The Mariner and the Rabbi

I am a Mariner, a Chief Engineer. I can make ships run. This begins with learning their capabilities and limits. Are they ready for sea, as their design? We each, can do the same with ourselves. Periodically check our individual limits and capabilities. Are we happy and effective in our thinking, of being ready for life, to learn?

Learning begins in a free society because individuals’ question. Questions that can begin the development of each person’s unique sense of self. The individual thought process of learning from thinking, that interacts with the freedom of being their own, in creating the answers for their questions.

Consider, one day, eating lunch and reading the local newspaper, I saw a small ad for a course in Jewish Civil Law. The course was being held at a local Synagogue. Knowing of Judaism in my family background, I decided to register. The course was a productive experience. This led to more courses, becoming friends with the Rabbi, and members of the congregation. I was enjoying myself and learning.

I also learned a little about people. Many thought differently than me. That since I was involved with Judaism, I must be converting. The idea of learning, becoming more, didn’t compute.

My parents raised me with good values. A part of that was being a member of The Protestant Episcopal Church in The United States of America. They and the church taught and promoted freedom, responsibility, and faith. These values enabled me to become as I choose. To develop myself, what I became, with the same opportunities as anyone.

On the first day of Lent, I had a class at the Synagogue. The idea of forty came into my thinking. What is it, with this forty? Christ spent forty days in the desert. It rained for forty days and forty nights. The Jews wandered the desert for forty years. What is this?

The idea of forty began in the Old Testament. The Rabbi wouldn’t have a great interest in the New Testament. But the old, when forty began, he would know. I got to the Shul a little early. I looked for the Rabbi.

After greeting, a little joking around and being glad to see one another, I asked him, “Rabbi, what is the deal with forty?” He said, “In Judaism, there is a ritual bath of purification that contains forty containers of water.” It clicked in my mind. I thought, ah, whenever the number forty is used, there is a process of purification. I said, “Thank you.” For the moment, I was happy and satisfied.

Then, I had to think. Water is also used in the purification process. This caused John the Baptist to come to mind. There were two things. First, he said, “Repent.” Then, he used water to cleanse people of their sins, a purification, a good process. Considering though that Christ was yet to come on the scene, the process, beginning with repent, which in Judaism means return, to return to the law, and of using water for purification, of a washing clean for the forgiveness of sins, the ideas began in Judaism. What John was doing then, began as strictly Jewish.

I continued. The Christian Church began as a part of Judaism. Ideas of Judaism developed and became, a part of the worship service of Christianity. Consider, The Summation of The Law, said during the Christian Sunday service. These laws began in Judaism, and are said during their service. The laws are expressed because of their importance of learning.

Among the Laws of Judaism are thirty nine, or forty minus one, that are important for Shabbat, the weekly holy day for Judaism. Following the laws is a part of a purification of self on Shabbat.

Accordingly, I asked the Rabbi once; “Do you follow the laws of Shabbat as an example, for the members of the congregation to follow as well?” He said, “No. I follow the laws because I choose to.” I said, “Thank you,” and then for me came another, ah. Since he follows the law because he chooses, he is his own person. His thoughts and actions are choice. This started an idea.

A purpose of the laws like The Ten Commandments, that began at Mt Sinai was of learning the responsibility of self. That living within these limits creates a development of self, of becoming one’s own that simultaneously begins the freedom of self.

For me, this held true. Thinking, learning, and living my life within these limits of law, created becoming my own and being free. An enjoyment that certainly wasn’t perfect. Nor did I expect it. The learning of self, of becoming one’s own and being free, becomes as I choose.