Engaging w/ Elul August 9, 2013

When I think about authenticity, and particularly my authentic Judaism I have to ask myself the question, “To what end?”  Why carry on this tradition?  The beauty of Judaism is often revealed to me when the interplay of words shared in relationship, in debate and study, sings praise to the mystery of our universe - to God; it is when the “Ah - ha” moment occurs.  That is one reason to continue the beauty of our Judaism to future generations, to link ourselves in that conversation with generations past and to ensure we have more to link to in the future.  Franz Rosenzweig once wrote to Martin Buber, “For a word does not remain its speaker’s possession; he to whom it is addressed, he who hears it, or acquires it by chance—they all get a share of it; the word’s fate, while in their possession, it is more fateful than what its original speaker experienced when first uttering it.” (On Jewish Learning, Franz Rosenzweig, ed. By Nahum Glatzer.  p. 73) 

When we allow our dialogues, our relationships to take on lives of their own and evolve, that is when true learning takes place.  The authenticity comes into the picture in permitting this to occur.  The challenge is being open to the true, honest and authentic dialogue that gives us room to grow and become the people we can.

"Power and Love" (1926) Martin Buber
We cannot avoid

Using power,

Cannot escape the compulsion

To afflict the world,

So let us, cautious in diction

And mighty in contradiction,

Love powerfully.
The real struggle is not between East and West,
or capitalism and communism, but between education
and propaganda.
As quoted in Encounter with Martin Buber (1972) by Aubrey Hodes, p. 135

Make Today a Great Day,

Rabbi Evon