One of the unique differences between Western/American thought and Jewish thought is that Jews believe you can hold opposing ideas simultaneously. Here’s an example from a local rabbi’s recent email to her congregation. Rabbi Ilana of Beth Jacob Congregation in Redwood City expressed her gratitude and reflected on “where do we find God?” I am moved by this very Jewish approach – believing contradictory ideas and valuing each for their own message.
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I am writing to share my gratitude for two upcoming, short sabbaticals. I will be in Jerusalem. During the month of July I will be backpacking with a friend in the Sierra Nevada.
The prophet Isaish declared, maleh kol ha’aretz kvodo, “”The entire earth is filled with God’s glory.” In principle, we do not need to travel to Israel, or the mountains, or anywhere, to feel the caress of the divine spirit. The grandeur and love are all around us.
But the prophet Ezekiel had a different understanding: baruch kvod Ado-nai mimkomo, “Blessed is God’s glory from His place.” The divine spirit is hidden. We must seek it out, and each of us has places and contexts in which it is most accessible to us.
In true Jewish fashion, we hold the contradiction. The composers of the prayer book placed these two statements side-by-side in the kedushah prayer. For the Shabbat musaf service, they added a question between these two lines: Ayeh mkom kvodo, “Where is the place of God’s glory?”
Where, indeed? Amidst the hustle-bustle, stresses of life, I can become numb to God’s presence anywhere. But that is intolerable for a rabbi! It is literally my job to nurture for our community an awareness of the divine.
I need to return to the places where the Presence is strongest for me — the glowing stones of Jerusalem, and the granite peaks of the Sierras. There I can renew my spiritual awareness, so that I may return to the work of helping us feel the Godliness everywhere.
I feel deeply blessed and grateful to our community for allowing me this time. I pray that I will return from each of these short absences, spiritually renewed, empowered to feel God’s presence within the small moments of daily life, and able to give that blessing back to you.
With gratitude,
Rabbi Ilana