Greetings friends
If you didn’t light a candle for Tisha b’av – the dark day of the calendar, light one now. Light saves us; it gives us peace; it gives us hope. It is more important than ever in this growing time of anti-semitism as it once again rears its ugly head the world over, except now it is not just hatred of Jews but hatred of Israel as even countries strive to tell it how to govern itself.
We call that interference when done to us, but I guess it's okay to do to others.
No – it is not okay. The world and all who are in it are entitled to self-determination. That is what should be honored and respected, and defended. That is the ultimate expression of freedom.
And as we turn from darkness to light this week, take a moment and celebrate love on this festival of love – stop and celebrate it now. Celebrate love all the time. It is the most important thing there is.
For centuries this has been a mostly forgotten holiday, and it is really only since the modern state of Israel came into being that it has been celebrated again. But the Talmud tells us much about how it was perceived in ancient times. We are told that “many years ago” – so if the Talmud is talking about “many years ago,” you know it’s old – anyhow, “many years ago,” the Talmud explains - the daughters of Jerusalem would go dance in the vineyards on the 15th of av and “whoever did not have a wife – would go there” to find a bride.
The Talmud considered this to be the greatest festival of the year, with Yom Kippur - a close second – that’s how important love is. So please, if nothing else, call someone you love and tell them you love them. We need to know, not guess. And you, my friends, are all loved by me.
This week Moses implores – a word we hadn’t seen in the bible since the story of Joseph imploring his brothers not to leave him in the pit to die – and they did not care, and here, Moses implores, and G0d says, “no.” A word that can devastate. We need to know the reason, and we need to give the reason.
As we now get into the book of the retelling of the law, the book that was missing for hundreds of years, we begin to see things mentioned before are a little different in the retelling.
There is a retelling of the great epiphany, and it changes – everything from the scene of the original to the words used to convey the laws.
But we also are told not to add and not to subtract, and yet here we are reading something that has changed from the original reading – what should we make of it? There is a belief that doing more makes it stronger – but in doing more, are we breaking this rule?
Throughout the development of religious practice, you see more added in its efforts to enhance, but you see nothing subtracted, so we are half right.
And we are given the single most important piece of liturgy in Judaism – the prayer known as the “shema” – a simple six-word prayer – in which we attest who we are and who and what G0d is – “listen – everyone – god is god, alone. Such a simple but powerful statement whose words have so many meanings. It is a call, not to a geographic region, but to a person – like Jacob – any who wrestle with G0d – and who has not wrestled with beliefs, with practices, with faith – listen, any who fought with he who caused being - there is only one creator; one alone.”
The same words convey a more powerful statement. This prayer has been incorporated into the daily liturgy, recited twice each day; written on the scrolls of the tefillin the religious Jews wear on their arms and heads and in the mezuzah on every Jewish doorpost and permanently etched in the hearts and souls of everyone.
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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, electronic devices, and hearts – as you are all with me in mine.
Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life and do not give in to the fear which is so prevalent, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance – and as always - if you have any questions or suggestions or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.
And remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know - that I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.
Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others, and in doing, be safe, my friends, be happy, and may you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace and love and miracles and make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and your incredible awesomeness.
Continue celebrating love; continue celebrating freedom; send renewal and goodwill out to everyone in the world – it is an energy that cannot be stopped - and remember – your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star, continue to be a miracle in someone’s life, and light the light of love wherever you go.
Blessings, and share your love
RD
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