
 |
|
June 19, 2013
June 12, 2013
Stephanie Hanes: Little girls or little women? The Disney princess effect
Fred Weir: In tweak to US, Russia would 'consider' asylum for Snowden
June 10, 2013
The Kosher Gourmet by Anjali Prasertong: A tart filling so good it might not make it to the crust
June 5, 2013
John Rosemond: Mom, Dad: Talk More and listen less
Kristen Chick: Egypt court sentences 43 pro-democracy workers to prison
June 3, 2013
Molly Hennessy-Fiske: Military judge to consider letting Fort Hood shooting defendant represent himself
May 29, 2013
Andrew Connelly and Helene Bienvenu: The Little Synagogue that Refused to Die
May 24, 2013
Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: When I didn't so 'humbly disagree'
May 22, 2013
John Thorne:
They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman
May 20, 2013
Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?
Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star
The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting
|
| |
Jewish World Review
Oct. 22, 2004
/ 7 Mar-Cheshvan, 5765
Intimate with the Infinite
By
Rabbi David Aaron
Responsibility in spirituality
http://www.jewishworldreview.com |
In this week's Torah portion G-d appeared to Abraham and yet He said nothing.
"G-d appeared to [Abraham] in the Plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the hottest part of the day. [Abraham] lifted his eyes and he saw three strangers approaching and ran towards them."
Until now G-d appeared to Abraham to instruct, promise or bless him. The Talmud (Sotah 14A) comments that G-d was visiting sick Abraham who was recuperating from his circumcision. What does this mean?
When you visit a person who is ill it is not in order to say something; your mere presence communicates your pure desire to identify with this person in his/her time of need. You go for the sole purpose of being there. So it was when G-d visited Abraham. For the first time G-d appears to Abraham only to be with him, identify with him and share this special moment.
Sometimes the highest moment of love is when we have nothing to say to each other. We just want to share each other's presence in silence.
You can be sure this moment was sheer ecstasy for Abraham. This profound meeting in itself was ample reward for fulfilling the mitzvah (religious duty) of circumcision. In fact, this kind of ecstatic intimacy with G-d is the ultimate reward for the fulfillment of any mitzvah.
This will be the eternal joy experienced in the World to Come, which is the era that follows the coming of the Messiah, as it is recorded in the Talmud:
There the righteous will sit with crowns on their heads enjoying the splendor of the Shechina G-d's presence.
Maimonides explains:
They know and grasp the truth of G-d… this is the reward, no other reward could be better, this is the goodness, no greater goodness could follow.
BEING OR HAVING
How awesome an experience this must have been for Abraham, and yet upon seeing three strangers he, without hesitation, runs out to greet them and invite them into his home. As we read the Torah's description of Abraham anxiously preparing food for these strangers, we wonder how he was able to tear himself away from such an awesome G-d experience? The Talmud justifies Abraham's actions:
Inviting guests into your home is greater then receiving the very face of the Shechina.
How are we to understand this enigmatic statement?
Martin Buber, famous for his "I-Thou" philosophy, recounted a personal story, which he saw as a turning point in his spiritual ambitions.
One day while Buber was absorbed in a mystifying G-d experience he heard a knock at his door. Tearing himself away from his spiritual ecstasy, he opened the door. There stood a stranger, who obviously wished to be invited in. Although Buber did usher the man inside, the stranger sensed that he had come at an awkward time. Feeling uncomfortable, he was unable to communicate to Buber, so he apologized for disturbing and quickly departed. Some time later, Buber heard that a tragedy befell this man. He realized that this man had come to him with something pressing on his mind. Buber admitted that he really was not there for this troubled man because he was absorbed and entranced in a G-d experience.
This painful realization helped Buber discover the sharp difference between having a G-d experience and being in a relationship with G-d.
A G-d experience is just another form of a selfish desire. Some people like to have a lot of material wealth, and others prefer spiritual riches. These are just different forms of selfish desires.
However, an encounter and relationship with G-d fills a person with a profound sense of "responsibility" towards both G-d and His creations.
Responsible people are those who are "able" to "respond." Such people are aware of themselves and others. Entering into a relationship with G-d only increases their love and sensitivity towards the needs of others.
That is the difference between a G-d experience and a G-d relationship. Imagine a woman who is meditating in a beautiful forest; the rays of the setting sun fill the scene with a serene glow and there is a gentle breeze whispering sounds of sweet tranquility. This woman claims to have achieved a great state of enlightenment. How can she know if she had a "G-d experience" or an encounter that advanced her relationship with G-d?
If this moment inspires her to take action to do something about improving the environment, or to do something for another person, then she can be sure this was an encounter with G-d.
However, if she remains insensitive and negligent to the daily responsibilities toward other individuals and the environment, then this was only a spiritual experience. This may just be another form of selfish "having," another kind of materialism spiritual materialism. This was not love.
Greater than meeting the Divine is performing kindness to His creatures. This itself is the very fruit of such an encounter the joy of responsibility. When you love G-d, you love all and always seek ways to put your love into action.
The ability to respond to the needs of others is G-d's gift to humanity. The power of covenant is expressed when we become G-d's partner in caring for this world.
In summary, the reward for entering into a loving relationship with G-d what the Torah calls a covenant is the feeling of love for G-d, G-d's love for you and your love for the world.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspirational articles. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
To comment, please
click here.
Rabbi David Aaron is the founder and dean of Isralight, an international organization with programming in Israel, New York South Florida, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Toronto. He has taught and inspired thousands of Jews who are seeking meaning in their lives and a positive connection to their Jewish roots.
He is the author of the newly released, The Secret Life of G-d, and also the author of Endless Light, Seeing G-d and Love is my religion. (Click on link to purchase books. Sales help fund JWR.) He lives in the old City of Jerusalem with his wife and their seven children.
© 2004, Rabbi David Aaron
|