Tent of Abraham 2

Tent of Abraham #2

hermeneutics / interpretation

4 functions of Sacred Stories (including scriptures):

1. connect with sacred,
2. order cosmos,
3. pass on the traditio, and
4. instill ethical expectations and norms

Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Biography

Arthur Ocean Waskow (born Arthur I. Waskow ; 1933) is an American author, political activist, andrabbi associated with theJewish Renewal movement.

Rabbi Wasko Midrash

A note on Midrash

Introduce Talmud, Midrash, the white fire

When Abraham sees God

Gen 18, YHWH, 3 visitors, Oaks of Mamre,

The Cloudy Mirror

A treatment of 2 sons, Yitzschak, Yishma El, gerim/hagar in the land of Egypt

Rabbi Wasko Midrash

Call me Ishmael

Rosh Hashanah Moby Dick, Call me Ishmael, who is the outcast, names

In Gaza, Where was Isaac's angel?

Gen 22 1967, Abraham Heschel, 12 y/o Palestinian shot, Rosh Hashanah reading Gen 22, 10 days of tschuvah

The tomb and the well

Abraham's death, his tomb, sojourners, Hagar first to be associated with well, acquire the land, Isaac/Ishmael intertwined. Both exp. Shoah and Naqba. Yom Kiippur & Goat

Rabbi Wasko Midrash

Banishment and offering: the goats of Yom Kippur

10 days of awe, tshuvah, goat expelled, identify goat (banished) with Ishmael (banished), how see one another face to face?

A blessing to the families of the earth?

Gen 12:3, all families blessed by Abraham? Wintertime for decency. Seeds of renewal?

When Messiah builds a temple

Safed, story of Hasid … seeing the Messiah. Whose temple will it be?

Sr. Joan Chittister OSB

Biography

Sr. Joan Chittister (Catholic nun) is an outspoken advocate of justice, peace and equality — especially for women world-wide — and has been one of America's visionary spiritual voices for more than 30 years.

Sr. Joan Midrash

The middle east through lens of Genesis

Story of Abraham. Whose side is God on? Who firstborn?

To you and to your seed

Gen 12:7 I will give land to descendants.Village of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam.

Suppose there are fifty

Suppose there are 50. Gathering of women in Oslo.

Sr. Joan Midrash

Do not lay your hand on the boy

mothers who've lost sons and daughters. Had all been to Mt. Moriah.

The right not to choose

Jerusalem, Palestinians traveling,

But he lingered

Gen 19:19-21. Story of Lot, he wanted things to go the way he wanted. Lot should be patron saint

Sr. Joan Midrash

And you shall live

Gen 20:6-7. gathering of women, carried by prayer, Abimelech & Abraham. Both sinned.

I will not take a thread

Dresden, bombed out cafe. Why stay with the project? Gen 14:14-16. Abraham didn't profit from war. Why so many in the west?

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him

Gen 21:11-13. Both are heirs. Gen 25:8-10. Both bury him.

Sr. Joan Midrash

I will indeed bless you

Gen 22: 15-18

Blame enough to go around

Gen 21:15-20 God provides. Litany of success and failures.

Saadi Shakur Chishti

Sufism

An ancient branch of Islam that has maintained a "mystical" approach to Islamic faith. Many Muslims would not regard them as true Muslims.

Biography

Chashti currently lives in Fife, Scotland, where he directs the Edinburgh Institute for Advanced Learning (www.eial.org). For eight years, he was the co-chair of the Mysticism Group of the American Academy of Religion. His books include Prayers of the Cosmos , Desert Wisdom , The Hidden Gospel , The Genesis Meditations , The Sufi Book of Life and The Tent of Abraham (with Rabbi Arthur Waskow and Sr. Joan Chittister). In 2004, he co-founded the Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace (www.mesp.org.uk).

Saadi Chishti Midrash

The stories today: a Muslim perspective

Multiple traditions in Islam. Sufi. Creation as process – Sufi method? Spiritual interpretation? Hadith. Discover inner self (nafs)

The birth of a prophet

Miracle stories of birth. Tyrant within us fears… Islamic mysticism, birth of conscience.

Stargazing

Gen 15:5 / Sura 6:76. Many gods to one God? Quran says Torah and NT are also monotheist.

Saadi Chishti Midrash

A gnat in the head

Abraham smashing idols, tale of Nimrod. Democracy an idol?

The brother, his “sister,” and the tyrant

cp. nation nafs, Sufi many voices, common story to both traditions. A thorough-going psychologizing interpretation.

The mysterious strangers

Sura 11:69-70. Sura 51:29-30. begin meetings with a meal. Hospitality

Saadi Chishti Midrash

The well of abundant water

Bible / Sura re. Hagar at the well. Explicity allegorizing. Shalom / Salaam.

Visiting rights and border control

Sura 14:37-38. Matt. 25:35-45. cp. the quote from Quran. What is revealed / hidden. Abraham in Arabia. "Spiritual interpretation"

Where Adam and Eve made love

Sura 22:26. Climax of A's 3rd visit to Arabia – build Kaaba. Adam & Eve in the Quran. "Importance of story, sacred space, shared community ritual"

Saadi Chishti Midrash

The original pilgrimage

Sura 22:27. Sura 6:38, Allah constantly forgiving & merciful. "Hajj" indirectly related to "Hagar", Inner meaning of hajj for the soul.

The sacrifice

Sura 37:100-109 cp. Gen. 22. Sura 14:39-41. Sura 37:105-109. A constantly figuring things out. Abraham as soul's journey through life. Sacrifice of a son. In the West – do we need to ask for forgiveness? Abraham did.