Fasting the Slow Way

Despite breaking the fast tonight, my head is still throbbing. This entry will be brief, but it was an incredible day with rich learning.

The day was off to a bad start. My wake up call never came so we were a bit late for our first appointment, never a good feeling but everyone was a good sport about it. We studied with a brilliant woman named Melila Helfman who has a Phd is Zohar/Jewish mystical texts. She brought rabbinic texts (her minor) to look at how the rabbinic community transformed the notion of God after the destruction of the Temple. She was delightful and we were all really engaged. She noted how progressive Jews have a very hard time mourning on Tisha B’av and that perhaps all ritual emotional expression becomes challenging and muted. An interesting point to think about.

Afterwards we met with the director of Kolot, a project that brings secular and orthodox Jews together to study texts. He has been running a very successful for high school students as well. Moti, the founder, also worked with the ultra orthodox community during the disengagement. His commitment to the issues is based on Israel’s security. He believes that an even larger threat to Israel’s wellbeing than the current crisis is the divide between secular and religious. He showed a video of the soldiers and the settlers in Gaza that was profoundly heartbreaking and powerful.

Lastly we went to Tantur and spoke with Sister Bridgette. Tantur is an ecumenical Christian retreat center with amazing views of the city. While people ate lunch their, I went to the meditation room and sat in silent meditation followed by afternoon prayer. Sister Bridgette gave a stirring lecture that was half theology and half personal narrative about how to engage with the other. The group eagerly discussed these issues.

It was good to fast today. With all the learning it was easy to be distracted from the hunger. It was more the parched feeling that was a reminder of the parched nature of our world. I am reminded that after destruction is rebuilding. It would be nice to get on to that. 600 missiless fell on Israel, they waited for Tisha B’Av to return to the bombing. Sigh.

We just finished a good dinner and will be up early for a theological tour on the Mount of Olives.

Over dinner, I listened to the story of how Joseph started his ministry and church. He grew up in Harlem and has stayed there. His tradition was Pentecostal and he has worked to find a way to embrace Pentecostal principals with New Thought-esque theology. He is quite charming and I would love to visit his church.

I also cornered the Gay priest, who is out and confounds his community and asked him about his role in the Church. Without divulging too much that is private, I greatly admire his integrity. He has a great sense of humor and is the one who feels comfortable being a bit on the bawdy side.