These and Those

Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

Relationship with God

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Max Einsohn

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1264050_10200724569946235_521862426_oby Max Jared
November 2013

Many Jews today struggle with the concept of “God.” Some even squirm at the thought of approaching this subject in their life. That’s why, when I walked into my Self, Soul, and Text class during the first few weeks, I was taken aback by the comfort at which the Pardes community welcomed the discussion of “our relationship with God.”

As I let the theological winds, propelled by questions I had never considered before, blow me around, I realized my own relationship with God deserved some analysis.

With the foundation of a supportive environment of mindful searchers, I cannonballed into the waters of inquiry. I thought to myself in response to my teacher’s prompts: “Yeah…. How WOULD I walk around if I truly believed that God was my brother?” or “How would I behave if I was God’s mother- needling to be an example for how to relate to ‘the other?’” or How would I treat “the other” if I truly believed God was in every person, creature, cell, and thought?

These kinds of questions drove my pen to the blank page almost faster than the wondrous thoughts of my seemingly infinite relationship with God hop scotched in my mind. In classic “me” fashion I took these questions, and formed a song to creatively comment on the process of figuring out how each of us relates to God.

“Questions for God”
Written by Max Jared
Copyright 2013

And if I thought, God was my brother- Would I still act the same?
And If I knew, I was God’s mother- Could I show him the way?
And though the world seems so clear, have you ever thought about asking:
What did God do, this year? And does God feel our pain?

Maybe, oh just maybe, God is in me.
But if that’s true, can’t help but wonder: what does that mean?
Who am I? What is my self? What separates me, from someone else?
Is it just me, who is thinking: How do we relate to the world?

Pre Chorus: There may not be just one answer to the questions I offer.
Do the stories told by our fathers even matter?
The question here is truth- how (do) I relate to you?

Chorus: God is the glue that binds us.
Between me and you, there is an essence,
Who guides us through small voices.
Are we even listening, to the rhythm of the world?

What guides you, screaming shuv (שוב) in whispers to ya?
Does a force or voice direct us? Or do we live in silence?
What’s the value of reality in shaping how I feel and what I see?
Do I have to believe God is with me?

Pre Chorus: There may not be just one answer to the questions I offer.
Do the stories told by our fathers even matter?
The question here is truth- how (do) I relate to you?

Chorus: God is the glue that binds us.
Between me and you, there is an essence,
Who guides us through small voices.
Are we even listening, to the rhythm of the world?

Though my song seems to ask questions without clear answers, I find comfort searching through and learning from Jewish texts. Studying Torah the works of our people over the centuries helps me along my journey of creating a relationship with God. So far, I have come to believe that God is an evolving concept. Even in Genesis we see that God evolves and has different relationships with different kinds of biblical characters.

I wonder how my concept of God will change as I change. I wonder how God will change as the concept of I changes. Maybe one day, “I” will become “we” and “we” will return to “God.”