"SIMPLICITY AND JOY WITH GOD IN NATURE"
03 October 2009
Shabbath / Hagh Sukkoth
15 Tishri 5770
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=== Looking for Something Good to Read?
=== Recalling the True Source of Nature's Bounty (RaShBaM)
=== Remembering Simplicity in Times of Plenty (RaMBaM)
=== "The Whole Man Moves Together" (Midrash)
=== The Joyful Circus of the Sages on Sukkoth (Talmud)
=== "Ima Ntu" - Celebrating Sukkoth Among Igbo Jews (Ilona)
=== Serving God with Joy (Law)
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"Every book shares with its readers a glimpse at what once was, what now is, and what - eventually - could be."
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Below are selected clippings from various sources that have been hand-picked to add some spice to your Shabbath reading. We hope you find these selections interesting and informative. Remember, there's always more to learn and another page to turn!
=== Recalling the True Source of Nature's Bounty (RaShBaM)
=== Remembering Simplicity in Times of Plenty (RaMBaM)
=== "The Whole Man Moves Together" (Midrash)
=== The Joyful Circus of the Sages on Sukkoth (Talmud)
=== "Ima Ntu" - Celebrating Sukkoth Among Igbo Jews (Ilona)
=== Serving God with Joy (Law)
=== Living with Simplicity (Elgin)
=== Praying Through Nature (Breslov)
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Looking for Something Good to Read?
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* "The Naked Crowd: The Jewish Alternative To Cunning Humanity" [ISBN 978-1-935104-02-5]
=== Praying Through Nature (Breslov)
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Looking for Something Good to Read?
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* "The Naked Crowd: The Jewish Alternative To Cunning Humanity" [ISBN 978-1-935104-02-5]
by José Faur
* "What Is the Meaning of Life" [ISBN 978-1-935104-00-1]
Thousands of years ago, the Jewish nation became what Nobel laureate Elias Canetti called a "naked crowd"; a society built on transparency and inclusiveness, impervious to the attempts of would-be tyrants to control the "crowd" through mind-games, linguistic manipulation, and mass hysteria. While the Jewish people have, over the course of history, occasionally lost touch with this foundation of their society, they have never lost the dream of a truly free society for all. In this book, José Faur articulates the essence of the Jewish alternative to the cunning societies of world history.
* "What Is the Meaning of Life" [ISBN 978-1-935104-00-1]
by Marino
* "We Are All God's Children" [ISBN 978-1-935104-01-8]
Evocative of the Beat generation's cry for the victims of an empty and self-destructive culture, the pages of this book deliver the next generation's answer to that howl. Combining breathtaking and provocative poetry with a piercing social commentary penned by a prodigal teenage artist, this book is a must-read for all who are troubled by the slow decay of American society. Features the acclaimed "Allen Ginsberg, Are You Lonely? / Where Have You Gone, Friedrich Nietzsche?"
* "We Are All God's Children" [ISBN 978-1-935104-01-8]
by Joseph Haddad
* "Goy" [forthcoming].
In a world riddled with xenophobia, materialism, and cynicism, many people are searching for the solution to the ills of modernity. This book proposes an "unorthodox" answer - a return to the ancient narratives and core values of the Jewish Bible may be the key to restoring harmony and fellowship to the human race. In this open and insightful introduction to the Hebrew Bible in its most universal aspects, the author uncovers the basic messages and themes that are truly relevant to all of humanity. *Featuring an epilogue on the current financial crisis*
* "Goy" [forthcoming].
by Ranjit Chatterjee
[Derusha's books and authors are changing our world]
DerushaPublishing.com/derusha-books.shtml
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Recalling the True Source of Nature's Bounty
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[Adapted from commentary of RaShBaM on Wayiqra 23:43]
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Remembering Simplicity in Times of Plenty
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[Adapted from the words of RaMBaM in "More Nevukhim" III 43]
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"The Whole Man Moves Together"
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The Sages expounded:
The verse states: "All my bones shall declare: God, who is like You?" [Tehillim 35:10]
[Adapted from "Wayiqra Rabba" 30]
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The Joyful Circus of the Sages on Sukkoth
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It was taught in a Baraitha:
[Adapted from the Talmud Bavli, tractate "Sukka"]
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"Ima Ntu" - Celebrating Sukkoth Among Igbo Jews
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[Adapted from "From Ibri to Igbo: The 40 Million Jews of West Africa" by Remy Ilona (forthcoming), co-founder of the Igbo-Israel Union in Igboland, Nigeria, an organization which is helping Igbo Jews return to Omenana and adopt the halakhic system that has developed in rabbinic Judaism over the past 2500 years]
IgboIsrael.com/remy-ilona.shtml
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Serving God with Joy
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[From the Mishne Tora, "Laws of Shophar, Sukka, and Lulav" 8:15-16]
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Living with Simplicity
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[From "Voluntary Simplicity" by Duane Elgin (New York: William Morrow & Company, 1981)]
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Praying Through Nature
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Master of the universe -
Grant me the ability to be alone.
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day,
Among the trees and grasses,
Among all growing things;
There, to be alone and enter into prayer.
There, may I express all that is in my heart,
Talking with God, to whom I belong.
May all the grasses, trees, and plants awaken at my coming.
Send the power of their life into my prayer,
Making my heart and my speech whole
Through the life and spirit of growing things,
Made whole by their transcendent Source.
Oh, that they would enter into my prayer!
Then I could fully open my heart
In prayer, supplication, and sacred speech;
Then, oh God, I could pour out the words of my heart
Before Your presence.
[Meditation of R. Nahman of Breslov]
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Have a question? Contact us!
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Regards and best wishes for a meaningful week,
Gil Amminadav
gil.a@derushapublishing.com
Elana Amminadav
elana.a@derushapublishing.com
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About Derusha Publishing LLC
=============================================
Derusha Publishing LLC
407 Jane St
2nd Floor
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
contact@derushapublishing.com
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Thank you and Shabbath Shalom!
This captivating autobiography explores one man's international search for a religious identity. Every step along this spiritual-cultural journey is redolent with existential metaphor and meaning; as the author is slowly drawn to the hidden Judaism of the post-modern philosophers and linguists, his relationship with God unfolds in an unexpected pattern.
[Derusha's books and authors are changing our world]
DerushaPublishing.com/derusha-books.shtml
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Recalling the True Source of Nature's Bounty
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Jews should reflect at this time on [1] the history of the Israelite nation, that their ancestors lived in a state of impermanence without land for forty years, [2] that this is the harvest season when storehouses are filled, and [3] not think "my own power and the might of my own hand acquired these possesions for me" [Devarim 8:17], but [4] be humble and know that God is the source of bounty.
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Remembering Simplicity in Times of Plenty
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The feast of Sukkoth, which is a feast of rejoicing and gladness, is kept seven days, in order that the idea of the festival may be more noticeable. The reason why it is kept in the autumn is stated in the Law, "When you have gathered in your labors from the field" [Shemoth 23:16] - that is, when you rest and are free from pressing tasks.
The feast of Sukkoth reminds us of the miracles wrought in the wilderness; a man ought to remember his poorer days in his days of prosperity. He will thereby be induced to thank God repeatedly, to lead a modest and simple life; we leave our homes and dwell in booths, as do inhabitants of the desert who are in want of comfort.
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"The Whole Man Moves Together"
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The Sages expounded:
The verse states: "All my bones shall declare: God, who is like You?" [Tehillim 35:10]
The verse is referring to the precept of taking the four species. The spine of the palm branch is like a man's spine, the leaves of the myrtle branch are like the eyes, the leaves of the willow branch are like the mouth, and the citron is like the heart. Dawid said: There are no more important parts of the body than these and they are equivalent to the entire body. Thus, when one takes the four species together, he is saying, "All my bones shall declare...".
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The Joyful Circus of the Sages on Sukkoth
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It was taught in a Baraitha:
They said about R. Shim'on b. Gamliel that when he rejoiced at the Simhath Beth ha-Shoeva, he used to take eight lit torches and throw them in the air, catching one and throwing one, and they did not touch one another.
At the Simhath Beth ha-Shoeva, Lewi used to juggle eight knives in the presence of Ribbi [Yehuda the Prince], Shemuel used to juggle eight glasses filled with wine before the king Shapur of Persia, and Abaye [used to juggle] eight eggs (some say four) before [his teacher] Rabba.
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"Ima Ntu" - Celebrating Sukkoth Among Igbo Jews
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Ima Ntu is still practiced annually by very important Igbo clans, such as Umuoji. During this particular feast, the Igbos make small booths of palm fronds and straw and dwell in them for a number of days. Ntu means booth in the dialect of Umuoji, rendering Uno Ntu as "booth-house." After the construction of these booths, Igbos bring food out from the home for those dwelling in the Uno Ntus. On the last day of the feast, the people stage festive masquerade parties and, in play, destroy the booths. There is much eating, drinking, and - inevitably - dancing, much as there is on Emume Iri Ji (Shavu'oth).
IgboIsrael.com/remy-ilona.shtml
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Serving God with Joy
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The happiness with which a person should rejoice in the performance of the precepts, and in the love of the God who instructed them, is a great service. Whoever holds himself back from this rejoicing is worthy of retribution, as was said, "...because you did not serve the Lord, your God, with joy and a good heart." [Devarim 28:37] Whoever makes himself proud, apportioning honor to himself, honoring himself in his own eyes, in such situations is a failure and a fool. Shelomo warned concerning this, "Do not glorify yourself before a king." [Mishlei 28:10]
And anyone who lowers himself, thinking lightly of his physical self, in these situations is a great person, worthy of honor, who serves out of love. Therefore, Dawid, king of Yisrael, declares: "I will hold myself even more lightly esteemed than this and be humble in my eyes" [Shemuel II 6:22] because the only greatness and honor is in celebrating before the Lord, as was said, "King Dawid was dancing wildly and whistling before the Lord."
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Living with Simplicity
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To live with simplicity is to unburden our lives - to live more lightly, cleanly, aerodynamically. It means establishing a more direct, unpretentious, and unencumbered relationship with all aspects of our lives: consuming, working, learning, relating, and so on. Simplicity of living means meeting life face to face. It means confronting life clearly, without unnecessary distractions, without trying to soften the awesomeness of our existence or mask the deeper magnificence of life with pretentious, distracting, and unnecessary accumulations. It means being direct and honest in relationships of all kinds. It means taking life as it is - straight and unadulterated.
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Praying Through Nature
=============================================
Master of the universe -
Grant me the ability to be alone.
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day,
Among the trees and grasses,
Among all growing things;
There, to be alone and enter into prayer.
There, may I express all that is in my heart,
Talking with God, to whom I belong.
May all the grasses, trees, and plants awaken at my coming.
Send the power of their life into my prayer,
Making my heart and my speech whole
Through the life and spirit of growing things,
Made whole by their transcendent Source.
Oh, that they would enter into my prayer!
Then I could fully open my heart
In prayer, supplication, and sacred speech;
Then, oh God, I could pour out the words of my heart
Before Your presence.
[Meditation of R. Nahman of Breslov]
=============================================
Have a question? Contact us!
=============================================
As always, we are eager to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
Gil Amminadav
gil.a@derushapublishing.com
Elana Amminadav
elana.a@derushapublishing.com
=============================================
About Derusha Publishing LLC
=============================================
Derusha Publishing is a dynamic and versatile company that prints poetry and philosophy, history books and prayerbooks, translations of traditional texts and post-modern commentaries on our common culture.
Derusha Publishing is working with readers everywhere to make the world a better place, one word at a time. Publishing is more than just our business - it's our vision.
407 Jane St
2nd Floor
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
contact@derushapublishing.com
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Thank you and Shabbath Shalom!
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