torah man
Jan 1 2004, 01:46 AM
When a Jew hears bad news, especially of the death of someone, friend or parent of a friend, then this (topic title) is the response.
I have been away from the board for a long time and even though I touched base every once in a while, I missed the passing of Doc's Dad and just very recently heard of it. I wanted to say something and figured Theostoology would be the best place.
It is the custom (Jewish) to Sit Shiva for the seven days after the burial of a close family member. During this time, people come to the Shiva house and visit. This is not a social visit and discussions are not about current events or the weather. Any conversation that does happen is usually the giving over of some story or anecdote about the person. I have been to Shiva houses where I went in and sat down and did not say a word for a long time and then left. Saying something is not required because as anyone with a loss knows, it does not really help. Being there to share the loss is what it is about and sometimes that can be done best quietly.
When leaving, the following phrase is said to the mourner. I have included the phrase and some description of what it means.
| QUOTE |
May God comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Ha-Makom y'nachem et'chem b'toch sha'ar aveilei Tzion v'Yerushalayim.
God in this line is referred to as HaMakom -- "The Place." By saying this to
the mourner, you are saying that God is everywhere, that we exist within Him --
here and in the next world. The person who is gone is still connected to you,
for you are together, contained within "The Place."
"Among the other mourners" speaks about the Jewish people. You are saying that
we are family. Some people are close and some are distant cousins, but the loss
of even one Jew makes us all mourners.
"Of Zion and Jerusalem" speaks of our collective mourning over the destruction
of the Temple in Jerusalem, the central point of the Jewish relationship to God
that was destroyed by the Romans 2,000 years ago.
|
One of the biggest hurdles to get over when confronted with the death of a close loved one has to do with understanding what the loss is really all about.
The time of death of every person is written when they are born. It can not be changed or delayed. We also do not know when it is. Once a person has died, we can be absolutely sure that it was going to happen at that time no matter what we could have done about it. It is said that even if our enemy hold the blade to our neck, we should not give up for we do not know when the real time of our departure will be.
It is said that before the soul comes down to a body, it kicks and screams in protest about having to leave the heavens ( literally the storehouse of souls ) and descend down to this physical world into a body. Once the soul is here, It does everything it can to keep from leaving the body and returning to heaven. Why is that?
Many people live in one world and have many gods. The truth is that there are two worlds and only one G-d. When connected to this truth, and understanding why the sould comes down into a body in the first place, the question above is better answered.
When the soul comes down into the body, it is given the opportunity to serve G-d in a way that far exceeds any service the soul could perform above. In this world, where G-dliness is hidden, the value of our service to G-d, is much sweeter. For above, where G-dliness is revealed to all, it is impossible to do things contrary to the will of G-d. It is only down here that we can choose to do things contrary to the will of G-d. It is by choosing to do the right thing down here that we fulfill the purpose of creation.
Another concept that must be grasped concerns the concept of pain and pleasure in each of the two worlds. It is said that one flash of a moment of joy in the spiritual world is greater than all of the possible pleasure in the lowly physical world and the reverse...
Some people who do not do good things seem to be rewarded in this world and it causes us to wonder about the divine justice. Also, apparently good people seem to suffer in this world and we are doubly confused. Blessed is the person who receives any suffering due to him in this world and none is saved for the world to come.
When someone connects himself to G-d, he truely discovers that everything is G-d and G-d is everything. The concept of suffering takes on a whole new meaning or lack of meaning when one has made this connection.
Well this is the theory and I try to live by it and with it the best that I can. That does not mean I do not terribly miss my father who I lost in 1975 or my daughter who I lost in 1991.
Well Doc, I missed the Shiva, both the real one and the electronic one. I just want to say, "May God comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."
DrStool
Jan 1 2004, 02:23 AM
Thank you TM. I appreciate the thoughts.
Blessed be the spiritual ones.