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Orchard of Delights Bo
sense of protectiveness, the truth of this statement is obvious to any His goodness every day perpetually the work of creation.” Kabbalah
serious student of history possessing a sense of integrity. and Chassidut emphasize that creation is renewed not just every
day but at every moment. Modern science now confirms that, at the
Before the Jews were ultimately exiled by the Romans, Jerusalem
was one of the great world cities and one civilization after another molecular level, subatomic particles continually burst in and out of
longed to control it. In King Solomon’s time the leaders and people existence in a matter of a billionth of a second. These particles which
of the world flocked to Jerusalem to bask in his wisdom. During mysteriously animate the foundations of physical reality are the
the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of the First Temple, manifestation of God perpetually renewing the work of creation.
the Babylonian and Persian monarchs both took Jews as their This understanding of the “secret of God” is truly revealing, for
chief councilors. Later when the Jews returned to Israel and built the power of renewal entails connecting to the aspect of Godliness
the Second Temple, both Greece and Rome, bitter adversaries of where time and all creation is renewed at every moment. Meditating
the Jewish people, were equally fascinated by Jewish practice and on the constant renewal of creation on both the literal physical level
especially the Sages’ wisdom. The Talmudic and Midrashic literatures as well as on the spiritual level opens up the possibility of integrating
are full of fascinating encounters between the Sages and Greek and that energy internally at every moment. This in turn leads to a life
Roman aristocrats, who asked questions about Jewish law and were of constant rejuvenation and inspiration.
eager to understand the Torah’s fundamental philosophy. At the Taking this one step further, by breaking out of the confines of
height of the Roman Empire a full ten percent of Rome’s population emotional and psychological slavery we are positioned to transcend
was Jewish. After the Second Temple’s destruction, during the the narrow straits of Egypt, as symbolic of linear time, and leap
subsequent two-thousand year Diaspora, Jews vitally influenced all “over the sun” to experience (as mentioned in the previous section)
the countries that willingly or begrudgingly hosted them.
a more Divine view of time. Notwithstanding the tremendous
A careful reading of the portion reveals the basic outline of much importance of renewal, the power to transcend our normative reality
of the world’s criminal and civil legal codes, as well as the morals and even attain new insights and reveal new spiritual energies is
and ethics on which they are based. This stems in great measure an even greater achievement. This is what the verse in Ecclesiastes
from the profound influence Judaism had on both Christianity and (1:9) implies when it states, there is “nothing new under the sun.”
Islam in their inception and as they spread to encompass much of When life is lived under the weight of rote habits and fixed routines
the planet. Due to these historical realities Torah ideas have spread then one perceives “nothing new under the sun”; however, when one
literally throughout the world, leading to a situation wherein legal views life through a more elevated perspective on time and is inspired
systems everywhere have incorporated many of the basic principles through the Divine power of renewal, one can always find something
enumerated in Mishpatim, as well as the more fundamental premises new “over the sun.” Throughout human history, the Jewish people’s
of justice, responsibility, and fairness on which all law depends. Only disproportionate and incredible contribution to every avenue of
when a true, authentic history of humanity’s development is written human advancement, despite a history of great persecution, testifies
will a deep appreciation of the Jewish contribution to civilization be that every Jewish soul is connected to the place “over the sun” in the
forthcoming. deepest way.
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