Friday, June 17, 2005
Sparks From Israel
The Birds
If you look westward you can spot them arriving one by one. Then they come in larger numbers, like a stream trickling through tunnels and alleyways. Finally there is a rushing river, as they flood the marble floor of the Temple wall all the way across the large open plaza, up to the stairways at the other end. As the sun rises you can see them all, like birds. A hundred thousand Jews all huddled together for the morning prayer of Shavuot, after being up all night learning Torah, which is the Jewish tradition.
I have one friend who was at the original Sinai in the dessert and felt the vibe, another who was in Sfat receiving the kabala, and then there was me who stood witness in Jerusalem to the flock of black, white and multi-colored Jews doing their prayer dance together in improvised assemblies. What an interesting species these people are.
As I stood off in the distance taking in the sight of these multitudes I could hear the Song of the Hebrews calling to their G-d. I understood the language of this species and I too could return a call, in the same voice. After all I guess I'm a bird too.
A Nation of Prophets
I was coming back on the bus from the Kotel with two Israeli guys I had just met over Shabbat. One had a business idea he was speaking to me about, and his Temani friend was an inspired yeshiva student who only spoke about Torah. We managed to find three seats on the bus, and then his friend suddenly stood up and started to give the bus riders a lecture on the Importance of remaining silent in the Beit Knesset.
Imagine the scene; a Sephardic young man with a black kippa lecturing to a bus load of Ashkenazi rabbi’s with black furry striemels and women in kerchiefs. At first they smiled to each other, but as the bus rolled along, he continued, and they became engrossed in the lecture. While he was speaking, I turned to my friend and asked him if he does this everywhere, he nodded.
When we arrived at our destination, I hurried to catch the last bus to Tel Aviv. I looked back and saw the Bus Rebbe surrounded by new fans asking for his telephone number. On the bus back to Tel Aviv, he asked the bus driver if he could use the microphone and give a Torah lecture. He was flatly denied and we continued home with the radio playing Russian ballads and Trance music. I guess it must have been similar in ancient times.
The Academy of Questions
On Shabbat in Tel Aviv, I can only understand about 60% of the lectures because my Hebrew is not that good yet. It’s a treat for me to visit Yerushalayim where there is so much learning in English, and Shavuot is the holiday where we traditionally stay up all night long learning Torah.
There were a hundred different classes to choose from in the Old City, and a friend recommended a Talmud class that began at 2:30 am. He advised reviewing the material for a few hours before the lecture, because it was very deep stuff and the regular students have already spent a week reviewing it. So I sat with an old friend from this yeshiva and we struggled through it for a few hours until the Rabbi arrived.
He spoke for two hours and I must say, that instead of the 60% I usually understand in Hebrew, this time I understood about 10%, and it was in English. This academy of intellect was so refined that one could hardly make out the subject of the question that was extracted from the previous question that was concealed within the statement that was really another question.
Now I understand why the great yeshivas are such a big weapon for Israel. They are splitting the atom every day here and it creates a tremendous force field of impenetrable light.
Heavy Metal Chulent
Just as I had unpacked my things and was settling into a nice spiritual Shabbat in the Old City a 7-foot tattooed biker entered the room. He took off his spiked boots and Metalica T-shirt, stretched his legs passed the bed and with the moan of a giant lied down. The thought occurred to me, to put my valuables in the office safe. Jerusalem attracts all kinds of unusual people.
Another roommate arrived with a friend and they were discussing the laws of the Shavuot Festival. The rocker who hadn’t yet fallen asleep turned to them and in aristocratic English explained the detailed differences between the laws of Shabbat and the laws of the Festivals. Everyone was stunned, and he went back to sleep.
Later, I spoke with this gentle giant and discovered that his father was a rabbi, whose advice to him was to always question everything. His questioning led him around the world and back to Jerusalem. I suppose he will continue to question as his father did and there is a good chance that he will follow in his fathers footsteps and become a rabbi himself one day; maybe a Heavy Metal Rabbi. You can’t judge a book from its cover, especially in Israel.
The Birds
If you look westward you can spot them arriving one by one. Then they come in larger numbers, like a stream trickling through tunnels and alleyways. Finally there is a rushing river, as they flood the marble floor of the Temple wall all the way across the large open plaza, up to the stairways at the other end. As the sun rises you can see them all, like birds. A hundred thousand Jews all huddled together for the morning prayer of Shavuot, after being up all night learning Torah, which is the Jewish tradition.
I have one friend who was at the original Sinai in the dessert and felt the vibe, another who was in Sfat receiving the kabala, and then there was me who stood witness in Jerusalem to the flock of black, white and multi-colored Jews doing their prayer dance together in improvised assemblies. What an interesting species these people are.
As I stood off in the distance taking in the sight of these multitudes I could hear the Song of the Hebrews calling to their G-d. I understood the language of this species and I too could return a call, in the same voice. After all I guess I'm a bird too.
A Nation of Prophets
I was coming back on the bus from the Kotel with two Israeli guys I had just met over Shabbat. One had a business idea he was speaking to me about, and his Temani friend was an inspired yeshiva student who only spoke about Torah. We managed to find three seats on the bus, and then his friend suddenly stood up and started to give the bus riders a lecture on the Importance of remaining silent in the Beit Knesset.
Imagine the scene; a Sephardic young man with a black kippa lecturing to a bus load of Ashkenazi rabbi’s with black furry striemels and women in kerchiefs. At first they smiled to each other, but as the bus rolled along, he continued, and they became engrossed in the lecture. While he was speaking, I turned to my friend and asked him if he does this everywhere, he nodded.
When we arrived at our destination, I hurried to catch the last bus to Tel Aviv. I looked back and saw the Bus Rebbe surrounded by new fans asking for his telephone number. On the bus back to Tel Aviv, he asked the bus driver if he could use the microphone and give a Torah lecture. He was flatly denied and we continued home with the radio playing Russian ballads and Trance music. I guess it must have been similar in ancient times.
The Academy of Questions
On Shabbat in Tel Aviv, I can only understand about 60% of the lectures because my Hebrew is not that good yet. It’s a treat for me to visit Yerushalayim where there is so much learning in English, and Shavuot is the holiday where we traditionally stay up all night long learning Torah.
There were a hundred different classes to choose from in the Old City, and a friend recommended a Talmud class that began at 2:30 am. He advised reviewing the material for a few hours before the lecture, because it was very deep stuff and the regular students have already spent a week reviewing it. So I sat with an old friend from this yeshiva and we struggled through it for a few hours until the Rabbi arrived.
He spoke for two hours and I must say, that instead of the 60% I usually understand in Hebrew, this time I understood about 10%, and it was in English. This academy of intellect was so refined that one could hardly make out the subject of the question that was extracted from the previous question that was concealed within the statement that was really another question.
Now I understand why the great yeshivas are such a big weapon for Israel. They are splitting the atom every day here and it creates a tremendous force field of impenetrable light.
Heavy Metal Chulent
Just as I had unpacked my things and was settling into a nice spiritual Shabbat in the Old City a 7-foot tattooed biker entered the room. He took off his spiked boots and Metalica T-shirt, stretched his legs passed the bed and with the moan of a giant lied down. The thought occurred to me, to put my valuables in the office safe. Jerusalem attracts all kinds of unusual people.
Another roommate arrived with a friend and they were discussing the laws of the Shavuot Festival. The rocker who hadn’t yet fallen asleep turned to them and in aristocratic English explained the detailed differences between the laws of Shabbat and the laws of the Festivals. Everyone was stunned, and he went back to sleep.
Later, I spoke with this gentle giant and discovered that his father was a rabbi, whose advice to him was to always question everything. His questioning led him around the world and back to Jerusalem. I suppose he will continue to question as his father did and there is a good chance that he will follow in his fathers footsteps and become a rabbi himself one day; maybe a Heavy Metal Rabbi. You can’t judge a book from its cover, especially in Israel.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Sparks From Israel
Yom Yerushalayim
Outside of Israel reading the Torah seems like reading a history book. Here in Israel that history comes alive. On Shabbat we read Bamidbar which described the formation of the first Israeli army and the Nation under its various tribal flags. The next day was Yom Yerushalyim and I watched the parade down Yaffo street full of flags and floats from every tribal area of Israel along with army platoons and marching bands.
It was an overwhelming sight to see the banners of Zevulon and Binyamina followed by thousands of young people in colorful costumes from their provinces and settlements. I just read about these people in the Torah, and there they are before me marching through history.
The groups in orange T-shirts received the biggest applause along with the army. It’s these two groups that we seem most proud of; those who settle our land and those who defend it. It’s these two groups that make up the very fabric of our society.
Like a classical score our ancient script is interpreted by new directors in every era; the same themes, with new characters and a backdrop of tension and glory. Next week will be a new chapter in our Torah and I can’t wait to see what new revelation will be manifested and watch with my own eyes, as the music comes alive.
Yom Yerushalayim
Outside of Israel reading the Torah seems like reading a history book. Here in Israel that history comes alive. On Shabbat we read Bamidbar which described the formation of the first Israeli army and the Nation under its various tribal flags. The next day was Yom Yerushalyim and I watched the parade down Yaffo street full of flags and floats from every tribal area of Israel along with army platoons and marching bands.
It was an overwhelming sight to see the banners of Zevulon and Binyamina followed by thousands of young people in colorful costumes from their provinces and settlements. I just read about these people in the Torah, and there they are before me marching through history.
The groups in orange T-shirts received the biggest applause along with the army. It’s these two groups that we seem most proud of; those who settle our land and those who defend it. It’s these two groups that make up the very fabric of our society.
Like a classical score our ancient script is interpreted by new directors in every era; the same themes, with new characters and a backdrop of tension and glory. Next week will be a new chapter in our Torah and I can’t wait to see what new revelation will be manifested and watch with my own eyes, as the music comes alive.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Sparks From Israel
The Contract
As one travels through this vast and mysterious land one cannot help but notice how quickly topographies change and alter. In one moment one is in a desert with rocks and caves, then rolling hills with lush gardens and flowers. It is as if the whole world was folded up into a small little concentration of land and water.
Whatever country you originate from, from Canada to Africa, you will find a part of that land, right here in Israel. As individuals return to rebuild their small section, that concentrated area expands and is beautified not only here, but reflexively in a corner of the world somewhere. The world is rooted in the Land of Israel, and we are the gardeners.
A visitor remarked how she never saw such beautiful bouquets of flowers growing wildly. There is a sense of blessing and abundance that emanates from the places that we have returned to, as if there is another gardener adding to our own efforts.
One can understand the Midrash of Sarah whose body transformed from a dried up woman of 90 to a youthful young maiden when it was time for the prophecy to arrive. Today, we are the prophecy, and we are arriving each day. Sarah gave birth in her old age and today the Land of Israel has become young in its old age and is being reborn every day.
Just as the figs drop like honey from the sky and fruit trees bear three fruits for every seed one can see the people of Israel blessed with children running wildly through the streets and pregnant mothers wherever one turns.
Amid this backdrop I heard a friend of mine say that we must ‘give back’ some of these lands. How absurd this sounds. ‘Giving back’, implies that we took something that doesn’t belong to us. Who can return his inheritance? And to whom would he give it; to robbers and thieves?
If one reads the will and testament left to us by our father in heaven, he will see that the only stipulation in receiving this abundance is to enjoy it, appreciate it and honor it with its sabbaticals. There is of course an insanity clause, as in many contracts.
If for some reason we go mad and want to divorce ourselves from paradise, curse all of this wealth and run away from our responsibility to tend this garden, then the inheritance will be passed on to another child who will protect this inheritance from both robbers and the momentary madness of his brother.
In the end, the decree of the Creator will stand and be enforced upon all of us, in all of its severity and no one can escape it. The ultimate commandment will be administered despite ourselves: Thou shalt be blessed!!
How Do You Know You Are In Israel?
In the old country, they have couriers that come in courier uniforms, take your package and give you something to sign and then leave in a hurry. Here a man arrives casually dressed, calls me by my first name and asks me if there is music on the CD’s he is delivering for me. I told him ‘no, they are video clips, why do you ask?’ ‘I was going to listen to it in the car along the way’, he answered me. Only in Israel.
The Contract
As one travels through this vast and mysterious land one cannot help but notice how quickly topographies change and alter. In one moment one is in a desert with rocks and caves, then rolling hills with lush gardens and flowers. It is as if the whole world was folded up into a small little concentration of land and water.
Whatever country you originate from, from Canada to Africa, you will find a part of that land, right here in Israel. As individuals return to rebuild their small section, that concentrated area expands and is beautified not only here, but reflexively in a corner of the world somewhere. The world is rooted in the Land of Israel, and we are the gardeners.
A visitor remarked how she never saw such beautiful bouquets of flowers growing wildly. There is a sense of blessing and abundance that emanates from the places that we have returned to, as if there is another gardener adding to our own efforts.
One can understand the Midrash of Sarah whose body transformed from a dried up woman of 90 to a youthful young maiden when it was time for the prophecy to arrive. Today, we are the prophecy, and we are arriving each day. Sarah gave birth in her old age and today the Land of Israel has become young in its old age and is being reborn every day.
Just as the figs drop like honey from the sky and fruit trees bear three fruits for every seed one can see the people of Israel blessed with children running wildly through the streets and pregnant mothers wherever one turns.
Amid this backdrop I heard a friend of mine say that we must ‘give back’ some of these lands. How absurd this sounds. ‘Giving back’, implies that we took something that doesn’t belong to us. Who can return his inheritance? And to whom would he give it; to robbers and thieves?
If one reads the will and testament left to us by our father in heaven, he will see that the only stipulation in receiving this abundance is to enjoy it, appreciate it and honor it with its sabbaticals. There is of course an insanity clause, as in many contracts.
If for some reason we go mad and want to divorce ourselves from paradise, curse all of this wealth and run away from our responsibility to tend this garden, then the inheritance will be passed on to another child who will protect this inheritance from both robbers and the momentary madness of his brother.
In the end, the decree of the Creator will stand and be enforced upon all of us, in all of its severity and no one can escape it. The ultimate commandment will be administered despite ourselves: Thou shalt be blessed!!
How Do You Know You Are In Israel?
In the old country, they have couriers that come in courier uniforms, take your package and give you something to sign and then leave in a hurry. Here a man arrives casually dressed, calls me by my first name and asks me if there is music on the CD’s he is delivering for me. I told him ‘no, they are video clips, why do you ask?’ ‘I was going to listen to it in the car along the way’, he answered me. Only in Israel.
