The Transformative Power of the Universe

The first time I heard Rabbi Michael Lerner speak was at the Anti-war March on Washington in January 2007. At an ecumenical service hosted by the All Souls UU Church, he spoke about the Hebrew God as depicted in the Torah. Though traditionally this deity is called "YAHWEH" in English, Rabbi Lerner pointed out that there are no vowels in the Hebrew writing of it, making it "YHVH"- or "yud hey vav hey" if you are going to spell it out so people know what you are talking about. But, if you are just going to say it, it sounds like a whisper, like mere breath crossing your lips, since there are no vowels to make it pronounceable for us. Hence, any time someone spoke in any language, the breath crossing their lips was the name of God. We could come together from different faith traditions to oppose war as spiritual beings and effortlessly give God the same name. "YHVH" became the founding member of my list of favorite names for God; at Torah study sessions it is my favorite translation to use for the concept of God.

In transcribing older Torah study sessions for Rabbi Lerner, the translation of "YHVH" as "The Transformative Power of the Universe" has emerged as another member of that list. Examining the stories of Exodus, in particular, one can hardly fail to appreciate the radicalness of actions undertaken by Moses and the Jews fleeing from the Pharaoh. 80% of the Jews didn't even leave Egypt, but stayed as slaves- where did the others find the courage to strike out into the desert?! The divine support and inspiration for these events is aptly captured by the term "The Transformative Power of the Universe".

For example, in the mishnah traditionally translated as involving "crossing the Red Sea", the Jews could also be read to have crossed a very marshy area; it was not necessarily the traditional wall of water we picture that allowed them to miraculously escape the Egyptian armies. In reading it as a marshy area, the hardest step for them would have been entering the water and having it rise before they were actually able to walk across it. The bravery that was required to take this step was rewarded- a great transformation in the status and history of the Jews ensued. If we see divine inspiration in that act of bravery, then that divine power is one of transformation. It is the universe acting through Moses to create a more free and just order for the Israelites.

Viewing God as "The Transformative Power of the Universe" makes Her more accessible to the Left today as well. If we can see our efforts as supported not just by science and morality, but a broad, righteous arc of justice being helped and pushed by a Transformative Force, we will have more faith and hence more sustainability in our movements for social justice and peace and equality. There are many "spiritual but not religious" and overtly religious people in the movement of the Left that looking down on speaking about God in progressively positive terms will alienate. Talking about God (in inclusive terms that are respectful to atheists, "spiritual but not religious" people and members of ALL religions), especially as The Transformative Power of the Universe, will strengthen not only the breadth of liberalism's appeal in the US, it will deepen and anchor the movement for individuals and communities.

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People's Park, Berkeley

These days, People's Park is part lawn, part garden, part rec center and part drug clinic.  No one is going to mistake the lawn for College Green in their wanderings, but it is lush and sizable.  On a sunny day recently, couples and groups sat and laid in patches around it.  When the Food Not Bombs people arrived to serve food at 3pm, groups of homeless people congregated or circled on the grass to talk while they eat.  

There is a guy named Will who sells copies of Street Spirit (I'll do a posting about this publication soon) at the Haste St. entrance to the park.  He wasn't sure he would have enough momey for another meal after the 3pm FNB visit, but if he sold a few more Street Spirits he would get there. He spoke very highly of the quality of the FNB meal, a well-balanced, flavorful vegetarian offering worthy of praise.  

Next to the lawn there was a basketball court with rims that had that practical but annoying double strip of iron to make them sturdier.  I saw about as much diversity on the court in half an hour there as I did during twelve years of roundball in Maine.  College students came and went from using the facility, and it seemed that UC Berkeley has a much more authentic claim to the term urban campus than Brown.  

The drug clinic was bright and welcoming, unidentifiable until the brochures were in sight.  Farther down the park, another form of therapy was available in the form of the community garden.  Will told me that everyone is welcome to take stuff from it, that he would himself if he had a kitchen to prepare things in.  Some of the herbs were in perfect form and I picked some mint to carry.  The peppers and tomatoes were still pretty small and green, perhaps because so much of the garden was shady.  At the end of the walkway were more benches with folks sleeping on them, and some younger counter-culture couples walking around as well, waiting for FNB to come.  

The Park remains an inspirational location, symbolic of the grand capacity members of communities have for supporting each other, when they commit to it.  Increasing social services and creating an accepting culture in the area has shown itself to be a sustainable strategy there for decades now, and one that area residents are and should be proud of.  I am grateful to live near it, and I hope the Park's spirit will travel with me when I come back East.