Tuesday, September 29, 2009

A Sukkot Meditation

As we conclude Yom Kippur and enter Sukkot, I thought I'd repost this earlier instruction from the Zohar regarding meditating upon the body as a tabernacle for the Divine and attaining enlightenment through focus on the divine breath, or Elohim Chayyim. Sukkot, the Festival of Booths, is in part a celabration of the tabernacle as a house of God during the Exodus and afterwards. So this meditation seemed appropriate. Enjoy!

A House is Being Built (from February 26, 2009)


This week's Torah portion (Terumah) at first glance appears uninspiring, as it's primarily a listing of the materials to be collected for the building of the tabernacle. But the rabbis and kabbalists teach us that there are multiple levels of Torah understanding including the literal, allegorical, metaphorical and the hidden meanings. This is the case here...the inspiration to be found in this portion comes from kabbalistic interpretation.

Most scholars will tell you that the primary text of the Kabbalah is the Zohar. While its origins are in dispute, it is said to recount the travels and contemplations of the second century mystic, Rabbi Simeon Bar Yohai. Rabbi Simeon teaches his followers how to find the hidden, or true meanings within the Torah. For him, the building of the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem is a metaphor for building spiritual awareness and the ascent of the soul towards merger with the divine.

Rabbi Simeon instructs his students to think of their bodies as divine temples, or tabernacles for collecting the spirit of God. This divine breath is exhaled by God and inhaled by humans. In a state of perfect concentration, the mystic can consciously accumulate this "spirit of life" and convert it into holy energy, or Ehohim Chayyim. This soul energy reduces the earth, air, wind and fire within the body to their simplest state of pure sound. At this point, the body and mind of the mystic has become so still that his body is a hollow channel, vibrating with divine energy. He, or she has transcended the limited perceptions of human thought and ascended towards unity with the divine.

Rabbi Simeon referred to this spiritual practice as "the House is being built." Our greatest sage, Moses, was said to be a master of the art and it's greatest practicioner.

So even the building of the tabernacle can become a meditative exercise for spiritual ascent. This is an example of what I meant in my last post, when I discussed how, for me, Kabbalah opened up a whole new dimension of meaning and inspiration within Judaism. It revealed that Judaism was so much more than the simplistic and sometimes dull faith we are taught in Sunday school. It set me on a journey home that continues to this day and which I hope to share here with you.

I hope you enjoyed this and found some level of inspiration within it. If you'd like to read more, my source for this was the book "Kabbalah...The Way of the Jewish Mystic" by Perle Epstein. She was a student and devoted follower of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan.

Until next time....

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Yom Kippur: Finding The Holiness Of Sinai

When it comes to the Exodus and the revelation at Mt. Sinai, most people think of Passover as the holiday that recalls and recounts those events. Few, including myself until recently, realize that Yom Kippur itself is a reenactment of the Sinai experience.

The Bible refers to Yom Kippur as a time of afflicting the soul. The Talmud interprets the affliction of this day by identifying five classes of prohibited activities.

1) Abstaining from food and water
2) Abstaining from washing your body
3) Abstaining from wearing cosmetics, or perfume
4) Abstaining from wearing leather sandals, or shoes
5) Abstaining from sexual relations

The prohibition of these activities on Yom Kippur is meant to elevate physical pleasure and consciousness to a spiritual state. But it is also a recreation of the events that lead up to the revelation at Mt. Sinai.

Rabbinic legend and tradition tells us that Moses brought down the second set of Ten Commandments on Yom Kippur, having shattered the first given on Shavuot upon seeing the Israelites worship the Golden Calf.

The five classes of prohibited activities represent each of the actions decreed by God to Moses and the Israelites in preparation for the Sinai revelation.

1) Moses was told to remove his sandals when witnessing the Burning Bush and

2) The Israelites were instructed to abstain from sexual contact, food and drink in order to maintain a pure consciousness before God's revelation.

The closing Ne'ilah service of Yom Kippur parallels the revelation at Sinai. The Bible says that when the laws were given, "all the people witnessed the thunder and lightening, the blare of the horn." Yom Kippur concludes with a final blast of the Shofar to commemorate this event.

As we can see, Yom Kippur is a recreation of the Sinai revelation and experience. Like many of the Jewish festivals, it is about reflecting on the meaning of these events and allowing them to inspire us towards more meaningful lives. I'm reminded of how we are instructed during Passover to think as if we were there experiencing the bondage in Egypt and the Exodus towards political and spiritual freedom. The ultimate goal is a state of enlightenment that the prophets and rabbis refer to as devekuth.

For further reading, I'd recommend the book "The Mystic Quest" by David S. Ariel which is where I first learned about the connection between Yom Kippur and the Sinai revelation.

Until next time....

Shmuel

Friday, September 11, 2009

9/11...A Day to Remember and Serve

Today we mark 8 years since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We recall where we were on that horrific day and reflect on how we and our country have changed since then. This year, for the first time, we are called to make 9/11 a national day of service. This has caused much discussion and controversy. Truthfully, my feelings are mixed.

Critics of a national day of service on 9/11 believe that it cheapens the memory of those who died, or were injured, while advocates state that we honor their memory by serving our fellow Americans and humanity. In reflecting on this point, I thought of the two versions of the 4th Commandment in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. We are told to "Remember" and "Observe" the Sabbath and then are given two different reasons...God ceased from his work of creation on the 7th day and we were slaves in Egypt. Perhaps Torah offers some insight into how we should treat the 8th anniversary of 9/11 and those to follow.

I empathize with those who say that making 9/11 a day of service dishonors the victims of that day. We wouldn't make Yom HaShoah, or Pearl Harbor Day a national day of service. It should be a day of rememberance and reflection. More importantly, we should keep the memories of those events fresh in our mind, less we lose sight of the evil that still exists in this world and the threat it poses to us and our country.

But I also believe that we should use those memories as motivation to improve the world. This is the concept of tikkun that we've spoken so much about. Service to our fellow citizens and humanity is a way to do just that.

So let's make it a two part mitzvah, or commandment like that of Shabbat. On 9/11, let's remember and honor the victims of those tragic events and reflect on where we've come as individuals and a country since then. And then on 9/12, let us pledge to serve humanity and the world as a way to make it better for current and future generations. This way, we bring all together in the same united spirit that we saw in the days after September 11, 2001.

It's just a thought. I'd like to hear yours.

Until next time....

Shmuel

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Republic of Jerusalem: A New Path To Middle East Peace

In our last discussion, we talked about the merits of a Jordan/Palestine federation and the failings of the two-state solution in finding peace between Israelis and Arabs in the Middle East. This would of course depend on the willingness of Jordanians and Palestinians to work together in a shared destiny and can be encouraged, but not enforced from without. But what about an Israeli/Palestine federation that shares the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea for common stability and prosperity? A Republic of Jerusalem, if you will?

I'm not the first to propose this concept. In the 1920's, many prominent Jewish thinkers, such as Martin Buber, made similar suggestions and were even critics of Israel as a separate Jewish state. As refugees and victims of persecution themselves, they were deeply concerned about the disenfranchisement and rights of others. Of course, history took Israel and the Palestinians in a different direction. But is it time to revisit a binational state again?

Today's critics of a binational state fear that it would mean the the loss of the Jewish identity and homeland in Israel. Some Palestinian advocates of a binational state hope for the same result...the eradication of Israel through population growth. But must this be the case? Here's what I propose.

I do not advocate a one man-one vote system that favors the majority at the expense of minority populations. The rights of all need to be protected and I'm also not a believer in such a centralized state government. The model I suggest following is not South Africa, but rather a federal republic like the United States, or a localized canton structure like Switzerland. Here's my plan:

The territories of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza would be decentralized and divided according to the majority populations of each area. I've seen suggestions of dividing the area into 6, 9, or 12 cantons. Government would be localized as much as possible to the local district level with the federal government only having a few constitutional duties such as defense and trade. Functions such as education, religion and culture would be performed at the local, or regional level.

A Constitution would be ratified by both Israeli and Palestinian representatives that would protect the rights of all and establish the structures of the federation and the responsibilities of each level of government.

Jerusalem would be a separate district and be the federal capital of both the Israeli and Palestinian territories much like Washington D.C. is for the United States.

The federal legislature would be bicameral in nature with a House of Representatives elected by popular vote and a Senate divided evenly between the states of Israel and Palestine. Senators might even be nominated through appointment by the cantons, or states rather than by election. A Prime Minister would be selected, as a consensus candidate, by the Senate, to avoid extremism from either side, to serve as chief executive and to administer the affairs of the federal government.

A Right of Return would be granted to both Jews and Palestinians within their respective territories.

Here are the benefits of such a plan.

Neither Israelis, or Palestinians would feel disenfranchised and can work together towards a comon destiny and for their mutual prosperity. The economies of both peoples are already interlinked and would be hard to separate in any future political division.

This plan is based upon a shared constitution and the establishment of a new legal and political structure and so does not require the agreement of any third party entity to implement.

Israel would cease to exist as a pariah state in the Middle East that Muslims see as illegal and would be able to integrate itself within the region for increased stability and prosperity.

Israeli soldiers would be able to maintain a presence at key security locations (such as the Jordan River Valley) without being seen as occupiers and as part of a new national defense force incorporating Palestinians as well. The threat of a separate Palestinian Army would be removed from Israel's security concerns.

Natural resources such as water would be able to be shared for mutal benefit by both peoples.

A new national identity would emerge based upon two cultures and faiths that could serve as a model of tolerance and moderation in the region. Jerusalem would truly be a "beacon of light" to the world as promised in Biblical prophecy.

This is just a quick summary of an alternative idea for Middle East peace that I believe has merit and should be considered. The current two-state solution has only lead to more instability, violence and poverty for both Israelis and Palestinians and a new creative solution should be sought. As Jews, we should advocate and insist that any solution be based upon our religious and cultural values of democracy, tolerance and concern for the rights of others. The Republic of Jerusalem is one possibility that comes close to reestablishing the Promised Land of our spiritual ancestors.

Until next time....

Shmuel

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Is Jordan The Key To Middle East Peace?

There is growing recognition that the two-state solution as promoted in the Oslo Accords is a failing process, as it's lead to increased violence and greater corruption and poverty for the Palestinians. As such, alternative ideas are getting greater consideration and attention. One such idea is an old one that is going through a kind of rebirth...a Jordanian/Palestinian confederacy.

The idea of a confederation between Jordan and the Palestinian territories is not a new one. Former King Hussein of Jordan himself used to say that "Jordan is Palestine and Palestine is Jordan" in the 1950-1960's. The Palestinian National Council approved a resolution proposing a Palestinian-Jordanian federation in 1984. On February 11, 1985, Yassir Arafat and then King Hussein of Jordan reached an oral agreement on a confederation of their territories, which was never signed. Since 2004, some Palestinian academics and politicians have been discussing ideas for a renewed bilateral relationship with Jordan.

So why now? What are the benefits?

First of all, growing corruption and instability in the West Bank and Gaza threatens the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, but the security of Israel and Jordan as well. The growing influence of extremist groups like Hamas (who now governs Gaza) and Al Qaeda is a regional concern and not just a threat to Israel. Jordan's Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Ma'ruf al-Bakhit said in a March 2005 interview that "the paradigm of a two-state solution (Palestine and Israel) does not bring about stability. We can go for that, but from there the confronation will continue."

King Abdullah's wife, Rana, is of Palestinian descent and from Nablus. This has lead to a greater inclusion and integration of Jordan's Palestinian citizens (approximately 70% of Jordan's total population) into the countries economy and overall fabric.

Unlike Arafat, current Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has close ties with King Abdullah and the Jordanian government and maintains a home in Amman.

There exist close family ties between West Bank towns like Nablus and Hebron with East Bank towns such as Salt and Karak. It is actually considered easier to travel between the west and east banks of the Jordan River than from the northern part of Jordan to its southern territories.

King Abdullah's "Jordan First" plan to build the economy and decentralize government with local councils enfranchises the Palestinian's of Jordan. Under this plan, it would be much easier to incorporate the West Bank and possibly Gaza as additional autonomous regions to the three divisions in Jordan already being proposed.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the isolation of Syria, Jordan is growing as a regional player in the Middle East. It's stability and prosperity is on the rise. It's capital city of Amman is recognized as the Arab Middle East's most stable major city that serves as an important center for Iraqis, Syrians, West Bank Palestinians, Turks and Egyptians. This compares to high-unemployment and the criminal behavior of street gangs in the Palestinian territories and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority, which is why a growing number of prominent Palestinians are reconsidering a federated arrangement with Jordan.

A federated Jordan/Palestine also fits in well with the limited Palestinian state proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that bans the Palestinians from having a standing army, or air force. It's better to have Jordanian troops on Israel's border than armed Palestinian militias. Jordan is after all Israel's closest and friendliest neighbor.

A federated Jordan/Palestine unifies Palestinians on both sides of the Jordan River and guarantees the ruling Hashemites as the protector of Jerusalem's Muslim Holy Sites. This provides greater temperment and stability, as compared to when Arafat appointed radical Sheiks who incited the Palestinians to rioting with extremist rhetoric.

Tourism to area Biblical sites would grow with the increased stability which would enhance the economies of all three peoples in the region.

This could be the first step towards a BeNeLux, or Nafta style trade federation between Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians. Historically, Jordan has relied on Israel to protect it from a hostile takeover by either Saddam Hussein's Iraq, or Syria. A greater alliance between the territories east and west of the Jordan River would enhance the areas overall security.

Currently, a model for a Jordanian-Palestinian federation exists next door in the new Iraq. Here Iraqi Kurds, Sunnis and Shia are all learning to govern and share power and their rivalries are much more pronounced than any existing between the Palestinians and Jordanians.

I would propose that when final borders between Israel and the expanded Jordan are settled upon that Israel would retain it's major West Bank settlements and give up predominantly Arab areas within Israel proper. This would keep peoples united and assure the Jewish character of Israel.

This is just one alternative proposal in the quest for Middle East peace. Another is the idea of a Israeli/Palestinian federation which we'll explore next...a Republic of Jerusalem, if you will.

Until next time....

Shmuel