The ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, which coincides this year with sundown on July 19, recalls the collapse of ancient Judaism's central religious institution, the Jerusalem Temple. The First Temple, built by King Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians, was, according to the Talmud, destroyed because the Israelites practiced idolatry, rape, incest, and murder. According to the same source, the Second Temple, destroyed by Rome, was destroyed because of casual hatred between people.
The rabbis taught that in each case, a religious institution failed because of the failing of those who worshiped there. In that approach lies an important lesson for all people who look to those outside their own religious community to understand why the institution they love may not be doing as well as they would like.
Rather than cast blame at the feet of others, the sages of the Talmud remind their followers that even for a relatively poor and powerless people, both the roots of past failures and the keys to future success are usually found closer to home than the faithful often imagine. This is not about blaming the victim as much as it is about empowering the victim to take responsibility for their past and reminding them of their capacity to build a better future.
Whether this is a sufficient explanation or not, the rabbis' approach is worthy of attention. Both of their answers point us toward what is essentially the same problem, one which is painfully present in virtually every religious community functioning today: the privileging of doctrine over people.
The sin cycle of idolatry/improper sex/murder, sometimes called Judaism's "Big Three," is defined by the three acts for which one must give up one's life if asked to commit. In Jewish law, all other transgressions are insignificant compared to saving a life, but not these three. Why? Because in the case of the "Big Three," transgressors imagine that nothing in the world is more important than themselves and what they want to do. God is made small, and people lose significance altogether.
According to the Sages, the First Temple collapsed because it was supported by people who had life backwards: they put themselves before others, with no limitations. The God which they worshipped was simply a reflection of themselves, never offering corrective exhortation or even an alternative view of reality, and this justified their doing to others whatever they felt like doing, including raping and murdering them. Any Temple which was central to that kind of culture should have collapsed.
When the temples in our life provide nothing but excuses for that which we already want to do, and when they fail to sensitize us to those beyond the temple's walls, as was apparently the case in ancient Israel, the collapse of those temples is a reasonable, if tragic, result. And the same can be said for the loss of the Second Temple.
The Talmud teaches that casual hatred caused the collapse of the Second Temple, and it tells stories to illustrate what that means. The stories all boil down to the same issue: people, intoxicated with their own interpretation of events, are prepared to hurt and shame other human beings who happen not to share the same understanding of reality. I know that sounds tragically like an all-too-contemporary story.
As in the events which led to the first collapse, the second was also a function of people putting themselves and their particular ideas ahead of any basic respect for the needs and feelings of others. In that sense, the Talmud's two explanations for the destruction of the Temples are really one explanation framed two ways. How Talmudic!
Either way, what was true two millennia ago remains true today: the integrity of our temples is guaranteed not by their walls, the armies that guard them, or the rituals performed within. The integrity of our temples is assured, if at all, by the way in which we treat both those who worship in them and those who don't.
When our temples, be they religious, political, cultural, or otherwise, serve people more than people serve them, then those temple deserve to survive. When it's the other way around, not so much.
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Tisha B'Av - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It was Saints John and Paul that understood The Logos: The Word was Jesus.
So, before Jesus walked the earth a man, he was already a she; The Word, Holy Wisdom, Hokema, the feminine divinity.
The Protestant Reformers, would not, could not accept the Book of Wisdom and threw it out of their canon, but the Catholics include it in their bible. It has been said that some thought the Book of Wisdom was too Jewish or perhaps too feminine.
Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion and SHE penetrates and pervades all things by reason. SHE is the aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of The Almighty. SHE is the refulgence of eternal Light, a spotless mirror of the power of God. And SHE who is one, can do all things and renews everything, and passing into holy souls from age to age, SHE produces friends of God and prophets.- WISDOM 7:22-8:1
Wisdom has built her house and SHE calls to all; "Come, eat my food and drink my wine and you will live abundant life and walk in the ways of understanding." -Proverbs 9
Number 9 Number 9 Number 9....
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1782&Itemid=235
Let's say [God] is standing at the North Pole and I am standing at the South Pole; that's pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum, both metaphorically and physically speaking.
Measuring along the curvature of the Earth (or even directly), anyone who is not standing on my feet or otherwise being supported by my body is technically closer to [God] than I am.
So if you're standing right next to me, as far away as the horizon, over the equator or even on the edge of the polar ice cap, you're closer to [God] than I am.
But no amount of distance between us guarantees you are close to {God], only closer than you believe me to be.
Many people align themselves with people who they think are close to [God], assuming that makes them close, as well. Others are close to [God} not by their attempt to be as much, but simply by the way they choose to live their lives.
The danger of organized Faith isn't just in "cults of personality," the failings of religious leadership or the failings of individual members, but that the group itself--regardless of what religion is practiced--becomes more important than any individual member.
Any politicization, socialization or manipulation of Faith is as equally harmful as the attempt to turn Faith into a weapon.
I was actually trying to state, amongst other things, that closeness is not a competition between different religions or individuals, nor is it a relative thing. For that fact, faith to me is a lot like crime--motive is paramount.
If someone adopts a belief system purely to escape possible punishment or receive a reward, they're missing the point. And all too often the social structure of an assemblage provides not family, guidance or even protection, but pressure to meet either leadership's or the group's approval; one or both of those two entities then replacing the True point of faith.
I guess there's a fine line between fellowship and group mentality, and I believe that's part of the job of leaders like Rabbi Hirschfield and yourself--to literally help your flock keep on the right path. We are after all, a social creature, and are so accepting at birth we have to learn to distrust others. Some take advantage of that innate quality, as hope and optimism, if not love and compassion, require faith in your fellow man.
The politicization of faith is evident every time someone evokes or refutes any Name to gain support or justify their political ideology and actions. Socialization I think I've covered. And the manipulation, or qualification, of faith refers to those who use specific aspects of a religion to isolate and even "brainwash" others, willing or not.
We cannot humanize Omnipotence; especially not out of convenience, or obedience to any man.
~ Buddha ~
busy.. busy.. busy.
The bible cannot teach us, spiritual understand, all things.the Holy spirit brings to our minds, understanding. Why Jesus would not allow his disciples to go out and preach, till they first received the power of the Holy Spirit-within them, they received it on the Day of Pentecost-why it is called Pentecost. Jesus promise his disciples before he left, I will send you the Holy Spirit, I will not leave you alone.
Jesus taught us that the Divine Authority, has been placed within each heart to understand right from wrong. Treasures of wickness profits nothing, but -righteousness-delivers from death. The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but he casts away the desires of the wicked-Proverb 10:2-3
For you oh Lord will Bless the righteous, with favor, you surround Him as with a shield-Psalm 5:12
That I may again Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law (fallen, hard?), but that which is through faith in Christ, the -righteousness- which is from God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection-Phillipian 3-8-10
Jesus taught us our Lord's prayer it begins with Our Father-we are all God's children. Whom God dearly loves. God gives, he is not a taker. Jesus preached to heathens, pagans, all sinners us. Jesus through is great suffering, who knew no sin, became sin for us all. Jesus paid our debt of sin in full and gave us the greatest inheritance of all, Jesus willed us his peace-his righteousness.
Jesus said Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you. Not has the world gives, do I give. Jesus greatest treasure, prosperity, was His righteousness, Jesus made us all righteous before God. Peace that the world cannot understand.
We think Peace will come with our wars, forcing others, by destroying others? Why there will never be peace on earth or has been in over 6,000 years, why all great empires fell also. Greed selfishness, worship of wealth as their god. Money does not save us.
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. God called Abraham a righteous man of God, because of his faith, so it goes with Noah,Issiah, Moses, Job, Elijah, Jesus.
Jesus said Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Peace I give not like the world gives (inheritance on earth has to do with money) Jesus gave us his greatest treasure, the peace that dwells in heaven. made us righteousness with God? Peace means -completeness, welfare, health, prosperity (not money) peace.
Peace is mention all over in Old testament and New Testament, but the true meaning of Peace is understand in Hebrew, the Old Testament-Shelom. New is Greek. All disciples said in their gospels, Grace and Peace be with you. Grace and Peace be given onto you. Grace-means we cannot earn it, God gives grace. Peace keeps what Grace gives. Grace gives all things freely.
Do not fear little flock not large), for it is your father good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12:32 Never once did Jesus come to take away from teh people who came to Him. Jesus meet their every need and healed every sickness (had no peace, worry, fear, oppressed) before him.
God has given heavens best-Jesus- How shall he not with Him also freely give us all things. For God made him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become righteousness of God in Him-2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus gave us our inheritance, peace. Let no one enter your heart and steal your peace, destroy it.
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=203
Israel has no constitution, but does have a Declaration:
"On the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations." - May 14, 1948. The Declaration of the Establishment of Israel
IMAGINE what a wonderful world it will be when Israel honors those words and its prophets!
The problem with studying scripture without enlisting word definitions and symbols interpretation is we don't get an accurate vision. It leaves us seeing physically rather than the spirit behind the writings.
Thus-any who also do- are Israel too!
Israel is a state of mind and soul and not just a 20th century man-made geographical location that came into being when 'civilized' men carved up/partitioned that small piece of real estate and particular people grabbed more than their share and began to ethnically cleanse the land.
For every misunderstanding, every condemning thought, every negative vibration, every tear torn from a heart, every time one grabbed and wouldn't let go, and they only did it because they did not know:
The Divine is within all creation and within all women and men.
And every tiny kindness you have ever done, every gentle word spoken, every time you held your tongue, every positive thought, every smile freely given, every helping hand that opens, helps bring in the kingdom.
And the kingdom comes from above, and it comes from within.
Imagine a kingdom of sisterhood of all creatures and all men.