Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea

The Bearded Man in the Clouds

<< < (2/2)

Kahane-Was-Right BT:

--- Quote from: MassuhDGoodName on July 29, 2010, 09:37:19 AM ---muman613,

A question for you:

How is it that we are constantly reminded that "man is made in the image of G-d" (or in G-d's image"), as well as reminded that "If you kill yourself it is not only murder but destroying the image of G-d!", "Each and every person on the planet, no matter which race, and no matter how hideously ugly -- ALL are made in the very likeness of G-d!"

And then suddenly we are reminded that "G-d has no shape or body!"..."He is non-corporeal!" ... "And not only that; but we just say "He" even though G-d has no sexual characteristics!"?

Sound to me like someone's trying to "have their cake and eat it too!"

And...if G-d created all men "in His image", why in the world would G-d make something so ugly, smelly, and disgusting as some jive-A-s-s schwartze?...or as hideous and beastly as Arafat?"

I have met and known thousands of Jews who insisted that "Schwartzes are made by G-d, too!" "When you look into the face of some cannibal rapist, you're looking at the very image of G-d!".......... BUT! ..........

In actual practice, speech, and behavior, these same Jews betray the FACT that they consider all schwartzes to be sub-human trash, dangerous, dirty, violent, and good only for being beasts of burden or chasing coconuts.

p.s. -- and if G-d doesn't have a long white beard, then why does He command Jews to never shave their beards using a razor?



--- End quote ---

In his "image" does not mean physical image or physicality.  According to many rishonim btzelem Elokim means that G-d gave man rational thought.

So a given person's ugly or beautiful physical appearance has no relevance.  Shaving of the beard also has no relevance.   God commands many things including eating certain foods etc.  God does not eat and we don't ascribe the human characteristics to God.    I really don't follow what you're saying.   Not to mention that shaving the beard only refers to the corners of the beard, so I guess you'll have to adjust your "picture" of God that you made and give him a 'corners-only beard...'   

muman613:
Another interesting aspect of your question is why do we usually refer to Hashem as Him and not Her... We do consider the 'Shechina' to be a feminine aspect of Hashem...

Simply put, as I have heard it explained, we refer to Hashem as a He because according to Jewish belief there are two parts of man, the masculine side and the feminine side... Every man has these two characteristics... Also remember that Adam was originally made with both male and female aspects which then were separated when Hashem realized he was lonely.

The Masculine aspect is considered the Giver... A man gives his seed to the woman. The man is supposed to be the strong one who supports his wife and family, he is the provider, the protector. The feminine side is the nurturer, the one who builds this seed into a human being, and she educates and raises this new human.

This is my simple explanation, now I will provide some links and excerpts from Rabbis:


http://www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/G-d.htm


--- Quote ---G-d is Neither Male nor Female

This followed directly from the idea that G-d has no physical form.  G-d has, of course, no body; therefore, the very idea that G-d is male or female is patently absurd.  We refer to G-d using masculine terms simply for convenience's sake, because Hebrew has no neutral gender; G-d is no more male than a table is.

Although we usually speak of G-d in masculine terms, there are times when we refer to G-d using feminine terms.  The Shechinah, the manifestation of G-d's presence that fills the universe, is conceived of in feminine terms, and the word Shechinah is a feminine word.
--- End quote ---

http://www.jewishanswers.org/ask-the-rabbi-2586/g-d-in-masculine-or-feminine-terms/


--- Quote ---G-d is always referred to as “He”. I realize this is people’s way of referring to the masculine such as in the saying “mankind”. However, is there any discussion of G-d’s female properties in any text? Or some indication of G-d as “Mother” instead of “Father”?

Indeed, the Torah does always use the masculine form to describe G-d but it is also true that this might not be an absolute statement of His gender as much as a stylistic device – or perhaps more likely – a more subtle indication of some aspect of our experience with Him. The closest thing I can think of to a feminine-like aspect would be the word “Shechina” – Divine Presence (which takes the feminine gender in Hebrew). This word doesn’t in any way describe G-d himself, but the effect of His manifest proximity.

With my best regards,
Rabbi Boruch Clinton
--- End quote ---

http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/tzedaka/gender-terms.htm


--- Quote ---

...

Although our tradition refers to various attributes of Hashem – including attributes which we understand as “masculine” or “feminine” – we are to recognize the Oneness and Unity of Hashem. This concept is expressed in the following verse from Anim Zemiros – a kabbalistic hymn which many congregations sing on Shabbos and the Festivals:

“They symbolized You in many varied visions; yet You are a Unity containing all the allegories.”

In this spirit, Maimonides writes in his “Book of Mitzvos” (Mitzvah 2): “The Creator of all things in existence and their First Cause is One.” Maimonides then cites the following proclamation: “Hear O Israel, Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is One” (Deut. 6:4).

The One Creator is the “First Cause” – the Unifying Source of all life. Our discussion on gender terms for Hashem must therefore be based on this sacred premise.

Within the Siddur, we find mention of the Shechinah – the Divine Presence. According to our tradition, the Shechinah expresses the “feminine” attributes of Hashem. The term Shechinah is related to the verb shochen – dwelling, for the Shechinah seeks to dwell with us on this earth. We are to therefore experience the intimate Divine Presence within this physical world, and according to “halacha” – the requirements of the Torah path – we are to become aware of the Shechinah when we pray. As Maimonides states in his halachic work, the Mishneh Torah:

“One should see one’s self as if one is standing before the Shechinah.” (The Book of Love, the Halachos of Prayer 4:16)

As we mentioned, the Shechinah expresses those attributes of Hashem that we understand as “feminine”; thus, this leads to the following question: If we are to be aware of the Shechinah when we pray, then why do our classical Hebrew prayers use the masculine form of Hebrew pronouns when addressing Hashem or referring to Hashem, rather than the feminine form? For example, the Hebrew word “ata” – you – is the masculine form, while the Hebrew word “att” – you – is the feminine form. In our prayers, we address Hashem as “Ata” – the masculine form.

The Kabbalah – the hidden wisdom of the Torah – discusses in great depth the “masculine” and “feminine” terms for Hashem; however, I am not a student of Kabbalah, and I am therefore not able to discuss with you the kabbalistic answers to the question we raised. What I will share with you is a possible answer that I first discussed with my rebbes. This answer is meant to serve as “food for thought”; moreover, I share it with the awareness that the explanations of finite human beings cannot adequately describe the Infinite One.

Within the physical world, the female receives the seed from the male, who acts as the source of the seed – the first cause; thus, feminine energy is associated with receiving the seed of life in order to nurture and protect it. The process of receiving also implies that there is another being who is giving. Hashem, however, is the First Cause and One; thus, when we mention Hashem in our prayers, we use pronouns which refer to the “masculine” aspect of Hashem, in order to stress that Hashem is the First Cause and One Source of all creation. Through strengthening our awareness that all creation comes from the One Source, we can strengthen our awareness that all creation, with all its diversity, is ultimately one.

...

--- End quote ---

Regarding Adams 'female' side:

http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/380616/jewish/The-Female-Aspect-of-Adam.htm


--- Quote ---The Female Aspect of Adam

from the Oheiv Yisrael by Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel

And the Lord G-d caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept, and He took one of his sides, and closed the flesh in its place…[And He made it into a woman] and brought her to the man. (Gen. 2:21)

It is known that Adam was the epitome of all creation, the handiwork of G-d Himself. He included all holiness and all the souls of Israel. The entire side of holiness was attached to him and included in him.

Also, Adam originally included both male and female, since he was created with the two [connected] bodies.

Everything in the world must contain the concept of both male and female. This is especially true in serving G-d, where the male and female elements correspond respectively to "remember" and "keep" [referring to Shabbat].

The essence of the male and female elements respectively is the concept of giving and receiving. Thus, for example, a person can attain great attachment, holiness, and purity of thought. Such a person then gives spiritual delight to the supernal Lights, universes, and attributes. This is the concept of the male element.

At the same time, however, this person receives spiritual sustenance from the supernal universes. This is the concept of his female element. All Israel also partake of this female element when this sustenance is transmitted to them, providing them with everything they need. From it they receive "children, life and food", and the like.

...

--- End quote ---

IsraeliGovtAreKapos:

--- Quote from: muman613 on July 29, 2010, 12:34:22 PM ---
The Masculine aspect is considered the Giver...
--- End quote ---

Or Gever  ;D

Rubystars:

--- Quote from: muman613 on July 29, 2010, 01:45:42 AM ---I don't know where this idea comes from. Maybe it is a Christian idea, but it runs completely against the Jewish concept of Hashem.

--- End quote ---

It's not a Christian concept. I think it's related to depictions of pagan deities like Zeus who is often depicted as a man with a beard in the clouds. This made its way into pop culture and people not familiar with Judaism or with the actual teachings of Christianity use that as their stock image of God.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page