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November 21, 2008  23 Cheshvan 5769   Torah portion:  Chaye Sarah  Gen. 23:1-25:18                

Dear Friends:

Did God Create the world?

What if I don’t believe in God?

Does God hear our prayers?

Does God have a unique relationship with the People of Israel?

Is God nothing more than Jiminy Cricket?

Does God perform miracles?

What does God expect of us?

Does God test us?

Why does God let bad things happen to good people?

          We spend a lot of time reading prayers to God, and a lot of time learning what Judaism teaches about God, but we don’t really spend a lot of talking about and exploring our individual relationships with God. We might learn how Martin Buber or Abraham Joshua Heschel would answer the questions above, but rarely have a chance to articulate our own ideas and have them tested with probing (yet respectful) questions from others who are pondering these matters.

In a variety of contexts, I have many opportunities each year to speak with people about Jewish ideas about God. People who are encountering Judaism for the first time have one of two reactions when they find out that there are multiple Jewish views of God. Some people find that notion very liberating while others find it overwhelming. The latter want to know the basics that are non-negotiable. My response is that there are really only a few non-negotiables. We believe in one God, God is indivisible, and we reserve the right to wrestle with God. Other than that, there is a great deal of room for individual interpretation and experience.

          For those who are ready to wrestle and share, beginning on December 1, and lasting through February (a full schedule will be provided at the first session), I would like to invite you to my home on Monday evenings to explore our relationships with God. We will meet each Monday of the series from 7:30-9 Please feel free to bring friends from throughout the Jewish community. We will use the questions listed above as the triggers for our weekly discussions.

          Obviously, these thoughts, experiences, and feelings can be highly personal. To guarantee that we are all heard and our views respected, we will follow some basic rules that I learned years ago from Rabbi Manny Gold. We will encourage people to question each other for the purpose of helping us sharpen our own views. There will be no judgmental comments, even of our own thoughts. (You can’t say “I know this sounds silly, but . . .”) There are no dittoes. (“I agree with what she already said.” Even if you do, we’ll ask you to restate it in your own words.) Finally, there are no footnotes. (“As it says in the Torah, . . .” Again, we’ll ask you to repeat it in your own words.) Using these rules, we hope to establish a safe place for you to share and sharpen your own views, while learning from others at the same time.

          I hope to include you in these fundamental discussions of Jewish belief.

          Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Sincerely,

Jack P Paskoff,

Rabbi