Dear
Readers,
These columns began on my area of America Online, called: Judaism
Today: Where Do I Fit? People anonymously
sent me E-Mail, and I began to choose one for a public response
in my Jewish E-Mail of the Week column. The column has become
quite popular and is now syndicated internationally in many
Jewish papers and websites. I hope you find they help you
as you think about the Ethics, Spirituality and Peoplehood
components of the Jewish way of Life. I welcome your
comments... see the end of the column.
Gil
PS
Teachers and others, feel free to copy my columns and forward
them or use them as you see fit. Please see the friendly
copyright notice at the end. |
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WHERE
IS JUDAISM WHEN I AM ALONE?
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Dear
Gil:
There
is a place for Judaism when I'm with
my family and with others in the
Jewish community. But where is Judaism
when I'm alone in the house? When I'm
walking the dog by the lake? When I am
in pain? I know where Judaism is in
the community - it is in my wallet.
Where is it when I need G-d?
K
Dear
K:
Many
have asked me questions like yours
about finding God when you are alone.
You
may be surprised to know that Judaism
definitely maintains that you can find
God by yourself...and not just during
services. Many Jews don't realize this
and think Judaism does not care about
individuals finding God. I am not sure
where the misconception came from.
Perhaps it is hearing Christians
regularly speak of a having
"personal relationship" with
God--something we Jews don't speak
about often.
Perhaps
another reason Jews have a
misconception about individual
relationships with God is the
traditional emphasis on praying in a
Minyon--that is 10 or more
individuals. Judaism as a religion is
not unique in placing an emphasis on
praying as a community (one reason
there are such institutions such as
churches, mosques, monasteries, etc.)
There are numerous reasons for and
advantages to gathering with others
for communal prayer that I won't get
into here. What is important to
realize is that finding God by
yourself is "kosher" so to
speak.
Even
though Jews do not usually use the
term "personal relationship"
to describe God, we could since
Judaism includes the concept. You need
look no further than the silent
meditation that is found in every
Jewish service called the Amidah--the
central part of the Jewish service.
During the Amidah each of us has the
opportunity for our own private
thoughts, prayers, contemplations and
meditations. For this reason, the
Amidah is probably my favorite part of
a Jewish service.
But
outside of the service, we are
regularly told to search for God and
be mindful of God...even when we are
walking by the lake with the dog. In
fact, when you are outside
appreciating nature, I can think of no
easier time to make a connection with
God. (Often rather than use the word
God, people have said to me that in
nature they are aware of or in awe of
a life force or a creator, bigger than
us.)
Whatever
term you use, here is a prayer or
meditation you might find meaningful:
"May it by my custom to go
outdoors each day amongst the trees
and grasses, among all living things
and there may I be alone and enter
into prayer to talk with the one that
I belong to. Sounds Native American
doesn't it--or maybe even Eastern? It
is Eastern....Eastern European Judaism
that is! This quote is from the famous
Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlov.
But
before you get too carried away with
your individual searching, here is a
thought from a modern rabbi, Yitz
Greenberg. He says that Judaism
"views self as the basis of human
dignity...yet incomplete by
itself." Continuing his thinking,
he quotes the famous words of our
ancient Rabbi Hillel "If I am not
for myself, who will be for me? But,
when I am for myself [alone], what am
I?"
In
Hillel's words are a response to your
comment about community. I think of
Jewish community as extended family.
You and I are part of the Jewish
community and the Jewish community is
part of us (even when you may feel
resentment about a member of the
community asking for your money.) In
reality, the Jewish community is not
about money--it is about the
collective responsibility we each have
for each other and our collective
strength as individuals together.
In
the case of the community, I'll add
that you should not judge the whole
community based on one or several
individuals. I too am a part of your
community and I have no interest in
your wallet. My interest is try and
help you and as many others as I can
to appreciate how Judaism can make
themselves and the world better.
Limited as I am by space, still I hope
I have succeeded a bit in this effort
and in giving you a hand.
Thanks
for writing,
Gil
A FRIENDLY COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© Copyright Gil Mann
These columns can be found at www.beingjewish.org. Not
only do I give you permissions to copy these Jewish Email
columns...I HOPE YOU WILL and that you share them with others!
All I ask is that you never charge anyone for them and that you
also include this little copyright notice. Thank You!
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