current events – Breathing Room

Separation of the Waters

Day 2 (Genesis 1:6-8): The Waters of Strife & Division

On the second day, G-d spoke the firmament into existence. He separated between the waters beneath and above the firmament. This separation brought into actuality, the atmosphere of the earth, and the point where space begins. Although, Ramban contends that the separation was between the spiritual domain and the material existence of the Universe. This rendering would denote the difference between Heaven, in the sense of a spiritual realm, and earth, akin to malchus – where G-d’s Presence can be found by way of His quality of immanence.

Unfortunately, many today in the world, have no concept of the heavenly as a spiritual dimension, except to a vague degree, nor, are some able to see beyond the material, acknowledging the spiritual. This unfortunate state of affairs has given rise to greater materialism, as well as doctrines that promote the advance of materialism. Hence, we here an emphasis on equity, to the exclusion of divinity, human rights, instead of human responsibilities to both G-d and man. Ask not what is due to you; rather, ask what you can contribute to the betterment of the world, in tandem with G-d’s design and divine plan.

Furthermore, in regard to the separation of the waters, Rashi comments that this division symbolized strife; and, for this reason, the second day was not referred to as “good.” Therefore, a parallel can be drawn to the disvalue of strife, as opposed to the inherent value of unity. As applied to a modern day context, it can be understood that a separation between spiritual and material is problematic, in that both were meant to complement each other. The phrase, “heaven and earth” epitomizes this complemental relationship between the spiritual and material realms. To deny the spiritual realm in favor of the material leads to imbalance, and visa versa as well. The incorporation of the two leads to the fundamental aspects of our nature being acknowledged, so that harmony can prevail within and without.

Without this recognition of the two components of our being human, we will be left bereft of the purpose for which we were created. Our individual purpose in life must be guided by the soul, not dictated by the material demands and inclination of the body. The earth serves to remind us of the essence of the Creator; yet, if taken advantage of solely for the sake of the use of natural resources, we lose the sense of awe and wonder that is available to us while gazing on a sunset, or viewing majestic snow-capped mountains.

Separation of Light & Darkness

From the beginning of the creation of the world, G-d used His discernment, to separate the light from the darkness. This separation is a phenomenon that we may observe every day at dusk and dawn. The transition at twilight into nighttime, and at sunrise into daytime.

The Targum Neofiti emphasizes that G-d separated by word between light and darkness. We take the separation of light and darkness as a natural occurrence that seems effortless on the part of what most human beings refer to as nature.

Since there was no Biblical Hebrew word for nature, modern Hebrew uses the word Teva. The point that I would like to make is that the initial separation was not effortless, nor a natural phenomenon; rather, it was a principle of separation built into the fabric of Creation.

According to Rashi, because the light was good, it was not appropriate “that light and darkness should function together in a confused manner” (commentary on Genesis 1:4, sefaria.org). A parallel can be drawn to moral sphere, wherein the same rule may apply.

This tenet would caution us against the mixture of light and dark in our thinking, and how we approach the challenges in life; it may help decrease the confusion prevalent in society today. The current chaos of the world derives from the admixture of good and evil that permeates society. It is fueled by the flames of bitterness, animosity, and hostility.

Yet, the line of good and evil runs through the heart of every human (Solzhenitysn). This must be acknowledged by all decent people with a conscience in order to maintain a balanced perspective. The designation of people groups leads to an us and them mentality, as if the moral integrity of the in-group compels them to be sinless in their own eyes.

On the contrary, we must examine ourselves, all the moreso, in order to better challenge evil. In a world where the difference between good and evil is blurred we need the discernment that is able to separate light from darkness. “The words You inscribed give light” (Ps. 119:130, JPSN).

Furthermore, to attempt to justify evil by placing it within a context that is itself deceptive is a disavowal of the existence of objective good and evil. We approach the dystopic inverse mentioned by the prophet, wherein “good is called evil and evil is called good, darkness is changed into light and light is changed into darkness” (Isaiah 5:20).

Yet, the original light of Creation, created before the sun, stars, and moon were created was set aside for the righteous in the Messianic Era. This is G-d’s promise of utopia on earth, when Moshiach will reign from Jerusalem. No utopia that man attempts to create can deter the divine plan.

Loyalties Divided

Truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance are the trademark calling of the philosophy of Falun Gong, also know as Falun Dafa. Yet, the repressive CCP (Chinese Communist Party) regime seeks to suppress this revived version of the traditional religious and philosophical underpinnings of Chinese society. It is an affront to their intolerance of anything that runs counter to their methods of control, that are based on fear, distrust, and hatred.

During the Maoist revolution of the 1960’s Mao’s cultural revolution waged war against what was referred to as the Four Olds: Old Ideas, Old Culture, Old Customs, Old Habits. Unfortunately, 5,000 years of Chinese ethical belief and culture was destroyed virtually overnight. In place of their cultural relics, Mao’s image in photographs, painting, and statues appeared everywhere. He became a demigod, as a result of crushing all other means to seek deity.

The vision of Karl Marx that fueled the fires of both Chinese and Russian Communism is ultimately one that can be characterized as entropic, that is to say, leading toward entropy. Yet, it is not a passive dissolution of the status quo; rather, a revolutionary enactment of overthrowing everything that previously existed, in order to start anew, transferring power, in an abrupt manner to the state.

Incidentally, the reason that the Marxist cultural revolution transforming this country is not ostensibly recognized as such is because of its implementation that focused on societal change by undermining society by gaining access within its institutions. Additionally, Rod Dreher delineates between hard totalitarianism, such as in the former Soviet Union with its system of Gulags, and soft-totalitarianism, that can be construed as a form of digital Marxism wherein people are canceled, lose benefits, reputations, and jobs. China currently has such a system, via the social credit scoring technology to control its citizens, in additions to its still extant version of hard totalitarianism.

On a moral level, the philosophy of Marxism via the Woke movement will be devastating to society, running counter to its claims of promoting social justice. One key point may be mentioned, in light of cancel culture, as follows: Judeo-Christian belief promotes forgiveness, as do other major world religions; yet, Marxism teaches unforgiveness. It does not permit a place for forgiveness; rather, it views its targets as “irredeemable.”

Within the overall framework of this cultural revolution in America, how can we relegate the issues to politics, and exclude the value of our faith in entering the discussion? This revolution of culture is changing the morals of society; therefore, it is less of a political framework than an underlying grounds for change in the moral sphere of society.

To not enter into an awareness of what is happening, nor give voice to our values, is to cede to the Marxist element of this cultural revolution. If religion is supposed to inform every area of our lives, than “politics” cannot be separated from our belief and practice. Our political views need to be informed by our religion, ethics, and values, not the other way around.

Forgetting our humanity, we are being led down a road of destruction that will divide the country into categories, similar to those established within the Maoist Revolution. Consider how the basic premise of the Woke Movement divides the populace into two basic categories of the oppressed and the oppressor. This is revolutionary language, meant to undermine the establishment, values, and foundations of this country. It is traceable back to the 1960’s and earlier in history, as will be further explained in this essay.

Freedom entails responsibility, direction, and motivation toward a value, that has import on both the lives of individuals and a society as whole. First of all, inner freedom, wherein we have the capacity to transcend our temperament, especially if inclined toward criticism, and judgmental attitudes. If we do not control our temperaments, then our temperaments will control us, leading toward agitation, and social unrest. If we give reign to our inner angst, then “cancel culture,” in all of its despotism, will continue to wreak havoc, because it “feels” like the natural way to vent our anger.

The intolerant stance toward members of society who are called out for their past and present sins is in direct philosophical opposition to the tenets of Judeo-Christian belief and other religions that place value in the ability, no, the necessity to forgive those who have wronged us, slighted our ego, or trampled upon our feelings. In the case of a proper attitude promoted by Judeo-Christian belief toward those who think differently than us, we are to enter into civil discourse with those who hold other opinions. And even if we agree to disagree, to still hold no grudge, resentment or hatred toward them.

The ideologues fueling the fire of the woke movement are directly opposed to compendium of morality, promoted by religious values. A parallel can be made to the members of Falun Gong who are persecuted in China, so too, anyone who exhibits traditional, moral and religious values is being silenced, censured, and cancelled.

Yet, there is one important difference to note within the framework of this comparison. For the CCP, it is only following up on what the Maoist revolution began in the 1960’s. Yet, In America, we are only at the beginning of a Marxist revolution that has come to fruition after the long march toward socialism through the institutions that began in the 1960’s with the New Left.

Intellectuals from the Frankfort School, established in Germany in 1929, who sought to continue their neo-Marxist agenda, escaped the Nazi regime in Germany by relocating in America at Columbia University, under the protective cloud of the New School of Social Research. Eventually, the teaching that they brought with them influenced a generation already ripe with revolutionary foment. Marxist intellectuals like Herbert Marcusse, Saul Alinsky, and Antonio Gramsci galvanized the 1960’s New Left. Antonio Gramsci, in particular, advocated infiltrating the institutions to transform society from within its various structures.

The legacy of the 1960’s as a whole can be encapsulated in the performance of the Jimmie Hendrix version of the Star-Spangled Banner. The same disdain for America, authority, and religion is being furthered in the educational system, as is symbolized in the discordant, loud, and raucous notes of his electric guitar.

Where is the moral compass of this country? At this point, since the decline of the nation, it’s trajectory toward a valueless morass, sponsored by a socialist upheaval will in all likelihood continue, the question needs to be reframed for the individual. I think that is still sincerely more important to seek the renewal of souls, who may be lost in the confusion of a country that is torn asunder by many elements, competing for the attention, loyalty, and devotion of the populace. When G-d has been left out of the equation, cancelled from the public exchange of ideas, and left out of the overall culture of a country, then people will seek some other “god” to fill that void, that we all have inside of us.

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Character Matters

“Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about things that matter.”

– paraphrase attributed to Martin Luther King Jr.

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” – original quote, from a sermon by MLK

Martin Luther King’s legacy includes these words from his I have a Dream Speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” To promote character over skin color includes the belief that an individual is capable of achievements that will be recognized as a result of that person’s character. To emphasize character over skin color means to support the innate character strengths and abilities of an individual to rise above his or her circumstances, in order to improve him or herself and make a difference in the world. This approach strengthens the motivation of an individual and affirms that person’s dignity.

Yet, the “wokeness” of CRT and identity politics aims to reduce individuals to race, ethnicity, and gender, in order to measure the level of oppression of these groups against the oppressors. In doing so, individuals are reduced to a victimhood status irrespective of their character or individuality. In fact, anyone in an “oppressed” group that does not fall in line with the ideology as an individual is deemed as an unauthentic member of their people group. The social justice movement does not support the individual; rather, it furthers the ideology, placing group over people.

Contrast this ideological Marxist approach with the genuine and sincere vision of MLK, who also said in his speech that he looked forward to the day when “all of G-d’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands” to proclaim their freedom. MLK held a unified vision of harmony, whereas the Woke movement fosters foment unrest, and divisiveness. Would MLK have approved?