Editor's Note: Huffington Post Religion has launched a scripture commentary/reflection series, which brings together leading voices from different religious traditions to offer their wisdom on selected religious texts. We are pleased to announce a series of reflections on scripture associated with the Jewish High Holidays with reflections by rabbis from across the country and diverse traditions.
This is the third such series following Ramadan reflections on the Holy Qur'an as well as Christian reflections on the Gospel. Next month we look forward to having Hindu leaders offer scriptural reflections upon the occasion of Diwali.
We hope all readers, Jewish and non-Jewish will gain wisdom from the insights of our contributors during the High Holidays.
With this Aaron shall come to the holy place (Lev. 16:3).
This verse in Leviticus refers to the high Priest bringing the pan of incense to the holy of holies in the Temple. But the sages of the Talmud teach that the verse means that there is a way for each individual to come to his or her "holy place." The sages then go on to enumerate the ways. One strange remark is offered by Rabbi Yochanan. He says the way to come to your holy place is "kabarnitin," which means in Aramaic, "as a captain." How does one achieve holiness as a Captain? I'd like to offer two possibilities to understand this enigmatic saying.
The first is teaching us that we are in charge of our own souls. In the famous, echoing words of William Ernest Henley's well known poem "Invictus" -- "I am the master of my fate / I am the Captain of my soul."
Throughout the year we are deluged with studies of human behavior. Why do we choose the mate, or job, or neighborhood we do? What are the genetic determinants of our behavior? How do neuroscience and evolution and the latest sociological studies all prove that we were determined to do this or that? Each day the paper brings us more news from the fatalistic front. But the prayer insists that we choose. To push the metaphor one more step, we did not design the ship and we do not control the seas, but our hand is on the tiller.
The second point of this interpretation is that on a ship, others are dependent upon the Captain. The Captain's decisions will decide the fate of the crew and passengers.
Each of us is in that position, as well. Our decisions are often made with reference to how they touch us. Less often do we see the circles of influence -- our family, our friends, society at large -- that feel the pitch and sway of the way we steer our own lives.
These two realizations -- that we are responsible for ourselves and that we are responsible for others -- are what bring you to a holy place. Because they suggest that God is found both by searching inside ourselves and in our relationships with others people. God indwells and dwells between. Holiness is not a static attribute. Like all dynamisms, it moves through the world; but of course its origin is beyond this world, in the Source of all that is holy. Have a sweet, sacred New Year.
Rabbi Adam Jacobs: Why You Don't Understand the Bible
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Invictus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
YouTube - William Ernest Henley "Invictus" Poem animation
Seems to me that a candle, solitude, and silence would go a long way with a number of folks.
Could not hurt, good luck.
If you don't buy it, don't buy it, deal done, don't worry about it. If you don't buy it then why are you complaining about it ? If you do not understand and do not want to understand fine. If you want to understand, be quiet, sit down, and listen.
That is what the heck that is all about.
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I couldn't reply to your earlier response to me, because there is no "reply" button. Let me do it here.
This a is a blog, a forum for discussion and for people to express their views on the article. It is not a mass where the congregation says "Amen" to everything that is said or written.
As to what you call "nastiness", I seriously doubt that it is your call. If HP considers a comment "nasty", HP can block it.
I did find your motherly advice and orders to me quite amusing
As to "why are you complaining about it ?" - that is easy to answer. I am doing it because I feel like doing it. :-).
Still, some of the vile is pretty intersting.
I think you have an innocent, may I say distorted view about who is more tolerant, those addicted to sacred stupidity or liberals. Intolerance to other views has been enshrined in sacred dogmas.
Do you realize that in the Jewish religion and in Islam we have the sacred obligation to destroy idols, which in fact means other view points?
Very aware of it.
You get a blue ribbon and a gold star.
Good job.
Carry on soldier.
I am not you enemy.
I was just throwing hooks in the water to see if I could snag a brain or two.
20:9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
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Please do not judge the Almighty based on the Old Testament. That is not fair.
Besides, we do not even follow these ancient rules anymore.
I am quoting from the same book as the author of this blog. Do you have the same advice for him?
Besides, Christ has told that one must follow the Old Testament. Here:
) “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19 RSV)
2) "It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid." (Luke 16:17 NAB)
3) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." (Matthew 5:17 NAB)
Eid-Al-Fitr in America is Thursday, September 9th. Greet them with these words: Eid Mubarak (Blessed Festival). Show them your support and make them feel that this is America, their home.
شهر رمضان المبارك
Thanks to our beloved Post-Christian Founding Fathers who gifted us with a godless Constitution we are blessed with freedom for a multitude of sects, cults and religions.
We wish everyone, the deeply religious believers and the deeply religious nonbelievers all the best.
Fanned and Faved, from a fellow heretic.
That probably doesn't make a lot of sense, does it.
Conductor of the Soul Train, where do I sign up?
Let's act like we do have a soul, that cares about our brothers and sisters. Even if we do not have a soul, it will feel better anyway. L'Shana Tova
This sounds sweet but it shows you might not know the sidur, the Jewish prayer book.
So many Jews say three times every day that all others pray for a delusion, for a God which helps not.
Are Jews wrong to say others are wrong?
Do you think Spinoza was wrong to tell the Jews they were wrong to believe they were chosen by God? Do you think Einstein was wrong to endorse Spinoza?
Shana Tovah!
Shana Tovah
By our spiritual invisible conscience
By our spiritual faith
By our spiritual strength
By our spiritual heart.
Make up our Spiritual Body, Our Spiritual Character of who we are.
Body just carries all 3.
Christ came to teach us, show us, through Christ visible works, He accomplished, so that we could see all that the Visible God is.To know God his invisible Image, God's spiritual character, the power and glory God. We are all called created to become ONE with God, to attain the perfection of God" Image, God's spiritual Character, Love all good, all forgiving, all merciful, all serving.
The definition of soul varies.
Do you imaging soul as a spirit surviving death, as feelings, as spiritual depth, as an essence?
My Post Judeo-Christian series
IF IGNORANCE OF NATURE GAVE BIRTH TO GODS, KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE IS MADE FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION.
-- Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Necessity of Atheism
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Ninety five percent of our best biologists reject the Delusion - but not 100%.
OUR LATEST SURVEY FINDS THAT, AMONG THE TOP NATURAL SCIENTISTS, DISBELIEF IS GREATER THAN EVER — ALMOST TOTAL.
We found the highest percentage of belief among NAS mathematicians (14.3% in God, 15.0% in immortality).
Biological scientists had the lowest rate of belief (5.5% in God, 7.1% in immortality), with physicists and astronomers slightly higher (7.5% in God, 7.5% in immortality).
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/news/file002.html
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v394/n6691/full/394313a0_fs.html
http://ncseweb.org/rncse/18/2/do-scientists-really-reject-god
http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/sci_relig.htm
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My blasphemous blog
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Holyheretic.com
Thus was all men chosen by God, they to were tested first? greatly persecuted, of their true faithfulness to God, trust first in God in all things. Cannot serve 2 masters. No one enters God House, untested first. For God will not allow any one to enter His House who is unrighteous, disturbs the peace of God's House, and protects all who do dwells there within, His children, God's family. A House divided will not stand. Why Adam Eve, Devil and 1/3 of his angels were thrown out. Causing a divide, unfaithful to God, chose the deciever his lies over God's word as truth.
Eat from the Tree of Good, Evil, you will surly die. Suffer a life without me. God is all Holy does not join to what is not all good.
Let's expand our world and religious awareness, America... There's way more to spirituality, philosophy, and morality than Jesus - though he was obviously a very deep teacher with an abundance of compassion.
http://www.despair.com/mis24x30prin.html
I guess we all feel like that sometimes.
http://wsimpson.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/the-war-of-world-views/
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SOUL THAT EVEN EINSTEIN COULD NOT GRASP?
“The mystical trend of our time, which shows itself particularly in the rampant growth of the so-called Theosophy and Spiritualism, is for me no more than a symptom of weakness and confusion. Since our inner experiences consist of reproductions, and combinations of sensory impressions, THE CONCEPT OF A SOUL WITHOUT A BODY SEEM TO ME TO BE EMPTY AND DEVOID OF MEANING.”
Albert Einstein, in a letter February 5, 1921; from Albert Einstein the Human Side, Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman, eds., Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1981, p. 40.
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/quotes_einstein.html
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http://holyheretics.blogspot.com/
http://holocausthagaddah.blogspot.com/
Little St Theresa said it best. (comparing to all human beings)
Jesus designed to teach me this mystery. Christ set before me the book of nature. I understood how all the flowers, God has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily -do not- take away the perfume of the -little violet- or the -delightful simplicity- of the daisy. I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would -lose Her Springtime Beauty- and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers.
And so it is in the -world of souls, Jesus garden. He willed to create great souls comparable to lilies and roses, but Christ has created smaller ones and theses must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God's glances when he looks down at his feet- Perfection-consists in doing God's Will, in being what God wills us to be.