּ וְלֹא
נִתְפַּיְּסוּ וְהַגִּבְעֹנִים לֹא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵמָּה:
Mishne Torah, on Repentance 2:10
In Pirke
Avot 5:11 it is written:
אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בַּדֵּעוֹת
נוֹחַ לִכְעֹס וְנוֹחַ לִרְצוֹת יָצָא שְׂכָרוֹ בְהֶפְסֵדוֹ קָשֶׁה לִכְעֹס
וְקָשֶׁה לִרְצוֹת יָצָא הֶפְסֵדוֹ בִשְׂכָרוֹ קָשֶׁה לִכְעֹס וְנוֹחַ לִרְצוֹת
חָסִיד נוֹחַ לִכְעֹס וְקָשֶׁה לִרְצוֹת רָשָׁע:
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.”
In Islam it is taught that true Muslims are:
وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ
وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ
Those who avoid major
sins and indecencies, and forgive when angered.
الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ
فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ
النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
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:
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה וְנִתַּאי הָאַרְבֵּלִי קִבְּלוּ מֵהֶם
יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן פְּרַחְיָה אוֹמֵר עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר
וֶהֱוֵי דָן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת:
A very powerful advice about anger management comes from the great Rabbi Abraham Twerski. Listen to his words of wisdom:
בֵיתִ֔י בֵּית־תְּפִלָּ֥ה יִקָּרֵ֖א לְכׇל־הָעַמִּֽים׃
Isaiah 56:7c
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:
יִקְרָאֵ֨נִי וְֽאֶעֱנֵ֗הוּ עִמּֽוֹ־אָנֹכִ֥י בְצָרָ֑ה אֲ֝חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ׃
אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝אַרְאֵ֗הוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִֽי׃
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.
There are times when we, with the writer of this psalm (13:1), ask, respectfully and humbly:
עַד־אָ֣נָה יי תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִי נֶ֑צַח עַד־אָ֓נָה תַּסְתִּ֖יר אֶת־פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
Nevertheless, within our pain, let us stand and conclude with the writer saying:
וַאֲנִ֤י בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ אָשִׁ֥ירָה לַֽיי כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי׃
Psalm 13:6
Barukh the sofer (18:1ff) wrote:
הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ מֵאֵ֥ת יי לֵאמֹֽר׃
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
ק֥וּם וְיָרַדְתָּ֖ בֵּ֣ית הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְשָׁ֖מָּה אַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֥ אֶת־דְּבָרָֽי׃
“Go down to the house of a potter, and there I will impart my words to you.”
וָאֵרֵ֖ד בֵּ֣ית הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְהִנֵּה־ה֛וּא עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְלָאכָ֖ה עַל־הָאׇבְנָֽיִם׃
So I went down to the house of a potter, and found him working at the wheel.
וְנִשְׁחַ֣ת הַכְּלִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֛ה בַּחֹ֖מֶר בְּיַ֣ד הַיּוֹצֵ֑ר וְשָׁ֗ב וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ כְּלִ֣י אַחֵ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָשַׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַיּוֹצֵ֖ר לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
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.
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יי אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֽוֹר׃
Then the word of the LORD came to me:
הֲכַיּוֹצֵ֨ר הַזֶּ֜ה לֹא־אוּכַ֨ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָכֶ֛ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יי הִנֵּ֤ה כַחֹ֙מֶר֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַיּוֹצֵ֔ר כֵּן־אַתֶּ֥ם בְּיָדִ֖י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
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.
לֵ֣ב טָ֭הוֹר בְּרָא־לִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְר֥וּחַ נָ֝כ֗וֹן חַדֵּ֥שׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי׃
אַל־תַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥נִי מִלְּפָנֶ֑יךָ וְר֥וּחַ קׇ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ אַל־תִּקַּ֥ח מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
הָשִׁ֣יבָה לִּ֭י שְׂשׂ֣וֹן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וְר֖וּחַ נְדִיבָ֣ה תִסְמְכֵֽנִי׃
Psalm 51:12-14
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
There is so much we can learn from this short tale:
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):
הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃
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.
אַֽל־תִּזְכְּר֖וּ רִאשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת אַל־תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃
הִנְנִ֨י עֹשֶׂ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ עַתָּ֣ה תִצְמָ֔ח הֲל֖וֹא תֵדָע֑וּהָ אַ֣ף אָשִׂ֤ים בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ דֶּ֔רֶךְ בִּישִׁמ֖וֹן נְהָרֽוֹת׃
Isaiah 43:18-19
וְיֵ֥שׁ אֹ֝הֵ֗ב דָּבֵ֥ק
מֵאָֽח׃
Proverb 18:24
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.
הִנֵּ֣ה
מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃
Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is:
brethren dwelling together in unity.
כִּ֤י שָׁ֨ם צִוָּ֣ה יי
אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה חַ֝יִּ֗ים עַד־הָעוֹלָֽם׃
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.
Our tradition teaches never to rejoice over the death of the
enemy, not even of the Egyptians’ experience at the sea. It is written:
בִּנְפֹ֣ל א֭וֹיִבְךָ אַל־תִּשְׂמָ֑ח
וּ֝בִכָּשְׁל֗וֹ אַל־יָגֵ֥ל לִבֶּֽךָ׃
If
your enemy (MT ketiv: אויביך your 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.
שלח את־עמי
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר ייי אֱלֹהֵ֣י
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שַׁלַּח֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ לִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
The history of the children of Jacob in Egypt is one that
raises many questions. No so much about what is historical fact and what may be
legends and historiography, rather how this literary work tells us the story of
complacency. A group of elderly men with wives, children and grandchildren
encounter a brother who they sold as slave, now a prominent Egyptian leader. The story is very emotional. My grandaunt told me that her father always cried when telling Yosef's story. Why? We would never know. There are many details in the story that can make us cry.
First, the Hebrew Yosef became fully assimilated to Egyptian
culture and religion, while struggling to hold to the faith and traditions of
his youth. Second, his siblings show up making things a little more difficult.
You know the story: he “forgives” them and they live happily after. Well, not
exactly. Instead of returning to the Land, which was understood to be the home
promised to Abraham, they find themselves very comfortable in Egypt. Over four
hundred years. By then, the Egyptian way of life was assimilated and the emancipation
led them to slavery instead. The politicians of their days held prejudices
against the Hebrews and similar groups. They became afraid that this people
would become powerful due to their fast-growing population. Pharaoh attempted
to stop them by committing a horrible crime against their children. The Hebrews
have become slaves or servants to the aristocrats of Egypt. Their work was
needed to sustain the life style of ancient Egypt. A story very similar to the
experience of modern Jewish groups in Europe and of so many ethnic groups,
immigrants, in the USA.
Attempting to become like everyone else led to becoming
under worse circumstances. Yosef asked that his body be taken from Egypt when
they leave. Apparently, he knew Egypt would become such an attractive place to
live that his siblings would settle for some time, just as he did. Others claim
Abraham knew of this and predicted the 400 years plus of slavery. Yes, slavery
started as soon as they settled in Egypt. Perhaps, no as servants, but becoming
slaves of their own desire to be just like the Egyptians.
Ancient Israel struggled with this desire or temptation then
and now. After they settle in the Land with Yehoshua, they became a military
power like anyone else. Later they want a king, followed by the king wanting a
temple, like everyone else. They were never satisfied to be the people God
wanted them to be. They wanted to be like everyone else.
Going back again into our story, Moses seems to be the first
one to leave the ways of Egypt. In the wilderness the Almighty speaks to him
and sent him back to bring Israel and others out of the way of life that led
them to slavery. They were too comfortable and, in their comfort, never saw it
coming until it was too late. There were those who did not want to leave Egypt
and rather be slaves than free people to enjoy a little of the pleasures of
Egypt.
The message to Pharaoh was an order to let the slaves free
so they could celebrate in the wilderness. It was a call to justice. A call to
the oppressors to stop oppression, and a call to the oppressed to wake up from
their “comfort.” Now, after 400 years plus, there were other people in the
Land. It would be a long walk from Goshen to Jerusalem (we are still walking).
Modern political Zionism replaced the voice of God (Biblical Pacifist Zionism),
and we are still attempting to be like everyone else.
The people of ancient Israel were not the greatest nation on
Earth (Deuteronomy 7:7ff). However, it pleased God to choose them to make
Israel a light to the nations.
אֲנִ֧י יי קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽ
בְצֶ֖דֶק וְאַחְזֵ֣ק בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְאֶצׇּרְךָ֗ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ לִבְרִ֥ית עָ֖ם לְא֥וֹר
גּוֹיִֽם׃
Isaiah 42:6
Israel is a unique nation because its unique God. Religious Zionism
strives to listen to the divine voice, but again, they want to become like the
others. Power and “comfort” led them and us to ignore who we are and what God
wants us to be. We become slaves again of the ways of this world away from the Way
of God, from the Way of Light into the halls of darkness. No, the story was not
an allegory, but the historical tragedy experienced by our ancestors is today a
spiritual tragedy often experienced as individuals and at times as a nation.
Regardless of the country where we live, we must strive to
be a Light. True Zionism is a call to “Let my people go” from every nation and
tongue to build a new world everywhere and now. We should not adopt the life
styles corrupted by selfish desires. It is so painful to read the words of the
prophet Isaiah (chapter 1); however, it is also afull of hope. It is a description of Modern Israel as it was
ancient Israel. So many in our communities are still worshiping the golden
idol. So many let their desire for money, power, and self-gratitude to fall
into all type of immorality. Becoming slaves of their passions. They wanted to
be like the other nations. Instead of becoming a Light to the nations we become
entrapped and lost within the darkness of these nations. Like them, we trust
militarism and financial power instead of God.
“Let my people go” is still a call to the powers of this
world. “Let yourselves go free” although into the wilderness for a while,
perhaps, but celebrating the festivals of the Lord in freedom. May God hear our
voices today as we pray and make us free from the darkness in which we often
find ourselves and make us again a Light to Israel and the nations.
כִּ֤י בֹעֲלַ֙יִךְ֙ עֹשַׂ֔יִךְ יי צְבָא֖וֹת
שְׁמ֑וֹ וְגֹֽאֲלֵךְ֙ קְד֣וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י כׇל־הָאָ֖רֶץ
יִקָּרֵֽא׃
Because he who
made you is your Master—
His name is “LORD of Hosts.”
The Holy One of Israel will redeem you—
He is called “God of all the Earth.”
Isaiah
54:5
The God
of Israel, its Master, the Holy One, is also the God of the whole Earth. The
books of Isaiah proclaim One Sovereign God. No one else equal to him (I will
follow the grammatical use of the male in reference to God as the Hebrew text
does. This does not imply that God is like a human male, neither ignores that
God at times is described with female adjectives).
In
Deuteronomy (6:4) and through the teachings of Moshe it is taught that there is
Only One True God In the Christian
tradition, Jesus of Nazareth followed these same Jewish teachings. He
acknowledged and proclaimed the Reign of the Only
One True God. In a prayer attributed to him (John 17:3) he says: αυτη δε
εστιν η αιωνιος ζωη ινα γινωσκωσιν σε τον μονον αληθινον θεον (obviously he
would not have added in a prayer speaking to God the phrase following this
statement in many NT translations). Paul is attributed with the statement (1
Cor. 8:6) saying that "even if there were many other gods (or divine
beings) for us (meaning the Jewish people who like him were followers of Jesus
of Nazareth) there is One God, the Father" (A phrase stating that Jesus is
a master or leader or lord follows it, added by a scribe just like the one at
the end of John 17:3 in some editions). Perhaps a note from the scribe or could
be original of Paul. But, he makes clear that only the Father is the true and
only God. In the first letter to Timothy, he praises the Holy One of Israel by
saying:
τω δε βασιλει των αιωνων αφθαρτω αορατω μονω
θεω τιμη
και δοξα εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην
My interpretation:
"To the Eternal King, who never dies, no one has seen, the Only
True God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
Other ancient religions, like Zoroastrism, recognizes and
confess only one God, although absolut monotheism is taught only in Judaism and Islam. One of the most beautiful statements is found in the
Qur'an, sura 112. The Baha'i
Faith gathering everything good from every religion, it has helped humanity see
the common connection, the Only One True
God. There is only one God and one humanity.
The prophet Zechariah (14:9) says that the day will come when all
nations will recognize the Holy One of Israel as the Only One True God:
וְהָיָ֧ה יי לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ בַּיּ֣וֹם
הַה֗וּא יִהְיֶ֧ה יי אֶחָ֖ד וּשְׁמ֥וֹ אֶחָֽד׃
We conclude with this verse after the chanting of Aleynu.
This closing prayer in our liturgy was converted in a song by the Jewish composer Julius Chajes, z"l, and heard not only
in our Reform Jewish temples, but among some Christians. Here is a version recorded by a Christian choir:
