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One of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. - Mark 12:28-31 KJV
About #ShowUpForShabbat
Tonight is the two year anniversary of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. As such, Jewish leaders are asking Americans of all faiths to come attend services. In doing the American Jewish Committee, or AJC, hopes to send "a resounding message that love triumphs over hate."
The purpose of the campaign which uses the hashtag #ShowUpForShabbat is two-fold.
By attending synagogue tonight we can show solidarity and support for the 11 victims killed at the Tree of Life synagogue, as well as for their families and friends and the greater Jewish community. Just as importantly we can stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters as they show the world that the Jewish community will not live in fear.
Tips for Christians and Others
As some of you know I made a full conversion to Judaism in 2009 so I'm very comfortable attending services at a nearby synagogue. But I realize that this could feel a little intimidating to others. These tips may help.
- You will be welcome. For a list of participating synagogues, please click here.
- Once there, do not feel like you have to follow along with the service or worry about getting lost. No one is watching so just be present.
- Remember that you are hearing some of the same prayers that Jesus said 2000 years ago and that many are much older.
- Keep in mind that all denominations of Judaism need our support!
- Be aware that Conservative and Orthodox synagogues have more Hebrew than Reform. Services. Services may be on Saturday as opposed to Friday night.
- You may find the service easier to follow in a Reform synagogue. While there is still some Hebrew, most Reform prayer books are phonetic and geared toward English speakers. Most services will be on Friday night.
- If you chose to attend an Orthodox synagogue, women will be comfortable in long sleeves and slightly longer than usual skirts. Be aware that men and women do not sit together.
- Conservative synagogues are less dress code conscious, in my experience, but you will probably feel out of place in casual dress.
- Introduce yourself to the Rabbi or any random person you can. When I first started going to synagogue, I was blown away by how welcoming and friendly people were but sometimes you have to take the first step.
- There will probably be food afterwards. Definitely stay!
- Remember why you are there
We attend services tonight to show support during what is likely to be a difficult time for most Jewish people. Keep in mind that people know you are coming and your presence will be appreciated.
In a wider sense, attending synagogue tonight is a mitzvah or good deed that moves us closer to God.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. - Deuteronomy 6:4-5
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| Egyptian Democracy Protesters Victorious |
Early this morning I caught a glimpse of CNN. There is jubilation in the streets of Cairo. Mubarak has resigned. The face of the Middle East is changed forever and for better or worse, there is no going back. And while I support democracy and open government wholeheartedly, I worry about a majority rule position on Israel and the West.
On a humanitarian level I wonder what will become of the ideal of freedom if a fundamentalist Islamic party is voted in. Two recent polls (Pew Research and Pollock & Pechter) report that a majority of Egyptians support traditional biblical law which includes stoning and the death penalty for crimes such as adultery. Life under Mubarak was brutal with severe curtailment of personal freedom. Certainly the future can be better but there are no hard and fast guarantees .
On a personal level, I am glad that the people of Egypt have seized an opportunity to right social wrongs. I wish them the best and hope it is a step in the direction of free and open society. This is my position politically. Now for the synchronicity. Today I was reading about Babylonia at the same time as I was watching CNN. The contrast between Middle Eastern culture then and now seemed particularly significant.
On a humanitarian level I wonder what will become of the ideal of freedom if a fundamentalist Islamic party is voted in. Two recent polls (Pew Research and Pollock & Pechter) report that a majority of Egyptians support traditional biblical law which includes stoning and the death penalty for crimes such as adultery. Life under Mubarak was brutal with severe curtailment of personal freedom. Certainly the future can be better but there are no hard and fast guarantees .
On a personal level, I am glad that the people of Egypt have seized an opportunity to right social wrongs. I wish them the best and hope it is a step in the direction of free and open society. This is my position politically. Now for the synchronicity. Today I was reading about Babylonia at the same time as I was watching CNN. The contrast between Middle Eastern culture then and now seemed particularly significant.
The book I was reading, The Mystic Quest by David S. Ariel, talks about the relationship between Islam and Judaism during the golden age of Jewish mysticism. What is most surprising about this golden age is that it existed under Muslim rule in Babylonia, the land of the Israelites captivity. From the birth of Islam in the 7th century until the rise of the Mamluk Empire some 600 years later, a cultured and advanced Persian state made significant advancements in multiple disciplines. And in that progressive and open society there was an exchange of ideas between Muslims and Jews.
According to the Zohar there are seven heavens. And this is case in Persian legend (Cup of Jamshyd) as well and I can't help wondering if this is one of the point where two very different cultures crossed. It seems that there were areas of agreement then, a possible shared understanding of energies, dimensions, God and the universe.
There is less agreement now. But the truth is that it is still the same heaven. And that even more surprisingly all of us do still exist together beneath it. As long as this is the case, anything remains possible.
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