Where God Was Born 1

One of the books I enjoyed this summer while on vacation was Bruce Feiler's: Where God Was Born. It describes his journey exploring the spiritual/biblical connections in Israel, Iraq & Iran. Just a few things that moved me in his tale/experience.

King David. I had always been fascinated by David as master politician, master poet/singer, a true devotee of God, dynamic leader and immoral husband and parent. But Feiler expands this when he writes about David as a warning against power. David was the greatest King of Israel militarily and politically, but his personal life is a mess. He spoils his kids and is a murderer and adulterer. Yet the Messiah will come someday from his descendant. That leader will have learned the lesson of David's life. He will be meek and humble, honest, ethical and just. Real power is spiritual, it is interpersonal - political power does get things done, but lasting power is found in caring and moral relationships. They live on even after our lives are over.

The Temple. Biblical religion began with sacred places. The holy place was the spiritual destination for intense, beautiful moments of God's presence. But even before the destruction the prophets were articulating a different spiritual destination. God is found not in places but in the way we treat each other. God can be found anywhere and when the First Temple was destroyed Jews gathered and socialized, prayed and studied and Judaism evolved. Yes, we are physical beings and need places to meet and experience God together. But there is no one place for those sacred moments - since God is everywhere and people can be anywhere - together we can feel the Shechinah. Yes we can still go to Jerusalem and it's special. But we can go to a synagogue anywhere in the world or in the beauty of nature and feel the holiness of life. In the smallest minyan or a simple act of lovingkindness - God can be experienced.

More on this book very soon