Mind The Gap

In the comic strip Kudzo there was once a strip in which a boy asks a preacher why there is suffering in the world. The pastor answers, "It's a G-d thing, you wouldn't understand." Far from being a simple joke, or - worse - a cop out, I think this is a profound truth. The fact that G-d is not man is the answer to our questions concerning G-d. Everything we ask and everything we suggest as an answer is within our realm. The only things we can do is try to get the gap and try to bridge the gap. The more we understand that G-d is not one of us and the more we try to be like G-d and to be close to him as best we can, the more the questions go away.

But that's not what I wanted to write about. I felt, though, that before saying what I felt like saying at this moment, I needed to present the above idea. Now I can proceed.

Do you think that G-d is an artist? I do (although it's complicated, because really G-d is above any human conceptions, but within our world, as we perceive G-d, I'd say He's an artist). All this came to mind recently when Steg linked to this comic strip.

On a related note, it bugs me that poetry so peripheral in all circles today, specifically in Jewish "intellectual" circles. The Torah is a song, and it is wrong to turn a song into something burdensome/long. There's nothing like a good song, poem, or good art of any kind.

Recently I returned to an old habit. I was tired, didn't think I'd make it through my last period of the day/ Then I remembered The Art Room. I got myself some pastels and a big, thick white sheet of paper. I filled in with multi-colored flame like stripes. I returned several times until I deemed it done. Perhaps I'll post a photo of it. There's no place like art.

Tonight was graduation and the talk always turns to religious ideals, to family, and friends (depending on who's speaking). The school has a lovely custom of honoring one of the parents of a graduate with delivering the keynote address. I won a bet with the daughter of the speaker.

Minutes before the ceremony as the 165 students lined up outside the gym, this student told me that she made peace with the fact that her father was speaking. She only had two hopes. One, that he wouldn't mention her. Two, that he wouldn't mention the Holocaust. I assured her that he would definitely mention both. We made a bet. Guess who won.

Within the first two minutes of his speech (I thought it took three, but she said it was two) he mentioned his daughter and how proud he was of her. Then he said that his family's history reads like the book of Job and spoke about the Holocaust. He spoke really well, mostly about the responsibility that rests on the students, ending with the words, "Truly, our future is in your hands."

The speeches were all good, and the principal does a great job of keeping it relatively short - done in an hour and fifteen minutes. I sat taking notes. It's what I do. Perhaps another time I'll share more of what was said.

Good night and G-d bless

he prayed for himself

and like he did as a child

for all the people he loves