There is a Jewish tradition that natural-flowing waters, such as rivers and oceans, have the capacity to provide spiritual cleansing and renewals. The practice of ritual immersion, which is done by women after menstruation ends and done by men before Jewish holidays, is the origin of baptism in Christianity.
Normally, the ritual of immersion is performed in a mikveh, or ritual bath, which is typically indoors. Though initially filled with waters of natural origin, a mikveh typically remains enclosed. This allows it to be heated to comfortable temperatures, and also allows for privacy (since the immersion must be nude).
But outdoor immersion is still practiced, where possible. And the practice means that the entire landscape around us -- wherever there is natural water -- has little spiritual portals, places where the physical world and the spiritual world intersect, if you know the right way to immerse and the right blessing to say.
Being aware of this practice -- of the direct spiritual potential of the natural world around us -- means experiencing reality in a slightly altered fashion. It means that the landscape itself can feel invested with potential -- if the quiet, secret paths can be found, if you have the daring to take them where they lead.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
