Today was Rosh Hashanah. I woke up early to carpool to Synagogue, which meant going in I was pretty tired and fatigued. Today would be the longest religious service I've ever experienced. But it would be worth it.
What do Doctor House and Abraham have in common? Both have been caught in hallucinations and had to kill their delusion in order to break out of it. This was part of the theme of the Rabbi's story on the sacrifice of Isaac. How he explained it, it made sense too. Abraham had circumscribed himself and his family three days prior. Due to this circumcision and the extreme pain he could have hallucinated bringing Isaac up and killing him, while listening to the "Voice of God" and seeing an Angel tell him he was worthy.
Something similar happens to House in an episode of House. In which they are trying to heal a patient, but then a man comes in and shoots house. He then is hallucinating the entire time, the hallucination only ends when he kills his patient, which then brings him back to the present where he is being rushed to the emergency room.
Rosh Hashanah service was the longest religious service I have taken part in. In the length there were things I liked and didn't like. For example, I liked how people who volunteered were recognized by the community and by lighting a candle. I liked how there was meditation and the emphasis on Buddhist and Taoist ideals.
What I didn't like was the emphasis on the Torah. Every book is sacred in my opinion, but the special place the Torah is given inside the Arc and how we all paid tribute to it (not touching it, but touching to Torah with our prayerbook or prayer shall) kept up the separateness from the word being interpreted by the people. I did enjoy learning the history of that Torah though. It was over 300 years old and saved by the allies during World War 2. The Bonyhadi's would later give a plaque for it, that was from Central Europe as well, and about the same age as the Torah. The history lesson was beautiful, putting the book in a state of awe, wasn't really my thing. I learned later that honoring the Torah is honoring the Word within ourselves. Which I can relate to as the ability to create through imagination and action that we all possess.
Service ended with the shofar being blown. It truly an ancient beautiful sound. After the service we all had lunch together before we left.
Showing posts with label Jewish High Holy Days. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jewish High Holy Days. Show all posts
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Bet'Alef: Meditative Synagogue (Bellevue) - High Holy Days - Rosh Hashanah: Entering a New Year, September 8th 2010
What happens when Buddhist and Taoist philosophy meet Judaism? The answer: You get Bet'Alef Synagogue. I have so many memories in this place, good ones at that. My adoptive family the Bonyhadi's attend here, and I had visited here prior with YES and IVY.
I will be attending in High Holy Day Services with my adoptive family the Bonyhadi's. I missed them much during my China trip and it was glorious to catch up with how all of them are doing and connect on topics of life, the universe and everything.
On the way to Synagogue I learned about the Hierarchy Judaism, which is really a lack of Hierarchy. Each Synagogue is independent. Rabbis have unions but there are no Higher Rabbis. I like this a lot about Judaism. I also learned about most of the cons with Judaism lie with Orthodox and Conservative Judaism. Where there are no female rabbis and Leviticus is law...so gay marriage is definite no for these groups. Women are also placed in a traditional role as well, which is why I support reform and Hasidic Judaism where power is equal between the sexes.
Today is the day before new year. Rosh Hashanah, when people confess their sins and die to themselves. This dying to oneself was the theme. "Accept yourselves as you are." The Rabbi said. Which was having all expectations we attach to others perception of us - die. Releasing attachments was the theme, to awaken the God part of ourselves, the light of Enlightenment. It was a beautiful service. At the core, it was learning act of forgiving oneself, so that one can forgive others and truly live love and compassion. Service was about discovering God within ourselves.
One thing I have always loved about Bet'Alef is the music, and today was no disappointment. There music seemed to touch the very humanity of all present. There was anger, sadness, joy, sorrow, peace, anxiety and all other emotions that each piece spoke when it was sung.
I would have visions during some of the songs, which would play into the theme of Rosh Hashanah Day service the next day.
Before service ended that night we would meditate. It was amazing to get in touch with how my body was feeling and the constant stream of thoughts and images in my mind. While I sat in the silence I was able to discover balance again. True meditation, like true prayer...really does calm the mind.
After service there was the blessing on the Challah and wine. I stayed with the Bonyhadis when I wasn't off observing and taking it all in. I found when meeting new people, I didn't quite know what to say. So I ended up enjoying the peace of the company of all who attended.
I will be attending in High Holy Day Services with my adoptive family the Bonyhadi's. I missed them much during my China trip and it was glorious to catch up with how all of them are doing and connect on topics of life, the universe and everything.
On the way to Synagogue I learned about the Hierarchy Judaism, which is really a lack of Hierarchy. Each Synagogue is independent. Rabbis have unions but there are no Higher Rabbis. I like this a lot about Judaism. I also learned about most of the cons with Judaism lie with Orthodox and Conservative Judaism. Where there are no female rabbis and Leviticus is law...so gay marriage is definite no for these groups. Women are also placed in a traditional role as well, which is why I support reform and Hasidic Judaism where power is equal between the sexes.
Today is the day before new year. Rosh Hashanah, when people confess their sins and die to themselves. This dying to oneself was the theme. "Accept yourselves as you are." The Rabbi said. Which was having all expectations we attach to others perception of us - die. Releasing attachments was the theme, to awaken the God part of ourselves, the light of Enlightenment. It was a beautiful service. At the core, it was learning act of forgiving oneself, so that one can forgive others and truly live love and compassion. Service was about discovering God within ourselves.
One thing I have always loved about Bet'Alef is the music, and today was no disappointment. There music seemed to touch the very humanity of all present. There was anger, sadness, joy, sorrow, peace, anxiety and all other emotions that each piece spoke when it was sung.
I would have visions during some of the songs, which would play into the theme of Rosh Hashanah Day service the next day.
Before service ended that night we would meditate. It was amazing to get in touch with how my body was feeling and the constant stream of thoughts and images in my mind. While I sat in the silence I was able to discover balance again. True meditation, like true prayer...really does calm the mind.
After service there was the blessing on the Challah and wine. I stayed with the Bonyhadis when I wasn't off observing and taking it all in. I found when meeting new people, I didn't quite know what to say. So I ended up enjoying the peace of the company of all who attended.
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