Judaism & Education

Jewish teachings encourage the actions of individuals such as Malala (see previous post.) The great sage Hillel said: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me.  And when I am for myself, what am I?  And if not now, when?" (Avot 1:14).

Rabbi Laura Geller, the 1st female rabbi, was ordained in Berlin in 1935 and was murdered in the Shoah (holocaust) in 1944.  She says, "God has implanted in our breast abilities and callings regardless of gender.  Everyone has the obligation, whether man or woman, to be effective according to the gifts God has granted."

TEACHING AND EDUCATION ARE CENTRAL TO JEWS, as evidenced by the names of Judaism's major texts.

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld in his Book Of Life: Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice,  writes, "If one word is the most essential word in Judaism, it is the word Torah.  It literally means 'teaching.'"

The oral Torah, which was recorded around 200 C.E., is the Mishnah.  The Mishnah is the first part of the Talmud.  Mishnah means "repetition" and comes from the Hebrew root shanah, which means "to study and review."

Talmud means "instruction, learning" from the root lmd, "to teach, study."  The entire Talmud, the first part being the Mishnah, and the second part, the Gemara (c. 500 C.E.), in standard print is over 6,200 pages long.

Many passages in Torah support education for all, including the following:
Deuteronomy 5:1 - Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the laws and rules that I proclaim to you this day!  Study them and observe them faithfully!"  The commentary points out that Moses is stressing the importance of studying for everyone in the covenant.

This 2nd verse is central to worship and is recited in all synagogues: Deuteronomy 6:4-7 - "Hear O Israel, The Eternal is our God, The Eternal is one."  (This is one of the few pieces of Torah that everyone recites as is and tends to agree with.  It is often called the core of worship.) "You shall love your God, The Eternal, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.  Take these words that I command you now to heart.  Teach them intently to your children.  Speak them when you sit inside your house or walk upon the road, when you lie down, and when you rise."

Rabbi Strassfeld's rendering of a familiar Talmudic passage: "The world rests on three things: Torah, avodah, and gemuilut hesed: the study of Torah, worship, and deeds of loving kindness [Ethics of Our Ancestors 1:2]"  In other words, Torah study conducted in synagogues and halls all over the world is as central a practice to Jews as worship.  Jews consider Torah study a form of worship.

While it is important for the individual to act, it is not any one person's sole responsibility.  From Avot 2:21 (another Talmudic passage, attributed to Rabbi Tarfon): "It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it."  See our next posting for all three faith tradition's views.

We Are Malala!

Abraham: THE 30-DAY BETTER-FEELING THOUGHT PROCESS - Esther & Jerry Hicks

"One of the main functions of formalized religions is to protect people against a direct experience of God."  Carl Jung

This Fall we will be lifting from our three Scriptures what resonates with (or what offers contrast to)  The Teachings of Abraham, brought forward by Esther and Jerry Hicks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdoddb4OIBM

In the Christian New Testament, Jesus says, during his Sermon On the Mount, recorded in Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." This fits beautifully within the principles of the Law of Attraction.

In the Qur'an God approves of people asking for things.  Everything is available to humanity on earth.  As was noted in our last posting, the mercy of God comes from the same root as womb.   All of creation is nourished.   It follows that in the Middle East the ancient healing art of herbalism is honored.  In contrast, western science has created a split/separation.  Historically herbalism has been looked upon with suspicion, as the occult, anti-science.

In Judaism there are many examples where all is provided, as in in Exodus 16:15  - the heavenly bread fell, and “when the children of Israel saw [it], they said to one another, ‘It is manna,’ because they did not know what it was.”  God's gifts are plentiful and mysterious.   (Even on the sabbath, on Shabbat when no work is done, all has been made ready... everything was prepared the day before.)  The kitchen table becomes the altar. 

 Women are largely responsible for carrying out the religious traditions as Jewish families make Shabbat at home.  After the Temple was destroyed, all Jews became priests.  Famous Jewish scholars remind everyone that God is in the doing!

Mother Teresa echoes this when she says, Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action.

One of the most important aspects of Islam is that there is no intermediary needed between humankind and God. 

Do devout seekers in all three faiths recognize their personal freedom and their individual spiritual responsibility to co-create?  Is that the underlying message in the troubling story of the binding of Isaac?  When we face what makes us uncomfortable, how do we react?  Do we speak out, act or choose differently?  Perhaps God asks us to: question what we do not understand, even in the face of seeming authority.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sacrifice_of_Isaac-Caravaggio_%28Uffizi%29.jpg#file 



 

Marina Abramović e Ulay - The Feminine Presence Takes In All, Including Suffering

Tears of gratitude caught several times in my throat this afternoon during Daughters of Abraham.   As a child I was raised in a misogynist Christian denomination.  My Muslim friend explained that one of God's attributes in the Qur'an, the Arabic word "rachman"  or "merciful" comes from the root word "womb." A very feminine God, then, becomes an all-sustaining womb of creation. 

Our Jewish friend quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Song of Moses, that "God suckles."  (Deuteronomy 32:13)  He made him ride on the high places of the earth, and he did eat the fruitage of the field; and He made him to suck honey out of the crag, and oil out of the flinty rock;"

In Christianity the Divine Feminine is so hidden that when I mentioned at my son's wedding my disappointment over not hearing any Divine Feminine language, only "God the Father/He did this, God our Lord/He said that," their pastor responded, "The Divine Feminine?  What's that?"

In Christianity there still lives resistance to Mother God.  Recently when a Congregational pastor read Luke 13:34 where Jesus compares himself to a Mother hen, "How often I have longed to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen [gathers] her young under her wings" the male pastor referred to that female hen as "he."

American inventor and futurist, Buckminster Fuller said, "We are powerfully imprisoned by the terms in which we have been conducted to think."  Are we free thinkers within our faith?

Next blog: What does Carl Jung say about religion?

36,000 Prophets

Two Jews are lost on a deserted island. There are three synagogues on the island... one that A. won't go to... one that B. won't go to... and one that neither A. nor B. will go to.

Many houses of worship are seeing fewer young people and facing smaller congregations.  Post modern families are choosing, instead, fun activities like sleeping in, breakfast out, sporting & recreational activities, errands, shopping, etc. 

What happens when a young couple has a child who they believe might benefit from an ethical education?  Where do they go?  If they consider a small mosque, church, or temple, do they lose interest?  Smaller congregations have the reputation of being intolerant to anyone unlike themselves.  (In Islam that might mean being unwelcoming to Sunnis.  Christian churches may fear gays and transgender families, or those they label as too Woo-Woo or New Age.  In Temple members may avoid someone who is too orthodox or too Bu-Jew.)

A large congregation may appear more diverse; however, there may be covert and passive-aggressive jealousies and competition between members.  For example, who is the best Pakistani Muslim or the best Arab Muslim?  Who is the most liberal or evolved  Christian?  Which Jew is most active in social justice movements?

If people stay away from organized religion to avoid hypocrisy, what promotes a healthy Spiritual Life?  Is it possible (and our responsibility) to bring one's Spirituality more transparently into the secular world?

Community works best when it fosters love and connection.  Ironically, churches often re-enforce separation, alienation, tensions, and differences between people and outsider groups.

Few people know that in the Quran, there is mention of over 36,000 prophets, all respected.  Wherever one is - in time and geography - there is a respected path for that individual.  

Are we able - as Abraham's extended family - to value diversity as much as God does?

Thanks to artist Dave Walker:

Church seating

Let's make ONE DAY ... TODAY!

May each of us, in our own way, positively transform our lives in order to create diverse and nurturing communities.  Here's the youtube video if you wish to sing along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRmBChQjZPs

  "One Day" by Matisyahu (Hebrew for Gift of God)

Sometimes I lay
Under the moon
And thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray
Don't take me soon
'Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around because...

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]

It's not about
Win or lose
Because we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent
Blood-drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging

In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
It might drive you crazy but don't let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown (I drown)
But I never let it get me down (get me down)
So when negativity surrounds (surrounds)
I know some day it'll all turn around because...

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate

One day we'll all be free
And proud to be
Under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like
One day [x2]

All my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There will be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]

COMMUNITY

Each of us have been members of family, work, social, and worship communities.  Each of us have experienced how fear (often expressed in anger, power struggles, passive-aggressiveness, and more) fosters dysfunction.

We are wondering if anyone has participated in a community where fear, amidst diverse beliefs, has been met with valuable tools of healing and cooperation.  We are attempting to teach and further explore healthy community dynamics in Daughters Of Abraham meetings and through this blog.

Historically in the U.S. Christian churches were often a refuge for immigrants seeking familiar ethnic communities.

The same is true even today for Islam in the United States.   More generally, globally, communal prayer (and some readings of the Quran) require a group.  

Similarly, in Judaism, there are specific prayers, including the prayer for the dead, which require a group. This group, called a minyan, must number at least 10 adult Jews.   Exogamy, or the custom of marrying outside the family, is a challenge in small Jewish communities because everyone feels like cousins.  Being Jewish is interesting because it is both a religion and ethnicity. Therefore anyone can join the religion.  (There is a lovely Midrash about joining.) However, once born Jewish one never can really leave.

Young people are quick to see the disparity between what is lifted up as sacred guidance from our Scriptures and what is being acted out between individuals.  If one mixes up the letters of sacred one can type scared or scarred.  Are we scared and scarred from communal wounds?

'Why is it that nothing ever gets done at these meetings?' Artist: Reynolds, Dan

http://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoonview.asp?catref=dre1119

Pleasuring Women According to the Scriptures

Today's Daughters Of Abraham started with a Jewish joke.  I have never heard this coming from a Christian pulpit, but I intend to use it.  This surprising religious humor illustrates, for me, the difference (I think, as a Christian pastor) between Judaism's more healthy & open attitude about sexuality compared with the more uptight, restrictive, and shaming (in my opinion) Christian view of sexuality.

A Rabbi and a Catholic priest are sharing a theological conversation and meal.  The priest says to the rabbi, "Come on, you can tell me, have you ever tasted pork?  It is really delicious.  You don't know what you are missing."

The rabbi confessed, "Well, yes, I have to admit that one time... and only one time.. I tried bacon.  It was delicious."

The rabbi leaned over to the priest.  "So, Father, you took a vow to be celibate.  Did you ever slip?"

The priest had to confess as well.  "Well, yes, there was this one time.  Yes, I sinned."

"You gotta admit, the rabbi said, "Sex is better than pork!"

After a good laugh we turned to the Hebrew Scriptures.  In Exodus 21:10 we read the Law concerning female slaves: "If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish the food, clothing, or conjugal rights of the first wife." Under Jewish Law, if a man does not please his woman, she may divorce him!  The rabbis actually made a recommendation that a scholar needed to please his wife at least 14 times a month, while a laborer (who is physically more tired) needs to please her fewer times per month.

No Calvinist or Lutheran ever heard the above commentary about Exodus!

Islam also instructs that in love making both participants are to please one another.  D. explained that Muslim sex is like chocolate cake.  Both are wonderful, great, but should be enjoyed under certain circumstances.

In the Qur'an sexual pleasure is likened to the closest understanding that we will ever have about Heaven.  Unfortunately, in many current Muslim societies, people are so terrified of breaking boundaries that it is difficult for Muslims to enjoy sex as it is meant to be celebrated in the Qur'an.

Okay, Christian sex... since Jesus says nothing explicit about human sexuality (other than to love one another) many Christians turn to the writings of St. Paul.  Here's what he says in
1 Corinthians 7:1-15.  I have highlighted how extreme his admonitions are compared to Jewish and Islamic teachings:
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

8 Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Somehow in verse 5 Satan is connected with sexual desire and pleasure.  No wonder many Christians (including clergy) suffer from problems of sexual shame, confusion, abuse, addiction to pornography, pedophilia, and misogyny, to name just a few dysfunctions.   Why is Paul's commentary about Jesus' ministry lifted up, and included in Sunday readings?  Why in all three Abrahamic traditions does an individual's interpretation (historically a male) assume more importance than the original teachings?  (In other words, if Jesus does not speak about sex, why should Paul?)  Tradition, culture, and history often use commentary to put forward their own agenda.

             Hey, what about her husband's behavior being a threat to their marriage?

Women as Imams

Here is a great starting point for women leading group prayers in Islam!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_as_imams

I AM here to experience outrageous Joy! 

Today's quote is from Song of Solomon 6:2-3.  To be gender inclusive I am adding the feminine pronoun.

My beloved is gone down into her garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: s/he feedeth among the lilies.

                                             
 This morning's thought was inspired by Esther and Jerry Hick's teachings about the Law of Attraction.  For more information read:  Hicks, Esther and Jerry, 2004, Ask and It Is Given.  Carlsbad, CA: HAY HOUSE, INC.  (14.)

When a Woman Is Given Revelation - Gender in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Tissot_Sarah_Hears_and_Laughs.gif
Why is it that when men experience Divine revelation, in all three western religions, the human male is most often given credit for his role?   (When a woman experiences Divine revelation, often she is relegated to the background.)
 
Also, how are Hannah and Deborah uplifted in the Hebrew & Christian Scriptures?... Are their revelations attributed singularly to God?  Both Moses and Aaron receive instructions from Adonai in the book of Leviticus.  Prophet Miriam, Moses' sister, stands beside them throughout their journey. From her singing and leading people safely out of the Red Sea, she seems an empowered leader, as depicted in this painting.

 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Miriams_Tanz.jpg

However, she is not named in Leviticus.  Is her being afflicted with leprosy an act of Adonai in response to female insubordination? OR, are male Torah commentators unhappy about her large number of followers? Do they author a cautionary tale to prevent further competition with Moses?

Miriam's Well is not actually in the Torah because it is ubiquitous in Jewish life.

Miriam is called "Miriam the prophet" in the Torah (Exodus 15:20.)  The Torah itself does not mention the marvel/miracle known throughout Jewish history as Miriam's Well.  But the earliest Rabbinic literature explains how the death of each of the three leaders (Miriam, Aaron, Moses) in the wilderness included the great loss of a specific miracle for the people; in Miriam's case, the Well.  Miriam's Well was described as traveling with the people and having healing powers.  The proof text for this idea comes from Numbers 20: 1-2  ". . . Miriam died there and was buried there.  The community was without water, . . . "  Furthermore, in Rabbinic literature, Miriam is often written about in parallel to her brother Moses, and often given equal status.

What of Haajar (Hagar)?

Why is not more made of her conversation with Angel Gabriel and her journey which Muslim pilgrims follow? Historically, Hagar remains in the background.

Why in Christianity is the Gospel of Mary (Mary Magdalene) rarely discussed and not read aloud Sunday mornings alongside Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John?  http://www.gnosis.org/library/GMary-King-Intro.html

What of Mary's possible marriage to Jesus, as described in the rarely acknowledged Gospel of Philip?

Why are only men considered Jesus' disciples?  No one knows who attended Jesus' last supper. Mother Mary, along with Mary Magdalene, and the two faithful sisters Mary and Martha must have been present.   After all, they never left his side at his death (even though male followers ran away to save their lives.)

We can guess by context (and since Hebrew and Arabic are gendered languages) that the Divine, speaks through angels and directly to prophets, addressing in many cases both men and women. Why even today in 2013 are women still separated from the original experience and teaching?

M. remembers as a child how surprised she was to see Jesus' patriarchal lineage listed in the N.T.  Wasn't the Holy Spirit supposed to be his daddy?

D. teaches us that in the Qur'an when a man asks to whom is he to be dutiful, three times the answer is "to your mother."

http://lostislamichistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Aurangzeb_Handwritten_Quran.jpg

Let us all reclaim that sacred duty.

Fiddler on the roof - Lechaim (with subtitles)

 K: As a feminist deconstructionist metaphysical Christian, I have been studying POWER VS. FORCE by David Hawkins. He speaks about the vibrational power of emotional states such as despair, shame, guilt, and fear compared to Love, Joy, and Appreciation. According to his work, what we might call damaging emotions barely register above 20 on a consciousness scale while love (and above) begin around 520 and continue to 1,000 - the level of spiritual masters.

Question 1: In your traditions of Islam and Judaism, do your Scriptures make a similar distinction... or is this a post modern construct?

M: In Judaism God puts before humanity - Life and Death. We are asked to choose life. In our celebrations we say, "Lechaim!" or "L'Chayim!" which again directs us to life! Shabbat invites us to focus - for 24 uninterrupted hours - on life and joy, even the joy of making love! 

K: That is quite a contrast to the Christian imperative originating from American Puritanism and the Pilgrims to refrain from any fun at any time. 

D: Ramadan also is also about celebrating, connection to Allah, life, and community. Humorous aside: One of the highlights of our being together is playfulness, which transcends cultural and religious barriers. 

D. mentioned, in the context of Ramadan, that her Middle eastern friend, when she arrived in America, was happy to see what she assumed were all the Muslim hotels because of their name - the Ramada chain. We all chuckled.

K: It is not only David Hawkins who lectures and writes about the power of positive emotions and thinking, but the teachings of Abraham-Hicks center on this. According to them, simply being (as opposed to doing) gives a healing effect on the world. Do y/our three scriptures say anything about this? 

K: Jesus says not to cast your pearls before swine, which could sound offensive. I am wondering if he means that if you are in a positive healing emotional state, are we encouraged to stay there and create something in the present that is positive rather than turn back to the negative past and become distracted by all of its' illusions and dysfunction? Are we to focus on creating a solution, rather than become overwhelmed and depressed about the problem? 

 M: Shabbat is about beingness. Many Jewish leaders describe religious Judaism as being composed of THREE PATHS: STUDY, PRAYER, AND ACTS OF LOVING KINDNESS. 

 D: Yes, Islam also teaches what is called the Middle Way. One should not become too involved in particulars, not too extreme. (We all laugh, again, considering the extremes in world politics and extremist actions from all 3 religions, which receive media attention.)

 D: Neither are we too become too lax. Moderation and compromise are the key. All three of us wonder if being-ness came easier for our ancient ancestors who lived in agricultural communities and who were hunters/gatherers. Did they understand connection to God more naturally than we post modern egotists? 

K: Hmm.  Psalmist David cries out about separation from Adonai.  His writings are thousands of years old.

 M: The Commandments are better translated and understood as the Connections TO GOD. IT DEPENDS ON WHICH VOWELS YOU PUT IN. ONE KEY CONNECTION TO GOD IS SHABBAT WHICH IN THE TORAH IS MODELED AFTER GOD RESTING AFTER CREATING THE WORLD, AND ALSO THE STORY OF REDEMPTION AND REVELATION IN EXODUS. 

K: That would fit with the positive emotions that Hawkins describes as innate within us. It is unfortunate that the commandments are understood by most people as prohibitions and limitations.

M. & D: Here's an interesting cultural difference having to do with ego and God.  In Spain and in the Middle East, one does not say "Thank you" to someone personally. People offer their generosity and kindness because this is the right way to be. To show appreciation one might respond, "Thank you, to God, that this was done." In Spain (historically, reflecting the Muslim influence) one might say, "O'Jala" which means "If God wills." This sounds like "In sha Allah." 

K: I like that. Instead of focusing on the individual (and possibly their lower ego) in appreciation we are pointed back to God's generosity and care. 

NEXT POSTING & MEETING: Sunday, February 17th - Gender & Sexuality

Israel and Iran: A love story?

Arab-Israeli children having fun!

Think Arabs And Israelis Can't Agree On Anything? You're So Very, Very Wrong.

www.upworthy.com

With more places like this, peace in the Middle East is no longer just a pipe dream.

Our Vision and Mission

We are a group of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian women who have been meeting since Fall of 2009.

We have experienced to our dismay people leaving all three religions.  We wonder, is this in part  because our Abrahamic traditions have been misrepresented, misused, and misunderstood throughout the world and historically?  We gathered together to learn from practitioners of each faith what was actually her experience.  We agreed that all respectful questions were welcome in this spontaneous spirit of inquiry.  At the same time we recognize the importance of everyone feeling safe, but not always comfortable.  Our many life activities/vocations include history professor, English professor, psychotherapist, pastor, Waldorf teacher, and media specialist.  We dig deeply into our sacred texts as well as scholarly commentary.  We were surprised by how our participation in the group, and our own personal studies in preparation for discussions, deepen our understanding of our own tradition, perhaps even more than we learn about one another.   In presenting publicly each one's self growth has led us to even greater insights from audience questions.  Our hope is that by opening this blog discussion globally we will attract an even wider diversity of interesting questions for discussion.

We will publish your replies that spark our most productive conversations.