basic judaism

No matter what the “tradition” it appears that most people of the Jewish Faith follow this rule “not to add or delete to these words” . For individuals called scribes continue to write the holy book letter by letter the same way it was written thousands of years ago.  A matter of fact one extra mark can leave it in going to different place then your local Synagogue, Shul or Temple.   We might differ on how these words need to be followed but at least we know that they must be written as they were from the days they were handed down.  G-D knows we might be very different but has given us the book to get us reading on the same page.

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This song should touch all those no matter what path they are in their faith journey. For truly G-D loves that you continue to seek the truth even if there are many rocks on your road.

When an individual takes an “Oath” it doesn’t have to be on a Bible for the one G-D  above is listening.  Whether it’s in front of thousands or said as a silent prayer it is heard loud and clear.  Your words count and truly determine what kind of person you are more then any fame or fortune. They are the lasting memories that hold in others hearts, minds and souls way past your presence in any form in their “rooms”.  These might be the words that get you past the gate or keep you looking in.  So be careful of your oaths for many ears are listening and remembering way past the time they exit your lips.

To the one who has lost a young child the words “too soon” appear to ring louder yet to those who have lost a mother, father, husband, wife, friend and/or lover is there really a good date?  We also realize the individual who has died of an accident that wasn’t on anyone’s calender appears closer to those two words as well.  Yet I wonder if “too good” can be put in the dialogue. That we had it “too good” to have this wonderful person in our life’s while millions of others never heard or saw them in action. We had these wonderful times that will always be part of our life’s to share with others that they can’t experience because they are not here to walk with us anymore.  Maybe we can carry that “one individual” spark to others so that their departure will allow others to see what we had was “too good” for “too soon”.  That way they can carry on and so can those who are left behind.

FOOTNOTE- If you see someone later in life with that “spark” maybe the return is closer then you think.

Most kings/leaders leave the keys to their castle to those that follow in the bloodline. Yet with the greatest kingdom ever built it was sent to another.  G-D commanded Moses to hand the keys to his leadership to Joshua instead of his own sons.  I’m sure in his heart Moses wished he can revise this section of the book but in his soul knew it was the right thing to do. For if G-D commands you to act you must do so even if it’s not the story you would have written.

If you see some “Traditional” Jewish individuals that aren’t singing and dancing as usual it might be because they are fasting and it’s pretty hot to add to the mix.  Today they fast in a somber remembrance of the day the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem. This occurred when the Temple stood or many, many moons ago.   I personally understand the sadness yet I’m not fasting in my personal religious journey instead I will give up an item that I enjoy.  For we in the faith actually give food to the family of a deceased loved one then why should we fast when the walls are broken. We also are commanded to fast during Yom Kippur the highest holiday of the year and I believe one fast is all G-D commands.  My traditional friends might be right and my steps might turn out to be more bumpier then I’d like yet I’m trying in the way I believe G-D wants me to and for that reason I believe we’ll all sing and dance under the same gate.

If you wanted to tell a story that made your side look good then the facts of their faults would not be so prevalent as it is in the good book.  Where all the main characters are far from perfect and deal with the same temptations that we do and take the same bite we might.  Yet the Torah teaches us the good, bad and sometimes ugly of our previous leaders showing them not as some mythical being but as flesh and blood. This is another example of why the good old book is true and new for us to explore today and in our future.

I walk in two different paths although I pursue the same route.  One as a Kohen a person who’s family routes go back to the greatest dynasty the world has ever seen because it’s not based on crushing others but uplifting the world with sacrifice. The other as the boy who continued to play “left out” as his self worth felt as if it needed a shoe.  These paths continue today as there are times when I feel as if the world is my Oyster and other times when everyone is eating at my shell. Sometimes I walk ahead and other times I stop not knowing where I can go.   Times when I feel I have this incredible image I must keep shining and others where I’m just trying to humbly climb back up the ladder.  Yes, my shoes may not match but the route is clear no matter where I go I seek a higher authority to get there.