Dear Friends,
Today’s post is a challenging one for me to write as it is highly personal and may rub some folks the wrong way, but I feel it is important to write nonetheless. I am visiting one of my daughters. This morning I accompanied her to her Temple for a Bar Mitzvah ceremony (a coming of age ceremony at age 13 when a young man or woman is seen as responsible for their actions and able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life.) It has been a long time since I have been to temple. Though raised in the Jewish fold, I am not a practicing Jew; I adhere to my own version of a non-denominational spirituality. I went to the temple because my daughter was going to be chanting as part of the service. I went to support her. The service was beautiful; I enjoyed the chanting of the prayers and the discussions that took place to give current meaning to the ancient traditions. And yet, I was struck again and again at how divisive religious identification is…whether Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or Muslim.
Should we not be praying for the end of all domestic violence, not just Jewish violence, should we not be educating our children about the sustainable care of the earth, not about whether it is relevant today to keep the kosher dietary rules set out by the rabbai’s hundreds of years ago? Should we not be putting our passion and energies behind uniting all people rather than strengthening our bonds to a small group within the whole to give us a sense of identification?
Though I was born a Jew and will always be considered one by society, I perceive myself one of humankind, one of the larger collective of human consciousness that inhabits the planet today. I feel that until we stop emphasizing our differences and begin promoting our similarities, we will never fully fulfill our evolutionary potential.
From a three dimensional perspective, we are individuals, adhering to our personal, cultural and religious identities; from a multi-dimensional evolutionary perspective, we will never be anything but one cell or energetic signature in the larger body of humankind. ~ Elaine
Very thoughtful ! I hope and wish that everyone would feel the same way.We need to rise above our differences to enjoy and share the joy of a higher conciousness.
Comment by fatima kazmi — May 12, 2012 @ 4:22 PM
Elaine:
So pertinent what you have written. We should be contributing our own energy towards making the world a better place in any way we can.
Thanks for speaking out.
Comment by Alphé — May 17, 2012 @ 12:04 AM
Thank you Elaine. Nice to hear again that we are all part of the oneness. We do all breath the same air and we care about our families and desire the same validation. How did we ever let religions divide us instead of nurture us???? Glad you wrote.
Comment by Iris Jamgochian — May 17, 2012 @ 7:26 PM
Thanks, Iris. I so appreciate your continued following of my posts and your support.
Yes, religion has done a number on us. I don’t know how it will change, but I do believe it will and soon, I hope. love, Elaine
Comment by Elaine — May 17, 2012 @ 11:33 PM
Thanks Fatima, I love hearing from you.
Are there any aspects of this current evolution you would like more information about? Hope you are having a great weekend. Elaine
Comment by Elaine — May 21, 2012 @ 12:59 AM