“I am at peace with God. My conflict is with man.” ~ Charlie Chaplin
The horror, death, and misery of the Gaza crisis is so brutal that the thought of reconciliation seems impossibly remote. Sadly, this is nothing new in the history of humankind and there is some ancient wisdom on how to proceed with the surrender and acceptance aspects of deep grieving. It is important to realize there is a light at the end of this tunnel of despair.
Danielle Berrin describes an ancient route for redemption and an example of how not to do it. While it might seem righteous to condemn abusers to permanent purgatory, perhaps there is a road to recovery and a return to society.
“The Hebrew word for “atonement” is “teshuva,” or return — as in a return to your higher self, a return to your essential goodness, a return to recognizing your own dignity and the dignity of others.
The repentance process begins with an “accounting of the soul” (heshbon ha’nefesh), an examination of how one has failed or fallen short. God can forgive sins against God, but notably, sins between people can be forgiven only by the aggrieved.
While prayer, “tefillah,” is also a key component of atonement in Judaism, it is a private, personal affair between human beings and God, so I won’t suggest it for everyone. I do believe, however, that prayer is meaningless if not married to moral action.
The third element of true return is “tzedekah,” often translated as “charity,” but it comes from the Hebrew root of the word “righteousness.” Judaism is not alone in reminding us that those who have hurt others can redeem themselves through giving — perhaps the most quantifiable aspect of atonement.
A complete rehabilitation should include a commitment of time and money to a cause that uplifts and empowers those in need. Engaging in a reasonable period of community service could help inculcate humility and selflessness in those who once thought only of themselves.”
“Emanuel” - May God be with you…
A nicely timed reminder!
Very nice…And timely.