Letter from Palestine, 32. Shabbat shalom.
9th April 2005
Dear friends!
Yesterday I had one of my best and most edifying evenings here, attending Kabbalat Shabbat, welcoming of the Sabbath, at a Jewish family. I had decided to try to see more of Israel and followed therefore an open invitation to a family in West Jerusalem this Friday evening. They did not know how many would come, the invitation was spread through different friends, and people came during the evening, I think we were around 50.
The first I observed when I came was a feeling of peace. I was not sure if it was a true and right feeling, or if it was just the first impression. I was wished heartily welcome. It was my first celebration of the Sabbath in a Jewish home, and they expressed gratitude for my coming. The feeling of peace continued, and was increased after I got to know the people and the atmosphere more. I experienced that there was a true peace in this home.
The evening started at 6.00 PM, when those of us who had already come, lit the Sabbath candles, and wished each other the peace of the Sabbath, Shabbat shalom, a greeting repeated the whole evening. I wondered how much I would understand, but they remembered that not everybody knew Hebrew, and said therefore much in English. Some expressions were still unknown, so I have not understood everything, but I still have a good feeling. I didn’t know much about the programme before I came, and I thought it was a sort of Bible study. It was more a worship service, similar to a low church worship. We have an expression in Norwegian about “happy Christian”, which is not only positive. Still I want to keep the positive associations and turn it into “happy Jewish” or “happy religious”, and include in it a fundamental joy and gratitude in the religious consciousness. This joy was clearly visible during the evening.
The worship had a lot of song and music, meditation, reflection and praise. I have often thought about Judaism as a religion of laws. One of the girls I talked to later that evening also told that she had “fled” from the ultra-orthodox practice of Judaism which her parents observed, which she thought was not about adoration of God, but observance of a set of laws and rules. She was herself a very religious person, and had a strong experience seeking God together with others this evening. Another person I talked with told about how he as a Jew visiting some Christian churches had had some of his strongest religious experiences. It was clearly a gathering of religious people. The possibility to do more this Sabbath evening than only eating was important for them. The meal was though an important part, with contribution from those present. After the meal the feast and joy continued, with songs and stories, the whole evening.
Most of those who came were Jews. I had got the invitation via a Christian student of theology whom I met on my way to Emmaus-Nicopolis Easter Monday. He lives in “Community of Beatitudes” this year, and studies Judaism and relations between Jews and Christians. He told that also Christians were welcome to this celebration of the Sabbath. It was not only Jews and Christians, but also Muslims present, and my fear of coming to a gathering of “chosen” and nationalistic Israelis was groundless. There was no discrimination. Everybody participated equally, and the role of the women was important as they conducted most of the religious reflection and music. The focus of the worship was the creation, and the meditation on the six days, with the seventh day as the climax. A learned woman also gave a reflection on this Sabbath, and how it could be understood as a new start of the year.
Something making an impression was when the father in the house told about the background for these open Kabbalat Shabbat evenings. He found it in “Qadosh, qadosh, qadosh”, “Holy, holy, holy”. There was one holy for the members of each of the monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and actually for all, also belonging to other religions. Everybody who wanted to worship The Holy One was welcome, and I experienced that they almost had a Christian understanding of “neither Jew nor Greek”. Jewish tradition was the basis for the worship, it was a Sabbath service. But other traditions were also used, and the grace after the meal was said by a Christian, in addition there were songs related to the different religions. I am used to Christian theologians giving a new understanding of the expression of God’s people and Israel, but to get it from a Jew was especially strong. “Israel” has more meanings than I knew. In addition to struggle with God, it is about being in a straight relation with God, being loved by God or being the servant of God. The host told that he interpreted everybody having a relation to God, to be part of Israel, we are all “chosen”. The Jews and the people are Israel together.
There were more strong moments, and I want to conclude with one. One of the heights of an evening with lots of song and music by gifted musicians, was when one of the daughters in the house, about 10 years old, was to sing. She introduced her beautiful presentation of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by saying that what this song had taught her, was that we always have to continue to praise God though life is tough and difficult. The atmosphere was moving. Everybody’s participation in the chorus testified a will to worship together and to walk the way towards peace together. Religion has so far been something I have thought of giving me as an individual peace and hope. Kabbalat Shabbat with Jews, Christians and Muslims made me believe that religion, when used in the right way, can give peace and hope to the world. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” could not have a more suitable place to be sung, than in this gathering, and it was also a song which could stand as a conclusion for the evening.
Shalom has got a new and genuine meaning for me now. May the peace of the Sabbath spread and influence all the days of the week. Shabbat shalom!
Shalom, salaam and peace from Hanne.
Dear friends!
Yesterday I had one of my best and most edifying evenings here, attending Kabbalat Shabbat, welcoming of the Sabbath, at a Jewish family. I had decided to try to see more of Israel and followed therefore an open invitation to a family in West Jerusalem this Friday evening. They did not know how many would come, the invitation was spread through different friends, and people came during the evening, I think we were around 50.
The first I observed when I came was a feeling of peace. I was not sure if it was a true and right feeling, or if it was just the first impression. I was wished heartily welcome. It was my first celebration of the Sabbath in a Jewish home, and they expressed gratitude for my coming. The feeling of peace continued, and was increased after I got to know the people and the atmosphere more. I experienced that there was a true peace in this home.
The evening started at 6.00 PM, when those of us who had already come, lit the Sabbath candles, and wished each other the peace of the Sabbath, Shabbat shalom, a greeting repeated the whole evening. I wondered how much I would understand, but they remembered that not everybody knew Hebrew, and said therefore much in English. Some expressions were still unknown, so I have not understood everything, but I still have a good feeling. I didn’t know much about the programme before I came, and I thought it was a sort of Bible study. It was more a worship service, similar to a low church worship. We have an expression in Norwegian about “happy Christian”, which is not only positive. Still I want to keep the positive associations and turn it into “happy Jewish” or “happy religious”, and include in it a fundamental joy and gratitude in the religious consciousness. This joy was clearly visible during the evening.
The worship had a lot of song and music, meditation, reflection and praise. I have often thought about Judaism as a religion of laws. One of the girls I talked to later that evening also told that she had “fled” from the ultra-orthodox practice of Judaism which her parents observed, which she thought was not about adoration of God, but observance of a set of laws and rules. She was herself a very religious person, and had a strong experience seeking God together with others this evening. Another person I talked with told about how he as a Jew visiting some Christian churches had had some of his strongest religious experiences. It was clearly a gathering of religious people. The possibility to do more this Sabbath evening than only eating was important for them. The meal was though an important part, with contribution from those present. After the meal the feast and joy continued, with songs and stories, the whole evening.
Most of those who came were Jews. I had got the invitation via a Christian student of theology whom I met on my way to Emmaus-Nicopolis Easter Monday. He lives in “Community of Beatitudes” this year, and studies Judaism and relations between Jews and Christians. He told that also Christians were welcome to this celebration of the Sabbath. It was not only Jews and Christians, but also Muslims present, and my fear of coming to a gathering of “chosen” and nationalistic Israelis was groundless. There was no discrimination. Everybody participated equally, and the role of the women was important as they conducted most of the religious reflection and music. The focus of the worship was the creation, and the meditation on the six days, with the seventh day as the climax. A learned woman also gave a reflection on this Sabbath, and how it could be understood as a new start of the year.
Something making an impression was when the father in the house told about the background for these open Kabbalat Shabbat evenings. He found it in “Qadosh, qadosh, qadosh”, “Holy, holy, holy”. There was one holy for the members of each of the monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and actually for all, also belonging to other religions. Everybody who wanted to worship The Holy One was welcome, and I experienced that they almost had a Christian understanding of “neither Jew nor Greek”. Jewish tradition was the basis for the worship, it was a Sabbath service. But other traditions were also used, and the grace after the meal was said by a Christian, in addition there were songs related to the different religions. I am used to Christian theologians giving a new understanding of the expression of God’s people and Israel, but to get it from a Jew was especially strong. “Israel” has more meanings than I knew. In addition to struggle with God, it is about being in a straight relation with God, being loved by God or being the servant of God. The host told that he interpreted everybody having a relation to God, to be part of Israel, we are all “chosen”. The Jews and the people are Israel together.
There were more strong moments, and I want to conclude with one. One of the heights of an evening with lots of song and music by gifted musicians, was when one of the daughters in the house, about 10 years old, was to sing. She introduced her beautiful presentation of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by saying that what this song had taught her, was that we always have to continue to praise God though life is tough and difficult. The atmosphere was moving. Everybody’s participation in the chorus testified a will to worship together and to walk the way towards peace together. Religion has so far been something I have thought of giving me as an individual peace and hope. Kabbalat Shabbat with Jews, Christians and Muslims made me believe that religion, when used in the right way, can give peace and hope to the world. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” could not have a more suitable place to be sung, than in this gathering, and it was also a song which could stand as a conclusion for the evening.
Shalom has got a new and genuine meaning for me now. May the peace of the Sabbath spread and influence all the days of the week. Shabbat shalom!
Shalom, salaam and peace from Hanne.
posted by Hanne at 3:03 PM
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