Monday, June 13, 2022

Summary of New Testament From a Jewish Point of View Class - June 13, 2022

It is getting to be “just plain fun” to get together every week and discuss the New Testament.

We had a full group today! Jo Ann, Dan, (and Jo Ann and Dan’s son Joel), David, Dave, Odette, Karen, Robin, Randy, Merill, Norky, and Jessica attended.

After we sang our usual opening song “Give Me That Old Time Religion” we began our study. Before the study we talked a bit about what was going on in our lives. Odette’s father is ill and so is Dan’s mother.

Below is a summary that Dan put together about what we studied and discussed:

We read through the final two chapters of II Corinthians 12-13.

We read, in preparation for these chapters, of the Jewish concept of multiple heavens, including the concept of seven heavens. In chapter 12, Paul spoke of someone who somehow went to the "third heaven", and saw and heard things which cannot be spoken of in this world. Apparently, he meant that he himself had gone on this heavenly journey.

In this portion, Paul is comparing his personal spiritual experiences with those of others who had apparently disparaged Paul's apostolic authority and teachings. Paul sarcastically calls people "super apostles." These individuals are not named by Paul.

Several of us, including Randy and Robin, commented on the irony of a person boasting of their humility, as Paul does in this passage. Dan mentioned that apostles such as Peter were famous as healers, yet Paul spoke of having some sort of physical disability which Paul called his "thorn in his side." Evidently Paul viewed this disability as having a spiritual purpose in his life. This may be compared with the speech impediment Moses is said to have had.

After our study, we talked about Mr. Spock from Star Trek’s “Live Long and Prosper” hand motion and how he got that from the Jewish Aaronic Blessing. Dan and Jo Ann led the group in singing a version of that blessing. We also sang the Misheberach healing prayer for those in the group and their loved ones who need healing.

We also got to spend some time after the study “just visiting.” We talked about classical music and a few other subjects. Norky is on a spiritual search and most of us agreed there are multiple ways to seek God.
Again, if there is anything else to add to this summary please comment.

Zoom Link - Temple Israel Long Beach’s New Testament From a Jewish Point of View - Mondays 9:45–10:45 am Pacific Standard Time

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Saturday, June 11, 2022

Leonard Nimoy’s Mr. Spock’s Live Long and Prosper Came From the Aaronic Priestly Blessing!

At today’s (6/11/2022) Temple Israel Long Beach’s Torah Study I learned the Leonard Nimoy’s “Live Long And Prosper” hand sign came right out of the Jewish Aaronic Priestly Blessing! How cool is that!

See the the story I pasted below from Rabbi Fox’s study notes.

By the way, I can only “do” the “Live Long and Prosper” hand thing with my right hand. I wonder how rabbis are able to do it with both hands?

Leonard Nimoy

I grew up in an interesting inner-city neighborhood in Boston. The area was known as the West End and was written about in a book called the Urban Villagers. It was a desirable area since it was within walking distance of downtown Boston and the Boston Commons, as well as being situated along the banks of the Charles River.

The population was mostly immigrants. Maybe 70% Italian and 25% Jewish. My family attended services in an Orthodox Jewish Synagogue, or “Shul.” We were especially attentive to the high holidays, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Since I was somewhat musical, I was hired as a young boy to sing in choirs for the holidays and I was therefore exposed to all of the rituals firsthand. I still have a vivid memory of the first time I saw the use of the split-fingered hands being extended to the congregation in blessing.

There were a group of five or six men facing the congregation and chanting in passionate shouts of a Hebrew benediction. It would translate to “May the Lord bless you and keep you,”…etc.

My Dad said, “Don’t look.”

I learned later that it is believed that during this prayer, the “Shekhina,” the feminine aspect of God comes into the temple to bless the congregation. The light from this Deity could be very damaging. So we are told to protect ourselves by closing our eyes.

I peeked.

And when I saw the split-fingered gesture of these men... I was entranced. I learned to do it simply because it seemed so magical.

It was probably 25 years later that I introduced that gesture as a Vulcan greeting in Star Trek and it has resonated with fans around the world ever since. It gives me great pleasure since it is, after all, a blessing.

What is the reason that Leonard Nimoy decided in the end to look at the gesture?
What allowed that moment and that gesture to stay with him so many years later? Is there something to the hand gesture that lends itself to being remembered?
What rituals remain strong in your memory? What do you think caused them to impact you in such a strong way?

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Summary of New Testament From Jewish Point of View Class - 6/6/2022

Of course, again, our New Testament From Jewish Point of View Class was awesome!

We had a “full crowd!” Jo Ann, Dan, Odette, Karen, Dave, David, Merrill, Randy, Norky, and Jessica attended. Robin joined us for a moment when we sang the Misheberach healing prayer for her since she is recovering from Covid. So we sang the Misheberach prayer not only for Robin but also for Dave who is recovering from a broken right arm.

Before we began our study Odette shared a Facebook link to the Saturday 6/4/2022 Shavuot theatrical presentation. Odette was one of the writers of one of the pieces. Here’s the link if anyone wants to see the presentation:

https://fb.watch/dvL1ibhHSC/

Also, before we studied, we opened with our usual song “Give Me That Old Time Religion.” We read Chapters 9, 10, and 11 in 2nd Corinthians.

Before is a summary written by Dan of what we discussed and covered:

NT from Jewish Point of View on zoom Monday, June 6, 2022

Chapter 9 talked about an upcoming collection of money for the Christians in Jerusalem.

The great modern theologian, George Carlin commented that although the Almighty is almighty, the Almighty is terrible with money.

Merrill brought up the closing of the California state mental hospitals in the 1960s and 1970s and how he was involved in building low income housing in Costa Mesa which offered space to people discharged from the Fairview state mental hospital.

David said that the Lanterman-Petris-Short act was signed by Governor Ronald Reagan in 1967 which made involuntary commitment to mental hospitals more difficult.

Chapter 10 was a defense by Paul of his ministry. Randy said it sounds like it was written by Timothy Leary (!).

Merrill recommends attending Long Beach Symphony concerts.

From Jo Ann: Dan stated that 2 Corinthians Chapter 9 was really a fund raising chapter. We talked about some religious leaders of today that seem to benefit financially from their ministry. “God loves a cheerful giver” was brought up. Jo Ann mentioned it is hard to be a “cheerful tipper!”

Again, please add anything that is missing to this summary.