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| Praised are you O Lord our
God who discerns secrets. |
Barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh HaOlam
Haham HaRazim |
This bracha is recited upon seeing a gathering of
thousands of Jews. The Talmud in the Tractate of Brachot (58a)
relates in the words of rabbi Hamnuna, "If on sees a gathering
of a crowd of Israelites, he should say, "Blessed is He, who discerns
secrets… for the mind of each is different
from that of the other, just as the face is different from that
of the other."
The sea of Judaism is vast. The types of Jews are
many and varied. We have tried our best to categorize people into
movements, Reform Orthodox, Conservative. We have talked much
about the religious and secular Jews. We have New Age Jews and
Jews searching for greater spirituality. We recognize there are
irreconcilable differences, differences in theology, differences
in sociology and differences in practice. We also understand our
strength comes in standing together.
This week we witnessed thousands of Jews and non
Jews alike converge on our capital to stand in solidarity with
Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East. People came
from as many as 15 states to gather and to simple say we are united
with those who defend freedom and the right to live in peace in
Israel. Politicians, humanitarians, historians and philanthropists
encouraged the crowd with speeches and with language of agreement.
Thousands came together some riding on buses overnight to arrive
on time, while others took trains and planes to get there.
The news clips on television sent chills up the
spines of the observers to see such a mandate from the people
to remain steadfast in our connection to Israel. Speakers like,
Natan Sharansky, the Soviet Refusnik, now an Israeli Cabinet Minister,
recalled 15 years ago as thousands gathered in the same city in
support of the Jews of the former Soviet Union trapped behind
the Iron Curtain. He reminded those of the statement that was
made to Mikhail Gorbachev and said that those standing there today
make the same statement. The news coverage would then span the
crowd for reaction and response from members of the audience.
The faces were young and old. Some wore black hats,
while some baseball hats. Some wore kippot, while some heads were
bare. Women in long dresses and women in shorts. All types of
Jews and non Jews. All standing together. Based on the clothing
we can imagine what they are thinking and what is important to
them but that would be unfair. That is why this bracha says recited.
It reminds us that we can never know what is in the mind of others.
Confronted by so many people we must remain conscious of our individuality
and thank God for the strength we find in community and in gathering
together. If we begin to project thought, motives and agendas
we divide ourselves. If we presuppose we become the destructive
force against which we rally.
Copyright © 2001 Rabbi
Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.
New Jersey Region United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism
PO Box 390; 1025 St. Georges
Ave
Linden, NJ 07036-0390
Phone: 908-925-USCJ (8725)
/ Fax: 908-486-USCJ (8725)
E-mail: njersey@uscj.org
Copyright © 2000 -
2003 New Jersey USCJ. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: July 2003
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