Do You Believe in God?

I've been in a bit of a fog for the past few weeks. No need to discuss why - I'm sure each of us has had much to deal with in our own situations as this time of Covid continues its journey into the unknown. We all seek support and comfort in our own way. One of my go-to responses is reading what my peers are posting on social media. Earlier this week I saw this tweet from my colleague Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg:

Clearly my title and profession suggest that I am likely to be one of those who believe in God (although that question was never asked at any point in the interview process for rabbinical school. Nor was it part of any required course that I took over 5 years of classes. It did come up in one elective class - homiletics - and 40% of the students did not return for the rest of the course, having been challenged on what God was for them). 

I am also aware that many of my friends consider religious beliefs to be at the core of so many problems in the world today. 

TheRaDR captures it in a nutshell - the traditional Western perspective of an "Angry Sky Daddy". Succinctly put. I might add also some kind of Superhero that one expects to swoop down in his cape and save the day when things get out of hand. It is a religious icon that's embedded in our secular culture, and we rarely think about it or question it. We either accept it or reject it.

For me, those are perspectives of a child. We may be the Children of Israel (or possibly the Teenagers of Israel by now), but we need to grow up. One of the big decisions facing us as the fog lifts is:  what are WE going to DO NOW? It is clear in so many ways what has gone wrong, and  if we want post-pandemic life to be any better than the path that led us to this moment, the responsibility is on us to make some changes.

So I will come right out and say it. If God does not exist, then the onus is on us, only on us, for who or what else is there? And if God does exist, and placed us in this world to care for it and each other, then the responsibility is just as clear:  the problems that we have are the consequences of our actions, and we have to fix things. This is the freedom that we received at Pesach, and continue to hold so dear.

My job has never been about persuading anyone regarding the existence of a Deity. I am trying to learn about how relationships work, how to develop strong and healthy ones, and sharing what I've learned with others so that we can DO something positive in our lives. Do you believe in God? None of my business. All I care about is that you find the support and strength, in whichever way works for you, so you can join in the work of tikkun olam. 

Shabbat shalom!

 

Notes on Nitzavim

Another religious post from the ravaj. No, not Queens Park Rangers again (o let her enjoy these brief moments of glory). Rather, a short piece on the weekly Torah portion as written for the Liberal Judaism website. Be gentle - her head is still sore from the bus accident the other day!

Parashat Nitzavim

It is all so simple in the Torah:

“Behold, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil ... I command you this day to love Adonai your God ... so that you will live and increase, and Adonai ... will bless you. But if your heart deviates and you do not listen ... you will surely perish ... choose life, that you may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)

Obeisance to God is rewarded, and defiance will receive the ultimate penalty. The way to go seems obvious. Yet Maimonides teaches:

“Freedom of choice has been granted to every person ... This concept is a fundamental principle and a pillar of the Torah and its commandments.” (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 5:1)

Why would one choose death? What, then, may we understand the freedom of choice to mean? As Liberal Jews, we will not accept the Biblical statements that present such a polar perspective. We have seen evil prosper in our world, and we cannot accept the death of six million as punishment. The equation does not work, and thus the choice is not clear. The rabbis of the Talmud also questioned the logic of such teaching. They spent much time and space differentiating between suffering that they did see as a direct consequence of sin, and what they called “sufferings of love”. The Tanakh told them:

“Do not despise God’s chastening, nor spurn God’s rebuke; for whom God loves, God rebukes.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Should we believe that suffering is a sign of God’s care and attention? The ideal that hovers in our minds and our hearts suggests that love is the triumph of joy over pain. We try so terribly hard not to hurt the people we love – if God truly loves us, why would God cause us to suffer?

Perhaps the problem is that we are looking at what the choices are, rather than what ‘freedom’ means. Is freedom the licence to do as we wish? Or is our will affected beyond our control by the limitations of nature and/or nurture? Each of us may have our own understanding of these questions. All of us, however, will encounter options. We shall have to consider the consequences each one may engender, and we will make a decision.

Our portion this week raises much existential angst. At the same time, it consoles us with these words:

“This commandment which I command you this day, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far away. It is not in heaven, that you shall say: ‘who will go up for us to heaven and bring it to us and make us hear it so we may do it?’ Nor is it across the sea, that you shall say: ‘who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us and make us hear it so we may do it?’ No, it is very close to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

In other words, don’t worry so much, it is really not that difficult! All you have to do is take a good look at yourself, and you will figure out what you have to do. In these days of contemplation that precede the Days of Awe, may we find the clarity of vision that will lead us to choose life and freedom for ourselves, and all the nations of the world.