Celebrating 100! From just over a year ago #32

Musings #32
January 30, 2004

All Face Jerusalem

Recently I find myself waiting at roadsides and junctions just before the sun begins to hide under the horizon. I notice others, who should be eagerly and alertly scanning all passing cars. Instead, regardless of which direction they need to travel, whether north, south, east or west, they all face Jerusalem.

They ignore the passing cars and concentrate on their prayers in the final moments of the day when a Jew can pray Mincha. It is better to pray in a minyan, a quorum of ten, but if the choice is a solitary prayer on the roadside, or none at all, one should just pray where one is.

Jews are commanded to pray three times a day, Shacharit in the morning, Mincha in the afternoon and Arvit (Ma’ariv) in the evening. The Jewish day is divided. The prayers must be said in their proper time; if one is inadvertently missed, the following is to be doubled.

Judaism is both separation and synthesis. Our days are not only divided by a sun-powered clock, but there are different types of days, Kodesh and Chol, Shabbat and the weekdays. In addition to our days, our food is divided into categories: meat, dairy, parve (neutral, can be eaten with either meat or dairy,) and the forbidden. At times the material and physical pleasures are commanded, and at other times they are forbidden. We feast and we fast, all at times commanded by Jewish Law. There are blessings for before eating and after eating. There is even a prayer to be said after urinating and defecating. It reminds us that these systems are essential for life, and we must thank G-d that they function.

Judaism recognizes human frailty, and it commands us to repent and begin anew. The Messiah, Mashiach ben David, is to be descended from a long line of great people who admitted their mistakes, learned from them and went on to better things. None of us is perfect. We all have our roles. If we find ourselves on the wrong path, we must stop, admit our mistake and take the right one. We are responsible for our lives.

As the pale, afternoon sun begins to metamorphose into brilliant, luminous orange, their prayers are finished, and they look for a ride.

Batya Medad, Shiloh