Noach, Avraham, and Moshe Rabbeinu

As a Haitian-American woman, I have been in many life intersections.  Am I African-American or not?  The White people who say, "You're not like the others!" were they trying to compliment me or divide and conquer? Can one have pride in being a Haitian or is it as horrific as the media says? 

Although my parents tried to shield me from many things, among them racism, the brutal gentrification of our neighborhood was quite obvious.  My brothers were frisks frequently, people were pulled over if they didn't move fast enough when the light turned green.  This brought in a new slew of racism questions.  Why are Black people hated so much?  In the case of my neighborhood it was mostly Puerto Ricans.  Why is there so much negativity directed at Black and Brown?  Although I had since moved to Israel, my concern for the Black/Brown world is still in my heart.  That and a pocket full of questions.

I never found anyone to really answer these questions for me.  Not, until, I came to Judaism.  In Judaism I learned about three pillars, three people who were real game changers.  Noach, Avraham, and Moshe.  And with these game changers, I was able to make sense out of the whole thing.

The way I see it, in a depraved society -- when everyone is corrupt and is out to outdo the next fellow in corruption, at these times, the racist seems like the most righteous person out there.  When everyone is looking out for number 1 - themselves, the only one who's actually trying to bind two or more people in kindness or caring or even love is the racist.  It's not necessarily racism, any us versus them by default entails an "us" which means more than one person is to be concerned for.

In Noach's society, that was exactly what happened.  Everyone had become corrupt, stealing from one another, the courts were a farce, etc.  So Noach was given the task of building the ark and saving only his family and the animals.  He did try to warn the rest of humanity.  Once.  But after that he went on about his business knowing full well that everyone would die in the flood.  And yet he is considered righteous - for that time.

This is also what I see today in America. With so much corruption going on, sex scandals, corrupt politicians, even dishonest business men, the name of the game is to make a buck any which way you can -- whether it's exploiting people's woes in reality shows to scamming hard working people with bad mortgages. Everyone is out for number 1.  Themselves.  As a result, the police can shoot Black men dead in the streets for the most minor reason and get away with it.  But everyone is too busy protecting their asset to fight against it.  Or when people actually do fight against it, it's mainly other Black people.  Even though injustice is a threat to the whole fabric of a society, no one seems bothered except the "us."  That is truly a depraved society.

Then comes a slightly higher level.  The level of Avraham -- in this stage society can pretty much figure out what's right and what's wrong, what's beneficial and what's detrimental.  They understand that goodness and trust is needed in a society in order for it to function.  However, they do not dismantle the status quo (established by the Noach level).  The ones kicked stay kicked; the elite stay elite.

This was the case with Avraham.  He was full of kindness and was ready to preach the "good word" to anyone who would be his guest.  But he didn't uplift anyone (nor down grade anyone).  If they were considered an outcast, so outcast they remained.  Such was the case with his faithful servant Eliezer.  Eliezer had a daughter he wanted to match with Avraham's son, Isaac.  But Isaac refused because Eliezer was from the bad stock.  Never mind that according to some, Eliezer was so holy that he went to heaven literally -- he didn't die.  Even then because his status was what it was, Avraham would not associate with him.

This was a bit how I saw many Jews today.  They are very kind.  Willing to share the Torah and have a great time.  But at the end of the day, you must stay in your lane.  Not all Jews are like this, but they are out there.

It was awesome that Operation Solomon happened and Operation Moshe and the many other operations that helped to bring the Ethiopians Jews to be with their brothers in Israel.  But it is also heartbreaking to hear them complain about the racism they've experienced there.  A few have even gone back to Ethiopia.

Stay in your lane.

I know even as a Black Jew, some people are hesitant to call upon a Black Jew to come to the Torah or would use a Black person in their advertisement when they want to represent the typical "goy."

 And then there's the Moshe Rabbeinu level (Moses).  Moshe was like a bull in a china store!  He crashed through all the taboos and social mores.  Whereas the Jewish people were punished for trying to emulate the Egyptians, Moshe lived right inside the Pharaoh's palace learning their ways.  Whereas the Jews avoid those who worshiped idols or like in Avraham's story, distanced themselves from those considered lower status, Moshe later married Midianite woman, the daughter of the high priest of Midian no less. Previously he married an Ethiopian woman as well.  Whereas most prophets had to go into a sort of trance to receive heavenly messages, Moshe was said to receive them while he was in his regular conscious state.  Whereas most scorn the Egyptians and considered them vile, Moshe brought some of the Egyptians that had been turning to Judaism (probably since Yosef's time), to come and receive the Torah as well.  He totally put the people ahead of himself.

Interestingly, it was this one who crossed and crashed through so many social mores who was the one to bring the Torah laws to the Jewish people.

This makes me think of all the times in history when the law was on the evil's side.  The holocaust was legal, slavery was legal, so many horrific things can be made legal, but it's the bull in the china store that can bring down the true, goodly laws. The Rosa Parks. 

This makes me think of the imminent redemption and nullification of racism.  Can it be that only when we are willing to charge ahead like a bull in a China store will we bring down laws that are in pleasant places?  Only when we carve our own paths? Thought schema? Our own Torah understandings?

Nevertheless, we must be cautious not to let things get too depraved otherwise the highest point we will be able to see is to just huddle together in an "us" versus "them" dichotomy

At any rate, the goal to strive for is the Moshe Rabbeinu level. It's great to call upon the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  But maybe, just maybe we should be calling upon the G-d of Moses (that facet of G-d)?

Where is Bnei Hham's Torah? Part 3

It is a bold step to compare a Black man's skin with Torah -- or really, to imply that there are instructions embedded there.  It is a probably jarring for most who are used to hearing the typical mainstream talk.  But let's explore this for a minute, shall we?

Because they have Torah/Instruction, intrinsicly, (1) their behavior may seem bizarre for someone who doesn't know Torah and (2) they may endure harsher punishments when they stray away from this inner knowledge because it's such a part of them.

Bizarre Behavior in the USA:

For example, in the USA alone, mass incarceration is the name of the game.  Many Black men are thrown in jail for the slightest of reasons, they were shamed and miseducated in schools.  It was an attempt to kill them.

In response, the women still had children -- but out of wedlock.  Even though so many Black men were broken or thrown in jail, the women found a way to keep the peoplehood going.

This story is reminiscent of Israel.  When in Egypt, Pharaoh decided to kill all the Hebrew baby boys lest one arises to save them.  In retaliation, Amram, Moses' father, decided that all couples should separate.  That way, no one will have children and no babies will be killed.

Amram's daughter, Miriam, thought differently.  She accused Pharaoh of trying to kill all the boys and Amram for trying to kill both boys and girls!  Since no children would be born the future looked bleak.  Everyone saw her reasoning and concurred.  So they had babies and tried to hide them and hope for the best if it was a boy.  Some may have even tried to dress their boys as girls.

Now Black women are fighting to have babies even though "the system" is trying to kill their boys.  Some men/boys even resort to behaving extra soft so as not to appear to pose a threat. Certainly, they may have not raised many correctly.  But thankfully, there are living boys to work with.


Another bizarre behavior is this phenomenon that Black people will stand by and march for everyone else's problems.  Many within the community complain about that and wonder why don't they just stick with their own problems.

"Whoever prays for mercy on behalf of his friend, and he needs the same thing, will be answered first." (Baba Kama 92a)

But because of the "hidden Torah" within the Black people, that may explain why they see the bigger picture and tend to be self-sacrificing.

There is the bizarre behavior of Black folks thinking they are gods or kings and their women are goddesses or queens.  In Kabbalah, there is a teaching that G-d and the Torah are as one -- meaning, they are very connected in a very close way.  So he who has Torah -- learning it, loving it, living it, etc,. it's as if he is almost one with G-d.  So therefore, Black folks with Torah written on their skin may feel very much as if they are G-d if not extremely close to The Most High.

Harsher Punishments:

Again, sticking with USA history, there is no need to elaborate on the harsher punishment and treatment that Black folks are enduring.  Not even in the USA alone, but all over South America, Africa, the Arab world, everywhere.

It behooves us all to take a moment of meditation and appreciate who we are and how we are and to use it for maximum good for ourselves and for the world. With so much propaganda and constant distraction everywhere and continuously bombarding us, its very hard to find a place of nature and quiet to meditate and "read" our Torah.  But we should be reading it every day. 

Its would be more beneficial to read this "instruction book" away from burnt metal, petrified wood, beaten rocks, which is the "forest" of the non-melanated people.  Rather, it would be best to go into the forest, nature, greenery, place of life and the living and meditate.

To be continued...

Where is Ham's Torah part 2

The Precious Stone:

In the story of Noah and the ark, at the top of the ark was something to bring light into it.  Some say it was a window, some say it was a precious sapphire stone.  If it was a window then it would only shine light when it was day.  But since it was very stormy, probably definitely rainy weather, a precious stone may have been in order.

What is so special about a precious stone?  It really enhances the beauty of something.  Crowns in particular are decked out with precious stones.  But it's not coincidental, just something pretty to decorate a crown with.  No, it's purposeful.

Keter means crown in Hebrew.  According to some, the precious gems on the crowns allows one to actually peer to what's above -- the next spiritual/astrological level.  Kind of like a crystal ball. Or like the Urim v'Thummim -- the breastplate of the Cohen/High Priest. The king wearing such a crown can boast that they were meant to be the leader because now they have access to "higher information" from above and special spiritual help. 

Also just as we place hot stones on human bodies during massages to open blocks, the sapphire stone is know for opening mental blocks.

So there was Noah and the three sons and their wives all encased in the ark with a precious sapphire stone shining above, calling to whomever will engaged with it.  Calling for 40 days.

The Intercourse:

When Adam mated with Eve, it's written Adam "knew" Eve.  In fact, this "knowing" is a way of intimately getting familiar with someone -- or even something or a concept.  When it is taught that Ham had "intercourse" in the ark, he broke a glass ceiling and gained intimate knowledge.  In addition, he actually had intercourse in the physical sense.  Canaan may have been the product of this union (which would explain why Noah took his anger out on Ham)..

There were others who also "had intercourse in the ark"  under the sapphire stone, according to the sages; the dog and the raven.  As a result, the dog was made to be tied and the raven was made to expectorate (spit).  Interestingly, the dog is, in fact, tied by humans.  It is now closer to the human plane than most animals.  In some countries it's known as a "man's best friend." 

As for the raven, interestingly, it can actually use speech much better than the well-known parrot.  Speech is a very human characteristic.  Maybe the raven can't "spit a rythm" but it can definitely speak which is a  human trait.  That combined with their great intelligence (ravens are said to be as smart as a seven year old human child).  Both the dog and the raven were brought up to a higher level away from their previous animal plane and very close to the human plane.

The dog and the raven were both brought up to a higher level.  Slightly away from the animals, and closer to the humans.  Ham was already human.  So with his new gift he also rose from human to something near the angels.  Its not uncommon to hear Black folks, particularly African Americans referring to themselves as gods and their women as godesses.

Romancing the Stone:

In the ark, Ham gazed at the precious stone and from gazing he peered through, like looking through a crystal ball, and gained intimate knowledge - as is known, sapphire stones open mental blocks.  What is this knowledge that Ham gained?

As a result of this act, he is said to have gotten stricken in the skin.

In a different section of the Jewish Torah is the story of Moses who was told to "speak to the rock" so that it would render water for the people.  Moses heard these instructions, but yet went and hit the rock instead!

This also reminds me of parents.  When a parent says to do something, they say it calmly.  If that is not heeded, the parent shouts and speaks loudly.  If that doesn't work, then the parent may give the child a smack.  A strike.   As if a strike is physical -- very loud -- word.

So Ham was "stricken" in the skin.  Another big bang just happpened.  Gd spoke strongly into Ham's skin.

Black skin is black because of the high amounts of carbon in it.  Carbon is one of the basic building blocks of life.  Nothing that is living is without carbon.  Black skin has a factor that is almost like the chlorophyll in plants.  Plants use a process called photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy for fuel.  As well, melanin is a process that converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy for fuel.  That's on a physical plane.

On a different plane, let's talk about light.  In every synagogue, there is a light that is forever shining above the ark which contains the Torah.  Let that sink for a minute...  So from within the ark, Hham who was contained within the ark stared up at the light shining constantly from the precious stone and as a result was stricken in the skin ( given a Torah - instruction within the skin).

The Torah can only be written on skin.  Traditionally, it's been written in cow hide (cows are another one with high melanin in their skin).

To be continued...

My take on Rabbi Harry Rozenberg vs. Brother Polight Debate

My comment on it... I think Harry Rozoenberg needs to learn HOW to speak to black folks. To be honest and upfront.  When in a white people crowd, people use words that can be vague in meaning, skirt around topics, etc.  but I think in a black crowd, he should have went straight to the points and tackled it head on.  He did broach some good topics, but it could have gone deeper with it.

Brother Polight didn't need to do the whole "guy getting on his knee for atonement."  that was kinda crass.  Also the Black Power chant wasn't necessary.  He did come prepared to deal with all the hard topics which was expected.



Will this encourage friendship?  Will this make for good future dialogue??

Hmmm....

A Case for Kindness

I know what I want to say... just not sure how to say it right...here goes:

WHY BE KIND?

I would like to offer a logical reason why it's imperative for us to be kind to one another.

Kindness is a very fluid thing that can take on all sorts of shapes, methods, and ways.  I can comfort someone and that's kindness.  Give a needy person some food, give an encouraging word to another, or pay someone's way through college.  All these are acts of kindness.  All these are forms of kindness or forms of charity.  Interestingly, one way that kindness can manifest is via money.  If I don't know what mode of kindness is best to do for someone -- I don't know if they need a kind word, or new shoes, or whatever, then I can just use a common denominator which is money and give them charity money.  With money the person can go and buy most things (therapy session, food, whatever).

THE MONEY CONNECTION

Money is a strong manifestation of kindness.  But it's the one who's doing the giving (of a product or service) who is being kind; the one who is consuming is being kind also -- more like gratitude.  The giver is the one who will be more blessed than the receiver.  Putting out a product to the world is a kindness.

So if people don't like you, they will not be kind to you -- they may not give you access to a product or service.  Or, even worse, if people don't like you, they may still be kind and give you access because they realize that the kindness is for them, but they may not want anything from your hands -- except maybe what they just gave you -- in other words,  if you try to offer a good or a service they may insist on cornering you into a "buyer's market" where they "give" you the amount they want to pay -- which is usually lower than your asking price.  

The highest form of kindness exchange would be where people put out whatever excess goods they have in a certain area and also come and get whatever they need.  Like giving charity anonymously and receiving charity anonymously.  I think many Native American Indians did it this way.  But that's not always possible.

THE TRAP

I have noticed and have learned from our great shepherds (May their memories be a blessing for us!) that in America especially, people do not want us to be producers.  They want us to be consumers -- to give away our kindness -- our money -- to work and earn kindness/money and give that away.   And give it away to those who don't like us, don't appreciate us, and would not give us an opportunity if we wanted.   But they don't want to receive products from us -- straight from our guts.  Things we create.  Businesses we begin.  They don't want us to give -- to partake in the blessing of kindness. And without kindness we get no money, no wealth blessings.  They would rather colonize a Black nation and suck the wealth out as if they were the givers.  Even many black folks don't want to participate in the kindness exchange with other Black folks.

So how do we make it in a system that is rigged for us to not be providers, producers or givers and to only consume (like saying thank you, oh, thank you forever and feeling indebted always)?

KINDNESS IS THE ANSWER

We have to use our wisdom and understanding to know that we only have ourselves right now.  We need to be kind to each other -- in other words, we need to give money to each other.  There is a campaign out there called Buy Black.  That is an awesome start.  But I want us to understand why we need to buy black and not just do it while the sun is shining.  If we give kindness to each other, that will bring wealth and yes, money as well.

Kindness comes in many forms.  I once saw a post on Facebook about a million dollar sandal.  Million dollar sandal!  It had carvings of animals on the strap, intricate jewelry, etc.  But showcasing the sandal was a Black person.  The only comments that post had was how ashy the feet was, how the toe nail was badly clipped. Nothing about the intricacies of the sandal.  Nothing about anything except criticism of the black guy's foot.   It was a sad sign.  There was zero kindness given, zero grace for that person.  Kindness is looking at someone with a positive eye.  We don't have to overlook a wrong, but be judicious in what we do with it.  Same goes with the "smDh" who has a damned head? And referring to one another as "yo a$$" -- why the backside?  Why the side of judgement? If not out of true love, then out of the wisdom of understanding that without the exchange of kindness we remain far from wealth and yet more blessings that await us.

THE STARVING ARTIST

And then you have the starving artist syndrome.  The one who does want to produce and does! But nothing seems to work.  They are starving and still trying to give of their kindness, sell their creation -- something that they made straight from their heart.  What now?  What is missing?

JUSTICE

The flipside of all this kindness is to keep it real.  To be truthful no matter how much it hurts.  And the truth is that probably nobody deserves an act of kindness.  Everyone has fallen short of being perfect and is probably deserving of punishment -- or at least no kindness.

That is a righteous way of looking at things. It's just.  But do we need justice at this point?  Yes!! We do.  As things stand right now there is no justice.  We see our fellow getting killed daily -- by the police at that!  There is no one to turn to.  No one to call.  What used to be the court is no longer a place of justice.  The media is the new court system.  And the media has never found us innocent -- always guilty.  The actual court system seems more like a farce or a ritual to keep everyone calm. 

But we shouldn't wait for criminals to give us a court system.  We should create a court system with our elders for ourselves and agree to abide by those rules.  We judge ourselves so that we not be judged Above.

With the combination of Truth and Justice, we will feel truly free and confident to move forward.  There should be no more doubt of undeservedness.  No more secret fear that we shouldn't have something or shouldn’t become something.  No question that we ought to move forward.

GRACE

I believe conviction, perseverance and determination is what will give us the grace that's needed for people to be receptive to gifts of kindness.  The giver themselves have to truly believe that what they have to offer is something so valuable that the world may crash if it's not given!  Then they won't be shy or have to worry about self-confidence because it will be a matter of urgency.

A MATTER OF URGENCY

And I want to tell you that what you have to offer is a matter of urgency.  We need black doctors, plumbers, carpenters, computer programmers, import/exporter everything...literally everything to create a functioning Black world.  If you close your eyes and imagine a functioning Black world how big would that world be?  To me it seems very vast and empty --where are the bank owners?  The water purifying companies?  The airlines?  Who is connecting to Afro-Cuba?  Who is connecting to Afro-Brazil?  To Afro-Asians (assuming they have embraced their Africaness) we need more people to populate it and we should give their businesses patronage -We are our economy.  May we be vessels for the Creator to bring goodness for our people.

Be kind.