Elul 5775 the Four Worlds of the Universe

Elul 5775 The Four Worlds of the Universe

Elul is a month of reflection and introspection in preparation for the High Holy Days. We examine every aspect of our lives, looking deeply into corners neglected and perhaps avoided. There is a notion that the different aspects of our souls connect to the four “worlds” of the universe. This model of reality, first found in 13th century Kabbalistic texts, and more popular in 19th century Hasidism, derives from a line in Isaiah 43:7: “Every one that is called by My name and for My glory, I have created, I have formed, even I have made”. The worlds of Atzilut (emanation), B’riyah (creation), Yetzirah (formation), and Asiyah (action—from the same Hebrew root as “to make”), correspond to the four levels of soul understood in Judaism: Chayah (spiritual, 'fire' soul); Neshamah (intellectual, 'air' soul); Ruach (emotional, 'water' soul); and Nefesh (fleshly, ‘earth’ soul); they roughly map onto the familiar matrix of spirit, mind, heart and body. The ideal is not transcendence alone, but transcendence with inclusion of the “lower” in the “higher.” Forgetting the body in favor of the soul is like forgetting the foundation of a house in favor of the living room; it will not hold. It is not a hierarchy; the lower does not merely serve the higher. So this year, we structure our Elul self-study around these four levels of reality and of our souls.

How to use this Packet:

The purpose of this packet is to stir insight and provide a forum for self-examination. The following guidelines are suggestions, but the overall goal is most important to keep in mind: that this packet prepares you for the challenge and opportunity of the Days of Awe. The daily reflections in this packet are intended for introspection and reaction. To assist in this effort, this year the NVHC clergy will again offer reflections online through the NVHC blog (found at http://www.nvhcreston.org/blog/). We challenge you to find ways daily to introspect. A daily practice during the month of Elul will help you to consider your life at this moment and where you want to be in the future. If you feel so moved, contribute your thoughts in the comments section of our posts on the blog.

Each week has three texts. The texts are meant to be studied over two days. On the first day read the text and jot down initial reactions and questions. These can take your mind wherever you want it to go, but try to remain connected to the text in some way. On the second day, try to respond in writing to the guiding questions provided. These are intended to focus your mind inward and react to the ways that this text speaks to your life individually. Write down your answers. Writing, like painting, dance and other art forms is a way to express inner beliefs, feelings and thoughts. The act of writing will bring subconscious and forgotten elements into your conscious mind. Use the artistic process to go deeper into the meaning of the text and its application to your life.

Physical life – Asiyah – Nefesh: Bein adam l’gufo

Week 1 Sundown, Saturday, August 15/ Elul 1-Sundown, Saturday August 22/Elul 7

R. Joshua b. Levi stated: If a man is on a journey and has no company let him occupy himself with the study of the Torah, since it is said in Scripture, ‘For they shall be a chaplet of grace.’ (Proverbs 1:9) If he feels pains in his head, let him engage in the study of the Torah, since it is said, ‘For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto your head.’ (Proverbs 1:9) If he feels pain in his throat let him engage in the study of the Torah, since it is said, ‘And a necklace about your neck.’ (Proverbs 1:9) If he feels pains in his bowels, let him engage in the study of the Torah, since it is said, ‘It shall be a healing to your navel.’ (Proverbs 3:8) If he feels pains in his bones, let him engage in the study of the Torah, since it is said, ‘And healing to all his flesh.’ (Proverbs 4:22)

-BT Eruvin 54a

Initial Reaction:

Question: A huge problem in our society is a dependence upon painkillers to deal with real aches and pains in the body. A Mayo Clinic study found 43 million Americans taking opioid prescription medicines. How can the study of a text like Torah help relieve some of this pain? Notice the words are “engage in the study of Torah.” What is the difference between simply studying and “engaging” in study?

When he hears the cock crowing he should say, "Blessed be the One who has given the cock the understanding to distinguish between day and night." When he opens his eyes he should say, "Blessed be the One who opens the eyes of the blind." When he stretches himself and sits up, he should say, "Blessed be the One who loosens the bound." When he dresses he should say, "Blessed be the One who clothes the naked." When he draws himself up he should say, "Blessed be the One who raises the bowed." When he steps on to the ground he should say, "Blessed be the One who spread the earth on the waters." When he commences to walk he should say, "Blessed be the One who makes firm the steps of man." When he ties his shoes he should say, "Blessed be the One who has supplied all my wants." When he fastens his girdle, he should say, "Blessed be the One who girds Israel with might." When he spreads a kerchief over his head he should say, "Blessed be the One who crowns Israel with glory."

-BT Berachot 60b

Initial Reaction:

Question: These common actions each day often go without notice. Notice how the words of the prayer elevate each action to a higher source of gratitude. And this is a short list of all the little, tiny physical things we do each day. Can you think of words to say for some of the other actions of each morning or each day? What would it be like to connect blessings with actions more often during your day?

For in the image of God, did God make humankind. (Genesis 9:6) When injury is likely, one should not rely on a miracle. -BT Kiddushin 39b

Initial Reaction:

Question: What is the connection between the idea of being created in God’s image and the reality of our physical frailty? We need to care for our bodies through science and medicine for sure, but does this comport with the elements of the divine within? Why did God create us this way (or stated differently: Why did the authors of the text construct the idea this way)?

Emotional life – Yetzirah – Ruach: Bein adam l’chaveiro

Week 2 Sundown, Saturday August 22/Elul 8 – Sundown, Saturday August 29/Elul 14

Rabbi Shimon ben Eleazar says: Do not appease your fellow in the time of his anger; do not console him while his dead lies before him; do not question him about his vow at the time he makes it; and do not attempt to see him at the time of his disgrace.

-Mishnah Pirkei Avot 4:23

Initial Reaction:

Question: This text is all about timing. What is it saying about how timing affects human relationships and how has this affected your relationships? Have you been a good practitioner of merciful timing in your interactions with others? How might you change that?

Imma Shalom said… I have this tradition from my father's house: All gates [to God, even the gates of prayer] are locked, except the gates of wounded feelings [which God hears, and responds to, immediately].

-BT Baba Metsia 59b

Initial Reaction:

Question: When we talk about “Gates of Prayer” we are talking about the ways we access an experience of spirituality or divinity. Why is it that wounded feelings open up these experiences of access far more than a sense of normalcy or emotional strength? When we are wounded by another human being, how could we better give those feelings the respect and honor they deserve, rather than just trying to avoid them?

For three years there was a dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, the former asserting: the law is in agreement with our views, and the latter contending, the law is in agreement with our views. Then a voice from heaven announced: both rulings are the words of the living God, but the law is in agreement with the rulings of Beit Hillel. Since, however, both are the words of the living God, what was it that entitled Beit Hillel to have the law fixed according to their rulings? Because they were kindly and modest, they studied their own rulings and those of Beit Shammai, and were even so humble as to mention the words of Beit Shammai before their own.

BT Eruvin 13b

Initial Reaction:

Question: When we disagree with others, how do we honor the opposing point of view? What good does that honoring do for our personal relationships, and for society at large?

Intellectual life – B’riyah – N’shamah - Bein adam l’da’ato

Week 3: Sundown, Saturday, August 29/Elul 15 – Saturday, September 5/ Elul 21

Ben Azzai used to say: Do not despise any person and do not consider anything impossible; for there is no one who does not have his hour and there is nothing that does not have its place.

Mishnah Pirke Avot 4:2

Initial Reaction:

Question: What is Ben Azzai teaching us here about how we interpret the world? The aspect of B’riyah is all about the way we apply our minds to our experiences. Ben Azzai is telling us how to react to negative experiences and to see the good in them. How difficult is this and how good are we at it?

Teach me, dear God, when to keep silent and when to speak; and when I speak, O God, save me from using Your wonderful gift of speech to humiliate or hurt others.

-Reb Nachman of Bratzlav

Initial Reaction:

Question: What is happening in our minds when our mouths get ahead of ourselves and we say something hurtful or embarrassing to others? How can a prayer like Rabbi Nachman’s help us to rein in our speech? How might this become a part of daily practice?

Do not imagine that character is determined at birth. We have been given free will. Any person can become as righteous as Moses or as wicked at Jereboam. We ourselves decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate or cruel, generous or miserly. No one forces us; no one drags us along one path or the other. We ourselves, by our own volition, choose our own way.

-Maimonides

Initial Reaction:

Question: Sometimes we allow ourselves to see our condition as inevitable, or the result of forces greater than ourselves. But Maimonides puts the responsibility in our hands. When have we made excuses this year for our own behavior or contributed to the brokenness of the world? What can we learn from re-evaluating how we might have contributed to these problems?

Spiritual life – Atzilut – Chayah: Bein adam lamakom

Week 4: Sundown, Saturday, September 5/ Elul 22 – Sundown Tuesday September 13/Erev Rosh Hashanah

Raba said, When one is led in for Judgment he is asked, 1. Did you deal faithfully [i.e., with integrity]? 2. Did you fix times for learning? 3. Did you engage in procreation? 4. Did you hope for salvation? 5. Did you engage in the dialectics of wisdom? 6. Did you understand one thing from another?

-BT Shabbat 30b-31a

Initial Reaction:

Question: What are your list of 6 questions for which you think you will be judged?

One who waves his right to retribution [i.e., is not insistent on his rights] is forgiven all his sins.

-BT Megillah 28a -BT Rosh Hashanah 17a -BT Yoma 23a and 87b

Initial Reaction:

Question: What is the connection between how we forgive others (or at least how we refrain from taking revenge on others) and how God forgives us? If you struggle in any way with belief in God, then examine the connection between how you forgive others and how you forgive yourself.

If My people, who are called by My name humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

-II Chronicles 7:14

Initial Reaction:

Question: What does it mean to turn to God, to humble the self and to pray? When saying that we seek God’s face, how might you understand that to be a form of spiritual pursuit? And so, when we do that, which we will do throughout the High Holy Days, how does this lead to forgiveness (from God or of the self)?